The war News.
The same state of quiet reported for two days past continues on the lines in front of Petersburg. We have the assurance of persons who came over by last evening's train that only three shells were thrown at the city during five hours yesterday. This, with some picket firing, constitutes the total of recent active hostilities in that direction. It seems now to be well ascertained that Grant is busily mining on our left, and has been engaged in this underground work for some time. What he expects to accomplish by operations of this sort is more than we can explain, though as he is a great believer in the spade as an instrument of warfare, it is quite possible that he designs the reduction of Petersburg and the destruction of Lee's army by that method. His disappointment will be signal. It is also ascertained that Grant is strengthening his extreme left, resting upon the Weldon Railroad. This is his weak point, he having been twice flanked in that direction, with considerable loss. It is stated by deserters that the Yankees have been on the lookout for two or three nights past, expecting an attack. What gave rise to this idea does not seem to be known; but it is quite certain that nothing of the sort occurred, with the exception of the heavy cannonade on Saturday night. The report that the enemy had crossed a heavy force to the north side of the James has dwindled, down to a statement that he sent over a portion of one corps on Friday, near City Point, which is doubtless correct. This agrees with intelligence we had previously learned and published in this paper.--The object of this movement is probably to prevent our artillery firing upon the Yankee transports.Two Yankees executed for rape.
Two soldiers of Grant's army were hanged recently for committing a rape on a respectable married lady in Prince George county. A Yankee correspondent gives the names of these ruffians as R. S. Gordon and D. Geary. They entered the house of Mrs. Mary E. Stiles, and after helping themselves to everything desirable in the way of food, clothing, &c., and assuring the lady that they would not harm her, they forced her into a small apartment and accomplished their hellish designs. The lady, with tears in her eyes, made complaint to the Yankee Provost Marshal, the men were arrested, tried, and condemned to death. The correspondent adds that the chain of evidence was mostly circumstantial, and that an officer who was on the court-martial afterwards said that the breaking of one link of that evidence would have freed the guilty wretches. This is one instance only in which the brutal Yankee soldiery have expiated their heinous offences with their lives.Affairs down the river.
It was currently reported yesterday that on Monday night our forces captured the 6th New York regiment near Deep Bottom. The only foundation for this report was that a skirmish took place in that locality, in which forty-nine Yankees, who were on picket, were taken prisoners. Our informant states that not more than fourteen rounds were fired, and so slight was the engagement that companies stationed two miles off knew nothing of it until the prisoners were brought in. They represented that they were until recently serving under Banks, in Louisiana. On Saturday the enemy took possession of some pits which had been used by our artillery firing upon the Yankee transports, and proceeded to construct fortifications in the vicinity. It was for this purpose, undoubtedly, that the Federal troops were sent across the river.From Georgia.
The telegram from Atlanta shows that the enemy has again been repulsed in an attempt to break our lines. It appears that Sherman, in imitation of Grant, commenced shelling the city without giving notice of his intention, thus exposing the lives of women and children to danger. In every respect do the Yankees violate the usages of civilized warfare, and for each non- combatant killed, at least four prisoners ought to suffer death. The address of Gen. Hood to his troops is spirited and to the point, yet some will perceive in it a slight reflection upon the policy of the late commander of the Army of Tennessee.A Splendid victory in the Valley — the enemy completely Routed.
It was rumored yesterday afternoon that our troops in the Valley of Virginia had engaged and defeated the enemy. This news was confirmed by passengers on the Central train, and at a late hour last night the following official dispatch was received at the War Department: General Early states that he attacked Major General Crook on the 24th instant, on the old battle field of Kernstown, completely routing him, and pursued him five miles beyond Winchester, when he was compelled to halt from the exhaustion of his men, they having marched twenty-five miles that day. The pursuit was continued by the cavalry. Among the prisoners captured was Gen Milligan, mortally wounded. Brig Gen Lilly, and our other officers and men captured on the 20th, were recovered. The strength, of the enemy is stated to have been fifteen thousand infantry, besides the cavalry under Averill. R. E. Lee, General.
Kernstown, the scene of this victory, is in Frederick county, Va., four miles from Winchester. It was on this spot that, on Sunday, the 23d of April, 1862, the immortal Stonewall Jackson, with a force not exceeding 3,500 men, wearied out by forced marches for weeks, attacked 20,000 fresh troops, repulsed them repeatedly, and so crippled them that they were unable to follow him in his retreat. The enemy, notwithstanding the great disparity-of forces, could claim nothing more than a drawn battle. He will hardly, with his habitual mendacity, claim even that now. This victory compensates measurably for the inexcusable reverse sustained by our forces near Winchester on the 20th, when, it is stated, General Ramseur rushed into an ambuscade with his eyes open, for while it cannot restore our killed on that occasion, it has restored our captured officers and men, and inflicted severe punishment upon the enemy. All honor to General Early and his gallant command.
