Northern papers of the 8th instant have been received. The news is interesting. The following is Stanton's bulletin to Dix.
In a recent dispatch, it was mentioned that Major General Sherman was taking measures to protect his communications from the rebel forces operating against them. Dispatches received last night show the fulfilment of this expectation. Major General George H. Thomas was sent to Nashville to organize troops in his district and drive Forrest from our line, while the attention of General Sherman was directed to the movements of the main rebel army in the vicinity of Atlanta. On the 4th of October, the rebels had captured Big Shanty, but they were followed closely up by General Sherman. On the 6th, a severe engagement was fought by our forces under General John E. Smith, and the rebel forces under General French, in which the rebels were driven from the field with heavy loss, leaving their dead and wounded in our hands. The details are given in the following dispatch from General Thomas.
The following dispatch is just received from Chattanooga: General Smith, who left here yesterday, 5th instant, telegraphs that the enemy retreated last evening from Altoona, moving in the direction of Dallas, leaving his dead and from four to five hundred wounded in our hands. Our loss is about one hundred killed and two hundred wounded. The railroad bridge near Ringgold was washed away yesterday.
* * * Nothing further has been heard from General Sherman since my dispatch of yesterday; but the retreat of the enemy towards Dallas indicates that he was close upon their rear near Altoona. I have not heard of Rousseau of Washburne to-day, but presume that they are pushing Forrest as rapidly as the condition of the roads will admit. * * * * * * I have just received the following dispatch from General Granger, dated Huntsville, 10 P. M., October 6: The courier reported drowned in crossing the Elk river is in. He lost his dispatches while crossing the river. He reports that two rebels were captured yesterday, who say that they left Forrest at Lawrenceburg the night before, crossing southward. General Morgan's advance was skirmishing with the enemy this morning on Sharvis's creek, he being unable to cross the creek on account of high water. He hopes to be able to cross to morrow, when he will push him further on. The Alabama railroad will be repaired from here to Pulaski in one week.
Later.
Another, but unofficial, dispatch, reports as follows: The telegraph has been repaired to Altoona to day. The action of yesterday was severe, French attacking with his division, seven thousand strong, and suffering heavily, leaving his killed and wounded in our hands to the number of one thousand, while we lost only three hundred. The fight lasted six hours. From Florence we learn that Morgan has Forrest cornered, and has captured his transportation, and that the gunboats prevent all retreat across the Tennessee river.Progress of operations before Peters burg.
Satisfactory reports of the operations in progress before Richmond and Petersburg have been received; but their details are not at present proper for publication.Sheridan all right.
A dispatch from General Stevenson reports that an officer of General Sheridan's staff has just arrived. General Sheridan was still at Harrisonburg. His supply trains were going on all right, occasionally interrupted by guerrilla parties, the only rebel force on the road. * * *From Missouri.
General Rosecrans reports that General Ewing made good his retreat to Rolla, losing only a few stragglers and the killed and wounded on the way, which were very few. From the number of the wounded of the rebels, the enemy's loss will not fall much short of a thousand placed hors du combat.Under its general news head, the Gazette has the following: ‘ According to the latest advices from Missouri, General Price reached the Osage river on Thursday; but was prevented from crossing it by the Federal force that was posted on the opposite side. A desperate engagement is said to have ensued; but, as is so frequently the case in these encounters, the result of it was not known. It was thought, however, that Price would cross the river at some point higher up. If he succeeded in doing so, a march of a few miles only would bring him to Jefferson City, the capital of the State, and the point he was evidently aiming to reach. ’
