The very latest.
From the Baltimore American, of the 13th, we copy the following important intelligence from the North. Much of it, in our opinion, is exceedingly improbable, to say the least, and we only publish it as an illustration of the character of Northern dispatches generally, awaiting reports from Southern sources before making up our mind as to the real facts in the premises:Latest from Kentucky--a terrible battle at Pikesville--four hundred Confederate killed and one thousand taken prisoners.
Paris, Ky., Nov. 11
--The rebels under Gen. Wilson at Pikesville have been defeated, after two days fighting, by Gen. Nelson.
Four hundred rebels were killed and one thousand made prisoners.
Colonel L. Moore attacked the rebels in the rear with 3,800 men. Colonel Harris, of the Ohio Second Regiment, made an attack in front with 660 men.
Harris feel back, and Colonel Moore pressed forward until the enemy were brought into the midst of Gen. Wilson's brigade, when our forces pressed the enemy on all sides, killed 400 and taking 1,000 prisoners.
The balance were scattered in all directions.
The Federal loss was comparatively small.
Lexington, Ky., Nov. 12.--A courier from General Nelson's brigade, with dispatches for General Thomas, reports that the fight at Pikesville lasted two days, and that the rebels lost four hundred killed, and one thousand wounded.
Still Later.
the victory complete — the rebel commanders taken prisoners.
Cincinnati, Nov. 12.
--The battle at Pikesville, Ky., lasted through Friday and Saturday.
The victory of the National troops was complete, General Williams and General Howe, the rebel commanders, are among the prisoners taken.
The defeat of the rebels in Kentucky Confirmed.
Louisville. Nov. 12, Midnight.
--Accounts received here by mail fully confirm the defeat of the rebels under Generals Williams and Nelson at Piketon, (not Pikesville,) the Capital of Pike county, Ky.
[The foregoing reports of such a fight are grossly false.
Advices received in this city by the Government, by persons just from that county, represent our small force under Col. Williams as having repulsed the enemy at Pikesville, and state that our retreat on Pound Gap was executed as a strategic movement, and not under pursuit from the enemy; who are supposed to be from four to eight thousand strong.
Two thousand men can easily hold the passes of the Cumberland range; and we have more than three thousand by this time, including militia, upon the mountain, or within reach of the gaps.
Letters from General Marshall, who was encounter to Pikesville, at a late date, speak not merely of defensive measures, but of designs to cut off the enemy.
No doubt the enemy expected to achieve great things at Pikesville, from the large preponderance of force they had; and doubtless rumors founded on these magnificent expectations reached Cincinnati, Nov. 12, and formed the basis of the dispatches.] 