Latest News
war matters.
reported skirmish — arrest of Col. Thomas--Affairs about Winchester--Northern telegraphic reports, &c., &c. Important intelligence, which we sincerely hope may be confirmed, was received here yesterday from the army in the Northwest, under General Garnett. A letter to a distinguished military gentleman states that an engagement had taken place between the First Georgia Regiment (Col. Ramsay,) and three regiments of the enemy, near Phillippi, in which the latter were completely routed, with considerable loss. It is further stated that the gallant Georgians took a large number of prisoners, and secured all the camp equlpage, baggage, &c., of the enemy. The medium through which this news is received renders its authenticity probable, and it is therefore generally credited here. Our loss is represented to be but two; that of the enemy sixty. The Central train yesterday brought no news of an exciting character. The only report we heard from passengers was that a skirmish took place on Saturday or Sunday between the pickets near Alexandria, in which six Hessians were killed and no one hurt on our side. It is probably the same skirmish mentioned in the Northern dispatches, below. We heard yesterday morning a rumor of the arrest of Col. Richard Thomas, of Richard, whose recent exploits have endeared him to every Southern heart. We did not credit the rumor until we received the Baltimore Exchange, of the 9th inst., which contains the following paragraph in relation to the matter: We learn that Mr. Richard Thomas, of St. Mary's county, and five or six other persons, were arrested on board the steamer Mary Washington as she was coming up the bay yesterday. The charges against them are believed to be that they were concerned in the seizure of the St. Nicholas a few days since. The party were coming up to the city as passengers, when they were pointed out by two spies on board the boat, and as she reached the wharf at Fort McHenry, the boat rounded to and they were delivered up to the officer in command. A Winchester correspondent furnishes some interesting information relative to military movements in that quarter, which we are not permitted to publish. The follow is an extract from the letter: ‘ "Two companies of cavalry, one from Washington county, and one from Amelia county, passed through here this morning to join Col. Stuart. "The Militia of Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah, Rockingham, Page, Warren, Jefferson and Berkeley counties have been ordered out for six months or the war, and ordered to rendezvous here. Berkeley and Jefferson have not, as yet, responded to the call. A squad of men, however, left here by railroad this morning for Jefferson, to draft them into service. "A large body of Federal troops passed up the Potomac, opposite Harper's Ferry, on Sunday. "It is believed that the Federal force at Martinsburg are being daily reinforced. "I would call your attention to the fact that you have not in your account of the fight at Falling Waters, on Wednesday last, done justice to the Continentals, of this place, under Capt. Avis, who led the vanguard in the action, making a gallant charge on the enemy, doing great execution. Too much praise cannot be said of Capt. Avis for his conduct in the battle. Captain Avis was Captain of a company of Virginia volunteers in the Mexican war, and is somewhat noted as the jailor at Charles town during the John Brown raid. "The town of Winchester is said never to have been more healthy than at present." The following comes to us through the medium of the Northern Associated Press: ’
A skirmish — army movements, etc.
Washington, July 8.
--There was a skirmish last night between the pickets of the Eighth battalion of the District of Columbia Volunteers, under Major Gerhardt, and the pickets of the Confederate forces on the other sale of the Great Falls.
The former lost one man. The enemy, concealed in the bushes, were fired at, with what effect was not ascertained.
A detachment of 3,000 recruits for the Maine regiments, also 150 horses for baggage trains, reached Washington this morning.
The skirmish at Great Falls.
Washington, July 8,
--Further intelligence from Gerhardt's District of Columbia Volunteers at Great Falls has been received.
Two of his men were killed and several wounded in the skirmish of yesterday.
The Secessionists had a body of cavalry.
The parties were separated by the Potomac, but kept up the fight at intervals throughout yesterday.
A company of Texas cavalry went up this morning from Washington.
From Alexandria.
Alexandria, July 8.
--Reports from all the camps and outposts represent all quiet today, and no movement whatever has yet been made.
The weather is intensely hot.
Locomotive No. 160, which was sunk in the Potomac some weeks ago, has been successfully raised and brought ashore in a slightly damaged condition.
A flag of truce.
Washington, July 8.
--The latest report from Arlington is that Major Taylor, of New Orleans, arrived at the camp of the 8th New York Regiment this afternoon.
under a flag of truce, with dispatches for President Lincoln.
He was detained there, awaiting further orders, and was last from Manassas.
unction.
It may be proper to state that the visit of the Hon. Henry May to Richmond was not superinduced by the Government, and it is at least probable the dispatches brought under the Flagg of truce are from him. Their character has not transpired.
Affairs at Martinsburg.
Martinsburg, July 5.
--There was no alarm last night.
I visited that part of the Federal picket guard thrown farthest forward on the Winchester turnpike yesterday evening after it had been evacuated.
Away off to the left a number of the cavalry pickets of the enemy were visible upon the outskirts of a wood and in a corn field.
They were evidently keeping a keen look out. The guard said they numbered, as near as they could judge, about two hundred.
Yesterday afternoon a national flag was, by order of Gen. Patterson, placed upon the Court-House.
Samuel Albertus, brother of Captain Albertus, of the Wise Artillery, and editor of the Secession organ, the Virginia Republican, having shut up its office and fled from his home, the printers of the various Pennsylvania regiments took possession of the office, and commenced the issuing of a paper called the American Union.
Yesterday the printers in the Pennsylvania 13th regiment published a paper called the Pennsylvania Thirteenth; but just as they had issued 300 copies they received orders to march.
They reached here last night.
The Marine Rhode Island Battery arrived here last night.
This gives the column seventeen pieces.
Major Doubledays' 32-pound rifled cannon is expected here tomorrow morning.
It will make the eighteenth piece.
The soldiers have already given them some odd names, such as "Pretty Boy," "Peace Maker," " Conscience Settler," "Secession Pill Machine," etc.
From a prisoner I obtained the following particulars concerning the First Virginia Regiment of Cavalry, which was engaged in the action at Hainesville: Loudoun County Cavalry, fifty men, Capt, Carter; Rockingham County Cavalry, sixty men, Captain White, three other companies from counties unknown, commanded by Capt. Yancey, fifty men; Capt. Haye, seventy-five men, and Capt. Doyle, sixty men. Besides these there were four other companies, the names of whose captains my informant could not give me.
Wm. Kerfoot, a member of the Berkeley Border Guard, under Capt. Nadenbush, was arrested yesterday.
He has been a very violent Secessionist, but is now released upon his parole because of the sickness of his wife.
Yesterday the troops found 23 stand of arms in the county jail, concealed under beds.-- Dugan, the jailor, an active Secessionist, has fled.
A large amount of valuable information about the plans of the enemy, their past operations, and the number of their forces, has been gleaned from the private correspondence and papers of Capt. Nadenbush, commander of the Berkeley Border Guard.
Rumors prevail of General Johnston's Secession column having been reinforced from Richmond to the number of 7,000.
This, however, is deemed unreliable.
Unless the wanton destruction of private property is stopped upon this line, every ten miles the column marches an additional regiment will be required to protect property.--The Commanding General has given strict orders, but as yet no example has been made.
Gen. Patterson's dispatch relative to the number of the enemy engaged at Hainesville on Monday, has been sadly perverted by the telegraphic operators.
His letter-book shows that he wrote two thousand and not ten thousand.
The 8th Pennsylvania regiment, Col. Emly commanding, reached here to-day.
Williamsport is guarded by the 4th Connections Regiment.
Martinsburg, Saturday, July 6--There is no movement as yet toward Winchester.--Some firing was exchanged between the pick.
ets of the 7th Regiment and Captain Girard's company yesterday, which resulted in the retreat of the Confederates.
It is believed that some were wounded.
No hostile advance has yet been made by the enemy.
Capture — another alarm, &c.
Washington, Saturday afternoon.--Two of the Federal pickets were captured this morning at the house of a man named Small, about two and a half miles below here. They were surrounded by the Confederate cavalry. Their capture was entirely owing to their imprudence in venturing beyond their posts. Under a false report the 8th, 16th and 9th Pennsylvania Regiments, the Scott Legion and Captain Royal's company of the 21 cavalry, turned out and marched two miles southward to-day at noon. There was some firing upon the extreme right at a few scattered troopers, but no casualties occurred so far as I have been able yet to learn. Gen. Johnston, I believe, has now 25,000 men between this point and Winchester. His cannon have been increased to twenty-two pieces, of various calibre. In the affair of to-day the Scott Legion led the advance and marched farthest toward the supposed position of the enemy. Gen. Cadwallader and staff rode in the advance of the column. In the affair at Hainesville, the other day, Gen. Patterson commanded in person.From Western Virginia.
Buckhannon, July 8.
--A dispatch received here says that Gen. McClellan's column is within one mile of Laurel Hill, where the Confederates, under Gen. Garland, are posted.
A battle is probable within twenty-four hours.
Buckhannon, July 8.--A courier has arrived from Webster who reports that four companies of the 19th Ohio Regiment at Glenville, about forty miles distant to the southwest, are besieged by a picket regiment of Virginians and fifteen hundred militia, under O. Jennings Wise. Col. Tyler, of the 7th Regiment, has marched to their relief from Weston, and the 10th Regiment, Col. Lytle, has just gone forward to their rescue from this place.
