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A rebel picket detachment at a house near Germantown.
Surrounding the house they took 12 prisoners, a capture effected, however, not without some show of resistance on the part of the enemy.
Over's dozen shots were fired from the house at our men. Captain Wilson was hit by one shot in the right ear, the hall passing through and making argumently but not dangerous wound in the back of the neck.
Sergeant Crumley was shot in the right leg, causing a painful but not serious flesh wound.
These were the only shots of the enemy that took effect.
While this firing was going on, a large company of mounted pickets, some of whom had escaped from the house, fled to a thicket near by, and opened fire upon our troops.--Major Curry, placing his revolver at the head of one of the captured prisoners, called out to the men in the thicket, if they fired another shot he would blow out the brains of every prisoner taken.
This bold threat stopped the firing, and caused the rebels to plunge spurs into their horses and beat a rapid retreat across an open field.
Subsequently, upon looking into the vacant wood, the body of a dead rebel was found, which, in their retreating haste, they had left.
One of the prisoners gave the name of the deceased as William Birbanks, and his residence as Burnwell Court-House, N. C. He says that the deceased was a lawyer and belonged to one of the wealthiest and most influential families in that place.
This was the only rebel killed, so far as known.
From traces of blood, it was evident that several had been severely wounded.
Besides the twelve prisoners, eight horses were taken.
Our Cavalry proceeded to convey their prisoners and booty to the division headquarters.
On the return the companies got separated.
One squadron, under command of Capt. O'Farrell, elated by their recent splendid performance, determined to made a dash towards Fairfax Court House on their own hook.
They had not advanced far before they had the satisfaction of taking four prisoners, one wagon and four horses.
The men surrendered without opposition.
The prisoners, horses and wagons, were all conveyed to General Smith's headquarters.
Both companies of prisoners belonged to the Second regiment of North Carolina cavalry.
They looked as though they had not been over-well fed, and their dress is quite as divers fled in color, fabric and appearance as those of Falstaff's celebrated recruits at Gad's Hill.
Of the position and condition of the main body of rebel forces, they state nothing additional to the facts communicated by former prisoners and deserters.
Seacoast and Lake Defences.
Not withstanding the assurances from official sources of the perfectly pacific character of the dispatches received from the British Government in reference to the causes of difficulty between the two nations supposed to exist, much anxiety is manifested here for prompt action on the report of the Select Committee upon Lake and Coast Harbor Defences, an abstract of which was published in the Washington correspondence of the Herald on Monday. It is regarded as one of the most important propositions before Congress, and next only to the pending financial scheme.Defeat of the Abolitionists by the passage of the Treasury note bill.
It cannot be disguised that there exists here a faction determined that the war for the restoration of the Union shall be perverted into one for the emancipation of slaves in the South. They have been earnest, active and unscrupulous in their efforts to embarrass the Administration and retard all the operations of the Government unless their abolition purposes were pandered to. The passage of the Legal Tender bill by the House of Representatives was a signal defeat of this emancipation or no-war cabal.Proclamation of the Federal "Governor" of North Carolina.
The invincible arms of the republic at length advance to the suppression of the great revolt against popular rights, and the national authority which has essayed to rob you of your American citizenship, and to enslave you to the will of relent less domestic tyrants, the holy banner of the Union, consecrated anew through its baptism of tears and blood, is borne by loyal hands, the symbol and pledge of your final and complete enfranchisement. Your silent and tearful prayers to God for rescue from the despotism that enthralls you are heard, and the hour of your deliverance approaches. The brave men who come among you are not foes but friends, and their mission is one of mercy and relief. The war they wage is not upon North Carolina and her people, but upon the rebels and traitors who have invaded your territory, and who hold you in constrained and protesting submission to their arbitrary power. To co-operate with those who now proceed to your liberation, and who seek to restore to you your ancient and inalienable rights, is your sacred duty, and a privilege which you will accept with eagerness and joy. A portion of your brother North Carolinians are already rejoicing in the restoration of their freedom under the protecting ensign of the nation. Side by side with that glorious flag they have placed the re-erected standard of loyal North Carolina, and acting in concert with citizens of other sections of the State, they have proclaimed a Provisional Government for the Commonwealth. An opportunity will soon be offered you to participate in the enjoyment of these precious and long-accustomed privileges. And that there may be no complaint in any quarter that your brethren first liberated from rebel thraldom have forestalled your action or anticipated a decision in which you had a right to share, I do now, by these presents, notify and require the voters of this Commonwealth to attend at the usual voting places as established by law, on Saturday, 22d February, 1862, an anniversary second in hallowed memory only to that of the proclamation of our national independence, at which time the ordinances of the Convention of November 18, 1861, a draft of which is hereto appended, will be submitted to the people for ratification or rejection. And in order that the State may forth with resume her participation in the councils of the Union. I do furthermore direct that, upon the same day aforesaid, the polls be opened for the election of representatives in the Congress of the United States to fill existing vacancies. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed, at Hatter as, this 22d of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-sixth.Federal account of the Partial Destruction of Harper's Ferry.
Sandy Hock, Md., Feb. 7, 1862.
--This forenoon Capt. Baylor and three of his men, concealed themselves behind a stone wall, just, above Harper's Ferry bridge, when one of them, either black or painted, by displaying a flag of truce, induced a loyal Virginian over.
When nearly across, Capt. Baylor and two others fired and killed the ferryman.
Our batteries on the heights shelled the buildings.
Subsequently the men crossed and set fire to twelve houses, including the Wager and another hotel, railroad building, &c. The whole lower part of the town was reduced to ashes.
A necessity existed for burning the buildings, as they had been hiding places for the rebel riflemen, who had been annoying our troops for weeks past.
The number of rebels was not known, but many were seen to mount their horses and leave the outskirs of the town by the Charlestown road.
This afternoon the rebel flag of truce, in the hands of three of Baylor's men, came to the ferry, but were warned off by Colonel Geary.
Large numbers of rebel pickets, mounted, were stationed all the afternoon near Bolivar.
"the Cumberland river expedition" marching to attack Fort Donaldson.
Louisville, Feb. 7.
--General Grant will attack Fort Donaldson to-morrow.
Three large steamers, Benjamin J. Adams, F. H. Fairchilds, and Baltic, left here for the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers this evening.
All quiet along the line of the Louisville and Nashville railroad.
A dispatch from General Halleck to Gen. Huell this evening says: ‘We have taken Fort Henry.
The enemy has retreated on Paris, leaving part of his guns.
Our cavalry are in pursuit.’
