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The War News.

The intelligence yesterday, from all points at a distance from the city was cheering. We give a brief sketch of the situation:


The Yankees Defeated in Southwestern Virginia.

The advance into Southwestern Virginia by the enemy was made in two columns. One came from Tennessee towards Bristol, and consisted of four regiments (two white and two negro), under the command of Acting Brigadier General Carter, a notorious Tennessee renegade. The other came from Kentucky, through Cumberland gap, and numbered eight thousand men, under General Bainbridge. They were to form a junction in Tazewell county, and then move on Saltville. On Friday, however, before getting to the Virginia line, Carter was attacked by General Vaug four miles from Carter station, on the East Tennessee and Virginia railroad, driven to the station, and there routed. The column of General Burbridge halted at Richland, in Russell county, Virginia, on Friday, and there waited the arrival of Carter. As he did not, for the best of reasons, arrive, Burbridge moved forward on Saltville, after previously starting a raiding party of five hundred cavalry to go around to Wytheville and cut the Virginia and Tennessee railroad at that point. He arrived at Saltville on Sunday, and at noon assaulted our works about three miles from the town. The assault was bloodily repulsed, and, after a brief interval, was renewed with a still more disastrous repulse. He then retired at night, leaving about seven hundred killed and wounded in our hands. Our loss was fifteen killed and seventy wounded. The following official dispatch from General Echols was received at General Kemper's office yesterday:

"Salville, October 3, 1864.
"To Major-General Kemper:"
"We whipped the enemy badly here yesterday, and he has retired in confusion, leaving his dead and wounded in our hands — among them a brigadier-general and a good many officers. There were two or three regiments of negro troops, which were badly cut up. The reserves and detailed men acted splendidly. The enemy's force was about six thousand, as near as we could estimate. We are in hot pursuit.

John Echols, Brigadier-General."

The following is the dispatch of General Lee to the War Department:

"Headquarters Army Northern Virginia," October 4, 1864.
"Hon. Secretary of War:
"General Breckinridge reports that the enemy attacked Saltville on the 2d instant and received a bloody repulse.

"They retired during the night in great confusion, apparently in the direction of Sandy river, leaving most of their dead and wounded in our hands.

"He is pursuing them.

"All of our troops behaved well.

The party which started for Wytheville got as far as "Tazewell Courthouse, and have not been heard from since.--The defeat of Burbridge, coupled with the failure of Sheridan to reach Lynchburg, are two disasters which will make a marked change in Grant's plans. Had Sheridan reached Lynchburg, and Saltville been captured, the Virginia and Tennessee railroad would have constituted a line of communication for getting supplies through Cumberland gap, which would have been most advantageous to the enemy, and which would have greatly facilitated the grand plan of flanking General Lee, by way of the south side, and cutting the roads leading south from Richmond.


The advance of General Price into Missouri.

If General Price continues his march upon St. Louis with the rapidity which has already characterized his movements the city will fall into his hands. There are three railroads running out of the city, and all three have been cut. The most important, the North and Missouri, by which the city could receive reinforcements, was cut at Centralia by our cavalry on the 28th, and two passenger trains captured. On these trains were a score of soldiers, whom the frightened passengers that escaped and returned to the city reported, as usual, had been murdered. The Pacific Missouri road was cut at Osage on the same day; and upon the St. Louis and Iron Mountain railroad General Price himself is advancing. On the 29th, his cavalry was at De Soto station, twenty-four miles from St. Louis, and his army was at Potosi station, ten miles this side. The "citizens" were hurrying into the town for protection. General Rosecrans has no regular troops to defend St. Louis with, and its capture will be easy if no time is given him to receive reinforcements by way of the river. The Yankees have already started twelve steamers to him from Memphis laden with troops General A. J. Smith, whom Forrest has thrashed so badly, is in command of the cavalry in Missouri, and is "watching" Price's movements.


Movements of General Forrest.

General Forrest is still having his own way in Tennessee. General Rousseau, who was sent out from Nashville by the Yankees to catch him, had a fight with him at Pulaski, and is now represented by the enemy's account as slowly retreating

towards Nashville; and Forrest has turned off to the left towards Fayetteville, the terminus of a branch road from Dechard. This is the route to Memphis, and the ubiquitous Forrest may next turn up there, especially as the garrison has gone to relieve Rosecrans at St. Louis. His men are tearing up the road and burning the trestle-work as they go. They captured two trains at Big Shanty on the 27th. Dispatches from Nashville say that both roads going south from there (forming Sherman's line of communication) are cut, and there is no longer telegraphic communication with Sherman.


From General Early.

An official dispatch, received at the War Department from General Early, reports the enemy north of North river, his cavalry occupying the north bank of that stream, his infantry being near Harrisonburg. After slight skirmishing the enemy's cavalry fell back from Mount Crawford. Mount Crawford is in Rockingham county just north of North river. It is about sixteen miles the other side of Staunton and eight miles this side of Harrisonburg.


The raid in Northern Virginia.

The raiding party mentioned yesterday as the day before at Russell's Hill, fifteen miles from Gordonsville, has returned without attempting a raid.

On the Central road, official dispatches at the War Department report a small force of the enemy's cavalry and some infantry in Culpeper county, who are engaged in rebuilding the bridge at Rappahannock station. The Yankees are again running trains on the road to Rappahannock station.


Around Richmond.

Yesterday all was quiet. The enemy are busily engaged in strengthening the works they held on Monday. There were several rumors in town during the day of advances in force, &c., on the part of the Yankees, but none of them proved correct. In our report of the defence of Fort Gilme, it should have been stated that the Louisiana Guard Artillery was the battery which so successfully repelled the enemy's assaults.

At Petersburg all was quiet.


General Hood's position.

It was stated positively yesterday, in some official circles, that General Hood now has his army directly in Sherman's rear, though the exact locality it is not prudent to state.

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