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Southern War news.
movements and fighting in the West.

In another part of the Dispatch will be found intelligence concerning Gen. Lee--the latest from the Western army. We copy the following from the Lynchburg Republican of yesterday:

‘ From a passenger from Charlottesville, on Saturday, we learn that reports had reached that place, that the enemy had been repulsed in their attack upon Gen. Wise's column, of which Gen. Lee had taken command in person, on the Big Sewell on Tuesday, and had renewed the attack on Wednesday with the same result. Again on Thursday morning early the fight recommenced, and was raging with fierceness when the person who brought the report left the neighborhood of the battle ground.

It was confidently believed that General Lee would succeed in eventually defeating the enemy, as reinforcements had reached him, and others were on their way to join him, who would probably get up in time to take part in the battle.

The Federal loss is said to have been very heavy, while Gen. Lee, protected by his position, had suffered but very little either in killed or wounded.

We would again remind our readers that we do not vouch for the truth of these reports, merely giving them in the absence of any authentic intelligence. We hope, however, the facts may be as favorable to our forces as stated.


Picket firing on the Potomac — health of the army.

From our army under Gen. Beauregard we have a report that the enemy in strong force attacked and drove in our pickets in front of Munson's Hill, on Thursday evening, occasioning us the loss of two killed and two wounded slightly, while the Yankees suffered severely. Our men soon rallied, and being reinforced, in their turn drove back the enemy, and occupied their original ground.

Notwithstanding the orders of both Gen. Johnston and Gen. McClellan, picket firing is continually going on, resulting in the occasional killing and wounding of men on both sides. With the exception of picket fights, everything remains perfectly quiet in that section.

The health of the men is generally good, and the number of sick has rapidly decreased in the past week or two. Rumors of a speedy forward movement have obtained very general credit among the troops, and have had a fine effect in hastening the convalescence of the sick, and all look upon such a movement with bright hopes of a glorious victory for the South.


Arrest of Hatteras bankers.

A boat arrived at Newbern on Thursday from Hyde county, with six bankers from the Hatteras Banks, who, report says, are among the number who have recently taken the oath to support Lincoln's Government. They came over to Middleton, Hyde county, under a white flag to buy corn for the Federal garrison at Hatteras, as they claim; but instead of letting them have the corn, Major Hill, of the 7th Regiment, who is in command of the Federal troops in Hyde, thought it best to arrest them as spies and traitors, which he did, and sent them here under a military squad, where they have been furnished rooms in the large brick building on Craven street to await further hearing.


From Kentucky — proclamation of Gen. Robert Anderson.

Louisville, Sept. 22.
--The following proclamation has just been issued:

‘ Kentuckians:--Called by the Legislature of this my native State, I hereby assume command of this Department. I come to enforce not to make laws; and, God willing, to protect your lives. Enemies of the country have dared to invade our soil. Kentucky is in danger.

She has vainly striven to keep the peace with her neighbors. Our State is now invaded by those who professed to be her friends, but now seek to conquer her. No true son of Kentucky can longer hesitate as to his State and country. The invaders must and, God willing, will be expelled. The leader of the hostile forces who now approaches is, I regret to say, a Kentuckian making war on Kentucky and Kentuckians. Let all past differences of opinion be overlooked. Every one who now rallies to the support of our Union and our State is a friend. Kally, then, my countrymen, around the flag our fathers loved, which has shielded us so long.

I call you to arms for self-defence, and for the protection of all that is dear to freemen. Let us trust in God and our duty as did our fathers.

(Signed), Robert Anderson,
Brigadier-Gen. U. S. A.

Proclamation of the Governor of Kentucky.

Gov. Magoffin has also issued a proclamation ordering Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden to execute the purposes contemplated by the recent resolutions of the Legislature, in reference to the expulsion of invaders. Gen. Crittenden has accordingly ordered the militia of the State to be mustered forthwith into service.


The Louisville home Guard ordered out.

Hamilton Pope, Brigadier General of the Home Guard, also calls upon the people in each ward in Louisville to meet this afternoon and organize themselves into companies for the protection of the city.


Advance of confederates on Elizabethtown.

Louisville, Sept. 21
--It is rumored that General Buckner has advanced on Elizabethtown. He has issued a proclamation declaring that he will sustain the neutrality of Kentucky, and advances to give aid to the State Government to relieve itself of both belligerents, the State Legislature having been faithless to the will of the people. His advance guard, he says, is composed entirely of Kentuckians.


Union Speakers.

Hon. Joseph Holt, John J. Crittenden, Andy Johnson, and Horace Maynard are advertised to speak at a Union barbecue near Maysville, Ky., on Saturday, the 31st inst.


A New Northern Prison.

Boston, Sept. 21
--Orders have been issued from Washington to Capt. Kinsel, Quartermaster at this port, directing him to provide quarters and rations on George Island, in this harbor, for 100 political prisoners. The prisoners are expected to arrive in a few days.


Skirmishing on the Potomac.

A number of skirmishes have taken place lately on the Potomac, between portions of the 1st Regiment of our State troops and the Federalists from the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, in all of which the militia, as a general thing, have behaved with great bravery and coolness. Capt. Areheart's company, from Rockingham, exchanged about two hundred shots across the river on Saturday, the 13th. None were injured, although the balls from the Enfield rifles of the enemy passed very close to them. Capt. Areheart remarked afterwards that the only difficulty he experienced was in restraining his men from exposing themselves, so forward were they to get a shot at the enemy. Capt. Taylor's company, from Rockingham, and a portion of Colonel Ashby's cavalry, were fired on across the river on Sunday. The enemy fired with rifles, and also throw several shells from a howitzer cannon. The shells exploded near the men, but did no damage of consequence. The soldiers returned the fire with spirit and effect. Capt. Taylor killed one of the enemy with a rifle borrowed from Col. Ashby. The Federalists acknowledged one killed and three wounded. The troops of the line, so far from manifesting a craven spirit, have shown as much bravery as volunteers, and only need experience to make them as good soldiers.


The Western cities — refugees from Federal Dominion.

The Memphis Avalanche, of the 25th instant, says that the city, on the previous day, was crowded with refugees from Louisville and St. Louis, who fled hither for the purpose of enjoying the life and liberty such as was guaranteed them by the Government we once acknowledged. We would give the names of a score of these whom we know personally, were it not that their families and their property would be sacrificed on account of it.

One of the gentlemen referred to left here some two weeks since for the purpose of bringing his family from Cincinnati. A Virginian by birth, circumstances prevented him from sooner making the undertaking. He arrived in Cincinnati. made the necessary arrangements, and was on the point of leaving, when he was arrested as a spy. He underwent an examination which lasted four hours, conducted by the custom-house officer and wharfmaster of the city, when, after taking the oath, which he did under protest, he was permitted to depart. In company with his wife, he arrived at Louisville, where he was again subjected to a rigid examination. Foreseeing the difficulties he would encounter, he sent his wife back to Cincinnati, and determined to try it alone.

Navigation below Louisville has been entirely suspended, but Capt. J. B. Archer, of the Commercial, (an avowed Secessionist,) obtained permission to make one more trip. He secured passage, in company with some two hundred others in a similar predicament, and reached Henderson, where he employed a wagon to convey him to the State line.-- Many of the other passengers debarked at Owensboro', and came overland from that point.

When our informant left Cincinnati, a large number of volunteers were crossing from Ohio to Kentucky, and five hundred came down to Louisville on the same boat. The regulars at Newport Barracks had marched into the interior. Business in Cincinnati was at a perfect stand still, and the work of enlisting had nearly played out. At Louisville a Secessionist dare not utter his sentiments. The Union men, it is said, deprecate the suppression of the Louisville Courier, one of the editors of which Mr. McKee, had been ‘"Bastille."’ Capt. Hardeman is supposed to have fled to Nashville.

A large party arrived from St. Louis yesterday. In addition to ‘"taking the oath,"’ which seems to be very popular up there, they were permitted to leave the city only upon their parole of honor. In issuing permits, the name, age, color of eyes, hair, the height, the destination, etc., etc., are put in it, and nobody to whom the slightest suspicion attaches can leave the city. To such a point of slavery has Lincoln reduced that city that the sentiments and acts of each citizen are known, and he is a marked and ruined man who is opposed to ‘"the powers that be."’ Acts of inhuman barbarity have struck terror to the souls of the most daring.

Six gun-goats are being built at St. Louis. Two of them will be finished by the first of November, and the others will not be completed until December. These will all draw six feet of water.

A proclamation for all ‘"loyal"’ engineers to come forward and take service with the Government had been issued, which caused quite a flutter among that class. It was understood that a similar ‘"order"’ would be issued for the benefit of pilots, and a sudden Secession movement was accomplished by all who could leave. The St. Louis refugees went to Louisville, where they took the Commercial and landed at Owensboro', from which place they made their way overland to the Tennessee line.

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