From the North.
Our Northern dates are as late as Thursday, April 3. The news is by no means important, and we therefore make very brief selections:
Woodstock, Va., April 2.
--Afternoon.--The rebels, when retreating yesterday, attempted to burn a bridge over the creek near Narrow Passage, but it was extinguished.
The magnificent railroad bridge, a hundred feet high, over the same stream, was burnt by
Jackson when retreating from
General Shields.
A beautiful gray stallion, said by contrabands to be
Colonel Ashby's, was shot yesterday near this town.
The ball must have wounded the rider in the thigh.
The current report, however, that
Ashby was wounded, is not credited at headquarters.
Some of
Ashby's scouts made their appearance early this morning on the high, wooded ridge on the opposite side of the
Stony creek, beyond
Edinburg.
They were fired on by some of the 29th Pennsylvania, when
Ashby unmasked four guns and threw shells into our camp.
The rebels subsequently retreated under the fire of our guns.
During the day they frequently interfered with our bridge builders by shelling them at long range.
A foot bridge has, however, been completed, and our skirmishers and some of
Andrews's Sharpshooters are now on the other side beyond the town.
Second Lieutenant Duff and two privates of
Ashby's cavalry were captured yesterday.
Lieut Duff admitted that he was carrying dispatches, but refused to divulge their contents or who they were from.
An intercepted letter, of recent date, from a rebel line officer, speaks significantly of an anticipated open rebellion in
Maryland; but this is regarded as one of the means resorted to by the Secession leaders to dupe their followers into continued resistance.
The expansive railroad bridge at
Edinburg was burned by
Jackson yesterday.
There is only one locomotive at this end of the
Manassas road, and no cars.
Ashby's cavalry were reinforced to-day by two or more heavy guns, with which he practiced on us at long range.
The firing of yesterday shows the accuracy of our cannoneers.
In a field where
Ashby made a stand were counted shell within a space of one hundred and fifty feet, fired at a mile and a half range.
The valley of
Shenandoah shows great neglect of agriculture.
The men, women and children, who seem to have unlimited confidence in the
Yankee troops, hold unrestricted intercourse with them.
Gen. Banks is here and
Gen. Shields at
Strasburg.
A division post-office has been established here, but the mails are irregular at present.
Winchester, April 2.--Fourteen rebel victims of Sunday's battle were seen to-day at a house near
Newtown.
Six had died; the remainder were wounded.
They had been deserted by their own physicians, but were cared for by ours.
Subsequently, two rebel soldiers paid a visit to their wounded friends and were captured.
Summary of news.
The Baltimore
American, of Thursday, has the following:
‘
Through
Fortress Monroe and other sources we gather to-day a variety of interesting intelligence from Southern a papers.
The
Norfolk papers are perfectly aware of the movements at
Old Point, notwithstanding the papers on this side say nothing in relation to them.
Even the visit of
Vice-President Hamlin with a party of ladies to the Fortress on Sunday is stated in the Richmond papers of Tuesday.
Memphis papers of the 27th and a Charleston
Mercury of the 22d ult. have been received at
Cairo.
’
By advices from the vicinity of
Savannah we learn that the surrender of Fort Pulas it was daily expected.
The rebel force there had been cut off from all communication with
Savannah for thirty days. A proposition had been made to allow the garrison to withdraw, but
General Sherman demanded an unconditional surrender.
An offer had been made by the friends of the
Rebel officers to give $30,000 to any one who would rescue them.
General Sherman was about to demand the surrender of the fort, and if refused would commence to shell it.
Our special correspondent at
Fortress Monroe furnishes an interesting collection of news from that point.
The rebels sent a flag of truce down from
Norfolk on Tuesday, bringing a package of letters from the
Federal prisoners so dishonorably retained by the rebels, and a communication to
Gen. Wool from
Gen. Huger.
The intelligence from
Norfolk strengthens the belief that the
Merrimac will again venture out. A rumor, but not considered reliable, prevailed at
Fortress Monroe that
Yorktown had been abandoned,
Magruder's force falling back to
Richmond.
Thirteen rebel prisoners captured at
Winchester arrived here yesterday, and were forwarded to
Fort Delaware.
The commissioners appointed to examine the Western Department, under
Gen. Fremont's administration, have made a report exposing gross frauds and wide-spread demoralization among the official circles and their dependents in that Department, but exculpating the merchants, mechanizes and manufacturers from any share in these frauds.
At last accounts
Col. Carter, in command of the
Tennessee Union troops, had possession of
Jackson borough, in
East Tennessee, having made his advance through what is known as Baptist Gap.
Capt. Milward, of
Col. Mundly's cavalry battalion, was the first to enter the town with his company.
The force of rebels at
Cumberland Gap is variously estimated, and are said to be receiving some reinforcements.
An
Arkansas correspondent of the St. Louis
Republican asserts "that a note has been received by
General Seigel from the
Confederate Governor of
Arkansas, saying that, if they were not driven out of this State in ten days, he would issue an order for the
Confederates to lay down their arms and leave the
State.
An official dispatch to the Navy Department from
Commodore Dupont states that the rebels have withdrawn their batteries on
Skidaway and
Green Islands, near
Savannah, thus giving us control of
Vernon and
Wilmington rivers, which form important approaches to
Savannah river.
The United States Senate yesterday passed the
House resolution — ayes 32, noes 10 --suggested by the
President, declaring that the
United States ought to co-operate, by giving pecuniary aid, with any State which may adopt the gradual abolition of slavery.
The bill for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia was further discussed, but no vote taken.
The House of Representatives yesterday passed the bill to assign the command in the field without regard to seniority in rank.
An order was issued for the arrest of
A. Higgins, for refusing to testify before the
Committee on Government Contracts.
The Tax bill was further considered in Committee of the Whole.
