The War News.
From an official dispatch received at the War Department yesterday morning it appears that the
Confederate force which threatened
Washington on Tuesday last, recrossed the
Potomac on the 14th, bringing off everything safely and in good order.
The dispatch further states that our loss during the invasion of
Maryland was slight.
The results of the expedition may be summed up as follows: A terrible fright of the Lincolnites, who for some days considered their capital in danger; and indeed the
Washington Chronicle admit that there were periods between Saturday night and Monday morning when the rebels might have dashed into
Washington and effected its capture, if not its occupation; the capture of a large number of cattle, horses, and a considerable amount of other property, the destruction of railroads and bridge's, and the withdrawals a portion of
Grant's army from the front of
Petersburg.
The apprehension that the "raid" will be repeated will doubtless keep the
Yankees in a constant state of anxiety, and cause them to keep two or three corps of their "veterans" at
Washington for the protection of the capital.
We understand that our forces crossed the
Potomac at
White's Ford, a point a few miles below
Leesburg, in Loudoun county.
There was no pursuit, and the crossing was elected without difficulty.
The Federal force believed to have been in
Washington was
Hancock's Second and
Wright's Sixth (formerly
Sedgwick's) army corps, and
Rickett's Fourth army corps from
Louisiana.
The two first named were detached from
Grant's army.
This probably constituted a force of from thirty to forty thousand men.
There was some picket firing along the lines on Sunday night, which at times became quite rapid, but nothing approaching a battle occurred.
The enemy continues his pastime of throwing shell into the city but if we except the disfigurement of a few houses and annoyance of non combatants, he has accomplished nothing by this barbarous and uncivilized practice.
The report of the death of
Grant seems to have originated as follows: A Yankee picket on the extreme right hailed our men and remarked, with an oath, "Well, I suppose you are satisfied, now you have killed
Gen. Grant." On another part of the line a picket said there was good news for the rebels from a certain locality, but would not specify what it was. And at still another point a picket volunteered the information that
Gen. Grant had been wounded in the arm by one of our mortar shells, and died from the effects of amputation.
The statements of Yankee soldiers must be taken with many grains of allowance.
We place but little confidence in them.
On Saturday night the citizens of
Petersburg were startled by the reports of heavy guns, which were subsequently ascertained to have proceeded from the enemy's batteries.
They did not damage.
Six Yankee prisoners, captured on the right of our lines on Sunday, were brought to
Richmond last evening and duly quartered at the Libby.
Operations down the river.
We saw yesterday two officers of artillery stationed on the north side of
James river; below
Richmond.
They knew nothing about the sinking of two Federal transports near
Harrison's Landing on Saturday, and stated that the battalion of artillery reported to have performed this exploit was quietly resting in camp at the time.
We learned however, that our batteries on Saturday morning opened on the
Federal gunboat
Hunchback, and struck her three times, when she withdrew to the protection of the bluffs in the vicinity.
The pontoon bridge and the
Yankee camp, which were in full view, were then shelled, and, as it appears, with some effect.
The Federal troops at the camp were seen double-clicking it to the shelter of their works, and, it is supposed, remained under arms all day, in the apprehension of an attack.
On Sunday night the C. S. gunboat
Nansemond was opened upon by a shore battery commanding the obstructions at
Trent's Reach.
Several shots were fired without effect.
Our batteries opened on Sunday night upon the enemy's pontoon bridge and camp, killing a number of horses and causing a hasty skedaddling of Yankees generally.
We had an interview yesterday with a gentleman who accompanied
Gen. Morgan's command on its recent expedition to
Kentucky.
The object of this movement, it appears, was to prevent a raid of the enemy, under
Hobson, upon the salt works and lead mines in
Southwestern Virginia, and proved a complete success.
On the 7th of June
Morgan's command engaged the enemy, seven hundred strong, at
Pound Gap, and routed them, pursuing them twenty miles and causing them to destroy their stores.
They next made a dash on
Mount Sterling, and captured four hundred of the enemy and large supplies of military and medical stores.
Three nights afterward they captured
Lexington, where they succeeded in obtaining fifteen hundred horses, a sufficient number to mount the entire command and supply the places of broken down and jaded animals.
Advancing then upon
Cynthiana, the enemy took refuge in the houses, and a portion of the town was burnt.
On the afternoon of the same day
Gen. Hobson came up from
Cincinnati with twelve hundred reinforcements.
These men were surrounded, and surrendered without unnecessary delay.
The next morning
Morgan's command commenced the return to
Virginia, and safely brought off the ambulance train with the wounded.
From papers found upon the
Yankee General Hobson it was ascertained that he was about to advance upon the salt works and lead mines in
Virginia, and it will thus be seen that
Gen Morgan's expedition was a timely movement.
He was to have a large force and twelve pieces of artillery.
While the above mentioned operations were in progress, detachments of troops were sent to the railroads, and succeeded in cutting them in five different places.
The whole number of prisoners captured was twenty-two hundred--numerically a Garger force than
Morgan's whole command.
They were paroled at different points in the State, so that they could not readily reorganize.
In less than three weeks this expedition marched seven hundred and fifty miles, performed an immense amount of work, and prevented the fullfilment of a design which, had it succeeded, could not have been otherwise than disastrous to
Virginia, and indeed the whole Confederacy.
With these results accomplished, it must be harsh judgment that would withhold from
Gen. Morgan and his command the credit which is justly their due.