The New York Herald Newspaper, December 19, 1862, Page 1

WHOLE NO. 9593. IMPORTANT FROM NORTH CAROLINA. ‘The Reported Repulse of the Union Fores Under Gen. Poster at Kinston. Shetehes cf the Rebel General Evans and the Union General Foster. ‘ Description of the Intermediate Country. Destruction ef Plymouth and Sketch of the Place, Bory ‘We republish from yesterday's esue = despatch from the rebel Major General Evans, commanding the rebel forces at Kinsten, North Carolina, to General Cooper, whieh was received by way of Nashville. It is as fol- lews:— Busron, N. C., Dec. 14, 1862. To General Coorgr, Adjutant General, &c., — General Foster attacked Kinston, N. C., yesterday ‘with 16,000 men and nine gunboats. A fe them ten hours, and bave driven them back to his boats. no army ig still in my front. N. G. EVANS, Major General Commanding. If the above may be relied upon, it would appear that the Union forces have met with as severe a check in this ‘vieinity as at Fredericksburg, although perhaps not quite 90 bloody. When last heard from at Newbern by scouts ‘&o., the robels bad at Kingston but parts of five Yegiments and two batteries of artillery, with six ether guns mounted in earthworks. Other reports, Bowever, by way of Suffolk and Norfolk, stated ‘that General Evans, with forty thousand men, had wecently been despatched to this part of North Caro Mina, to rosist the expected advance of General Banks, who was supposed to be about to march upon Richmond, by way of North Carolina. There is but little doubt tha, the rebels had scries of fortifications similar to those at Fredericksburg, but perhaps not quite #0 strong. © The re. ported force at Goldsboro, as known at Newbern, by in. formation from scouts, was at this same time but very insignificant. ‘It would now appear that a large ferce, under Genera) Bvans, had really been thrown upon this line of our @erations, as the above despatch shows that 15,000 men were repulsed after ten hours’ fighting, which could Rardly have been the case had the number been as ama) ta when the Union scouts reported them, " QONSTITUTION OF THE UNION FORCES. ‘Taking the rebel despatch as a basis, we surmise that Gen. Foster’s command consisted of his own brigades of Massachusetts troops, with the addition of Gen. Wessel’s Drigade, which had been detached from Gen. Peck; Gén. Dedley’s artillery force, Col. Mix’s Third New York caval- vy and Col. Hickman’s Ninth New Jersey Volunteers. Gen. Foster, before he started from Newbern, organized @epecial provost marshal’s corps or guard, giving the @ief officer of that corps discretionary powers to shoot down any man discovered pillaging or in any other way eating disgracefully. WHO 18 GENERAL EVANS? Brigadier General Nathan George Evans is a native of Sowth Carolina, He entered the Military Academy in 2004, and graduated at West Point en the 0th of June, 1046, standing No. 36 in a class of thirty-eight members— Jest but two. In his class we find the names of Genera, Buford and others of the Union army, Stonewall Jackson and others in the rebel service. He was appointed to . peoond lieutenancy in the First United States dragoons in July , 1848, and was transferred to the Second dragoons fm September, 1849. In March, 1855, he became first Meutenant of the Second cavalry, and was promoted toa @aptaincy in the follewing year, which position he held ‘under Major Van Dorn, when the latter commanded the ex- pedition against the Comanches in 1858, winning no little @istinction for his bravery in the severest battle of thecam- paign , near Witehita village, in Texas. His connection with ‘(Me rebels is cotemporaneous with the secession of South arolina, by whose Governor he was appointed adjutant general of tbe regular forces of the State. He was subse- quently appointed brigadier general, and, in conjunction ‘with Generals Jackson and Cocke, commanded the left ‘wing of the rebel forces at the battle of Bull run, in which engagement he was in immediate command of the brigade eemposed of Wheat’s battalion, Colonel Hay’s Seventh Louisiana Volunteers and the Washington artillery. He alec commanded the forces at Edwards’ Ferry during the memorable massacre of Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1861, and hen he. Sdth of June, 1846, standing. number four in bis class, in whieh we find the names of Major Generals George B. ;J. 1b, Rena, D. N. Couch, C. C: Gilbert, Brigadier Genorals 8. D. Sturgis, Geo. Stoneman, Jas. Oakes, J. N. Palmer, @. H. Goraon; Colonels Rush,’ Majilton and others fm the Unien army. He was, on the Ist ef July, 1646, Drevetted sesond Meutenant of engineers in the same eorpe with the rebel General Gustavus W. Smith and General MoCielian. On the 20th of August, 1847, he was Provetted first lieutenant for gallant and meritorious con. I i rt : i September 1, 1848, and 8, 1847. He wae Assistant Professor of En- ‘at the Military Academy during 1854, and jn that year was made a full first lieutenant of On the ist of July, 1860, he was made a full He was also one of the brave few who #0 long gallantly defended Fort Sumter against the rove! Of South Carolina. Afver his return from that ‘was actively engaged in the superintendence of fortifications at Sandy Hook, and there showed some of his engineering qualifications. He also @uperintended at the time of its constraction the werk on ‘Bogue Ieland, North Carolina, known as Fort Macon. In con” @idoration of his military capacity and experience, he was created by the President a brigadier general of volunteers, and attached to the famous Burnside expedition. He wa, tm North Carolina ot the time when General Parke, the military commander of the expedition that succeeded in the retaking of Fort Macon, reduced that work, on the ‘Mtb of April, 1362, and also assisted at the taking of Roanoke island, Newborn, Beaufort, &c. When General Burnside left North Carolina in August, 1862, it was made tmto weeparate department from the Ninth army corpa, end given into the charge of General Foster, who has been sade a major general, with a commission dating from Sualy 18,1862. General Foster's forces made the success fal advance upon Hamilton, N. C., which ‘was Occupied on the 4th ef November, 1862. Im this last advance upon Kinston we have yet to leam from Union sources ‘whether it be ® repulse or mot; but, jndging (rom his former actions, it will only be #0 frem overwheiming Opposition. THR OBJECT OF THR SXPEDITION. It will be seen, on reference to the map, that the object Of this expedition was to take possession of Goldsboro, which is the junction of the railroads running to Rich. mond on the/north, Raleigh on the north of west, wii. mington and Charleston on the south, and Newborn on the south of east. As the fortifications at Kinston pre- wented the gunboats from ascending the Novse river higher than that point, and also provented the Union eet THEN NEW YORK, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1862. PRICE THREE CENTS. GENERAL FOSTER’S NORTH CAROLINA EXPEDITION. The Reported Repulse of Our Forces at Kinston---Importance of the Mov-— -nt---The Destruction of Plymouth. © p MAYS V. te 4 me 6 comes ed © == oven —= Ne SI WO0DWYRTH pees. priacewaxp SG ae % y, OxFSHD/ gphenoel SON \ ay ) d] SUMMERVILLE ‘ x R YSBORO, Having specified the object of the expedition, to com- plete the account we willgive a brief description of the country from Newbern to Goldsboro, beginning with a SKETCH OF KINGTON AND VICINITY. Kinston is ® post village of Lenoir county, North Carolina, and is situated on the Neuse river. It is distant from Raleigh, in an air line drawn in @ southeasterly direction, about seventy miles, Dut is seventy-four miles by railroad. It is much farther by the turnpike road, which is anything Dut straight in its course. It is distant from Newbern ‘about thirty-three miles by railroad and about forty by water, and nearly that distance by the turnpike road. It hag not heretofore been of much commercial importance except as the capital of Lenoir county, which bas an area of about four hundred and fifty square miles, or about 288,000 acres. This county is situated in the south- eastern part of North Carolina, and is intersected by the Neuse river, which is navigable by large boats throughout the county. The surface of the country is nearly level, and the soil genewaliy of. sandy uajure. The county was formed in 1701, and named in honor of. Genera) ‘William Lenoir, aa officer in the war of the Revolution. ‘The population in 1850 numbered 7,828, and in 1800, 10,220, of whom one-baif were slaves. SEBTCH OF GOLDSBOR ) AND VICINITY. Goldsboro, often spelled Goldsborough, is an import- ant post village of Wayne county, N. C. At this place 1 found the junction of the railroads running from Raleigh to Newbern and Beaufort, amd trom Rich- mond threugh Petersburg and Weldon to Wilmington and Charleston, 8. C. I is distant from Ralsigh by rail- road about forty-eight miles, and from Kinston about twenty-six miles. It is also distant from Weldon about seventy-seven miles, from Wilming_ ton about eighty-five miles, from Petersburg one hundred and forty-one miles, from Richmond one hundred and sixty-three miles,and from Charleston, South Carolina, about three hondred miles. It is the capital of Wayne county, and is situated on the Neuse river. The first house was built in 1841; bot it was not until the year 1848 that it began to show any very great sign of im- provement. From that time, however, it improved rapidly until it became one of the most flourishing places in the State. The public buildings are new and are considered remarkably fine. Steamboats can asceod the river as high as this place for about two-thirds of the year. ‘Three newspapers were at one time published in Golds- boro, which had then a flourishing seminary for each sex. The population in 1850 numbéred about fifteen bundred, and has since increased, Wayne county, which is situated in the east central part of the State, has an estimated area of four hundred and fifty square miles, or 288,000 acres. It is traversed by the.Neuse river, which is navigable for steamboats, and tg bounded on the north-northeast by the Contentny creek. The surface of the country is pearly level, and the soil generally sandy, but is more fertile near the river, It is intersected by the Weldon and Wilmington Railroad and the North Carolina Railroad. The population of the county in 1860, according to the last census, was 14,006, of whom 5,451 were slaves, SKETCH OF NEUSE RIVER. ‘The Neuse river, on which the gunboats operated on this occasion, rises in Person county, in the northern part of North Carolina, and, next to Cape Fear river, is the largest river that rises an@ terminates in the State, The whole length is about three hundred | miles, and the general direction is southeasterly. Afver | passing Waynesboro, Goldsboro and Nowbera, it empties itself into the western part of Pamlico Sound, through ‘an estuary which is several miles wide and more than twenty-five miles long. It is navigable for steamboats throughout eiglit months of the yoar from its mouth to Waynesboro, over one hundred miles, Smaller boats can Sten Pa oie ES? re ‘DUOLEY; MOUNT OLIVEO sTRaBANE___/, FAISONS¢ STRICK ] Cand 13 f° reacnersys LEESBURGE WASH/NGTO 4 3 adacande | for the next mail. troops from marching along the turnpike or railroad to | ascend the river for two bundred miles. After it has | Golisboro, it became necessary to reduce them before proceeding further, and led to the action described in ‘bbe above despatch. passed through the middle part of its course the river flows through sandy plains, which are occupied by exten. sive forests of pitch pine. £9 AOL SBORO NEO NOKE 1. De ve ONO.2/H0 yy ES vow Destruction of the Town of Plymouth. OUR BOANOKE ISLAND CORRESPONDENCE. Roanoxe Istanp, N. C., Dec. 14, 1862. Attack Upon and Burning the Town of Plymouth, NV. C— ‘The Gunboat Southfield Injured—=The Fight, dc. ‘The town of Plymouth, N. C., was attacked on Wednes- day last by a party of rebels, who emtered about half-past four A. M., surprising the garrison and giving the gunboat Southfield an exceedingly warm salute. ‘The party numbered about one hundred and eighty, consisting of infantry, artillery andcavalry. On entering the town they drove our troops to the Custom House, a three story brick building, and opened upon them with field guns, s0on driving them from, it and scattering them toall points. They then planted their guns—three in number—upon the wharf, and opened fire upon the South- field at short range. One of the first shots entered the steam drum, which enveloped the steamer with scalding steam in an instant. Fortunately Ro one was injured by the accident; but the working of the engine was prevented, and at thesame time allac- cess to the magazine was cutoff. Upon this being dis- cavered, Captain Behm ordered the vessel to be dropped down the river, where she could be out of range of the enemy’s guns. As soon as the steam cleared off fire was again epened on the rebels, but with what effect is not known. It is said that several rebels were killed and wounded, and carried off by tbeir friends. During the engagement Wm. Armstrong, a sailor, had his right leg shet away, and death has since ensued from amputation of the stump. James Splarn, sailor, was shot in the leg by acannon shot, but mot dangerously wounded. Several others were slightly hurt. ‘The rebels occupied the town about ap hour and a half, and during thet time they laid three-quarters of it jo ashes. Many Union families were rendered houseless by this barbarous act. The most lamentable occurrence of the day was the shooting of Mrs. Phelps, wife of Joho Phelps, & prominent Union man, whose house was robbed of some eight thousand dollars in gold and then burned by some miscreant, who evidently bore him personal il} will. ‘The gunboat Commodore Perry, Capt. Chas. W. Flusser, ‘was not present at the time of the attack, having started on an expedition the evening previous, but laid at the mouth of the river. She came up on hearing the cannon. ading, but too late to participate in the engagement. The rebels had gone. We lost no men prisoners. Further particulars of the affair may reach me in time 1 understaad a grand expedition is just about to start for a point not to be mentioned at present. Roanoke Ist.axp, Dec. 14—Noon. Additional Particulart—The Troops Opposed to th- Rebels. ‘On Wednesday morning last, about five o'clock, a body of one hundred and fifty rebels made a dash into Ply- mouth, and attacked the Custom House, where the port guard, ove company of the Massachusetts Eighth, Captain Ewer, and one company of the North Carolima First, were stationed. There was but slight resistance, Captain Ewer ‘and some ef his men cscaping to the gunboat Svuthtield, Captain Bebto, then tying in tbe stream. Fifteen of Captain Ewer's company are reporter eap- tured, and stragglers were coming in at last accounts. Mrs. Phelps was killed by an accidental shot while entering the Custom House. Several on board the Southfield were badly wounded, and one has since died. About twelve shells were fired by the Southteld before she drifted out of range. Sketch of Plymouth. Plymouth was a post village and port of entry of North Carolina, and was also the capital of Washington county. It was about one hundred and fifty miles east of Raleigh, and about eight milos sonth of the Roauoke river where | it enters the Albemarle Sound. Jt was connected with | the Sound by asmall inlet called the Nag’s Head. It had an active trade at one time im tar and turpentine, which had every prospest before the rebellion of being greatly increased. ‘The shipping of the port on the 30th of June, 1852, amounted to an aggregate of 2,727 tons regis~ tered, and 1,346 tons enrolied and licensed. Ail the latter were employed in the coasting trade, and eighty-seven tons in steam navigation. During the year four sehoeners, ‘with an aggregate burthen of 285 tons, were admeanured at this port. A newspaper was, previous to the rebel- Hon, publisbe@ in this village. In the population was pearly a thousand, bed dur. ing the next decade. county is siteated in the eastern part of the State,st'the tnowth of the Roanoke river, and bas an estimated area of about four hundred equate miles, or 256,000 acres. The Albemarle Sound wasbes its northern border. The surface of the country is level, but much of it is covered by swamps, which produge cypress and red cedar. It was formed from ‘Tyrrell county in 1709, and bad in 1860 a population of five thousand six hundred and sixty-four. In 1860 the population numbered six thousand three bundred and fifty-seven, being an increase of only siz hundred and ninety-three in ten years. Of the total population, two thousand four bundred and sixty-five were returned at the last census as slaves. IMPORTANT FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. Attack om James Island by Union Gun- beatse—Supposed by the Rebels to be a Fetat. Cuanaston, Des} 14, 1962. ‘This morning the enemy's gunboats in Stono river, a tew miles below the city, opened fire on our pickets on James Island, below Secessionyille. After firing Gtty shells without effect they departed. The demonstration is eonaidered a feint to eccupy the attention of our troops in this neighberhood . ‘An emtertainment came off on the 9th inst. at Fort Sam. ter, at which Gen. Reauregard, Gen. Ripley, and the com mander of the French steamer Milan, were guests IMPORTANT FROM BERMUDA. Arrival of Blockade Ranamers from Kng- land, dec. ‘The steamer Seo Chuen, Captain Kennedy, arrived at thin port yesterday morning from St. Georges, Bormuda, having left that port oa the 14th inst. The Sze Chuen was bound from New York to China, but pat back to this port for repairs. Captain Kennedy reports that he loft at St. Georges the British trading steamers Phasbe, Harriet, Pinckoey, Justi- tia and Merrimac, suppesed having stores, aramunition, ko. , for the rebels, The Briti#h steamer cornubia arrived at St. Georges on the 6th instant from Fayal. After being boarded by the United States steatner Tuscarora, she sailed on the 13th instant for Trinidad; but without doubt she is bound for the American east. She is 4 eharp side-whee! steamer of 350 tons, and is said to be very fast. Her hull, masts and rigging are painted lead color. Reported Move: ts of Morgan's Gae- rillas. Lovmvitiz, Ky., Dec. 17, 1862. Reports are current w-day of the ingress of John Mor- gan’s guerillas imto Glasgow, Ky.; but those reports are utterly discredited at headquarters. Ca EHS, ; Interesting from ifax, A BUNDLE OF RNGLISW PAPERS PICKED UP ON“BABLE ISLAND ADDRESSHD TO TIS STHAMERS PRRSIA, CA- NADA AND NOVA SCOTIA—ARRIVAL OF THE DB. | ‘rROTT. Flautrax, Doo. 48, 1862, A dundie of English papers, dated October 81, addressed to tho steamers Persia, Canada and Nova Scotia, was found on Sabio Island previous te November 22. ‘A rovenue cuter will probaliy be dexpatehed to that vicinity to inquire if any wreck® have ocearred there, ‘The American staamer Detroit, for Now York, bag ar. « rived bere REWS FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK. Burial of the Slain in the Battle of Saturday. Interesting Statement of a Rebel Officer. TWE ENEMY’S WORKS IMPREQNABLE. Official Despatches of General Lee and. General Stuart, Ree Hmapquasirens, ARMY OF THR Potomac, Dec. 18—tvening. } Yesterday the rebels sent, under a flag of truce, a re- quest that we would bury our dead. A burying party acoordingly went over and continued their; labors to-day. Daring the truce Colonel Walton, Chief of General Lohbgstreet’s artillery, informed some of our officers that the rebel infantry force engaged on General Sumner’s front on Saturday was only two brigades; but that they had» large reserve mear by. He said our men exhibited the greatest bravery; but he considered the rebel post- tion impregnable, and that a force of five hundred theu- sand men would find it inpossibie to carry the heights in the face of their batteries. The rebel loss smal! compared with ours, from the that they were protected by a stone wall and rifle pits. Our losses, a6 heretofore reported, have been coa- siderably decreased by arrivals of stragglers in camp. ‘The enemy took nearly eight hundred prisoners from us, a considerable portion of whom wi bsent from thetr camps when we evacuated the south side of the river. The prisoners taken on both sides have been paroled. It ie stated that General Lee and General Longstreet came down to-day and held & conversation with some of our officers. ‘The flag of truce was withdrawn to-night, after all our dead were buried. Our Rappsharnoek Corresponde: Lerr Bank o Tus Rarrananwock , Dec. 16, 1862. The Wounded Near Fredericksburg—Hfect of the Weather During Their Removal—Scenes in the Mospital—A Suryeon Killed—Presentation of New Colors to the Irish Brigade, de. “All qaiet along the lines”’ is again the report from the army this morning. During all the day yesterday our ambulance corps, with ® large detail from the brigades, were engaged in remoy- ing the wounded from Fredericksburg, and this, coupled with the fact that work on tho railroad bridge bad Conped, lod to the belief that our forces were to be with, drawn; and such proved to be the faet; for during the night our forces were quietly withdrawn, and at daylight the last of them were over and the work of taking up the bridge commenced, an’ was coinploted ty @ short time, ‘The weather was remarkably favorable for the move ment of the army, but very unfavorable for the wounded, Bee Ree jt boing dark and cloudy woti! towards morning, when it eomusenced raining Ward, aod the wind blew with great force, driving the rain under the files which bad been put up for temporary shelter, blowing down many of the | aonts and deloging those laid out in the open air, and in | many cases Moding the tents in which the wounded were laying ‘The scene at the hospital of the Second corps as the rain ceagod this morning was truly sickening. In some of the toute he water was several uivhes deep; a d here Sat 18Y the sufferers, their wounded limbs covered with water, with nothing but a little etraw or bay between them and ‘the grouna, while others were limping about in the mud, With a wet blanket on their shoulders. ‘This hospital has been called, to distinguish it, Do gher. ty Hospital, from the ehief surgeon of the right grand ‘Wing of the army, and is under the charge of Medica! Director Justin Dwinelie, assisted by Dra, Rizer and Mor- ton, of Howard's: Drs. Reynolds and Gray, of Hancock's, and Drs. McEbright and Maul, of French’s divisions, as operating surgeons. ‘These gentiomen and their assistants have been unre- mitting in their attention to the wounded, working wish - out rest until nearly exhausted; but the Joss in the corps has been probably the heaviest of any in the division, it being the one te whom was assigned the task of carrying ‘he enemy's centre. ‘The list of wounded will attest with what bravery ‘they struggled to accomplish their mission and show the devotion of “Sumner’s old corps” to their fag and their commander. Among the killed occurs the name of De Haven, of the Fifteenth Massachusetts, who was strue& by a shell whe with is regiment in the streets of Fredericksburg, and almost instantly killed. ‘While the troops lay in the city yesterday a most inte- resting ceremony took place at the theatre, it being the formal presentation of the colors recently sent the Irish Brigade by their friends in the city of New York. The whole brigade—each man with a sprig of creon in hie hat—marched to the theatre where the presentation took place, interrupted occasionally by the thundering of the enemy’s cannon. General Meaghor is representod as hav- sPg been extremely eloquent and happy in hia remarks. Goneral Burnside stopped a moment in passing to partict- pate in the ceremony, and was loudly cheered by the men. The great loss in the Second army corps includes a large number of officers, and the confusion consequent upon their loss renders it impossible to procure anything Hike a correct list of the killed. On me Rarrananxook, Dec, 16—1:30 P. M. A Flag of Truce—The Rebels Stripping the Dead and Carrying Of Muskets, dc. A flag of truce from General Burnside was sent over this morning, asking a suspension of hostilities to bury the dead and naming General Wadsworth as the officer to arrange matters with the rebel oflicers with this objet. ‘The flag returned about noon ; but I have not been abie to learn the nature of the response. . Ever since daylight the rebels could be seen, by the aid of a glass, stripping our dead of their blunkots, haver- sacks and clothing, and carrying off the arms left on the field. This will no doubt all be accomplished before the terms can be agreed upon Uur Aquia Creek Correspondence. AQuia Creek, Va., Dec. 17, 186%. Sad Trade at the Depol—Loads of Killed, Wounded and Coffins—An Extempore Village—Buchange of Prisoners— How the Rebels Looked—Coll Weather, ie. ‘The disastrous events of tho last few days have added largely to the amount of business transacted at this depot, Thousands of the wounded from tho sanguinary and fruitless battle of Saturday last have been passing through here, and on the arrival of the morning train from Falmouth, which connects with the regular boat to Washington, a procession of coffins, borne each by some half dozen men, may be seen proceeding down the whari to the boat. ‘The loss on Saturday in killed and wounded alone is not less than eight thousand. : Nobody hereabouts believes that General Burnside made the movement across the Rappahannock on his own responsibility and judgment. That we could effect » lodgment upon the other side of the Rappahannock no gne doubted ; that we could dislodge the rebels from their position, or even maintain our ewn on that side, there was not one chance in fifty. This must have been apparent to General Burnside, as it was to every other person of ordinary military perceptions, or even without any military training whatever. ‘This is now a busy place indeed, and the whistles o! arriving and departing steamboats and tugs and the seream of the locomotive may be heard at any hour ot the day or night. An extensive village has been impro- vised here; but it is densely populated, and strangers and reporters arriving here are sorely troubled to dnd a resting place or food. Of course such @ thing asa hotel is unknown, and there are no regular dining or eating saloons, and, except for the employes of the government, but very little to eat. We have since Sunday and until this morning beon honored with the presence of about three hundred of the greybacks, who were taken prisoners at Fredericksburg and in the fight of Saturday. This morning they were sent back to Falmouth to be exchanged for prisonors taken from us by the rebels. They were a pretty jolly set, ragged and dirty, as all their men are, but still, ap- parently, yet far from a@ state of exhaustion. Most of them appeared to be rejoiced to go back; butane poor fellow, who thought he had got clear of Jéif. Davis and the confederacy for good, declared that he would never cross the Rappubaunock agnin if he bad to shoot bimsel, ‘The weather, until night before last, wae warm and springlike. During the night & severe rain storm came up, which lasted until about ten o’cleck yes- terday morning. Sivee thom it has been growing colder, until now the weather is quite severe. REBEL ACCOUNTS. OMcial Despatches from Generals Lee and Stuart. TELEGRAM FROM GENERAL LEE. Faapsnicnsacnd, Va., Dec. 14, 1862 General Coorsr:— ‘At pine o’cfick on Saturday morning the enemy attacked our right wing, and as the fog lifted, the battle raged-along the line from right to left usti oix P. M., the enemy being repulsed at all pointe, thanks be to God. As usual, we have to mourn the loss of many brave mon. I expect the battle will be renewed to-mesrow morning. Gen. Hampton reports that he entered Dumfries and captured twenty wagons with steres, and fifty prisoners. Gen. Sigel is expected at Dumfries to-morrow. R. E. LEE, Geveral-in-Chief. @ TELEGRAM FROM GENERAL STUART. Faavenicksscns, Va., Dec. 14, 1863. ‘We bave hada great fight and repulsed the enemy at all points. We have lost many good mem. We have 1,500 prisoners. SPECIAL DESPATCH TO RICHMOND. Faseongers report that the enemy was driven back two miles yesterday, and our troeps occupied the battle Held this morning. Our loss te varlously stated—probably net more than 600 killed and 2,500 wounded, The Dody of Gen. Tom Cobb was brought down this evening. The enemy's loss is reported immense. A thoussnd lay dead in one field. Gen, Hooker, Union, is reported killer NEWS FROM HARPER'S FERRY y of the Rebels After the With- drawal of Gen, Sigel’s Corps. ‘Ag soon as Gen. Sigel’s corps started to reinforce the army at Fredeticksburg, the rebels appeared in the vicinity and threatened to enter Harper's Ferry and burn the stores. They met with @ warm reception from Cole’s Maryland cavalry. They retired am@made a dash ‘at the convalescent camp in Loudan county. Driven from there they made a raid at Poolesville. Gen. Kinly’s Maryland brigade anda company of cavairy from Mar- timeburg bas since arrived at the Ferry. NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONRDE. Fortars* Mownon, Dee. 11, 1862. ‘This morning the Baltimore mail boat brought dows one hundred and three rebel prisoners, captured at An- tietam, many of whom were wounded. ‘the fiag of truco boat Metamera loft this afternoon with them and about one hundred others for City Point, in charge of Captain Alexander Mann, of the Third New York regiment. There 18 nO truth whatever in the reports that General Banks of General Emery 18 co-operating in North Carolioa Acti | qth General Foster and the troops in General Dix'e department. It js rumored here that J. ©. Jones, Charies Davie, D. W Curtis, Mr, Phillips and one other have been captured bg the rebels while on their way from Norfoik to Kimabeth City. ‘They bad goeds to the amount of $20,000 on board a schooner In tow down the anal -_ -