April 1.—The United States steamers Jacob Bell and Stepping Stone, visited Evansport, Va., this day. A boat’s crew from each vessel was sent on shore. They visited nearly all the batteries in that vicinity, including one on a high hill, about half a mile back of Evansport, where was found the gun that Capt Eastman had attempted unsuccessfully to burst. It is a thirty-two pounder. This battery, aided by field-pieces, was intended to cover the retreat of the rebels through the woods in the rear, in the event of their being driven from the lower battery. It was defended by rifle-pits.
Several men went a considerable distance into the country, but there were no signs of rebel troops nor inhabitants. Both parties of seamen subsequently returned on shore, in command of Lieut. Commanding McRea, of the Jacob Bell, proceeding inland, where they found five rebel store-houses, containing hay, cutting-machines, platform scales, and other useful apparatus and implements. They set fire to the buildings, which were entirely consumed. — Ohio Statesman, April 3.
—In accordance with the orders of Major-Gen. Hunter, Gen. Benham this day assumed the command of the northern district of the department of the South, constituting the First division of the army of the South, said district comprising the States of South Carolina, Georgia, and all that part of Florida north and east of a line extending from Cape Canaveral, north-west to the Gulf coast, just north of Cedar Keys and its dependencies, and thence north to the Georgia line. —Benham’s General Orders, No. 1.
—To-night an armed boat expedition was fitted out from Com. Foote’s squadron, and the land forces off Island Number Ten, in the Mississippi River, under command of Col. Roberts, of the Forty-second Illinois regiment The five boats comprising the expedition, were in charge of First Master J. V. Johnson, of the St. Louis, assisted by Fourth Master G. P. Lord, of the Benton, Fourth Master Pierce, of the Cincinnati, Fourth Master Morgan, of the Pittsburgh, and Master’s Mate Scanille, of the Mound City, each with a boat’s crew of ten men from their respective vessels, carrying in all one hundred men, exclusive of officers, under the command of Colonel Roberts. At midnight the boats reached the upper or Number Ten Fort, and pulling directly on its face, carried it, receiving only the harmless fire of two sentinels, who ran on discharging their muskets, while the rebel troops in the vicinity rapidly retreated; whereupon Col. Roberts spiked the six guns, mounted in the Fort, and returned with the boats uninjured.—(Doc. 112.)
—At Nashville, Tenn., last Saturday, Messrs. Brennan were arrested by Col. Matthews, provost-marshal, and paroled until ten o’clock yesterday morning, when they were again paroled till noon to-day. Sunday, R. B. Cheatham, Esq., Mayor of the city, was arrested, and paroled till twelve M. yesterday. He appeared at that hour, and his parole was extended till twelve to-day. Yesterday, Messrs. Sharp & Hamilton, of the Nashville Plough Manufactory, were also arrested, and put under bonds of three thousand dollars for their appearance. The charge against these gentlemen is treason.
The Messrs. Brennan, iron-founders, are said to have manufactured cannon, shells, and balls for the Confederate States, and upon this, we believe, the charge against them is founded. Aiding and abetting the enemy, that is, the confederate States—is the basis of the charge against the Mayor. Messrs. Sharp & Hamilton, it is reported, instead of turning “swords into ploughshares,” converted plough-shares into swords and knives for the confederates, and thus made themselves amenable to the charge of treason against the United States.—Nashville Banner, April 1.
—Eastport, Miss., was shelled by the National gunboats Cairo, Tyler and Lexington, this day, at the conclusion of which the troops landed, but found that the rebels had fled, having taken away their last gun two days previous.—Cincinnati Gazette, April 9.
—A Reconnoissance was made from Newport News, Va., to Watts Creek, a distance of nine miles. The enemy appeared, three thousand strong, and opened with cannon on the National forces, but their balls passed entirely over them. The batteries were immediately got in position, and opened fire on the rebels, when their entire force broke and fled, fording across the creek in great confusion, out of range. The object of the reconnoissance being accomplished, the troops retired. The whole country, through which the Union troops passed, was formerly the garden spot of Virginia. It is now perfectly devastated, and but one house was left standing. The houses, fences and trees have been burned by the retreating rebels.—New York Commercial, April 3.
