December 12.—A skirmish took place near Corinth, Miss., between a body of Union troops, under Colonel Sweeney, Fifty-second Illinois, and a rebel force, commanded by Colonel Roddy, resulting in a rebel loss of eleven killed, thirty wounded, and forty prisoners. The Union party lost one killed and two prisoners.—One thousand seven hundred and fifty paroled Union prisoners, captured by the rebel guerrilla chief, John H. Morgan, arrived at Nashville, Tenn., this day.
—A Reconnoissance was this day made by a strong force of Union troops, under the command of General Ferry, to the Blackwater River, Va. The rebels were discovered, in great strength, all along the river in the vicinity of Zuni. After an artillery fight of three or four hours, in which the rebels were driven back, the National force returned to their camp at Suffolk.—(Doc. 71.)
—This afternoon the gunboat Essex, accompanied by the transport Winona, while making a reconnoissance of the fortifications at Port Hudson, was fired upon by a party of rebel artillerists, under the command of Captain Boone, and compelled to retire.—About day-break this morning, a large body of General Stuart’s rebel cavalry entered Dumfries, Va., and captured thirty-five National pickets and sutlers. After destroying the telegraph and several Government wagons, they retreated, and the town was soon after occupied by the Union troops, under Brigadier-General Steinwehr.—A skirmish took place on the Kinston road, about fourteen miles from Newborn, N. C, between the advance column of the expeditionary forces, under General Foster, and a small body of rebels, resulting in a rout of the latter with some loss.—(Doc. 73.)
—The rebel salt-works, at Yellville, Ark., were completely destroyed by a body of Union troops, under the command of Captain Milton Birch. Six thousand dollars’ worth of saltpetre was destroyed. The works cost the rebels thirty thousand dollars.—(Doc. 70.)
—Brigadier-general D. S. Stanley, with a strong force of National cavalry, made a descent from Nashville, this morning, upon Franklin, Tenn., and after routing the rebels from the town, destroying mills and other property useful to them, returned to his camp, having lost but one man. Five rebels, including one lieutenant, were killed, ten wounded, twelve taken prisoners, and a large number of horses were captured.—Fredericksburgh, Va., was occupied by the National troops, under General Burnside.
