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Camp Bragg, (near Suffolk,) Va., June 15, 1861.
Mr. Holden: Taking it for granted that you would like to be advised of the manner in which the 4th Regiment of N. C. Volunteers have fared, since they left the rendezvous at Garysburg, I have concluded to inform you.
A little fight occurred near Seneca Mill, which is on the Maryland side of the Potomac, some 28 miles above Washington. Lt. Col. Everett in command of three companies of District volunteers, about 200 men, being a detachment of Col. Stone’s column, who started in canal boats from Georgetown, and were obliged to leave them a few miles up, and march, the Confederates having cut the dam.
The most important event of the past week was the evacuation of Harper’s Ferry on Friday last by the Confederate troops. This step had so often been predicted, and denied with, such confident assertions of the impregnable fortifications erected there and of the determination of the Confederate leaders to make it the chosen point for a desperate stand, that the first reports were received with doubts and incredulity.— Confirmatory statements, however, of the withdrawal of pickets from all points above and below the Ferry, of the burning of the railroad bridge, and the destruction of provisions they were unable to carry off, finally confirmed the evacuation. The troops left in two columns. One column going toward Winchester with the presumed intention of joining the force at Manassas Junction ; the other retreating through Loudon county toward Leesburg. Col. Stone’s column of United States troops is in that vicinity, though it is supposed on the Maryland side of the Potomac, and a collision is among the contingencies.
Plymouth. Eng., Jan. 18—A dozen torpedo boat destroyers and minesweepers plied up and down Whitesand bay from early morning today until darkness set in, but failed to locate the submarine “A-7” which sank during maneuvers Friday.
Plymouth, Eng., Jan. 18.—An all-day search by a fleet of torpedo boats, to which were attached cables to sweep the bottom of Whitesand bay, failed to locate the sunken British submarine A-7. When darkness fell Saturday the commanding officers reluctantly ordered the vessels to return to their moorings.
San Pedro, Calif., June 16.—Evidence given the naval court today pointed at lack of air pressure in the gun mechanism as the cause, or at least one of the causes, explosion aboard the U. S. S. Mississippi, Thursday, when 48 men were killed.
Walter C. Ebell, turret captain of Turret No. 3 of the Mississippi, corroborated the evidence Saturday of Francis Majewski, plug-man in Turret No. 2, when the blast occurred, that the air pressure to clean out the gun barrels between shots and to close the gun breeches was weak.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
Butte, Mont., June 14.—Owing to the fact that the assistant manager of Columbia Gardens, the pleasure resort of this city, has trained the swans in the little artificial lake to bring to the shore articles thrown into the water, little Gertrude Onell owes her life.
It was understood during the session of the Legislature here last winter, that if the services of this able officer were desired in his native State, to aid in the reorganization of our militia system they could be obtained. Many of his friends were anxious that he should be elected Adjutant General, believing that his eminent qualifications for that post, in the event of secession of the State and war would make his services invaluable. We learn that the proposition was made to him by his friends directly, the terms agreed on, and that he consented to come in a few days however, without his being advised of it, the salary first fixed upon was reduced and Gen. Hoke was elected.