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considerable [[clashes?]] at Williamsburg. A fleet of gun boats proceeding up James river towards Richmond [[strikethrough]] were [[\strikethrough]] met with a reverse & Com. Rodgers was slightly wounded. A terrible battle is expected before long. We had a visit from Prof Barnard last week. He has been in Norfolk all winter. He said the college with which he was connected in Oxford Miss. was entirely broken up & the buildings occupied by soldiers. Of several hundred of the young men who had been under his charge ten per cent & been killed at the battle of Manassas. [[coffee stains]] [[He said?]][[the army?]] at Richmond was greater than ours. That the Southerners were full of courage & hope in their cause & were ready to fight desperately. We have received a letter from Mr. Harris giving us an account of the passage of the Gulf fleet up the Mississ & the taking of New Orleans. He says it is impossible to imagine the horrors of the scence The air was filled with shot & sheel & the shrieks  of the dying [[are?]] [[above?]] the [[noise/row?]] of artillery  Mr. Harris was on board the Pensacola one of the first vessels to advance The fleet had to pass the guns of this large & [[perpetually?]] defended forts while they at the same time encountered the [[floating?]] batteries of the [[enemy?]]. Just as they [[were?]] congratulating themselves upon [[their/hours?]] 
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[[?]] most of the difficulties in their way the southerners set fire to the shipps about N.O. & a number of vessels came drifting down the stream their masts [[marts?]] [[heads?]] & [[?]] one sheet of flame. In spite of all the danger encountered the loss on the Federal side was very small & the meeting of friends after the battle was over was touching in the extreme. Cap. Farragut has [[proved?]] himself a gallant commander & his [[leter?]] to the Government is characterized by the modesty which [[also?]] accompanies his merit. As the fleet approached N.O. the warfs were crowded with the inhabitants [[gazing?]] with wonder upon the intrepid little vessels what had so humbly met the [[horrors?]] [[prepare?]] for their reception. A few handkerchiefs were waved in welcome but the owners thereof were immediately shot down by the mob.

From the West we learn that a severe battle is expected at Corinth. Beauregard is determined not to yield the place without hard fighting. We have heard from Mrs Bell She is in Nashville. She says "do not believe any of the reports you hear about my husband It is said Mr. Bell is to be sent on here as one of two peace commissioners who are to negotiate terms with the Government.
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