The Civil War Day By Day Sesquicentennial Thread

[farmersdaughter]

September 11, 1861

—Captain Kid’s Cavalry company from New Creek, and a company of Infantry from Fort Pendleton, made a descent upon a camp of secessionists at Petersburg, Hardy County, Virginia. One shot from a twelve-pounder scattered the rebels like chaff. Several of them were killed and wounded and a number of prisoners taken. The camp and all its equipage destroyed. Three six-horse teams, twenty horses, six thousand bushels of corn, and a lot of guns and uniforms were captured. The expedition was entirely successful and gallantly conducted.

—A skirmish occurred at Black River, twelve or fifteen miles southwest of Ironton, Mo., between three companies of Indiana Cavalry under Major Gavitt, and a body of secessionists under the notorious Ben. Talbot, in which five of the rebels were killed and four taken prisoners, and thirty-five horses and a quantity of arms captured. The balance scattered in all directions, and being familiar with the county, eluded pursuit.

—The anniversary of the battle of Baltimore was celebrated in that city to-day with more than ordinary demonstrations on the part of the loyal citizens. The National flag was displayed from the public buildings, hotels, and all loyal newspaper offices, numerous private houses, shipping, etc., and the various camps. Gen. Dix issued an order for firing salutes and dress parades in honor of the day at the various camps at three o’clock. The New York Fifth regiment, Zouaves, made a grand dress parade from their fortified camps on Federal Hill through the city, passing around the different monuments. The Association of Old Defenders made their usual parade with their old flag, which they have not deserted as yet. The only demonstration of a character contrary to the patriotic spirit of the day was in the manner in which a few secession storekeepers arranged their goods to indicate their Southern principles, such as hanging out rolls of red and white flannel, or, as in one instance, displaying three flannel shirts—two red ones with a white one in the centre.—N. Y. Tribune, Sept. 13.

—The city authorities of Louisville, Ky., seized a large number of the concealed arms recently in possession of the State Guard.— N. Y. Tribune, September 13.

—General Buckner, at Russellville, Kentucky, issued an address to the people of that State, calling upon them to rally for their own defence against the usurpations of Abraham Lincoln and the “insane despotism of Puritanical New England.” The address abounds in misrepresentation, as to the policy of the National Government.—(Doc. 44.)

—A meeting of prominent citizens was held at the Astor House, New York, with a view to “organize some plan to advance the movement for the abolition of slavery.”—N. Y. Times, September 13.

—The following despatch was received tonight at the head-quarters of the Army at Washington, D. C.:

St. Louis, September 12, 1861. Col. E. D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.: The report of Gen. Pope to-day from Hunneville, says he made night marches on Green last Sunday, who, however, got notice of his approach, but was successful in completing the dispersion of three thousand rebel forces, leaving behind them much baggage, provisions, and forage; also the public property seized by Green at Shelberne. Gen. Pope’s infantry was too much fatigued to pursue. The horsemen, however, followed in pursuit ten or fifteen miles, until the enemy scattered. The railroad east of Brookfall is open, and no more secession camps will be made within twenty miles. Gen. Grant telegraphs that the first gun is in position at Fort Holt, Kentucky.

J. C. Fremont,

Major-General Commanding.

—The Legislature of Kentucky passed a series of resolutions, authorizing the governor to call out the military force of that State to expel and drive out the Southern invaders.— (Doc. 45.)

—A detachment of three hundred men from the Fourteenth Indiana, and Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Ohio regiments, dispersed three Tennessee regiments under General Anderson to-day, on the west side of Cheat Mountain, Va., completely routing them, killing eighty and obtaining most of their equipments. The National loss was eight killed.—N. Y. Herald, Sept. 17.

—Two slaves, the property of Thomas L. Snead, a secessionist of St. Louis, Missouri, were manumitted this day in accordance with, the proclamation of General Fremont of August 30th.—(Doc. 46.)

—A resolution passed the Board of Aldermen of Louisville, Ky., providing for the appointment of a committee from both boards of the General Council with instructions to inquire into the loyalty to the Union of the members of that department of the city government.— Louisville Journal, September 13.

—An order was issued prohibiting the carrying of the Baltimore Exchange in the United States mails. It is the worst secession sheet in America, and ought to have been stopped long before the Journal of Commerce and News were touched
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[farmersdaughter]

September 12, 1861

Battle of Cheat Mountain

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The Battle of Cheat Mountain was a Civil War battle fought near the Randolph-Pocahontas County line on September 12, 1861. It was an important loss to the Confederacy, with Gen. Robert E. Lee coming into Western Virginia to give support to Gen. William W. Loring, commander of the Army of Northwestern Virginia. The large concern was for the safety of the Virginia Central and the Virginia & Tennessee railroads. Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Reynolds was in command of U.S. forces, with headquarters at Elkwater, and a strongly fortified post on top of Cheat Mountain in Randolph County. Confederate forces were gathered at Valley Mountain.

To begin the Confederate assault, Gen. H. R. Jackson was to create a diversion along the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike in front of the Cheat Mountain fortification, while Col. Albert Rust and his troops took a back route up the mountain. Gen. S. R. Anderson was to lead a detachment along a trail discovered by Lee. The sound of Rust’s gunfire was supposed to announce the start of the assault, but continued rainfall and the discovery of his troops by enemy pickets led to the abandonment of the initial plan of attack. Lee then ordered an advance against Elkwater. Col. John A. Washington, Lee’s aide-de-camp and the last owner of Mount Vernon, was killed while scouting for Lee at Elkwater. General Reynolds’s troops easily repelled the Confederates, described as being ‘‘too wet and too hungry to fight.’’ Lee finally attempted a flanking movement around the federal right, but this, too, ended in defeat.
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[farmersdaughter]

September 12, 1861

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Battle of the Hemp Bales, Lexington, MO (Lexington, MO)

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?Lexington was the site of two of the largest battles in the western campaign of the American Civil War. One of which is known today as The Battle of Lexington. On September 12, 1861, 18,000 Confederate soldiers of the Missouri militia, led by Major General Sterling Price began a siege against the military post commanded by Colonel James A. Mulligan. On September 18, Price's army mounted an assault which forced Mulligan's surrender on September 20. Combined casualties were 73 dead, 270 wounded.

The Second Battle of Lexington was a battle in Price's Missouri Expedition of the American Civil War, occurring on October 19, 1864, in Lafayette County, Missouri.

Maj. Gen. Sterling Price's march along the Missouri River was slow, providing Union forces a chance to concentrate against him. Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, commanding the Department of the Missouri, proposed a pincer movement to trap Price and his army, but he was unable to communicate with Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, commander of the Department of Kansas, to formalize the plan. Curtis was having problems because many of his troops were Kansas militia and they refused to enter Missouri, but a force of 2,000 men under the command of Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt did set out for Lexington. On October 19, Price's army approached Lexington, collided with Union scouts and pickets about 2:00 p.m., drove them back, and engaged in a battle with the main force. The Yankees resisted at first, but Price's army eventually pushed them through the town to the western outskirts and pursued them along the Independence Road until nightfall. Without Curtis's entire force, the Union troops could not stop Price's army, but they did further retard their slow march. Blunt gained valuable information about the size and disposition of Price's army.
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[farmersdaughter]

September 13, 1861

—In Western Virginia the rebels commenced to advance yesterday morning on both pikes toward Elkwater and Cheat Mountain summit. They succeeded in surrounding the fort on the summit and cut the telegraph wire. They continued to advance on Elkwater until within two miles of the National troops, when a few shells from Loomis’s battery dispersed them. Skirmishing was kept up all night, and this morning two regiments were sent to cut their way through to the summit. They succeeded in this expedition, the rebels retreating in all directions.

Two rebel officers who were spying around the camp at Elkwater this morning were surprised by our pickets and shot. The body of one of them was brought into camp, and proved to be that of Col. John A. Washington, of Mount Vernon, Virginia.—(Doc. 48.)

—General Sturgis of the National army with a regiment of infantry, two companies of cavalry, and one of artillery, took possession of St. Joseph’s, Missouri.

—The Second regiment of Delaware Militia, left Wilmington for Cambridge, Maryland.— Baltimore American, September 16.

—A Fight took place at Booneville, Mo., this morning between a party of rebels under Colonel Brown and the Home Guards under Captain Eppstein, which terminated in the victory of the latter. The Home Guards held their intrenchments against the rebels, one thousand strong, who were driven back with a loss of twelve killed and thirty wounded. The Home Guards lost only one killed and four wounded. Among the killed of the rebels were Col. Brown and Capt. Brown.—National Intelligencer, September 17.

—A Union meeting was held at Fairfield, Connecticut, this evening, at which patriotic addresses were made by Rev. Dr. Osgood of New York, Rev. Mr. Stimson of Fairfield, and John H. Glover. The following resolutions offered by Dr. Osgood were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the great practical question now at issue before the people of this country lies between supporting or destroying the Government of the United States, and that all good citizens and patriots are called to rally to its support, without distinction of party, and do all in their power to put down the rebellion and treason that are now in arms against our rulers, our Constitution, and our laws.

Resolved, That we appoint delegates, without distinction of party, to represent the town of Fairfield at the great Union meeting at Bridgeport to-morrow.

—The Provost-marshal of Baltimore, Md., this morning, before break of day, arrested Mayor Brown, Ross Winans, Charles H. Pitts, Lawrence Sangster, S. T. Wallis, and T. P. Scott, members of the Maryland Legislature, F. H. Howard, editor of the Exchange, and delivered them at Fort McHenry. He also arrested Messrs. Dennison, Quinlan, and Dr. Lynch, members of the Legislature from Baltimore County; Henry M. Warfield, Dr. J. Hansom, Thomas and John C. Brune, members of the Legislature from Baltimore City; also Thomas J. Hall, Jr., editor of the Baltimore South. All the arrests were made pursuant to orders from the United States War Department.—N. Y. Evening Post, September 13.

—The rebels appeared to-day in large numbers in Shepherdstown, Virginia, and commenced firing on the Unionists on the Maryland side of the Potomac.

Several cannon were brought out. When the Unionists, under command of Colonel Anderson, brought two of their guns to bear upon them from London Hill, opposite the town, and opened with ball and grape they soon silenced the rebel battery and destroyed several houses. A flag of truce was sent from the rebels, proposing a cessation of firing.—N. Y. Herald, Sept. 10.

—This afternoon the rebel steamer Yorktown ran within three miles of Newport News, Va., and opened fire upon the camp and blockading squadron, which consisted of the Savannah, Cumberland, and the gunboat Louisiana. She fired twenty-five shells, one of which exploded near the Savannah. Other shells fell considerably short. The guns of the Cumberland and Savannah could not reach the Yorktown, but a couple of shells from Sawyer’s gun on shore caused her to retire. One of the shells exploded three-fourths of a mile beyond the steamer.

About four o’clock a party sent out to cut fuel encountered two hundred Confederate Cavalry and an equal number of Infantry about three miles from Newport News. The teamsters left their wagons and galloped to give the alarm, but no further demonstration was made, and the wagons were afterward brought into camp.
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[farmersdaughter]

September 14, 1861

—Last night an expedition from the United States steam frigate Colorado, under the command of Lieutenant John H. Russell, cut out the rebel privateer Judah, from under the guns of the forts at Pensacola Navy Yard, and totally destroyed her by fire. The National loss was three killed and fifteen wounded.— (Doc. 49.)

—The Philadelphia Inquirer, of this morning says: “It is understood that the property of Robert Tyler, a traitor, was seized yesterday at Bristol, Pa., by order of the Government of the United States. This property includes real estate and household goods. Robert Tyler first appeared before the public of Pennsylvania about twenty years ago, in the character of a lawyer without clients, and with no very good references as to his past career, he married the daughter of Thomas Cooper, the celebrated actor, having become acquainted with her at Bristol, the residence of her father. He took up his abode at that place during the summer months, and became an active orator in behalf of the Irish cause, in the excitement which preceded the riots of 1844. He won many friends by his oratorical powers. He was afterward appointed Clerk of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a position worth ten or twelve thousand dollars per annum. While thus in the service of the Government, he lost no opportunity, during the early stages of this rebellion, to uphold the South and denounce the North. His denunciations became so violent, that immediately after the fall of Sumter he was obliged to leave the city, and now holds a subordinate position in the Treasury Department of the so-called Confederate Government at Richmond. His treason has availed him but little.”

—Considerable excitement was created at Kansas City, Mo., to-day, by the appearance of rebel scouts. A company of twenty mounted men was sent over from Kansas City in the morning, who discovered a rebel camp of from two hundred to three hundred men, some six miles distant from the Missouri River. An additional force was detailed in the afternoon, who killed seven of the rebels and took six prisoners, with the same number of horses, and destroyed their barracks. Only one of the Union men was wounded.—N. Y. Herald, September 21.

—A Detachment of Col. Young’s Cavalry, under Captain White, arrested three spies, today, near Port Tobacco, Maryland, and brought them to Washington, D. C. On their persons was found topographic and other information designed for transmission to the enemy.
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[farmersdaughter]

September 15, 1861

.—The British brig Mystery, of St. Johns, N. B., was seized by the Surveyor of the port of New York, to-day, under suspicion of having run the blockade at Georgetown, S. C. Letters of instruction and the charter party, found on board, clearly show that there was a plan to land a cargo of ice at that rebel port, but the Consular certificate at Havana proves that the Mystery entered the latter port on the 7th of August, with the identical cargo of ice, and two days afterward cleared for Matanzas, where she received a cargo of sugar, and then sailed for the North, coming into the port of New York.—N. Y. Times, September 17.

—The Second regiment, of Kansas Volunteers, arrived at Leavenworth, from Holla, Mo. —Ohio Statesman, September 21.

—Col. F. P. Blair, Jr., was ordered by the Provost-marshal, at St. Louis, Mo., to report himself under arrest on the general charge of using disrespectful language when alluding to superior officers.—Louisville Journal, Sept. 17.

—About three o’clock this afternoon a force of five hundred rebels attacked a portion of the troops under Col. Geary, stationed about three miles above Harper’s Ferry, on the Potomac. Col. Geary commanded in person, and the fight lasted about three hours. The enemy were driven from every house and breastwork, and no less than seventy-five of them are reported, as killed and wounded. The National loss is one killed and a few slightly wounded. The troops behaved like veterans. Companies B, D, and I, of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania regiment, and two companies of the Thirteenth Massachusetts, were engaged in the conflict. During the fight a rebel was seen taking aim at Col. Geary, when the colonel grasped a rifle from a soldier and shot him on the spot.—(Doc. 50.)

—The Thirty-ninth Ohio, Colonel Groesbeck; Third Iowa, Lieutenant-Colonel Scott; Sixteenth Illinois, Colonel Smith, with a force of the Missouri State Militia and Iowa State troops, under Colonels Craynon and Edwards; three hundred regulars and irregular cavalry and six pieces of artillery, under Captain Madison, left St. Joseph and Chillicothe, Mo., in two columns for Lexington, to-day, on their way to reinforce Colonel Mulligan.—N. Y. Herald, September 20.

—This morning the Abbé McMaster, proprietor and editor of the Freeman’s Appeal, a peace organ of New York city, was arrested by the United States Marshal, Mr. Murray, and sent to Fort Lafayette, on a charge of treasonable matter contained in his paper
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[farmersdaughter]

September 16, 1861

.—An expedition from Hatteras Inlet, under the command of Lieutenants Maxwell and Eastman, of the steamer Pawnee, visited Ocracoke Inlet and destroyed Fort Oregon, a fine fortification at that place. The expedition was entirely successful.—(Doc. 51.)

—The gunboat Conestoga captured the steamers V. R. Stephenson and Gazelle, on the Cumberland River, Ky. The Stephenson had fifty tons of iron aboard. The Gazelle was without a cargo.—Louisville Journal, September 19.

—Ship Island, near the mouth of the Mississippi River, was evacuated by the rebels and immediately taken possession of by the National forces.—(Doc. 52.)

—Major French, the commanding officer at Key West, published the following important order; its promulgation caused a vast amount of commotion among the secessionists:

Headquarters U. S. Troops

Key West Florida, September 16, 1861

I. Within ten days from this date all male citizens of the Island of Key West who have taken the oath of allegiance will send their names to these head-quarters to be registered.

II. Within thirty days from this date all the citizens of this island are required to take the oath of allegiance to the United States.

III. At the termination of sixty days all citizens of this island who have failed or refused to take the oath of allegiance to the United States will be removed from Key West. This will also apply to their families and the families of these who have left the island to join the Confederate States.

Wm. H. French,

Brevet-Major U. S. A., Commanding.

—The Washington Grays, Forty-seventh regiment N. Y. S. V., commanded by Colonel Henry Moore, left East New York for the seat of war.—N. Y. Times, September 17.

—There was an interesting ceremony at General Smith’s camp near Washington, this afternoon. Some days ago, General McClellan gave directions that the flags of the Seventy-ninth should be restored to the regiment. This afternoon the regiment marched to the parade-ground of the brigade, for the purpose of receiving the banners, which were escorted to the field by the Third Vermont regiment. The two regiments being drawn up in line, facing each other, the colors were saluted, and then transferred from the Vermont to the Highland regiment. On transferring the banners, General Smith thus addressed them:

Soldiers of the Seventy-ninth: By direction of the Major-General commanding, I restore to your custody the banners of the regiment. Since you have been under my command yon have earned them. I hope that when any opportunity offers you will prove yourselves worthy of them.

The Seventy-ninth then saluted the colors, and a salvo of artillery from Captain Mott’s battery of thirty-two pounders also greeted them. After these ceremonies the troops were reviewed by General Smith, the two regiments warmly cheering each other as they marched from the field.—N. Y. Times, September 17.

—Governor Hicks of Maryland issued his proclamation exhorting the observance of the last Thursday in this month, as appointed by the President of the United States, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. — Baltimore American, September 18.

—General Price commenced an attack on the intrenchments at Lexington, Mo., commanded by Colonel Mulligan, this morning. The fight lasted all day, and was very severe. General Price assaulted the works, and was repulsed with severe loss.—N. Y. Herald, September 20.

—The Forty-sixth regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Knipe, left Harrisburg for the seat of war, being the first instalment of the last requisition on Governor Curtin. The regimental colors were presented by Governor Curtin.

The Second Buffalo regiment, under command of Colonel D. D. Bidwell, left for New York.

The Forty-third regiment N. Y. S. V., under the command of Colonel Francis L. Vinton, left Albany to-night for the scat of war. They are a fine body of men, fully equipped and armed. —N. Y. Times, September 17.

—The Provost-marshal’s Police seized over two hundred muskets and a lot of ammunition, to-day, which were found buried in the establishment of Messrs. Egerton & Keys, on North street, at Baltimore, Md. The guns are of Harper’s Ferry manufacture. The Police also seized a lot of muskets at the armory of the Independent Greys, on North High street.—Baltimore American, September 17.

—The Fremont Rifle regiment N. Y. S. V., under the command of Colonel Rudolph Rosa, left their encampment at Turtle Bay Brewery, New York, for the seat of war on the Potomac.





*I'm finally figured out that the dates at the end of each individual event is the day that the event was published in each news paper, not the date it occurred on. All the events have happened on the day in the heading.....just thought I'd clear that up
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[farmersdaughter]

September 17, 1861

—A fight took place at Mariatown, Mo., between six hundred Federals under Colonels Montgomery and Johnson and four hundred rebels, in which the latter were completely routed with a loss of seven killed, and one hundred horses and all their tents and supplies captured. The Nationals lost two privates killed and six wounded. Col. Johnson, while riding at the head of his command, was pierced by nine balls and instantly killed. Three bullets took effect in his head, two buck-shot in the neck, one bullet in the left shoulder, one in the left thigh, one in the right hand, and one in the left. He died, urging his men to fight for the Stars and Stripes.—Buffalo Courier, September 23.

—The Legislature of Maryland was prevented from organizing at Frederick by the arrest of its clerk and several of the members. During the evening the Union members of the House and Senate met in caucus and resolved that, the action of the Senators present in not assembling having virtually brought the Legislature to an end, they would return to their homes and not attempt again to assemble.

—This evening a train on the Ohio and Mississippi road, containing a portion of Colonel Torchin’s Nineteenth Illinois regiment, while passing over a bridge near Huron, Ind., one hundred and forty-three miles west of Cincinnati, fell through, killing and wounding over one hundred soldiers.—Louisville Courier, September 10.

—A large concourse of citizens from all parts of the State assembled at Hartford, Conn., today, to listen to Hon. D. S. Dickinson and others. General James T. Pratt presided. All the political parties of the State were represented, and places of business were closed during the meeting. Mr. Dickinson’s speech was one of his best efforts, and had a powerful effect. Senator Latham, of California, sent a letter of apology for his absence, full of patriotic spirit. Thomas Francis Meagher sent a despatch as follows: ” I cannot go to Hartford to-day. I go to the war. Talking is over. Fight is the word.” —National Intelligencer, September 20.

—Two fights occurred at Blue Mills Landing, Mo., to-day. The first was between five hundred of the Third Iowa regiment, with one piece of artillery, under Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, and about four thousand rebels. After a desperate struggle of an hour’s duration, in which Scott lost one hundred and twenty killed and wounded and all his horses, he retreated slowly half a mile, dragging his cannon by hand. He subsequently took a position with his howitzer on an eminence, and waited for the enemy to renew the attack. But he was not pursued. Not long afterward Colonel Smith’s command, with four pieces of cannon, approached Blue Mills by another road and engaged and routed the rebels as they were about crossing the Missouri River.—(Doc. 53.)

—The Fifteenth regiment (Elmira Engineers) N. Y. S. V., under the command of Colonel C. B. Stuart of Geneva, left Elmira for the seat of war.—N. Y. Herald, Sept. 22.

—Clement Smyth, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dubuque, Iowa, in a letter to the Adjutant-General of that State, held the following language: “I ever avoid all matters of a political nature as foreign to my sacred duties, yet in this present hour of trial, when the honer and the happiness of our nation are at stake; when some prejudiced mind may construe my silence into a disrespect for you, whose friendship I highly prize, or into a criminal opposition to our National Government— the Government of the United States, the only one to which I owe fealty—it may not be departing too far from my usual course to say that my feelings and sentiments are for the Union, and though peace is now the darling object of my ambition, yet I would not consent to purchase peace at the sacrifice of principle.”

—At Washington the following order was issued to-day from the War Department:

The commanding officer at Hatteras Inlet, N. C., is hereby authorized to accept the services of such loyal North Carolinians—not to exceed one regiment—as in his neighborhood may volunteer to take up arms for the United States, and to designate regular officers to muster them into the service. The recruits will be organized in the first instance into a battalion or regiment according to numbers. The mustering officer will make timely requisition for arms and other necessary supplies. The commanding officer will, on the recommendation of the volunteers, propose such persons as officers as he may deem suitable, to officer the companies that may, if approved, be commissioned by the President.

L. Thomas, Adj.-Gen.

—The anniversary of Washington’s Farewell Address was celebrated by Cassius M. Clay’s Washington Guards. Professor Amasa McCoy, Secretary of the Guards, delivered an Oration on “The London Times on the Rebellion and the war against the National Constitution.”

—The Continental Guard, Forty-eighth regiment N. Y. S. V., under the command of Colonel James H. Perry, left Fort Hamilton this morning for the seat of war. The regiment numbers about one thousand men, well equipped and armed with Enfield rifles. The uniform is the United States regulation. A considerable number of the men were formerly members of the Seventy-first. About sixty recruits, not yet uniformed, were left in charge of the camp, near Fort Hamilton, under Lieutenant Wallace. Colonel Perry, the commandant of the regiment is well-known as a West Point graduate. N. Y. Evening Post
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[farmersdaughter]

Battle of Liberty
September 17, 1861


After his victory at Wilson's Creek in August, Price began a campaign to gain control of Missouri. Union troops had been guarding the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad and its terminus in St. Joseph, Missouri. When these Union forces were pulled away to meet Price's army, Confederate sympathizers from northwestern Missouri seized St. Joseph and sacked the town.

On 15 September, about 3,500 men of the Missouri State Guard plus a number of irregulars from St. Joseph set out for Lexington. In the evening, Price sent ex-Senator and now General David Rice Atchison from Lexington to help these men, mostly new recruits, cross the river near Liberty.

Union troops of the 16th Illinois Infantry and the 39th Ohio Infantry were guarding the Platte River railroad bridge in Buchanan County, which had earlier been sabotaged in the Platte Bridge Railroad Tragedy. These troops started moving to Liberty. At the same time, Union Lt. Col. John Scott led a small force (500 men of the 3rd Iowa Infantry, about 70 Missouri Home Guards, and one 6-pound smoothbore cannon) from guarding the railroad at Cameron towards Liberty. Heavy rain and bad roads limited his progress to only seven miles that day. On 16 September, Scott camped in Centreville (ten miles north of Liberty), where he heard artillery fire in the distance.

?The battle



Lt. Col. Scott broke camp at 2:00 A.M. on 17 September. He arrived in Liberty at 7:00 A.M., and sent scouts out to find the enemy. Skirmishing began about 11:00 A.M. At noon, Scott marched five miles in the direction of the firing, and approached Blue Mills Landing on the Missouri River.

General Atchison, who had lived in Liberty, deployed his men in the brush on either side of the Missouri River bottom land road leading to the landing. At about 3:00 P.M., Scott's troops encountered the State Guard pickets and were attacked from both sides.

Scott's artillerymen fired two rounds of canister, inflicting heavy damage. However, a fresh volley from the State Guards scattered or killed most of the gunners. Scott ordered his outnumbered force to fall back to the bluffs in Liberty, hauling off the gun by hand. Atchison attempted a flanking movement on the Federal right, which resulted in a sharp fight. The Union force continued to withdraw, firing as they retreated, taking with them nearly all their wounded, but abandoning their ammunition wagon and a caisson. The State Guard pursued for some distance, but Atchison did not press the attack.

Just before nightfall, Scott's force retired to Liberty, entering the town about an hour after sunset. Atchison and the State Guards from northern Missouri crossed the river to reinforce Price in his successful attack on Lexington. After sunset the Union troops returned to retrieve their dead from the field.

Union troops set up a hospital on the campus of William Jewell College in Liberty and buried their dead on the campus.

?Casualties


The fighting at Blue Mills Landing lasted for an hour and resulted in a total of 126 casualties. The Union forces suffered 56 casualties and the Missouri State Guard lost 70. Among the latter was the Missouri State Guard's Theodore Duncan, who died on the same day that he had been promoted from captain to colonel. Ten of the sixteen Union field officers fell dead or wounded
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[farmersdaughter]

September 18, 1861

.—The Louisville Courier, having been found to be an advocate of treasonable hostility to the Government and authorities of the United States, -was excluded from the mails and post-offices of the United States until further orders.—Post Office Order.

The Seventh regiment of Connecticut Volunteers, numbering one thousand and seventy-two men left New Haven for the seat of war near Washington. The regiment is commanded by Colonel A. A. Terry.—N. Y. Commercial Advertiser, Sept. 19.

A correspondent Washington says that the Government has just discovered that the rebels are carrying on a contraband trade between Worcester County, Maryland, and Virginia. Large supplies of army stores have been transported to the rebels’ lines by this route. The necessary measures have been taken to stop the traffic.—A regiment has just passed down Pennsylvania avenue, headed by a soldier who 1ost a leg at the battle of Stone Bridge. He carried his musket strapped to his back. The spectacle excited the greatest enthusiasm among our citizens.

—The new gunboat Sagamore was launched to-day from Sampson’s yard, East Boston, Mass. Her keel was laid sixty days ago.—N. Y. Herald, Sept. 19.

—Yesterday a skirmish took place between the Home Guard and some of Gen. Zollicoffer’s men at Barboursville, Ky., without resulting in any damage. It was resumed to-day, when seven rebels and one of their horses were killed. One of the Home Guards received six wounds, and another was taken prisoner. The Home Guards numbered thirty-seven, and the rebels three hundred.—Two miles of the Covington and Lexington Railroad were torn up yesterday near Cyantheana.
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[Pulscifer]

Where do you get all of this info from? Thanks for posting btw. Haven't seen many replies in here.
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[farmersdaughter]

There are 3-4 different sites that I found I really like. Dtocw.com, civilwarinteractive.com, longrecall.com, wikipedia, blueand gray.com, rebellionrecord.com (I think that's all, and I may be off on some of the names. I get sidetracked reading a lot of times and don't pay attention to where I'm at). It gets more interesting in 1862, but we are building up to it
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[7thgroupvolfan]

jt is looking down from banished heaven with a smile. Way to carry the flag fd.

 

[farmersdaughter]

jt is looking down from banished heaven with a smile. Way to carry the flag fd.

I miss my friend
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[farmersdaughter]

September 19, 1861

—At Louisville, Ky., this morning, the United States Marshal seized the office of the Louisville Courier, arrested ex-Governor Morehead, Reuben T. Marrett, one of the proprietors of the Courier, and Martin W. Barr, telegraphic news-reporter for the New Orleans press, on charges of treason or complicity with treason.—National Intelligencer, Sept. 21.

—The brig Hannah Eastel, with a forged clearance from New York for St. Thomas, having a large and valuable cargo, was seized at Elizabethport, N. J., this afternoon. The captain and crew escaped.—N. Y. Herald, Sept. 20.

—The Seventh regiment of New Jersey Volunteers left Trenton, this afternoon, for the seat of war near Washington. The regiment is commanded by Colonel Joseph N. Revere, and numbers seven hundred and fifty men, who have been mustered and equipped during the last thirty days.

—This afternoon, about four o’clock, a skirmish occurred beyond Bardstown Junction, Ky., between the Boone Guards, Company H, Captain Paul Byerly, and a secession company, supposed to be the Bitterwater Blues. None of the Boone Guards were hurt, and, if any injury was done on the rebel side, the darkness concealed it. The secessionists made only a running fight, and a very poor one too.—Louisville Journal, Sept. 20.

—An immense Union meeting was held at Bangor, Me., this evening. Over five thousand people attended. The meeting was addressed by some of the most prominent citizens, and the greatest enthusiasm was manifested.

—The Quebec (Canada) Mercury wishes the South to persevere in its course, in order to “break up the hitherto boa****l Union;” and it desires that England and France may recognize the confederacy as the speediest way of destroying the Government. After that work is accomplished, that paper thinks that England will, in a little time, by productions of cotton in India, make herself independent of the Southern States in regard to that staple, and that, it further says, would lead to the emancipation of the slaves, and the final overthrow of both sections
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[farmersdaughter]

Battle of Barbourville
September 19, 1861

The Battle of Barbourville was one of the early engagements of the American Civil War. It occurred September 19, 1861, in Knox County, Kentucky during the campaign known as the Kentucky Confederate Offensive. The battle is considered the first Confederate victory in the commonwealth, and threw a scare into Federal commanders, who rushed troops to central Kentucky in an effort to repel the invasion, which was finally thwarted at the Battle of Camp Wildcat in October.

Brig. Gen. Felix Zollicoffer’s Confederates had moved from Tennessee in an effort to push from the Cumberland Gap into central Kentucky and gain control of the important border state. Ten days after his 5,400-man force left their base, Zollicoffer occupied the Cumberland Gap and took position at the Cumberland Ford (near present day Pineville) to counter the Unionist activity in the area. For much of the summer, Federal sympathizers had been organizing and training recruits at Camp Andrew Johnson near Barbourville. Zollicoffer was determined to seize the camp and eliminate the threat. He also wanted to relieve pressure on the army of Albert S. Johnston and divert troops away from Johnston's sector.

In a heavy morning fog, Zollicoffer sent forward a detachment of some 800 men under Col. Joel A. Battle. The camp had been essentially vacated as the recruits had been shepherded off to nearby Camp Dick Robinson, where there were several thousand Federal troops. As Battle approached the empty camp, he encountered a small force of 300 Home Guardsmen under Capt. Isaac J. Black, who hastily removed planking from the bridge to prevent passage by the Confederates. However, the weight of numbers soon prevailed and Zollicoffer had his victory. He seized the camp, destroyed the buildings, and collected arms and equipment left behind by the retreating recruits.

Black lost 1 man killed, 1 wounded, and 13 captured. They managed to kill 7 Confederates before withdrawing.
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[farmersdaughter]

September 20 1861

—At Lexington, Mo., Colonel Mulligan surrendered to the rebel general, Price, after a fifty-nine hours’ fight without water; the only supply—from the river—having been cut off by the rebels, after a severe fight. The camp ground contained no springs or wells, and embraced ten acres, with breastworks around it, except the river front. The rebels procured bales of hemp and rolled them in advance, and under their cover succeeded in securing a position in the rear. They made but few assaults, their object being to surround the fort and cut off supplies of water, and this accomplished, wait till necessity compelled Mulligan to yield. Previous to the surrender, Colonel Mulligan offered to take a position on a level spot of ground and give General Price the odds of four to one in a fair open fight, but he declined. After the surrender the rebels mounted the breastworks, mad with joy, and trailed the National flag in the dust. A large amount of gold, supposed to be a quarter of a million, fell into the possession of the rebels. It had previously been buried by Colonel Mulligan, but was unearthed by the enemy. The brave Colonel wept like a child when he found himself compelled to surrender. —(Doc. 33.)

—The rebels troops evacuated Mayfield, Ky., this day. They numbered about seven thousand, under the command of General Cheatham, were nearly all armed, but poorly clothed and indifferently fed.

Mayfield is a small town, the seat of Graves County, on the railroad from Paducah to Union City, and midway between the two places. It is about thirty-six miles east of Columbus, Ky. —Chicago Tribune.

—A Federal scouting party from the Thirty-fourth N. Y. regiment at Darnestown, Md., went across the Potomac near the mouth of the Seneca, and were attacked by a superior party of the rebels. One of the Nationals was killed outright and several were wounded; one of the latter was shot through the cheek, but fled, pursued by the attacking party; on reaching a creek he threw off his gun and plunged in himself laying on his back and resting his head upon a stone with his mouth and nostrils above the water. He avoided his pursuers, and after three hours’ submersion he crawled to the shore of the river; his companions, who were concealed on the Maryland side, discovered and rescued him while making a vain attempt to swim across.

A skirmish took place below Fort Holt near Cairo, Ill., between company I, of the Tenth regiment, and a small party of rebels, in which the latter were routed.—Ohio Statesman, September 24.

—Colonel Crittenden, from Indiana, who was the first to bring a regiment from another State into Western Virginia in aid of the Federal Government, and the first to come to the aid of Kentucky, passed through Louisville, with his regiment well armed and equipped. The troops were enthusiastically received at different points on the route—Baltimore American, September 21.

—Two changes have been made in Jeff. Davis’s Cabinet; Robert M. T. Hunter, of Virginia, has been made Secretary of State in place of Robert Toombs, of Georgia; and Braxton Bragg, of Louisiana, has succeeded Leroy P. Walker, of Alabama, as Secretary of War.—N. Y. World, September 21.

—A Grand Union meeting was held at Newark, N. J. Speeches were made by Daniel S. Dickinson and others. Large delegations from the surrounding towns were present. Resolutions were adopted, deprecating party movements as unpatriotic and prejudicial to the public interest; and proposed an inauguration of a people’s Union movement throughout the State. A committee was appointed for that purpose.
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[farmersdaughter]

September 21, 1861

—General Lane’s command surprised a superior force of rebels at Papinsville, Missouri, and, after a severe engagement, routed them, losing seventeen killed, and a large number wounded. The rebels lost forty killed, and one hundred prisoners, and all their tents, wagons, and supplies.

The gang of rebels who recently sacked the town of Humboldt, Kansas, was defeated by a force from Fort Scott, and their leader, Mathias, killed. On his person was found an order from Ben McCulloch for the enrolment of the Quapaw Indians.—National Intelligencer, Sept. 28.

—The British schooner Revere, of and from Yarmouth, N. S., with a cargo of salt fish, arrived at Boston, Mass., in charge of Henry W. Wells, master’s mate, and a prize crew from the United States steamer Cambridge. The Revere was captured while attempting to run the blockade at Beaufort, N. C.—N. Y. World, Sept. 23.

—The steamer War Eagle returned to Jefferson City, Mo., from an expedition on the Missouri River this evening. This steamer, together with the steamer Iatan, with the Indiana Twenty-second and Eighteenth regiments aboard, accompanied the steamers White Cloud and Des Moines, with the Indiana Twenty-sixth, as high up the river as Cambridge, where they captured the steamer Sunshine, seized a short time since by Green. They encountered no rebel troops. Union flags were flying at Glasgow. The White Cloud and Des Moines went on up the river to reinforce Lexington. While all four boats were lying up for the night, a short distance below Glasgow, two detachments were sent out to reconnoitre. They encountered each other, each mistaking the other for the enemy, fired, and before their mistake was discovered, four men were killed and several wounded. Among the wounded was Major Gordon Tanner, of the Twenty-second.—(Doc. 55.)

—A Large and enthusiastic meeting of the citizens of Westchester County, in favor of maintaining the integrity of the Union, was held at Lake Mohican. The Hon. John B. Haskin made a most eloquent and stirring speech to the assemblage, and declared his determination to sink all party differences and to support the Government in all honorable acts for a vigorous prosecution of the war and the preservation of the best Government ever vouchsafed to man. Eloquent speeches were also made by Messrs. Depew, Bailey, and Ferris.

—Edward D. Baker, United States Senator from Oregon, was appointed a Major-General of Volunteers in the National army.

—This morning John Bateman, a citizen of Portland, Maine, arrived at New York in custody of the deputy marshal. The prisoner charged with high treason, with using seditious language against the United States of America and the President thereof, treasonable complicity with Southern rebels and their agents in Liverpool and other parts of Europe. It is stated that letters and papers were found in the baggage and on the person of the accused, justifying the vigorous measures adopted. He was sent to Fort Lafayette.—N. Y. Times, September 22.

—Gen. Robert Anderson assumed command of the State and Federal troops in Kentucky and issued a spirited proclamation, calling upon Kentuckians of all parties to assist in repelling the invaders of the State. Gov. Magoffin also issued a proclamation, directing Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden to call out the State troops to resist the invasion of the State, and Gen. C. accordingly called out the militia.—(Doc. 56.)

—The Fourth regiment of Vermont Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Edwin H. Stoughton, left its encampment at Brattleboro for the seat of war. The regiment numbers one thousand and eighty rank and file. Colonel Stoughton is a native of Vermont, and a West Point officer, having graduated from the Military Academy in 1854, and being breveted Second Lieutenant in the Forty-second Infantry,
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[farmersdaughter]

September 22, 1861

—This evening, eight pickets of the Iowa Seventh regiment, out at the Cross Roads, a mile and a half from Eliott’s Mills, eight miles above Columbus, Ky., were suddenly approached by fifty or sixty rebel cavalry. The pickets fired, when the rebels turned and fled. Two or three of their number were seen to fall, but were carried off on their horses. One of their horses was killed. The accoutrements and pistols fell into the hands of the Iowa boys, and a riderless horse from among them also fell into their hands. Their wounded and dead were carried away. The rebels returned the fire before fleeing, but did no damage.

—A skirmish took place near Hunter, Mo., four miles below Norfolk. Three of the National troops and four horses were lost—N. Y. Tribune, Sept, 24.

—General A. S. Johnston, of the Confederate Army, having assumed command at Memphis, Tenn., issued a proclamation relative to the armed occupation of Kentuck
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[farmersdaughter]

September 23, 1861

—At Fortress Monroe, Va., Ross Winans, one of the Baltimore members of the Legislature, having taken the oath of allegiance, was this morning released.—Commodore Stringham was relieved by Captain Goldsborough.— Baltimore American, Sept. 24.

—This night a successful effort to burn the barn and haystacks around Munson’s Hill, Va., was made by Major Frank Lemon and Lieut. Chas. Dimoud, of the California regiment. At the forge of some blacksmiths they made some fifty or more conical slugs, and with these and a Sharp’s rifle they started for the line of our pickets, built a fire, and commenced heating shot. One of them with a cloth would drop the shot into the muzzle of the rifle, and the Major, being the best shot, blazed away. At the second shot the hay-ricks were in a blaze. In two more shots the barn caught. Out rushed the rebels, and made for the hill.

—Lieutenant Wilson, with a squad of the Fourth Cavalry, proceeded to Unity, a small place in the northern part of Anne Arundel County, Md., and seized a quantity of sabres, pistols, and muskets, in possession of secessionists in the neighborhood. They were a portion of the arms given to a volunteer company raised at the time of the John Brown raid.

—Five Hundred of the Fourth Ohio, with one piece of artillery; and Ringgold’s cavalry, seventy-five in number, under Colonel Cantwell; and four hundred of the Eighth Ohio, under Colonel Parke, make an advance from New Creek toward Romney, Va. They drove the rebels, seven hundred strong, out of Mechanicsburg Gap, and advancing stormed the town, causing the enemy, whose force numbered fourteen hundred infantry and cavalry, to retreat to the mountains with a loss of about thirty-five killed and a large number wounded. The National loss was three killed and ten wounded.

—At St. Louis, Mo., Charles G. Ramsay, the proprietor of the Evening News, was arrested this afternoon by order of the Provost-marshal, and taken to head-quarters for examination. His offence is publishing an editorial article today, entitled “The Fall of Lexington,” reflecting in bitter terms on the campaign of the military authorities in the department of the West. His paper has been suppressed, and all the manuscript found in the office was seized, and the building is now in possession of a provost guard.—
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[farmersdaughter]

Sacking of Osceola
September 23, 1861


The Sacking of Osceola was a Union Jayhawker initiative on September 23, 1861, to push out pro-Southern elements at Osceola, Missouri. It was not authorized by Union military authorities but was the work of an informal group of Kansas pro-Union "Jayhawkers".[2] The town of 3,000 people was plundered and burned to the ground, and nine local citizens were executed.

Background

Following Sterling Price's secessionist Missouri State Guard victory over General Nathaniel Lyon's Union army at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, Price began initiatives to "clean out" opposition in Kansas and retake the state of Missouri.

James H. Lane organized 1,200 troops to resist the Price invasion into Kansas. Price defeated Lane in the Battle of Dry Wood Creek near Fort Scott, Kansas. Lane retreated and Price continued his offensive further into Missouri to the Siege of Lexington.

While Price moved North, Lane launched an attack behind him. After crossing the Missouri border at Trading Post, Kansas on September 10, Lane began an offensive moving East on Butler, Harrisonville, Osceola and Clinton, Missouri.

Osceola

The climax of the campaign was on September 23, 1861, at Osceola, where Lane's forces drove off a small Southern force and then looted and burned the town. An artillery battery under Capt. Thomas Moonlight shelled the St. Clair County courthouse.[3] According to reports, many of the Kansans got so drunk that when it came time to leave they were unable to march and had to ride in wagons and carriages. They carried off with them a tremendous load of plunder, including as Lane's personal share a piano and a quantity of silk dresses. Hundreds of slaves followed Lane to Kansas and freedom. The troops moved Northwest and arrived at Kansas City, Missouri, on September 29, to pursue Price as he retreated south through the state.

Osceola was plundered with Lane's men taking 350 horses and 200 slaves, 400 cattle, 3,000 bags of flour, and quantities of supplies from all the town shops and stores as well as carriages and wagons. Nine local men were rounded up, given a quick drumhead court-martial trial, and executed. All but three of the town's 800 buildings burned; the town never fully recovered.[2][4]

Aftermath

Lane's raid stirred hatred that would contribute to Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, Kansas, leading in turn to the depopulation of four counties of western Missouri under General Order No. 11
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[farmersdaughter]

September 24, 1861

—Louis Philippe d’Orleans, Comte de Paris, the heir of Louis Philippe, (the eldest son of his eldest son,) and Robert d’Orleans, Duc de Chartres, the brother of Louis Philippe d’Orleans, were duly commissioned as captains of volunteers in the service of the United States, and attached to Major-General McClellan’s staff as aids. These young princes made it a condition of their service that they should receive no pecuniary compensation.

—General Prentiss, U. S. A., assumed command of the National forces at St. Joseph, Mo. No man in the whole Western army could have been sent there who is more acceptable to the people north of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad; and, under his command, the Union troops, whether Federal or State, are willing to do battle.—National Intelligencer, Sept. 28.

—A Portion of Colonel Geary’s force had an action to-day with five hundred rebels on the Virginia side of the Potomac, near Point of Rocks. They were sheltered on a high point on the Catochin Mountain, and in houses at the base. They were driven away by the rifles and battery of Colonel Geary, and the houses burnt. Several of the enemy were killed and wounded. None of the Federal troops were hurt.—N. Y. Times, Sept. 26.

—The Fifth regiment of Vermont Volunteers, under the command of Col. H. A. Smalley, passed through Jersey City, N. J., on their way to the seat of war. It numbers one thousand and seventy men.—Idem, Sept. 25.

—This night a party of about fifty mounted rebels rode into Warsaw, Ky., and broke into a building in which there were stored some arms belonging to the State, and carried them off. Six or seven Union men came up just as they were leaving, and were fired upon. The Union men returned the fire, killing one of the rebels and wounding several others. One of the Union men was wounded in the arm. The Union men had taken the locks off the guns that were stolen, intending to keep them off until they had organized their company.—Dubuque Times, Sept. 26.

—The Louisville Journal of this day has the following:—Last Saturday night (21st) lock No. 3, on Green River, was blown up by order of Gen. S. B. Buckner, commander of the Confederate forces at Bowling Green, Ky. We are informed that the other two locks have also been destroyed. General Buckner’s order for the destruction of lock No. 1 has fallen into our hands. It was intrusted to a spy named James Barnham, who was arrested at the ferry across Mad River, and, making an excuse to step aside for a few moments, he tore the letter in pieces, but his captors put the fragments together and read the following:

Bowling Green, Sept. 19, 1861.

Mr Geo. W. Triplett— My Dear Sir: Your letter is received. Lock No. 1 must be destroyed. I rely upon our friends at Owensboro’ to do it: not an hour must be lost. The destruction is a great deal to me in crippling our adversary. Assemble our friends without delay in sufficient force to accomplish the object. One of the best ways is to open all the gates but one, and to dig down behind the wall at both gates, to put one or two kegs of powder behind the wall, to apply a slow match, and blow the wall into the lock. If possible, it should be done in such a way as to leave a strong current through the lock, which will empty the dam. Provide every thing in advance; do not fail; it is worth an effort.

S. B. Buckner.

The Union men, on learning Gen. Buckner’s intention from this letter, attempted to guard the locks, and rallied five or sis hundred men for the purpose; but, ascertaining the approach of a greatly superior force of cavalry, they retreated, and the work of destruction was done. For this deed, Gen. S. B. Buckner, sooner or later, will have to render a terrible account. The locks and dams of Green River were a portion, and a large one, of the pride and wealth of Kentucky. We all remember at what cost of money and labor they were constructed. They were one of the most important and valuable internal improvements ever made in Kentucky. They opened a river market for the whole of the immense population of the Green Hiver section. But as a mere military manœuver they arc ruthlessly swept away, remorselessly annihilated in a night by a renegade Kentuckian, who brings an army for the conquest of his native State. Railroad bridges, railroad tracks, locks and dams, river packets, public and private property of all descriptions, are reclessly sacrificed by the invaders in the pursuit of their accursed purposes.

—the Twentieth regiment of Indiana Volunteers, under the command of Colonel W. L. Brown, left Baltimore for Fortress Monroe.— Baltimore American, Sept. 25.

—At St. Louis the injunction suppressing the Evening News was removed, and C. G. Ramsay, proprietor, and D. M. Grissom were released; assurances having been given that they would not publish statements about military matters as facts without first learning their truth, and that they would not publish any thing injurious to the interests of the National Government. The News has always been a strong Union paper.—Ohio Statesman, Sept. 26.

—To-day, while the Second Michigan regiment were performing picket duty at Bailey’s Cross Roads, in Virginia, a flag of truce was brought in by two Colonels and a Major, belonging to the rebel army at Munson’s Hill, asking a suspension of hostilities between pickets, which was acceded to by the commander of the National forces.—N. Y. Times, Sept. 26.

—The Ninth regiment of Maine Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Rutherford Rich, of Portland, left Augusta for the seat of war. The regiment numbers one thousand one hundred men, hailing from Calais, Canton, Hilton, Cornish, and Aroostook Counties—all parts of the State being represented. They consist of mechanics and laborers, and though comprising a number of Germans and Irish, are mainly native-born. Physically, they will bear comparison with any regiment in the field. They have the regulation uniform, of excellent material, commissariat wagons, and camp equipage.
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[farmersdaughter]

September 25, 1861

—At Trenton, New Jersey, the Grand Jury came into the United States Court, and made a lengthy presentment “that complaints have been made before this Grand Inquest concerning certain newspapers published in this State, and copies of the following papers issued during the last few months have been submitted, and carefully examined, namely: The Newark Evening Journal, The Warren Journal, The Hunterdon Democrat, The New Brunswick Times, and The Plainfield Gazette; that during the most critical period, while the capital of the nation has been besieged by armed insurgents, while eleven States in actual rebellion have been striving, by invasion and treachery, to plunge other States still remaining loyal into open opposition to the National Government, these newspapers have been, up to a very recent period, persistently denouncing and libelling these to whom the great duty of National defence is necessarily intrusted; in thwarting their efforts for self-preservation, and fomenting rebellion by discouraging and opposing the only means by which it can be put down. While they cherish a due regard for freedom of speech they feel it their duty to repudiate and denounce the conduct of these journals; that while the Press may freely criticize public men and measures in the peaceful contests of party, yet in a war for the life of a nation, the Press, as well as individuals, should uphold the existing Government or be treated as its enemies. They consider their duty fully discharged in reference to these newspapers by this presentment, leaving them to the wholesome action of public opinion. They recommend all loyal citizens, all public officers, all municipal corporations, vigorously to withhold all patronage from such newspapers as do not hereafter give their unqualified support to the National Government.”

—Smithland, Kentucky, was occupied by the National troops to-day.—Stocking-knitting associations were organized by the ladies of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania,

—This day General William F. Smith, with a force of several thousand men from the camps in the vicinity of the Chain Bridge, on the Potomac, proceeded to Lewinsville, Va., for the purpose of reconnoitring and obtaining forage. Upon arriving at that place his troops were permitted to rest from about half-past nine o’clock A. M., till three o’clock P. M., when there came in sight a large force of Confederate troops, consisting of four or five regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and six pieces of artillery. They came from Fall’s Church, and in a few minutes opened a fire of shot and shell upon the National troops, without, however, doing any other harm than slightly wounding one man. Their fire was returned by the batteries of Captains Griffin and Mott, who had thrown only Twenty-six shot and shell when the secessionists deemed it prudent to retire from the field. Their loss is not known. The object of the expedition having been accomplished, Gen. Smith, at about five o’clock, returned to his camp. He brought with him ninety-two loads of hay and corn, twenty sheep and twenty beef cattle— the sheep and cattle being the property of Quartermaster Means, of the Confederate service—and one prisoner, who mistook the National pickets for his own. He represents himself as an aid of Gen. Stuart. The Union troops of the expedition consisted of the New York Seventy-ninth, Third Vt., Nineteenth Indiana, and a portion of a Wisconsin regiment, with eighty regular cavalry, Griffin’s West Point battery, and a section, two guns, of Mott’s New York battery.

—This afternoon Lieut.-Col. Letcher, with a detachment of Col. Woodward’s regiment, captured James B. Clay, with sixteen of his men, while on his way to join Zollicoffer. They were taken to Camp Dick Robinson. John C. Breckinridge was with their party in Cincinnati, Ohio, but escaped.—National Intelligencer, Sept. 28.

—Lieutenant McCrea, with the steamers J. Bell and Seminole, made an attack on a rebel battery at Freestone Point, on the Potomac River.—(Doc. 59.)

—An action took place at Chapmanville, Va., between a force of National troops under Colonel D. A. Enyart of the First Kentucky Volunteers and a party of rebels. The latter were completely routed and lost sixty killed and seventy taken prisoners. The rebels in escaping were intercepted by Colonel Piatt of the German Ohio regiment, who surprised them and killed forty beside capturing a large number of prisoners.—(Doc. 59½.)

—A Skirmish occurred near Osceola, Mo., between a part of National troops of General Lane’s army, and a body of rebels, the former losing one killed and four slightly wounded, and the rebels having ten killed.
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[farmersdaughter]

First Battle of Sabine Pass
September 25, 1861


The First Battle of Sabine Pass or the Bombardment of Fort Sabine was a naval and land battle during the American Civil War in Sabine Pass, Texas. In addition to strengthening the Union naval blockade of the Texas coastline, it was also intended to open the way for a possible amphibious assault on the Confederate town of Sabine Pass.

Background

Sabine Pass is a waterway off the Texas mainland. In September, 1862, Lieutenant Pennington in the mortar schooner USS Henry Janes was blockading the Sabine River estuary. On September 21, Acting Master Frederick Crocker in the steamer USS Kensington and Acting Master Quincy Hooper in schooner USS Rachel Seaman reunited with the Henry Janes to develop a plan of attack on the Confederate fort protecting the waterway. In the early morning hours of September 25, 1862, Union naval forces under the command of Crocker attempted to enter Sabine Pass, as Crocker made his way through the inland passage to Beaumont, the Confederates attacked.

Battle

When the Union squadron neared Fort Sabine, the Confederate artillery battery, Crocker ordered his ships to begin an artillery bombardment of the enemy position. Confederate forces numbering thirty infantry and artillerists, additionally supported by thirty cavalrymen, were unable to return fire as the outdated garrison's batteries were unable to reach the Union fleet. The commanding officer, Major J. S. Irvine, ordered his artillery spiked and then retreated during the night. Without a significant military presence, the town of Sabine Pass, surrendered the following day.
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[farmersdaughter]

September 26, 1861

—Capt. Stewart’s cavalry, numbering seventy-five men, to-day encountered forty rebel cavalry at Lucas Bend, Ky., whom they pursued into Jeff. Thompson’s camp at Belmont. Four rebels were killed, five captured, and many wounded. The remainder escaped to the woods. The Federal troops captured all the guns and pistols they could bring away with them. No Federal troops were injured.

—the Thirty-fifth regiment of Ohio Volunteers took possession of Cynthiana, Kentucky.

—at Louisville, Ky., W. G. Querton, formerly one of the editors and proprietors of the Courier, was arrested for aiding the Southern rebellion.—The turnpike bridge over Green river, near Mumfordville, was burned by rebels
—J. B. Archer, Captain of the steamboat Commercial, was arrested, but bailed in ten thousand dollars. The beat was also seized, but released on security being given to surrender her on demand to the Federal Government.— LvuittilU Journal, September 28.

—The Twenty-first regiment of Ohio Volunteers, left Findlay for Camp Dennison.—Ohio Statesman, October 2.

—Is accordance with the recommendation of the President of the United States, published August 12th, this day was observed as a day of fasting and prayer.
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