The Civil War Day By Day Sesquicentennial Thread

[farmersdaughter]

May 29 1862

—Lieutenant-Colonel Downey, of the Third regiment, Potomac home brigade, in a skirmish this morning, drove a large party of Ashby’s rebel cavalry through Wardensville, killing two and wounding three.
—The English steamer Elizabeth was captured off Charleston, S. C, by the United States gunboat Keystone State.—The public debt of the United States on this day was four hundred and ninety-one million, four hundred and forty-five thousand, nine hundred and eighty-four dollars, at an average interest of 4.35 per cent.—Captain Frisbee, commanding a detachment of three hundred and seventy-eight infantry and First Missouri cavalry, captured near Neosho, Mo., two colonels and one lieutenant-colonel, two jayhawkers, and numbers of guns, revolvers, fifteen horses, and a train of forage.—Dubuque Times, June 3.
—This morning at nine o’clock, the Yankee cavalry followed by infantry, entered Ashland, Va. The confederate troops, quartermasters, and commissaries, and even the pickets had withdrawn, leaving valuable stores behind, including cars filled with flour, etc. The village was swarming with the people of the neighborhood, and negroes who were helping themselves to the public stores. Mr. Crichter, of Westmoreland, and Mr. Grimes, of King George, assumed authority to order about forty negroes to push the cars about one hundred and fifty yards to the point of descent, whence they would run three miles toward Richmond; but after removing eleven cars to the point, the Yankee cavalry dashed into the village, and Messrs. Crichter and Grimes escaped unpursued. —Richmond Whig, June 2.
—Brigadier-General Schofield, commanding the Missouri State Militia, issued a general order, stating that all guerrillas and marauders in that State, when caught in arms, engaged in their unlawful warfare, would be shot down on the spot, and that all citizens who should give shelter and protection to those outlaws, or who would not give all the assistance in their power to the military authorities in detecting and bringing them to punishment, would be regarded and treated as aiders and abettors of the criminals.
—A skirmish occurred at Pocotaligo, S. C, between a party of Union troops, under command of Colonel B. C. Christ, of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania volunteers and a party of the rebels, numbering about eight hundred. After a contest of two hours the rebels were routed with severe loss.— (Doc. 123.)
—Near the “Seven Pines” Va., the rebels made an attack upon the pickets of Casey’s division about sunrise this morning. They approached under cover of a dense fog, to within fifty yards of the pickets of the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania and Ninety-sixth New-York regiments, when a sharp fight occurred. The pickets were driven back a short distance, when they were reenforced, and drove the rebels, regaining their former position. Major Kelly, of the Ninety-sixth New-York was shot through the neck, and bled to death. Orderly-Sergeant David II. Lancaster, company C, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania regiment, had his left arm shattered at elbow, and private William Leighty, was shot through left thumb.
—Colonel C. C. Dodge with two companies of the New-York Mounted Rifles, while on an expedition into North-Carolina, captured seven officers of the rebel army, at Gatcsville, in that State. —(Doc 124.)
—The publication of the New-Orleans Bee was resumed this day, the proprietors having made a satisfactory explanation to General Butler.
—The Sixth United States cavalry burned a bridge five hundred feet long over South Anna Creek, a tributary of the Pamunkey. The bridge was on the line of Stonewall Jackson’s retreat to Richmond.—The Eighth and Thirty-seventh regiments, N.Y.S.M., left New-York City for Washington.—General Pope’s heavy batteries opened upon the rebel works at Corinth, Miss, at ten A.M., this day.

 

[farmersdaughter]

May 30 1862

—The army of the South-West, under Major-Gen. Halleck, occupied Corinth, Miss., it having been evacuated by the rebels last night— (Docs. 50 and 95.)
—This morning the rebels opened fire from one of their pieces, situated on a hill at the left of the road that approaches Mechanicsville, Va., from Chickahominy Bridge, directing it toward the Fifth Vermont regiment, which had been sent out to do picket-duty. The regiment advanced into an open field, thereby exposing themselves to the rebels, but retired into the woods before any casualties had occurred, after a few rounds of shell had been dropped among them.
—Judge James H. Bircch, candidate for Governor of Missouri, was arrested at Rolla, in that State, by order of Col. Boyd, “for uttering disloyal sentiments, while making a speech, which was evidently designed to procure secession votes.”
—The English iron steamer Cambria arrived at Philadelphia, Pa., having been captured by the United States gunboat Huron, after a chase of five hours, off Charleston, S. C. She hails from Carlisle, and sailed from Liverpool for Nassau, and thence for Charleston. Her cargo consisted of liquors, cloths, medicines, Enfield rifles, saltpetre, etc.
—The Thirteenth and Forty-seventh regiments, of Brooklyn, and the Sixty-ninth regiment, of New-York City, left for the seat of war.
—The rebel forces, under Gen. Jackson, made an attempt to dislodge the National forces at Harper’s Ferry, but were repulsed.—(Doc. 62.)
—A Brigade of National troops, preceded by four companies of the Rhode Island cavalry, entered Front Royal, Va., this morning, and drove out the rebels, consisting of the Eighth Louisiana, four companies of the Twelfth Georgia, and a body of cavalry. They were taken completely by surprise, and had no time either to save or to destroy any thing. A large amount of transportation fell into the hands of the Nationals, including two engines and eleven cars of the Manassas Gap Railroad, and they captured six officers and one hundred and fifty privates, besides killing and wounding a large number of rebels. The Union loss was eight killed, five wounded, and one missing. Several of the Union men who were taken prisoners at Front Royal a week ago were recaptured.
—Thirteen members of the Eleventh Pennsylvania volunteer cavalry were captured near Zuni, Va., this day.—Petersburgh Express, June 2.

 

[farmersdaughter]

May 31 1862

—A body of Illinois militia, numbering between two and three hundred, under command of Capt John M. Richardson, were attacked by a force of five hundred Indians and white secessionists, under Capt Coffee and Major Thomas Wright, at Neosho, Mo., and were compelled to fall back to Mount Vernon, where they were reenforced by a detachment of the Tenth Illinois cavalry. There was no general engagement, and the Federal loss was but two killed and three wounded. The rebels captured a number of guns and overcoats, together with a quantity of ammunition, camp equipage, and about fifty horses. They did not hold the town, but retreated to their camp, eighteen miles from Neosho.
—The schooner Cora was captured this day off the bar of Charleston, S. C, by the United States steamer Keystone State.—A force of Union troops, under command of Gen. Williams, arrived at Baton Rouge, La., in the gunboat Kennebec.
—A sharp fight took place on the Greenville road, eight miles above Washington, N. C, between a Union scouting party of fifteen men, of Mix’s Third New-York cavalry, under Lieutenant Allis, and a superior force of rebel cavalry, resulting in the defeat of the rebels, with a loss of three men killed, six wounded, and two taken prisoners unhurt None of the Union party were killed, and but one was wounded.
—Major-Gen. Butler, commanding Department of the Gulf, issued an order directing and authorizing the Provost-Marshal of New-Orleans, La., to execute six rebel prisoners, convicted of having violated their parole.
—Part of General Banks’s command advanced beyond Martinsburgh, Va.—A reconnoissance in force was made at Winton, N. C, by the National troops, under Gen. Viele.
—At noon to-day the main body of the rebel army near Richmond, Va., under General Joseph Johnston, attacked the left wing of the Union army at Fair Oaks and the Seven Pines, and a desperate battle ensued, which lasted till night At night the rebels occupied the camps of the Fourth corps, but their advance was completely broken.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 1 1862

—At eight o’clock this morning the battle between the Union and rebel forces at Fair Oaks, Va., was resumed, and the rebels were defeated and compelled to fall back upon Richmond. —(Docs. 17 and 92.)
—General Fremont’s advance brigade, under Colonel Cluseret, occupied Strasburgh without resistance. A midnight reconnoissance three miles beyond Strasburgh came upon a rope barricade and ambush of Jackson’s rear-guard, and retired successfully with the loss of only three wounded. Col. Figyelmesy, of Gen. Fremont’s staff, with only fifteen men, brilliantly charged and put to flight a body of cavalry commanded by Ashby in person.
—The expedition sent out by General Pope on the twenty-eighth of June, under Colonel Elliott, with the Second Ohio cavalry, returned to Corinth, Mississippi, this day. By forced marches they reached the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and although the rebels were guarding it with a force of five thousand infantry running up and down to prevent him reaching it, succeeded in destroying the track in many places, blowing up one ci[illegible]ert, burning the depot, locomotives, and a train of twenty-six cars loaded with supplies, destroying ten thousand stand of small arms, three pieces of artillery, and capturing two thousand prisoners, whom he released on parole, as he had not time to march them with his cavalry.—(Docs. 49 and 76.)
—The fortifications at Pig Point, Va., were destroyed to-day, together with the rebel barracks in the vicinity.—An order was issued from the War Department extending the Department of Virginia to include that part of Virginia south of the Rappahannock and east of the railroad from Fredericksburgh to Richmond, Petersburgh, and Weldon, under command of Major-Gen. McClellan. Major-Gen. Wool was assigned to the command of the Middle Department, and Major-Gen. Dix to Fortress Monroe to assume command at that point, reporting to Gen. McClellan for orders.
—Yesterday the Union forces under command of Brig.-Gen. Wright succeeded in crossing from Edisto Island to Seabrook’s Point, S. C, and today they had a skirmish with the rebel pickets in the vicinity, which resulted in the retreat of the rebels.—Official Report.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June looks to have been a busy month


JUNE, 1862

1-Strasburg, VA -or-
to Stanton Road, VA
U.S.A.- 0 Killed, 2 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported

3-Legare's Point, SC
U.S.A.- 0 Killed, 5 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported

4-Jasper, TN -or-
Sweden's Cove, TN
U.S.A.- 2 Killed, 7 Wounded
C.S.A.- 20 Killed, 20 Wounded

Blackland, MS
U.S.A.- 5 Killed, 14 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported

5-Tranter's Creek, NC
U.S.A.- 7 Killed, 11 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported

6-Memphis, TN -NAVAL-
U.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported
C.S.A.- 20 Killed, 60 Wounded
100 Missing or Captured
Harrisonburg, VA
U.S.A.- 0 Killed, 0 Wounded
63 Missing or Captured
C.S.A.- 17 Killed, 50 Wounded
Gen. T.Ashby Killed

8-Cross Keys, VA -or-
Union Church, VA
U.S.A.- 125 Killed, 500 Wounded
C.S.A.- 42 Killed, 230 Wounded
8-Port Republic, VA
U.S.A.- 67 Killed, 361 Wounded
574 Missing or Captured
C.S.A.- 42 Killed, 230 Wounded

10-James Island, SC
U.S.A.- 3 Killed, 13 Wounded
C.S.A.- 17 Killed, 30 Wounded

11-Monterey, KY
U.S.A.- 2 Killed, 0 Wounded
C.S.A.- 100 Missing or Captured

12-Waddell's Farm, AR -or-
Village Creek, AR
U.S.A.- 0 Killed, 12 Wounded
C.S.A.- 28 Killed or Wounded

13-Old Church, VA
U.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported
C.S.A.- 1 Killed, 0 Wounded
James Island, SC
U.S.A.- 3 Killed, 19 Wounded
C.S.A.- 19 Killed, 6 Wounded

14-Turnstall Station, VA
U.S.A.- 4 Killed, 8 Wounded
Bushwackers fire on Troop Train

16-Secessionville, SC -or-
Fort Johnson,on James Island SC
U.S.A.- 85 Killed, 472 Wounded
138 Missing or Captured
C.S.A.- 51 Killed, 144 Wounded

17-St.Charles, AR -or- -NAVAL-
White River, AR
U.S.A.- 105 Killed, 30 Wounded
C.S.A.- 155 Killed or Wounded
Warrensburg, MO
U.S.A.- 2 Killed, 2 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported
Smithville, AR
U.S.A.- 2 Killed, 4 Wounded
C.S.A.- 0 Killed, 4 Wounded
15 Missing or Captured

18-Williamsburg Road, VA
U.S.A.- 7 Killed, 57 Wounded
C.S.A.- 5 Killed, 9 Wounded

21-Battle Creek, TN
U.S.A.- 4 Killed, 3 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported

22-Raceland, LA -or-
Algiers, LA
U.S.A.- 3 Killed, 8 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported

23-Raytown, MO
U.S.A.- 1 Killed, 1 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported

25-Oak Grove, VA -or-
Kings School House, VA -or-
The Orchards, VA
U.S.A.- 51 Killed, 401 Wounded
64 Missing or Captured
C.S.A.- 65 Killed, 465 Wounded
11 Missing or Captured
Germantown, TN
U.S.A.- 10 Killed, 0 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported
Little Red River, AR
U.S.A.- 0 Killed, 2 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported

26-The Seven Day Battle, VA -or-
to The Seven Day Retreat, VA
7/1- Comprising of the Following:
26-Mechanicsville, VA -or-
Ellison's Mill, VA

27-Gaines' Mills, VA -or-
Cold Harbor, VA
Chickahominy, VA

29-Peach Orchard, VA
Savage Station, VA

30-White Oak Swamp, VA -or-
Charles City Cross Roads, VA
Glendale, VA
Nelson's Farm, VA
Frazier's Farm, VA
Turkey Bend, VA
New Market Cross Roads, VA

1-Malvern Hill, VA
See note at Conclusion
TOTALS OF ABOVE
U.S.A.-1582 Killed,7709 Wounded
5958 Missing or Captured
C.S.A.-2820 Killed,14011 Wounded
752 Missing or Captured

27-Amite River, LA -or-
Williams Bridge, LA
U.S.A.- 2 Killed, 4 Wounded
C.S.A.- 4 Killed, 0 Wounded
Village Creek, AR
U.S.A.- 2 Killed, 30 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported
Waddell's Farm, AR
U.S.A.- 4 Killed, 4 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported

29-Willis Church, VA
U.S.A.- No Reported Casualties
C.S.A.- 2 Killed, 15 Wounded
46 Missing or Captured

30-Luray, VA
U.S.A.- 1 Killed, 3 Wounded
C.S.A.- Casualties Not Reported

 

[NEVolFan]

Today I read that the death count continues to climb from the Civil War.....come on folks, lighten up....it's over.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 2 1862

—Jacksonport, Arkansas, was visited by a rebel gunboat, commanded by Capt. Fry. After throwing a few shot and shell on the camp-ground just vacated by the Ninth Illinois cavalry, she dropped alongside the wharf-boat and destroyed all the cotton and molasses to be found.—Jacksonport Cavalier Extra, June 7.
—An enthusiastic Union meeting was held at Columbia, Tennessee, at which speeches were delivered by Niell Brown and Andrew Johnson, with great applause.—The First regiment of Fire Zouaves, N.Y.S.V., were mustered out of service at Governor’s Island.—General John A. Dix assumed command of Fortress Monroe, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk, Va.—General Banks recrossed the Potomac and occupied Bunker Hill, Virginia.
—Mass meetings were held at Memphis, Tenn., yesterday and to-day. Addresses were made by Jeff. Thompson and others. Resolutions were adopted never to surrender voluntarily. Though Memphis had already seventy-two companies in the field, every man capable of bearing arms was called upon to repair forthwith to Fort Pillow. A committee was appointed to collect men, money, and arms.—Memphis Argus, June 2.
—Two boats belonging to the United States bark Kingfisher, of the blockading squadron off Saint Marks, Florida, were captured as they were proceeding up the Ocilla River for water, by a party of rebels on shore. Two of the boats’ crew were killed, two wounded, and the rest made prisoners.—New-Bedford Mercury, June 23.
—Parker Spring, superintending the construction of United States Military telegraph lines, gave an account, in a letter to the Lancaster (Pa.) Express, of the services of the Morse telegraph to the army, and of General McClellan’s use of it—(Doc. 129.)
—A party of National scouts captured the mate and six seamen belonging to the rebel gunboat Beauregard, at a point nearly opposite Fulton, Missouri.
—Edward L. Pierce, Special Agent of the Treasury Department of the United States, made a report concerning the condition of the freedmen of South-Carolina. — The Union forces under Major-Gen. Hunter, operating against Charleston, S. C, this day landed on James Island, under cover of the gunboats, without opposition.
—To-day the Union fleet of gunboats (eight vessels) moved up the James River from their former position at City Point, toward the rebel batteries below Richmond, Va. When some distance up, they got aground; the rebels appeared on a bluff on the opposite shore and fired into the fleet, which returned the fire and the rebels dispersed. At flood-tide the fleet backed off and dropped down the stream.
—A slight skirmish took place near Washington, N. C, between a small scouting party, composed of a sergeant and six men of Mix’s New York cavalry, and a force of rebel infantry, resulting in the capture by the rebels of three of the Union party.—Gen. Sigel was placed in command at Harper’s Ferry, Va.
—A fight took place on the road between Strasburgh and Staunton, Va., between a portion of the Union army under Gen. Fremont and the rebels under Gen. Jackson, resulting in the defeat of the latter. The rebels in the retreat burned the bridge after they had crossed the Shenandoah River at Mount Jackson.—(Doc. 53.)

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 3 1862

—Major-General Robert W. Lee was assigned to the command of the rebel army in front of Richmond, in consequence of a slight wound to General Johnston, and, upon assuming his important position, issued an address to the army, which was read at the head of the regiments. Its sentiments created the liveliest enthusiasm. The address informed them, in a very few words, that the army had made its last retreat, and that henceforth every man’s watchword must be, “Victory or death!” The response was cheers from all the regiments.—Petersburgh Express, June 5.
—The Twenty-fifth regiment of New-York volunteers, under the command of Col. Bryan, left Albany for the seat of war.—Gen. Hooker made a reconnoissance in force on the Williamsburgh, Va., turnpike, reaching a point within four miles of Richmond. The rebels were not numerous; their pickets were visible, but they fled on the approach of the National troops.
—A letter was published in the Richmond Dispatch, said to have been found in Gen. Casey’s tent at the battle of Fair Oaks. It details a plan for the occupation of the Southern States “after the war.”—(Doc. 130.)
—The sentence of death pronounced on six persons at New Orleans, La., for having violated their parole, was this day commuted by General Butler, who confined them at hard labor on Ship Island, during the pleasure of the President of the United States.
Ethan A. Hitchcock (wikipedia)
After the start of the Civil War, Hitchcock applied to return to the service, but was rejected. It was only after the intervention of his former general, Winfield Scott, that he was commissioned a major general in the U.S. Army and became special adviser to the Secretary of War from February 17, 1862. From March 17 to July 23, 1862, he served as the chairman of the War Board, the organization that assisted President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton in the management of the War Department and the command of the Union armies during the period in which there was no general-in-chief. (Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan had been relieved of his responsibilities as general-in-chief and Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck had not yet replaced him.) He sat on the court-martial of Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter which convicted the general of disobedience and cowardice. From November 1862 through the end of the war, he served as Commissioner for Prisoner of War Exchange, and then Commissary-General of Prisoners until 1867.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 4 1862

—Major-General Halleck reported to the Secretary of War that General Pope, with forty thousand men, was thirty miles south of Florence, Alabama, pushing the enemy hard; that he had ten thousand prisoners and deserters from the enemy, and fifteen thousand stand of arms captured. Also that nine locomotives and a number of cars were captured.—(Doc. 131.)
—Fort Pillow, otherwise called Fort Wright, on the Mississippi River, was evacuated by the rebels. After the occupation of the Fort, the Union gunboat fleet steamed directly to Memphis.—(Doc. 54.)
—Jeff Davis threatened retaliation in the case of Major W. Van Benthuysen, who had been arrested by Gen. Butler, at New-Orleans, “for aiding the escape of a scoundrel and spy.”
—Brig.-general J. T. Boyle, headquarters in Louisville, assumed command of the National troops in Kentucky this morning.
—A fight occurred near Jasper, Tenn., between a body of Union troops under the command of Gen. Negley, and a large force of rebel cavalry under Gen. Adams, which resulted in a complete rout of the rebels, with great loss.— (Doc. 55.)
—Sixteen hundred of Gen. Prentiss’s troops, who were taken prisoners at the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, arrived at Nashville, Tenn., they having been paroled by the rebel authorities, “in consequence of their being unable to feed them.” —Nashville Union, June 5.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 5 1862

—The Twenty-fourth regiment of Massachusetts, while on a scouting expedition on the Pactolus road, near Washington, N. C, were attacked from an ambush by a rebel regiment, and had seven men killed and several wounded.— (Doc. 59.)
—The Twelfth regiment New-York State militia, under the command of Col. William S. Ward, left New-York for Washington, D. C—The volunteer recruiting service in the United States, discontinued by General Orders No. 33, of April third, 1862, was restored, and orders to that effect were published by General Thomas.
—The rebel artillery opened upon the National forces at New-Bridge, on the Chickahominy River, Va., from five different points, attempting to prevent General McClellan’s troops from rebuilding the bridge; their fire was returned, and after an engagement of over two hours, the rebels were compelled to retire.
—A heavy storm, which had lasted two whole days, raised the Chickahominy River, Va., to an unprecedented height—President Lincoln complimented First Lieut. D. C. Constable, commanding the revenue steamer E. A. Stevens, by handing him personally a commission as captain in the revenue cutter service, in recognition of his gallantry in leading with his steamer the attacking forces in their ascent of the James River and bombardment of Fort Darling.—Second Lieutenant J. Wall Wilson was also promoted to a first lieutenancy for gallant bearing during the same action.
—Nathaniel S. Berry was inaugurated Governor of New-Hampshire, at Concord, in the presence of both branches of the Legislature and a large concourse of citizens. In his message, alluding to National affairs, the Governor says there can be but one result to the struggle in which we are engaged — submission to the first principles of the government inaugurated and established by our fathers. The base rebellious spirit which designed to reverse the free and humane policy of our fathers, must fail. The fearful lesson we have had in the conflict with slavery, its disasters to all its promoters, its evident weakness in its death-struggle with freedom, all portend a change in the estimation in which this great evil will be hereafter held, and foretell in legible characters, written in view of all the nations, that its days are numbered. For these reasons the Governor rejoices in the late message of President Lincoln, and in the abolishing of slavery in the District of Columbia, and its prohibition in the territories. But he affirms the principle that each State submitting to the provisions of the Constitution should control its own local institutions; but such submission should be regarded as a pre-requisite to the employment of the benefits of that instrument.
—Judge Birch, who was arrested at Holla, Mo., for expressing disloyal sentiments, was released from arrest and paroled, with the understanding that he was to report himself whenever required.—James Trabue, one of the principal dry-goods merchants of Louisville, Ky., was arrested to-day by the military authorities at that place. He refused to take the oath of allegiance. —Two companies of the Pennsylvania “Roundhead” regiment, on James Island, S. C, were cut off by the rebels, but after a sharp fight were rescued by the Eighth Michigan regiment.— The United States gunboat fleet and mortar fleet arrived before Memphis, Tenn., at nine P.M.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 6 1862

—At five o’clock A.m., the United States fleet in the Mississippi river, near Memphis, engaged the rebel fleet of eight rams and gunboats, and after a two hours’ fight, seven of the rebel craft were either captured or destroyed. On the conclusion of the battle, the Mayor of Memphis surrendered the city.—(Doc. 60.)
—Gen. Fremont’s army reached Harrisonburgh, Va., at two o’clock this afternoon, and drove out the rebel rear-guard from the town. At four o’clock the First New-Jersey cavalry, after driving the enemy through the village, fell into an ambuscade, and Colonel Windham, its commander, was captured. The regiment sustained considerable loss. General Bayard subsequently engaged the rebels with his brigade, drove them from his position, capturing their camp. They then continued their retreat—(Doc. 63.)
—The tax bill was passed by the Senate of the United States, by a vote of thirty-seven to one, Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, voting in the negative.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 7 1862

—An enthusiastic Union meeting was held at Shelbyville, Tenn., at which speeches were made by Andrew Johnson, W. H. Wisner and Col. May —On the Chickahominy River the rebels opened fire on the pickets of Gen. Sumner, but without any effect—The rebel steam-tug Mark R. Chesk, was captured near Memphis, Tenn.
—The Paris Constitutionnel, of this day, published an article to show “the impossibility of the South being conquered,” and maintaining that foreign “mediation alone will succeed in putting an end to a war disastrous to the interests of humanity.”
—William Mumford, a citizen of New-Orleans, was hung in that city for an overt act of treason in pulling down the American flag from the United States Mint— (Doc. 65.)
—In the Missouri Convention a bill for the gradual emancipation of slaves was submitted and defeated by a vote of fifty-two to nineteen.
—Memphis, Tenn., was formally taken possession of in the name of the Government of the United States, by Col. G. N. Fitch, commanding Indiana brigade.—The schooner Rowena, formerly the Garibaldi, ran into Stono Inlet, S. C, this evening, not knowing it to be in the possession of the National forces, and was captured by the gunboat Pawnee.—Official Report.
—The rebel batteries at Chattanooga, East Tennessee, were silenced by the artillery of General Negley’s command after a bombardment of three hours.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 8 1862

—This day a scouting party under Lieut. Bonse, company A, Tenth Virginia regiment, captured, in Braxton County, Va., Ben. Haymond, Ed. Riffle and Stan. Conrad, three of the most notorious bushwhackers in Western Virginia. Haymond and Riffle had been cutting telegraph wires, robbing Union men, stealing horses, etc.—Cincinnati Gazette, June 11.
—An extension of the following military departments of the United States was made:
1. The Department of the Mississippi is extended so as to include the whole of the States of Tennessee and Kentucky. All officers on duty in those States will report to Major-Gen. Halleck.
2. The Mountain Department is extended eastward to the road running from Williamsport to Martinsburgh, Winchester, Strasburgh, Harrisonburgh, and Staunton, including that place—thence in the same direction southward until it reaches the Blue Ridge chain of mountains; thence with the line of the Blue Ridge to the southern boundary of the State of Virginia.
3. The Department of the Shenandoah is extended eastward to include the Piedmont District and the Bull Mountain range.
—General Prim, commanding the Spanish forces recently sent to Mexico, together with his suite, visited the army of the Potomac to-day.
—General Fremont attacked (Stonewall) Jackson seven miles beyond Harrisonburgh, Va., near Union Church or Cross Keys, at half-past eight this morning, and drove him from a strong position with considerable loss.—(Doc. 18.)
—The obsequies of General Turner Ashby of the rebel cavalry, were celebrated at Charlottesville, Va. “The services were performed by the Rev. Mr. Norton and Rev. Mr. Avery—the latter had been chaplin in the cavalry from the opening of the war. Both spoke of the deceased in terms of high praise as a man, a soldier, and a Christian. The brave soldiers wept as they listened to the pious exhortations of the clergymen. They had lost a host in Gen. Ashby, but they were expected to imitate him in all things, and especially in his veneration and respect for Christianity. The country looked to them for deeds of greater valor than had ever yet been accomplished by them; and there, on the dead body of their late commander, they should swear not to sheathe their swords when a hostile army polluted the soil of Virginia and the South. After the services in the chapel the remains of General Ashby were conveyed to the University cemetery and committed ‘earth to earth, ashes to ashes, and dust to dust,’ Colonel T. G. Randolph and the Professors of the University assisting in the ceremony. They grave was covered by the cavalry, and they fired several volleys over it, and there he will remain in this classic ground until the last trump shall summon all to the general judgment”—Lynchburgh Republican, June 12.
—Judge Swayne, of Memphis, Tenn., refused to open the Criminal Court in that city, after receiving an order from Col. G. N. Fitch, commanding United States forces, instructing him to confine himself to the hearing and adjudication of such cases only as are not based upon the recognition of the right of a State to secede from the Union, or upon the presumption of the establishment or existence of a so-called Southern Confederacy, or recognizing the same.
—A small force of Union troops, commanded by Capt. \V. Geary, Third Pennsylvania cavalry, while on a reconnoissance in the vicinity of New Market, Va., captured a rebel spy named Hance. He was the medium by which letters were carried to and fro, giving the rebels much information concerning the movements of the Union army. When captured he had a mail made up, ready to carry into Richmond.
—A reconnoissance was this day made, under cover of eight Union gunboats, by a body of National troops, commanded by Colonel Morrow, on James Island, S. C. The Union forces drove the rebels a distance of two miles, and were at one time within three miles of the city of Charleston, and in full view of Fort Sumter. The object of the reconnoissance was accomplished, and the troops fell back to their former position, losing two killed and seven wounded.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 9 1862

—General (Stonewall) Jackson in retreat before the army under General Fremont fell upon an advance body of the force under General Shields, near Port Republic, Va. After a hard fight this advance body fell back upon the main body under General Shields, and Jackson continued his retreat—(Doc. 19.)
—The Senate of the United States resolved itself into a High Court of Impeachment, for the trial of Judge Humphreys, of Tennessee, for treason, and the members of the House of Representatives were introduced in due form; but it was finally concluded to postpone the proceedings until the twenty-sixth.—The House bill prohibiting slavery in the territories was passed.—Secretary Welles addressed an elaborate communication to the Naval Committee of Congress on the construction of armored ships.
—General Halleck at Corinth, Miss., sent the following despatch to the War Department: “The enemy has fallen back fifty miles from here by railroad, and near seventy miles by wagon road. General Pope estimates the rebel loss from casualties, prisoners, and desertion, at over twenty thousand, and General Buell at between twenty thousand and thirty thousand.
“A person who was employed in the confederate commissary department, says they had one hundred and twenty thousand men in Corinth, and that now they cannot muster much over eighty thousand. Some of the fresh graves on the road have been opened and found filled with arms. Many of the prisoners beg not to be exchanged, saying they purposely allowed themselves to be taken. Beaureguard himself retreated from Baldwin on Saturday afternoon to Okolona, Miss.”
—Brigadier-general D. B. Birney, having been tried by court-martial, and honorably acquitted of the charges brought against him, this day reassumed command of his brigade by order of General Kearny, commanding division.
—The House of Representatives of the United States called for information respecting the organization by General Hunter, of the Department of South-Carolina, of a regiment of black volunteers for the defence of the Union.—(Doc. 132.)
—An interesting correspondence between Judge Rost, Captain Huse, and R. M. T. Hunter, rebel agents in Europe, was this day published.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 10 1862

—The Seward-Lyons Treaty for the suppression of the African slave-trade was officially promulgated. It is to remain in full force for the term of ten years. Instructions for the ships of the United States and British navies, and regulations for the mixed courts of justice, accompany the publication.
—The obsequies of Colonel J. Lafayette Riker, of the Sixty-second regiment of New-York volunteers and of Colonel James Miller, of the Eighty-first Pennsylvania regiment, took place in the city of New-York. — The schooner Julia was captured at Barataria, La., by master’s mate John H. Gregory, with a crew of twelve men from the United States gunboat Kittatinny.
—A fight took place on James Island, S. C, between a body of Union troops, and a large force of rebels. It was hotly contested for more than two hours, and ended in the rout of the rebels, with a loss to them of seventeen killed, thirty wounded, and six prisoners. The Unionists lost three killed and thirteen wounded.—Official Report.
—The Union army under General Fremont reached Port Republic, Va.—The rebels in front of the Union lines at Savage’s station, Chickahominy Swamp, Va., kept up a bombardment, without effect, their shells falling short of the mark.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 11 1862

—This day about noon, near Montgomery, Owen County, Kentucky, a severe skirmish took place between a large party of bushwackers and the Union forces under Captain Nicklin, consisting of a portion of the Thirteenth Indiana light artillery, and a squad of Captain Blood’s Provost-Guard, (mounted.) In the skirmish a sergeant of the cavalry, and a private of artillery, were killed. The loss on the part of the bushwhackers was not ascertained; but twenty-five of them were captured and carried to Louisville. The point at which the skirmish occurred was in a thick clump of brush and bushes, through which the cavalry could not force their horses. After the fight was over, an examination of the ground showed that the bushwackers were badly cut up. The ground was in many places covered with blood, and tracks were visible of bodies drawn off.—Louisville Democrat.
—A Flag of truce was received at Batesville, Arkansas, the headquarters of General Curtis, bearing a letter from General Hindman of the rebel army, threatening to hang every Federal officer and soldier who might fall into his hands, in case General Curtis should hang certain persons in his hands as outlaws. General Curtis replied immediately, disclaiming any intention of hanging.—Specie payment was resumed by the New-Orleans Bank of America.—N.O. True Delta, June 11.
—A Rebel battery of four guns was this day captured at James Island, S. C, by two regiments of Union troops.—The schooner Princeton was captured by the United States steamer Susquehanna.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 12 1862

—A fight took place at Waddell Farm, near Village Creek, Arkansas, between a body of National troops under the command of Colonel Albert E. Brackett of the Ninth Illinois cavalry, and a party of rebels known as “Hooker’s company,” in which the latter were defeated with a loss of twenty-eight killed, wounded and prisoners. Col. Brackett’s loss was one taken prisoner and twelve wounded.—(Doc. 66.)
—A Detachment of the Richmond Blues had a skirmish near the Chickahominy on the right wing of the rebel army, with a body of Yankee infantry. The fire of the Blues killed six of the Federals and placed several hors du combat, when they retreated.—Richmond Examiner, June 14.
—General Fremont left Harrisonburgh, Va. The citizens expressed their delight by an illumination of every house in the town.
—A Small expedition of United States forces under Captain Hynes, Topographical Engineers, went up the Nansemond River without resistance.—(Doc. 71.)
—Mount Jackson, Va., was occupied by the Union army under General Fremont.—A daring though unsuccessful attack was made on a battery on James Island, S. C, by the Seventy-ninth New-York, Eighth Michigan, and Twenty-eighth Massachusetts regiments.
—About forty farmers of Conway County, Arkansas, came into the Union lines at Batesville, to volunteer for the Union.—Missouri Democrat

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 13 1862

—This day a force of about three hundred rebel troops left Fort Chapman, and proceeded to Hutchinson Island, S. C, where they killed and wounded a number of negroes, and burned a chapel and dwelling-house. On the approach of the boats of the United States ship Dale, lying in St Helena Sound, the rebels retreated. About seventy negroes were taken on board the Dale, including several of the wounded.—(Doc. 69.)
—Colonel James R. Slack, commanding at Memphis, Tenn., issued the following order:
“Hereafter the dealing in and passage of currency known as ‘confederate scrip’ or ‘confederate notes’ is positively prohibited, and the use thereof as a circulating medium regarded as an insult to the Government of the United States, and an imposition upon the ignorant and deluded. “All persons offending against the provisions of this order will be promptly arrested and severely punished by the military authorities.”
— The Bank of Louisiana, at New-Orleans, being ordered by the Provost-Judge to pay a citizen in current funds his deposit formerly received by them in confederate notes, the Bank appealed to General Butler, who sustained the decision of the Judge.—Congress passed a joint resolution of thanks to Lieut. Morris and the other officers and men of the United States frigate Cumberland.
—The pickets of Gen. McClellan’s army near Richmond were driven in from Old Church, and large bodies of the rebels were discovered moving from the neighborhood of Mechanicsville bridge and Richmond towards the battle-field of Fair Oaks.—(Doc. 67.)
—At daylight this morning the rebels opened a sharp fire of artillery in front of Gen. Sumner’s position, in the vicinity of Richmond, which continued three hours, killing one and wounding another of the National troops.
—The United States flag was this day raised in the village of Gretna, La., amid the rejoicings of a large number of spectators. After the ceremony a series of patriotic resolutions were unanimously passed.
—The rebel transport Clara Dolsen was captured on the White River, Arkansas, by the tug Spitfire.—(Doc. 70.)
—A fight took place on James Island, S. C, between a body of Union troops and a much superior force of the rebels, resulting in the retreat of the rebels with a loss of nineteen killed and six wounded. The Union party lost three killed and nineteen wounded.—Official Report.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 14 1862

—Capt Craven, of the United States steam sloop Brooklyn, sent a marine guard and party of seamen, numbering in all about one hundred men, under command of Lieut Lowry, to Bayou Sara, Louisiana, for the purpose of destroying the telegraph apparatus and cutting the wires. After an absence of two hours, Lieut. Lowry returned to the ship, having accomplished his work. (Doc. 133.)
—General James H. Van Ales, Military Governor of Yorktown, Va., issued an order directing that all negroes in his department, “contraband or otherwise, should be under the immediate charge and control of the Provost-Marshal—that they be allowed full liberty,” etc.
—Captain Atkison, of company C, of the Fiftieth Indiana volunteers, with twenty men, captured six thousand two hundred pounds of powder at Sycamore Mills, thirty miles below Nashville, Tenn., and five miles north of the Cumberland River. The company also stopped at Fort Zollicoffer, and brought off a gun.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 15 1862

—The rebel General J. E. B. Stuart, with a cavalry force, left the rebel lines near Richmond, Va., on the thirteenth, and rode through the lines of the right wing of the Union army in front of Richmond to Garlick’s Landing, Pamunkey River, where he burned two schooners. Thence to Tunstall’s station, where he fired into, but failed to capture, a railroad train; thence rode around the left wing of the Union army, and into Richmond again to-day. (Doc. 67.)
—Lieutenant Commanding Howell, in the Union gunboat Tahoma, accompanied by Lieut. Commanding English, in the Somerset, crossed the bar of Saint Mark’s River, Florida, and drove out a company of rebel artillery, with four or five field-pieces, from a fort near the lighthouse on that river, afterwards landing and burning the fort with the buildings used as barracks.—Official Report.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 16 1862

—The Richmond Dispatch of this date says: “Desertion has become far too frequent in the confederate army. And yet the habit is not peculiar to confederate soldiers. There must be desertions from all military service where there is no punishment for desertion. We mean no punishment adequate to the offence—none which a coward or vagabond had not rather encounter than endure the service or the perils of a battle. Death is the proper punishment, and it is the punishment prescribed in our laws—the punishment meted to the deserter by governments generally. We anticipate that our own government will be forced to resort to it. With a creditable humanity and forbearance, the policy of appealing to the pride of the soldier by advertisement, by disgraces, has been pursued by our commanders; but there is little pride and no honor in the deserter, and the fear of disgrace will not deter him from absconding. The penalty of death will. An example or two would have a fine effect.”
—The battle of Secessionville, James Island, S. C, was fought this day, resulting in the defeat of the National forces.—(Doc. 72.)
—Attorney-General Bates officially communicated to the Secretary of War his opinion concerning the relations of Governors of States to volunteers in the National service.—(See Supplement.)
—At Memphis, Tenn., a large body of rebel officers and soldiers, together with citizens of the city, took the oath of allegiance to the United States.—Memphis Avalanche, June 17.
—This day, while a few soldiers were hunting for deserters in the vicinity of Culpeper, Va., they suddenly came upon a rebel mail-carrier who was endeavoring to conceal himself in the woods. He was immediately arrested, after a slight resistance, and taken to headquarters at Manassas. A large number of letters to prominent officers in the rebel service, many of which contained valuable information, were found in the mail-bag, also ten thousand dollars in confederate bonds. The carrier’s name was Granville W. Kelly.—Baltimore American, June 18.
—Surgeon Hayes, One Hundred and Tenth regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, having been ordered to conduct to Washington a large detachment of sick and wounded men, and having shamefully neglected them after their arrival, the President directed that for this gross dereliction of duty he be dismissed the service, and he was accordingly dismissed.— General Order.
—This afternoon the rebels in front of the National pickets near Fair Oaks, Va., attempted to flank a portion of the Union forces during a violent thunder-storm, but were soon repulsed with some loss. Lieut. Palmer, Aid to Gen. Sickles, while giving orders to the commandant of the regiment attacked by the rebels, fell pierced with three balls.
—Four of the five men, who, while personating Union soldiers, entered and pillaged a house in New-Orleans, La., of a large sum of money and other valuables, were this day hanged in that city. The fifth man was reprieved.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 17 1862

—Major-General J. C. Hindman, of the rebel army, issued a proclamation to the inhabitants of the Trans-Mississippi District, Arkansas, calling upon all those who were not subject to conscription, to organize themselves into independent companies of mounted troops or infantry, as they might prefer, arming and equipping themselves, and to serve in that part of the district in which they might belong.—(Doc. 134.)
—The rebel batteries at City Point, on the James River, below Fort Darling, Va., opened fire on the Union fleet of gunboats, but the boats returned it so briskly with shell and shrapnel, that the batteries were silenced, and the rebels retired.
—General Wallace assumed command of the city of Memphis, Tenn. His first official act was to take possession of the office of the newspaper Argus. T. Knox and A. D. Richardson were appointed to supervise all editorials which appeared in the newspapers.
—Threats having been made to tear down the Union flags flying over the houses of some of the citizens of Memphis, Tenn., the Provost-Marshal of that city issued an order instructing the guard to shoot down any one attempting to haul down the flag, or offering any insult or molestation to resident citizens who had thus manifested their devotion to the Union.
—The United States gunboats St Louis, Lexington, Conestoga and Mound City, on an expedition up White River, Arkansas, opened fire on a rebel battery at St Charles, while the Forty-third and Forty-sixth Indiana regiments made a land attack, which resulted in the capture of the battery. During the fire a ball entered the steam-drum of the Mound City, and it exploded.—(Doc. 75.)
—This afternoon the stage from Fort Scott was stopped eight miles from Kansas City, Mo., by six men armed with double-barreled shotguns, supposed to belong to Quantrell’s band of guerrillas, and the passengers robbed of seven hundred dollars in money, three gold watches, four revolvers and several overcoats. One passenger saved two thousand dollars, which he had sewed in the linings of his coat, and the express agent’s trunk, containing over ten thousand dollars, was thrown aside as of no value.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 18 1862

—The fort over Eastern Branch, near Washington, D. C, in the vicinity of the hamlet “Good Hope,” hitherto known as “Fort Good Hope,” was named “Fort Wagner,” in honor of Lieut. Wagner, of the Topographical Engineers, who died of wounds received near Yorktown, on the seventeenth of April last
—Col. Averill returned to the headquarters of General McClellan, on the Chickahominy, from a scout to the Mattapony, in search of a band of guerrillas. They were found to have left the previous day. He destroyed the bridge, took a number of wagons and carts loaded with supplies for Richmond, destroyed a large amount of rebel grain, and captured several important prisoners.
—A reconnoissance was this day made by the Sixteenth Massachusetts, under Col. P. T. Wyman, for the purpose of ascertaining the exact character of the ground in front of the picket-line at Fair Oaks, Va.—(Doc. 135.)
—A band of rebels were attacked by Major Zeley and a party of Union troops, near Smithville, Ark. Captain Jones, their leader, and fourteen of his men were captured. The rebels had four men wounded. Union loss, two killed and four wounded.—A skirmish occurred at Tallahatchie, Flu.
—An expedition composed of four companies of Union troops, under Col. Kimball, sent from New-Orleans to Manchac, La., for the purpose of dispersing a large number of rebels encamped in that place, this day returned to New-Orleans, after having successfully performed the object of its mission. On the approach of the Union force, the rebels decamped, leaving their regimental colors, guns, camp equipage, etc., behind them. The guns were spiked, the colors taken away, and the bridge at Manchac Pass burned.
—Gen. Morgan marched at one A.M. to attack the rebels at Cumberland Gap, but on his arrival there found that they had abandoned that position a few hours before.—(Doc. 136.)
—The bill emancipating the slaves of rebels passed the United States House of Representatives, by a vote of eighty-two against fifty-four.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 19 1862

—A skirmish took place between the Twentieth Indiana regiment, in General Kearny’s division of the army of the Potomac, and a body of rebel troops, which lasted for more than an hour. The Union troops held their position with slight loss, having had only three men wounded. In the afternoon, Gen. Kearny complimented the regiment for its bravery and discipline.
—The confederate schooner Louisa, laden with cotton, two flatboats, laden with rice, and a steam tug-boat, were captured about twelve miles up the Santee River, by a boat’s crew of the United States steamer Albatross, blockading off the North-Santee River, S. C.

 

[farmersdaughter]

June 20 1862

—A force from Gen. Sherman’s command occupied Holly Springs to-day, and destroyed several pieces of trestle-work on the Mississippi Central Railroad. The machinery for repairing and manufacturing arms was removed from Holly Springs to Atlanta, Ga., previous to the evacuation of the place by the rebels.
—The Paris Constitutionnel, of this date, expressed the opinion that mediation was but a question of time. The cause had gained. More than one hundred provincial journals in France had given in their adhesion to it. The idea had gained ground in England. Such an expression of public opinion in two great countries could not remain without effect, but mediation could not be proposed with the certainty of rejection. It was for the government to seize upon a favorable opportunity.
—A delegation from the religious society of Progressive Friends appeared before the President, at Washington, for the purpose of presenting a memorial praying him to decree the emancipation of the slaves.
—The United States gunboat Jacob Bell, commanded by Lieut. E. P. McCrea, proceeded up the James River, Va., with despatches for the commander of the Monitor. She succeeded in her mission, but was considerably damaged by the rebel batteries on shore.—(Doc. 137.)
—Lieut.-Col. William B. Cassilly, Sixty-ninth Ohio volunteers, assumed command of the military district of Franklin, Williamson County, Tenn.
—The brig Yankee Blade arrived in New-York from New-Orleans, laden with sugar, molasses, and cotton—the first arrival since the remission of the blockade.