rinth, 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 destroy-
ng Hie track in many places, blowing up one
;i ert, burning the depot, locomotives, and a
22
REBELLION RECORD, 1862.
[JUNE 3
train of twenty-six cars loaded with supplies, de
stroying 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 V6.)
THE fortifications at Pig Point, Va., were de-
stro} : ed 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 to-
da} r they had a skirmish with the rebel pickets
in the vicinity, which resulted in the retreat of
the rebels. Official Report.
June 2. 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. JacTc-
sonport Cavalier Extra, June 7.
AN enthusiastic Union meeting was held at
Columbia, Tennessee, at which speeches were de
livered by Niell Brown and Andrew Johnson,
with great applause. The First regiment of Fire
Zouaves, N.Y.S.V., \vere mustered out of service
at Governor s Island. General John A. Dix as
sumed command of Fortress Monroe, Norfolk,
Portsmouth, and Suffolk, Va. General Banks re-
crossed the Potomac and occupied Bunker Hill,
Virginia.
MASS meetings \vere 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
oark 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. Neic- Bed ford Mercury, June 23.
PARKER SPUING, superintending the con
struction of United States Military telegraph
lines, gave an account, in a letter to the Lancas
ter (Pa.) Egress, of the services of the Morse
telegraph to the army, and of General McClel-
lan s use of it. (Doc. 129.)
A PARTY of National scouts captured the
mate and six seamen belonging to the rebel gun
boat Beauregard, at a point nearly opposite Ful
ton, Missouri.
EDWARD L. PIERCE, Special A*gent 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 dis
tance 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 dis
persed. At flood-tide the fleet backed off and
dropped down the stream.
A SLIGHT skirmish took place near Washing
ton, N. C., between a small scouting party, com
posed of a sergeant and six men of Mix s New-
York cavalry, and a force of rebel infantry, result
ing 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 de
feat of the latter. The rebels in the retreat
burned the bridge after they had crossed the
Shenandoah River at Mount Jackson. (Doc. 53.)
June 3. 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 regi
ments. Its sentiments created the liveliest en-
MAJ.-GEN. E.A.HITCHCOCK
5.]
DIARY OF EVENTS.
23
thusiasm. The address informed them, in a very
few words, that the army had made its last re
treat, and that henceforth every man s watch
word must be, u Victory or death !" The response
was cheers from all the regiments. Petersburgli
Express, June 5.
THE Twenty-fifth regiment of New-York vol
unteers, 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 \vere 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.
June 4. 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 cap
tured. 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 Mem
phis. (Doc. 54.)
JEFF DAVIS threatened retaliation in the case
of Major W. Van Benthuysen, who had been ar
rested by Gen. Butler, at New-Orleans, " for aid
ing the escape of a scoundrel and spy."
BniG. -GENERAL J. T. BOYLE, headquarters in
Louisville, assumed command of the National
troops in Kentucky this morning.
A FIGHT occurred near Jasper, Tenn., be
tween a body of Union troops under the com
mand 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 Pitts
burgh 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.
June 5. The Twenty-fourth regiment of Mas
sachusetts, while on a scouting expedition on tho
Pactolus road, near Washington, N. C., were at
tacked from an ambush by a rebel regiment, and
had seven men killed and several wounded.
(Doc. 59.)
THE Twelfth regiment New- York State mili
tia, under the command of Col. William S. Ward,
left New-York for Washington, D. C. The vol
unteer recruiting service in the United States, dis
continued 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 pre
vent 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 com
plimented First Lieut. D. C. Constable, command
ing the revenue steamer E. A. Stevens, by hand
ing him personally a commission as captain in the
revenue cutter service, in recognition of his gal
lantry in leading with his steamer the attacking
forces in their ascent of the James River and bom
bardment of Fort Darling. Second Lieutenant J.
Wall Wilson was also promoted to a first lieuten
ancy for gallant bearing during the same action.
NATHANIEL S. BERRY was inaugurated Gov
ernor of New-Hampshire, at Concord, in the pres
ence of both branches of the Legislature and a
large concourse of citizens. In his message, al
luding 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 es
tablished by our fathers. The base rebellious
spirit which designed to reverse the free and hu
mane policy of our fathers, must fail. The fear
ful lesson we have had in the conflict with slavery,
its disasters to all its promoters, its evident weak
ness in its death-struggle with freedom, all por-
REBELLION RECORD, 1862.
[JUNK 8.
tend 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 na
tions, 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 pro
hibition in the territories. But he affirms the
principle that each State submitting to the pro
visions 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 Rolla,
Mo., for expressing disloyal sentiments, was re
leased from arrest and paroled, with the under
standing that he was to report himself whenever
required. James Trabue, one of the principal
dry-goods merchants of Louisville, Ky., was ar
rested to-day by the military authorities at that
place. He refused to take the oath of allegiance.
Two companies of the Pennsylvania " Round
head" 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.
June 6. At five o clock A.M., the United States
fleet in the Mississippi river, near Memphis, en
gaged 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 ambus
cade, 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 po
sition, capturing their camp. They then con
tinued 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.
June Y. An enthusiastic Union meeting was
held at Shelby ville, Tenn., at which speeches
were made b 7 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, pub
lished 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 trea
son 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 posses
sion of in the name of the Government of the
United States, by Col. G. N. Fitch, commanding
Indiana brigade. The schooner Rowena, former
ly 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 Gen
eral Negley s command after a bombardment of
three hours. (Doc. 64.)
June 8. This day a scouting party under
Lieut. Bonse, company A, Tenth Virginia regi
ment, captured, in Braxton County, Va., Ben.
Raymond, 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, Jane 11.
AN extension of the following military de
partments of the United States was made :
1. The Department of the Mississippi is ex
tended 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, llalleck.
2. The Mountain Department is extended cast-
ward to the road running from Williamsport to
Martinsburgh, Winchester, Strasburgh, Harrison-
burgh, 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 boun
dary of the State of Virginia.
3. The Department of the Shenandoah is ex-
JUNK 9.]
DIARY OF EVENTS.
tended 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) Jack
son seven miles beyond Harrisonburgh, Va,, near
Union Church or Cross Keys, at half-past eight
this morning, and drove him from a strong posi
tion with considerable loss. (Doc. 18.)
THE obsequies of General Turner Ashby of
the rebel cavalry, were celebrated at Charlottes-
ville, 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 Christ
ian. 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 ex
pected 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 servi
ces 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 cere
mony. They grave was covered b}^ 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 judg
ment." Lynchburgh Republican, June 12.
JUDGE SWATNE, of Memphis, Tenn., refused
to open the Criminal Court in that city, after re
ceiving an order from Col. G. N. Fitch, command
ing United States forces, instructing him to con
fine himself to the hearing and adjudication of
such cases only as are not based upon the recog
nition of the right of a State to secede from the
Union, or upon the presumption of the establish
ment or existence of a so-called Southern Con
federacy, or recognizing the same.
A SMALL force of Union troops, commanded
by Ca.pt. W. 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 car
ried to and fro, giving the rebels much informa
tion 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 Na
tional 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 Charles
ton, and in full view of Fort Sumter. The ob
ject of the reconnoissance was accomplished, and
the troops fell back to their former position, losing
two killed and seven wounded.
June 9. General (Stonewall) Jackson in re
treat 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 con
tinued his retreat. (Doc. 19.)
THE Senate of the United States resolved it
self into a High Court of Impeachment, for the
trial of Judge Humphreys, of Tennessee, for trea
son, and the members of the House of Represen
tatives were introduced in due form ; but it was
finally concluded to postpone the proceedings un
til 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 con
struction 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 hun
dred 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 Bald
win on Saturday afternoon to Okolona, Miss."
D. B. BIRNEY, having
26
REBELLION RECORD, 1862.
[JUNE 12.
been tried by court-martial, and honorably ac
quitted of the charges brought against him, this
day reiissumed command of his brigade by order
of General Kearny, commmanding division.
THE House of Representatives of the United
States called for information respecting the organi
zation 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
Host, Captain Huse, and R. M. T. Hunter, rebel
agents in Europe, was this day published.
June 10. The Seward-Lyons Treaty for the
suppression of the African slave-trade was offi
cially 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, ac
company the publication.
The obsequies of Colonel J. Lafayette Riker,
of the Sixty-second regiment of New- York volun
teers 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 II. 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 Re
port.
THE Union army under General Fremont
reached Port Republic, Va. The rebels in front
of the Union lines at Savage s station, Chicka-
hominy Swamp, Va., kept up a bombardment,
without effect, their shells falling short of the
mark.
June 11. This day about noon, near Mont
gomery, Owen County, Kentucky, a severe skir
mish took place between a large party of bush-
wackers 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 skir
mish 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 Louis
ville. 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 per
sons 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. 0. 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 Susque-
hanna.
June 12. 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 com
pany," in which the latter were defeated with a
loss of twenty-eight killed, wounded and prison
ers. Col. Brackett s loss was one taken prisoner
and twelve wounded. (Doc. GO.)
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 illumi
nation of every house in the town.
A SMALL expedition of United States forces
under Captain Hynes, Topographical Engineers,
went up the Nansemond River without resist
ance. (Doc. 71.)
MOUNT JACKSON, Va., was occupied by the
Union army under General Fremont. A daring
though unsuccessful attack was made on a bat
tery on James Island, S. C., by the Seventy-ninth
New- York, Eighth Michigan, and Twenty-eighth
Massachusetts regiments.
16.]
DIARY OF EVENTS.
27
ABOUT forty farmers of Conway County, Ar
kansas, came into the Union lines at Batesville,
to volunteer for the Union. Missouri Democrat.
June 13. This day a force of about three hun
dred rebel troops left Fort Chapman, and pro
ceeded to Hutchinson Island, S. C., where they
killed and wounded a number of negroes, and
burned a chapel and dwelling-house. On the ap
proach of the boats of the United States ship
Dale, lying in St. Helena Sound, the rebels re
treated. About seventy negroes were taken on
board the Dale, including several of the wound
ed. (Doc. 09.)
COLONEL JAMES R. SLACK, commanding at
Memphis, Tenn., issued the following order:
* Hereafter the dealing in and passage of cur