Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Monday, August 27, 2012

AUGUST 27TH.—Huzza for Gen. Stuart! He has made another circumvention of the enemy, getting completely in Pope’s rear, and destroying many millions worth of stores, etc.

August 27th. At 5 A. M. disembarked and marched up the hills, which here form a very high and steep bluff, bivouacking near the woods a short distance in rear, stacked arms and lay down; in a few minutes we were ordered back again to the docks, and on board the steamer United States, bound for Alexandria. What a mass of soldiers were arriving and departing from this point! The shore was covered as far as one could see with troops, and incessant streams of men were in motion in different directions. Events of great importance are evidently impending, but we received very little information of what was going on.

1862 August Rappahannock River, Va. Fugitive African Americans fording the Rappahannock

Rappahannock River, Va.; Fugitive slaves fording the Rappahannock – also Union soldiers along and in the river. Photo by Timothy H. O’Sullivan in August 1862.

Library of Congress image.

August 27. — The British schooner Anna Sophia was captured by the United States gunboat R, R. Cuyler, while endeavoring to run the blockade of Wilmington, N. C.—The draft was postponed in Pennsylvania until September fifteenth.

—James M. Graham, Assistant Adjutant-General, sent the following despatch from Leavenworth, Kansas, to the War Department at Washington:

“Major Champion Vaughan, of General Blunt’s staff, has arrived at these headquarters with despatches. Gen. Blunt marched with one thousand five hundred men from Fort Scott, August seventeenth, and followed the rebels as far north as Lone Jack. The enemy declined an engagement and commenced a retreat. They were hotly pursued by Gen. Blunt, and driven in utter confusion across the Osage, with the loss of all their transportation and equipments, besides numerous arms, prisoners, etc.

“It is considered that the expedition saved the Missouri towns and the western border from devastation, besides striking terror into the hearts of the enemy as far as the Arkansas line. Gen. Blunt’s column returned to Fort Scott on the twenty-second, having marched nearly three hundred miles in six days. Col. Cloud was left to continue the pursuit, and it is not improbable that the main force of the rebels will be forced to surrender.”

—A party of rebel cavalry, under the command of Captain White, entered Waterford, Va., early this morning, and captured a large portion of a company of National cavalry under Capt. Means. Capt. Means escaped.—The Nineteenth regiment of Maine volunteers, under the command of Col. Frederick D. Sewall, left Bath for the seat of war. —An enthusiastic war meeting was held at Boston, Mass., at which speeches were made by Gov. Andrew, Edward Everett, Robert C. Winthrop, Senator McDougal of California, and others.— Battle Creek, Ala., was evacuated by the Union army under General Buell.

—The battle of Kettle Run, near Bristow Station, Va., was this day fought by the Union forces under Gen. Hooker, and a division of the rebel army of Gen. Jackson, under Gen. Ewell. The engagement lasted for several hours, terminating only at dark, the rebels retreating with great loss.—(Doc. 104.)

—A great war meeting was held in the city of New-York, at which speeches were made by Generals Mitchel, Foster, Sickles, Walbridge, Corcoran, and Busteed; Mr. Arnold of Illinois, Mr. Wright, of New-Jersey, Col. Nugent, and others.