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

January 8. — This evening, while the First Kansas regiment was on its march from Sedalia to Lexington, Mo., and within a few miles of the latter place, the rear guard was fired upon from ambush, by which a sergeant of a German company, attached to the regiment, was mortally wounded, and two horses shot.—N. Y. Commercial, January 22.

—A. W. Bradford, Governor of Maryland, was inaugurated at noon to-day, at Annapolis. He made a most able and eloquent address, condemning the rebellion in the strongest terms, and expressing the utmost devotion to the Union and Constitution.

—This morning, Captain Latham, Company B, Second Virginia regiment, accompanied by seventeen of his men, fell in with a company of guerrillas, numbering about thirty, on the Dry Fork of Cheat River, in Randolph county, Va., and after a desperate fight of an hour’s duration, completely routed them, killing six and wounding several others, and burning up their quarters and provisions. Though the numbers engaged were small, the firing was so rapid that it was distinctly heard for eight miles. The parties were within thirty steps of each other when the fight commenced, and the rebels, owing to the superiority of their numbers and position, were so confident of success that they fought, for a time, like tigers, but were finally driven entirely off the field. Captain Latham’s loss was six men wounded, as follows: Corporal Wm. Jenkins, slightly, in the arm; privates: Frederick Dopp, mortally, shot through the left breast; James M. Pfrom, severely, a ball in each leg, and one through the left hand; James Whitchair, slight wound in the head, and a ball through the right arm; John W. Leese, ball in the leg; Edward Henderson, shot in the left hand.

In a skirmish, on the night of the 5th inst, between the same parties, private A. Watts was slightly wounded in the arm.— Wheeling Intelligencer, January 17.

—The Ninety-first regiment of New-York Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Jacob Van Zandt, left New-York, on board the steam transport Ericsson, for Key West, Florida.

—A Battle was fought, this day, at Roan’s Tanyard, in Randolph county, Mo. The rebels, one thousand strong, under Colonel Poindexter, were posted in a very strong position, on the Silver Creek, at Roan’s Tanyard, seven miles south of Huntsville, and seven miles west of Renick, near the residence of Joel Smith. The attack was made by Majors Torrence and Hubbard, with four hundred and eighty men, at four o’clock p. M. The rebels made but a feeble resistance, owing to the want of an efficient commander. They were routed completely, after only half an hour’s resistance. In their flight they left everything; most of them losing overcoats, guns, etc. Some of their horses broke away, and others were cut loose, and but for the lateness of the hour the Federals might have secured a largo number of these animals. The Federals burned the rebel camp, consisting of one hundred and five tents, twenty-five wagons, flour, meal, bacon, and an immense number of saddles, bridles, overcoats, carpet-bags, blankets; together with eighty-seven kegs of powder. The rout was most complete. — (Doc. 10.)

—William F. Smithson, a banker in Washington, D. C, was arrested on a charge of holding communications with the rebels. He was sent to Fort Lafayette.— N. Y. World, January 10.

Previous post:

Next post: