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

August 9.—At Macon City, Mo., twenty-six rebel prisoners were shot for breaking their parole. — Hundreds of citizens of the West and other portions of the loyal States fled into “Canada like cravens, to escape the draft.” The exodus through Detroit was very large.—Detroit Free Press, August 9.

—Colonel McNeill overtook Porter’s guerrillas at Stockton, in the western part of Macon County, Mo., and after a sharp fight, routed them, killing and wounding a large number, and capturing many horses. The rebels were scattered in all directions. Some of the prisoners captured had taken the oath and given bonds.— Gen. Schofields Report.

—This day the battle of Cedar Mountain was fought, about eight miles from Culpeper Court-House, Va., between the National forces under General Banks, and the rebel army under General Jackson. The battle lasted about two hours, resulting in the retreat of the rebels with great loss. The Union army lost one thousand five hundred men in killed, wounded, and missing, of whom twenty-nine were taken prisoners.—(Docs. 93 and 104.)

— The Secretary of War issued an order directing the Governors of the loyal States to proceed forthwith to furnish their respective quotas of the three hundred thousand men called for by order of President Lincoln. Also to cause an enrolment to be made of all able-bodied male citizens, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five within the respective counties of each State, giving the name, age, and occupation of each.

—The United States steam-frigate Lackawanna, was launched at Brooklyn, L. I. — Jeff. Thompson, the rebel commander, sent a flag of truce to General Hovey, who occupied Oldtown, thirty miles below Helena, Ark., demanding the surrender of all negroes within his lines, or prepare to fight. Hovey dismissed the flag, and started in pursuit, with ten days’ rations.—Memphis Bulletin, August 14.

— General McClellan issued an order from the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac at Harrison’s Landing, Va., for the purpose of carrying into effect the views and directions of President Lincoln, as contained in his executive order of the twenty-second July, relative to the seizure of property real or personal, in any of the nine rebellious States, which might be necessary or convenient for the use of the armies of the United States.

—Recruiting for the Union army was, about this time, promoted with great zeal in all the loyal States. In New-York, Boston, Philadelphia, and other large cities, volunteers came forward in great numbers.

— At New-Fairfield, Conn., five individuals mutilated themselves to evade the draft, some by cutting off the forefinger and others by having all their teeth extracted.—(Doc. 176.)

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