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

Robert H. Milroy

September 12.—To-day one hundred and eleven rebel prisoners were sent from Fortress Monroe to Aiken’s Landing, Va., for exchange.

—This morning the rebel army under Gen. E. Kirby Smith in full retreat from their position before Cincinnati, Ohio, were pursued by a portion of the Union forces under Gen. Wallace, as far as Florence, Ky.—In view of the invasion of Pennsylvania by the rebel army under General Lee, the City Council of Philadelphia appropriated five hundred thousand dollars for the defence of the city and State, and gave the Mayor of the city full power to act as he might sec fit. The public archives, bonds, and treasure of the State of Pennsylvania and cities of Harrisburgh and Philadelphia were sent to New-York for safe keeping. Many of the capitalists of the State also sent their bonds and treasure.

—A fight took place on the southern bank of Elk River, near Charleston, Va., between a Union force under Col. Lightburn and a large body of rebels, which lasted all day, both parties bivouackng on the field. The Union forces shelled and burned Charleston.

—Capt. Harry Gilmer, of Stuart’s rebel cavalry, with seven other rebel sympathizers, while being “feted by their friends,” were arrested at the house of Dr. T. L. Williamson, seven miles distant from Baltimore, Md., on the Hookerstown road, and carried to Fort McHenry.—The Twenty-first Connecticut, and Eleventh New-Hampshire regiments, under the command of Cols. A . A. Dalton and Walter Harriman, passed through New-York, en route for the seat of war.

—A war meeting of the wholesale grocers was held at New-York City this afternoon, for the purpose of raising an enlistment fund. Mr. Wm. McKenzie called the meeting to order, and nominated G. W. Lane, Esq., for chairman. Dwight Townsend was appointed secretary. Mr. Lane, on taking the chair, made a few appropriate and introductory remarks, after which the following resolution, presented by Mr. Wm. McKenzie, was offered and unanimously adopted: “Whereas, the grocers and the trades connected therewith in the city of New-York desire to aid the Government in suppressing the present rebellion against our Union and Constitution; we do therefore Resolve, that a committee be appointed by the chairman, who shall have full powers to collect money and expend the same in procuring men to enlist as soldiers in the army of the United States, in such a way as shall seem to them most suited to attain the object for which the meeting has been called.” A committee of fourteen was appointed to carry out the object of the resolution.—Bloomfield, Mo., was recaptured by a force of Union troops under the command of Col. Boyd.

—As important debate took place in the rebel House of Representatives at Richmond, Va., upon the propriety of an invasion of the Northern States.—See Supplement.

—The following commands in the army of Virginia were designated by the War Department: First corps, Major-Gen. Hooker; Second corps, Major-Gen. Sumner; Third corps, Major-General Heintzelman; Fourth corps, Major-Gen. Keyes; Fifth corps, Major-Gen. Fitz-John Porter; Sixth corps, Major-Gen. Franklin; Seventh corps, Major-Gen. Dix; Eighth corps, Major-Gen. Wool; Ninth corps, Major-Gen. Burnside; Tenth corps, Major-Gen. Mitchel; Eleventh corps, Major-Gen. Sedgwick; Twelfth corps, Major-Gen. Sigel.

—John Ross, chief of the Cherokee Indians, had an interview with President Lincoln, at Washington, this morning, with regard to the rescue of his nation from the rebels.

—The Union army under General Burnside entered Frederick, Md. A slight skirmish occurred between the Union advance-guard and the rear-guard of the rebel army, in which there were several men killed and wounded on both sides. Great enthusiasm was manifested by the inhabitants, on the appearance of Gen. Burnside and his army.—(Doc. 202.)

—Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky, was occupied by a large force of rebel cavalry under Gen. E. Kirby Smith. He issued a proclamation, informing the citizens that they must fight for him or against him. He also organized a city government and appointed a mayor.—N.Y. Times.

—The attack upon Harper’s Ferry, that position being completely invested by the rebel army, commenced this afternoon in a skirmish with the Union troops upon Maryland Heights, under command of Colonel Ford, lasting until sundown. —(Doc. 120.)


Robert Huston Milroy (June 11, 1816 – March 29, 1890) was a lawyer, judge, and a Union Army general in the American Civil War, most noted for his defeat at the Second Battle of Winchester in 1863. (Wikipedia)

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