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

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A Diary of American Events.

July 24, 2013

The Rebellion Record—A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore

July 24.— General John Morgan, with his guerrillas, was attacked at Washington, Ohio, by a party of National troops under Major Krouse, and driven from the town.—The blockade-runner Emma, in latitude 33° 41′, longitude 76° 13′, was captured by the National transport steamer Arago, under the command of Captain Gadsden.—The bombardment of Charleston was renewed this morning, and continued all day, except for a short time, during which a flag of truce visited the rebel authorities and perfected an exchange of prisoners.—Brashear City, La., was occupied by the National forces.—A fight took place at Wapping Heights, near Manassas Gap, Va., between a brigade of National troops under the command of General Spinola, and a brigade of rebels under General Wright, resulting in the defeat and rout of the latter.—(Doc. 104.)

—The battle of Big Mound, Dakotah, was fought this day.—(Doc. 110.)

—Major-general J. G. Foster, at Newbern, N. C., made the following report to headquarters at Washington:

“I have the honor to report that the cavalry raid, having for its object the destruction of the railroad bridge at Rocky Mount, has returned completely successful. The expedition consisted of the Third regiment New-York cavalry and a squadron of the Twelfth, and of Mix’s men, (cavalry,) and one company of the North-Carolina regiment, and was under the command of Brigadier-General Edward E. Potter, Chief-of-Staff.

“The bridge over the Tar River, at Rocky Mount, a station on the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, was completely destroyed. The bridge was three hundred and fifty feet long, and the trestle-work over one hundred more. A cotton mill, filled; a flouring-mill, containing one thou sand barrels of flour and large quantities of hard bread; a machine-shop, containing shells, gun powder, and every munition of war; a large depot, offices, etc.; an engine and a train of cars; a wagon-train of twenty-five wagons, filled with stores and munitions; an armory and ma chine-shop, with the machinery and materials and eight hundred bales of cotton, were all destroyed.

“At Tarboro, two steamboats and one large and fine iron-clad in process of construction, a saw-mill, a train of cars, one hundred bales of cotton, and large quantities of subsistence and ordnance stores, were destroyed; about one hundred prisoners taken, and some three hundred animals, (horses and mules.)

“Some three hundred contrabands followed the expedition into Newbern. The force had constant fighting with the enemy, who made great endeavors to intercept their return, but in every case the enemy’s position was either turned or they were compelled to retire. Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing, will not exceed twenty-five men.”—(Doc. 101.)

—A slight resistance to the draft occurred at Lancaster, Pa.—Alexander H. Stephens, the Vice-President of the rebel government, delivered a speech at Charlotte, N. C., expressing entire confidence in the ability of the rebels to maintain their cause and achieve independence.— (Doc. 42.)

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