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

September 12.—About three o’clock to-day, a prowling band of guerrillas, some three hundred strong, supposed to be a part of the rebel Colonel Freeman’s men, at Salem, Mo., attacked the Union forces, consisting of one company of the Fifth M. S. M., under command of Captain Whyback, resulting in the greatest confusion and slaughter among the rebels. The rebels had laid their plans to surround the soldiers, and in attempting to carry out their projects—the strong wind blowing the dust in thick clouds round about—they became literally entangled among themselves, and supposing a part of their own men to be Nationals, commenced a most deadly engagement, resulting in great slaughter. In the mean time the militia were “keeping cool,” watching the sport, and at the proper time charged upon the confused foe, raking them down in every direction, putting their vastly superior number to flight, hotly pursued by the undaunted boys of the gallant Fifth, who scattered death and terror to the rebels in their hasty retreat, a distance of eighteen miles. Their loss was not less than twenty killed in the chase. There was not a man of the Fifth killed, and only three wounded. A more complete victory over guerrillas has not been accomplished in Missouri for many months.—Rollo Express, September 19.

—The blockade-runner Alabama was chased ashore on the Chandeleur Islands, Mississippi, and captured, by the United States flag-ship San Jacinto; during the afternoon the rebel steamer Fox was driven ashore by the United States steamers Genesee, Calhoun, and Jackson, and afterward burned by the rebels.—Fitz-Hugh Lee, a brigadier-general in the rebel service, relinquished the command of his brigade, having received promotion to a major-generalship.—As the second battalion of the Sixty-third Indiana regiment was returning from Terre Haute to Indianapolis, this day, an attempt was made to hang D. W. Voorhees, who was reelected to Congress from Indiana at the last election. Mr. Voorhees was travelling as a passenger in the same train with the soldiers. He was rescued by the officers, but compelled by the soldiers to leave the train at Greencastle.—The national salute was fired at noon to-day from the Fort at Sandy Hook, Fort Lafayette, Castle William, and Fort SchuyIcr, New-York, in honor of the Union victories at Morris Island, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.—The schooner Flying Scud was captured by the National steamer Princess Royal She was from Brazos, Texas, and was loaded with cotton.

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