December 9. —A fight took place near La Vergne, Tenn., between a detachment of Union troops, acting as a guard and escort to a forage-train of fifty wagons, and a large force of rebels, resulting in a retreat of the latter with considerable loss (Doc. 66.)
—Yesterday the steamer Lake City was set on fire and destroyed by a band of guerrillas at Concordia, Ark., and to-day the United States naval despatch-boat De Soto went to Concordia, and burned forty-two houses.
—Theodorus Bailey, Acting Rear-Admiral of the United States Navy, assumed command of the Eastern Gulf Blockading squadron, and issued general orders to that effect.—At New-Orleans, La., General Butler issued a repetition of General Order No. 55, by which certain cotton-brokers, who had subscribed to aid the rebellion, were assessed at the rate of twenty-five per cent on the amount of their subscription, for the relief of the poor of the city.—Butler’s General Order!, No. 105.
—A skirmish took place near Brentville, Tenn., between a reconnoitring party of Union troops, under the command of Colonel John A. Martin, and a body of rebels, resulting in a precipitate retreat of the latter, leaving their guns on the field in their flight.— (Doc. 67.)
December 9. [Chattanooga] —Received a box of bitter oranges from Mobile. I think they are a very good substitute for lemons.
The home folks are very despondent, and seem to think we are going to starve. I trust not; but it is wonderful how we manage to get along, hemmed in as we are, and the whole world arrayed against us; but were it not for the foes at home, the speculators, we would not be in want.
Have just received a lot of clothing, in the way of shirts and drawers, and some spices, from Dr. Young. They were sent to him by the ladies of Wetumpka, Alabama, for troops from that state; he also sent a number of Bibles, which are much needed.
DECEMBER 9TH.—W_____l, another of Provost Marshal Griswold’s policemen, has arrived in Washington. I never doubted he was secretly in the Yankee service here, where many of his fellows still remain, betraying the hand that feeds them. Gen. Winder and the late Secretaries of War must be responsible for all the injury they may inflict upon the country.
Yesterday, the President received a letter from a gentleman well known to him, asserting that if Mississippi and Alabama be overrun by the enemy, a large proportion of the people of those States will certainly submit to the Government of the United States. The President sent this letter to the Secretary of War “for his information.”
A letter from W. P. Harris, Jackson, Mississippi, urges the government to abandon the cities and eastern seaboard, and concentrate all the forces in the West, for the defense of the Mississippi Valley and River, else the latter must be lost, which will be fatal to the cause, etc.Hon. J. H. Reagan has written a savage letter to the Secretary of War, withdrawing certain papers relating to an application for the discharge from service of his brother-in-law, on account of feeble health. He says he will not await the motions (uncertain) of the circumlocution office, and is unwilling to produce evidence of his statements of the disability of his relative. Mr. Seddon will doubtless make a spirited response to this imputation on his office.
We have a rumor that Morgan has made another brilliant raid into Kentucky, capturing 1800 of the enemy.The small-pox is spreading in this city to an alarming extent. This is the feast to which Burnside is invited. They are vaccinating the clerks in the departments. [click to continue…]
