May 2013

May 18.—In England, in the House of Lords, the Marquis of Clanricarde moved for copies of any reports from British consular or diplomatic agents in the United States respecting the decisions or proceedings of the Federal prize courts. The Marquis accused President Lincoln’s Cabinet of having acted unfairly and illegally toward British shipping, and said it was absolutely necessary for Her Majesty’s government to take more action than it had hitherto done in defence of the rights of English ship-owners. Earl Russell, in reply, stated that every complaint made by the owners of vessels seized by Federal cruisers had been duly considered, and that the law officers of the crown had decided that no objection could so far be fairly established against the proceedings of the United States prize courts. The Earl took advantage of the opportunity to deny the statement that the British government had connived at the construction and escape of the confederate cruiser Alabama, and to repeat the assurance that England had no desire to interfere unfairly in the dispute between the North and South. Lord Derby expressed approval of Earl Russell’s speech, and the Marquis of Clanricarde, being satisfied with the discussion, withdrew the motion.

—To-day a party of twenty-two white men, of the Second Kansas artillery, and thirty-two negro soldiers, under the command of Major R. G. Ward, on a foraging expedition near Sherwood, Mo., were attacked by a gang of two hundred rebel guerrillas, under the leadership of Colonel Livingston. Under the inspiration of Major Ward, the Union party rallied together and fought desperately, falling back until the survivors reached their camp, six miles from the place where the fight commenced. Of the white men, two were killed, four wounded, and two were taken prisoners, twelve escaping. Fifteen of the colored troops were killed, two captured, and fifteen escaped, all but one of whom were wounded.

—Haines’s Bluff, on the Yazoo River, having been evacuated by the rebels, was occupied by the National forces, under Admiral Porter.—(Doc. 194.)

—A serious mistake occurred at a point between Carrsville and Deserted House, Va., in which two bodies of National troops fired into each other, and killed three men and wounded four, belonging to the One Hundred and Seventieth regiment of New-York volunteers.