January 27.—A party of rebel guerrillas made an attack on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad at Cameron, and after firing upon a train, fled. They were pursued by a squad of cavalry under the command of Lieutenant Jackson, and one of their number captured.—The National cavalry under General Sturgis achieved a victory over the enemy’s cavalry near Fair Gardens, about ten miles cast of Sevierville, Tenn. General McCook’s division drove the enemy back about two miles, after a stubborn fight, lasting from daylight to four P.M., at which time the division charged with the sabre and a yell, and routed the enemy from the field, capturing two steel rifled guns and over one hundred prisoners. The enemy’s loss was considerable, sixty-five of them being killed or wounded in the charge. Generals Garrard and Wolford’s divisions came up, after a forced march, in time to be pushed in pursuit, although their horses were jaded.—Gen. Rawlins’s Report.
—General Palmer, with General Davis’s division, moved toward Tunnel Hill, Georgia, on a reconnoissance. The Twenty-eighth Kentucky and the Fourth Michigan drove in the rebel advance pickets and captured a company of rebel cavalry. The rebels retreated from Tunnel Hill during the night. They lost thirty-two killed and wounded. The Union casualties were two wounded. The object of the reconnoissance was effected.
—The following report was sent by General Thomas, from his headquarters at Chattanooga, to the National war department: “Colonel Boone, with a force of four hundred and fifty men, Twenty-eighth Kentucky mounted infantry, and Fourth Michigan cavalry, left Rossville January twenty-first, moved through McLamore’s caves, crossed Lookout Mountain into Brownton Valley; thence across Taylor’s Ridge to eight miles beyond Deertown, toward Ashton, attacked camp of home guards, Colonel Culbertson, commanding, routed them, destroying camp, considerable number of arms, and other property, and retired to camp without any casualties in his force. Friday, twenty-second January, sent flag of truce under Colonel Burke, with Ohio infantry, with rebel surgeons and a proposition to exchange our wounded at Atlanta for rebel wounded here.
“A despatch from Colonel H. B. Miller, Seventy second Indiana, commanding division, Bluewater, twenty-sixth, via Pulaski, twenty-seventh, says Johnston’s brigade of Roddy’s command crossed Tennessee River at Bainbridge, three miles, and Newport ferry, six miles below Florence, intending to make a junction with a brigade of infantry who were expected to cross the river at Laub’s and Brown’s ferry, thence proceed to Athens and capture our forces; then we engaged them near Florence; routed them, killing fifteen, wounding quite a number, and taking them prisoners, among them three commissioned officers. Our loss, ten wounded.”
—Lieutenant A. L. Cady, of the Twenty-fourth New-York battery, proceeded with his command to Tyrrel County, North-Carolina, and captured five men who had been engaged in a number of robberies and murders; also, two rebel officers, and returned to headquarters with one thousand sheep.
—A party of rebel cavalry made a dash on the lines of Colonel Chapin’s brigade, on guard-duty five miles above Knoxville, Tenn., on the Scott’s Mill road. Their pickets being captured, the camps of the Thirteenth Kentucky and Twenty-third Michigan were completely surprised, and five men of the former and seven of the latter were taken prisoners, one being mortally wounded. Immediately on being advised of the attack on these two regiments, Colonel Chapin sent the One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio and One Hundred and Seventh Illinois to their relief, and the rebels were put to flight, leaving in their track a number of blankets and small-arms.
—Brigadier-General Carter, Provost-Marshal General at Knoxville, Tenn., sent the following letter to Rev. W. A. Harrison: “On account of your persistent disloyalty to the Government of the United States, it has been decided to send you and your family South, within the rebel lines.
You are hereby notified to be at the railroad depot in time for the morning train, on Saturday next, with all your family, prepared to leave permanently. As baggage, you will be permitted to take your wearing apparel and the necessary blankets. You can also take three or four days’ provisions with you.”—The steamer Freestone, while at Carson’s Landing, on the Mississippi, fifteen miles above the White River, was attacked by guerrillas, who were driven off without inflicting any serious damage on the boat.
—In the rebel Congress, Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported back the following joint resolutions of thanks to General Beauregard and the officers and men of his command, which were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the thanks of Congress are eminently due, and are hereby cordially tendered, to General G. T. Beauregard and the officers and men of his command, for their gallantry and successful defence of the city of Charleston, S. C.—a defence which, for the skill, heroism, and tenacity displayed by the defenders during an attack scarcely paralleled in warfare, whether we consider the persistent efforts of the enemy, or his boundless resources in the most improved and formidable artillery and the most powerful engines of war hitherto known, is justly entitled to be pronounced “glorious” by impartial history and an admiring country.
Resolved, That the President be requested to communicate the foregoing resolutions to General Beauregard and the officers and men of his command.
