February 5.—The Fourteenth Illinois cavalry, commanded by Major Davis, which had been out on an expedition from Knoxville, Tenn., reported at headquarters, after having performed one of the most daring raids of the war. Evading the enemy’s cavalry, the force dashed round into Jackson County, North-Carolina, surprised the camp of Thomas’s celebrated Indian Legion, capturing fifty of those outlaws—among whom were three lieutenants and an Indian doctor—besides killing and wounding a large number. Thomas, himself, with a remnant of his band escaped. Before the war he was the United States agent for the Cherokees of East-Tennessee and North-Carolina, a position which gave him great influence with the savages.
The Union loss in the fight was three killed— among whom was Lieutenant Capran, son of the colonel who first commanded the regiment—and five wounded. A detachment of the Forty-ninth Ohio were sent to bring in the prisoners.
—Day before yesterday a scouting-party sent out from Cape Girardeau, Mo., by Colonel J. B. Rogers, under command of Captain Shelby, Second regiment of cavalry, M. S. M., attacked a largo band of guerrillas under the noted chief, John F. Bolin, killed seven, and captured eight men, thirteen horses, and fifteen wagons loaded with corn. Bolin was captured and confined in the guard-house at that post.
At a late hour to-night he was forcibly taken by the enraged soldiers and citizens from the custody of the guard, and hung. No intimation of the act reached the officers until the deed was perpetrated. The officers did all in their power to suppress the violation of the law, but to no avail. Bolin made the following confession before his execution:
“I was at Round Pond; there were eight men killed; two by Nathan Bolin and one by John Wright. They were killed with handspikes. I emptied one revolver. At Round Point I shot one man; at Dallas I wounded another. I captured eight men on Hickory Ridge; I told them I was going to shoot them, but their soldiers recaptured them before I could do so. I have killed six or seven men; I killed my cousin; I ordered him to halt—he would not, and I shot him down.”
—Governor Yates, of Illinois, issued a proclamation, saying that that State, under every call, had exceeded her quota, and was not, on the first of January or at any other time, subject to a draft.
—Day before yesterday, an expedition, under command of Colonel Jourdan, left Newport, N. C, for the White River, for the purpose of making a reconnoissancc. The command was made up of Vermont and New-York troops, and a part of the Second North-Carolina regiment, who rendered efficient service as guides. Last evening they came upon a body of cavalry about five miles from Young’s Cross-Roads, and captured the entire party, numbering twenty-eight men and thirty horses, with their arms and equipments. A quantity of corn was also captured and brought in. The command returned to Newport this day, without losing a man.
—The steamer Emma was fired into at a point fifteen miles below Helena, Ark., with cannon and musketry. The shells were filled with Greek fire, three of which exploded in various parts of her, setting her on fire, but the flames were extinguished.—The bombardment of Fort Sumter was continued; eighty-six shots were fired at the city of Charleston during the day.
