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

December 16.—This day, at Richmond, Va., Henry C. Burnett and Judge Monroe were sworn in as Senators from Kentucky, which State has just been admitted into the Confederacy.—Norfolk Day Book, November 17.

—David Maxey, who lived about five miles from Hardyville and ten miles from Green River Bridge, Ky., was killed in his own house by some of the Southern cavalry scouting in that neighborhood. They chased their victim to the second story of his house, and shot him twice, causing instant death. — Louisville Journal, December20.

—This morning eight men, three from the Second and five from the Fourth New Jersey regiments in Gen. Kearney’s brigade, General Franklin’s division, near Washington, D. C., left their respective companies, which were on picket duty at Edsall’s Hill, Va., and went to a house between Burke’s station and Annandale. While there, apparently in obedience to a signal by the occupant, a body of about a hundred and fifty rebel cavalry suddenly came upon them, and three who were in the house were taken prisoners. Their names were Dennis H. Williamson, who was wounded; Cornelius Lowe, and Hiram R. Parsons, all of the Second regiment. The other five escaped.

—The Fourth and Fifth regiments of the “Irish Brigade,” under command of Acting Brigadier-General Col. Thomas Francis Meagher, left New York to-day for the seat of war.

—In the House of Representatives, at Washington, D. C., to-day, Mr. Vallandigham, of Ohio, offered a resolution commending the bold and patriotic conduct of Captain Wilkes, of the U. S. steamer San Jacinto, in seizing the rebel emissaries, Mason and Slidell, while on board a English steamer, and urging the President to approve and adopt the act, “in spite of any menace or demand of the British Government.” The resolution was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.—(Doc. 228.)

—The Eleventh regiment of Connecticut volunteers, under the command of Colonel Kingsland, left Hartford for the seat of war.— The Fortieth regiment of Ohio volunteers, commanded by Colonel J. Cranor, left Camp Chase, at Columbus, for Kentucky.

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Late addition to Vol. 3:

 

December 16.—The rebel General Zollicoffer issued a proclamation to-day, at Beech Grove, Ky., to the people of Southeastern Kentucky, in which he assures them that his only object in entering their State is to drive out the Northern hordes who are attempting their subjugation. He tells them, the object of this unnatural war is to free the slaves, put arms in their hands, and give them social and political equality with the whites. He conjures them by all they hold dear not to join the Northern ranks, but to strike with the South for independence, and the preservation of property.—(Doc. 244.)

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