March 20.—Gov. Curtin issued a general order complimenting the Fifty-first regiment of Pennsylvania for gallantry at Roanoke and Newbern, N. C, at the latter engagement storming the enemy’s batteries at the point of the bayonet, and ordering the names of these battles to be inscribed on their colors. The regiment is commanded by Col. Hartrauft, and mainly composed of those who left Bull Run before the battle. They were the first to plant the flag at Newbern, and seem determined to recover their lost fame.— .N. Y. Herald, March 22.
—The One Hundred and Fourth regiment of New-York volunteers, under the command of Col. John Roorbach, left Albany for the seat of war. This regiment was organized by the consolidation of seven companies which were recruited in Genesee, and three companies in Troy, and numbers about nine hundred and fifty men, who are well uniformed, and give every indication of being a hardy set of fellows.—N. Y. Tribune, March 22.
—Seventy-seven citizens of Loudon County, Va., accused of loyalty to the Federal Government, were sent to Richmond on the central cars, and committed to one of the military prisons.— Lynchburgh Virginian.
—A Meeting of loyal citizens was held at Jacksonville, Fla., at which a declaration of rights and a protest and resolutions were unanimously adopted to the following effect:
That no State has a constitutional right to separate from the United States. That the act of secession adopted by the State Convention of Florida is void, being in conflict with the Constitution and never having been submitted to the people for ratification. That Florida is an integral part of the United States, subject to constitutional jurisdiction, and it is believed that thousands of her citizens hail with joy the restoration of the Government, bringing deliverance from the terrors of an unrestrained military despotism.
They protested against all the acts and ordinances of the convention, as depriving them of their rights as citizens of the United States; against the despotism which denied freedom of speech and of the press; against the contributions of money, property, and labor and military enlistments forced upon them; against the tyranny which demands the abandoment of their homes and property, and the exposure of their wives and children to sickness, destitution, and famine, and untold miseries; against the barbarous policy which sends brutal soldiers to pillage and burn property and destroy life as a punishment for remaining in their homes; and against the government who threatens to hang them because they will not tamely submit to such indignities.
Having been released from such dangers and indignities, and restored to the Government of the United States, and the reign of terror having passed, it now becomes them as loyal citizens to rise up and state that the State and Government demands that a convention of all loyal citizens be called forthwith to organize a State Government of the State of Florida. Also that the Chief of the Military Department of the United States be requested to retain sufficient force to maintain order and protect the people in their persons and property.—(Doc. 100.)
—The United States gunboat Juniata was launched at Philadelphia, Pa., this day.
—Six citizens of Sangamon County, Ill., were arrested by order of Gen. Halleck, and sent to Alton, to be placed in close confinement, for aiding the escape of rebel prisoners from Camp Butler.—Cincinnati Gazette, March 22.
Gen. Sherman issued a proclamation to the people of Florida, in which he stated that the troops of the United States had come to protect loyal citizens and their property, and enable them to resuscitate their government All loyal people who return or remain at their homes, in the quiet pursuit of their lawful avocations, shall be protected in all their constitutional rights. The sole desire and intention of the Government was to maintain the integrity of the Constitution and laws, and reclaim the States revolted from the national allegiance to their former prosperous condition.
He expresses great satisfaction at the evidence of loyalty, and recommends the citizens to assemble in their cities and towns and proscribe and throw off the sham government forced upon them, and swear true fidelity and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, organize a State government, and elect officers in the good old ways of the past When this is done, he predicts a return of prosperous and happy times, immunity from want and suffering, and the enjoyment of honest labor, and the sweets of happy homes, and the consolation of living under wise and salutary laws, due only to an industrious and law-abiding people.
