April 16.—Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, signed the bill for the emancipation of the slaves in the District of Columbia, and it became a law.—(Doc. 133.)
—A boat containing a party of the officers and men of the Seventy-fifth regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers, sank at Castleman’s Ferry, on the Shenandoah River, Va., drowning a large portion of the men and officers.—N. Y. Tribune, April 18.
—John H. Winder, Brigadier-General C.S.A., in command of the Department of Henrico, at Richmond, Va., issued the following general order: “From and after this date, the issuance and circulation of individual notes are strictly prohibited. Notes of this character are to be redeemed in bankable funds upon presentation, and must at once be withdrawn from circulation.
“Persons violating this order in any particular, will be considered guilty of a grave offence, and will be subject to arrest and such punishment as may be imposed by a court-martial.”
—The confirmation of the battle of Apache Pass, N. M., was received. The Union loss is one hundred and fifty killed, wounded and missing. The rebels acknowledge their loss to be from three hundred to four hundred killed and wounded. Ninety-three rebels were taken prisoners, thirteen of whom are officers. The National forces captured and burned sixty-four wagons, laden with provisions and ammunition, and killed two hundred mules. The Texans attacked the Union battery four times, the last time coming within forty feet of the guns, but were repulsed with heavy loss.—(Official Despatch.)
—In the United States Senate the resolution calling for information relative to the arrest of Gen. Stone, was taken up, and Mr. McDougall, of California, made a speech on the subject The Confiscation bill was subsequently considered, and Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, addressed the Senate in opposition to its passage.
—A skirmish took place at Savannah, Tenn., between a detachment of Union cavalry and a rebel picket-guard, resulting in the defeat of the rebels, with a loss of five killed and sixty-five wounded.—Chicago Tribune, April 19.
—This day a fight occurred on Wilmington Island, N. C, between a reconnoitring and surveying party of National troops, and a superior force of rebels. A party consisting of about two hundred men, principally from the Eighth Michigan regiment, was despatched from the Federal headquarters, for the purpose of reconnoitring on Wilmington Island, and taking surveys and soundings. One of the companies was under command of Lieut. Wilson. The force landed in the morning from boats, and in the forenoon was surprised by a rebel force, numbering six to eight hundred men, who had come from their batteries on the mainland, with the apparent design of entirely cutting off the National force.
The attack of the rebels was unexpected. They showered upon the Union troops an effective fire, which killed and wounded several, and followed up the advantage, given them by the confusion into which that part of the force nearest them were thrown by the suddenness of the attack, by an immediate advance. The Federal soldiers at once returned the fire, and went gallantly into the fight The advance of the rebels was checked, and after a short stand they retreated, though slowly and in order. No pursuit was attempted, and the rebels recrossed to their batteries. During the engagement the Adjutant of the Eighth Maine regiment was killed, and twelve or thirteen others. The killed and wounded numbered twenty-nine.—(Doc. 140.)
—At London, England, a deputation from the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society waited upon Mr. Adams, the American Minister, and presented an address, in which the hope was expressed that the restoration of the Union would be founded upon the abolition of the true cause of the strife.—London Times, April 18.
—Sixty-one of Ashby’s cavalry, including three officers, were captured this morning, and carried into Woodstock, Va. They were at their breakfast, just at daybreak, in a church, and were surrounded by a body of Ringgold’s cavalry, and four companies of infantry, of the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania volunteers, of Gen. Williams’s division, and surrendered without resistance. The affair occurred several miles beyond Columbia Furnace, and within seven miles of Mount Jackson.—N. Y. World, April 17.
A fight occurred at Lee’s Mills, Va., between four companies of the Third regiment of Vermont volunteers and a party of rebel troops under the command of Gen. Howell Cobb. —(Doc. 142.)
