May 9.—This night the rebels evacuated Pensacola, Florida, and set fire to the forts, navy yard, barracks, and marine hospital. General Arnold, at Fort Pickens, commenced a bombardment when the destruction of property was begun, with the hope of saving a portion of the forts and property. The steamers Bradford and Neaffie were burnt Fort McRae, the hospital, and navy-yard were destroyed. The barracks were saved, as were also the foundry and blacksmith shop in the navy-yard.—(Doc. 13.)
—This morning, a company of rebel cavalry, one hundred strong, under command of Captain Walker, made a dash on Washington, N. C, with the avowed purpose of capturing all the Federal officers, and suddenly returning before the gunboats could open upon them. But the pickets heard them approaching, and several of them united their squads, and poured a raking fire into them, killing Captain Walker and five men, besides wounding several others. The cavalry immediately retreated without effecting their purpose. None of the Union troops were injured. The pickets engaged were from company A, Captain Redding, Twenty-fourth Massachusetts.
While this affray was going on, some secessionists assassinated two recruits for the First regiment North-Carolina volunteers, in another part of the town, and beat their brains out.—Newbern Progress, May 10.
—General Hunter declared “the persons in the three States, Georgia, Florida, and SouthCarolina, heretofore held as slaves, forever free.” —(Doc. 28.)
—Captain Connet, company E, Twenty-seventh Indiana volunteers, (Colonel Gazlay’s,) stationed with a squad of forty-eight men to guard a bridge at Elkton station, twelve miles from Athens, Ala., was attacked by six hundred rebel cavalry, under Col. Tom. Woodward, of Kentucky, and after a fight of half an hour, was captured, with all his men, five of them being killed. Captain C. was severely wounded. The rebels lost thirteen, who were buried at Athens.—Nashville Union, June 5.
—Two guerrillas were hung at Chester, Va., this day.—The House of Representatives adopted a resolution tendering its thanks “to Major-General George B. McClellan, for the display of those high military qualities which secure important results with but little sacrifice of human life.”—A fight took place at Slater’s Mills, Va.—(Doc. 106.)
—General Paine’s division of the Union army of the South-west was attacked in position two miles beyond Farmington, Mississippi, by the rebel division of Gen. Bragg. Bragg was held in check for five hours, but being heavily reenforced, Gen. Paine withdrew across the Tennessee River by Gen. Pope’s order.—(Doc. 24.)
—The town of Burning Springs, in West County, Western Virginia, was burned by a party of guerrillas known as the Moccasin Rangers. — Wheeling Intelligencer.
—General Butler announced by general order that one thousand barrels of beef and sugar, captured from the rebels, would be distributed to the poor of New-Orleans City.—(Doc. 29.)
