May 19.—Gen. Stoneman’s brigade of McClellan’s army advanced to within fourteen miles of Richmond, Va. They left their encampment near White House at daybreak this morning, and preceded by the signal corps, pushed on to a point six miles above Tunstall’s Station. Soon after they reached a position within four miles of the Chickahominy, where the signal corps discovered a body of rebel cavalry drawn up in line to receive them. The National pickets fell back a few yards, when one company of the Sixth United States cavalry came up and charged upon the rebels, driving them back and capturing two of their horses. The Nationals lost one horse.
—General Hunter’s proclamation, by which the slaves in Florida, Georgia, and South-Carolina, had been declared free, was officially repudiated and pronounced void by President Lincoln.— (Doc. 42.)
—Governor Yates, of Illinois, issued a proclamation calling for recruits to fill up the volunteer regiments from that State. Many of our regiments, he says, entered the field with numbers scarcely above the minimum. These have nobly done their duty, and many have purchased lasting honors with the price of their lives, and it remains only for us to maintain what they have achieved, and therefore I call upon the people of Illinois to raise men in every precinct in the State for the regiments that were sent from their own sections, to fill up their own companies. Relying upon the same patriotism that has thus far furnished a brave and noble host at the shortest notice, I send forth this proclamation, and confidently expect a prompt response that will maintain the present glory of our State.
—A reconnoissance was made to Clinton, nine miles, south of Newbern, N. C. The rebels’ advanced pickets were met, and a skirmish ensued, resulting in the loss of one Lieutenant and four privates belonging to the Nationals. The rebels lost nine killed and two prisoners.
—Lieutenant S. M. Whitesides, with eight men of company K, of the Sixth cavalry, captured a train of one hundred mules and eight contrabands belonging to the brigade of the rebel General Whiting, near the advance of General McClellan, en route for Richmond.
—The Legislature of Virginia adjourned in accordance with a resolution previously adopted. In the House of Delegates, the Speaker, Mr. Sheffey, of Augusta, delivered an affecting valedictory.—(See Supplement.)
—This afternoon a boat went ashore from the Wachusett, lying in the James River, Va., with a flag of truce, containing six officers and twelve men. The surgeon of the ship had been sent for from the shore, and the officers and the men, and the rest remained to guard the ship. For some reason, the party in the boat were fired on by some twenty or thirty men, and simultaneously the party on shore were attacked and all taken prisoners. Of the party in the boat, the master’s mate, Almy, of Philadelphia, and W. P. Pierce, seaman, were instantly killed. Henry Johnson was severely wounded in the face, breast, and neck; Brown, wounded in the kidneys; John Close, wounded in the thigh. The three latter were placed on the George Washington and carried to Fortress Monroe; but Brown, who was severely wounded, died in an hour after being put on board. Among the prisoners taken were Baker, engineer; Paymaster Stockwell; the Surgeon of the ship; Depford, signal officer, detailed from the army; Thos. Green, coxswain; J. O’Marley and Frank Cousin, seamen; and several others.—(Doc. 112.)
—John T. Monroe, Mayor of New Orleans, and other municipal officers of that city, were arrested by order of Gen. Butler, and sent to Fort Jackson.
