June 18.—The fort over Eastern Branch, near Washington, D. C, in the vicinity of the hamlet “Good Hope,” hitherto known as “Fort Good Hope,” was named “Fort Wagner,” in honor of Lieut. Wagner, of the Topographical Engineers, who died of wounds received near Yorktown, on the seventeenth of April last
—Col. Averill returned to the headquarters of General McClellan, on the Chickahominy, from a scout to the Mattapony, in search of a band of guerrillas. They were found to have left the previous day. He destroyed the bridge, took a number of wagons and carts loaded with supplies for Richmond, destroyed a large amount of rebel grain, and captured several important prisoners.
—A reconnoissance was this day made by the Sixteenth Massachusetts, under Col. P. T. Wyman, for the purpose of ascertaining the exact character of the ground in front of the picket-line at Fair Oaks, Va.—(Doc. 135.)
—A band of rebels were attacked by Major Zeley and a party of Union troops, near Smithville, Ark. Captain Jones, their leader, and fourteen of his men were captured. The rebels had four men wounded. Union loss, two killed and four wounded.—A skirmish occurred at Tallahatchie, Flu.
—An expedition composed of four companies of Union troops, under Col. Kimball, sent from New-Orleans to Manchac, La., for the purpose of dispersing a large number of rebels encamped in that place, this day returned to New-Orleans, after having successfully performed the object of its mission. On the approach of the Union force, the rebels decamped, leaving their regimental colors, guns, camp equipage, etc., behind them. The guns were spiked, the colors taken away, and the bridge at Manchac Pass burned.
—Gen. Morgan marched at one A.M. to attack the rebels at Cumberland Gap, but on his arrival there found that they had abandoned that position a few hours before.—(Doc. 136.)
—The bill emancipating the slaves of rebels passed the United States House of Representatives, by a vote of eighty-two against fifty-four.
