June 21.—At New-Orleans, La., a large and enthusiastic Union meeting was held at Union Hall, in the Fourth district. The meeting was called to order by D. S. Dewees, Esq., who nominated Edwin White, Esq., as Chairman of the meeting. The following named gentlemen were appointed Vice-Presidents: Robert Watson, C. Auch, W. A. Bills, and Win. McDuff. L. M. Day, Esq., was appointed Secretary. Able and eloquent addresses were made by the President, Judge Hiestand, and D. S. Dewees, Esq. The meeting was characterized by great unanimity of feeling, and the addresses of the several gentlemen were received with universal demonstrations of appreciation. In the evening a festival took place at the Planter’s Hotel, the patriotic hostess of which is Madame De Bare. A grand Union ball was given, which was numerously attended.
—A series of skirmishes took place between a force of Union troops, under the command of Col. Sill, and a considerable body of rebel infantry and artillery, at the mouth of Battle Creek, Tennessee.—(Doc. 138.)
—Colonel Charles Ellett, commander of the ram squadron of the United States, on the Mississippi River, died at Cairo, Ill., while on his way to New-Albany, Ind.—The Seventh, Twenty-second, Thirty-seventh, and Forty-seventh regiments New-York State militia were mustered into the service of the United States Government for three months.
—A Fight took place near Fair Oaks, Va., between the pickets of the Union army, supported by a redoubt, and a large attacking force of rebels, in which the rebels were repulsed with great loss in killed and wounded. The Unionists lost two killed and seven wounded.
—General Butler, commanding Department of the Gulf, issued the following order at New Orleans:
“Any vessel attempting to leave this port and take away any person of color who did not come here on board of her, and has not a pass from these headquarters, will be liable to confiscation, and her master punished by imprisonment.
“No vessel shall so leave the port until the master shall take an oath that he has not any such person on board, and will not allow any such to come on board.”
—The rebels kept up a continuous shower of shells along the lines of the Union army before Richmond. They opened upon Gen. Hooker’s advance, but did no damage. Gen. Hooker replied from his batteries, by throwing heavy shells among their artillerymen, which caused them to retire.
—A reconnoissance was made by Captain Keenan, with two companies of the Pennsylvania cavalry, to the James River, Va. He successfully passed the rebel pickets and communicated with the Union gunboat Galena.
—An engagement took place at Simon’s Bluff, Wadmelaw Sound, S. C, between the United States gunboats Crusader and Planter, and a body of rebels stationed at that place.—(Doc. 139.)
