June 27.—The work of cutting off Vicksburgh from the Mississippi River, by means of a canal, was this day commenced, under the supervision of General Williams of the Union army.—(Doc. 142.)
—To-day the bombardment of Vicksburgh, by the Union fleet, was renewed.
—The London Herald of this day in an article on the aspect of affairs in America, declared the Union “a nuisance among nations.”
—A skirmish took place at Williams’s bridge, on the Amite River, La., between a small force of Union troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Keith, Twenty-first Indiana volunteers, and a body of rebels, resulting in the utter rout of the latter. On returning to Baton Rouge, on the same day, and when within a mile or two of that place, Colonel Keith encountered another band of rebels, and after a sharp fight defeated them.—(Doc. 83.)
—Major-General John C. Fremont having requested to be relieved from the command of the First army corps of the Army of Virginia, because, as he says, the position assigned him by the appointment of Major-Gen. Pope as Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Virginia is subordinate and inferior to those heretofore held by him, and to remain in the subordinate command now assigned would, as he says, largely reduce his rank and consideration in the service. It is ordered that Major-General John C. Fremont be relieved from command. Second, That Brigadier-General Rufus King be and he is hereby assigned to the command of the First army corps of the Army of Virginia, in place of General Fremont, relieved. —Secretary Stanton’s Order.
—The British steamer Modern Greece, laden with arms and other munitions of war, ran aground three quarters of a mile east of Fort Fisher, N. C. The blockading fleet fired on her with a view of destroying her, but the fort opened fire on them, when they retired. — Mobile Evening News, June 30.
—A small skirmish occurred at Swift Creek bridge, N. C, between a body of Union troops and marine artillery under the command of Col. Howard, and a force of the rebels, which resulted in the complete rout of the latter.
—G. F. Shepley, Military Commandant of New Orleans, by order and approval of Gen. Butler, suspended the municipal government of that city, until such time as there should be a sufficient number of the citizens of New-Orleans loyal to their country and their Constitution to entitle them to resume the right of self-governmen.t In the mean time he appointed two bodies to perform the duties of Aldermen and Assistant-Aldermen; the one to be known as the “Bureau of Finances,” and the other the “Bureau of Streets and Landings,” while he, the Military Commandant, would act in the capacity of Mayor.
—The battle of Gaines’s Mills, Va., one of the “seven days’ contests,” was fought this day.— White-House, Va., was evacuated by the Union forces under General McClellan.—(Doc. 78.)
— A Severe fight took place near Village Creek, Arkansas, between two battalions of the Ninth Illinois cavalry, commanded by Colonel Albert G. Brackett, and a considerable body of rebel troops. The rebels had chosen a position of great strength, and Colonel Brackett, although repeatedly making the attempt, found it impossible to dislodge them. He fought them until dark, when he withdrew his men, having two killed and thirty-one wounded.—(Doc. 141.)
