July 17.—A detachment of the Union army, under Gen. Pope, this day entered the town of Gordonsville, Va., unopposed, and destroyed the railroad at that place, being the junction of the Orange and Alexandria and Virginia Central Railroads, together with a great quantity of rebel army supplies gathered at that point
—Cynthiana, Ky., was captured by a party of rebel troops, under Col. John H. Morgan, after a severe engagement with the National forces occupying the town, under the command of Lieut. Col. Landrum.—(Doc. 89.)
—The British schooner William, captured off the coast of Texas by the National steamer De Soto, arrived at Key West, Fla.—Major-General Halleck, having relinquished the command of the department of the Mississippi, left Corinth for Washington, D. C, accompanied by General Cullum, Col. Kelton, and an aid-de-camp.—The bill authorizing the issue of postage and other government stamps as currency, and prohibiting banks and other corporations or individuals from issuing notes below the denomination of one dollar for circulation, was passed by the House of Representatives and signed by the President.
—President Lincoln sent a special message to Congress, informing it that as he had considered the bill for an act to suppress insurrection, to punish treason and rebellion, to seize and confiscate the property of rebels, and the joint resolution explanatory of the act, as being substantially one, he had approved and signed both. Before the President was informed of the passage of the resolution, he had prepared the draft of a message stating objections to the bill becoming a law, a copy of which draft he transmitted to Congress with the special message.
—The Congress of the United States adjourned sine die.—At Louisville, Ky., both branches of the Common Council of that city adopted an ordinance compelling the Board of School Trustees to require all professors and teachers of the public schools, before entering on their duties, to appear before the Mayor and take oath to support the Constitutions of the United States and Kentucky, and to be true and loyal citizens thereof.—Gen. Nelson arrived at Nashville, Tenn., with large reenforcements, and assumed command there.
—A scouting-party of ten men, under Lieut. Roberts, of the First Kentucky (Wolford’s) cavalry, when about fifteen miles from Columbia, Tenn., were attacked by a body of sixty rebels. The Union party retired to a house in the neighborhood, from which they fought the rebels six hours, when they finally retreated. Several of the rebels fell. The Union party lost none.
—Enthusiastic meetings were this day held at Bangor, Me., Bridgeport, Ct, and Auburn, N. Y., for the purpose of promoting enlistments into the army, under the call of the President for more troops.
