September 9.—The greatest excitement existed throughout York and Adams County, Pennsylvania, as well as at Harrisburgh and throughout the Susquehanna region and the Cleveland Valley. The farmers sent their women and children, as well as their cattle, away, and armed for the defence of their homes against cavalry raids.
At Wilkesbarre all places of business were closed. All the church and court-house bells rang for the people to assemble for drill, at which time nearly all the able-bodied men in the town, amounting to some hundreds, assembled in the public square, formed into companies, marched to the river bank and drilled. Men over sixty years of age fell into the ranks. — Wilhesbarre Record.
— This afternoon, in latitude 28°, longitude 94° 10′, the United States steamer Connecticut captured the English schooner Rambler. She had run the blockade at Sabine Pass, Texas, and was bound to Havana heavily laden with cotton. Among the papers found on board was a memorandum in writing, directing the captain of the Rambler to sell the cotton at Havana, and with the proceeds of the sale to purchase powder, medicines, army shoes and other contraband articles, and without delay to return to Sabine Pass.
—Colonel Brums, sent in pursuit of the guerrillas under Quantrel, after their attack upon Olathe, Mo., overtook them five miles north of Pleasant Hill, Mo., and after a short skirmish compelled them to retreat, leaving in the hands of the Nationals all their transportation and subsistence, one thousand rounds of ammunition, one hundred horses, five wagons, a number of tents and other camp equipage, and a large quantity of dry goods, and other articles stolen from the citizens of Olathe.—Official Report.
—Major-general Banks, in compliance with an order issued on the seventh instant from the headquarters of Major-General McClellan, assumed command of the defences of the capital during the absence of the General Commanding from Washington.—Col. T. L. Kane, of the Pennsylvania Bucktail Rifles, was appointed a Brigadier-General for gallant and meritorious conduct in the field.
— This morning, the Third Indiana and the Eighth Illinois cavalry, the entire force under command of Col. Farnsworth, of the latter troop, left Poolesville, Md., and proceeded toward Barnesville. Upon approaching Monocacy Church, the cavalry discovered the rebel videttes guarding the cross-roads. Col. Farnsworth distributed his force, sending companies A and B, of the Third Indiana, on the road leading toward Nolansville, and other companies in other directions. Companies A and B, under command of Major Chapman, pursued the rebel videttes for some distance on the road to Nolansville, and succeeded in taking the regimental flag of the Twelfth Virginia cavalry, and eight prisoners. During the flight, the rebels lost three men killed. The companies then joined their squadron, and the entire force pushed forward into the town of Barnesville. Before reaching the town, however, they met with another small force of rebel cavalry, and after a few shots had been exchanged, the rebels fled, leaving seven more of their men prisoners. The rebels also sustained an additional loss of five men killed. In the whole affair, the Nationals had none killed, and only one man wounded.
To-night, the Eighth Illinois and the Third Indiana occupy the town—N. Y. Times, Sept. 12.
— Middletown, Md., was occupied by the rebels this morning, about two hundred taking formal possession and declaring martial law. In anticipation of such an event, many of the Union residents, whose names had been forwarded by their secession neighbors to Frederick, left last evening and early this morning, thus escaping the draft the rebels enforced from the enrolled lists taken from the National officer.
— Great excitement existed in Baltimore, Md., in consequence of the apprehended approach of the rebel army under General Lee. The authorities made the most ample preparations to intercept any movement in the direction of their city; and should the rebels succeed in entering it, to receive them in a manner different from that expected by them.
— Colonel Shingles with a force of rebel cavalry, and three pieces of artillery, made an attack on Williamsburgh, Va., this morning. After having captured the National pickets, they marched into town, taking the troops by surprise. An engagement ensued, which lasted about thirty minutes. The National force consisted of the Fifth Pennsylvania cavalry, Colonel Campbell, who was taken prisoner, together with five captains, four lieutenants, and a few privates. The rebel commander, Colonel Shingles, and eight of his officers and men were killed.
— The U. S. bark Braziliero, Acting Master M. V. Gillespie, commanding, captured the schooner Defiance, of Nassau, N. P.
