Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

A Diary of American Events.–August 31, 1861

August 31, 2011

The American Civil War,The Rebellion Record—A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore

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August 31.—At Manch Chunk, Pa., some persons entered the Carbon Democrat office, and destroyed the type, upset the stands, &c. The press was not disturbed.—N. Y. World, September 2.

—At Indianapolis (Ind.) a convention of sympathizers with the “Peace party” assembled at the Court House. Hon. Robert L. Walpole was made chairman, and while addressing the audience, denouncing the Administration and the war, was interrupted several times, and finally withdrew from the stand amidst great confusion. A man named McLean then attempted to harangue the crowd, at the same time drawing a pistol, whereupon the crowd rushed in, and he was rather roughly handled in the melee. A number of fights occurred, but with no serious results. Considerable excitement was manifested all the afternoon, and in the evening the crowd visited the residence of Mr. Walpole, and several other political men, whose loyalty was questioned, and forced them to take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government. This was done without farther disturbance. Among these who took the oath was the editor of the Sentinel.N. Y. Times, September 3.

—William Buckingham, Governor of Connecticut, issued a proclamation calling upon the citizens of the State to uphold the authority and dignity of the Government, and to abstain from any act which can tend to encourage and strengthen conspiracy. He also calls upon the officers of the law to be active in arresting and instituting legal proceedings for the punishment of these guilty of sedition and treason, and these engaged in combinations to obstruct the execution of the laws.—(Doc. 19.)

—The Sixth regiment of Michigan Volunteers, under the command of Colonel F. W. Curtenius, passed through Cleveland, Ohio, on their way to the seat of war, in Virginia.— Ohio Statesman, September 3.

—This afternoon, while two companies of National troops—one from Massachusetts and the other from Pennsylvania—were scouting in the direction of Bailey’s Cross Roads, Va., they came within sight of a battalion of the enemy of about the same number, accompanied by a very distinguished-looking mounted officer. One of our men, armed with a Springfield rifle, asked and obtained leave to fire at him, though the distance was thought to be too great for an effective shot. Contrary to the general expectation, he tumbled him off his horse at the first shot. Beth bodies of troops then retired, the enemy bearing their fallen officer away in their arms. In an hour afterward their flags on Munson’s Hill and at Fall’s Church were at half-mast.—Philadelphia Inquirer, September 4.

—The Fifty-fifth regiment N. Y. S. V., under the command of colonel R. de Trobriand, consisting of five hundred and fifty men, took leave of their encampment at New Dorp, and embarked shortly after three P. M., direct for Ambey, thence to Washington.—N. Y. Times, September 1.

—A Mass Meeting of the citizens of Ohio and Switzerland counties, Indiana, was held at Enterprise, for the purpose of having a fair and candid expression of the people in regard to the difficulties of the nation. Patriotic speeches were made, and resolutions sustaining the National Government and the legally constituted authorities were unanimously adopted.— (Doc. 20.)

—A brisk skirmish took place this morning between Companies I and K, of the Third regiment, and the rebel pickets near Munson’s Hill, Va., in which Corporal Hand, Company I, and private Rannes, of Company K, were killed. Privates Cole and Lawson, Company I, were badly wounded, the first in the leg, and the last in the head. First Lieutenant A. S. Taylor had his cap dislodged from his head by a ball. The rebels were in greater numbers than was supposed.—N. Y. Tribune, September 4.

—The Holly Springs (Miss.) Cotton States, of to-day, has the following: “Since our last issue upward of two thousand soldiers have passed our depot, bound for Virginia and other points. Most of them were from Louisiana, and, like all the troops sent to the field from that gallant State, they were noble specimens of soldiers— true Southern soldiers. Well and nobly has Louisiana done her part in this war, and still her brave sons are flocking to the standard of their country, to aid in driving back the Northern foe. She can boast of some of the best soldiers in the field, and she has furnished a Beauregard to lead them on to victory. Well done, Louisiana!

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