September 4.—Leslie Coombs, of Kentucky, in a letter to the chairman of the Syracuse (N. Y.) Conventions, held this language: “These peace meetings, with us, and, I presume, everywhere, arc mere soft words for treason, and we shall so treat them. I am gratified to find you still at your post, and have not caught the Bull Run panic, which has done some mischief in Kentucky. I am on guard all the time, and ready for action. If the rebels dare make a war upon us, we will sweep them clear, and that rapidly. We are wide awake, and defy their malice as much as we scorn their blustering. ‘The Union, the Constitution, and the enforcement of the laws,’ must be kept aloft everywhere, and all mere party platforms trampled under foot.”
—Leonidas Polk, general in the Confederate Army, issued the following proclamation at Columbus, Ky., this day: “The Federal Government having, in defiance of the wishes of the people of Kentucky, disregarded their neutrality by establishing camp depots of armies, and by organizing military companies within her territory, and by constructing military works on the Missouri shore, immediately opposite and commanding Columbus, evidently intended to cover the landing of troops for the seizure of that town, it has become a military necessity, for the defence of the territory of the Confederate States, that the Confederates occupy Columbus in advance. The major-general commanding has, therefore, not felt himself at liberty to risk the loss of so important a position, but has decided to occupy it in pursuance of this decision. He has thrown sufficient force into the town, and ordered to fortify it. It is gratifying to know that the presence of his troops is acceptable to the people of Columbus, and on this occasion he assures them that every precaution shall be taken to insure their quiet, protection to their property, with personal and corporate rights.”
—Colonel John Fitzroy De Courcy, an English officer of much distinction, tendered his services to the National Government, and the offer was accepted. Colonel De Courcy commanded a Turkish regiment during the Crimean Var.—Louisville Journal, September 11.
—At Portland, Me., Cyrus F. Sargent and Octavius F. Hill, of Yarmouth, wore arrested to-day by the United States Marshal, by order of the Secretary of War.—James Chapin, of Vicksburg, reported to be “a captain in the rebel army, was arrested at the residence of his father-in-law, in Saratoga, N. Y., to-day, by U. S. Marshal Burt, of Albany, by virtue of a warrant of the Secretary of State.—At Boston, Mass., .James Leguire, hailing from Halifax, N. C., was arrested on charges of conspiring against the Government. He was committed for trial it the U. S. District Court. Bail was refused. Leguire was bound for Memphis. A uniform was found in his trunk, and other suspicious circumstances led to the arrest.—N. Y. World, September 5.
—The schooner H. Middleton arrived at New York, a prize to the United States, having been captured on the 21st of August off Charleston, by the sloop-of-war Vandalia. She was from Charleston, bound to Liverpool, with a cargo of naval stores, and had attempted to run the blockade. During the chase she threw overboard the entire deck load. The captain and crew were transferred to the United States frigate Roanoke. The following note was found on beard, showing that she had previously been intended for a privateer:
“In case of being boarded, sink this package, as the letters were too late to take out privateer’s papers for your schooner, and would criminate you.
F. J. Porcher.
“To Captain Barklay.” —(Doc. 27.)
—A Despatch from Hannibal, Mo., of this date, says: Corporal Dix, of the Third Ohio regiment, while out scouting with five men at Kirksville, last week, was surrounded in a farmhouse while at dinner, by a party of twenty-five secessionists, who demanded a surrender. He refused, and the secessionists made an attack, when a severe fight ensued, but the Federalists maintained their position in the house, driving their assailants from the ground with a loss of seven killed and four wounded. Corporal Dix was killed, but none of the other of the Federalists were hurt.—Baltimore American, Sept. 6.
—A Mass Meeting, composed of men of all parties, was held at Owego, N. Y., to-day. Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson was the principal speaker, and was loudly and enthusiastically applauded. The sympathizers with and abettors of secession fared very hard at his hands. —N. Y. Evening Post, Sept. 4.
—The national gunboats Tyler and Lexington had an engagement off Hickman, Kentucky, this afternoon with the rebel gunboat Yankee, and the batteries on the Missouri shore, supported by about fifteen hundred rebels, who also fired upon the boats. None of the rebels’ shot took effect. The Tyler and Lexington fired about twenty shots, with what effect is not known, and returned to Cairo, Ill., this evening. On their way up they were fired at with small arms from Columbus and Chalk Bluffs, Kentucky.— (Doc. 29.)
—This afternoon, Colonel N. G. Williams, of the Third Iowa regiment, with eleven hundred Federal troops, Kansas and Iowa Third, was attacked at Shelbina, Mo., by Martin Green, with fifteen hundred to two thousand men. Green commenced firing on them with two pieces of artillery, and kept up fire about one and a half hours. One man (Federal) had his foot taken off by a cannon ball. Colonel Williams retreated on two trains west to Hudson, Mo., leaving a number of horses and part of his camp utensils in the hands of the rebels. Col. Williams had no artillery. Gen. Hurlbut got as far as Hudson, Mo., from Brookfield, with two hundred and fifty men, to reinforce Williams. When he arrived there, Williams was at Clarence, on his retreat.—N. Y. Commercial, Sept. 10.
—This day the confederates fired from an eminence at Great Falls, on the Potomac, sixteen miles from Washington, upon a body of national troops on the Maryland side. Their rifled cannon, although perhaps a hundred times discharged, wounded only one of the men. The rebels then attempted to ford the river, by constructing a temporary bridge with planks, when they were repulsed by the sharp-shooters of the Pennsylvania Seventh, and a number of them killed. They then retired from view, carrying with them their battery.—N. Y. World, Sept. 9.
—Private William Scott, of company K, Third regiment of Vermont Volunteers, was sentenced to be shot for sleeping on his post. —Army Orders.
