July 10.—Lord Palmerston, in a speech in the House of Commons, requesting Mr. Roebuck to submit to a postponement of the debate on the question of the recognition, of the confederate States, declared anew his hostility to the policy of recognition, and the unchanged sentiments of “Her Majesty’s Government” on the subject His language was:
“It is not likely, I think, that the House would agree either to the motion of the honorable and learned member for Sheffield, or to the amendment which has been moved to it; and, indeed, I think it very disadvantageous to the public service that any such resolution should be adopted. Therefore the discussion, as far as any practicable results may have been expected by those who are in favor of the motion, would have no important effect. I can assure the House, whereas now it is plainly acknowledged by every body, that the wishes of the Emperor of the French to find a fitting opportunity for advising the reestablishment of peace in America are not changed, that, on the other hand, her Majesty’s Government do not see that that opportunity has arisen.”
—The expedition under General J. G. Blunt reached Cabin Creek, fifty-five miles from Fort Gibson.—Thirty-one battle-flags captured by the National forces at Gettysburgh, were sent to the War Department by Major-General Meade.— (Doc. 92.)
—The siege of Jackson, Miss., was commenced this day by the Union forces under General Grant. It began by skirmishing on the Clinton road with musketry and artillery; shells were thrown into the city, and several persons were killed and wounded.—Mobile Advertiser, July 18.
—As artillery and cavalry battle took place at a point on the road from Boonsboro to Hagerstown, Md., between the Union forces under Generals Buford and Kilpatrick, and the rebels belonging to the army of General Lee.—(Doc. 32.)
—Major-General Schenck, from his headquarters at Baltimore, issued an order regulating the treatment of rebel prisoners in his department—The Mayor of Lynchburgh, Va,, issued a proclamation to the citizens of that place, requesting them to suspend business on Friday afternoons, in order that the members of the different military organizations might have an opportunity of attending regularly the drills of their respective companies….
“It is high time,” said he, “that we should act, and act at once, toward putting ourselves in readiness for any emergency.”
—General Joseph E. Johnston, at Jackson, Miss., issued the following battle order to the troops of his army. It “was read along the line amid deafening shouts:”
“Fellow-soldiers: An insolent foe, flushed with hope by his recent success at Vicksburgh, confronts you, threatening the people, whose homes and liberty you are here to protect, with plunder and conquest. Their guns may even now be heard as they advance.
“The enemy it is at once the duty and the mission of you brave men to chastise and expel from the soil of Mississippi. The Commanding General confidently relies on you to sustain his pledge, which he makes in advance, and he will be with you in the good work even unto the end.
“The vice of ‘straggling’ he begs you to shun, and to frown on. If needs be, it will be checked by even the most summary remedies.
“The telegraph has already announced a glorious victory over the foe, won by your noble comrades of the Virginia army on Union soil; may he not, with redoubled hopes, count on you while defending your firesides and household gods to emulate the proud example of your brothers in the East?
“The country expects in this, the great crisis of its destiny, that every man will do his duty.”
General Johnston ordered all pillagers to be shot, the guard to shoot them wherever found.
—Martial law was declared at Louisville, Ky.—The letter of William Whiting, Solicitor to the National War Department, to the members of the Fremont League, was published.— Salem, Ind., was visited and sacked by the rebel forces under John Morgan; the railroad bridge over the Blue River was also destroyed by the same parties.—(Doc. 47.)
—The National forces under the command of General Q. A. Gillmore, at five o’clock this morning, made an attack upon the rebel fortifications on the south end of Morris Island, in the harbor of Charleston, S.C., and after an engagement of over three hours, captured all the strongholds in that part of the Island, and pushed forward their infantry to within six hundred yards of Fort Wagner. The attacking party was gallantly led by Brigadier General George C. Strong. It landed from small boats under cover of the National batteries on Folly Island, and four monitors, led by Rear-Admiral Dahlgren, which entered the main channel abreast of Morris Island, soon after the Union batteries opened. The monitors continued their fire during thp rest of the day, principally against Fort Wagner. — General Gillmore’s Report.— (Doc. 147.)
