October 9.—Twelve hundred men of the Confederate forces near Pensacola, landed on Santa Rosa Island, four miles from Fort Pickens, at two o’clock A. M., under command of the Confederate General Anderson, and attacked the camp of the Sixth regiment New York Volunteers, (Wilson’s Zouaves.) Wilson’s men were surprised, and driven out of a portion of their camp, which was plundered and burned by the Confederates; but two companies of regulars, under Major Vodges, sent from Fort Pickens to support Wilson, drove the rebels to their boats, and inflicted upon them a considerable loss. Maj. Vodges was taken prisoner. The Union loss was fourteen killed and Twenty-nine wounded. No numbers are given of the rebel loss, but it was described by themselves as ” very severe.” —(Docs. 34 and 73.)
—Charges and specifications preferred against General Fremont by Colonel F. P. Blair are published. The charges include neglect of duty and unofficer-like conduct, disobedience of orders, conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, extravagance and waste of the public moneys, and despotic and tyrannical conduct. Among the specifications are the alleged failure of Fremont to repair to St. Louis and enter upon his duties—his neglecting to reinforce Lyon, Becken, and Mulligan—his suffering Brigadier-General Hurlburt, “a common drunkard,” to continue in command—his refusing to see people who sought his presence on matters of urgent business—his violation of Presidential orders in the matter of his 30th of August proclamation—his encouragement of officers to hold meetings, and write letters for publication in praise of himself and in denunciation of all who differ from him—his persistency in keeping disreputable persons in his employ, and his unjust suppression of the St. Louis Evening News.
—Colonel De Villiers, the military instructor of Colonel Ellsworth, who was taken prisoner in Western Virginia, and made his escape from Richmond in disguise, was made a Brigadier-General.—Baltimore American, Oct. 11.
—A treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, and for the surrender of fugitive criminals, between the United States and the Republic of Venezuela, is officially proclaimed. Its liberal commercial, civil and religious features are calculated to consummate its objects, namely:—a firm, inviolable, and universal peace, and a true and sincere friendship between the two countries. There is a mutual agreement that the citizens of each shall be prohibited from applying for or taking any commission or letters of marque, to act as privateers against the commerce of either republic, from any prince or state with which the United States or Venezuela may be at war. It is also declared unlawful for any foreign privateers, who have commissions from any prince or state, in enmity with either nation, to fit out their ships in the ports of cither, to sell their prizes, or in any manner to exchange them; neither shall they be allowed to purchase provisions, except such as shall be necessary to their going to the next port of that prince or state from which they have received their commissions.
—The Forty-fifth regiment of New York Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Amsberg, left their encampment for the seat of war.—The Thirty-seventh regiment of Ohio Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Siebert, left Camp Dennison for the Kanawha valley.— Ohio Statesman, Oct. 10.
—About six o’clock this morning General Smith’s division at Chain Bridge, above Washington, D.C., advanced and occupied prominent positions in the neighborhood of Lewinsville, Va. On the advance arriving at Langsley’s, the hitherto outpost of the army, the division was divided, a portion continuing up Little Rock Run turnpike, occupying Prospect Hill. The other part of the division took the new artillery road, and occupied Smoots’ and Maxwell’s hills, a mile and a half east of Lewinsville. The batteries were drawn up in prominent positions, and the infantry placed in situations to support them. After remaining about three hours waiting in vain for the rebels to make an attack—in fact, inviting them to it— the skirmishers advanced and occupied Lewinsville, the rebels retreating. A portion of the troops under Brigadier-General Porter also advanced and occupied Miner’s Hill, to the right of Fall’s Church, and commanding that village and Barrel’s Hill, which latter was in possession of rebel pickets. General McClellan and staff, accompanied by Captain Barker’s McClellan Dragoons, crossed Chain Bridge early this morning, spending the whole day in reconnoissance from the new positions taken by the Federal troops.
—The ship John Clark, anchored in Lynn Haven Bay, having dragged her anchor in a storm to within a mile and a half of the shore, was opened upon by a rebel battery of five guns with shot and shell. The U. S. steamer Daylight went to the rescue, and engaged the battery with three guns, drove the rebels from their works, and assisted the captain of the Clark to get his ship to sea.—(Doc. 74.)
