October 11.—The Confederate steamer Nashville, commanded by Lieutenant Pegram, successfully ran the blockade at Charleston, South Carolina.—The rebel Government having released and sent home fifty-seven prisoners, the National authorities ordered the release of an equal number of Confederate prisoners.—Baltimore American, October 16.
—An unsuccessful attempt to seize the steamboats Horizon and Izetta, plying on the Kanawha River, was made by the rebels.—(Doc. 76.)
—The New Orleans Picayune, of this day, contains the following: We have been permitted by Gen. Twiggs to see and to copy a telegraph despatch received by him to-day from Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Acting Secretary of War, dated at Richmond, on the 9th instant: ” Gen. D. E. Twiggs:
“Your despatch is received. The department learns with regret that the state of your health is such as to cause you to request to be relieved from active duty.
Your request is granted; but yon are expected to remain in command until the arrival of Gen. Mansfield Lovell, who has been appointed to succeed you, and who leaves for New Orleans to-morrow. J. P. Benjamin.”
—The Platte River bridge, near St. Joseph’s, was burned, and they are now obliged to cross in small boats and on rafts. Fifteen hundred regulars from Utah crossed this night, and many of them with their families. Being so many of them, some were obliged to cross on the rafts. They had ropes across the river, and these on the raft took hold of the end and polled, and it drew them across; but some one —a secessionist, they think—had cut the rope, and when they were about in the middle of the river it gave way and they floated down stream a short distance, and the raft hit against a tree and turned them all over, drowning a wife and only child of one man, three only children of another family, and a babe of eleven months old of another family. The bodies have not yet been recovered from among the rubbish. It was very dark, and they were obliged to come along and leave them. Some spoke not a word, but looked heart-broken; others mourning for a loved wife or children. Oh! it was a sight to melt a heart of stone.—Baltimore American, October 21.
—Lieut. Harrell, commanding the steamer Union, of the Potomac flotilla, stationed at the month of Acquia Creek, learning that the rebels had fitted out a large schooner in Quantico or Dumfries Creek, and had collected a considerable body of troops there, with the intention of crossing the Potomac, determined that the schooner should be destroyed. He accordingly organized an expedition, and with one boat and two launches entered the mouth of the creek about half-past two o’clock this morning. The schooner was discovered some distance up, in charge of a single sentry, who fled and gave the alarm. She was immediately boarded and set on fire, and when her destruction was rendered certain, Lieut. Harrell’s men returned to their boats and pulled again for the steamer. Their position was fully revealed by the light of the burning schooner, and they were fired upon continuously from both banks of the narrow stream; but not one of them was injured, though their clothing in many instances was perforated with bullets. The success of the enterprise was complete.—(Doc. 76.)
—The Brickel Battery N. Y. S. V., under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Brickel, left New York for the seat of war.
—The New Orleans Picayune of this day contains the following: “Yesterday was the first day for the execution of the Governor’s orders in regard to passports. Hereafter, persons wishing to leave the city, either by steamer or by railroad train, will be obliged to provide themselves with a passport, for which application must be made at the Governor’s office, between the hours of nine and three o’clock. Persons residing on the line of the Jackson Railroad, and whose business requires them to travel frequently, can obtain a monthly passport, on application to Mr. T. S. Williams, the General Superintendent. Military officers will accompany each train, and all travellers detected without the requisite pass will be arrested and brought back to the city.”
—The Missouri State Convention met at St. Louis. A resolution was introduced directing inquiry into the expediency of confiscating all the property of these engaged in or abetting the rebellion, and appropriating the proceeds to reimbursing loyal men for the losses they have sustained in maintaining the National or State Governments. Final action was not taken, but the convention, by a majority of four, refused to reject the resolution.—St. Louis Republican, October 12.
