The American Civil War

January 11.—The Confederate troops burned two bridges on the Louisville and Nashville railroad, at points between Munfordville and Bowling Green.—Cincinnati Commercial.

—This morning three rebel boats from Columbus, Ky., attacked the gunboats Essex and St. Louis, lying off Fort Jefferson. A brisk engagement ensued for a short time, when the rebels retreated, and the national boats pursued until they reached the batteries of the enemy at Columbus.—(Doc. 13.)

—The First Maryland regiment, Colonel Kenly, are strongly entrenched at Old Fort Frederick, above Hancock, where they are frequently reconnoitered at a distance by small bodies of the enemy. The Colonel has sufficient ordnance to maintain himself there, as well as to command the railroad opposite.—Baltimore American, Jan. 14.

—The Florida Legislature has elected A. E. Maxwell and I. M. Baker to the Confederate Senate. — Sixty rebels, belonging to the regiment of Colonel Alexander, a prisoner in St. Louis, were captured about six miles from Sedalia, Mo.

Picket-shooting existing to a fearful extent in the vicinity of Cairo, Ill., General Grant this day issued the following order to General Paine, commanding the United States forces at Bird’s Point: “I understand that four of our pickets were shot this morning. If this is so, and appearances indicate that the assassins were citizens not regularly organized in the rebel army, the whole country should be cleared out for six miles around, and word given that all citizens making their appearance within these limits are liable to be shot.

“To execute this, patrols should be sent out in all directions, and bring into camp at Bird’s Point all citizens, together with their subsistence, and require them to remain, under penalty of death and destruction of their property, until properly relieved.

“Let no harm befall these people if they quietly submit, but bring them in and place them in camp below the breastwork, and have them properly guarded.

“The intention is not to make political prisoners of these people, but to cut off a dangerous class of spies.

“This applies to all classes and conditions, age and sex. If, however, women and children prefer other protection than we can afford them, they may be allowed to retire beyond the limits indicated—not to return until authorized.”

—The Twenty-eighth regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, under command of Colonel William Monteith, left Boston for New-York, en route for the seat of war.—N. Y. Commercial, Jan. 13.

—Colonel Garfield, having defeated the rebels under Humphrey Marshall, occupied Prestonburg, Ky., to-day.

January 10.—The Trenton (Tenn.) Standard, of this date, contains the following: “We regret to say that considerable evidence of disloyalty to the Confederate government has been manifested in some of the counties in West-Tennessee since the call upon the militia was made; one county (Carroll) having gone so far, we learn, as positively to refuse to submit to the detail. In Weakly county, also, we learn there was trouble on Monday last, which led to the fear that serious difficulties would occur there; but we understand that matters were settled peaceably and without bloodshed, which was at one time apprehended. In McNairy county, however, the disaffection seems to have reached its highest point, as we see from the West-Tennessee Whig that it was found necessary to send troops into that county to arrest some of the authorities, and to send detachments of soldiers into some of the other counties for the some purpose.”

—At Louisville, Ky., the household effects ofGeneral Simon Bolivar Buckner were offered for sale in front of the Court-House. Quite a crowd assembled, among whom were a number of persons as rampant for “their rights” as a Southern sun could make them; but still among them all there were none—no, not one—who would come forward with the amount, settle the tax bill, and prevent the sale.

Mr. Thuxton, the collector, proceeded with the sale until sufficient money had been realized to pay the taxes on Buckner’s property in Louisville.—Louisville Journal, January 11.

—Colonel Garfield left Paintsville, Ky., yesterday, in pursuit of the flying rebels, and came up with them this morning, finding them posted on an eminence, two thousand five hundred strong, with three pieces of cannon. The fight lasted throughout the day, resulting in the defeat of the rebels, who were commanded by Humphrey Marshall About sixty rebels were killed, twenty-five taken prisoners, and ten horses with a quantity of stores captured. The principal engagement took place at the forks of Middle Creek, Ky., and the road to Prestonburg, only a few miles distant, was laid open.—(Doc. 11.)

An expedition under Generals Grant and McClernand, about five thousand strong, left Cairo, Ill, and started down the Mississippi River this afternoon. They went on the following boats: City of Memphis, Belle Memphis, Emerald with one barge, Fanny Bullitt, W. H. Brown, Alps with two barges, Keystone with two barges, Aleck Scott; and were from the Tenth Illinois regiment, Colonel Morgan; Twenty-seventh Illinois, Colonel Buford; Twenty-ninth Illinois, Colonel Reorden; Thirtieth Illinois, Colonel Fouke; Thirty-first Illinois, Colonel Logan; Forty-eighth Illinois, Colonel Kaynie; Eighteenth Illinois, Colonel Lawler; Fourth Illinois Cavalry, Colonel Dickey; and Captain Swartz’s Artillery, four guns.

They took five days’ cooked rations, about ninety wagons and four hundred mules, together with ambulances, tents, etc. They were landed on the Kentucky shore, eight miles below Cairo, near the mouth of Mayfield creek, and opposite Norfolk, Mo. Two gunboats—the Essex and St Louis, accompanied them.—Cincinnati Enquirer.

A party of Kansas Indians visited Leavenworth for the purpose of ascertaining in what manner and for how long a time they could enlist in the service of the United States Government. During their stay the Chief, Y-o-to-wah, delivered a speech in which he set forth the intentions of his fellows, and expressed the greatest desire to aid in the suppression of the rebellion.—(Doc. 12.)

—The First Kansas regiment, which was sent from Sedalia, Mo., arrived at Lexington and arrested several of the most prominent and active rebels of the town, captured and destroyed about fifteen hundred hogs, which were being packed for the use of General Price’s rebels, and took possession of a good deal of other valuable property.—National Intelligencer, January 16.

—In the United States Senate, the reports of the Judiciary Committee, in favor of the expulsion of Waldo P. Johnson and Trusten Polk, Senators from Missouri, were taken up and unanimously adopted. A copy of the resolutions for their expulsion was ordered to be sent to the Governor of Missouri.—New-York Times, January 11.

—The first auction sale of confiscated cotton from Port Royal occurred in New-York, under orders of the Government. There were seventy-nine bales in all, and the cotton sold at an average of nearly sixty cents per pound, with the exception of two out of the ten lots, (a very inferior quality,) which sold at eighteen and twenty-five cents respectively.