The American Civil War

January 9.—The Provost-Marshal General, at St. Louis, Mo., issued an order, requiring all publishers of newspapers in the State of Missouri, St. Louis city papers excepted, to furnish him a copy of each issue for inspection, and failure with such order would render the paper liable to suppression.

Great excitement occurred in the Chamber of Commerce, at St, Louis, this afternoon, on the occasion of the election of officers, which resulted in the disruption of the Chamber by the withdrawal of the Union members, who subsequently established a Union Chamber of Commerce, which will be immediately carried out. The trouble occurred in consequence of the secession members refusing by their votes to admit a number of Union applicants for membership.

—The vessels, containing the Third and Fourth brigades of General Burnside’s expedition, left Annapolis (Md.) harbor, for the rendezvous at Fortress Monroe.—Baltimore American, Jan, 11.

—In the Senate of the United States, Mr. Sumner delivered an elaborate and powerful speech on the “Trent” affair.

—Col. H. Anisansel, commanding at Clarksburg, Va., returned to that place to-day, having been out with two companies of the First Virginia Cavalry, and three companies of infantry, in search of some military stores, which had been taken by bushwhackers, at Sutton, Va. After some time, the Colonel came up with the rebels, about thirty miles east of Sutton, killed twenty-two of them, took fifteen horses, and fifty-six head of cattle, and recaptured the greater part of the stores, though in an injured condition.—Clarksburg Telegraph, January 10.

January 8. — This evening, while the First Kansas regiment was on its march from Sedalia to Lexington, Mo., and within a few miles of the latter place, the rear guard was fired upon from ambush, by which a sergeant of a German company, attached to the regiment, was mortally wounded, and two horses shot.—N. Y. Commercial, January 22.

—A. W. Bradford, Governor of Maryland, was inaugurated at noon to-day, at Annapolis. He made a most able and eloquent address, condemning the rebellion in the strongest terms, and expressing the utmost devotion to the Union and Constitution.

—This morning, Captain Latham, Company B, Second Virginia regiment, accompanied by seventeen of his men, fell in with a company of guerrillas, numbering about thirty, on the Dry Fork of Cheat River, in Randolph county, Va., and after a desperate fight of an hour’s duration, completely routed them, killing six and wounding several others, and burning up their quarters and provisions. Though the numbers engaged were small, the firing was so rapid that it was distinctly heard for eight miles. The parties were within thirty steps of each other when the fight commenced, and the rebels, owing to the superiority of their numbers and position, were so confident of success that they fought, for a time, like tigers, but were finally driven entirely off the field. Captain Latham’s loss was six men wounded, as follows: Corporal Wm. Jenkins, slightly, in the arm; privates: Frederick Dopp, mortally, shot through the left breast; James M. Pfrom, severely, a ball in each leg, and one through the left hand; James Whitchair, slight wound in the head, and a ball through the right arm; John W. Leese, ball in the leg; Edward Henderson, shot in the left hand.

In a skirmish, on the night of the 5th inst, between the same parties, private A. Watts was slightly wounded in the arm.— Wheeling Intelligencer, January 17.

—The Ninety-first regiment of New-York Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Jacob Van Zandt, left New-York, on board the steam transport Ericsson, for Key West, Florida.

—A Battle was fought, this day, at Roan’s Tanyard, in Randolph county, Mo. The rebels, one thousand strong, under Colonel Poindexter, were posted in a very strong position, on the Silver Creek, at Roan’s Tanyard, seven miles south of Huntsville, and seven miles west of Renick, near the residence of Joel Smith. The attack was made by Majors Torrence and Hubbard, with four hundred and eighty men, at four o’clock p. M. The rebels made but a feeble resistance, owing to the want of an efficient commander. They were routed completely, after only half an hour’s resistance. In their flight they left everything; most of them losing overcoats, guns, etc. Some of their horses broke away, and others were cut loose, and but for the lateness of the hour the Federals might have secured a largo number of these animals. The Federals burned the rebel camp, consisting of one hundred and five tents, twenty-five wagons, flour, meal, bacon, and an immense number of saddles, bridles, overcoats, carpet-bags, blankets; together with eighty-seven kegs of powder. The rout was most complete. — (Doc. 10.)

—William F. Smithson, a banker in Washington, D. C, was arrested on a charge of holding communications with the rebels. He was sent to Fort Lafayette.— N. Y. World, January 10.

January 7.—A detachment of General Kelly’s forces, commanded by Colonel Dunning, Fifth Ohio, left Romney last night at twelve o’clock, and attacked the rebels, two thousand strong, at Blue’s Gap, Va., east of Romney, at daylight this morning. The rebels were completely routed, with a loss of fifteen killed, two pieces of cannon, their wagons, tents, etc, with twenty prisoners, including one commissioned officer.—(Doc. 8.)

—Ex-governor Morehead, of Kentucky, was released from Fort Warren on his parole, and proceeded immediately to New-York.

—At Washington, D. C, in the Senate, petitions for the emancipation of slaves and for the exchange of prisoners, were presented. A bill relative to the arrest of fugitive slaves by officers of the army or navy, was taken up, but its consideration was again postponed for the present, after a refusal of the Senate to postpone it indefinitely. The Kansas contested seat case was then taken up, but the Senate adjourned without proceeding with it. In the House, a message was received from the President, accompanying the documents relating to the Trent affair. Mr. Vallandigham, of Ohio, took occasion to express his dissatisfaction at the course pursued by the Government in delivering up Mason and Slidell; remarking that in less than three months we would be at war with Great Britain, or else we would tamely submit to the recognition of the Southern Confederacy, and the breaking up of the blockade. Mt. Hutching, his colleague, replied, saying that Vallandigham had heretofore been opposed to coercion as to the South, while now he is against the delivery up of Mason and Slidell, and consequently in favor of war. The position of his colleague was liable to suspicion that his belligerent attitude was one which would benefit the rebels, by causing a war between England and the United States—a war which the South desired. Mr. Thomas, of Massachusetts, argued in justification of the capture of Mason and Slidell. England did us grievous wrong in making the demand for them, which was unjust and insolent in spirit She has done that which implanted in the American breast a sense of wrong, and we shall await the opportunity to strike the blow of retributive justice. The message and documents were finally referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

—Flag – Officer Foote, with the gunboats Essex, Lexington, and Tyler, made a reconnoissance down the Mississippi River to a point within two miles of Columbus, Ky. He went within two hundred yards of the range of the rebel batteries, and on returning was fired upon by the rebel gunboat Mohawk, but her shots all fell short.

—In the State Senate of Virginia, (rebel,) a resolution offered by Mr. Newman was adopted, appropriating so much of the public debt of the State and other securities held by resident citizens of the United States and the District of Columbia, as might be necessary to indemnify the citizens of Virginia who were loyal to the State, for losses sustained by them in consequence of any confiscation act of the Congress of the United States, or any other act growing out of the war.— Richmond Examiner.

—A skirmish took place between a part of the Second Virginia (Union) cavalry, under Colonel Bowles, and a portion of Marshall’s forces, under Shaw, three miles west of Paintsville, on Jennie Creek, Ky. The rebels lost six killed, fourteen wounded, and seven prisoners. The Unionists lost two killed and one wounded.

Before Colonel Bowles attacked him, Humphrey Marshall addressed his men, advising the surrender of the whole force. The men refused, saying that they preferred fighting to such a cowardly course. After a skirmish Marshall’s whole force fled, and three hundred picked infantry and nine Union cavalry pursued.—(Doc. 9.)

—Colonel J. A. Garfield, with his brigade, consisting of the Forty-second regiment of Ohio Volunteers, the Fourth Kentucky, and three hundred of the Second Virginia cavalry, occupied the town of Paintsville, Ky. He says, in his despatch: “On hearing of my approach the main rebel force left their strongly intrenched camp and fled. I sent my cavalry to the mouth of Jennie Creek, where they attacked and drove the rebel cavalry, which had been left as a vanguard, a distance of five miles, killing three and wounding a considerable number. Marshall’s whole army is now flying in confusion. He had abandoned and burned a large amount of his stores. We have taken ten prisoners. Our loss was two killed and wounded.”