The American Civil War

October 28.—On the night of the 25th, the boats of the U. S. gunboat Louisiana made a reconnaissance of the Virginia shore for a number of miles, and discovered in Chincoteague Inlet, about two miles from its mouth, a number of rebel vessels undergoing repairs; and this night an expedition, under command of Lieutenant Alfred Hopkins, consisting of three boats, with twenty-five men, well armed, proceeded to the inlet with the intent to cut out or destroy the aforesaid rebel vessels. Proceeding cautiously up the narrow inlet, on the banks of which the rebel sentries could be heard, the boats at last reached the rebel fleet; but, finding the channel so intricate and so well guarded, they were unable to bring any of the vessels out. Preparations were, therefore, made to fire them, and at a given signal the match was applied to three large vessels, and as the flames broke forth in the darkness of the night, brilliantly illuminating the skies with lurid glare, the men sprang to their boats, while the enemy, in confusion at the suddenness of the attack, were quite dumbfounded, and unable to offer any resistance or fire a single shot at the brave fellows who made so gallant a dash into their very midst. As the boats shot out of the inlet the troops sent up rockets to announce to their comrades on board the steamer the complete success of the expedition. At daylight the boats arrived alongside the Louisiana without having lost a man. The only casualty was received by Lieutenant Hopkins, who had his right hand severely burned while applying a torch.—Philadelphia Press, Nov. 14.

—Gen. John B. Henderson, of the Missouri State Militia, made a compromise with the rebels at Dyer’s Mills, near Concord, Missouri, by which he agreed that the United States would not make any arrests if the rebels would lay down their arms and return to their homes. Gen. Prentiss acquiesced in the compromise. The rebels were four hundred strong, and Gen. Henderson’s force numbered one thousand five hundred. The proposition for compromise came from the rebels.— National Intelligencer, Nov. 1.

—General Kelley issued a proclamation from Romney to the people of Hampshire County and the Upper Potomac, in which he assured them of protection to their persons and property.—(Doc. 112.)

—Asa T. Pratt, of Braintree, Mass., who expressed strong secession sentiments at a Democratic Convention at Dedham, was ridden on a rail by several of his town’s people.—In accordance with orders received from the War Department, Gov. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, issued marching orders to eight regiments in addition to these already at the seat of War.—Gov. Andrew, of Massachusetts, has written a letter in reply to an inquiry from Hon Geo. S. Boutwell, whether the Fifteenth regiment, which behaved so gallantly in the action at Leesburg, was sent into the field with inferior arms. He says that rifled muskets have been given all the regiments to which it was possible to supply them. Some of the commanders, however, have preferred smooth-bore muskets as decidedly preferable for close action, and these Col. Devens’ men had.—N. Y. Times, Oct. 30.

—By direction of the President of the United States, a Commission was appointed, consisting of David Davis, of Illinois; Joseph Holt, of Kentucky, and Hugh Campbell, of St. Louis, to examine and report upon all unsettled claims against the Military Department of the West, which might have originated prior to the appointment of General Fremont, at which time the order was issued that all money must be disbursed by the regularly appointed agents of the Government.— N. Y. Times, Oct. 28.

—The Fifth New Hampshire regiment, Col. Edward E. Cross, left its camp, near Concord, for Washington. It numbers one thousand and thirty-three men, and is armed with the Enfield rifle.—N. Y. Commercial, Oct. 30.

October 27.—Brigadier-General Wm. H. T. Walker, of the Confederate States Army, resigned his position this day, because, despite all his claims as a soldier who has seen service, and as among the first to offer themselves to the South, he finds that he is continually “overslaughed” by new appointments.—Richmond Whig.

—A fight took place at Plattsburgh, Clinton County, Mo., fifteen miles south of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. A force of seven hundred Union men attacked and captured a camp of rebels, killing eight of them, capturing twelve prisoners, one cannon, and a lot of small arms.—Leavenworth Conservative.

October 26. — At Mill Creek, five miles from Romney, Gen. Kelley’s force came upon the rebel’s outposts, which they drove in, and advanced to the Indian Mound Cemetery, to the west of the town, where the rebels made a stand and opened fire with a twelve-pound rifled gun, placed in a very commanding position in the cemetery, and with a mountain howitzer from the high grounds on the east bank of the river, which point commanded our approach for a distance of over a mile. At the east end of the bridge the enemy had also thrown up intrenchments, from which they kept up a constant fire of musketry upon the head of the column. One twelve-pounder and two six-pounders responded to the artillery on Kelley’s post until the General was enabled to fully comprehend the enemy’s position, when he soon gave the command to charge upon their batteries and intrenchments. The cavalry under the lead of Capts. Keys and McGhee, dashed across the river, (which was fordable at this point,) while the infantry, under Cols. Mason and De Puy, Lieut.-Col. Kelley, and Major Swearingen, rushed over the bridge to encounter the foe, at the very muzzles of his guns. No sooner did the rebels perceive this movement, than they immediately abandoned their positions, and commenced a precipitate retreat, rushing “pell-mell” through the town, and directing their flight toward Winchester.

General Kelley captured some four hundred or five hundred prisoners, among whom was Colonel E. M. Armstrong, late a member of the Richmond Convention, two hundred horses, three wagon loads of new rifles, three cannon, a large quantity of corn, tents, and, in fact, every thing they had. The loss on the Federal aide was but one man killed and five wounded. When about one and a half miles from Springfield the rear of Col. Johns’ column (ordered to make the feint from the north) was attacked from the heights by the enemy, severely wounding two men and detaining the column about an hour. The march was then resumed through Springfield, and on arriving within half a mile of the bridge crossing the south branch of the Potomac, Col. Johns discovered the enemy on the opposite bank, when a brisk firing commenced. An attempt to force the passage of the bridge was ineffectual, the rebels having destroyed a portion of it. Captain Shaw marched his company upon the bridge with a view to carry the position, but lost one killed and six wounded. At this time, hearing nothing further of the firing at Romney, and concluding that Gen. Kelley had carried the place, and that the object desired had been accomplished, Col. Johns withdrew his force to Oldtown, Md., after a march of twenty-five miles.—(Doc. 107.)

—A large meeting was held at Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland, by the Union men. Speeches were made by Henry Winter Davis, Edwin U. Webster, Alexander Evans, S. S. Maditt, Esq., and others. There were several hundred ladies on the ground, and the display was grand.—N. Y. Tribune, October 30.

—Parson Brownlow has been forced to suspend the publication of his paper, the Knoxville (Tenn.) Whig. He gives his readers a farewell address, in which he says that he will neither give a bend to keep the peace, nor will he take an oath to support the Jeff. Davis Confederacy, and he informs the authorities that he is ready to go to jail. He has been indicted by the Grand Jury for treason, because, as he says, he has refused to publish garbled accounts of skirmishes in Kentucky, and other articles, the insertion of which in his sheet was insisted upon by the rebels.—(Doc. 108.)

—A wagon train was established between Baltimore, Md., and Washington, D. C. Fifty wagons were employed in the service. This was rendered necessary by the closing of the Potomac and the great amount of freight thus thrown upon the railroad.—Baltimore American, October 26.

—Generals Fremont and Sigel arrived at Springfield, Missouri, and were received with a display of National flags and every demonstration of joy.—National Intelligencer, Nov. 1.

—The Charleston Mercury, of this date, declares that the Northern army “has broken its ranks forever;” that “no trumpet will call them to battle again;” and that “however new forces may be mustered, and new generals commissioned, the decree of Manassas cannot be reversed;” that therefore Southern “independence is assured,” and it accordingly gives some space to the consideration of what the relations of the new Government “with the world are to be.” It describes the late prosperous and happy condition of the United States, and its present condition, and fears that Europe will not understand the South when it looks upon it as the active agent in the destruction of so much good. (Doc. 110.)

—Three companies of the Ninth Illinois regiment went to Saratoga, Ky., on the Cumberland River, and attacked a body of rebels, whom they routed, killing thirteen, taking twenty-four prisoners, and capturing fifty-two horses. They had two wounded on their side. These affairs, though not important in their results, in one sense, do nevertheless show in a clear light the spirit and bravery of the National troops, and add new proof to the evidence already gathered that the rebels are sure to be defeated in a fair fight with equal numbers, or with numbers not greatly inferior to theirs.— (Doc. 111.)

—This day a scouting party of thirty men of the Eighth Illinois regiment, under the command of their colonel, Johnson, left for Fort Holt, near Cairo, Ill., and proceeded several miles in the direction of Columbus, Ky. An advance guard was sent out to keep their way clear. They returned to their command and reported to Col. Johnson that a large force of the enemy’s cavalry was advancing upon them; whereupon Col. Johnson ordered his men to a turn in the road, and directed them to lie in ambush for the enemy, who, upon coming up, were confronted by Col. Johnson and ordered to surrender, to which they replied by opening a fire upon him, which he escaped. At this moment the men of his command fired a volley into the midst of the rebels, from the brush, killing their captain and lieutenant, and several others, which so astounded and surprised the rebels that they broke and ran in a promiscuous retreat, leaving their lieutenant dead in the road.—Louisville Journal, November 1.