The American Civil War

January 21.—Governor Vance of North-Carolina, sent a message to the General Assembly of that State, then in session, informing them that since their adjournment the invaders of their State had concentrated a large force upon the coast, and were threatening their remaining seaports and lines of communication; that every preparation possible had been made to resist the invaders, and, he hoped, not without success. But still, that much remained to be done to strengthen their army and add to its efficiency; he, therefore, offered a few suggestions to them on that subject (Doc. 108.)

—The National ship of war Morning Light, together with the schooner Velocity, which were blockading the Sabine Pass, Texas, were surprised and captured by the rebel steamers Josiah Bell and Uncle Ben.—Colonel J. B. Douglass, commanding the Sixty-first regiment of Missouri volunteers, from his headquarters at Columbia, Mo., sent the following to General Curtis: “Late this evening, a body of troops under my command, whilst on a scout and some nine miles from my headquarters, found a confederate camp, with tent and all the necessary appurtenances thereto, containing eight confederate captains. The camp was situated in a very brushy country; consequently they escaped from their tent, my men following, and eventually succeeding in capturing four of them, after a brief resistance. We got all their arms, camp equipage, etc. The lateness of the attack prevented us from capturing the whole of them. My men camped on the ground. We also succeeded in capturing two of Porter’s men in addition.

“I regret to say that two of my bravest troops got seriously wounded in the fight before we captured the four rebel captains. They never surrendered until they had exhausted all their shots, they being armed with double-barrelled shot-guns, in addition to navy revolvers.

“You can now see why I object to this indiscriminate release of bad men from prison, and why you should not permit banished men to return here.”

—Colonel S. H. Mix, Third New-York cavalry, with eight companies of his regiment, returned to Newbern, after a successful scouting expedition into Onslow, Trent, and Jones counties, N. C. He obtained much valuable information, had several skirmishes with the rebels, routing them on every occasion, captured a number of prisoners, arms, mules, etc.—(Doc. 109.)

—The schooner Ettiwan, while attempting to run the blockade out of Swash channel, Charleston harbor, was captured by the gunboat Ottawa, under the command of Lieutenant William D. Whiting.—The rebel Lieutenant-Colonel Hutchinson, with one hundred men of Morgan’s cavalry, made a descent upon Murfreesboro, Tenn., and captured a large party of National troops and carried off thirty wagons.— (Bragg’s Despatch.)

—Galveston, Texas, being occupied by rebel troops who were engaged in erecting defences in and around that city, Commodore H. H. Bell, commanding the blockading fleet off that port, issued an order warning the foreign consuls and foreign subjects and all other persons concerned, that the city of Galveston and its defences were liable to be attacked at any day by the forces of the United States under his command, and gave twenty-four hours for “innocent and helpless persons” to withdraw.—Fitz-John Porter was cashiered and dismissed the service of the United States.

— At Ashton, England, Milner Gibson, M.P., President of the British Board of Trade, delivered an address to his constituents reviewing the position of England toward the United States. He alleged that slavery was the main cause of the war by inducing even secession for its defence. He urged England to adhere to her neutral course in the strictest manner, and denied the wisdom of foreign mediation, intervention, or a “hasty recognition” of the “so-called confederates.” In this connection Mr. Gibson recited statistics setting forth the largely increased imports of breadstuffs and provisions from the United States to England during the year just ended, and warned his hearers that if the Executive involved their country in a war with the United States their first act should be to blockade the American ports, and thus cut off this immense and vital supply from the starving operatives of Lancashire.

January 20.—John A. Andrew, Governor of Massachusetts, was authorized by the National War Department, “until further orders, to raise such numbers of volunteer companies of artillery for duty in the forts of Massachusetts and elsewhere, and such corps of infantry for the volunteer military service as he may find convenient, and may include persons of African descent, organized into separate corps.”—War Department Order.

—The rebel steamer Oreto arrived off Havana, Cuba, and was allowed to enter and proceed up the harbor to an anchorage.—Major-General Peek, in orders from his headquarters at Suffolk, Va., expressed his satisfaction at the soldierly qualities exhibited by Colonel Alfred Gibbs, of the One Hundred and Thirtieth N. Y. S. V., and his confidence in his disposition and ability to discharge whatever duties might fall to him, with credit to himself and the National service.

January 19.—President Lincoln addressed a letter to the workingmen of Manchester, England, acknowledging the receipt of an address and resolutions adopted by them at a meeting held at Manchester on the 31st of December, 1862. In closing his letter the President said: “I do not doubt that the sentiments you have expressed will be sustained by your great nation; and, on the other hand, I have no hesitation in assuring you that they will excite admiration, esteem, and the most reciprocal feelings of friendship among the American people. I hail this interchange of sentiment, therefore, as an augury that, whatever else may happen, whatever misfortune may befall your country or my own, the peace and friendship which now exist between the two nations will be, as it shall be my desire to make them, perpetual.”—(Doc. 119.)

—The Third battalion of the Fifth Pennsylvania cavalry, commanded by Major Wm. G. McCandless, made a reconnoissance in the direction of Barnesville, Va., thoroughly scouting all the roads branching from the Williamsburgh and Richmond turnpike. Two companies which remained on the turnpike, under the command of Captain Cameron, having been sent forward as an advance-guard, Lieutenant H. A. Vezin, with eighteen men, detained twelve as a reserve, and ordered Sergeant Anderson, with six men, to march two hundred yards in advance of the column, to act as videttes, and if attacked by a superior force, to fall back on the column. Thus the squadron marched to within one mile of “Burnt Ordinary,” when a party of seventy or eighty mounted rebels appeared, drawn up in line across the Richmond road. Sergeant Anderson ordered his men to fall back, but immediately in his rear appeared some twenty rebels drawn up in line, cutting off the Sergeant and his party, and capturing the whole advance. Seeing his critical position, he put spurs to his horse and succeeded in cutting his way back to Lieutenant Vezin and his reserve, giving that officer the alarm, who immediately ordered his twelve men to draw sabre, charge and give the rebels the cold steel. Here was daring with scarce a parallel in the war. One Lieutenant, one sergeant, and twelve men charging nearly a hundred rebels drawn up in line of battle. Dashing forward, they broke the rebel ranks, and captured all their companions but one, together with four rebels and five horses fully equipped.

—This afternoon, in lat. 23° 50′, long. 84° 17′, tho brig Estelle was captured and burned by the rebel privateer Oreto (Florida) under the command of Captain J. N. Maffit.—The army of the Potomae, under the command of General Burnside, broke camp and began to move down to the fords on the Rappahannock, for the purpose of crossing to the south bank of that river, and attacking the rebel army under General Lee.— (Doc. 110.)

—A debate took place in the rebel House of Representatives on President Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation, and the proposition of Jefferson Davis to execute Federal officers in retaliation. On this occasion Mr. Foote of Mississippi, said he preferred, in lieu of retaliatory measures, as suggested by the resolutions, that an attempt should be made to stop the shedding of blood by a movement to bring about peace. It would strengthen the friends of peace at the North, and perhaps have the effect of producing a state of things so much desired, notwithstanding the opposition of the abolition party. He signified his intention to offer a resolution hereafter—not for the purpose of yielding one inch of ground to the North, but to throw the entire responsibility upon the Federal government, if these scenes of blood were to continue. Mr. Dargan, of Alabama, took the ground that powers at war must retaliate. The resolutions contemplated the turning over of captured officers to the State governments and to let them be punished according to their laws. He did not think that was correct, but suggested that the government should take the responsibility itself. Mr. Lyons, of Virginia, said the government had no power to turn captured officers over to the States. Nor was there any necessity for the resolutions, since the (rebel) President said in his message that he would do it, unless prevented by Congress. He favored the passage of a law prohibiting such a course, and to repose the power of retaliation entirely in the hands of the government. When an officer was captured, if there should be any cause for retaliation, we might retaliate upon him; if not, we were bound to exchange him. He could not, by any law of nations, when captured by one government, be turned over to another government for trial. He would prefer that any officer captured in any State after the promulgation of the emancipation proclamation should be instantly hanged, and not subject him to the uncertainties of a trial by jury.— Mr. Kenner, of Louisiana, moved that the House go into secret session to receive the report on this subject of the Committee of Ways and Means. The motion was agreed to, and the House went into secret session.

January 18.—The Chattanooga Rebel, after surmising how the birth-day of Washington will be celebrated in the loyal States, says: “Here in the South we shall pay a different tribute to the day. We shall honor it by silent homage. It is said that the President will issue his proclamation of ‘fasting and prayer’ as a fit commemoration of the trials, sacrifices, and glories of Washington. They are types of our own heroes and martyrs, and whilst we remember and do reverence to the deeds and beauties of character which have consecrated the name of the Father and Country, we shall also bear in mind “those Spartan virtues of manhood and those Southern virtues of womanhood which adorn our page and ennoble our day.”

January 17.—Major-General Joseph E. Johnston, of the rebel army, issued a general order modifying a previous order issued from his headquarters, in relation to unauthorized absentees belonging to the departments of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, so as to grant them a full pardon provided they should return to their proper commands by the twelfth of February.—Jackson Mississippian.

—Des Arc, Ark., was taken possession of without opposition by Captain Walker of the gunboat De Kalb, and a regiment of infantry commanded by Colonel Spicely of the Twenty-fourth regiment of Indiana volunteers.—A skirmish took place at Pollocksville, N. C, resulting in the flight of the rebels and the occupation of the town by the National troops.—At Liverpool, England, an antislavery conference took place, at which Mr. Spence, a sympathizer with the rebel government, attempted to resuscitate the argument that slavery could be supported on Scriptural grounds, but he was refused a hearing. A resolution in favor of the National Government was carried by a large majority, and a committee was appointed to bring the subject before the people of Liverpool.—Numbers of families who, during the expected attack on Charleston last summer, removed from that city, returned “to their homesteads, content to await the storm that may at any time burst over their heads, and to abide the result.” Mobile Register.

January 16.—General James G. Blunt having discovered that certain attorneys and war claim agents, in his military district, had been guilty of endeavoring to incite dissatisfaction and insubordination among the soldiers, issued an order to his subordinates, authorizing the arrest of all such offenders, and that they be sent to his headquarters at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, with the charges against them preferred.—Commander Couthouy, and the officers of the United States steamer Columbia, which vessel was stranded at Masonboro Inlet, N. C, yesterday, surrendered themselves to the rebels, under Colonel Lamb, this day.

—The naval expedition up the White River, Ark., under the command of John G. Walker, of the gunboat Baron DeKalb, landed at Duvall’s Bluff, meeting with no resistance, and captured two eight-inch guns and carriages, two hundred stands of arms with their accoutrements, and three platform cars, upon which the guns were being hoisted, when the rebels took the alarm and fled. Lieutenant Walker also captured seven prisoners. He then retired, leaving the place in the charge of the troops under General Gorman, who arrived shortly after the captures were made.—Lieutenant Walker’s Report.

—The funeral of Major-General O. M. Mitchel took place at Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., this day.—The English sloop Brave, from Nassau, N. P., was captured by the gunboat Octorora.— An enthusiastic Union meeting was held at New Orleans, La., at which speeches were made by Thomas J. Durant, and others, and resolutions urging an earnest and vigorous prosecution of the war were adopted unanimously.—New-Orleans) True Delta.

—The transport ship Planter, with men and material belonging to the National army, was wrecked this morning, near Stranger’s Key, Bahama.—The rebel steamer Oreto, escaped from Mobile harbor, Ala., running directly through the National fleet blockading that place.—(Doc. 107.)

January 15.—Mound City, Arkansas, was burned by a detachment of National troops, the place having long been the resort of guerrillas.— The bill authorizing the issue of one hundred million dollars in United States legal tender notes, was signed and became a law.—A detachment of the Twenty-second Wisconsin regiment, carrying despatches from Helena to Clarendon, Ark., were attacked by a body of rebels, who succeeded in capturing seventeen of their number. In the skirmish a rebel lieutenant and six men were killed and wounded.—Chicago Tribune.

January 14.—To-day an engagement took place on the Bayou Teche, La., between four Union gunboats, under the command of Commodore Buchanan, assisted by a force of troops, under General Weitzel, and the iron-clad rebel steamer J. A. Cotton, assisted by a body of rebel troops, under the command of Colonel Gray, resulting, after a contest of several hours’ duration, in the destruction of the rebel iron-clad. Commodore Buchanan was killed in this action by a rebel sharp-shooter.—(Doc. 106.)

—The steamer Forrest Queen was captured and burned by guerrillas at Commerce, Miss., this evening.—The National gunboat Queen of the West, under the command of Colonel Charles E. Ellet, commanding the ram fleet in Western waters, while on a reconnoissance on the Red River, was fired on, near Gordon’s Landing, by a battery of four guns, and subsequently captured by the rebels.—(Doc. 105.)

January 13.—The United States gunboat Major Slidel, under the command of Lieutenant Van Dorn, surrendered to a party of rebel guerrillas at Harpeth Shoals, on the Cumberland River, Tenn., without firing a shot . The United States transport steamers Hastings, Trio, and Parthenia, with wounded troops, were also captured by the same party of rebels, at the same time and place. After robbing the wounded soldiers of all their money, overcoats, boots, and blankets, they were transferred to the Hastings, which was then permitted to proceed on her voyage. The other vessels, including the Slidel, were burned.—(Doc 104.)

—At New-Orleans, General Banks gave the following notice to the people of that place: “That offensive personal demonstrations, by language or conduct of any character, by persons of any class whatever, with the intention of giving personal offence, or tending to disturb the public peace, are forbidden, and will be punished with relentless severity. Parents will be held responsible for the respectful conduct of their children, and prompt measures will be taken to fasten upon the proper parties any act of this character. All persons who may be witnesses to such conduct are directed, as a measure of public peace, to give information thereof to the Provost-Marshal, or at these headquarters.”—The schooner Hampton was captured in Dividing Creek, Va., by the United States steamer Currituck.— Com. Barwood’s Despatch.