The American Civil War

October 22.—General Blunt with a division of Union troops this day attacked a force of rebels five thousand strong at Old Fort Wayne, near Maysville, Ark., and after an hour’s sharp fighting completely routed them and captured all their artillery, a large number of horses, and a portion of their transports and garrison equipage, the rebels retreating toward Fort Smith.—General Schofield with a Union force this day drove the rebels under General Hindman, through Huntsville, Ark., to a point beyond the Boston Mountain.—(Doc. 12.)

— Yesterday an expedition of troops, gunboats, and transports, under command of General J. M. Brannan, left Hilton Head, S. C, by way of the Coosahatchie and Pocotaligo Rivers, to destroy the bridges and tear up the track of the Charleston and Savannah Railroad. One wing of the expedition under command of Colonel W. B. Barton, to-day marched upon the village of Coosahatchie, attacked a passing train, killing and wounding several, afterward tore up the railroad track, cut the telegraph wires, and marched upon the bridge, but was prevented from burning the bridge at this point by the presence of a superior rebel force. The other wing of the expedition, under command of General Brannan, landed at Mackay’s Point, marched ten miles inland to Pocataligo bridge, skirmishing with and routing the rebels as they advanced. At the bridge a superior force was encountered well intrenched, and after a warm engagement and considerable loss, the expedition was compelled to abandon its object and return to the boats.—(Doc. 13.)

—A sharp fight took place near Van Buren, Ark., between a force of Union cavalry under the command of Major B. F. Lazcar, and a body of rebel guerrilla cavalry, numbering four hundred and fifty men, under Boone, resulting in a complete rout of the latter, with considerable loss.

—The Twenty-fourth Texas Rangers to-day captured a train of thirty wagons, of the Fifth and Ninth Illinois cavalry, near Helena, Ark., and took several prisoners.—The Fourteenth regiment of Vermont volunteers, under the command of Colonel W. S. Nichols, passed through Springfield, Mass., en route for the seat of war.— Springfield Republican.

A skirmish took place between the Union and rebel pickets in the vicinity of Nashville, Tenn., terminating in a retreat of the Unionists to their intrenchments at Nashville, with some loss.—The British brig Robert Bruce, of Bristol, England, Captain Muir, was this day captured off Shallotte Inlet, N. C, by the United States gunboat Penobscot, while attempting to run the blockade.—Two squadrons of the Fourth Pennsylvania cavalry, under the command of Captain Duncan, made a reconnoissance to-day in the vicinity of Hedgesville, Va. Captain Duncan drove the rebel pickets into the town, and then charged the main body, routing them and taking nineteen prisoners, including three officers.

October 21.—A reconnoissance was this day made by a strong force of Union troops, under the command of General Geary, into Loudon County, Va. Several skirmishes took place with parties of the rebels, resulting in their retreat, leaving in the hands of the Unionists seventy-five prisoners, including a number of officers, and about thirty horses.

— President Lincoln addressed a letter to Major-General Grant, Governor Johnson, and all having military, naval, and civil authority under the United States within the State of Tennessee, recommending Thomas R. Smith, a citizen of Tennessee, who went to that State, seeking to have such of its people as desired to have peace again upon the old terms under the Constitution, to manifest such desire by electing members to the Congress of the United States, State officers, and a Senator of the United States. The President wished the parties addressed to aid Mr. Smith, and all others seeking for this object, as much as possible.—A Union meeting was held in Beaufort, N. C. Patriotic speeches were made, and resolutions indorsing President Lincoln’s proclamation liberating the slaves of rebels, were passed.

The Union army under General Schofield, left Pea Ridge, Ark., last evening, in pursuit of therebels retreating through that State. One portion of the Union army under General Schofield, taking the road toward Huntsville, and the other under General Blunt going toward Maysville, on the boundary line between Arkansas and the Indian Nation.—(Doc. 12.)

— A skirmish took place at Woodville, Tenn., between the Second Illinois cavalry, under the command of Major John J. Mudd, and a party of rebel guerrillas under Haywood, resulting in a complete rout of the latter, leaving in the hands of the Unionists forty of their number as prisoners, a wagon-load of arms, a large number of saddles, and about one hundred horses and mules.

— A fight occurred at Fort Cobb, in the Indian Territory, between a body of loyal Indians belonging to six different tribes, numbering about seven hundred, and a force of rebel Indians, of the Tongkawa tribe, under Colonel Leper, resulting in the defeat of the rebels with great slaughter. Colonel Leper, who was a white man, was killed.—Leavenworth Conservative.

October 20.—A skirmish took place on the Cumberland River, a few miles from Nashville, Tenn., between a considerable force of rebel cavalry under General Forrest, and a body of Union troops under the command of Colonel Miller, in which the rebels were driven across the river with some loss. A number of prisoners, including a colonel, were taken.

—Five hundred cases of yellow fever were reported in Wilmington, N. C. The mortality was very great, thirty or forty dying daily. The publication of the Journal newspaper had to be suspended, as almost all the hands necessary to carry on the work were sick with the fever.

—President Lincoln issued an order establishing a Provisional Court for the State of Louisiana, and appointing Charles A. Peabody, of New-York, to be a Provisional Judge to hold the court.—(Doc. 11.)

—Major Woodson, of the Tenth cavalry, Missouri State militia, attacked a band of rebel guerrillas on Auxvois River, dispersed them, killing and wounding several, capturing arms, ammunition, blankets, and horses.—The Twenty-seventh regiment Maine volunteers, left Portland this morning for the seat of war.

—Lieutenant-colonel James Stuart, with a portion of the Tenth Illinois cavalry, attacked two hundred rebel cavalry near Marshfield, Mo., this day, completely routing and disorganizing them, and capturing twenty-seven prisoners.— The plantations in the vicinity of President’s Island, on the Mississippi, were burned to-day in retaliation for an attack upon the steamer Catahoula by the rebels.

October 19.—The United States gunboat Ellis, of the Newbern, N. C, blockading squadron, Lieutenant W. D. Cushing, commander, captured the British schooner Adelaide, of Halifax, N. S., in New Topsail Inlet, twelve miles from Wilmington, while attempting to run the blockade with a cargo of cotton and turpentine. The vessel being aground, with her cargo, was destroyed.

—The steamer Catahoula, plying between Helena, Ark., and Memphis, Tenn., was this day fired into by a band of rebel guerrillas, at a point a few miles below the latter city. No one was killed, and only one man wounded.—A party of Morgan’s rebel cavalry this day attacked and destroyed a train of fifty-one loaded wagons and thirty-one empty ones, at Bardstown, Ky., paroling the teamsters and driving off the horses and mules.—Louisville Journal.

—Lieutenant-Colonel Sackett, Ninth New York cavalry, commanding a reconnoitring party sent out to patrol the country between Centreville and Leesburgh, Va., made a report narrating the operations of the expedition. During the reconnoissance he captured and paroled sixty or seventy soldiers.—A body of rebel cavalry under the lead of Colonel Jeffries, entered and occupied Commerce, Tenn.—(Doc. 9.)

October 18.—To-day as a small party of the Forty-third Indiana regiment were doing picket duty in the vicinity of Helena, Arkansas, they were attacked by a gang of rebel guerrillas, killing one and taking several of their number prisoners.

—The British frigate, Racer, by permission of Flag-Officer Green, commanding U. S. blockading squadron off South-Carolina, entered Charleston Harbor, and took away the British Consul. —The Twenty-third Maine and the Fourteenth New-Hampshire regiments, left Boston this morning for New-York, en route for the seat of war.

— A skirmish occurred in the vicinity of Lexington, Kentucky, between a detachment of the Fourth Ohio cavalry, under the command of Captain Robey, and a large force of rebel cavalry under General John H. Morgan, resulting in the capture of the entire National force. The rebels then dashed into Lexington, capturing the provost-guard, and without stopping any length of time, moved off in the direction of Versailles, Kentucky. By this operation General Morgan secured about three hundred and fifty horses, with their equipments, as many prisoners, and the arms and accoutrements of the men. He paroled the prisoners.

—Ten of Porter’s rebel guerrillas, Willis Baker, Thomas Humston, Morgan Bixler, John Y. McPheeters, Herbert Hudson, John M. Wade, Marion Sair, Captain Thomas A. Snider, Eleazer Lake, and Hiram Smith, held as hostages by order of General McNeil, for the safe return of Andrew Allsman, an aged citizen of Palmyra, Mo., who had been carried off by the guerrillas, were publicly shot this day.—(Doc. 10.)

—Nine Union pickets were fired upon and killed by rebel guerrillas at a point on the Mississippi opposite Helena, Ark.—A supply train of seven wagons laden with forage and commissary stores for the use of the reconnoitring force under General Stahel, was captured by a body of rebel cavalry at Haymarket, and taken to Warrenton, Va. A lieutenant and twenty-six Union soldiers were also made prisoners.

—A body of seven hundred rebel cavalry came upon a party of thirty-two Union cavalry under command of Lieutenant Baldwin, at Haymarket, Va., capturing all but nine of them, who made their escape after a severe chase.—(Doc. 37.)

October 17.—A fight took place near Lexington, Kentucky, between a rebel force of about three thousand cavalry and six pieces of artillery, under the command of General John Morgan, and three hundred and fifty Union cavalry, under Major Charles B. Seidel, Third Ohio cavalry, resulting in a retreat of the Nationals with a loss of four killed, twenty-four wounded, and a large number of prisoners.

— To-day a band of rebel guerrillas under Quantrel, entered Shawnee, Kansas, and completely sacked it, burning thirteen houses and killing three men. Six miles south of the town they overtook two teams laden with goods. They killed one of the drivers, dangerously wounded the other, and captured the teams and goods.— Leavenworth Conservative.

—The Common Council of Boston, Massachusetts, having voted to raise the bounty to volunteers to two hundred dollars, drafting in that city ceased.

—A Union force under Acting Master Crocker, of the U. S. steamer Kensington, landed at Sabine City, Texas, attacked and routed a party of rebels five miles from the city, and burned their encampment—(Doc. 7.)

—A skirmish occurred at Thoroughfare Gap between a Union reconnoitring force under General Stahel, and a body of rebel troops, resulting in the retreat of the latter toward Haymarket. A caisson containing ammunition was captured, and about one hundred rebel prisoners were taken.—(Doc. 37.)

— Considerable difficulty was experienced by the officers appointed to complete the enrolment for the draft in Pennsylvania. In the town of Berkley, Luzerne County, the military had to be called out, who fired on the insurgents, killing four or five of their number. The draft was also resisted in Carbondale, Scranton, and other towns in the mining districts. The resistants were mostly Irishmen.

October 16.—The One Hundred and Seventieth regiment New-York volunteers, being the second of the Irish Legion, left Staten Island, New-York, en route for the seat of war.—Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, was to-day authorized by the War Department to permit drafted militia to become volunteers by changing their term of service from nine months to three years.

—The steamer Emilie was boarded by a gang of guerrillas at Portland, Mo., and plundered of all her stores. The passengers were also robbed of their clothing and valuables.— The United States steam sloop-of-war Ticonderoga, was this day successfully launched from the Navy-Yard, Brooklyn, New-York.

—A reconnoissance by part of the army of the Potomac was made from Harper’s Ferry this morning. General Humphrey’s division, supported by that of General Porter, crossed the Potomac River at Blackford’s Ford and advanced on Shepherdstown. He was met by a strong force of the rebels, who opened a heavy fire upon him; and as General Humphrey had no artillery, and the object of the reconnoissance having been accomplished, he withdrew his forces across the river.

The steamer John H. Dickey, plying between St Louis, Mo., and Memphis, Tennessee, was this day attacked by a band of rebel guerrillas, in the vicinity of Pemiscot Bayou, Missouri, but escaped without much injury. No one was killed, and only one person slightly wounded.—The rebel Brigadier-General George B. Anderson, who was wounded at Sharpsburgh, Md., died at Raleigh, North-Carolina.

—A reconnoissance under the command of General Hancock, left Bolivar Heights early this morning and proceeded toward Charlestown, Va. When a mile and a half from the town, the rebels opened fire upon the Union troops from a battery of five pieces, which was responded to by Clark’s and Tompkins’s Rhode Island batteries, for about two hours, when the rebels fell back to the hills beyond the town. The rebels’ guns were well served, but only a few of their shells exploded. The Nationals had one man killed and eight wounded; the rebels had nine men wounded and taken prisoners, among whom was Captain Smith, of the Richmond artillery.—The National troops entered Charlestown and occupied it.

—The draft commenced in every county of the State of Pennsylvania, except that of Philadelphia, without any undue excitement.

October 15.—Governor Vance, of North-Carolina, issued an appeal to the people of that State, in which he said, that, “after the most strenuous exertions on the part of its officers, the State finds it impossible to clothe and shoe our soldiers without again appealing to that overflowing fountain of generosity—the private contributions of our people,” and asking that all possible contributions be made. “A great lot of blankets, also, might yet be spared from private use, and thousands could be made from the carpets on our parlor floors.”—(Doc. 8.)

—The bark Lamplighter, of Boston, Captain Harding, from New-York to Gibraltar, was this day captured in latitude 41° 30′, longitude 59° 17′, by the rebel privateer Alabama, and burned.

—The Right Reverend John H. Hopkins, Episcopal Bishop of Vermont, addressed a letter to the House of Bishops, assembled in General Convention at New-York, protesting against the political aspect of the Pastoral Letter adopted by that body.—See Supplement.

—The Bridgeport (Second Connecticut) battery, one hundred and sixty-five men, under the command of Captain John W. Sterling, arrived at New-York en route for the seat of war. Of the one hundred and sixty-five men comprised in this corps, one hundred and thirty-seven are from amongst the most active business men of Bridgeport— General McClellan made a preliminary report of the military operations under his charge since the evacuation of Harrison’s Landing, Va, — (Doc. 2.)

— Drafting in Boston commenced to-day, under the supervision of Judge Russell, Commissioner, aided by Sheriff Clark, and Dr. N. W. Shurtleff, who was blindfolded and drew the names from a box.—At Baltimore, Maryland, the draft was also made, only forty men being required to fill the quota of that city.—A force of rebel troops under the command of Colonels Anderson, Johnson, and Martin, captured the steamer Hazel Dell at Caseyville, Kentucky.

—An expedition of armed boats from the blockading fleet at Apalachicola, Florida, proceeded up the Apalachicola River, and, after a sharp contest with a rebel force, drove them back and captured a schooner laden with cotton preparatory to running the blockade. Upon returning, the expedition was fired upon by a party of rebels at Apalachicola, when the town was shelled and set on fire.—(Doc. 86.)

—A skirmish took place in the vicinity of Carsville, Virginia, between a company of the Seventh Pennsylvania cavalry, under the command of Lieutenant Williams, and a force of rebels in ambush, resulting in the killing and wounding of several of the Nationals.—Acting Master Frederick Crocker, of the United States steamer Kensington, made an expedition from Sabine Pass, Texas, up the river, and destroyed the large railroad bridge at Taylor’s Bayou, put to flight a body of rebels, and burned their encampment and two rebel schooners.—(Doc. 7.)

October 14. — The London propeller, Ouachita, was this day captured in the Gulf Stream, opposite Frying Pan Shoals, by the United States gunboat Memphis, Commander Watmaugh.

—A skirmish occurred at Stanford, Kentucky, between the advance forces of the Union army under General Buell, and the rear-guard of the rebel army under General Bragg, resulting in the retreat of the rebels, fourteen of whom were taken prisoners, a number of horses and guns captured, and a lieutenant-colonel killed.—Stanford was occupied by Union forces.