The Rebellion Record—A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore

January 27.—A party of rebel guerrillas made an attack on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad at Cameron, and after firing upon a train, fled. They were pursued by a squad of cavalry under the command of Lieutenant Jackson, and one of their number captured.—The National cavalry under General Sturgis achieved a victory over the enemy’s cavalry near Fair Gardens, about ten miles cast of Sevierville, Tenn. General McCook’s division drove the enemy back about two miles, after a stubborn fight, lasting from daylight to four P.M., at which time the division charged with the sabre and a yell, and routed the enemy from the field, capturing two steel rifled guns and over one hundred prisoners. The enemy’s loss was considerable, sixty-five of them being killed or wounded in the charge. Generals Garrard and Wolford’s divisions came up, after a forced march, in time to be pushed in pursuit, although their horses were jaded.—Gen. Rawlins’s Report.

—General Palmer, with General Davis’s division, moved toward Tunnel Hill, Georgia, on a reconnoissance. The Twenty-eighth Kentucky and the Fourth Michigan drove in the rebel advance pickets and captured a company of rebel cavalry. The rebels retreated from Tunnel Hill during the night. They lost thirty-two killed and wounded. The Union casualties were two wounded. The object of the reconnoissance was effected.

—The following report was sent by General Thomas, from his headquarters at Chattanooga, to the National war department: “Colonel Boone, with a force of four hundred and fifty men, Twenty-eighth Kentucky mounted infantry, and Fourth Michigan cavalry, left Rossville January twenty-first, moved through McLamore’s caves, crossed Lookout Mountain into Brownton Valley; thence across Taylor’s Ridge to eight miles beyond Deertown, toward Ashton, attacked camp of home guards, Colonel Culbertson, commanding, routed them, destroying camp, considerable number of arms, and other property, and retired to camp without any casualties in his force. Friday, twenty-second January, sent flag of truce under Colonel Burke, with Ohio infantry, with rebel surgeons and a proposition to exchange our wounded at Atlanta for rebel wounded here.

“A despatch from Colonel H. B. Miller, Seventy second Indiana, commanding division, Bluewater, twenty-sixth, via Pulaski, twenty-seventh, says Johnston’s brigade of Roddy’s command crossed Tennessee River at Bainbridge, three miles, and Newport ferry, six miles below Florence, intending to make a junction with a brigade of infantry who were expected to cross the river at Laub’s and Brown’s ferry, thence proceed to Athens and capture our forces; then we engaged them near Florence; routed them, killing fifteen, wounding quite a number, and taking them prisoners, among them three commissioned officers. Our loss, ten wounded.”

—Lieutenant A. L. Cady, of the Twenty-fourth New-York battery, proceeded with his command to Tyrrel County, North-Carolina, and captured five men who had been engaged in a number of robberies and murders; also, two rebel officers, and returned to headquarters with one thousand sheep.

—A party of rebel cavalry made a dash on the lines of Colonel Chapin’s brigade, on guard-duty five miles above Knoxville, Tenn., on the Scott’s Mill road. Their pickets being captured, the camps of the Thirteenth Kentucky and Twenty-third Michigan were completely surprised, and five men of the former and seven of the latter were taken prisoners, one being mortally wounded. Immediately on being advised of the attack on these two regiments, Colonel Chapin sent the One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio and One Hundred and Seventh Illinois to their relief, and the rebels were put to flight, leaving in their track a number of blankets and small-arms.

—Brigadier-General Carter, Provost-Marshal General at Knoxville, Tenn., sent the following letter to Rev. W. A. Harrison: “On account of your persistent disloyalty to the Government of the United States, it has been decided to send you and your family South, within the rebel lines.

You are hereby notified to be at the railroad depot in time for the morning train, on Saturday next, with all your family, prepared to leave permanently. As baggage, you will be permitted to take your wearing apparel and the necessary blankets. You can also take three or four days’ provisions with you.”—The steamer Freestone, while at Carson’s Landing, on the Mississippi, fifteen miles above the White River, was attacked by guerrillas, who were driven off without inflicting any serious damage on the boat.

—In the rebel Congress, Mr. Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported back the following joint resolutions of thanks to General Beauregard and the officers and men of his command, which were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the thanks of Congress are eminently due, and are hereby cordially tendered, to General G. T. Beauregard and the officers and men of his command, for their gallantry and successful defence of the city of Charleston, S. C.—a defence which, for the skill, heroism, and tenacity displayed by the defenders during an attack scarcely paralleled in warfare, whether we consider the persistent efforts of the enemy, or his boundless resources in the most improved and formidable artillery and the most powerful engines of war hitherto known, is justly entitled to be pronounced “glorious” by impartial history and an admiring country.

Resolved, That the President be requested to communicate the foregoing resolutions to General Beauregard and the officers and men of his command.

January 26.—General Palmer sent an expedition to capture a force of rebel cavalry in Jones and Onslow counties, North-Carolina. They succeeded in routing the enemy, and captured twenty-three men with their horses and equipments. They also destroyed from one hundred and fifty thousand to two hundred thousand pounds of pork, seventy bushels of salt, ten thousand barrels of tobacco, thirty-two barrels of beef, and captured a number of mules, horses, and other material.—Gen. Butler’s Despatch.

—Fourteen men belonging to the Eightieth Indiana regiment, were captured, and two wounded, by a squad of rebel cavalry, within seven miles of Knoxville, Tenn., on the Tazewell road. The men were on a foraging expedition, and were picked up before they had any chance of offering much resistance.

January 25.—A body of rebels six hundred strong, attacked the National garrison of about one hundred, at Athens, Alabama, but were repulsed and routed after a fight of two hours. The Union loss was twenty; rebel loss more severe.—Gen. Rawlins’s Despatch,

—Brigadier-General Graham, by direction of Major-General Butler, went with three armed transports and a competent force, to the Peninsula, made a landing on the James River, seven miles below Fort Powhatan — known as the Brandon Farms, and captured twenty-two of the enemy, seven of the signal corps, and brought away ninety-nine negroes.

They also destroyed twenty-four thousand pounds of pork and large quantities of oats and corn, and captured a sloop and schooner, and two hundred and forty boxes of tobacco, and five Jews preparing to run the blockade, and returned without the loss of a man.—Gen. Butler’s Despatch.—(Doc. 57.)

—Corinth, Miss., was evacuated by the National forces, and every thing of value in that section was transported to Memphis, Tenn.—The bombardment of Charleston, South-Carolina, continued. The Courier, published in that city, said: “This is the one hundred and ninety-fourth day of the siege. The damage being done is extraordinarily small in comparison with the number of shots and weight of metal fired, and that creates general astonishment The whizzing of shells overhead has become a matter of so little interest as to excite scarcely any attention from passers-by. We have heard of no casualties. Some of the shells have exploded, and pieces of the contents been picked up, which, on examination, have been found to be a number of small square slugs, held together by a composition of sulphur, and designed to scatter at the time of explosion.”

—The following special order was issued by General Butler, at Fortress Monroe: “That Mrs. Jennie Graves, of Norfolk, having a husband in the rebel States, and having taken the oath of allegiance on the second instant, as she says, to save her property; and also having declared her sympathies are with the South still, and that she hopes they will be successful, be sent through the lines and landed at City Point, so that she may be where her hopes and sympathies are.” —Major Burroughs, the guerrilla chief, was shot by the guard at Fortress Monroe, Va., while attempting to escape from the pest-house where he was under treatment for the small-pox.— Hospital buildings at Camp Winder, near Richmond, Va., were destroyed by fire.

January 24.—A cavalry detachment from Fort Smith made successful scout into Polk County, Arkansas. They passed through Caddo Gap and found the notorious Captain Williamson, with forty men, posted within log houses. The advance, under Lieutenant Williams, charged into the village and attacked the rebels, killing Williamson and five of his men, wounding two, and taking two lieutenants and twenty-five men prisoners.

The Union loss was one killed; Lieutenant Williams and a private were slightly wounded. All the arms in the place were destroyed. The distance travelled was one hundred and seventy-two miles.

January 23.—The Nashville Union of this date contained the following: “Indications that the next battle will occur in the vicinity of Knoxville accumulate. We yesterday conversed with several well-informed parties—two of them East-Tennessee refugees—and all the witnesses concur in the statement that every train from North-Virginia comes loaded with troops from Lee’s army; and that these legions are immediately added to the force now under Longstreet. It is even believed by many that Lee himself, feeling the absolute necessity for the reoccupation of East-Tennessee, will leave his old command—or what will remain of it—and take charge of the campaign in the region of Knoxville. He and Jeff. Davis argue this way: If Tennessee is not repossessed, Richmond must be abandoned; if in reinforcing Longstreet’s army the capital is lost, it must be regained, provided the assault on Grant is successful; and there is a chance that Meade, like some of his predecessors, may remain inactive, with but a small force confronting him, and in that event Knoxville maybe retaken and Richmond saved.

“We only hope the rebels will make an early attack on Foster’s command. Nothing would be more gratifying to those who understand the disposition and strength of our forces. Offensive operations on the part of Longstreet would insure the defeat and dispersion of his army, though all Lee’s forces were with him. Upon this subject we speak from a thorough knowledge of the situation; and dared we publish the facts, the public would feel as much assured on that point as we do.

“General Grant left for the front night before last, and will be ready to personally superintend operations when commenced.”

—A small detachment of National cavalry belonging to the forces in pursuit of General Longstreet, made a dash into Cocke County, Tenn., capturing twenty-seven wagons loaded with bacon and flour, and eighty-five prisoners. They reported that Longstreet was stripping the country of provisions and compelling Union families to leave.—A very exciting debate occurred in the rebel Congress upon the act to increase the efficiency of the rebel army, by the employment of free negroes and slaves in certain capacities.

—Restrictions upon trade with Missouri and Kentucky, with some exceptions, were annulled and abrogated by the Secretary of the Treasury.

—General Wirt Adams, in command of a party of rebel cavalry, entered Gelsertown, near Natchez, Miss., and captured thirty-five prisoners, sixty wagons and teams, a lot of cotton going to Natchez, and about eighty negroes.— Richmond Enquirer.

January 22.—Skirmishing took place at Armstrong’s Ferry, a point six miles above Knoxville, Tenn.—Captain George P. Edgar was ordered to the headquarters of Major-General Butler to investigate into the condition of the poor of Norfolk, Va., and to organize a system for their relief.

January 21.—The advance of the cavalry belonging to the National forces, in their retreat from Strawberry Plains, Tenn., reached Sevierville. Skirmishing was kept up all day between the National troops on one side of the Holston River, and the enemy on the other. The latter had a battery on College Hill, near Strawberry Plains, from which he played on the Nationals, while crossing the river. Comparatively little damage was done, the Union loss being not over a half-dozen wounded.—The shelling of Charleston from Fort Putnam continued night and day, at intervals of ten minutes. One gun alone has fired over one thousand one hundred rounds, at an elevation of forty degrees.—On account of the scarcity of grain in the department of the Ohio, and the factitious value given to it by the manufacture of whiskey, the distillation of that commodity was forbidden by Major-General Foster.— Rear-Admiral Farragut, accompanied by his staff, arrived at New-Orleans.

January 20.—Correspondence showing the operations of Southern agents and individuals at the North, in the cotton trade, and making other revelations, were made public.—Major Henry H. Cole and the Maryland cavalry under his command, were officially praised for their gallantry in repelling the assault made upon his camp on Loudon Heights, on the tenth instant, by the rebel partisan, Mosby.—General Halleck’s Letter.

—A squad of men sent from Charleston, Mo., in pursuit of a band of guerrillas, killed the leader of the band and wounded two or three others. The remainder escaped to the swamp. Five prisoners were carried in, charged with harboring guerrillas.—Thirty-two guerrillas were captured near Paris, Ky., and taken to Columbus.

January 18.—At Flint Hill, Va., a party of fifteen rebels attacked the National pickets, but were driven off after a brief engagement.—The rebel conscription law created great consternation and excitement in the western districts of North-Carolina, and public meetings were held to take into consideration a repudiation of the confederate government and a return to the Union. The Raleigh Standard openly defied the execution of the measures proposed, and said, if they prevail, “the people of North-Carolina will take their own affairs into their own hands, and will proceed, in Convention assembled, to vindicate their liberties and privileges.”—In the rebel Senate at Richmond, Va., a resolution was passed approving the action of the government with regard to the outlawry of General Butler, and the determination of the rebel authorities to hold no communication with him.— A party of rebel guerrillas made their appearance on the bank of the river opposite Memphis, Tenn., but were driven off by a gunboat, without effecting any damage. — Lieutenant-Colonel Fuller, of the Third Arkansas cavalry, received the following from the major of his regiment, at Lewisburgh:

“Captain Hamilton has had a fight with a portion of Wells’s command, and killed six, and wounded as many more. Hamilton lost six, and but one or two killed; the balance missing. The command opposing him were under Captain Thompson, numbering nearly one hundred. Hamilton killed Thompson, and brought his horse, equipments, revolvers, and papers in with him. The rebels were dressed in Federal uniforms. Hamilton is here with me.”—Newmarket, Tenn., was occupied by the rebels belonging to the forces under the command of General Longstreet.—The rebel blockade-runner, A. D. Vance, was run ashore, under the guns of Fort Caswell, in attempting to enter the port of Wilmington, N. C.—The steamer Laura, blockade-runner, was captured in St. Mark’s Bay, Florida, by the United States steamer Stars and Stripes.