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

December 14.—Between two and three o’clock this afternoon, the forces of Longstreet turned upon and attacked the pursuing column of cavalry under General Shackleford. The line of battle was formed at Bean Station, Tenn., on the Cumberland Gap and Morristown road; and a fight ensued which continued until nightfall, when the rebels succeeded in driving the Nationals about half a mile. Colonels Wolford, Graham, Foster, and others were engaged. The musketry fire was very heavy. The whole movement was made with a well-contrived plan to cut off and capture General Shackleford and command; and a heavy force of rebel cavalry moved down the left bank of the Holston River, with the intention of crossing at Kelly’s Ford and coming in his rear. This portion of the programme was checked by General Ferrero, who sent the brigade of General Humphrey to hold the ford. The rebels fired across the river with artillery upon the brigade, but with little effect—(Doc. 36.)

—The United States bark Roebuck captured a small sloop-boat called the Gopher, containing two men, sixteen bags of salt, and one box of notions, off Indian River, Florida.—Governor Thomas E. Bramlette, of Kentucky, addressed a letter to Captain Edward Cahill, recruiting colored troops, questioning his right to recruit in that State.—Colonel Watkins, commanding the Kentucky brigade, returned to Chattanooga, Tenn., from a cavalry reconnoissance as far as La Fayette. He captured a rebel signal station, and six officers and forty privates. The rest of the large force of rebels fled.

—As expedition sent out by General Wistar fromYorktown to Charles City Court-House, Va., under the command of Colonel R. M. West, returned to Williamsburgh, Va., having been successful in the accomplishment of its object.— (Doc. 26.)

December 13.—Major-General Grant, from his headquarters at Chattanooga, Tenn., issued general orders concerning the property of secessionists in his department. Corps commanders were directed to immediately seize, or cause to be seized, all county records and documents showing titles and claims to property within the revolted States, in their respective districts, and to hold the same until they could be delivered to an authorized tax commissioner of the United States.

December 12. — General Scammon attacked General Echols at Lewisburgh, Va., routing him effectually, killing and wounding quite a number of the rebels, and capturing many prisoners. General Kelley’s Despatch.

December 11.—The annual report of the rebel Secretary of War was made public. He refers to the operations of the army in its several departments, and says that the campaign in Mississippi was certainly disastrous. It is difficult to resist the impression that its disasters were not inevitable. That a court of inquiry, to investigate the whole campaign, met in Atlanta in September, but in consequence of the vicinity of the enemy, requiring the presence of witnesses and judges at other points, it has been temporarily suspended. It is expected soon to reassemble. A deficiency of resource in men and provisions, rather than reverses in battle, caused the withdrawal of the army to Middle Tennessee. He alludes to desertion, straggling, and absenteeism, and says that the effective force of the army is but little over half or two thirds of the men whose names are on the muster-rolls. He recommends the repeal of the substitute and exemption provisions, and that all having substitutes be put back into the field, and that the privileges which Congress granted to put in substitutes can be regularly and constitutionally abrogated by the same power. He says that no compact was entered into between the government and the person furnishing a substitute, as has been alleged, but only a privilege which government accorded. Instead of complaining of such abrogation, the person ought to feel gratified at what has heretofore been allowed him. He recommends an abridgment of exemptions and the conscription of them all, making details according to the wants of society at home. He says that the three years’ men, when their terms expire, cannot be finally discharged, and should be retained, allowing them to choose the existing company under its present organization in the same arm of the service. He recommends the consolidation of such companies and regiments as are reduced below a certain complement. He pays a glowing tribute to the heroism, endurance, and unfaltering devotion of the soldier, and of the lamented dead who yielded their lives as sacrifices upon the altar of liberty, and closes by saying that our very reverses, showing a united and determined endurance of every thing for independence, must convince the enemy of the futility of his efforts to subdue us.—Richmond Examiner.

—The steamboat Brazil, while passing below Rodney, Miss., was fired upon by rebels onshore. Three women and one man were killed.

—Robert Ould, the rebel Commissioner of Exchange, addressed the following official letter to Brigadier-General Meredith, the agent of the National Government: “As the assent of the confederate government to the transmission, by your authorities and people, of food and clothing to the prisoners at Richmond and elsewhere, has been the subject of so much misconstruction and misrepresentation, and has been made the occasion of so much vilification and abuse, I am directed to inform you that no more will be allowed to be delivered at City Point. The clothing and provisions already received will be devoted to the use of your prisoners. When that supply is exhausted, they will receive the same rations as our soldiers in the field.”

—Major-General Burnside, in obedience to orders from the War Department, resigned the command of the army of the Ohio to Major-General John G. Foster.—The rebel government saltworks on West-Bay, Florida, were destroyed by an expedition from the United States armed vessels Restless and Bloomer. The government works were three quarters of a mile square, and one hundred and ninety-nine salt-works belonging to companies and private individuals, with five hundred and seven boilers, kettles, etc., the whole worth three millions of dollars.

December 10.—Major-General Grant, from his headquarters at Chattanooga, Tenn., issued the following congratulatory order to his army: “The General commanding takes this opportunity of returning his sincere thanks and congratulations to the brave armies of the Cumberland, the Ohio, the Tennessee, and their comrades from the Potomac, for the recent splendid and decisive successes achieved over the enemy. In a short time you have recovered from him the control of the Tennessee River from Bridgeport to Knoxville. You dislodged him from his great stronghold upon Lookout Mountain, drove him from Chattanooga Valley, wrested from his determined grasp the possession of Missionary Ridge, repelled with heavy loss to him his repeated assaults upon Knoxville, forcing him to raise the siege there, driving him at all points, utterly routed and discomfited, beyond the limits of the State. By your noble heroism and determined courage, you have most effectually defeated the plans of the enemy for regaining the possession of the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. You have secured positions from which no rebellious power can drive or dislodge you. For all this the General commanding thanks you collectively and individually. The loyal people of the United States thank and bless you. Their hopes and prayers for your success against this unholy rebellion are with you daily. Their faith in you will not be in vain. Their hopes will not be blasted. Their prayers to Almighty God will be answered. You will yet go to other fields of strife; and with the invincible bravery and unflinching loyalty to justice and right, which have characterized you in the past, you will prove that no enemy can withstand you, and that no defences, however formidable, can check your onward march.”

—Genebal Gilmore again shelled Charleston, S. C, throwing a number of missiles into different parts of the city. The rebel batteries opened fire, and a heavy bombardment ensued for several hours.—The steamers Ticonderoga, Ella, and Annie, left Boston, Mass., in pursuit of the Chesapeake.—The new volunteer fund of New-York City reached seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

December 9.—President Lincoln granted a pardon exempting E. W. Gantt, of Arkansas, from the penalty of treason, which he incurred by accepting and exercising the office of Brigadier-General in the service of the rebels. The pardon also reinstated General Gantt in all his rights of property, excepting those relating to slaves.—The Marine Brigade, under the Command of General Ellet, and a portion of Colonel Grcsham’s command, returned to Natchez from an unsuccessful expedition after the rebels under Wirt Adams, who had mounted a battery on Ellis’s Cliff.—The English steamer Minna, while attempting to evade the blockade of Charleston, S. C, was captured by the United States gunboat Circassian.

December 8. — A brisk cannonade between Fort Moultrie and Battery Gregg, in Charleston harbor, was carried on this day. The firing on Fort Sumter was moderated.—In a speech before the rebel Congress, this day, Mr. Foote expressed great indignation at the course pursued by President Davis. “When Pemberton dishonorably surrendered Vicksburgh to the enemy, the President made him his companion, and carried him to General Bragg’s army, when, as he rode along, soldiers were heard to say: ‘There goes the traitor who delivered us over at Vicksburgh.’ The President never visited the army without doing it injury; never yet that it was not followed by disaster. He was instrumental in the Gettysburgh affair. He instructed Bragg at Murfreesboro. He has opened Georgia to one hundred thousand of the enemy’s troops, and laid South-Carolina liable to destruction. I charge him with having almost ruined the country, and will meet his champion anywhere to discuss it. Would to God he would never visit the army again!” . . .

Mr. Foote also referred to abuses in the commissory department. A certain commissary-general, who was a curse to our country, is invested with authority to control the matter of subsistence. This monster, Northrop, has stealthily placed our government in the attitude charged by the enemy, and has attempted to starve the prisoners in our hands!

Meats were furnished the prisoners very irregularly, and in a meagre manner. For twelve days the supply was inadequate, and for eight days they had none at all!

“The commissary-general,” says Mr. Foote, “was a pepper-doctor down in Charleston, and looked like a vegetarian, and actually made an elaborate report to the Secretary of War, showing that for the subsistence of a human Yankee carcass vegetable diet was the most proper! For the honor of the country, this Northrop should be ejected at once.”

—President Lincoln, in his Message to Congress, appended his Proclamation of Amnesty.— (Doc. 32.)

—The following is an account of an affair that took place to-day, near Great Western Furnace, Stuart County, Tenn., about twelve miles from Canton, Ky.: “The guerrilla, Colonel Martin, who lately robbed the citizens in that section of nearly all they possessed, passed through Golden Pond, Tenn., with his gang, taking horses, and plundering indiscriminately. The citizens of the neighborhood organized a squad of fifteen men, composed principally of the late Eighth Kentucky cavalry, headed by John Martin and F. M. Oakley, and started in pursuit of the guerrillas. They came upon them about midnight, in camp, eating a supper furnished them by one Dawsy Griffin. The citizens demanded a surrender, which was refused by the rebel leader, and the order was given by Martin to charge upon them, which was done in a handsome manner, resulting in a complete rout, and the capture of all their arms, horses, clothing, camp equipage, and two contrabands. Three of the rebels were killed on the spot”—The National House of Representatives unanimously passed a vote of thanks to General U. S. Grant and his army, and ordered that a medal be struck in his honor, in the name of the people of the United States.

—President Lincoln sent the subjoined congratulatory despatch to Major-General Grant: “Understanding that your lodgment at Chattanooga and Knoxville is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your command, my more than thanks—my profoundest gratitude for the skill, courage, and perseverance with which you and they, over so great difficulties, have effected that important object. God bless you all!” This was immediately published to the armies under the command of General Grant.

December 7.—Major-General Foster, from his headquarters at Tazewell, Tenn., sent the following to the National War Department: “Longstreet is on a full retreat up the valley. Your orders about following with cavalry, shall be carried out. My division of cavalry attacked the enemy’s cavalry in one of the passes of Clinch Mountains, yesterday P.M., and are pushing them vigorously. Couriers from Knoxville arrived last night. The road is clear. Sherman arrived here yesterday.”

—President Lincoln issued the following recommendation for prayer and thanksgiving, for the defeat of the rebels under General Longstreet: “Reliable information having been received that the insurgent force is retreating from East-Tennessee, under circumstances rendering it probable that the Union forces cannot hereafter be dislodged from that important position, and esteeming this to be of high national consequence, I recommend that all loyal people do, on receipt of this information, assemble at their places of worship, and render special homage and gratitude to Almighty God for this great advancement of the national cause.”—A debate on the question of the employment of substitutes in the Southern army was held in the rebel Congress.—The steamer Von Phul, on a trip from New-Orleans to St Louis, was fired into at a point about eight miles above Bayou Sara, and seriously damaged. — Major-General John A. Logan assumed command of the Fifteenth army corps, at Bridgeport, Ala.—The British steamer Ceres was captured off the port of Wilmington, North-Carolina.

—Full and enthusiastic meetings were held in various portions of Indiana. At the capital of the State, General Carrington made a strategical speech, illustrated by maps and diagrams, showing how the rebels could be circumvented.—Jefferson Davis sent a message to the rebel Congress, which was received and read in both houses.—(Doc. 21.)

December 6.—Major-General W. T. Sherman and staff, accompanied by Brigadier-General Wilson, arrived at General Burnside’s headquarters, at Knoxville, Tenn., at noon to-day.—A most successful reconnoissance was made to Madison Court-House, Va., by four squadrons of the First New-York Dragoons, under Major Scott, demonstrating that no rebel force existed in that quarter. At James City a few rebels, who fled on the approach of the Nationals, were seen. On Thoroughfare Mountain, the rebel signal-station was found in the possession of some thirty or more cavalry, who at once beat a hasty retreat. They were pursued some distance by Major Scott’s men, but without capture. It was found to be a good position for its past uses, as well as in turn to be used against them, as from it the position of nearly the whole rebel army can be seen. The destruction was made as complete as possible.—The National iron-clad Weehawken, during a terrific storm, sunk at her anchorage at the entrance of Charleston harbor, S. C, carrying down with her four engineers and twenty-six of her crew.—The merchant steamer Chesapeake, commanded by Captain Willets, was seized by a party of rebels, who had taken passage in her, while on her way from New-York to Portland, Maine. The pirates assaulted the crew, killed the engineer, and wounded two other officers, and, after landing the passengers at Partridge Island, ran away with the vessel.