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

October 25.—Colliersville, Tenn., was again attacked by the rebels, who were repulsed and driven off.—One hundred and fifty armed guerrillas crossed White River, Ark., going north to operate against steamers at Council Bend.—The battle of Pine Bluff, Ark., was fought this day. —(Doc. 207.)

October 23.—A supply train which left Nashville, Tenn., this morning, under a guard of thirty men belonging to the Seventieth Indiana regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Campbell, was thrown from the track, at a point five miles below Tullahoma, the rails having been removed by a band of rebels. The members of the train had but a moment’s time to reflect upon the state of things, when the rebels charged upon hem with a terrific fire. The assault was bravely met by the guard, and the assailants were compelled to retire in confusion after an engagement of fifteen minutes.—Dr. D. W. Wright, of Norfolk, Va., was executed this morning for the murder of Lieutenant Sanborn.

October 22. — Colonel Gregg, commanding the Second brigade of Gregg’s division, sent out the Second Pennsylvania cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Brinton, from the vicinity of Fayetteville, Va., to establish the picket-line from Freeman’s to Kelly’s Ford, the former some miles above and the latter some miles below Rappahannock Station. At Liberty (a few miles from Bealton, on the road between that place and Sulphur Springs) they met the enemy’s pickets, and the First Maine cavalry being sent to their support, drove them in and followed them up rapidly along the road leading to the different fords. The party which took the direction of Rappahannock Crossing turned and made a stand when approaching their infantry supports, and for some time the fighting was quite brisk. In this encounter the Second regiment lost six men wounded, among them Major Taggart, who was struck while gallantly leading a charge on the enemy’s line.

October 21.—This morning the United States steamer Nansemond, Lieutenant R. H. Lamson, commanding, captured and destroyed the rebel steamer Venus, from Nassau to Wilmington, with a cargo of lead, drugs, clothing, coffee, and bacon for the rebels. The Venus was one of the very finest and fastest steamers engaged in running the blockade. She was two hundred and seventy feet long, one thousand tons burthen, and had the finest engines of any steamer in this trade, and could run sixteen knots per hour. The Nansemond fired one shell through her foremast, another burst in the centre, a third passed through forward, killing one man, (this is the first man killed running the blockade,) and a fourth struck under the guard, near the waterline, knocking in an iron plate, which forced her to run ashore to keep from sinking. She was boarded so quickly that her captain, officers, and most of her crew were captured. As she could not be got off, she was entirely destroyed, under a heavy fire from the rebel batteries ashore.— (Doc. 204.)

—Warrenton, Va., was entered and occcupied by the National cavalry.—An engagement took place at Cherokee Station, Alabama, between the National forces under General Osterhaus, who was moving eastward from Corinth, and the rebels under Generals S. D. Lee, Roddy, and Richardson, numbering over four thousand. The fight lasted an hour, when the rebels were driven back with severe loss.—(Doc. 205.)

—Opelousas, La., was entered by General Franklin’s column of General Banks’s army at noon to-day. The rebels made a stand at a point about five miles in front of the town, with a body of troops composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, but they were quickly driven from the field. At Vermillion Bayou, where the rebels held a strong position, an engagement might have been expected; but the threats made on their rear by General Dana’s forces compelled the rebel commander to divide his troops, and so weakened the force on the bayou, that it was easily turned.

October 20.—Colonel Spencer’s expedition into Alabama, which left Corinth, Miss., yesterday, returned to-day on account of high water from heavy rains in the mountains. It penetrated to within fifteen miles of Jasper, over one hundred and fifty from Corinth. The whole cavalry force of Tuscumbia Valley was concentrating to cut him off. While endeavoring to press his command, which was about five hundred strong, between them, Colonel Spencer encountered a force of from one thousand to one thousand three hundred, under General Ferguson, in the south-east corner of Tishomingo County, Mississippi, and was quite roughly handled. Colonel Spencer formed a square of three lines of battle. As one position after another was outflanked, and the regiment becoming disordered and surrounded, he led it into the woods, where the rebels were held in check until night, when it broke up into squads, the men being all intimately acquainted with the country, and coming out the best way they could.

Captains Chanler, Pulo, and Stemberg, of Joliet, Ill, were killed; also, Lieutenant Perry, of company I, First Alabama cavalry. Lieutenant Swift, of Ottawa, was mortally wounded, and about ten privates were killed.

The rebel loss was more severe, as they rushed in large numbers upon the Nationals, who were under cover.

—The Union forces under Colonel Wolford, were captured at Philadelphia, Tenn.—(Doc. 203.)

October 19.—The grand-jury of Twiggs County, Georgia, Supreme Court, requested the Court to order a record, called the “Black Roll,” in which the names of all who refuse to take confederate bills, bonds or notes in payment for any debt shall be recorded on this recommendation, and that of each succeeding grand-jury, that the names of such malcontents may be officially handed down to posterity, and their ultimate reward insured.—Major-general W. S. Rosecrans relinquished the command of the Department of the Cumberland, and issued a farewell address to his “brothers in arms.” General George H. Thomas succeeded to the command.— The result of the draft made in July, was made known by Provost-Marshal Fry.

October 18.—This morning, General Imboden, with a portion of his rebel forces, having surrounded Charlestown, Va., garrisoned by the Ninth regiment of Maryland loyal volunteers, under Colonel Simpson, demanded its surrender. The demand was refused, and soon after another was sent in, informing the Colonel that time would be given to remove the women and children. The rebels then commenced the attack, throwing shells into the town, killing one man and severely wounding the adjutant of the regiment. In a short time the Nationals surrendered and the town was occupied by Imboden’s forces. As soon as information of the capture reached General Sullivan, in command at Harper’s Ferry, he despatched a force under Colonel G. D. Wells, of the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts, who succeeded in routing and driving the rebels from the town, with a loss of thirty killed and wounded, and twenty-one prisoners. The Union loss was ten killed, three wounded, and three hundred and seventy-nine captured.—(Doc. 188.)

—Thirteen officers belonging to General Sedgwick’s corps were captured in detail this afternoon, while strolling in the woods near headquarters, by rebels concealed in the undergrowth.—Jefferson Davis arrived at Selma, Ala., this evening, and was welcomed by the citizens en masse. “An immense crowd gathered in front of the hotel. The President congratulated the people on meeting them under such favorable circumstances, and spoke in glowing terms of the gallantry of Alabamians on every battle-field. He said if the non-conscripts of Alabama would gather their guns and go to the rescue, by guarding Courtland and other points, thereby relieving regular soldiers, who .are now from necessity discharging that sort of duty, such blows would be dealt the enemy as he would find it difficult to recover from. In this way most effective aid could be given the gallant men and officers who are carrying out the plans of the noble Longstreet under the supervision of the heroic Bragg. In this way the President was confident that Rosecrans could be crushed to dust. It was only by force of arms that the Yankees could be brought to reason and their plans for our subjugation defeated. Self-reliance and energy was now our duty. We should not look to Europe for aid, for such is not to be expected now. Our only alternative was to sustain ourselves with renewed energy and determination, and a little more sacrifice upon the part of the people, and the President firmly believed that next spring would see the invader driven from our borders. Then farmers, who are now refugees, could return to their families and pursue their business undisturbed as heretofore. In fact, he believed that the defeat of Rosecrans would practically end the war.”—Mobile Register, October 19.

October 17.—This morning a squad of guerrillas made a descent on the Alexandria Railroad at Acotink, Va., and carried off fifteen men belonging to the One Hundred and Twentieth regiment of New-York, who were posted at that point —A party of the Thirteenth New-York cavalry, stationed at Stuart’s, near Chantilly, Va., were surprised and surrounded by Mosby’s guerrillas, and six were captured. — General Buford’s division of cavalry crossed the Rapid Ann River at Germania Ford on Saturday evening, and, following the river to Hunter’s Ford, surprised the enemy in their fortifications, and captured sixty of them. General Buford occupied these works till Sunday morning, when he received orders to return, and recrossed the Rapid Ann, followed by a large force of Stuart’s cavalry and some mounted infantry, whom he gallantly fought, although greatly outnumbered, as he fell back through Stevensburgh to Brandy Station, where he joined Kilpatrick’s forces. The whole cavalry command then slowly retired across the Rappahannock. This action was one of the most gallant and brilliant in the history of the Union cavalry.—The rebel steamer Scottish Chief, and sloop Kate Dale, were destroyed in Hillsborough River, Fla., by the Union gunboats Tahoma and Adela.—(Doc. 200.)

October 16.—General Bragg, in command of the rebel army of the Tennessee, issued the following General Orders from his headquarters at Missionary Ridge, Ga.:

“In order to augment the strength of the army, and to give to our brave soldiers an opportunity to visit home and provide for their families during the coming winter, the following rule is adopted:

“1. A furlough of not exceeding forty days will be granted to every non-commissioned officer and private who secures a recruit for his company.

“2. The recruit must be received and mustered into service, and be doing duty in the company before the application for furlough is forwarded.

“3. In all applications made in pursuance of section first, the commanding officer of the company will certify that the applicant has obtained an approved recruit who has been mustered into the service, and is present with the company, doing duty.”