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

March 20.—A battle was this day fought at Vaught’s Hill, near Milton, Tenn., between a body of Union troops under the command of Colonel A. S. Hall, of the One Hundred and Fifth Ohio, and the rebel forces under Generals Wheeler and Morgan, terminating, after a well-contested struggle, in the defeat and retreat of the rebels, with a loss of nearly four hundred of their number killed and wounded.—(Doc. 141.)

March 19.—The British steamer Georgianna, with a cargo of medicines, dry goods, and six pieces of field artillery of the Whitworth and Blakely patterns, was disabled and subsequently destroyed by the National blockading fleet off Charleston, S. C.—The Union gunboat Chenango was launched at Greenpoint, N. Y.—A party of soldiers sent to Rush County, Ind., to arrest deserters, succeeded in capturing six, but while on their way to the cars the deserters were rescued by a large party of mounted “Southern sympathizers,” who were armed with rifles. Two companies of infantry were then sent from Indianapolis, and the deserters were again taken into custody.—A skirmish occurred on Duck River, near Franklin, Tenn.—The schooner Fanny Lewis arrived at London, from Wilmington, N. C, having run the blockade with a cargo of cotton and turpentine.—London News.

March 18.—This afternoon Captain Perkins, of the First Louisiana National cavalry, with a party of his men, left Brashear City, La., in order to meet an expedition of rebel cavalry, which had attacked a squad of men belonging to the One Hundred and Sixtieth New-York regiment, at Berwick’s Bay. About half-past three o’clock he fell in with the rebel force, at a point two miles beyond the National lines, and charged them with so much spirit that they turned and fled in confusion. The cavalry continued the chase, and a running fight was kept up for some seven or eight miles, where he found reinforcements for the rebels, in waiting to receive him. Their numbers greatly exceeding his, he gave the order to retreat, but was closely followed by the rebels, who kept up the fight for several miles on the return. In the affair ten of the rebels were killed and twenty wounded, and fourteen horses with all their trappings were captured by the Nationals.—Captain Julien, of the First Tennessee cavalry, was killed by guerrillas, near Hillsborough, Tenn.—Peace resolutions passed the lower house of the New-Jersey Legislature. During the debate on the resolutions James M. Scovel delivered an elaborate Union speech.

—An enthusiastic Union meeting was held at Skowhegan, Maine.

March 17.—A detachment of National troops under the command of Colonel Spear, attacked the rebel breastworks on the Black Water, near Franklin, Va., but without being able to carry them. The fight lasted for more than an hour, in which Colonel Spear had one man killed, and sixteen men wounded.—Baltimore American.

—A spirited cavalry engagement occurred at Kelly’s Ford, on the Rappahannock River, Va., between a strong reconnoitring force of Union troops under the command of Gen. Averill, and a body of rebel cavalry under Gen. Fitz-Hugh Lee, in which the latter, after a most desperate struggle, of four hours’ duration, were repulsed, and finally routed and pursued for a distance of six miles.—(Doc. 139.)

—By order of the War Department, Colonel James B. Fry was detailed as Provost-Marshal General of the United States, in pursuance of section five of the act approved March 3, 1863, for enrolling and calling out the National forces, and for other purposes.—The British steamer Calypso ran the blockade of Charleston, S. C, and arrived at her wharf in that city without receiving any damage from the blockading fleet.— Charleston Courier.

—Rear-admiral Farragut, from the flag-ship Hartford, lying off Natchez, Miss., sent a letter to the Mayor of that city, stating that if the United States boats were fired on by the people of Natchez or by guerrillas, he would bombard the city.—Gold was quoted in Richmond, Va., at four dollars and twenty-five cents premium.

March 16.—A boat laden with about two thousand dollars’ worth of contraband goods was captured while attempting to run the blockade on Elizabeth River, near Norfolk, Va.

—This evening a numerous and enthusiastic meeting was held in the City Hall, at Burlington, N. J., for the purpose of forming a Union League. Addresses were delivered by James W. Scovel and James C. Botts.

March 15. — The schooner Chapman, about leaving San Francisco, Cal., was boarded by officers of the United States government and taken into custody as a privateer. Twenty secessionists, well armed, and six brass Dahlgren guns, with carriages suitable for use on shipboard, were captured. Correspondence found on the persons of the prisoners identified them as in the interest of the rebels.—Eight hundred paroled National prisoners, en route to Chicago, were detained in Richmond, Ind., and while there they completely demolished the office of the Jeffersonnewspaper.

—The British steamer Britannia, from Glasgow, with a valuable cargo, successfully ran the blockade into Wilmington, N. C.

March 14.—Newborn, N. C, garrisoned by the Ninety-second New-York volunteers, under the command of Colonel Anderson, was this day attacked by a large rebel force, under General Pettigrew. After a bombardment of four hours’ duration, a fleet of gunboats appeared opposite the city, and opening on the rebels dispersed them in great haste.—(Doc. 137.)

—Brigadier-general B. S. Roberts, in command of the defences of the Upper Potomac, issued orders regulating the trade between Maryland and Virginia.—The Loyal National League, of New-York City, was inaugurated at the Academy of Music in that city.—New- York Evening Post.

—The rebel batteries at Port Hudson, La., were attacked by the Union fleet, under Admiral Farragut; but, after a terrible bombardment of several hours’ duration, they were compelled to retire without reducing the rebel stronghold.— (Doc. 138.)

—A force of National cavalry, under the command of Colonel Robert IH. G. Minty, returned to Murfreesboro, Tenn., after a successful reconnoissance, of eleven days’ duration, into the surrounding country. They dispersed several squads of guerrillas, captured fifty prisoners, forty mules, thirty tents, a number of wagons, and provisions, and obtained some valuable information concerning the position and strength of the rebel forces.— Louisville Journal.

March 13.—Fort Greenwood, on the Tallahatchie, Miss., was this day, and for the preceding two days, bombarded by the Union gunboats Chillicothe and De Kalb, and also by a land-battery of heavy Parrott guns. The guns of the fort were nearly silenced, but it being unassailable by infantry, the gunboats were compelled to retire without being able to reduce it.—(Doc. 135.)

—The schooner Aldebaran was captured and burned by the rebel privateer Florida.—A Union meeting, under the auspices of the Union League, was held at Newark, N. J.—A slight skirmish took place at Berwick City, La., ending in the dispersion of a party of rebels, who attacked a National water-party from Brashear City.—Early this morning the signal-station at Spanish Wells, S. C, was surprised and burned by a party of rebels. A lieutenant and eight men were made prisoners and carried off.—(Doc. 136.)

March 12.—The expeditionary force under Major-General Gordon Granger, which moved on Monday against Van Dorn’s rebel army, returned to Franklin, Tenn., this afternoon, having driven the enemy beyond Duck River. The infantry went no farther than Rutherford Creek, but the cavalry, under Colonel Minty, of the Fourth brigade, made a thorough reconnoissance of the country beyond the creek to Duck River.

The second day’s march brought the expedition to Rutherford Creek, where, for a time, the rebels promised fight. Their positions were well chosen, their artillery commanding the pike and several crossings. A blinding rain, however, prevented General Granger attempting the passage of the stream, which was flood-high and foaming.

The troops bivouacked for the night, expecting to drive the enemy on the succeeding day. Yesterday came in clear and beautiful, giving the artillerists a fine opportunity for practice, which they improved excellently by numerous shots. Preparations were made for an advance, and the infantry skirmishers were thrown out. The cavalry, under Col. Minty, supported by the Thirty-eighth Illinois infantry, made a crossing two miles up the creek in the face of the enemy who, however, fell quickly back from the National approaches. Soon word came back that the rebels were in rapid retreat, and finally at night the cavalry returned, announcing that all the rebels had fled beyond Duck River, which, of course, determined the return of the expedition.

The different cavalry skirmishes resulted in the loss on the National side of two killed and seven wounded.—Cincinnati Gazette.