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

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.

October 13.—A successful reconnoissance was this day made by a force of Union troops under the command of General Stabel, in the vicinity of Paris, Snicker’s Gap, and Leesburgh, Virginia. More than one hundred prisoners were taken and paroled; important information was obtained, and the command returned to its headquarters at Centreville, without losing a man.—New-York Times, October 16.

—The Sixth regiment Missouri State militia, under command of Colonel Catherwood, returned to camp at Sedalia, Missouri, after a successful scouting expedition, in which they broke up and dispersed several bands of rebel guerrillas, killing about fifty of their number. They took prisoner Colonel William H. McCoun, of the rebel army.

—The expedition to Jacksonville, Florida, this day returned to Hilton Head, South-Carolina, when General J. M. Brannan made a report to the Secretary of the Navy, announcing the complete success of the expedition—the capture of the rebel fortification at St. John’s Bluff, with guns and ammunition, and a rebel steamer.— (Doc. 6.)

—The rebel Congress in session at Richmond passed an act authorizing Jefferson Davis to suspend the writ of habeas corpus in certain cases. —The rebel House of Representatives passed a bill making it a death-penalty for Union soldiers to have in their possession, or for endeavoring to pass counterfeit rebel Treasury notes. — The rebel Congress adjourned sine die.

—The ship Tonawanda, from Philadelphia for Liverpool, captured by the rebel steamer Alabama on the ninth, was to-day released and again set sail on her voyage, there being no manner of providing for the considerable number of women and children captured on board of her.

October 12.—This day, the rebel General Stuart’s cavalry, which had passed around the Union army of General McClellan, made good its escape across the Potomac at White’s Ford, near the mouth of the Monocacy River. During the day, General Pleasanton, with five hundred cavalry, harassed the rebel rear, and engaged them in a sharp skirmish, but with no material loss on either side.—(Doc. 5.)

—Considerable excitement was created in Gainsville, Texas, by the discovery of a secret organization of Unionists, whose object was said to be that of killing the secessionists, after which, they were to remove to Missouri, taking with them whatever property they could carry, and burn the remainder. The militia were called out, and arrested twenty-nine persons supposed to belong to the organization, two of whom were immediately hanged.—Houston News.

October 11.—A sharp fight took place a few miles from Helena, Arkansas, between a detachment of the Fourth Iowa cavalry, under the command of Major Rector, and a superior force of Texan Rangers, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Giddings, resulting in a rout of the latter, nine of their number, including Lieutenant-Colonel Giddings, being captured. The Unionists had three men killed and nine wounded.—Cincinnati Gazette.

—The ship Manchester, from New-York to Liverpool, laden with grain and cotton, was captured by the rebel steamer Alabama, in lat. 41° 25′, lon. 55° 50′, when her officers and crew were taken off, with such stores as were wanted, and she was burned.—The One Hundred and Fiftieth regiment New-York volunteers, under command of Colonel John H. Ketcham, left Poughkeepsie this day for Washington.

—A force of three hundred Union cavalry, under the command of Colonel McReynolds, made a descent on the rebel Colonel Imboden’s camp, at Cacapon Bridge, about seventeen miles from Winchester, Virginia, and captured a major, lieutenant, twenty-five privates, a large number of horses and mules, one thousand blankets, a quantity of ammunition, brass cannon, wagons, firearms, clothing, and Colonel Imboden’s private papers.—Cumberland (Md.) Union.

—The rebel gunboat Palmetto State, built at Charleston, mainly through the efforts and offerings of the women of South-Carolina, was formally named and dedicated. Colonel Richard Yeadon delivered an oration on the occasion.

—The Seventh regiment Maine volunteers, one hundred and sixty-one in number, under command of Colonel Mason, left Washington this day, by order of General Halleck, on its way home to recruit its decimated ranks.

—The schooner Elmira Cornelius, while trying to run the blockade at Bull’s Bay, S. C, was this day captured by the United States steamer Restless. Her captain ran her ashore, but she was got off by the assistance of the United States steamer Flag.

—Rumors of peace began to be mooted. The Richmond Enquirer of this date says: “There are prospects of an early peace, which conclusion is founded on the results of the battles in Virginia and Maryland, and the campaign now progressing. The battle of Antietam was, to the Federal forces, the most terrible defeat of the war.”

—The United States gunboat Maratanza, Commander Scott, while lying off Cape Fear River, North-Carolina, was fired into by a rebel battery of two Armstrong guns, which the rebels had constructed on the beach during the night. The second shell struck the ship and exploded, killing two and wounding five. After which, the Maratanza immediately got under weigh and stood out to sea.—Com. Scott‘s Despatch.

—Yesterday a body of Union cavalry captured fifty wagons laden with ammunition, on the road between Camp Dick Robinson and Danville, Kentucky, and to-day a portion of General Dumont’s forces captured at Versailles, Kentucky, a train of wagons, two pieces of artillery, and three hundred and fifty rebels, without a fight.

—The preamble and resolution, submitted to the rebel House of Representatives by Mr. Barksdale, of Mississippi, concerning the retaliatory measures to be adopted against the Government of the United States, passed the House by a vote of thirty-five yeas to twenty-two nays.—(Doc. 35.)

—The schooner Revere (British, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia) was this day captured off Cape Fear, North-Carolina, by the United States gunboats Maratanza and Monticello. Her cargo consisted of military stores.

October 10, 1862. To-day a force of Union troops, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Boyle, of the Ninth Kentucky cavalry, entered Harrodsburgh, Kentucky, completely surprising and taking prisoners one thousand six hundred rebel troops, composed of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, being the rearguard of General Bragg’s army.—Governor Harris, of Tennessee, issued an order requiring the enrolment of all persons between the ages of eighteen and fifty-five, announcing that thirty days would be allowed for volunteering.

—A fight took place on the Upper Missouri River, about a hundred and fifty miles below Fort Berthold, between a party of miners, who were descending the river in a Mackinaw boat, and a large number of the Yancton Sioux tribe of Indians. The firing was kept up on both sides from nine o’clock in the morning until four in the afternoon, when the Indians gave up the chase, a good many of their number having been killed or wounded. Only one of the miners was wounded.—Sioux City Register, November 1.

—General J. E. B. Stuart’s rebel cavalry entered Chambersburgh, Pennsylvania, and destroyed over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars’ worth of government stores and private property.—(Doc. 1.)

—A Party of about one hundred rebel guerrillas entered Hawesville, Indiana, and for a time held possession of the town, but were finally driven out by the Cannelton Home Guard.—Governor Letcher, of Virginia, issued a proclamation putting in force an act of the Rebel Legislature of October first, prohibiting the removal of salt from the limits of the State of Virginia, and making provisions regulating its sale to people within the State.—(Doc. 3.)

—Henry Fairbank, of Colonel Bissell’s Engineer regiment, of the West; Albert Bacon, of the Fourteenth Illinois, and Robert Timmins, of the Thirty-fifth Indiana, who were captured in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, this day made their escape from Macon, Georgia. After travelling for seventeen nights, and enduring many hardships, they finally reached the Union gunboat Western World, then blockading Doboy Sound, Ga., and were taken on board.