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

July 29.—Major-General Pope, accompanied by his staff, left Washington for the headquarters of his army in the field. Before his departure he ordered that passes to the lines of his forces should not be granted to others than those having official business there.—John Johnson, an alleged rebel officer from New-Orleans, was arrested at Roxbury, Mass., and committed to prison.—The English brig Napier was captured by the United States steamer Mystic, while endeavoring to run the blockade of Wilmington, N. C.

—A skirmish took place at Mount Stirling, Ky., between a number of the citizens of that place and a force of about two hundred and forty rebel guerrillas, resulting in a complete rout of the latter, with a loss of about seventy-five of their number in killed, wounded, and prisoners. —(Doc. 164.)

—A fight occurred near Bollinger’s Mills, Mo., between a force of Union troops, under the command of Captain Whybank, and a body of rebel guerrillas, under Major Tenley, resulting in the defeat of the rebels, with a loss of ten killed and a number wounded. The Unionists also captured a number of guns, horses, etc.—(Doc. 161.)

—General Pope and his staff arrived at Warrenton, Va., at noon, creating great consternation among the secessionists, nearly all of whom had taken the rebel oath of allegiance, and insisted that Gen. Pope dared not carry out the intentions declared in his proclamations.—Col. Lloyd, of the Sixth Ohio cavalry, in pursuance of General Pope’s order, arrested all the male inhabitants of Luray, Va., and lodged them in the court-house preparatory to administering the oath of allegiance.

—The rebel batteries at Genesis Point, on the Ogeechee River, Georgia, were shelled by the National gunboats.—Savannah Republican, July 30.

—Russellville, Ky., was this day captured by a band of rebel guerrillas, under Col. Gano. The town was defended by the home guard, but they were overpowered by superior force. Seval of their number were killed and one wounded. —Large meetings were held at Bath, N. Y., and Rutland, Vt, for the purpose of promoting enlistments into the army, under the call of President Lincoln for three hundred thousand additional troops. At Bath two thousand dollars were raised to aid volunteering.

—A detachment of Union cavalry, under the command of Captain Dollin, attacked a force of rebels, numbering about eighty, near Brownsville, Tenn., and captured forty of them. The rebels were afterwards reenforced, and recaptured twenty-nine men and fourteen horses. The National loss was four killed and six wounded; the rebel loss was about the same.

July 28.—General Grant ordered Gen. Sherman to take possession of all unoccupied dwellings, stores, and manufactories, in Memphis, Tenn., and also to collect the rents of such property for the United States Government, where the owners were rebels absent from the place.— Union meetings were held at Burlington, Vt., and Baltimore, Md. At the latter Gov. Bradford presided, and delivered a speech, advocating the cause of the Government and the Constitution. Resolutions were adopted expressing patriotic devotion to the Union, invoking the young men of the State to tender their services to the Government to fill up Maryland’s quota; approving the policy of the confiscation of the property of the leaders of the rebellion, and declaring the slaves of every rebel free from all obligations to obey those who refuse to obey the laws.

—In reply to a letter written by Mr. Seward to the American Minister at London, Earl Russell sent a despatch to the British Minister at Washington, in which he said:

“From the moment that intelligence first reached this country, that nine States and several millions of inhabitants of the great American Union had seceded, and had made war on the Government of President Lincoln, down to the present time, her Majesty’s Government have pursued a friendly, open, and consistent course. They have been neutral between the two parties to a civil war.

“Neither the loss of raw material of manufacture, so necessary to a great portion of our people, nor insults constantly heaped upon the British name in speeches and newspapers, nor a rigor, beyond the usual practice of nations, with which the Queen’s subjects, attempting to break loose from the blockade of the Southern ports, have been treated—have induced her Majesty’s government to swerve an inch from an impartial neutrality.

“At this moment they have nothing more at heart than to see that consummation which the President speaks of in his answer to the Governors of eighteen States, namely, ‘the bringing of this unnecessary and injurious civil war to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion.'”

—A fight took place near Bayou Barnard, Cherokee Nation, between a force of Union troops, under the command of Col. Phillips, and a body of rebels under Col. Taylor, resulting in the utter rout of the latter with great loss. The rebels had one hundred and twenty-five men killed, including Colonel Taylor.—(Doc. 162.)

—Great excitement pervaded the town of Parkersburgh, Ya., caused by the report that a band of guerrillas was about to attack the town. The report was without foundation, but the citizens were so terrified that they tore up the flooring of the bridge across the Little Kanawha, and planted a cannon at their end of it The City Council held a meeting and appointed a committee to go out with a flag of truce, and prevail upon the marauders not to burn the town. The money in the bank was removed to Marietta, Ohio. Numbers of persons fled from the town, and crossed over into Ohio.

—The office of the St Croix Herald, in St. Stephens, N. B., was again visited by a mob, and the work of destruction this time is nearly complete. Most of the type was knocked into “pi,” the press injured, and much of the material was scattered outside, and thrown into the river. The Herald is about the only newspaper in New Brunswick that has advocated the Union cause. —Boston Journal, July 30.

—Colonel Guitar, of the Ninth Missouri regiment, reenforced by Lieut.-Col. Shaffer and Major Clopper, of Merrill’s Horse, and Major Caldwell, of the Third Iowa cavalry, six hundred and fifty strong, were attacked at Moore’s Mills, seven miles cast of Fulton, Mo., this day, by the rebels Porter and Cobb, nine hundred strong, and after fighting till after four o’clock P.m., the rebels were completely routed, with a loss of from seventy-five to one hundred killed and wounded, and one taken prisoner. Colonel Guitar reports a loss of forty-five killed and wounded. He captured guns, ammunition, baggage, etc., in profusion. The officers and men behaved splendidly. Col. Guitar resumed tho pursuit, and followed them over the Jordan.—(Doc. 163.)

—Jeremiah Hoy, one of the band of rebel guerrillas commanded by Quantrel, was shot at Fort Leavenworth for murder and treason.— Leavenworth Conservative, July 29.

July 27.—Two rebel schooners were captured up the Chipoaks Creek, James River, near Claremont, Va., by a boat expedition under the command of Lieutenant Gibson of the United States gunboat Yankee, and brought out of the creek without molestation, although a force of rebel cavalry was stationed only three quarters of a mile distant—Official Report.

— A reconnoitring expedition, consisting of the United States gunboats Paul Jones, Unadilla, Huron and Madgie, left Savannah bay and proceeded up the Ogecchee River, Ga., until they arrived near Fort James, the strength of which they discovered by bombarding it for about two hours, when they returned to their former anchorage.—A number of young ladies of New-Albany, Indiana, proposed to act as clerks and salesmen for the young men of that place who would enlist, and give them half their salaries while they are absent, and surrender their positions to them on their return.

—Richmond, Ky., was visited by a band of guerrillas, under John Morgan, who plundered the stores, houses, and stables of the Union men of the place.—Richmond Messenger, August 1.

July 26.—Madison Court-House, Va., was occupied by the First cavalry of Connecticut, a portion of General Sigel’s advance, after a slight skirmish with the rebel cavalry under Robertson, who were driven out of the town. — Prominent citizens of Hayward County, Tenn., were captured by the rebel guerrillas for selling cotton.—The Union transport schooner Louisa Reeves, of New York, laden with forage for the army of the Potomac, was this day captured and burned by a party of rebel troops, at Coggins’s Point, James River, Va.

—A skirmish took place near Patten, Missouri, between a company of the Tenth battalion of State militia, under Major Chevreaux, and two hundred guerrillas, in which the latter were defeated and put to flight, with a loss of twenty-five killed and wounded. The National loss was three wounded.—St. Louis News, July 29.

—Yesterday the towns of Van Buren, Lysander and Marcellus, N. Y, subscribed four thousand five hundred dollars to aid in raising a regiment under the call of President Lincoln for more troops, issued on the first instant, and to-day the Salt Company of Onondaga, N. Y., subscribed ten thousand dollars for the same purpose.

— A slight skirmish occurred near Young’s Cross-Roads, at the head of White Oak River, N. C, between a reconnoitring party of Union troops, under Colonel Heckman, of the Ninth New-Jersey regiment, and a body of rebel cavalry, numbering about two hundred men, which resulted in the complete defeat of the rebels.

— Yesterday a skirmish took place near the Mountain Store, about twenty miles from Houston, Missouri, between a body of Union troops under the command of Captain Bradway, Third Missouri cavalry, and a force of rebel guerrillas under Colonel Coleman, resulting in the retreat of the latter towards the Big Piney River, where they were encountered to-day by the same party of Unionists, and after a sharp fight, were completely routed. In these two skirmishes the rebels had five men killed and twelve wounded. The Union party were uninjured.—(Doc. 161.)

— Large and enthusiastic meetings were held in Philadelphia, Pa., and Wheeling, Va., for the purpose of promoting enlistments into the army under the call of President Lincoln for more troops. In the meeting at Philadelphia, resolutions were unanimously adopted recommending the employment of all the power and means the Executive could command to put down the rebellion; thanking President Lincoln for the change in policy in the treatment of the property of rebels; pledging the Government their earnest support in resisting any foreign interference, and recommending every able-bodied citizen to unite himself to some military organization, to be ready for any emergency. A large amount of money was subscribed to the bounty fund. In the meeting at Wheeling a memorial was adopted, praying the County Court to make a levy of twenty thousand dollars to aid volunteering.

July 25.—At St Louis, Mo., great excitement existed on account of the order of Governor Gamble, authorizing the enrolment of the State militia.—An engagement took place on the Hatchie River, near Brownsville, Tenn., between a body of rebels, under the command of Capt. Faulkner, and a party of National cavalry, led by Major Wallace.

— Major-Gen. Pope, at Washington, issued the following order:

“Hereafter no guards will be placed over private houses or private property of any description whatever. Commanding officers are responsible for the conduct of the troops under their command, and the articles of war and regulations of the army provide ample means for restraining them to the full extent required for discipline and efficiency. Soldiers were called into the field to do battle against the enemy, and it is not expected that their force and energy shall be wasted in the protection of the private property of those most hostile to the government. No soldier serving in this army shall hereafter be employed in such service.”

—The Philadelphia and Reading, Pa., Railroad Company, subscribed twenty-five thousand dollars to aid in raising volunteers.—The rebel steamer Cuba arrived at Mobile, Ala., “from Havana, after an exciting chase by the blockaders.” — Richmond Examiner, July 26.

— President Lincoln, in accordance with the sixth section of the act of Congress entitled, “An act to suppress insurrection, to punish treason and rebellion, to seize and confiscate the property of rebels, and for other purposes,” issued a proclamation warning all persons to cease participating in aiding, countenancing or abetting the existing rebellion, or any rebellion, against the government of the United States, and to return to their proper allegiance to the United States, on pain of the forfeitures and seizures as by said sixth section provided.—(Doc. 158.)

— Two companies of Union troops, under the command of Captain Davidson, while guarding the bridge at Courtland, Ala., were completely surprised and captured by a force of rebel cavalry.— (Doc. 159.)

— A meeting of Irish citizens and residents of St. Louis, Mo., was held in that city for the purpose of denouncing the conduct of such of their countrymen as had attempted to avoid the operation of the Governor’s proclamation for troops to serve the State, by appealing to the British Consul for protection, as cowardly, base, and infamous.

— A skirmish took place near Orange Court-House, Va., between a reconnoitring party of Union troops under the command of General Gibson, and a body of rebels, resulting in the retreat of the latter with a loss of five men killed, several wounded and some prisoners.—Large meetings were held at Corning and Ithaca, N. Y., to promote enlistments into the army under the call of the President for additional troops.

July 24.—The steamer Tubal Cain was seized as a prize by the United States gunboat Octarora this day, having on board a cargo of small arms, salt, saltpetre, military buttons, shells and various other goods suitable for a Southern market.—The schooner Emma was captured by the United States steamer Adirondack, commander Gansevoort.—Skirmishes took place at Malvern Hill, Va., and Coldwater, Miss.

— At St. Louis, Mo., the Union Merchants’ Exchange unanimously adopted a stirring and patriotic address to the people of Missouri. Unfaltering and unconditional fidelity to the Union was the sentiment, and liberal aid to the volunteer fund was pledged. — The City Council of Philadelphia appropriated five hundred thousand dollars for the payment of bounty of fifty dollars to each volunteer to supply the quota for the city under the recent call of the President

—A skirmish took place at Trinity, near Decatur, Ala., between a small party of Union troops under the command of Captain Harman, Thirty-first Ohio, and a much superior force of rebels, resulting in the retreat of the latter with a loss of ten or twelve killed and thirty wounded.— (Doc. 157.)

—In consequence of the fear entertained by the Irish and other foreign residents of St. Louis of being forced into the militia service of the State, General Schofield issued an order informing them that the subjects of foreign powers, lawfully pursuing their avocations, were exempt from such service.—The Union forces stationed at Grand Junction, Miss., were withdrawn from that place to Bolivar, Tenn. All the public property and cotton were removed prior to the withdrawal

— Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. Starr, Ninth Virginia infantry, and about eighty of his command were surprised and captured at Summcrville, Va., by a superior force of rebel cavalry under the command of Major Bailey.

—Large and enthusiastic meetings were this day held at Pittsburgh, Pa., Oswego, N.Y., Stamford and Middletown, Conn., to promote enlistments into the army under the call of President Lincoln for additional troops. At the meeting at Stamford two thousand five hundred dollars were collected for the families of volunteers, and in that of Oswego resolutions were unanimously adopted in favor of a more vigorous prosecution of the war; the confiscation of rebel property; the employment of the slaves of fugitive and rebel masters in the military and naval forces of the Union, and pledging united and determined resistance against foreign intervention in the affairs of America. The Board of Supervisors added fifty dollars to the bounty of each recruit, and a number were obtained on the spot

—A company of rebel cavalry entered Gloucester Point, Va., and captured a number of contraband negroes accumulated there; set fire to a lot of ship-timber, and impressed into the rebel army nearly every man capable of bearing arms. Parties of rebel cavalry were to be seen in the vicinities of Gloucester Point and Williamsburgh in quest of plunder, and impressing into the rebel service every man who could be of any use to them.

— The Union fleet of gunboats under the command of Commodore Farragut, embarked the Union army under General Williams at Vicksburgh, and proceeded down the Mississippi to Baton Rouge, La. The flotilla of mortar vessels, under command of Commodore Davis, left its position before Vicksburgh, and proceeded up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Yazoo River, where it came to anchor.

William D. Porter (10 March 1808 – 1 May 1864) was a flag officer of the United States Navy. He was the son of Commodore David Porter (1780–1843) and brother of Admiral David Dixon Porter (1813–1891) as well as foster brother of Admiral David Farragut (1801–1870). (Wikipedia)

July 23.—General Pope issued an order directing the generals in his command to seize all the horses, mules and stores within their lines, except such as were absolutely needed by the inhabitants, especially in Culpeper County, Va. He also issued an order for the arrest of all disloyal male citizens within the lines of his command. Those who were willing to take the oath of allegiance and provide security for its observance were permitted to remain at their homes. Those refusing to be so sworn would be sent South beyond the National pickets.—(Doc. 104.)

—A fight took place near Florida, Mo., between a company of Union cavalry under the command of Major Caldwell and Porter’s band of rebel guerrillas, numbering three hundred, which resulted in the retreat of the Nationals with a loss of twenty-six killed, wounded and missing.

—A fight took place near the North Anna River, Va., between a body of Union troops under the command of Colonel Kilpatrick, and a force of the rebels, resulting in the complete rout of the latter. After the defeat of the rebels the Nationals cut the telegraph-wire, burned a railroad train loaded with grain, wagons, tents, baggage, commissary and medical stores, and other valuable property, and returned to Fredericksburg)), whence they started two days previous.—(Doc 156.)

—A large and enthusiastic meeting was held in Trenton, N. J., to promote enlistments into the army under the call of the President for three hundred thousand more troops. Resolutions strongly supporting the Government in the prosecution of the war, and recommending the raising of money for the purpose of paying bounties, was unanimously adopted. About five thousand dollars were subscribed at the meeting. Several persons were arrested in Fredericksburgh, Va., by order of Major-General Pope, and held as hostages for certain Union men seized by the rebels some months previous.

July 22.—Major-General Sherman assumed command at Memphis, Tenn. Four hundred citizens took the oath of allegiance, and one hundred and thirty were provided with passes to go to the South.—General Dix, on the part of the United States, and Gen. D. H. Hill, for the rebel government, made an arrangement for an immediate and general exchange of prisoners.—(Doc. 103.)

—President Lincoln issued an order in reference to foreign residents in the United States. The ministers of foreign powers having complained to the government that subjects of such powers were forced into taking the oath of allegiance, the President ordered that military commanders abstain from imposing such obligations in future, but in lieu adopt such other restraints as they might deem necessary for the public safety.

—The steamer Ceres was fired into by the rebels at a point on the Mississippi, below Vicksburgh, Miss., killing Capt Brooks, of the Seventh Vermont regiment, besides inflicting other injuries.

—Governor Gamble, of Missouri, in view of the existence of numerous bands of guerrillas in different parts of that State, who were engaged in robbing and murdering peaceable citizens for no other cause than that such citizens were loyal to the Government under which they had always lived, authorized Brig.-Gen. Schofield to organize the entire militia of the State into companies, regiments, and brigades, and to order into active service such portions of the force thus organized as he might judge necessary for the purpose of putting down all marauders, and defending peaceable citizens of the State.

—The effect on the Yankee soldiers of General Pope’s recent orders to the “Army of the Rappahannock” is already being felt by the citizens of Culpeper. The party who burned the bridge over the Rapidan on the thirteenth took breakfast that morning at the house of Alexander G. Taliaferro, Colonel of the Twenty-first Virginia regiment. On their approach the Colonel was at home, and was very near being captured; but, by good management, contrived to escape. After they had breakfasted, the Yankee ruffians searched the house, took possession of the family silver, broke up the table-ware and knives and forks, eta, and actually wrenched from Mrs. Taliaferro’s finger a splendid diamond ring of great value.— Richmond Examiner, July 23.

—President Lincoln issued an order directing military commanders within the States of Virginia, North-Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, to seize and use any property, real or personal, which might be necessary or convenient for their several commands, for supplies or for other military purposes.—(Doc. 155.)

—A band of rebel guerrillas entered Florence, Ala., and burned the warehouses containing commissary and quartermaster’s stores, and all the cotton in the vicinity. They also seized the United States steamer Colonna; and after taking all the money belonging to the vessel and passengers, they burned her. They next proceeded down the Tennessee River to Chickasaw, then to Waterloo and the vicinity of Eastport, and burned all the warehouses that contained cotton.— A band of about forty rebel guerrillas attacked a Union wagon-train near Pittsburgh Landing, Tenn., and captured sixty wagons laden with commissary and quartermaster’s stores.

—An unsuccessful effort to sink the rebel ram Arkansas, lying before Vicksburgh, was made by the Union ram Queen of the West, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A. W. Ellet. The Arkansas was hit by the Union ram, but with very little injurious effect The fire of the rebel shore batteries was to be diverted by the gunboats under Commodore Farragut, but by some mistake they failed to do so, and the Queen of the West in making the attack was completely riddled by shot and shell from the shore batteries and the Arkansas.—(Doc. 152.)

—A party of rebel troops, who were acting as escort to the United States post surgeon at Murfreesboro, Tenn., who was returning under a flag of truce to the lines of the Union army, were fired upon when near Tazewell, Tenn., by a body of National troops belonging to General Carter’s brigade, killing and wounding several of their number.

July 21.—A party of National pickets were captured on the Lebanon road, five miles from Nashville, Tenn., by a body of rebel guerrillas.— Three bridges were burned on the Chattanooga road, within eight miles of Nashville.

—The first anniversary of the battle of Manassas was celebrated at Dill’s farm, at Gen. Whiting’s headquarters, near Richmond, Va., by the Bee Lodge of Masons. A procession was formed at Dill’s and marched thence, preceded by a brass band, to the farm of Mrs. Schermerhorn. Arrived there, proceedings were initiated by prayer by Rev. Dr. Duncan. An oration, an eulogy on the death of the gallant and lamented brother Barnard E. Bee, Brigadier-General, C.S.A., who fell at Manassas, was then delivered in feeling and appropriate language by Rev. Dr. Stewart, an Episcopalian clergyman, of Alexandria, Va., who, it will be remembered, was driven from his pulpit by the hirelings of Lincoln for declining to pray for that individual. The procession returned to Dill’s farm, where the exercises of the day were concluded.—Richmond Dispatch, July 24.

—General Boyle, commanding United States forces in Kentucky, issued an order from his headquarters at Louisville, informing the inhabitants of the State that no person hostile in opinion to the Government, and desiring its overthrow, would be allowed to run as a candidate for any office in the military district of Kentucky. The attempt of such a person to stand for office would be regarded as in itself sufficient evidence of his treasonable intent to warrant his arrest.—General Order No. 5.

—The work of recruiting for the Union army, under the call of President Lincoln for three hundred thousand men, issued on the first instant, was rapidly progressing in all the loyal States of the Union.

— Brigadier-General Ross, of the Union army, issued an order from his headquarters at Bolivar, Tenn., to all owners of slaves living within ten miles of his military post, to forward to his headquarters three fourths of their male slaves, from the age of sixteen to forty-five years, to aid him in erecting fortifications.—A large and enthusiastic meeting was held in Hornellsville, N. Y., for the purpose of promoting enlistments into the army under the call of President Lincoln for more troops. Forty volunteers came forward and enrolled their names.

—The rebel steamer Reliance, commanded by Lieut. Gladding, from Dobay Bar, Ga., with a cargo of cotton, was captured by the United States steamer Huntsville.—Official Reports.