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

May 21.—To-day the battle of Philips’s Creek, Mississippi, was fought by the second division of General Halleck’s army, commanded by Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Davies. The rebels were routed, leaving a good many prisoners, guns, haversacks, blankets, etc., in the hands of the Unionists.—(Doc. 113.)

—Commodore Prentiss, with the United States steamer Albatross, penetrated the interior waters of South-Carolina as far as Georgetown, and up the Waccamaw River ten miles above the city, but having an insufficient force, he did not make an attack.

—General Stoneman, in company with Prof. Lowe, made a balloon reconnoissance this morning, from Gaines’s Mills, Va., and reaching«n altitude of five hundred feet, obtained a complete view of Richmond with the aid of a glass. Very few rebel troops were visible within the limits of the city, but at the left of it, on the line of the road leading to Bottom’s Bridge, a large number were seen.

—At one o’clock, to-day, two mortars opened on Fort Pillow, and the firing was kept up at intervals of five minutes, until six in the evening. It was returned three or four times by guns from the rebels, either from the fortifications or from their mortar-boats, their shells bursting wide of the mark, and doing no damage.

Deserters from Fort Pillow state that one hundred and eighty dead bodies were removed from the rebel rams and gunboats on their return from the late naval engagement On the Mexico, whose boilers were exploded by a well-directed shot from the Benton, every man was either killed or so badly scalded as to render recovery doubtful. None of the rebel vessels, according to this story, were entirely sunk, but three of them were so badly disabled as to be rendered almost useless. The impression at the fort was that they had been badly whipped.

—Three regiments, consisting of the First, Second and Twentieth Kentucky, under command of Col. Sedgewick, made a reconnoissance near Corinth, Mississippi, for the purpose of ascertaining the position of the enemy. After some sharp fighting, which lasted for about two hours, in which he had some thirty men wounded, Col. Sedgewick, being completely successful, returned to camp.—(Doc. 114.)

—Recruiting offices which had been previously closed were reopened by order of the United States Government.

—Brigadier-General I. P. Hatch, commanding the cavalry in Gen. Banks’s division, on his retreat, with a detachment of one hundred and fifty of the Fifth New-York cavalry, attacked a large body of Ashby’s cavalry near Strasburgh, Ya,, killed six, captured the same number, and “drove the remainder before them several miles at a full gallop, without the loss of a man.”

—General McClellan sent the following despatch to the Secretary of War:

“I have just returned from Bottom’s Bridge. Have examined the country on the other side, and made a reconnoissance on the heels of the enemy, who probably did not like the skirmish of yesterday. The bridge will be repaired by to-morrow, and others built as the camps have advanced to-day.”

May 20.—Edward Stanly, of North-Carolina, received his commission as Military Governor of that State. He is invested with the duties and functions of that station, including the power to establish all necessary offices and tribunals, and suspend the writ of habeas corpus during the pleasure of the President, or until the loyal inhabitants shall organize a State government in accordance with the Constitution of the United States.

—Lieut.-Col. Downey, who was sent to Wardensville, near Moorfield, Va., after the guerrillas who recently overpowered a party of convalescent soldiers in that neighborhood, reported having killed the notorious chief, Umbagh, and three men, and that he wounded four. He took twelve prisoners. The Nationals lost nothing.

—A train of seventeen wagons, laden with government stores, which left Rolla, Mo., on Monday last, was overtaken to-day, when about twenty miles out on the Springfield road, by a band of rebel guerrillas, who burned the wagons and their contents, and carried off all the mules, eighty-six in number.—Four United States gunboats bombarded the rebel works on Cole’s Island, Stono Inlet, S. C, when the rebels burned their barracks and evacuated the Island.

—Lieutenant-Colonel West took possession of Tucson, Arizona, this day, without firing a shot The confederate troops stationed in that city fled across the Rio Grande on his approach, and the citizens of Tucson who were imbued with secession proclivities started for Sonora. The citizens of the town came out and met the troops in great numbers, greeting them with cheers, and of their own accord sent out wagons and brought in loads of forage for the animals, which were worn out by their march from the Pimos around by Fort Stanford.—Los Angeles News.

—A party belonging to General Fremont’s command, under Col. Crook, made a successful descent upon the Central Railroad at the Jackson River depot, Va.

—The rebel pickets were driven across Bottom’s Bridge by skirmishers of General Couch’s division of the army of the Potomac. On the right General Stoneman’s advance reached New Bridge, also on the Chickahominy.

—General Shepley, Military Commandant of New-Orleans, informed the citizens of that town, that, in the absence of the late Mayor, he, by order of Major-General B. F. Butler, commanding the Department of the Gulf, would discharge the functions which appertained to the office of mayor, until such time as the people of New Orleans should elect a loyal citizen of that city, and of the United States, as Mayor.

May 19.—Gen. Stoneman’s brigade of McClellan’s army advanced to within fourteen miles of Richmond, Va. They left their encampment near White House at daybreak this morning, and preceded by the signal corps, pushed on to a point six miles above Tunstall’s Station. Soon after they reached a position within four miles of the Chickahominy, where the signal corps discovered a body of rebel cavalry drawn up in line to receive them. The National pickets fell back a few yards, when one company of the Sixth United States cavalry came up and charged upon the rebels, driving them back and capturing two of their horses. The Nationals lost one horse.

—General Hunter’s proclamation, by which the slaves in Florida, Georgia, and South-Carolina, had been declared free, was officially repudiated and pronounced void by President Lincoln.— (Doc. 42.)

—Governor Yates, of Illinois, issued a proclamation calling for recruits to fill up the volunteer regiments from that State. Many of our regiments, he says, entered the field with numbers scarcely above the minimum. These have nobly done their duty, and many have purchased lasting honors with the price of their lives, and it remains only for us to maintain what they have achieved, and therefore I call upon the people of Illinois to raise men in every precinct in the State for the regiments that were sent from their own sections, to fill up their own companies. Relying upon the same patriotism that has thus far furnished a brave and noble host at the shortest notice, I send forth this proclamation, and confidently expect a prompt response that will maintain the present glory of our State.

—A reconnoissance was made to Clinton, nine miles, south of Newbern, N. C. The rebels’ advanced pickets were met, and a skirmish ensued, resulting in the loss of one Lieutenant and four privates belonging to the Nationals. The rebels lost nine killed and two prisoners.

—Lieutenant S. M. Whitesides, with eight men of company K, of the Sixth cavalry, captured a train of one hundred mules and eight contrabands belonging to the brigade of the rebel General Whiting, near the advance of General McClellan, en route for Richmond.

—The Legislature of Virginia adjourned in accordance with a resolution previously adopted. In the House of Delegates, the Speaker, Mr. Sheffey, of Augusta, delivered an affecting valedictory.—(See Supplement.)

—This afternoon a boat went ashore from the Wachusett, lying in the James River, Va., with a flag of truce, containing six officers and twelve men. The surgeon of the ship had been sent for from the shore, and the officers and the men, and the rest remained to guard the ship. For some reason, the party in the boat were fired on by some twenty or thirty men, and simultaneously the party on shore were attacked and all taken prisoners. Of the party in the boat, the master’s mate, Almy, of Philadelphia, and W. P. Pierce, seaman, were instantly killed. Henry Johnson was severely wounded in the face, breast, and neck; Brown, wounded in the kidneys; John Close, wounded in the thigh. The three latter were placed on the George Washington and carried to Fortress Monroe; but Brown, who was severely wounded, died in an hour after being put on board. Among the prisoners taken were Baker, engineer; Paymaster Stockwell; the Surgeon of the ship; Depford, signal officer, detailed from the army; Thos. Green, coxswain; J. O’Marley and Frank Cousin, seamen; and several others.—(Doc. 112.)

—John T. Monroe, Mayor of New Orleans, and other municipal officers of that city, were arrested by order of Gen. Butler, and sent to Fort Jackson.

May 18.—A skirmish took place near Searcy, on the Little Red River, Arkansas, between one hundred and fifty men of Gen. Osterhaus’s division, and some six hundred rebels, under Colonels Coleman and Hicks, in which the latter were routed, with a loss of one hundred and fifty left on the field and quite a number wounded.

—A fight took place at Princeton, Va., between the Nationals under the command of General Cox and a body of rebels under Humphrey Marshall, in which the Nationals lost thirty killed and seventy wounded.

—S. Phillips Lee, United States Navy, commanding the advance naval division on the Mississippi River, demanded the surrender of Vicksburgh to the authority of the United States.— (Doc. 111.)

May 17.—At Galveston, Texas, Captain Henry Eagle, commanding the United States naval forces, sent the following message to the commander of the rebel forces at that place:

“In a few days the naval and land forces of the United States will appear off the town of Galveston to enforce its surrender. To prevent the effusion of blood and destruction of property which would result from the bombardment of your town, I hereby demand the surrender of the place, with all its fortifications and batteries in its vicinity, with all arms and munitions of war. I trust you will comply with this demand.” General Herbert replied that when the land and naval forces made their appearance, the demand would be answered. At the same time he advised the people of the city to “keep cool— there is no danger. When the enemy lands and endeavors to penetrate into the interior, he will be fought on every inch of ground. In the mean time, every man should stand by his arms, and be ready to take the field at a moment’s warning.”—Houston Telegraph, May 23.

—There was a general advance of the Union lines towards Corinth, with much skirmishing and several severe engagements. General Sherman’s division lost forty-four killed and a number wounded, in attacking Russell’s House, but succeeded in dislodging the rebels from that position.— (Doc. 41.)

—Tue gunboat Currituck, accompanied by the transport steamer Seth Low, made a reconnoissancc up the Pamunkey River, Va., for the purpose of capturing or destroying two rebel steamers and several smaller vessels supposed to be at or near Casey’s Point, about ten miles below Newcastle. On reaching that point the vessels were not found, and the gunboat continued the search until within a mile of Newcastle, where two companies of infantry landed and marched to an elevated position, from which they discovered all the vessels in flames, they having been set on fire to prevent their capture by the Currituck. The object of the reconnoissance having been accomplished, the companies reembarked and returned to the White House.—N.Y.. Times, May 20.

— The gunboat Penobscot, Captain Clitch, opened fire on the shore batteries at Newlet Inlet, near Wilmington, N. C. The attack brought out the position and power of the guns and batteries, and this being all that was wanted, the gunboat soon ceased to fire.—National Intelligencer.

—The advance-guard of the Army of the Potomac reached the Chickahominy River at Bottom’s Bridge, about fifteen miles from Richmond. The rebels destroyed the bridge, and the march of the Union troops was obstructed.—McClellan’s Despatch.

May 16.—The following General Order, made by President Lincoln, at Norfolk, Va., on the eleventh of May, was this day issued:

“The skilful and gallant movements of Major Gen. John E. Wool and the forces under his command, which resulted in the surrender of Norfolk, and the evacuation of the strong batteries erected by the rebels on Sewell’s Point and Craney Island, and the destruction of the rebel iron-clad steamer Merrimac, arc regarded by the President as among the most important successes of the present war. He therefore orders that his thanks as Commander-in Chief of the Army and Navy, be communicated by the War Department to Major-Gen. John E. Wool, and the officers and soldiers of his command, for their gallantry and good conduct in the brilliant operations mentioned.”

The United States steamer Oriental was wrecked on Body’s Island, thirty miles north of Cape Hatteras, N. C.—The Senate of the United States confirmed the nomination of Brevet Major Gen. Wool to be Major-General of the army.

—At New-Orleans, La., General Butler issued the following orders:

“The New-Orleans Bee newspaper having published an elaborate though covert argument in favor of the cotton-burning mob, is hereby suppressed. No publication of any description will issue from that office until further orders.

“The New-Orleans Delta newspaper having, in an article of to-day’s issue, discussed the cotton question in a manner which violates the terms of the proclamation of first of May instant from these headquarters, the office of that paper will be taken possession of and its business conducted under direction of the United States authorities.”

“It is hereby ordered that neither the city of New-Orleans, nor the banks thereof, exchange their notes, bills or obligations for confederate notes, bills or bonds, nor issue any bill, note or obligation payable in confederate notes.

“On the twenty-seventh day of May instant, all circulation of or trade in confederate notes and bills will cease within this Department; and all sales or transfers of property made on or after that day, in consideration of such notes or bills, directly or indirectly, will be void, and the property confiscated to the United States — one fourth thereof to go to the informer.”—(Doc. 38.)

—Two Union gunboats opened fire with shot and shell on Darien, Georgia, without inflicting any damage.—Fast day in the rebel States.— Savannah News, May 17.—(Doc. 39.)

—Colonel Johnson Hagood, Provost-Marshal of the Second Military District of South-Carolina, issued the following from his headquarters at Charleston:

“In compliance with instructions received from Brigadier-General Ripley, Capt Francis D. Lee, Engineer Corps, is empowered to impress any negro carpenters and other artisans, not now employed in government service, whether the same be slaves or not Captain Lee will be furnished with such force as may be necessary to carry out the instructions.”

—The National Intelligencer this morning contains an article, three columns in length, denouncing Gen. Hunter’s proclamation, and asserting that the President will revoke it

—Commodore Goldsborouoh with the Susquehannah, the Wachusett, the Dacotah, and the Maratanza moved up the James River, Va., to reduce two batteries on the south shore, and found the batteries abandoned.—N. Y. Times, May 21.—(Doc. 110.)

May 15.—A company of infantry of General Geary’s command was ordered to Linden, Va., to remain stationed there. A detachment of seventeen men, guard to the company wagon, reached there a short time before the main body of the company, which was on a train. They were attacked by a body of cavalry, variously estimated at from three to six hundred, coming upon them from four different directions. The Nationals resisted them, keeping up a sharp fire under shelter of the depot, which was riddled with bullets. Gen. Geary’s men were overpowered; one was killed and fourteen were taken prisoners, three of whom were wounded, when the enemy hastily retired under fire.— General Geary’s Despatch.

—The United States gunboats Galena, Monitor, Aroostook, Naugatuck, and Port Royal were repulsed from Fort Darling, on the James River. The one hundred pound gun on the Naugatuck exploded at the first fire.—(Doc.37.)

— Great excitement existed in Richmond, Va., on the approach of Gen. McClellan’s army and the gunboats. A joint Committee were appointed by the Legislature of Virginia to communicate with Jeff Davis in relation to the defence of the city. The General Assembly resolved that the capital of the State should be defended to the last extremity. Governor Letcher issued a proclamation calling all the officers out of service, and others who were willing to unite in defending the capital, to meet at the City Hall that evening. The meeting was held amid great excitement and enthusiasm. The action of the Governor was warmly commended.—(Doc. 109.)

—In the Senate of Virginia Mr. Collier submitted a joint resolution declaring that slavery is the fundamental doctrine of Southern civilization.— (See Supplement.)

—A skirmish took place, nine miles east of Batesville, Arkansas, between a party of the Fifth Illinois cavalry, under Lieut Smith, and a small force of the enemy. The rebels were repulsed, leaving in the hands of the Unionists, a major, a captain, and one private. The Union party lost none.—Missouri Democrat.

—Alexander H. Brown, Assistant Provost Marshal at Charleston, S. C, issued the following regulations in reference to travelling in that department:

“With the view of preventing any unauthorized person of color, bond or free, from leaving the city, the following regulations have been adopted by this department:

“1. Railroads and other means of transportation are forbid conveying, without a passport, any free person of color or slave from the limits wherein martial law prevails.

“2. Applications for passports for free persons of color must be made by their guardians or other responsible white person.

“3. Applications for passports for slaves must be made either by their owners or responsible representatives or agents.

“4. Travelling with a white person will not dispense with these regulations.”

May 14.—President Lincoln, accompanied by Secretary Stanton, and Captain Dahlgren, visited Fredericksburgh, Va., to-day. The Martha Washington conveyed the party to Acquia Creek, from whence they were taken by railroad to Gen. McDowell’s headquarters, opposite Fredericksburgh. The occasion was made a gala-day. Flags were displayed from the steamboats and shipping at Acquia Creek. Several regiments were reviewed by the President. In the afternoon Mr. Lincoln, accompanied by General McDowell, Gen. Patrick, and a body-guard, visited and rode through the streets of Fredericksburgh. The President was greeted by the troops and many of the citizens with the utmost enthusiasm. A National salute was fired by one of the batteries in Falmouth. The Presidential party returned late in the evening to Washington.

—A skirmish took place about five miles from Trenton Bridge, N. C, between a detachment of Union troops under command of Colonel Amory, consisting of twelve companies of cavalry, the Seventeenth and Twenty-fifth Massachusetts infantry, and a section of the Third New-York artillery, and a body of rebels secreted in the woods along the roadside. After a fierce contest, which lasted only about ten minutes, the rebels were routed, leaving nine of their number dead on the field, among whom was Lieutenant Rogers, a favorite officer among them.—N. Y. Tribune.

—A soldier, belonging to Col. Catherwood’s regiment, Sixth Missouri State Militia, named Donegan, was inhumanly murdered by “bushwhackers,” within gun-shot hearing of his father’s house, from which he was returning unarmed to his regiment. Several outrages of this kind having occurred about this time in the neighborhood of Cameron, Missouri, Col. Catherwood detailed a scouting party of sixty men, under the command of Capt Bassett, to ferret out the perpetrators. After four days’ ceaseless riding, they succeeded in capturing eighteen prisoners, twenty-nine Mississippi rifles, and three kegs of powder.—Missouri Democrat.

—The Charleston Mercury of this day publishes the following circular, which, it says, is “the deliberate expression of probably the largest, wealthiest and most influential class of the citizens of New-Orleans,” and says, also, that “for reasons that will be manifest to all,” no signatures are attached to it:

“To Cotton Planters. — New-Orleans has fallen, not degraded or enslaved, but yielding to armed ships with guns levelled at the homes of our defenceless wives and children. The escutcheon of Louisiana is unstained, and her flag has been desecrated but by her enemies. None could be found among us so vile, low or degraded as to lower her national insignia. We have yielded to brute force but for the moment.

“It becomes now the duty of all planters to display more than ever their patriotism and devotion to their country. They have sealed that devotion upon the battle-field. Now let us fight our enemies, as well by burning and destroying every bale of cotton upon the river or rivers liable to capture, as well as refusing ever to ship or sell a bale of cotton until peace is declared and our nationality is fixed. Let their conquest be a barren one.

“The merchant fleets of Europe and of Yankeedom will soon be bringing their riches among us to trade with us, expecting an exchange of cotton. If commerce is once revived we are enslaved for ever. Let Europe howl at the waste the barbarity of the North will have brought upon the country. The United States Government has promised renewed trade to the world so soon as our ports are opened. If we are true to ourselves, there will be no trade, and the countless millions of foreign products will be without purchasers. How long will they remain idle spectators of such a scene? The Powers of Europe will see that there is no sentiment of regard for the old flag—that we despise the race; and when we withhold or destroy our property, they will find that Unionism is dead for ever.”

The United States steamers Ceres and Lockwood pursued the rebel steamer Alice up Roanoke River, and captured her about two miles below Williamston. She had on board bacon for the rebel army, and the church-bells of Plymouth, which were to be cast into field-pieces. At Plymouth, the Commodore Perry found the lantern from the light-boat at the mouth of Roanoke River, concealed in the Custom-House.— Official Report.

—In the United States Senate Mr. Wright, of Indiana, presented a petition from citizens of that State, asking Congress to stop the agitation of the negro question and attend to the business of putting down the rebellion.

May 13.—Martial law went into force in Charleston, S. C, this day. Squads of the Provost-Marshal’s guard were to be seen here and there in the more public portions of the city, and many a luckless wight, in military or semi-military costume, who had no furlough or leave of absence to show, was trotted off to the guard-house, where he either did have, or at some future time will have, an opportunity of giving an account of himself. In more than one instance eminently peaceful individuals, affecting the jaunty and warlike “Beauregard cap,” were hauled up with that true military sternness which is deaf alike to entreaties and remonstances. The quiet precincts of the City Hall were suddenly converted into a veritable camp, to the manifest delight of the urchins who thronged the railings of the enclosure, gazing admiringly upon the taut canvas walls.

There was a great rush at the passport office. Owing to the very limited time allotted for the preparation of passports, only a small portion of those desiring to leave the city were accommodated with the indispensable documents. Some arrangement should immediately be made to remedy this great inconvenience to the public. If the passport system is to be carried out, it is absolutely necessary that the passport office should be open to applicants at all hours —or nearly so. Otherwise, persons passing through the city upon legitimate business will be subject to unreasonable and altogether needless delay.— Charleston Mercury, May 14.

—Gen. Fremont with his command reached Franklin, Western Virginia. He went thither by forced marches, as it was apprehended that an attack would be made on Generals Schenck and Milroy, already in that neighborhood. — The Army of the Potomac made an average advance of twelve miles to-day.—Major-General Halleck at Monterey, Tenn., issued an order expelling newspaper correspondents from his lines.

—General Butler at New-Orleans, issued the following order:—”It appearing that The New Orleans Crescent, a newspaper published in this city, is owned and edited by J. O. Nixon, a rebel, now in arms against the Government of the United States, the Commanding General of this Department orders that the publication of that newspaper be suppressed; and that no publication, by pamphlet, handbill, or otherwise, in any form whatever, shall be made from said office after the promulgation of this order.”

—Brigadier-Gen. Kelly was, with a force of National troops, attacked this afternoon in a pass at Reedy Creek, Va., by guerrillas firing from the mountain-top, but no one was killed or wounded. His men made a gallant charge up the mountain, and returned the guerrillas’ fire with so much spirit, that they fled and made their escape.— Gen. Kelly’s Despatch.

—The rebel armed steamer Planter was run out of the harbor of Charleston, S. C, by a crew of negroes, and surrendered to Commander Parrott, of the United States steamer Augusta. At four o’clock in the morning, Robert Small, pilot of the Planter, got up steam, cast off his moorings, took on board, besides his regular crew, five women and three children, hoisted the rebel and Palmetto flags, steamed down the bay, saluted the forts as he passed them, pulled down the flags when he got past the last fort, hoisted instead a white flag, and steamed boldly out to the blockading vessel.—(Doc. 36.)

—Suffolk, in Virginia, was occupied by Major Dodge with a portion of General Wool’s command.—General Wool’s Despatch.

—Eight hundred and eighty-five prisoners, released from Richmond on parole, left Old Point. Ninety rebel prisoners, who were to be returned to Richmond, positively refused to go, and took the oath of allegiance.—N. Y. Tribune, May 14.

—A Reconnoitring party, under Brigadier General Smith, had a skirmish with the rebel pickets, near Monterey, Tenn., which resulted in killing two, wounding three, and capturing five rebels. The National loss was two.

—At New-Orleans, La., General Butler issued the following order:

It having come to the knowledge of the Commanding General that Friday next is proposed to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, in obedience to some supposed proclamation of one Jefferson Davis, in the several churches of this city, it is ordered that no such observance be had.

Churches and religious houses are to be kept open, as in times of profound peace, but no religious exercises are to be had upon the supposed authority above mentioned.

—Last evening the rebels commenced shelling Fort Wright, on the Mississippi River, from behind Craighead Point, which, until yesterday, was occupied by the National mortar-boats. They kept up a fire during the night, the shells exploding wide of the mark. They are provided with mortars equal in weight of metal to those used by the Federal fleet.—Chicago Tribune, May 15.

—Dr. Nathan S. Jarvis, surgeon of the regular army, died at Baltimore, Md., this morning.

—Natchez, Miss., surrendered to the Union fleet, under the command of Flag-Officer Farragut—(Doc. 108.)

—The Mobile Evening Telegraph, of this date, contains the following: As is customary, a handcar is sent from Pass Manchac down to Kenner, to ascertain if the road is clear; if so, a signal is given to the conductor of the regular train. In this instance, on Friday evening, the first handcar went down and was questioned by the Federal pickets and allowed to pass. The second car attempted to run past and was fired upon, killing two men and wounding two others. One of the men killed is said to be Mr. Crickard, Assistant Quartermaster at Camp Moore. The third handcar that went down they seized, and took the other two and the hands on board prisoners. Then about twenty-five Federal soldiers came up on the hand-cars and fired on our soldiers stationed to guard the bridge. The Federals set fire to the bridge, and our forces fired two shots at the enemy, when they retreated toward New Orleans. Our forces then went to work and extinguished the fire.

—Genekal Negley, of the army of the Southwest, occupied the town of Rogersville, in Northern Alabama, and drove the rebels across the Tennessee River.—(Doc. 35.)