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

May 11.—The jayhawker Cleveland, whose band of robbers had infested Northern Kansas for some months past, was arrested at Ossawatomie by Lieut Walker and ten men of the Kansas Sixth. Cleveland broke away from the guard, and was killed while attempting to escape. One of his band named Barbour, was arrested at the same time, and taken to Fort Leavenworth for safe keeping.

—Craney Island, Va., was abandoned by the rebels yesterday, and to-day the National forces took possession of the fortifications and raised the flag of the United States.

—One hundred and forty of Morgan’s cavalry at noon to-day captured forty-eight freight and four passenger-cars and two locomotives at Cave City, Ky. Morgan supposed the train would contain two hundred and eighty cavalry prisoners, bound northward. The operator at Cave City, however, gave notice of these facts to Bowling Green, and stopped the upward train. Among the captured Nationals were Majors Helveti and Coffee, both of Wolford’s cavalry, and one other Federal officer and three or four soldiers. The rebels burned all the cars except two, and the locomotive.—Louisville Journal, May 12.

—The rebel iron-clad steamer Merrimac (Virginia) was blown up by order of her commander at her anchorage off Craney Island, Va.—(Doc. 12.)

—A letter from Albuquerque, New-Mexico, of this date, says: The Texans have continued their retreat to El Paso, and will leave the country entirely. They were greatly demoralized, broken up in bands, and devastating the country, and threatening to kill their General, Sibley, who, they say, deceived them by informing them that it was only necessary to march into the country, which was anxious to receive them, and all they had to do was to drive out the Federal officers, and that they would live and possess the country in ease and luxury.

The Colorado volunteers, (Pike’s Peakers,) and some one thousand regulars, are at and in the vicinity of Fort Craig, under command of Col. Paul. Gen. Canby has reestablished his headquarters at Santa Fe, where he and the staff are at present—Missouri Democrat.

—An expedition consisting of six squadrons of the First Wisconsin cavalry, from Cape Girardeau, Mo., went to Bloomfield yesterday, and early this morning fell upon the rebel Col. Phelan’s camp, scattering them in every direction, with one killed and eleven captured. A large number of horses and a quantity of camp equipage were also taken. A rebel force, numbering five or six hundred, infest Chalk and Poplar Bluffs, impressing all the men. The country is being swept of horses, cattle and supplies, which are sent South. The people are in a state of great terror.—Indianapolis Journal.

—The United States gunboats Freeborn and Island Belle, cut out of Piankatank River, in Virginia, two large schooners, one empty, the other loaded with whisky. Five persons were found on the shore of this river by the Captain of the Island Belle, who represented themselves as deserters from the confederate army.—N. Y. Times, May 24.

May 10.—White House, on the Pamunkey River, Virginia, was occupied by a company of National cavalry, who secured seven thousand bushels of wheat and four thousand bushels of corn. The rebels had burnt the railroad bridge and town, and torn up the road for some distance towards Richmond.—N. Y. Commercial, May 12.

—The rebel schooner Maria Teresa was captured this day by the United States gunboat Unadilla.—(Doc. 32.)

—A Union meeting was held at Shepardsville, Carteret County, N. C, this day. H. R. Bell was called to the chair, and Thomas Hill was appointed secretary. The following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That we deeply regret the unfortunate occurrence of the present war now progressing between the Federal Government and the Southern States.

Resolved, That in our opinion said war was brought on by a few hasty politicians, and not by any act of the Federal Government.

Resolved, Further, that we believe it to be the duty of all Union-loving men to meet and speak their Union sentiments, and also to take measures to maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Resolved, That we desire protection by our Federal friends.

Resolved, That since it has become necessary to appoint a Military Governor for the State of North-Carolina, we heartily concur in the appointment of the Hon. Edward Stanly, to fill that office, and agree to invite the said Edward Stanly to visit us at Shepardsville.

—A plot was discovered in Paducah, Ky., spread among the people there of secession proclivities, by which the town was to be handed over to the rebels within a week. Information was given by one of their number.—Nashville Union, May 11.

—New-Kent Court-House, Va., was occupied by the National forces under the command of General Stoneman. The rebels, on leaving the town, destroyed two buildings containing commissary and quartermaster’s stores. — Boston Transcript, May 12.

—Cumberland, Va., a small town on the Pamunkey River, was deserted by the rebels and immediately occupied by the National troops.— National Intelligencer, May 12.

— The iron-clad steamer Ironsides, was launched this morning at Kensington, Philadelphia, Pa., in the presence of an immense crowd. The christening was performed by Commodore Stewart, of the “Old Ironsides,” at whose suggestion the name of “New Ironsides,” was given. —A Naval engagement took place near Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River between a rebel fleet of eight iron-clad gunboats and a Union fleet of six. Four of the rebel boats had rams. Two of the rebel boats were blown up, and a third sunk, when the remainder retreated precipitately under the guns of Fort Pillow. The National fleet was commanded by Capt. C. H. Davis.— (Doc. 30.)

–By General Butler’s order, there were seized at the office of the Consul of the Netherlands in New-Orleans one hundred and sixty kegs, each containing five thousand dollars in specie.— (Doc. 33.)

—General Wool, with five thousand men, landed at Willoughby’s Point, in Hampton Roads, and immediately marched upon Norfolk, Va. At five miles from Norfolk he was met by a delegation of citizens, who formally surrendered the city into his hands. It was immediately occupied, and Gen. Viele made Military Governor.—(Doc. 11.)

—A Meeting of the citizens was held at Bay River, N. C, for the purpose of forming a company of Union Home Guards. F. B. Silverthorn was chosen President, and Mathias Powers Secretary. Mr. Francis T. Riggs offered the following resolution, which was passed by the meeting:

Resolved, That if any of our company betrays the trust reposed in him, by giving aid to or revealing any of the operations of this company to any rebels, without instruction to do so from the proper authorities, he or they shall be immediately apprehended, and dealt with as traitors deserve.

Over ninety-seven of the citizens signed the roll. The president of the meeting addressed them effectively, and was authorized to appoint a captain and three lieutenants for the company. The object of the meeting was to clean out the lower part of the county of all traitors whatsoever, by apprehending them and carrying them before the military authorities of the Federal government—Newbern Progress, May 24.

May 9.—This night the rebels evacuated Pensacola, Florida, and set fire to the forts, navy yard, barracks, and marine hospital. General Arnold, at Fort Pickens, commenced a bombardment when the destruction of property was begun, with the hope of saving a portion of the forts and property. The steamers Bradford and Neaffie were burnt Fort McRae, the hospital, and navy-yard were destroyed. The barracks were saved, as were also the foundry and blacksmith shop in the navy-yard.—(Doc. 13.)

—This morning, a company of rebel cavalry, one hundred strong, under command of Captain Walker, made a dash on Washington, N. C, with the avowed purpose of capturing all the Federal officers, and suddenly returning before the gunboats could open upon them. But the pickets heard them approaching, and several of them united their squads, and poured a raking fire into them, killing Captain Walker and five men, besides wounding several others. The cavalry immediately retreated without effecting their purpose. None of the Union troops were injured. The pickets engaged were from company A, Captain Redding, Twenty-fourth Massachusetts.

While this affray was going on, some secessionists assassinated two recruits for the First regiment North-Carolina volunteers, in another part of the town, and beat their brains out.—Newbern Progress, May 10.

—General Hunter declared “the persons in the three States, Georgia, Florida, and SouthCarolina, heretofore held as slaves, forever free.” —(Doc. 28.)

—Captain Connet, company E, Twenty-seventh Indiana volunteers, (Colonel Gazlay’s,) stationed with a squad of forty-eight men to guard a bridge at Elkton station, twelve miles from Athens, Ala., was attacked by six hundred rebel cavalry, under Col. Tom. Woodward, of Kentucky, and after a fight of half an hour, was captured, with all his men, five of them being killed. Captain C. was severely wounded. The rebels lost thirteen, who were buried at Athens.—Nashville Union, June 5.

—Two guerrillas were hung at Chester, Va., this day.—The House of Representatives adopted a resolution tendering its thanks “to Major-General George B. McClellan, for the display of those high military qualities which secure important results with but little sacrifice of human life.”—A fight took place at Slater’s Mills, Va.—(Doc. 106.)

—General Paine’s division of the Union army of the South-west was attacked in position two miles beyond Farmington, Mississippi, by the rebel division of Gen. Bragg. Bragg was held in check for five hours, but being heavily reenforced, Gen. Paine withdrew across the Tennessee River by Gen. Pope’s order.—(Doc. 24.)

—The town of Burning Springs, in West County, Western Virginia, was burned by a party of guerrillas known as the Moccasin Rangers. — Wheeling Intelligencer.

—General Butler announced by general order that one thousand barrels of beef and sugar, captured from the rebels, would be distributed to the poor of New-Orleans City.—(Doc. 29.)

May 8.—Nine Union regiments, under Generals Milroy and Schenck, fought fourteen thousand rebels, under General Jackson, at McDowell, in Virginia, from six till nine P.M., when they fell back to the town of Franklin in good order. (Doc. 10.)

—The bombardment of the rebel batteries on Sewell’s Point and Craney Island was actively carried forward by the Monitor, the Naugatuck, and other vessels of the fleet. The Merrimac finally appeared, but as she evinced a disinclination to come out into the roadstead, and the National vessels were equally disinclined to go up to her, the combat ceased. The scene was an exciting one for some time, and was witnessed by President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton.— (Doc. 26.)

—Messrs. Richardson, Knapp, and Robinson, of Illinois; Law and Voorhees, of Indiana; Allen, White, Noble, Pendleton, Morris, and Vallandigham, of Ohio; Johnson and Ancona, of Pennsylvania, and Shields of Oregon, issued an address to the Democracy of the United States, setting forth party organization as a positive good and essential to the preservation of public liberty. —Cincinnati Gazette, May 9.

—Four companies of the Seventh Illinois cavalry, under command of Major Aplington, when reconnoitring within a mile and a half of Corinth, Miss., discovered two rebel regiments of infantry in position on both sides of the road. Major Aplington gallantly charged upon them, but fell pierced by a ball through the brain. Four of the Union troops were slightly wounded; the rebels suffered the loss of thirty killed and wounded, and four prisoners.

—The United States Senate passed a bill establishing Beaufort, S. C, as a port of entry.

—The iron-clad gunboats Galena, Aroostook, and Port Royal left Fortress Monroe and started up James River, at six o’clock this morning. Immediately after their departure, the rebel tug, F. B. White, came out from Craney Island, having left Norfolk this morning with a crew and two citizens on board, on a mission to Tannery Point, but they run over to Newport News, and surrendered to General Mansfield!—Baltimore American, May 9.

—Three brigades of General Buell’s army seized the portion of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad between Corinth and the Grand Junction, and thus cut the communication between those points.—Chicago Times, May 9.

—Governor Clark, of North-Carolina, in response to a demand of the confederate government for more troops and transportation, informed that government that it “had received all the aid from North-Carolina that it could expect, and that no more troops would be permitted to leave the State.” —N.Y. Herald, May 19.

May 7.—This afternoon the rebel pickets above Columbiana Bridge, on the east side of the Shenandoah River, Va., were driven back by detachments under Col. Foster, who was subsequently ambuscaded by two rebel regiments. The action lasted an hour, when Foster withdrew in good order. The enemy did not pursue. A company of Vermont cavalry was cut off and surrounded, but escaped by swimming the river. The enemy’s loss is not known, except seven prisoners, belonging to the Sixth Virginia and Seventh Louisiana, which indicates that the enemy’s force was one of Ewell’s brigade.—(Doc. 8.)

—General Franklin’s division, Army of the Potomac, was attacked while landing at WestPoint, Va., by the rebel Army of the Peninsula. After a hard fight the rebels were repulsed with considerable loss, and the landing effected. (Doc. 9.)

—A Letter from Algesiras, Spain, published this day, gives the final account of the pirate Sumter. She had lain closely blockaded in Gibraltar, by the United States gunboat Tuscarora, which lay in Spanish waters within sight of her, for two months. Thirteen of the Sumter’s crew meanwhile deserted to the gunboat. Seeing no other end to such a state of affairs, the Captain of the Sumter discharged his crew and sold his ship.—N. Y. Times, May 7.

—General Cox’s advance, consisting of part of the Twenty-third Ohio, under Major Cauley, occupied Giles’s Court-House and the narrows of New-River, driving out the rebels, who were taken by surprise. A considerable quantity of commissary stores was taken, and some twenty privates made prisoners. The surprise prevented the burning of the place, as the rebels intended. The citizens remained, and most of them seem loyally disposed.—General Fremont’s Despatch.

May 6.—The rebels having evacuated the works in front of Williamsburgh, and continued their retreat toward Richmond, the place was occupied by the Union forces under the immediate command of Gen. McClellan.—(Doc. 96.)

—General Franklin’s division of the Army of the Potomac left Yorktown in transports, to proceed up the York River to West-Point.—N. Y. Evening Post, May 8.

—At Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States Circuit Court, at the April term, 1861, the Grand Jury found an indictment of treason against James W. Chenoweth, for furnishing supplies and munitions of war to the rebels. At the present term ex-Senator Pugh, counsel for the defendant, moved to quash the indictment on the ground that the first clause of section two, article three, of the Constitution, which provides that treason shall consist only of levying war refers to rebellion, while the second clause, “or adhering to their enemies in giving aid and comfort,” relates only to a public war with a foreign enemy. Justice Swayne gave his decision to-day, sustaining the motion by quashing the indictment— Cincinnati Enquirer, May 8.

—This afternoon a detachment of the Fifth New-York cavalry made a reconnoissance from New-Market towards Harrisonburgh, Va., and when about five miles from the town they encountered upwards of two hundred of Ashby’s cavalry. They charged on the rebels and pursued them within two miles of the town, killing ten and taking six prisoners. The National loss was one killed and the battalion adjutant taken prisoner.—Baltimore American, May 8.

—J. P. Benjamin, the rebel Secretary of State, in answer to an inquiry by a Southern firm, whether cotton purchased on foreign account would be treated as exempted from the general law which declares that all cotton shall be destroyed when it is about to fall into the hands of the enemy, says:

“I know no law which prohibits the purchase of cotton on foreign account, but I am not aware of any law or reason of policy which should induce this government to extend to property thus purchased greater protection than is extended to that of our own citizens. It is the settled determination of the government to allow no cotton to fall into the hands of our enemies, as it is perfectly well known that they would seize and appropriate to themselves all cotton they could find, without regard to ownership. If your correspondents buy cotton they must expect to share the same risks as are incurred by our own citizens.”—Richmond Dispatch, May 7.

—The rebel schooner C. C. Pinckney, from Charleston, S. C, for Nassau, N. P., was captured by the United States gunboat Ottawa.

May 5.— H. M. Rector, Governor of Arkansas, called upon the people of that State by proclamation to take up arms and drive out the “Northern troops.”—(Doc. 6.)

— This day the battle of Williamsburgh was fought between the Union forces in the advance toward Richmond, and a superior force of the rebel army under Gen. J. E. Johnston. The Nationals were assailed with great impetuosity at about eight A.M. The battle continued till dark. The enemy was beaten along the whole line and resumed his retreat under cover of the night— (Docs. 7 and 96.)

— General Butler promised to Louisiana planters that all cargoes of cotton or sugar sent to New-Orleans for shipment should be protected by the United States forces.—National Intelligencer, May 30.

— Last night, Lieutenant Caldwell, of the light artillery, received information of the return to his home in Andrew County, Missouri, of the notorious Captain Jack Edmundson. For some months past Edmundson had been with the rebel army in Southern Missouri and Arkansas, but had now returned, as was supposed, for the purpose of raising a guerrilla company, stealing a lot of cattle and making off with them.

Lieutenant Caldwell at once proceeded to headquarters at Saint Joseph’s, and obtained an order to take a sufficient force, and proceed in pursuit of Edmundson and his gang. No time was lost, and the party arrived at the house of the guerrilla just before daybreak. But by some means Edmundson had been informed of their approach, or was on the look-out, and escaped from the house just as the party approached. He was pursued, and so hot was the pursuit, that he dropped his blanket and sword, but reaching some thick brush, managed to escape. The party then proceeded to other parts of Andrew and Gentry Counties, and arrested some twenty men whom Edmundson had recruited for his gang. They were all carried to Saint Joseph’s and confined. —St. Joseph’s Journal, May 8.

— General Dumont, with portions of Woodford’s and Smith’s Kentucky cavalry, and Wynkoop’s Pennsylvania cavalry, attacked eight hundred of Morgan’s and Woods’s rebel cavalry at Lebanon, Kentucky, and after an hour’s fight completely routed them.—(Doc. 22.)

— D. B. Lathrop, operator on the United States military telegraph, died at Washington, D. C, from injuries received by the explosion of a torpedo, placed by the rebels in the deserted telegraph-office at Yorktown, Va.

—The rebel guerrilla, Jeff. Thompson, attacked and dispersed a company of Union cavalry near Dresden, Ky.

May 4.—General McClellan at one o’clock this afternoon, sent the following to the War Department:

Our cavalry and horse artillery came up with the enemy’s rear-guard in their intrenchments about two miles this side of Williamsburgh. A brisk fight ensued. Just as my aid left, General Smith’s division of infantry arrived on the ground, and I presume he carried his works, though I have not yet heard.

The enemy’s rear is strong, but I have force enough up there to answer all purposes.

We have thus far seventy-one heavy guns, large amounts of tents, ammunition, etc. All along the lines their works prove to have been most formidable, and I am now fully satisfied of the correctness of the course I have pursued.

The success is brilliant, and you may rest assured its effects will be of the greatest importance. There shall be no delay in following up the enemy. The rebels have been guilty of the most murderous and barbarous conduct in placing torpedoes within the abandoned works, near Mill Springs, near the flag-staffs, magazines, telegraph-offices, in carpet-bags, barrels of flour, etc. Fortunately we have not lost many men in this manner. Some four or five have been killed and a dozen wounded. I shall make the prisoners remove them at their own peril.

—The English steamer Circassian was captured by the United States gunboat Somerset, with a cargo of munitions of war, valued at half a million dollars.—N. Y. Herald, May 23.

— Rumors of foreign intervention in American affairs still continue. The Paris correspondent of the London Daily News states that the French and English ministers at Washington have received identical instructions to attempt a moral intervention, exclusive of any idea of force. The Paris correspondent of the Independence Belge also reiterates his former statements in reference to intervention. At a meeting at Ashton under Lyne resolutions were adopted calling on the government to recognize the Confederate States. A letter from Mr. Russell to the London Times charges upon Secretary Stanton the trouble to which he was subjected; he also says that General McClellan has expressed himself strongly in reference to the Secretary’s conduct to him and to Mr. Russell also.

— A Pontoon-bridge was thrown across the Rappahannock River at Fredericksburgh, and General McDowell and staff, with an escort of cavalry, passed over by it and entered Fredericksburgh.—N. Y. Times, May 10.

May 3.—The rebel steamer Bermuda, laden with arms and munitions of war, was taken into Philadelphia.—Philadelphia Inquirer, May 4.

—The Nashville Union of to-day contains a call, signed by one hundred and fifty influential citizens, assigning Monday, May fourth, for a meeting to take measures to restore the former relations of Tennessee with the Federal Union.

—General Paine’s division of the Union army of the south-west, sent out by General Pope to reconnoitre, found the enemy near Farmington, Mississippi, about four thousand five hundred in number, and in a strong position. General Paine, after a sharp skirmish, drove them from their position, and captured their camp.—(Doc. 4.)

—At Liverpool, England, Captain William Wilson, of the ship Emily St. Pierre, was presented by the merchants and mercantile marine officers of that place, with a testimonial for his gallantry on the twenty-first of March, in recapturing his ship, which was seized by the United States gunboat James Adger, three days previous, off Charleston, S. C.—London Times, May 4.

—The rebels evacuated Yorktown and all their defences there and on the line of the Warwick River, at night. They left all their heavy guns, large quantities of ammunition, camp equipage, etc., and retreated by the Williamsburgh road.— (Doc. 5.)

—The United States gunboat Santiago de Cuba brought into the port of New-York, as a prize, the rebel steamer Ella Warley, captured on her way from Nassau, N. P., to Charleston S. C, laden with arms.

—Jeff Davis proclaimed martial law over the Counties of Lee, Wise, Buchanan, McDowell, and Wyoming, Va.—(Doc. 94.)