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

January 22. — The Memphis Argus of this date holds the following language: “We are every day called upon to record the farcical freaks of Federal legislation, that transpire in the Lincoln Congress, as a part of the extraordinary history of the times. The bills proposing the indiscriminate confiscation of Southern property, and the disfranchisement of Southern citizens, have been already alluded to by us as measures of atrocity such as no truly civilized and Christian nation could endorse. We notice from the late Northern papers, that this pretended right of legislation for the Confederate States is still claimed by the Washington Parliament, and that we are to have a happy exemplification of it in a bill which one Mr. Hutchins, of Ohio, has announced that he will soon introduce into the lower house of that august body.

“This measure very humanely proposes that the enlightened and Christian North shall assume complete control over the ignorant and barbarous South, reducing all her States to the condition of a territorial or provincial government, and then immediately abolish slavery within their limits. This is another specimen of that wild and ferocious fanaticism which has seized on the Northern mind since the war began—a fanaticism which neither thinks, nor hears, nor sees, but feels, and raves, and burns. If Congress passes the measure, which is a more violent form of the bill introduced by Senator Baker, last fall, in the upper house of that body, the world may well regard it as an imitation of the vile and unmitigated iron despotism which Russia once maintained over Poland, and Austria over Hungary. But, happily for the South, the issue is not now one of legislation, but of the sword—not one of the ballot, but of the bayonet The more violent and ultra the measures introduced into the Lincoln Congress, the deeper the gulf between the Northern and Southern people for all future time.”

—The Ninth German regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Solomon, who so greatly distinguished himself under General Sigel at Springfield, Mo., left Milwaukee to-day for Fort Leavenworth, well armed and equipped.

—A Proclamation was issued to-day at Hatteras, N. C, by Marble Nash Taylor, loyal Provisional Governor of North-Carolina, congratulating the people of his State upon their deliverance from rebel thraldom by the “invincible arms of the Republic,” He calls upon all well-disposed persons to cooperate with this friendly army in restoring to their commonwealth the “ancient and inalienable rights” so recently lost. For this purpose, he announces the establishment of a Provisional Government for North Carolina, and appoints the 22d of February, an anniversary so sacred, as the day on which the ordinances of the Convention of November 18, 1861, will be submitted to the people for ratification or rejection. In order, also, that the State may resume her participation in the councils of the Union, he directs that, “upon the same day aforesaid, the polls be opened for the election of representatives in the Congress of the United States to fill existing vacancies.”—(Doc. 18.)

January 21.—The expedition which left Cairo, Ill., on the 10th inst, consisting of nearly five thousand men of all arms of the service, under command of Brigadier-General McClernand, returned to camp to-day, having been absent about ten days. The object of the expedition was to penetrate the interior of Kentucky, in the neighborhood of Columbus, on the Mississippi, and towards Mayfield and Camp Beauregard. The expedition was highly successful, having reconnoitered the country within a mile and a half of the enemy’s entrenchments at Columbus, by which fears of an attack were excited in the rebel camps. Several mounted rebel pickets were taken prisoners during various reconnoissances on the way; rebel couriers from Columbus were captured, and a number of roads, not mentioned on the maps, were discovered. The enemy’s position at Columbus was fully ascertained, and the existence of many loyal citizens proved.—(Doc. 17.)

—A Report by Adjutant-General Harding to Governor Gamble, shows that thirty-three thousand eight hundred and eighty-two Missouri troops have entered the Federal service for three years, or during the war; of which twenty-five thousand are infantry, three thousand artillery, and six thousand cavalry. The number of militia organized under the Governor’s call for six months men is upward of six thousand.

—Lieutenant Ammen, commanding United States gunboat Seneca, reported to Commodore Dupont that the negroes in the neighborhood of Port Royal, S. Ct, were anxious to obtain arms, confident of their ability to use them with effect.

January 20.—The Confederate schooner Wilder, from Havana, was captured in Mobile (Ala.) Bay, three miles below Fort Morgan. The schooner, seeing the Union cruiser approach, made for the beach, but had no time to save any thing before the cruiser came within range.

The Unionists lowered their launches, boarded the schooner, lowered the colors, and commenced discharging the cargo into their launches within three hundred yards of the beach. Capt. Ward, of the Wilder, says he had set English colors before he left. As regards the fight, he says that the enemy came up in their launches. Some of Capt. William Cottrill’s scouts met them and fired a few volleys, but did little or no damage. A despatch was sent to the Captain, who came down at about eight o’clock in the evening with reinforcements, and went into the engagement in good earnest, killing about twenty-five or thirty, that is, all that were in one launch, and some others in another launch. The Unionists fired several rounds of shots and shells from the steamer, and also several rounds from the howitzers on the launches and musketry, but not doing the slightest damage to any one on our side. One of the steamers drew off, and her place was filled by another, which also took part in the engagement, but with no effect. At night the steamer came alongside and towed the schooner off. Afterward, Captain Cottrill’s men picked up one of their small-boats which was pierced from stem to stern with bullets.—Mobile Tribune.

— Dr. George Blackball, a surgeon in the rebel navy, died at Norfolk, Va., this day. He was, before his death, in charge of the general hospital at the above place.

—The Secretary of War, at Washington, this day issued the following:

This Department recognizes as the first of its duties to take measures for the relief of the brave men who, having imperilled their lives in the military service of the Government, are now prisoners and captives. It is, therefore, ordered that two Commissioners be appointed to visit the city of Richmond, in Virginia, and wherever else prisoners belonging to the army of the United States may be held, and there take such measures as may be needful, to provide for the wants and contribute to the comfort of such prisoners at the expense of the United States and to such extent as may be permitted by the authorities under whom such prisoners are held.

—The Eighty-first New-York regiment, Colonel Edmund Rose, left Fort Ontario this morning for Albany, en route to the seat of war.

—The Richmond Examiner, of this day, has the following:

The times when the cat-o’-nine-tails was the instrument of naval discipline, and soldiers were strapped to the ground, and their backs mangled with the scourge, have passed, for us at least, into the traditions of another generation. We arc shocked, however, to hear that a navy punishment has been invented in our army which surpasses the horrors of the scourge, and has borrowed its suggestion from the punishments of the Inquisition. It is the thumb torture.

The mode of punishment is to hang the soldier by stramps on the thumb, so that his toes may scarcely touch the ground, and the weight of his body depend from the strained ligaments. We are informed, by testimony that does not admit of question, that this horrid punishment has been practised in a portion of the army on the Potomac, and has been witnessed in the case of two or three men subjected to the torture.

January 19.—A battle took place to-day at Mill Springs, near Somerset, Ky., between the National forces under command of General Geo. H. Thomas, and the rebel forces, commanded by General F. K. Zollicoffer, resulting in the utter rout and defeat of the rebels. The Confederates commenced the attack at half-past five in the morning. The fight lasted till late in the afternoon,

when the rebels were driven off the field in great confusion, their leader, General Zollicoffer, being among the slain. On reaching their entrenchments, a few miles distant from the scene of action, they were cannonaded until dark, by the National batteries, and during the night succeeded in making good their escape across the Cumberland River. About one hundred and fifty rebel prisoners were taken, and ton guns, about one hundred wagons, upwards of twelve hundred horses and mules, large quantities of small arms, with subsistence and hospital stores captured. Besides these a large number of flags were taken on the field of battle, and in the deserted entrenchments.—(Doc. 16.)

— This evening the United States gunboat Itasca captured the schooner Lizzie Weston, of Apalachicola, Fla., loaded with two hundred and ninety-three bales of cotton, one hundred and fifty-two thousand five hundred pounds, bound for Jamaica or a market. She was sent in charge of a prize crew to Philadelphia.

—Colonel Williams’ regiment of Pennsylvania cavalry passed through Louisville, Ky., on their way to Munfordville, where they will take a position a few miles beyond Green River. They are well supplied with arms, though their horses are not generally up to the requirements of active service.—Louisville Journal, January 20.

January 18.—John Tyler died at Richmond, Va., in his seventy-second year, having been born in 1790. He was a native of Charles City County, Va. On reaching his majority, he was elected to the Legislature of that State, and five years subsequently to the House of Representatives. In 1836, he was chosen Governor; but served only a year and a half, having been sent to the United States Senate to fill a vacancy. This spring-tide of promotion continued until 18-10, when he received the nomination for Vice-President from the Whig party. The death of General Harrison opened the White House to Mr. Tyler, soon after which, by turning his back upon the party which had placed him in power, he added a new term to the political vocabulary.

The great events of his administration were the vetoing of the United States Bank Bill, and the making of preparations for admitting Texas—a measure which was brought about shortly after his retirement, in 1845. Since that date Mr. Tyler lived on his plantation, near the village of Hampton, Va. The commotions of last winter brought him out of obscurity, when he acted the part of a peace-maker for some time, previous to his allying himself with the rebel faction.—N. Y. Commercial, January 21.

—Captain- Phelps, with the gunboat Conestoga, made a reconnoissance, from Cairo, Ill., up the Tennessee River to-day, and shelled a point just below Fort Henry, where a masked battery was supposed to be, but did not succeed in drawing its fire.

—Captains Murdock and Webster returned to Cairo last night, from an expedition to Bloomfield, Mo. It was a complete success. They captured forty of the rebels, among them one lieutenant-colonel, two surgeons, one adjutant and three captains.

January 17.—One hundred and fifty prisoners, released from the rebel government at Richmond, Va., arrived at Fortress Monroe. All of them were convalescents from the hospital. About twenty had crutches, and a dozen had to be carried on board, some on cots. All of them had been wounded. Dr. Higginbotham accompanied them, and the men were loud in commendation of his uniform kindness to them, and after cordially grasping his hand in taking leave of him, they gave him three enthusiastic cheers. They then saluted the old Stars and Stripes with a burst of enthusiasm that brought tears to the eyes, many waving their crutches above their heads. On the way back the wharves and embankments at Newport News were thronged with soldiers who greeted the released prisoners with tremendous cheers. The Cumberland and Congress, lying in the Roads, were also manned and gave a most enthusiastic greeting to the prisoners.

—This night, at Lynchburgh, Va., the Confederate flag, which had been flying from the yard of John O. L. Goggin, was forcibly torn down by some traitorous scoundrel, the flagstaff broken in two, and the cord by which the flag was hoisted cut up into small fragments. The flag itself was torn into tatters, and from its appearance, when found, would seem to indicate that the guilty party desired particularly to strip the stars from it, as not a vestige of any of them was left The act was a mean and despicable one, and proves conclusively that there is at least one Lincolnite in our midst, for no one, we feel sure, with one speck of Southern spirit could have been guilty of such an act—Lynchburgh Republican, January 18.

—The Burnside Expedition, which left Fortress Monroe on the 11th and 12th, arrived at Hatteras, N. C, having met with a severe storm and adverse winds.

—This day about four o’clock the steamer Connecticut spoke a small steamer off Juniper Inlet, on the Florida coast She promptly displayed a suspiciously new British ensign, which told the whole story—she had no name on her stern. She proved to be the Emma, (or, as some of the crew call her, the Onward, that being the name they shipped under,) that ran the blockade at Apalachicola in November last. She had been to Havana and taken a cargo of cotton and other stores, in value, according to the invoice found on board, twelve thousand dollars. The captain denied all knowledge of the intentions of the owners. He and the crew, he said, were shipped for St. John’s, N. B. Some correspondence was found, sufficient to condemn her; one paper was a telegraphic despatch stating the “blockade was open and the coast clear” at Apalachicola. This was at the time she slipped out. The Connecticut took possession of her as a prize.

—The Fortification Bill passed the United States House of Representatives to-day, appropriating an aggregate of five millions nine hundred and sixty thousand dollars. Among the appropriations were one hundred thousand dollars for Fort Knox, on Penobscot River; one hundred thousand dollars for fort on Hog Island, Port; land harbor; seventy-five thousand dollars for Fort Warren, and fifty thousand dollars for Fort Winthrop, Boston harbor; one hundred thousand dollars for the fort in New-Bedford harbor. The appropriation also included the following for the year 1862: fifty thousand dollars for Fort Knox; fifty thousand dollars for Hog Island Fort; fifty thousand dollars for Fort Winthrop and exterior batteries; fifty thousand dollars for fort at New-Bedford; fifty thousand dollars for Fort Adams, Newport.

—The Seventy – sixth Regiment New – York State Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Green, and two artillery companies, commanded by Captains von Puttakamer and Ellis, left Albany for the seat of war. They were reviewed in the Park by Governor Morgan, and addressed by Governor Pierce, of Ulstor, before their departure. They are a fine body of men, and number one thousand and three hundred strong.

—Navigation of the Mississippi River was entirely suspended at St. Louis in consequence of the gorging of the ice twenty miles below the city, extending to a point some distance from there, the ferry-boats not being able to run, and the ice not being sufficiently strong to bear heavy weights.

—A Flag of truce from Fortress Monroe to the rebels took to-day the following released prisoners: Colonel Pegram, Captain Sutton, Lieutenant A. C. Bell, Captain Tansill, Lieutenant John W. Pool, Lieutenant J. C. Lassell, Dr. R. W. Jeffreys and Captain L. J. Johnson.

January 16.—The Florida Legislature has passed an act forbidding the exportation from that State of any beef cattle, dried or pickled beef, hogs, pork, or bacon, corn, or corn meal, or salt, or provisions of any kind, whether salt or fresh. The act also forbids any person or corporation from buying these articles for purposes of speculation, and provides that all provisions of life shall be sold at a price not to exceed over thirty-three per cent over cost and charges.

—An imposing demonstration of the Germans of New-York, in favor of General Franz Sigel, was held in that city this evening. Resolutions expressive of the highest confidence in the General were unanimously adopted, and enthusiastic speeches were made by R. A. Witthaus, and other public personages.—(Doc. 15.)

—Two companies of cavalry made a reconnoissance from Lexington, Mo., and succeeded in capturing several notorious rebel desperadoes, together with a large lot of horses, mules, wagons, and commissary stores, which had been taken from Colonel Mulligan’s command, and a considerable quantity of boots and shoes, which the rebels took from the steamer Sunshine.

—Colonel Dietzler, in command at Lexington, ordered the arrest of a large number of wealthy and influential secessionists, whom he held responsible for the conduct of their hirelings in assassinating his men.

—In the House of Representatives at Washington, Mr. Dunn, from the Military Committer, reported a bill authorizing and directing the Secretary of War to furnish the prisoners of the United States, in the revolted States, with clothing and other necessaries of life, and for this purpose that he employ such agents as may be necessary. The bill was passed.

—The Richmond Examiner of this date has the following: “The report of the keeper of Holywood Cemetery that up to the 12th inst, five hundred and forty Confederate soldiers had been buried at that place, was one well calculated to induce reflections of an unpleasant nature. To account for this seeming excessive mortality among our brave defenders, we may state that, to within a very recent period, it had been the practice in the army of the Potomac to retain all sick and disabled soldiers in the scanty and ill provided hospitals at that place, till, from want of skill, the virulence of the disease, exposure, or some other cause, they were past the power of human skill. When the soldier was thus reduced he was despatched to Richmond. It may in truth be stated, that many who thus came were as good as dead on their arrival. The parties having charge of the hospital here have shown neither want of attention or skill. The soldiers, or many of them, when received, were past hope. No wonder that they died. The matter having attracted the attention of these in authority, steps have been taken tending to give the sick soldier a chance for his life, as we learn it is not contemplated in future to bundle them off from Manassas after the sands of life have so nearly run out as to leave the subject one chance in a hundred of surviving the journey to Richmond. A hospital, with all the necessary adjuncts, has been established at or near Manassas. In this all sick and disabled soldiers will be taken for treatment. When sufficiently convalescent to bear the fatigue of a journey to this place, and not before, he will be sent down in the sick train to be either cured, killed or discharged here. This is as it should be.”

January 15.—This day, the steamers blockading the Rappahannock River, observed a schooner coming out of Thompson’s Creek, about a mile and a half from the mouth of the river, and standing up the river, as if to make away from the gunboats, keeping close to the shore. The Mystic was ordered to give chase, and succeeded in beaching the schooner, when the crew of the latter vessel deserted her, and made the shore in safety.

Two boats were lowered from the Mystic, and the tars took possession of the schooner, when they were fired on by a party of rebels, some five hundred yards distant, with canister, apparently from a howitzer. The balls passed over them, and no one was injured. The Mystic then opened fire, and shelled the surrounding woods, covering the retreat of the boats.

The gunboat Dawn then moved up to assist the Mystic, and fired four shells at different points, without any reply being made by the rebels. The Dawn then proceeded higher up the river, and closer into shore, when she was fired on from a rifled piece, placed some distance up the beach. No damage was done, however, and it was discovered that the rebels had a howitzer and a rifled cannon, which they were moving up or down as necessary, and that no battery was to be found.

The schooner was burned, and the gunboats returned to their station at the mouth of the river.

—A correspondence has passed between Price, commanding the rebels in Southern Missouri, and General Halleck, in command of the Department of the Missouri, in reference to the disposal of bridge-burners, and other rebels, captured by the Federal forces. Price states that he has information that certain citizens, soldiers, and bridge-burners, have been shot, which statement he can not believe. Nevertheless, he propounds certain questions to General Halleck, the first of which is, whether his men are to be treated as rebels or belligerents. General Halleck replies, that the bridge-burners have been court-martialed, and that “no order of yours (Price’s) can save from punishment spies, marauders, robbers, incendiaries, guerrilla bands, etc., who violate the laws of war.” But if any of Price’s men are captured in the garb of soldiers, they shall be treated as prisoners of war. He promises further communication with Price, when he shall receive instructions from his Government.

—Edwin M. Stanton’s nomination, as Secretary of War, was confirmed. Mr. Lincoln’s nomination of Mr. Stanton was received with great favor by the loyal Democratic press. They regarded it as an indication of a more cordial union of parties, in the great work of sustaining the Government

— The Second regiment of Ohio Cavalry, (Ben. Wade Brigade,) under the command of Colonel Doubleday, passed through Cincinnati, on their way to Leavenworth, Kansas. The regiment numbers one thousand two hundred and forty men, with one thousand one hundred and eighty-four horses. — Cincinnati Gazette, January 16.

—The following notice was published in Barren County, Ky., this day:

“All free white males of Barren County, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, who will not volunteer in the Confederate service, who have a gun or guns, are required to deliver said gun or guns, within twenty days, in Glasgow, Ky., at the office of the undersigned, Inspector of Arms for Barren County. All persons, within the ages above named, who have taxable property to the value of five hundred dollars, and upwards, who have no gun, will attend at the office aforesaid, at the time aforesaid, and make oath to the same, and pay twenty dollars. For which amount, and all guns that are delivered, the said inspector will receipt; which receipt will be evidence of debt against said Confederate Government. All persons, failing to comply with this requisition, will subject themselves to a fine of fifty dollars, and imprisonment until said fine is paid. The undersigned is authorized to receive, accept and qualify, volunteers for the Confederate service, for the term of twelve months.

Z. McDaniel,

Inspector of Arms, Barren County.

January 14.—In the United States Senate a communication was received from the President, transmitting a copy of the instructions received by the Austrian Minister from his government relative to the Trent affair, and the reply of Mr. Seward thereto.

—Governor Tod, of Ohio, was inaugurated at Columbus, and delivered his message. He expressed the fullest confidence in the President of the United States, and commended his conduct of the war for the Union.

—The Seventh regiment New-Hampshire Volunteers, numbering one thousand and twenty men, rank and file, under the command of Colonel H. S. Putnam, left Manchester for the seat of war. This regiment, composed of intelligent, hardy men, was recruited by Lieutenant-Colonel Abbott, under direct authority from the United States Government.

Previous to their departure, the citizens turned out en masse and tendered the soldiers a fitting ovation, the Eighth regiment escorting them to the cars, where an appropriate address was delivered by N. S. Berry, Governor of the State.

—D. W. C. Bonham, Colonel commanding the Twenty-third regiment of Mississippi troops, died at Camp Beauregard, Kentucky.

—The gunboats Essex, St. Louis, and Tyler made a reconnoissance down the Mississippi river to-day. They approached within a mile and a half of Columbus, Ky., and fired several shots into the rebel camps. The rebels returned the fire from three or four guns without doing any damage. No obstruction in the river nor masked batteries on shore were discovered.

—General McClernand’s column moved in the direction of Blandville, Ky., to-day.—General Paine’s force moved forward this morning from Bird’s Point, Mo.