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

January 12.—A party of rebels, belonging to the command of Colonel Hammond, burned the depot and a blacksmith’s shop, and took all the goods from the store of Mr. Mustain, at Horse Cave, Ky. They also burned the Woodland Depot at Cave City, the Cave City Hotel, and stables. The citizens at all these points were notified, and escaped to Munfordville, as the rebels stated that they intended to return on Monday night and burn every house that could be used by the Union army in its advance as a hospital or quarters. They also burned up all the hay, oats, and fodder-stacks along the road, and drove off or killed all the cattle, horses, and mules to be found.

—A Nephew of the rebel General Polk was arrested to-day near Blandville, Ky., by one of the National scouting parties. He had despatches in his possession to spies at Columbus, Ky.—N. Y. Herald, January 14.

—The United States sloop-of-war Pensacola ran the rebel batteries at Cockpit and Shipping Points, on the Potomac, this morning, and reached the open sea without having been touched by shot or shell.

—A reconnoitering party under command of Lieutenant W. T. Truxton, U. S. N., left St Helena Sound, S. C, day before yesterday, and visited Bailey’s Island, but found it entirely deserted, though well stocked with cattle, sheep, and horses. They visited many fine plantations, and yesterday marched to Bailey’s Landing on the North-Edisto River, but met with no adventures. They returned to the Sound this afternoon.

—The advance of General Burnside’s Expedition to the coast of North-Carolina, sailed from Fortress Monroe, Va.

—The Twenty-fourth regiment of Kentucky Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Grigsby, passed through Louisville, on the way to the seat of war.—Louisville Journal, January 13.

—Brigadier-general Sigel issued an address to the officers of his command in camp near Rolla, Mo., instructing them to give continuous and strict attention to all matters relative to the condition and treatment of the sick. He also directed the commanders of companies to occupy their commands by regular drills, and by practical and theoretical instruction in military affairs. The officers of regiments were recommended to form military associations for discussing all subjects relative to their common interest and the good of the public service. Such a course, the General thinks calculated to produce harmony of action and feeling among the officers of the same regiment—(Doc. 14.)

January 11.—The Confederate troops burned two bridges on the Louisville and Nashville railroad, at points between Munfordville and Bowling Green.—Cincinnati Commercial.

—This morning three rebel boats from Columbus, Ky., attacked the gunboats Essex and St. Louis, lying off Fort Jefferson. A brisk engagement ensued for a short time, when the rebels retreated, and the national boats pursued until they reached the batteries of the enemy at Columbus.—(Doc. 13.)

—The First Maryland regiment, Colonel Kenly, are strongly entrenched at Old Fort Frederick, above Hancock, where they are frequently reconnoitered at a distance by small bodies of the enemy. The Colonel has sufficient ordnance to maintain himself there, as well as to command the railroad opposite.—Baltimore American, Jan. 14.

—The Florida Legislature has elected A. E. Maxwell and I. M. Baker to the Confederate Senate. — Sixty rebels, belonging to the regiment of Colonel Alexander, a prisoner in St. Louis, were captured about six miles from Sedalia, Mo.

Picket-shooting existing to a fearful extent in the vicinity of Cairo, Ill., General Grant this day issued the following order to General Paine, commanding the United States forces at Bird’s Point: “I understand that four of our pickets were shot this morning. If this is so, and appearances indicate that the assassins were citizens not regularly organized in the rebel army, the whole country should be cleared out for six miles around, and word given that all citizens making their appearance within these limits are liable to be shot.

“To execute this, patrols should be sent out in all directions, and bring into camp at Bird’s Point all citizens, together with their subsistence, and require them to remain, under penalty of death and destruction of their property, until properly relieved.

“Let no harm befall these people if they quietly submit, but bring them in and place them in camp below the breastwork, and have them properly guarded.

“The intention is not to make political prisoners of these people, but to cut off a dangerous class of spies.

“This applies to all classes and conditions, age and sex. If, however, women and children prefer other protection than we can afford them, they may be allowed to retire beyond the limits indicated—not to return until authorized.”

—The Twenty-eighth regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, under command of Colonel William Monteith, left Boston for New-York, en route for the seat of war.—N. Y. Commercial, Jan. 13.

—Colonel Garfield, having defeated the rebels under Humphrey Marshall, occupied Prestonburg, Ky., to-day.

January 10.—The Trenton (Tenn.) Standard, of this date, contains the following: “We regret to say that considerable evidence of disloyalty to the Confederate government has been manifested in some of the counties in West-Tennessee since the call upon the militia was made; one county (Carroll) having gone so far, we learn, as positively to refuse to submit to the detail. In Weakly county, also, we learn there was trouble on Monday last, which led to the fear that serious difficulties would occur there; but we understand that matters were settled peaceably and without bloodshed, which was at one time apprehended. In McNairy county, however, the disaffection seems to have reached its highest point, as we see from the West-Tennessee Whig that it was found necessary to send troops into that county to arrest some of the authorities, and to send detachments of soldiers into some of the other counties for the some purpose.”

—At Louisville, Ky., the household effects ofGeneral Simon Bolivar Buckner were offered for sale in front of the Court-House. Quite a crowd assembled, among whom were a number of persons as rampant for “their rights” as a Southern sun could make them; but still among them all there were none—no, not one—who would come forward with the amount, settle the tax bill, and prevent the sale.

Mr. Thuxton, the collector, proceeded with the sale until sufficient money had been realized to pay the taxes on Buckner’s property in Louisville.—Louisville Journal, January 11.

—Colonel Garfield left Paintsville, Ky., yesterday, in pursuit of the flying rebels, and came up with them this morning, finding them posted on an eminence, two thousand five hundred strong, with three pieces of cannon. The fight lasted throughout the day, resulting in the defeat of the rebels, who were commanded by Humphrey Marshall About sixty rebels were killed, twenty-five taken prisoners, and ten horses with a quantity of stores captured. The principal engagement took place at the forks of Middle Creek, Ky., and the road to Prestonburg, only a few miles distant, was laid open.—(Doc. 11.)

An expedition under Generals Grant and McClernand, about five thousand strong, left Cairo, Ill, and started down the Mississippi River this afternoon. They went on the following boats: City of Memphis, Belle Memphis, Emerald with one barge, Fanny Bullitt, W. H. Brown, Alps with two barges, Keystone with two barges, Aleck Scott; and were from the Tenth Illinois regiment, Colonel Morgan; Twenty-seventh Illinois, Colonel Buford; Twenty-ninth Illinois, Colonel Reorden; Thirtieth Illinois, Colonel Fouke; Thirty-first Illinois, Colonel Logan; Forty-eighth Illinois, Colonel Kaynie; Eighteenth Illinois, Colonel Lawler; Fourth Illinois Cavalry, Colonel Dickey; and Captain Swartz’s Artillery, four guns.

They took five days’ cooked rations, about ninety wagons and four hundred mules, together with ambulances, tents, etc. They were landed on the Kentucky shore, eight miles below Cairo, near the mouth of Mayfield creek, and opposite Norfolk, Mo. Two gunboats—the Essex and St Louis, accompanied them.—Cincinnati Enquirer.

A party of Kansas Indians visited Leavenworth for the purpose of ascertaining in what manner and for how long a time they could enlist in the service of the United States Government. During their stay the Chief, Y-o-to-wah, delivered a speech in which he set forth the intentions of his fellows, and expressed the greatest desire to aid in the suppression of the rebellion.—(Doc. 12.)

—The First Kansas regiment, which was sent from Sedalia, Mo., arrived at Lexington and arrested several of the most prominent and active rebels of the town, captured and destroyed about fifteen hundred hogs, which were being packed for the use of General Price’s rebels, and took possession of a good deal of other valuable property.—National Intelligencer, January 16.

—In the United States Senate, the reports of the Judiciary Committee, in favor of the expulsion of Waldo P. Johnson and Trusten Polk, Senators from Missouri, were taken up and unanimously adopted. A copy of the resolutions for their expulsion was ordered to be sent to the Governor of Missouri.—New-York Times, January 11.

—The first auction sale of confiscated cotton from Port Royal occurred in New-York, under orders of the Government. There were seventy-nine bales in all, and the cotton sold at an average of nearly sixty cents per pound, with the exception of two out of the ten lots, (a very inferior quality,) which sold at eighteen and twenty-five cents respectively.

January 9.—The Provost-Marshal General, at St. Louis, Mo., issued an order, requiring all publishers of newspapers in the State of Missouri, St. Louis city papers excepted, to furnish him a copy of each issue for inspection, and failure with such order would render the paper liable to suppression.

Great excitement occurred in the Chamber of Commerce, at St, Louis, this afternoon, on the occasion of the election of officers, which resulted in the disruption of the Chamber by the withdrawal of the Union members, who subsequently established a Union Chamber of Commerce, which will be immediately carried out. The trouble occurred in consequence of the secession members refusing by their votes to admit a number of Union applicants for membership.

—The vessels, containing the Third and Fourth brigades of General Burnside’s expedition, left Annapolis (Md.) harbor, for the rendezvous at Fortress Monroe.—Baltimore American, Jan, 11.

—In the Senate of the United States, Mr. Sumner delivered an elaborate and powerful speech on the “Trent” affair.

—Col. H. Anisansel, commanding at Clarksburg, Va., returned to that place to-day, having been out with two companies of the First Virginia Cavalry, and three companies of infantry, in search of some military stores, which had been taken by bushwhackers, at Sutton, Va. After some time, the Colonel came up with the rebels, about thirty miles east of Sutton, killed twenty-two of them, took fifteen horses, and fifty-six head of cattle, and recaptured the greater part of the stores, though in an injured condition.—Clarksburg Telegraph, January 10.

January 8. — This evening, while the First Kansas regiment was on its march from Sedalia to Lexington, Mo., and within a few miles of the latter place, the rear guard was fired upon from ambush, by which a sergeant of a German company, attached to the regiment, was mortally wounded, and two horses shot.—N. Y. Commercial, January 22.

—A. W. Bradford, Governor of Maryland, was inaugurated at noon to-day, at Annapolis. He made a most able and eloquent address, condemning the rebellion in the strongest terms, and expressing the utmost devotion to the Union and Constitution.

—This morning, Captain Latham, Company B, Second Virginia regiment, accompanied by seventeen of his men, fell in with a company of guerrillas, numbering about thirty, on the Dry Fork of Cheat River, in Randolph county, Va., and after a desperate fight of an hour’s duration, completely routed them, killing six and wounding several others, and burning up their quarters and provisions. Though the numbers engaged were small, the firing was so rapid that it was distinctly heard for eight miles. The parties were within thirty steps of each other when the fight commenced, and the rebels, owing to the superiority of their numbers and position, were so confident of success that they fought, for a time, like tigers, but were finally driven entirely off the field. Captain Latham’s loss was six men wounded, as follows: Corporal Wm. Jenkins, slightly, in the arm; privates: Frederick Dopp, mortally, shot through the left breast; James M. Pfrom, severely, a ball in each leg, and one through the left hand; James Whitchair, slight wound in the head, and a ball through the right arm; John W. Leese, ball in the leg; Edward Henderson, shot in the left hand.

In a skirmish, on the night of the 5th inst, between the same parties, private A. Watts was slightly wounded in the arm.— Wheeling Intelligencer, January 17.

—The Ninety-first regiment of New-York Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Jacob Van Zandt, left New-York, on board the steam transport Ericsson, for Key West, Florida.

—A Battle was fought, this day, at Roan’s Tanyard, in Randolph county, Mo. The rebels, one thousand strong, under Colonel Poindexter, were posted in a very strong position, on the Silver Creek, at Roan’s Tanyard, seven miles south of Huntsville, and seven miles west of Renick, near the residence of Joel Smith. The attack was made by Majors Torrence and Hubbard, with four hundred and eighty men, at four o’clock p. M. The rebels made but a feeble resistance, owing to the want of an efficient commander. They were routed completely, after only half an hour’s resistance. In their flight they left everything; most of them losing overcoats, guns, etc. Some of their horses broke away, and others were cut loose, and but for the lateness of the hour the Federals might have secured a largo number of these animals. The Federals burned the rebel camp, consisting of one hundred and five tents, twenty-five wagons, flour, meal, bacon, and an immense number of saddles, bridles, overcoats, carpet-bags, blankets; together with eighty-seven kegs of powder. The rout was most complete. — (Doc. 10.)

—William F. Smithson, a banker in Washington, D. C, was arrested on a charge of holding communications with the rebels. He was sent to Fort Lafayette.— N. Y. World, January 10.

January 7.—A detachment of General Kelly’s forces, commanded by Colonel Dunning, Fifth Ohio, left Romney last night at twelve o’clock, and attacked the rebels, two thousand strong, at Blue’s Gap, Va., east of Romney, at daylight this morning. The rebels were completely routed, with a loss of fifteen killed, two pieces of cannon, their wagons, tents, etc, with twenty prisoners, including one commissioned officer.—(Doc. 8.)

—Ex-governor Morehead, of Kentucky, was released from Fort Warren on his parole, and proceeded immediately to New-York.

—At Washington, D. C, in the Senate, petitions for the emancipation of slaves and for the exchange of prisoners, were presented. A bill relative to the arrest of fugitive slaves by officers of the army or navy, was taken up, but its consideration was again postponed for the present, after a refusal of the Senate to postpone it indefinitely. The Kansas contested seat case was then taken up, but the Senate adjourned without proceeding with it. In the House, a message was received from the President, accompanying the documents relating to the Trent affair. Mr. Vallandigham, of Ohio, took occasion to express his dissatisfaction at the course pursued by the Government in delivering up Mason and Slidell; remarking that in less than three months we would be at war with Great Britain, or else we would tamely submit to the recognition of the Southern Confederacy, and the breaking up of the blockade. Mt. Hutching, his colleague, replied, saying that Vallandigham had heretofore been opposed to coercion as to the South, while now he is against the delivery up of Mason and Slidell, and consequently in favor of war. The position of his colleague was liable to suspicion that his belligerent attitude was one which would benefit the rebels, by causing a war between England and the United States—a war which the South desired. Mr. Thomas, of Massachusetts, argued in justification of the capture of Mason and Slidell. England did us grievous wrong in making the demand for them, which was unjust and insolent in spirit She has done that which implanted in the American breast a sense of wrong, and we shall await the opportunity to strike the blow of retributive justice. The message and documents were finally referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

—Flag – Officer Foote, with the gunboats Essex, Lexington, and Tyler, made a reconnoissance down the Mississippi River to a point within two miles of Columbus, Ky. He went within two hundred yards of the range of the rebel batteries, and on returning was fired upon by the rebel gunboat Mohawk, but her shots all fell short.

—In the State Senate of Virginia, (rebel,) a resolution offered by Mr. Newman was adopted, appropriating so much of the public debt of the State and other securities held by resident citizens of the United States and the District of Columbia, as might be necessary to indemnify the citizens of Virginia who were loyal to the State, for losses sustained by them in consequence of any confiscation act of the Congress of the United States, or any other act growing out of the war.— Richmond Examiner.

—A skirmish took place between a part of the Second Virginia (Union) cavalry, under Colonel Bowles, and a portion of Marshall’s forces, under Shaw, three miles west of Paintsville, on Jennie Creek, Ky. The rebels lost six killed, fourteen wounded, and seven prisoners. The Unionists lost two killed and one wounded.

Before Colonel Bowles attacked him, Humphrey Marshall addressed his men, advising the surrender of the whole force. The men refused, saying that they preferred fighting to such a cowardly course. After a skirmish Marshall’s whole force fled, and three hundred picked infantry and nine Union cavalry pursued.—(Doc. 9.)

—Colonel J. A. Garfield, with his brigade, consisting of the Forty-second regiment of Ohio Volunteers, the Fourth Kentucky, and three hundred of the Second Virginia cavalry, occupied the town of Paintsville, Ky. He says, in his despatch: “On hearing of my approach the main rebel force left their strongly intrenched camp and fled. I sent my cavalry to the mouth of Jennie Creek, where they attacked and drove the rebel cavalry, which had been left as a vanguard, a distance of five miles, killing three and wounding a considerable number. Marshall’s whole army is now flying in confusion. He had abandoned and burned a large amount of his stores. We have taken ten prisoners. Our loss was two killed and wounded.”

January 6.—The second execution by hanging, in the Army of the Potomac, took place today. The convict was private Michael Lanahan, Company A, Second Regiment, U. S. Infantry, and the offence, killing Sergeant Brenner, by shooting him. The General-in-Chief, in the order approving the finding of the court-martial, says the proof is clear that he did this in the satisfaction of the grudge he bore toward the deceased; not only for the blow he had given him in the guard-house, a few minutes before, but for old scores, which he mentioned in his statement to the court It is very reprehensible for a commissioned or noncommissioned officer to strike a soldier, except when it is absolutely necessary to repress disorder. It is never allowable as a punishment for an offence. But for a soldier, because of being struck, to shoot his immediate superior, is at war with every principle of military subordination. It was in evidence that it was not customary for sentinels at Georgetown to have their guns loaded The prisoner must have loaded his musket for the purpose of carrying out his vindictive design against the sergeant The homicide in this case seems to lack none of the features which distinguish murder from simple manslaughter. For these reasons the sentence was approved, and the Provost Marshal was charged with the execution of the order.

The gallows was erected in the northern suburbs, and the convict was hung in the presence of detachments from five regiments of the regular infantry.

—The schooner William Northrop, hailing from Nassau, N. P., and from Havana, December 1, was brought into New-York by Prize-master Rhoades and five men from the gunboat Fernandina. She had a cargo of eighteen bags of coffee, and a quantity of quinine and other medicines. She was taken December 25th, off Cape Fear, by the gunboat Fernandina, while attempting to run the blockade at Wilmington, N. C, and ordered to New York. She was formerly a Charleston pilot-boat.—Baltimore American, January 7.

—The Richmond Dispatch, of this date, says: The fortification of Richmond, Va., on the Manchester side of James River, is progressing at a very satisfactory rate, under the capable superintendence of Mr. William A. Mason, who has been appointed one of Captain Hagan’s deputies in carrying out the designs of the government. So far as we are capable of judging, all of the defensive works on both sides of the river have been or are being put with a single eye to the amount of resistance which they may be capable of making to the inroads of the enemy, should he ever, at any time hereafter, make his appearance in this section of country.

As the reader is probably aware, companies are now being formed in this city to man the fortifications. When the men are announced as ready, no doubt all the guns which the present force is capable of handling with effect will be immediately placed in position, and the men duly instructed in their use. This subject of manning the batteries, from the abortive attempts made by the “Home Artillery,” has been treated more lightly than it deserves.

It is an encouraging sign of the times that the people are now willing to consider the matter in the serious light in which it should be regarded. We hope the enemy may never come this way; we don’t believe that he ever will, but should he ever do so, the value of the batteries to our citizens would be beyond computation.

—This night Colonel Howell, of the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania regiment, arrested Captain Gwin at a point twenty miles below Washington. He was an officer of the rebel army, and had, not long before, crossed from Virginia into Maryland, where his family resided. There were found in his possession numerous letters directed to parties both in the North and South, and also bundles of clothing, which doubtless, he intended to transfer across the Potomac to Virginia.—N. Y. Commercial, January 8.

— Major – General George B. Crittenden, commanding the Confederate forces in Southeastern Kentucky, issued an order, dated at Mill Spring, in which he strongly appeals to all Kentuckians who have not yet taken up arms, to join immediately the rebel ranks, and fight for the cause, not only of the Confederate government, but of their own State. He affirms that the object of the war, on the part of the North, is “the extinction of slavery and the subjugation of the South;” and urges the men of Kentucky, by all obligations of interest, honor, and duty, not to remain inactive, but to join hands and hearts with these who are striving to repel the invaders.—(Doc. 6.)

—John Letcher, Governor of Virginia, sent a message to the Virginia House of Delegates, in relation to resolutions received by him from Joseph E. Brown, Governor of Georgia. After rehearsing Mr. Lincoln’s course and designs, he urges the “Mother of States” to reaffirm what the “Empire State of the South” has declared, that “the separation of the Confederate States from the United States is, and ought to be, final and irrevocable,” and that, therefore, all efforts to subjugate them will be resisted by the sister States with the utmost vigor, energy, and unanimity.—(Doc. 7.)

January 5.—A party of National troops engaged the rebels in a slight skirmish on the mainland, near Port Royal, S. C, during which seven of the latter were captured, and marched to Beaufort. While under guard they were extremely unruly, and at one time attempted to effect their escape by beating down the guard and seizing their weapons.—N. Y. Times, January 11.

January 4.— Huntersville, a depot for rebel supplies in the mountains, between Huttonsville and Warm Springs, Va., was attacked by the National troops, and all the supplies there were captured and destroyed. The National troops engaged were detachments of the Fifth Ohio, the Second Virginia, and Bradsin’s Cavalry — some seven hundred and forty in all. The rebels had four hundred cavalry and three hundred and fifty infantry. Two miles from Huntersville, the National troops were met by the rebel cavalry, who were driven from point to point, and at last the whole rebel force beat a hasty retreat from the town as the Nationals charged through it —(Doc 4.)

—All the Kentucky banks, located where rebel domination prevails, were consolidated under Henry J. Lyons, formerly of Louisville, as President, who had authority to run them for the Southern Confederacy.—Louisville Journal, January 4.

—Judge Hemphill, ex-Senator in the Congress of the United States, and afterwards a member of the rebel Congress, died in Richmond, Va.

—Gen. Jackson, with a large rebel force, appeared at Bath, Va., where there were but about five hundred Union troops, these being detachments of several regiments. An attack was made by the whole rebel militia, who were twice repulsed by the National volunteers. Subsequently General Jackson’s regulars made an attack in front, at the same time executing a flank movement, when the National troops fell back on Hancock, Va.—(Doc. 5.)