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

October 6.—The schooner Alert was captured off Charleston, S.C., by the United States steamer Flag. When first discovered, the schooner had the Palmetto flag flying, but upon being chased, and satisfied of her fate, she hoisted the English flag, union down, as a signal of distress. Upon the vessel were found concealed a Confederate and a Palmetto flag, and the cook stated that just before the capture the captain burned up the ship’s papers. These found aboard, purporting to be English, were new, and evidently got up for the occasion.— N. Y. Tribune, October 18.

—The Tenth regiment of Maine Volunteers, under the command of Colonel George L. Beal, left Portland for the seat of war.

—Rochester, N. Y., has sent eighteen companies to the Union army. Another has been recruited in the country, making nineteen in all from Monroe Co.—Col. Rankin, M. P., who was engaged in recruiting a regiment of Lancers at Detroit for the Federal Government, was arrested at Toronto, Canada, for violation of the enlistment act.—N. Y. Commercial, October 9.

October 5.—Twenty-three men in two boats were sent from the United States steamer Louisiana into Chincoteague Inlet, to burn a schooner which it was thought the rebels were thought to convert into a privateer. Near three hundred rebels on the shore endeavored to capture the beats, but were driven off by the guns of the steamer, and by the men in the beats, who fired the schooner and returned without loss.—(Doc. 69.)

—The London Post of this date contains an editorial article looking almost directly to the recognition of the Southern Confederacy. Appearing in a journal understood to represent the sentiments of Lord Palmerston, it must be accepted, if in no less favorable light, as an attempt to sound public opinion on the subject.

The London Times, same date, discusses the chances of the approaching campaign in the South, with the impression that they incline to the side of the National Government.

—The Fourth regiment of Rhode Island Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Justus I. McCarty, left Camp Greene, for Providence, from whence they departed for the seat of war. The sixth battery of Rhode Island Artillery, numbering one hundred and five men, accompanied the regiment.— Woonsocket Patriot, October 11.

—The gunboat Monticello, under the command of Lieutenant Braine, made an attack upon a body of rebels, that had driven the Twentieth Indiana regiment from their camp at Chicomacomico, North Carolina, and dispersed them with severe loss. A correspondent on board the Monticello gives the following account of the affair: “Last evening intelligence of the retreat of some of our troops reached us, and the Monticello was off at once. We ran up to Hatteras Light, and at early dawn this morning we found the Indiana regiment had retreated to the light-house before a force of nearly four thousand rebels. We ran around Hatteras Point close into the inner shoal, and stood up the beach to the north, looking for the rebels. At half-past one P. M. we found them retreating up the beach to where their steamers lay, they having discovered our approach. There was a regiment of Georgia troops and about eight hundred ununiformed fellows, armed with muskets. Running the steamer close to the beach, we opened on them with shell, and for four hours shelled them, during their attempt to embark. I tell you we fairly slaughtered them like sheep, sinking their boats as they attempted to get on board their vessels on the Sound side, blowing them to pieces as they waded out into the water. They threw away their arms, and ran wildly up and down the beach. We compelled them to strike all their flags ashore, and in their very faces landed a boat and rescued one of the Indiana regiment whom they had taken prisoner. We covered our boat with shells, and after firing upon them for four hours, and expending two hundred and eighteen shells, owing to night coming on we hauled off.—(Doc. 70.)

October 4.—The Federal forces to the number of four hundred occupied Pohick church, sixteen miles from Alexandria, on the Fairfax road, Virginia. A force of rebel cavalry, which had held the place, retired hastily with the loss of several wounded. A reconnoissance was then made toward Occoquan, during which important discoveries were made.

—A balloon was seen passing over Washington, and it was thought by many to have started from the rebel camp, on an aerial reconnoissance; but as it subsequently descended in Maryland it proved to be the air ship of La Mountain, which had ascended from the Union camp of the Potomac. It appears that when La Mountain rose to a certain distance he cut the rope which connected his balloon with the earth, regardless of the danger, and soared up to an elevation of a mile and a half, and got directly over the rebel lines. Here he was enabled to make a perfect observation of their position and all their movements, the results of which he has communicated to head-quarters, and which are said to be of the utmost importance. When La Mountain completed his observation, he threw out sufficient ballast to enable him to rise to a height of three miles, when befell in with a counter current which carried him back in the direction of Maryland, thus passing over Washington.

—Commander Alden, of United States steamer South Carolina, reports to Flag-officer McKean, Gulf Squadron, the capture of two schooners off the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi, with from four to five thousand stand of arms.—(Doc. 68.)

—A party of New Mexican Union volunteers, under Captain Mink, was surprised at Alimosa, thirty-five miles below Fort Craig, by one hundred and ten Texan rebels, and their horses stampeded. Captain Mink proposed to surrender his company; but his men dissented, secured their horses, and retreated to Fort Craig. Subsequently about one hundred United States troops, from Fort Craig, pursued the rebels, overtook them, killed their captain and ten men, wounded about thirty, and killed thirty horses. The balance of the Texans escaped to Mesilin.

October 3.—The Memphis Argus of to-day contains the following proclamation by Thomas O. Moore, Governor of Louisiana:

“Concurring entirely in the views expressed by the cotton factors of New Orleans, in the annexed communication and petition from business men here, praying that no cotton be sent to New Orleans during the existence of the blockade, I have determined to take the most decided means to prevent the landing of any cotton in this city. Notice is therefore hereby given to all masters and owners of steamboats and other water-craft, that from and after the 10th of October no cotton must be brought to New Orleans, or within the lines embracing that section of the country between the fortifications above Carrollton and these below the city, and extending back to the lake.

“All steamboats or other water-craft arriving within the prescribed limits, will be forthwith placed in charge of an armed force, and escorted above the point indicated. This course will be adopted in all cases, whether the quantity of cotton brought be large or small. The railroad companies have already issued orders in furtherance of the object of this proclamation, and no violation of them will be permitted.”

—At St. Louis, Mo., a report of the removal of Major-General Fremont created intense indignation among the mass of Unionists, and great rejoicing among the secessionists. The recruiting rendezvous for an Irish regiment was closed on receipt of the news, and a meeting for the formation of a Home Guard adjourned without action.—N. Y. Herald, October 5.

—The First Massachusetts Light Battery, reorganized since its return from the three months’ service, left Boston this afternoon for the war, under the command of Captain Josiah Porter.

—General Reynolds with a body of Indiana and Ohio troops made a reconnoissance from his position at Cheat Mountain, and met a rebel force under General Lee at Greenbriar, Va., dispersing them after a severe fight of over an hour. The Union loss was eight killed and thirty wounded.—(Doc. 67.)

October 2.—A long letter, which recounts in detail the retreats of Wise and Floyd in Western Virginia, subsequent to the battle of Carnifex Ferry, appeared in the Richmond Dispatch. The authorship of the letter is attributed to Colonel Henningsen, the filibuster. Richmond papers consider it too partial to General Wise, and too severe upon General Floyd.—(Doc. 65.)

—A Secessionist camp at Charleston, Mo., was broken up, and forty rebels captured.—By a copy of the Mesilla Times, a secession paper published at Mesilla, Arizona Territory, dated August 10, it appears that a complete secession government has been organized at that place, from governor down to justice of the peace— the governor being the notorious John K. Baylor, well known for his violent pro-slavery feelings. The Times calls for troops, in order to enable the traitors to hold the territory, and apprehends an attack by way of Southern California, and by the regular troops still quartered in the New Mexican department, now on the borders of Arizona. Three regiments of these troops are in New Mexico, and it is supposed they could be largely increased from the floating population of the neighboring territory of Colorado. The Times demands the extermination of the whole Indian race. It boasts that, by the abandonment of Fort Stanton by the United States troops, on the 8th of August, property equal to three hundred thousand dollars has fallen into the hands of the traitors, including the fort, and adds that not a single Federal soldier is now left on the soil of Arizona.

—In consequence of the secession of the Cherokee nation, and its alliance with the rebels, Colonel McNeil, Assistant Provost-Marshal at St. Louis, Mo., issued a proclamation notifying the St. Louis Building and Savings Association that the sum of thirty-three thousand dollars, being part of an annuity paid the Cherokees by the Government of the United States, now on deposit in that institution, is, under the act of Congress, forfeited to the United States, and confiscated to their use and benefit.

—Governor Moore, of Alabama, issued a proclamation, calling attention to the habit of tradesmen and others of charging exorbitant prices for the necessaries of life, and reprimanding the act as wicked and unpatriotic.—The Alta Californian notices the receipt of orders by General Sumner to despatch at once to the east the entire force of regulars on the Pacific coast. This force numbers three thousand two hundred men. It will take a month to collect it from its scattered posts. Volunteer forces are to garrison the forts from which they have been withdrawn.—(Doc. 66.)

October 1.—The Eighth regiment of New Jersey Volunteers, commanded by Col. ____ Johnston, left Trenton for Washington.—The Fifteenth regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Christ, left Harrisburg for the seat of war. Previous to the regiment’s leaving, the regimental colors were presented by Governor Curtin, with an effective and patriotic address. Colonel Christ responded in an appropriate manner, and the affair passed off very enthusiastically.

—Melancthon S. Wade of Ohio, Lovell S. Rosseau of Kentucky, and Alvin Schoepf were appointed Brigadier-Generals in the Army of the United States.—General McClellan made a balloon reconnoissance, in the afternoon, from Munson’s Hill, in Virginia.

—Three Lieutenants attached to the United States ship Constellation, which recently arrived at the Portsmouth navy-yard, were sent to Fort Lafayette, they having refused to take the oath of allegiance. Their names are Benjamin P. Loyal, W. R. Butts, and Henry K. Stevens—the first two natives of Virginia.

—The United States gunboat Itaska was launched at Philadelphia, Pa.—Colonel Taylor, in command of the rebels at Springfield, Mo., issued a proclamation ordering all Union men who have borne arms in the Home Guard, to leave the country, or go into the Southern army for the same length of time as they had served against it. The proclamation also prohibits the carrying any more slaves South, as such a course is calculated to lessen the confidence of the people in the ability of the rebels to maintain themselves in Missouri.— (Doc. 62½.)

—This afternoon, a mile and a half beyond Edsall’s Hill, in Virginia, a slight skirmish occurred, in which a private of the New Jersey Third was killed and three were wounded. Surgeon Cox and eleven men had been out scouting, and encountered a rebel advance picket of one hundred men. Cox instantly cried, “Battalion, halt!” The rebels, thinking they were met by a superior force, broke and ran. Our small force, in returning, were suddenly confronted by another rebel guard, about eighty strong, and fired on with the result as above stated. The fire was returned with good effect, and each party then fell back.—N. Y. Tribune, Oct. 3.

—The gunboat Conestoga went down the Mississippi River within three miles of Columbus, Ky. She chased the rebel gunboat Jeff. Davis, obliging her to take shelter under cover of the rebel batteries on shore. It was ascertained that the Jeff. Davis had an armament of four six-pounders. The Conestoga found the rebel signal fires burning several miles above Columbus.

—Ai Warrenton, Virginia, died Col. Barlow Mason, late aid to Gen. Johnston, wounded at the battle of Manassas. He was brother to the Hon. James M. Mason, Captain Murray Mason, and others.

—Application having been made to the Government by R. B. Forbes, to have ” letters of marque” issued to the propeller Pembroke, about to sail for China, Secretary Welles, in a letter of this date, writes that Congress has not authorized the issue of such papers against the Confederate States, and that if it had done so it would have been an admission of what the Confederates assume—namely, that they are an independent nationality. But the Secretary also thinks that, under the second clause of the Act of Augusts, 1861, “letters permissive, under proper restrictions and guards against abuse, might be granted.”—(Doc. 63.)

—The Rev. Mr. Robinson, a Missionary teacher in the Cherokee nation, arrived at St. Louis, Mo., and reported that the Chief of that Nation finally succumbed to the secession pressure, and on August 21st called the Council together at Telequah and sent in a message recommending the severance of their connection with the United States and an alliance with the Southern Confederacy. The Council approved of the recommendation, and appointed Commissioners to make a treaty of alliance with the Southern Government. The Confederate Commissioner had assumed the payment of the annuities hitherto received by the. Cherokees from the National Government. The Creeks had raised one thousand men for service in the Confederate army, and the Cherokees formed a Home Guard of twelve hundred strong.— (Doc. 63½.)

—Col. St. George Cooke, of the Utah forces, arrived at St. Louis to-day. His regulars, six hundred strong, will reach Fort Leavenworth in three or four days.—St. Louis Republican, Oct. 2.

—At Hatteras Inlet the steamer Fanny, with stores for the United States Volunteers on the north coast, was captured by a party of Confederates in their armed steam-tugs. The Fanny was armed with two rifled brass guns, and had on board thirty-five men of the Ninth New York Volunteer regiment. Her crew were mostly civilians, and upon the appearance of the enemy, abandoned the vessel, and escaped in a small tout. The soldiers were taken prisoners by the rebels.—(Doc. 64.)

September 30.—Early this morning Colonel Geary marched from Point of Rocks to Berlin, Md., with three companies of infantry and two pieces of artillery. Immediately upon his arrival there he opened upon the rebel works with shell, and in a half hour dislodged the rebels effectually from every position they occupied.— Baltimore American.

September 29.—General Price, commander of the rebel forces at Lexington, Mo., commenced the evacuation of that place.—Baltimore American, October 5.

—Governor Moore, of Louisiana, issued orders to compel all persons subject to the militia laws to drill every evening, these refusing or evading to be recorded on the black list as suspicious and enemies to the South. No home guards allowed unless foreigners or over age. Full authority to enforce discipline by court martial was given; the men to bring such arms as they had.— Cincinnati Commercial, Oct. 7.

—Tub Ninth regiment of Iowa Volunteers, Col. Vandeveer, arrived at St. Louis, Mo., from Dubuque, on two steamers—the Denmark and the Canada. Soon after arriving they marched from the boats, at the foot of Washington avenue, to the levee. They are a splendid body of men, hardy and muscular, and are fine material for the campaign in Missouri. Their exact concert of motion, their steady, solid tread, betoken superior drill. They are only partially uniformed, and had no arms on their arrival. This regiment—officers and men—are a quiet-looking, steady, determined set of men. Captain Hayden’s company of artillery, with six pieces, accompany the Iowa Ninth.—St. Louis Democrat, September 30.

—This morning, about one o’clock, as some of the Federal regiments were advancing in the neighborhood of Munson’s Hill, Va., Colonel Owen’s Irish regiment mistook a portion of Colonel Baker’s for secessionists, and commenced firing upon them. The fire was returned, and before the mistake was discovered nine men were killed and about Twenty-five wounded. Among the killed were three officers.

During the day some disgraceful acts were committed by a portion of the Federal troops, such as the burning of several houses, stables, &c. These acts met the decided reprobation of General McClellan.—National Intelligencer, September 30.

—A brisk fight took place at the bridge across James Bayou, six miles southwest of Norfolk, Ky. A force of about one hundred Federals were guarding the bridge, when a force of rebels, some two or three hundred strong, infantry and cavalry, approached with the intention of destroying it. The Federals came back to the side of the bayou, and after heavy firing on each side for a while, the rebels withdrew, leaving one man badly wounded and several dead bodies in the field.—Dubuque Times, Oct. 2.

—Acting Governor Root, of Kansas, issued orders that every man in the State, between eighteen and forty-five years, should enroll himself in the militia, and that each company be ready for immediate marching orders.—National Intelligencer, Sept. 30.

September 28.—A foraging expedition from Gen. Franklin’s division was sent out in considerable force from their encampment. They went eight miles from Alexandria to Edsall’s Hill, on the Orange and Alexandria railroad. The pickets of the rebels retired to Springfield station, a mile and a half beyond Edsall’s Hill. The detachments which went out for forage, had s fine view of the country, but saw no signs of the enemy having had defences of any kind. The foraging party was quite successful in obtaining large quantities of hay, corn, and oats, which they removed to camp. There was no molestation from the enemy. A company visited the Mount Vernon estate of John A. Washington, and brought away about eight hundred bushels of wheat, near five hundred bushels of oats, and seventy-five barrels of fish; all of which was stored in the commissary’s depot at Alexandria.—National Intelligencer, Oct. 1.

—At Cumberland, Md., a Union meeting was held. Speeches were delivered by Messrs. Bradford and Maffit. The “wickedness of the rebellion was portrayed in its true colors; and the deceitfulness of secession under the hypocritical guise of a ‘peace party,’ was fully exposed.”— Cumberland Civilian, October 3.

—The Fourth regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Thomas J. Whipple, passed through Jersey City, N. J., en route to Washington. The regiment is well provided with all the necessaries peculiar to the movable soldier, and has twenty-two baggage-wagons, one ambulance, one hospital, and ninety-five horses, which are provided entirely for accommodation and comfort. It numbers one thousand men, who are armed with the Enfield rifle.

Colonel Whipple is well known as having bravely borne himself in the Mexican war. He is from the same State as the volunteers he now commands. On the 9th of April, 1847, he was made a First Lieutenant of the Ninth infantry, and in the following month he was placed on the staff of his regiment as Adjutant. He was appointed Volunteer Aide-de-camp to Brigadier-General Lane, and distinguished himself in the battle of Atlixco. He resigned from the service on the 23d of February, 1848; but now he is again found ready to take the field.

—Munson’s Hill, Va., was evacuated by the rebels this morning. About ten o’clock the pickets reported to General Richardson that the rebel pickets had been drawn in, and subsequent observation confirmed the report. Information of this fact was telegraphed this afternoon to General McClellan, who at once crossed the ferry at Georgetown with his Staff, and rode to Bailey’s Cross Roads. They then followed the course of the railroad to Upton House and Hill. They saw only half a dozen horsemen on Munson’s Hill. General Wadsworth moved to the right and front with a body of skirmishers, and Captain Colburn, of General McClellan’s Staff, skirmished to the left, without encountering any of the enemy. General Richardson then moved forward with a body of troops toward the hill, the rebel horsemen retiring as they approached. They entered the work with out difficulty, and found that the rebels had taken every thing of value with them. Eight regiments were moved forward to the outposts. A portion of Richardson’s Brigade and a portion of McDowell’s Division occupy Munson’s Hill.

The fort on Munson’s Hill is a closed work, and a great deal of laber has been expended upon it. The site was not well selected, as it is fully commanded by Upton’s Hill, which is now held by the national forces.—(Doc. 61.)