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

September 16.—An expedition from Hatteras Inlet, under the command of Lieutenants Maxwell and Eastman, of the steamer Pawnee, visited Ocracoke Inlet and destroyed Fort Oregon, a fine fortification at that place. The expedition was entirely successful.—(Doc. 51.)

—The gunboat Conestoga captured the steamers V. R. Stephenson and Gazelle, on the Cumberland River, Ky. The Stephenson had fifty tons of iron aboard. The Gazelle was without a cargo.—Louisville Journal, September 19.

—Ship Island, near the mouth of the Mississippi River, was evacuated by the rebels and immediately taken possession of by the National forces.—(Doc. 52.)

—Major French, the commanding officer at Key West, published the following important order; its promulgation caused a vast amount of commotion among the secessionists:

Headquarters U. S. Troops

Key West Florida, September 16, 1861

I. Within ten days from this date all male citizens of the Island of Key West who have taken the oath of allegiance will send their names to these head-quarters to be registered.

II. Within thirty days from this date all the citizens of this island are required to take the oath of allegiance to the United States.

III. At the termination of sixty days all citizens of this island who have failed or refused to take the oath of allegiance to the United States will be removed from Key West. This will also apply to their families and the families of these who have left the island to join the Confederate States.

Wm. H. French,

Brevet-Major U. S. A., Commanding.

—The Washington Grays, Forty-seventh regiment N. Y. S. V., commanded by Colonel Henry Moore, left East New York for the seat of war.—N. Y. Times, September 17.

—There was an interesting ceremony at General Smith’s camp near Washington, this afternoon. Some days ago, General McClellan gave directions that the flags of the Seventy-ninth should be restored to the regiment. This afternoon the regiment marched to the parade-ground of the brigade, for the purpose of receiving the banners, which were escorted to the field by the Third Vermont regiment. The two regiments being drawn up in line, facing each other, the colors were saluted, and then transferred from the Vermont to the Highland regiment. On transferring the banners, General Smith thus addressed them:

Soldiers of the Seventy-ninth: By direction of the Major-General commanding, I restore to your custody the banners of the regiment. Since you have been under my command yon have earned them. I hope that when any opportunity offers you will prove yourselves worthy of them.

The Seventy-ninth then saluted the colors, and a salvo of artillery from Captain Mott’s battery of thirty-two pounders also greeted them. After these ceremonies the troops were reviewed by General Smith, the two regiments warmly cheering each other as they marched from the field.—N. Y. Times, September 17.

—Governor Hicks of Maryland issued his proclamation exhorting the observance of the last Thursday in this month, as appointed by the President of the United States, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. — Baltimore American, September 18.

—General Price commenced an attack on the intrenchments at Lexington, Mo., commanded by Colonel Mulligan, this morning. The fight lasted all day, and was very severe. General Price assaulted the works, and was repulsed with severe loss.—N. Y. Herald, September 20.

—The Forty-sixth regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Knipe, left Harrisburg for the seat of war, being the first instalment of the last requisition on Governor Curtin. The regimental colors were presented by Governor Curtin.

The Second Buffalo regiment, under command of Colonel D. D. Bidwell, left for New York.

The Forty-third regiment N. Y. S. V., under the command of Colonel Francis L. Vinton, left Albany to-night for the scat of war. They are a fine body of men, fully equipped and armed. —N. Y. Times, September 17.

—The Provost-marshal’s Police seized over two hundred muskets and a lot of ammunition, to-day, which were found buried in the establishment of Messrs. Egerton & Keys, on North street, at Baltimore, Md. The guns are of Harper’s Ferry manufacture. The Police also seized a lot of muskets at the armory of the Independent Greys, on North High street.—Baltimore American, September 17.

—The Fremont Rifle regiment N. Y. S. V., under the command of Colonel Rudolph Rosa, left their encampment at Turtle Bay Brewery, New York, for the seat of war on the Potomac. —N. Y. Times, September 18.

September 15.—The British brig Mystery, of St. Johns, N. B., was seized by the Surveyor of the port of New York, to-day, under suspicion of having run the blockade at Georgetown, S. C. Letters of instruction and the charter party, found on board, clearly show that there was a plan to land a cargo of ice at that rebel port, but the Consular certificate at Havana proves that the Mystery entered the latter port on the 7th of August, with the identical cargo of ice, and two days afterward cleared for Matanzas, where she received a cargo of sugar, and then sailed for the North, coming into the port of New York.—N. Y. Times, September 17.

—The Second regiment, of Kansas Volunteers, arrived at Leavenworth, from Holla, Mo. —Ohio Statesman, September 21.

—Col. F. P. Blair, Jr., was ordered by the Provost-marshal, at St. Louis, Mo., to report himself under arrest on the general charge of using disrespectful language when alluding to superior officers.—Louisville Journal, Sept. 17.

—About three o’clock this afternoon a force of five hundred rebels attacked a portion of the troops under Col. Geary, stationed about three miles above Harper’s Ferry, on the Potomac. Col. Geary commanded in person, and the fight lasted about three hours. The enemy were driven from every house and breastwork, and no less than seventy-five of them are reported, as killed and wounded. The National loss is one killed and a few slightly wounded. The troops behaved like veterans. Companies B, D, and I, of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania regiment, and two companies of the Thirteenth Massachusetts, were engaged in the conflict. During the fight a rebel was seen taking aim at Col. Geary, when the colonel grasped a rifle from a soldier and shot him on the spot.—(Doc. 50.)

—The Thirty-ninth Ohio, Colonel Groesbeck; Third Iowa, Lieutenant-Colonel Scott; Sixteenth Illinois, Colonel Smith, with a force of the Missouri State Militia and Iowa State troops, under Colonels Craynon and Edwards; three hundred regulars and irregular cavalry and six pieces of artillery, under Captain Madison, left St. Joseph and Chillicothe, Mo., in two columns for Lexington, to-day, on their way to reinforce Colonel Mulligan.—N. Y. Herald, September 20.

—This morning the Abbé McMaster, proprietor and editor of the Freeman’s Appeal, a peace organ of New York city, was arrested by the United States Marshal, Mr. Murray, and sent to Fort Lafayette, on a charge of treasonable matter contained in his paper.—N. Y. Herald, September 17.

September 14.—Last night an expedition from the United States steam frigate Colorado, under the command of Lieutenant John H. Russell, cut out the rebel privateer Judah, from under the guns of the forts at Pensacola Navy Yard, and totally destroyed her by fire. The National loss was three killed and fifteen wounded.— (Doc. 49.)

—The Philadelphia Inquirer, of this morning says: “It is understood that the property of Robert Tyler, a traitor, was seized yesterday at Bristol, Pa., by order of the Government of the United States. This property includes real estate and household goods. Robert Tyler first appeared before the public of Pennsylvania about twenty years ago, in the character of a lawyer without clients, and with no very good references as to his past career, he married the daughter of Thomas Cooper, the celebrated actor, having become acquainted with her at Bristol, the residence of her father. He took up his abode at that place during the summer months, and became an active orator in behalf of the Irish cause, in the excitement which preceded the riots of 1844. He won many friends by his oratorical powers. He was afterward appointed Clerk of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a position worth ten or twelve thousand dollars per annum. While thus in the service of the Government, he lost no opportunity, during the early stages of this rebellion, to uphold the South and denounce the North. His denunciations became so violent, that immediately after the fall of Sumter he was obliged to leave the city, and now holds a subordinate position in the Treasury Department of the so-called Confederate Government at Richmond. His treason has availed him but little.”

—Considerable excitement was created at Kansas City, Mo., to-day, by the appearance of rebel scouts. A company of twenty mounted men was sent over from Kansas City in the morning, who discovered a rebel camp of from two hundred to three hundred men, some six miles distant from the Missouri River. An additional force was detailed in the afternoon, who killed seven of the rebels and took six prisoners, with the same number of horses, and destroyed their barracks. Only one of the Union men was wounded.—N. Y. Herald, September 21.

—A Detachment of Col. Young’s Cavalry, under Captain White, arrested three spies, today, near Port Tobacco, Maryland, and brought them to Washington, D. C. On their persons was found topographic and other information designed for transmission to the enemy.—N. Y. Times, September 18.

September 13.—In Western Virginia the rebels commenced to advance yesterday morning on both pikes toward Elkwater and Cheat Mountain summit. They succeeded in surrounding the fort on the summit and cut the telegraph wire. They continued to advance on Elkwater until within two miles of the National troops, when a few shells from Loomis’s battery dispersed them. Skirmishing was kept up all night, and this morning two regiments were sent to cut their way through to the summit. They succeeded in this expedition, the rebels retreating in all directions.

Two rebel officers who were spying around the camp at Elkwater this morning were surprised by our pickets and shot. The body of one of them was brought into camp, and proved to be that of Col. John A. Washington, of Mount Vernon, Virginia.—(Doc. 48.)

—General Sturgis of the National army with a regiment of infantry, two companies of cavalry, and one of artillery, took possession of St. Joseph’s, Missouri.

—The Second regiment of Delaware Militia, left Wilmington for Cambridge, Maryland.— Baltimore American, September 16.

—A Fight took place at Booneville, Mo., this morning between a party of rebels under Colonel Brown and the Home Guards under Captain Eppstein, which terminated in the victory of the latter. The Home Guards held their intrenchments against the rebels, one thousand strong, who were driven back with a loss of twelve killed and thirty wounded. The Home Guards lost only one killed and four wounded. Among the killed of the rebels were Col. Brown and Capt. Brown.—National Intelligencer, September 17.

—A Union meeting was held at Fairfield, Connecticut, this evening, at which patriotic addresses were made by Rev. Dr. Osgood of New York, Rev. Mr. Stimson of Fairfield, and John H. Glover. The following resolutions offered by Dr. Osgood were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the great practical question now at issue before the people of this country lies between supporting or destroying the Government of the United States, and that all good citizens and patriots are called to rally to its support, without distinction of party, and do all in their power to put down the rebellion and treason that are now in arms against our rulers, our Constitution, and our laws.

Resolved, That we appoint delegates, without distinction of party, to represent the town of Fairfield at the great Union meeting at Bridgeport to-morrow.

—The Provost-marshal of Baltimore, Md., this morning, before break of day, arrested Mayor Brown, Ross Winans, Charles H. Pitts, Lawrence Sangster, S. T. Wallis, and T. P. Scott, members of the Maryland Legislature, F. H. Howard, editor of the Exchange, and delivered them at Fort McHenry. He also arrested Messrs. Dennison, Quinlan, and Dr. Lynch, members of the Legislature from Baltimore County; Henry M. Warfield, Dr. J. Hansom, Thomas and John C. Brune, members of the Legislature from Baltimore City; also Thomas J. Hall, Jr., editor of the Baltimore South. All the arrests were made pursuant to orders from the United States War Department.—N. Y. Evening Post, September 13.

—The rebels appeared to-day in large numbers in Shepherdstown, Virginia, and commenced firing on the Unionists on the Maryland side of the Potomac.

Several cannon were brought out. When the Unionists, under command of Colonel Anderson, brought two of their guns to bear upon them from London Hill, opposite the town, and opened with ball and grape they soon silenced the rebel battery and destroyed several houses. A flag of truce was sent from the rebels, proposing a cessation of firing.—N. Y. Herald, Sept. 10.

—This afternoon the rebel steamer Yorktown ran within three miles of Newport News, Va., and opened fire upon the camp and blockading squadron, which consisted of the Savannah, Cumberland, and the gunboat Louisiana. She fired twenty-five shells, one of which exploded near the Savannah. Other shells fell considerably short. The guns of the Cumberland and Savannah could not reach the Yorktown, but a couple of shells from Sawyer’s gun on shore caused her to retire. One of the shells exploded three-fourths of a mile beyond the steamer.

About four o’clock a party sent out to cut fuel encountered two hundred Confederate Cavalry and an equal number of Infantry about three miles from Newport News. The teamsters left their wagons and galloped to give the alarm, but no further demonstration was made, and the wagons were afterward brought into camp.—National Intelligencer, September 16.

September 12.—Captain Kid’s Cavalry company from New Creek, and a company of Infantry from Fort Pendleton, made a descent upon a camp of secessionists at Petersburg, Hardy County, Virginia. One shot from a twelve-pounder scattered the rebels like chaff. Several of them were killed and wounded and a number of prisoners taken. The camp and all its equipage destroyed. Three six-horse teams, twenty horses, six thousand bushels of corn, and a lot of guns and uniforms were captured. The expedition was entirely successful and gallantly conducted.

—A skirmish occurred at Black River, twelve or fifteen miles southwest of Ironton, Mo., between three companies of Indiana Cavalry under Major Gavitt, and a body of secessionists under the notorious Ben. Talbot, in which five of the rebels were killed and four taken prisoners, and thirty-five horses and a quantity of arms captured. The balance scattered in all directions, and being familiar with the county, eluded pursuit.

—The anniversary of the battle of Baltimore was celebrated in that city to-day with more than ordinary demonstrations on the part of the loyal citizens. The National flag was displayed from the public buildings, hotels, and all loyal newspaper offices, numerous private houses, shipping, etc., and the various camps. Gen. Dix issued an order for firing salutes and dress parades in honor of the day at the various camps at three o’clock. The New York Fifth regiment, Zouaves, made a grand dress parade from their fortified camps on Federal Hill through the city, passing around the different monuments. The Association of Old Defenders made their usual parade with their old flag, which they have not deserted as yet. The only demonstration of a character contrary to the patriotic spirit of the day was in the manner in which a few secession storekeepers arranged their goods to indicate their Southern principles, such as hanging out rolls of red and white flannel, or, as in one instance, displaying three flannel shirts—two red ones with a white one in the centre.—N. Y. Tribune, Sept. 13.

—The city authorities of Louisville, Ky., seized a large number of the concealed arms recently in possession of the State Guard.— N. Y. Tribune, September 13.

—General Buckner, at Russellville, Kentucky, issued an address to the people of that State, calling upon them to rally for their own defence against the usurpations of Abraham Lincoln and the “insane despotism of Puritanical New England.” The address abounds in misrepresentation, as to the policy of the National Government.—(Doc. 44.)

—A meeting of prominent citizens was held at the Astor House, New York, with a view to “organize some plan to advance the movement for the abolition of slavery.”—N. Y. Times, September 13.

—The following despatch was received tonight at the head-quarters of the Army at Washington, D. C.:

St. Louis, September 12, 1861. Col. E. D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.: The report of Gen. Pope to-day from Hunneville, says he made night marches on Green last Sunday, who, however, got notice of his approach, but was successful in completing the dispersion of three thousand rebel forces, leaving behind them much baggage, provisions, and forage; also the public property seized by Green at Shelberne. Gen. Pope’s infantry was too much fatigued to pursue. The horsemen, however, followed in pursuit ten or fifteen miles, until the enemy scattered. The railroad east of Brookfall is open, and no more secession camps will be made within twenty miles. Gen. Grant telegraphs that the first gun is in position at Fort Holt, Kentucky.

J. C. Fremont,

Major-General Commanding.

—The Legislature of Kentucky passed a series of resolutions, authorizing the governor to call out the military force of that State to expel and drive out the Southern invaders.— (Doc. 45.)

—A detachment of three hundred men from the Fourteenth Indiana, and Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Ohio regiments, dispersed three Tennessee regiments under General Anderson to-day, on the west side of Cheat Mountain, Va., completely routing them, killing eighty and obtaining most of their equipments. The National loss was eight killed.—N. Y. Herald, Sept. 17.

—Two slaves, the property of Thomas L. Snead, a secessionist of St. Louis, Missouri, were manumitted this day in accordance with, the proclamation of General Fremont of August 30th.—(Doc. 46.)

—A resolution passed the Board of Aldermen of Louisville, Ky., providing for the appointment of a committee from both boards of the General Council with instructions to inquire into the loyalty to the Union of the members of that department of the city government.— Louisville Journal, September 13.

—An order was issued prohibiting the carrying of the Baltimore Exchange in the United States mails. It is the worst secession sheet in America, and ought to have been stopped long before the Journal of Commerce and News were touched.—N. Y. World, September 13.

September 11.—Six rebels from Memphis, Mo., some of whom were identified as having served under Green, were arrested to-day near Salem, Iowa. They had with them a drove of one hundred and eighty cattle, which they said was for Chicago; the men were held as prisoners at Mount Pleasant.—N. Y. Herald, Sept. 13.

—A large party started out at seven o’clock this morning from the vicinity of the Chain Bridge, above Washington, under the command of Colonel Stevens, of the New York Highlanders. It consisted of several detached companies of infantry, a company of cavalry, and Captain Griffin’s battery. As the skirmishers advanced, the enemy’s pickets retired beyond Lewinsville, about seven miles from the Chain Bridge. The troops, having accomplished the object of their mission connected with the reconnoissance of the country, began to retrace their steps, when a large force of rebels, consisting of two regiments of infantry and Colonel Stuart’s regiment of Virginia cavalry, with a battery of four pieces, were seen approaching from the direction of Falls Church, evidently with a view of cutting them off and preventing their return to their camp; and line of battle was formed by the remainder of their forces. The rebel battery then opened with shell, which was replied to from Griffin’s battery. Several rounds were fired on each side, when the National troops ceased firing for about twenty minutes, in order to give the rebels an opportunity, which they would not embrace, of meeting them on the field—the rebels being for the greater part concealed in the woods. The National forces, on resuming operations, brought into action a thirty-two pounder, the shell from which soon silenced the rebel battery. The gun was then directed toward the cavalry, which appeared on the road leading to Fall’s Church, and soon sent them flying, a number reeling from their saddles and falling to the ground. The shells exploded in their midst. The command was then given to withdraw, and the Federal column fell back in good order to Chain Bridge, reaching there late in the afternoon.—(Doc. 42.)

—Thc Legislature of Kentucky adopted a resolution directing the Governor to issue a proclamation ordering the rebel troops encamped in that State to evacuate the soil of Kentucky. The resolution was passed by seventy-one yeas against twenty-six nays. A counter resolution, ordering both Union and rebel troops to leave the soil, was negatived under the rules of order. This action of the Legislature demonstrates the loyalty of Kentucky to the Union, without the slightest shadow of question or contradiction.

—Collector Palmer, at Stonington, Conn., this day seized the bark Cavallo from New York, Captain Washington. The schooner R. Fowler of New York, Captain Eldridge, was seized on the 9th. Beth vessels were taken under the confiscation act.

—Colonel James W. Wall, at Burlington, N. J., was arrested this afternoon by the United States Marshal, and taken to New York by the afternoon train. The arrest produced most intense excitement among the people, as Colonel Vail had been a leading man for many years.—Trenton Gazette, September 12.

—Charles Henry Foster, claiming to be a Congressman-elect from North Carolina, called upon the President, and tendered the services of a brigade of loyalists for the war.—N. Y. Herald, September 12.

—Paducah, Ky., being occupied by United States troops, the Postmaster-General directed its late mail facilities to be reestablished. They were cut off because the mails were tampered with there and in that vicinity by the secessionists.—National Intelligencer, September 11.

—The First Massachusetts regiment, under command of Colonel Cowdin, two companies of General Sickles’ New York Brigade, and two companies of Colonel Young’s Kentucky Cavalry, passed through Upper Marlboro, Md., and crossed the Patuxent into Anne Arundel County.—Baltimore American, September 18.

—With the view to promoting the health and comfort of the troops in and near St. Louis, Gen. Fremont appointed a Sanitary Committee of five gentlemen who shall serve voluntarily and be rewarded at the pleasure of the General. The object of this commission shall be to carry out such sanitary regulations and reforms as the well-being of the soldiers demands. It shall have authority, under directions of the medical director, to select and fit up and furnish suitable buildings for the army and brigade hospitals in places and in such manner as circumstances require, attend to the selection of women and nurses under the authority of Miss Dix, to cooperate with the surgeons of the various hospitals in finding male nurses, to consult with the commanding and regimental officers with regard to sanitary and general condition of troops and aid them in providing proper means for the preservation of health and preventing sickness by wholesome and well-cooked food, and obtain from the community at large such additional means of increasing the comforts, promoting the moral and social welfare of the men in camp and hospital as may be needed and cannot be furnished by Government regulations. The committee is not intended to interfere with the medical staff or other officers of the army, but to cooperate with them and aid them in the discharge of their present arduous duties.— Louisville Journal, September 13.

—The President issued a letter to Gen. Fremont, stating that the General’s late proclamation relating to the emancipation of the slaves of rebel owners must be interpreted in conformity with the recent act of Congress bearing on the question.—(Doc. 43.)

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Late addition to Volume 3:

September 7.—The Richmond Examiner of this day gives the following on the rebel commands in Virginia: The armies of Gen. Johnston and Beauregard have been temporarily combined, and styled the “Army of the Potomac.” While united for certain purposes, they are still distinct as ever in their organization and in the details of command. General Beauregard is at the head of the first corps and Gen. Johnston of the second. While the latter is the ranking officer of seniority of appointment, and could, according to regulation, assume entire command of the army, yet, with that deference for the feelings and soldierly reputation of his illustrious comrade, he has waived the right and remits to him the full enjoyment of all the authority and prerogative which he had anterior to his own arrival at Manassas. The commands are in all essentials distinct, and no order of a general character is ever issued by General Johnston without full and free interchange of opinion with General Beauregard. To say that this conduct is not appreciated by General Beauregard would do gross injustice to that gallant officer, and it gives us pleasure to inform our readers that nothing can exceed the mutual feeling of affection, respect, and confidence existing between our two distinguished Generals. There is no clashing of authority, no contention, no heart-burning. Every thing moves on in the army with the most perfect accord and good feeling. Nothing additional is reported as to movements on the Potomac. Our troops are steadily fortifying their advanced positions, and extending their lines in every direction. Regiments go down daily as reliefs to these on duty in the advance, so as to distribute the hardships of the forward positions. Meanwhile the whole army is on the alert. Nothing can exceed the enthusiasm of these troops or their anxiety for battle. A few days since the balloon came over in the direction of Munson Hill, where Captain Rosser, of the Louisiana Artillery, had several rifled pieces. When about a mile off, he fired at it, without disturbing its occupants. Sighting another of his pieces with more care, he repeated the experiment with a better result. This time the balloon disappeared earthwards with startling rapidity, and has not been seen since.

September 10.—President Lincoln, Secretary Cameron, Governor Curtin and suite visited the Pennsylvania regiments to-day. The President introduced the Governor and Mrs. Curtin, Secretary Cameron and General McClellan, who were received with enthusiastic cheering. A hand-shaking then took place, General McClellan cordially greeting officers and men. Each man had something cheering to say to the General. One man said, “General, we are anxious to wipe out Bull Run; hope you will allow us to do it soon?” “Very soon, if the enemy does not run,” was the prompt response.

At last Captain Barker, of the Chicago cavalry corps, composing the escort, appealed to the troops not to crowd the General too hard, or shake his hand too much, as before he slept he had a long way to travel, and much writing to do with the hand they were shaking. He promised if they would fall back the General would say a few words to them. They instantly complied, when the General, removing his hat, spoke as follows:—

Soldiers: We have had our last retreat. We have seen our last defeat. You stand by me, and I will stand by you, and henceforth victory will crown our efforts.

— The Eighth regiment of Maine Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Leo Strickland of Livermore, passed through Boston, Mass., on their way to the seat of war. The regiment musters about eight hundred men, recruited from all parts of Maine. They are uniformed in the regular army uniform, a dark blue coat, light blue pantaloons, and a black felt hat. They marched in excellent order, although they have had but little opportunity to drill, as yet. They were without arms, but will receive them at the camp. — Boston Advertiser, September 11.

— The gunboats Conestoga and Lexington left Cairo and reconnoitred down the Mississippi River to-day. They encountered a battery of sixteen guns at Lucas Bend, on the Missouri shore, and two rebel gunboats. They silenced the rebel batteries and disabled the rebel gunboat Yankee, and would have captured her had she not been supported near Columbus. One of the Conestoga’s men was slightly injured. The loss of the rebels is not known.

Twenty national scouts were to-day driven into Col. Oglesby’s camp by two hundred rebels. There are no less than fifteen thousand rebels in camp at Columbus, and they were largely reinforced yesterday. — N. Y. World, September 12.

—At Philadelphia, Pa., William H. Winder, a brother of John H. Winder of the rebel army, was arrested, and all his correspondence and effects seized. Some of the correspondence reveals the way of thinking in the South, prior to Mr. Lincoln’s election, showing conclusively a foregone intention to disrupt the Union. Others detail fragments of conversation to which James Buchanan was a party, and exhibit a general baseness of sentiment in the presence of that functionary which might, at this time, be construed into treason. Winder was the Philadelphia correspondent of the New York Daily News, as copies of his letters were found pasted carefully in blanks, with notes and interpolations. — Philadelphia Press, September 12.

One hundred and Fifty-six of the Union prisoners, selected chiefly from among the members of the New York, Massachusetts, and Michigan regiments, were sent from Richmond, Va, to Castle Pinckney, in Charleston harbor. Among them were Colonel Wilcox, of the Michigan First; Colonel Corcoran, of the New York Sixty-ninth; Lieut.-Colonel Neff, of the Second Kentucky; Major John W. Poster, of the Thirty-eighth New York; Rev. G. W. Dodge, Chaplain of the Eleventh New York; Rev. II. Eddy, Chaplain Second Connecticut; Surgeons Griswold, of the Thirty-eighth New York; Grey, United States Army; Stone, United States Army; Connelly, Second New York; Harris, Second Rhode Island; Captains Downey, Eleventh New York; Fish, Third New York; Farish, Seventy-ninth New York; Drew, Second Vermont; Shurtleff, Seventh Ohio; L. Gordon, Eleventh Massachusetts; Whitington and Jenkins, New York Twenty-fifth; Lieutenants Fay, New York Twenty-fifth ; Hamblin, son of the actor of that name, Thirty-eighth New York; Underhill, Eleventh New York; Worcester, Seventy-first New York; Dempsey, Second New York; Wilcox, Seventh Ohio; Gordon, Second Dragoons United States Army; Caleff, Eleventh Massachusetts; Connelly, Sixty-ninth New York. Captain Ricketts, United States Army, was to have accompanied the party, but is not sufficiently recovered from his wounds to undertake the journey. Included in the number stated above are a number of officers, several of whom are recovering from the effects of the wounds received at the battle of Stone Bridge. The prisoners were marched from the tobacco factories in which they had been confined, to the depot of the Petersburg Railroad, in double files, guarded, by a detachment of fifty men from the Jeff. Davis Louisiana Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant C. W. Brocket, of the rebel army, who are to accompany them all the distance to Charleston. Twenty-five men of the detachment detailed from the Hadison (La.) Infantry, marched ahead of the prisoners, the rear being brought up by twenty-five men of the Natchez (Miss.) Rifles. The party embarked in three cars specially provided for their accommodation, each car being guarded by fifteen Southern soldiers, very fully armed. —Richmond Examiner, Sept. 11.

—A Battle took place about three o’clock this afternoon, near Summersville, Va. General Rosecrans, after making a reconnoissance, found General Floyd’s army—five thousand strong, with sixteen field-pieces—intrenched in a powerful position, on the top of a mountain at Carnifex Ferry, on the west side of Gauley River. The rear and extreme of both flanks were inacessible. The front was masked with heavy forests and a close jungle. Colonel Lytle’s Ohio Tenth regiment of Gen. Benham’s brigade was in advance, and drove a strong detachment of the enemy out of camp this side of the position, the site of which was unknown. Shortly afterward his scouts, consisting of four companies, suddenly discovered themselves in the face of a parapet battery, and a long line of palisades for riflemen, when the battle opened fiercely. The remainder of the Tenth and Thirteenth Ohio were brought into action successively by General Benham, and the Twelfth afterward by Captain Hartsuff, whose object was an armed reconnoissance. The enemy played upon the National forces terrifically, with musketry, rifles, canister and shell, causing some casualties. Colonel Lytle led several companies of Irish to charge the battery, when he was brought down by a shot in the leg. Colonel Smith’s Thirteenth Ohio engaged the rebels on the left, and Colonel Lowe’s Twelfth Ohio directly in the front. Lowe fell dead at the head of his regiment early in the hottest fire, by a ball in the forehead. McMullen’s howitzer battery and Snyder’s two field-pieces meantime were got into the best position possible under the circumstances, and soon silenced two of the rebel guns. The fire slackened at intervals but grew more furious as night approached, when the German brigade was led gallantly into the action by Colonel McCook, under the direction of Adjutant-General Hartsuff, but who, after a furious fight of three hours, ordered the recall of the troops, and the men lay on their arms within a short distance of the enemy all night. The rebel General Floyd fled during the night, and sunk the boats in the river, and destroyed the temporary bridge which he made when he first occupied the position. The turbulence and depth of the river and the exhaustion of the troops made it impossible to follow him. He left his camp equipage, wagons, horses, large quantities of ammunition, and fifty head of cattle. The National troops lost fifteen killed and about seventy wounded, generally flesh wounds. Captain McGroarty, of Cincinnati; Captain McMullen and Lieutenant Snyder, of Ohio, were wounded, but not dangerously. Twenty-five of Colonel Tyler’s men who were taken by Floyd at Cross Lane, were recaptured, and Floyd’s personal baggage, with that of his officers, was taken by General Benham’s brigade, which suffered most. It was commanded by him in person, and Colonel McCook led his brigade. General Rosecrans and General Benham, Colonel McCook, Colonel Lytle, Colonel Lowe, Captain Hartsuff, Captain Snyder, Captain McCullen Burke, of the Tenth Ohio, and the other officers displayed conspicuous personal gallantry. The troops were exclusively from Ohio.—(Doc. 21.)

September 9.—The Richmond Examiner of this day says: “A few days ago Col. Albert Rust, commanding one of the regiments from Arkansas, and now stationed at Monterey, proposed to execute a most daring feat, which, but for untoward circumstances, would doubtless have proved successful and stamped him a hero. Calling for volunteers for his enterprise, he accepted the services of eleven hundred men, and with two days’ rations, and stripped of all superfluous clothing and accoutrements, he took a circuitous trail, intending and expecting it to bring him out in the rear of the enemy at Cheat Mountain. His plan was, so soon as they hove in sight of their camps, to fire but one round from their guns and then to close with the foe and to use the bayonet and bowie-knife. General Jackson was to cooperate with him by menacing and attacking the enemy in front so soon as Rust should develop his arrival in the rear by firing. Unfortunately for the success of the enterprise, the trail had not been previously explored, and, instead of carrying Col. Rust to the enemy’s camp, took him six miles behind it, in a direction which rendered it inaccessible, leaving them no other resources but to execute an immediate retreat. So confidently was success counted on that Gen. Jackson drove in the enemy’s pickets, and waited nearly half a day for the signal of Rust’s arrival in the rear to commence the attack in front.

—This morning a serious revolt took place among the New York Rifles, near the camp at Willett’s Point. An entire company, as far as it had been made up, attempted to desert en masse, at the instigation of Captain Cresto, their commander, in order to join another regiment in New York. They were stopped by a special patrol en route, and ordered to return to the camp, and on refusing they were fired upon by the patrol. Two men were killed on the spot and five were severely wounded. Captain Oresto and several of the men were arrested, and the affair was investigated.—N. Y. Herald, September 11.

—In the Senate of Kentucky, Mr. Whitaker introduced a series of resolutions declaring that the peace and neutrality of the State had been wantonly violated by the so-called Southern Confederacy, and calling upon the people to rise and repel the lawless invaders. Governor Magoffin transmitted to the Senate despatches from the confederate General Polk, in which he proposed that the national and “confederate” forces should be simultaneously withdrawn from Kentucky, and that both parties stipulate to observe the neutrality of the State.—(Doc. 40.)

—The Richmond Enquirer of this date has the following: General A. Sydney Johnston has, as we anticipated several days since, been assigned to the Department of the West, and put in immediate command of the operations now in progress on the Upper Mississippi. A better selection for so important a command could not have been made.

—Dr. Robert Ogden Doremus, the celebrated chemist of New York, has made an invention that promises remarkable results in the use of gunpowder. It is made into the form of a paste and is affixed to the Minié ball and becomes hard as rock, so that it can be thrown any distance and not break. The powder is made in the form of a cannon ball, and can be carried in any form that a cannon ball can be. It is also made impervious to water. Experiments have been made, and the matter satisfactorily tested at West Point. A great saving is made in the quantity of powder used, as none is wasted, and the whole is as cheap as common powder.

—This evening as a Government steamer was conveying prisoners from Lexington, Missouri, to Fort Leavenworth, she broke her rudder and was obliged to land, when the boat was seized by a body of secessionists, the prisoners liberated, and forty Federal soldiers captured. —Baltimore American, September 18.

—An immense Union war meeting was held in Faneuil Hall at Boston, Mass., this evening. The “Old Cradle of Liberty” was packed, and every arena leading to it. Thousands were unable to gain admittance to the Hall. Hon. B. F. Thomas presided, and was assisted by the Mayors of numerous cities. All parties were represented.

The crowd was so immense on the outside that several meetings were organized. Judge Lord addressed the gathering in the Hall in a patriotic strain, saying that all the hopes of humanity, civilization, and Christianity were bound up in the present contest. Resolutions in support of the policy of the National Government were offered by William C. Williamson, and enthusiastically adopted. Letters from Robert C. Wintrop, General Butler, and others were also read. Both in the Hall and the vast outside gathering the most enthusiastic patriotism was evinced by the dense masses. Such a demonstration Massachusetts has not seen since the days of the Revolution.—(Doc. 41.)

—Another fiendish attempt to destroy the lives of the National soldiers was made a day or two since on the North Missouri Railroad. The timbers of a bridge near Sturgeon were partially burned, in expectation that a train laden with troops would be precipitated into the creek below, but the design of the villains being known, the train stopped at Mexico, and the troops encamped at that place, where they remained until the bridge was repaired.—Louisville Journal, September 13.

September 8.—Yesterday, at Hatteras Inlet, N. C., the schooners Mary Ward, of Edenton, N. C., Daniel Hayman, Captain; the Ocean Wave, of Washington, N. C., Adam Warren, Captain; the Susan Jane, of Plymouth, N. C., David Ireland, Captain, all from the Island of St. Martin, were taken prizes. The Ward and the Wave came square into the inlet, and were boarded by Lieut. Crosby, to whom the captains unsuspectingly committed themselves as being in the illegal trade, and by whom they were taken prisoners and their vessels secured as prizes. They were loaded with salt and molasses. The Susan Jane was seen in the offing standing off and on suspiciously. Lieut. Crosby took the Fanny, with Col. Hawkins on beard, and went out of the inlet to watch her movements. Apparently suspecting that something was out of joint, she stood off, when the Fanny pursued and gave her a shot at long range which did not have the effect to bring her to. At the suggestion of Colonel Hawkins, a secession flag was extemporized and let fly from the Fanny, in answer to which the schooner ran up the Palmetto flag of South Carolina, and at the same time tacked and came round. Soon after, however, seeming to smell a rat, she altered her course and stood off again, and tried to haul down her flag, but did not succeed, on account of its getting tangled. Perceiving that she was making off, Lieutenant Crosby let her have a shot across her bow, whereat she came round and made directly for the Fanny. On coming up, Lieutenant Crosby went aboard and directed the captain to follow the Fanny in. While on their way, Lieutenant Crosby had the following conversation with Captain Ireland: “Is that your flag?” asked Lieutenant C. “Yes, that is the flag I live, fight, and hope to die under,” replied the captain, and he added, “we have cheated the Yankees this time.” “I have to inform you,” said Lieutenant Crosby, “that on the 28th day of August the American fleet made its appearance off this place and commenced to bombard Forts Hatteras and Clark, while a land force landed; that Fort Clark was silenced that day; that on the day following Fort Hatteras was bombarded and captured, with more than seven hundred prisoners; that both forts are now occupied by Federal troops; that I am a United States officer, you my prisoner, and your ship a prize. It is all right, is it not, captain?” The captain instantly collapsed, and took to hard drink.

To-day the Hamet Ryan, Captain Wm. Nixon, appeared off the inlet, and finally stood in. Lieutenant Crosby, with the Fanny, went out, and took her in tow. She proved to be from Halifax, bound to Washington, N. C., with an assorted cargo, previously purchased in New York, consisting of one hundred and forty dozen army brogans, hats, caps, army supplies, and camp and garrison tools, for the rebels. Important papers were found on board, disclosing the extent to which this sort of trade is carried on under the English flag, and implicating certain leading New York houses in it.—(Doc. 39½.)

—Mb. George W. Alexander, who, being implicated in the seizure of the steamboat St. Nicholas, was detained a prisoner at Fort McHenry, made his escape lost night. He was, about four weeks ago, taken from a cell in which he had been confined and placed in a room within the walls of the fort, near the guard-house, on his parole of honor not to attempt to escape “at night.” The following is a copy of the parole, in his own handwriting:

“I, George W. Alexander, Lieutenant, prisoner of war of the United States, at Fort McHenry, Md., do hereby solemnly pledge myself, upon my honor, that if allowed to occupy the guard-room at night, instead of the cells, I will make no attempt to escape during that period.

G. W. Alexander

“Lt. V. A. C. 8.”

In consequence of this dishonorable abuse of a privilege granted by the commander of Fort McHenry, it is ordered that in future no access or communication whatever be had with other prisoners by their friends outside.—National Intelligencer, September 11.

—At Baltimore, Md., this morning, A. Williamson, a coachmaker, was arrested, charged with treason against the National Government. A few days previous it was ascertained that he had been engaged by certain parties to make a wagon with a false top and bottom, to facilitate the transmission of contraband articles south of the Potomac. The accused, after being closely watched, was arrested in the said wagon with a pair of excellent horses, just as he was about leaving his shop. At first he protested his innocence, and invited an investigation. The police soon demonstrated that they were better acquainted with the secrets of his wagon than was supposed, and quickly drew from its secret recesses ample evidence of the guilt of some one. The vehicle had a false floor, and as the police quietly removed it the accused exclaimed, “My God, I am a ruined man.” The articles found embraced among other things some twenty large-size navy revolvers of superior quality, a quantity of gold lace, red flannel, and a package of about one hundred and twenty letters, addressed to parties in Petersburg, Richmond, Norfolk, and Fairfax, some from several first-class business houses in Baltimore. The letters and other articles were sent to Gen. Dix, at Fort McHenry.—Baltimore American, September 9.

—G. L. Bowne, of Key West, Fla., was arrested at Cooperstown, N. Y., on a charge of treason. A large number of letters were found on him from the South, as also other papers of an important character. After the arrest an effort was made to rescue the prisoner by about one hundred of his friends.

The resolute behavior of the officers, and their expressed determination to shoot the first man who persisted in the attempt, prevented the accomplishment of their purpose.—N. Y. Commercial, September 9.