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

August 17.—At Clarksburg, Virginia, this day, Gen. Rosecrans issued the following order in reference to the arrest and discharge of prisoners:

Headquarters Army of Occupation

Clarksburg, Western Va., Saturday, Aug. 17, 1861.

Great looseness and irregularity prevail in the arrest and discharge of prisoners. Much care and discretion must be exercised in the arrest of persons merely suspected, and proofs obtained if possible; but when proofs exist, and particularly when taken with arms in hand, or with any evidence of intention or preparation to pursue other than a perfectly peaceable course, no prisoner whatever will be released, but as soon as practicable he will be forwarded, with a full statement of his case, to these head-quarters. By order of

Brig.-gen. Rosecrans.

Geo. L. Hartsuff,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

—At Louisville, Ky., a peace meeting, called by prominent secessionists for this evening, was held at the Court House in that city. As the crowd entered the hall, many were singing the Star-Spangled Banner. James Speed, a Unionist, was called to the chair, and James Trabue, secessionist, was also nominated by the persons calling the meeting. A division of the house took place, when Speed was declared elected. The secessionists, about one hundred in number, then withdrew shouting for the Southern Confederacy. Speeches were made by Messrs. Speed, Wolf, Harlan, and others, and resolutions were adopted with but one dissenting voice.

The seceders from the meeting reorganized at Concert Hall. James Trabue was called to the chair, and John Bell appointed Secretary. On motion, Wm. Garvin, Wm. Atwood, Samuel Casseday, Wm. Inman, and A. L. Shotwell were appointed a Committee on Resolutions, who, after retirement, reported a series of resolutions, which were adopted unanimously.—(Doc. 191.)

—Yesterday, and to-day the Eighteenth, Twenty-second, Twenty-fourth, and Thirty-third Indiana Regiments left for St. Louis, Mo. Eight companies of a cavalry regiment left for the same destination on Monday last.— Western New Yorker, August 22.

—The statement, several days ago, that the rebels were slowly moving their forces to the line of the Potomac, with a view of entering Maryland and encouraging and supporting the revolutionary spirit in that State with an ultimate design on Washington, is now repeated with increased assurance of its truth, and with inch evidences as cannot be disregarded.

With a view of meeting all possible contingencies which may arise in connection with this subject, the Administration issued an order urgently requesting the governors of the several loyal States to forward immediately to Washington all volunteer regiments or parts of regiments, that are now enrolled within their respective States.

—To-night, between the hours of nine and ten o’clock, a remarkable phenomenon was visible in the western sky. The moon was surrounded by a halo of red, white and blue, extending a distance of seven or eight degrees. The colors were distinctly marked, presenting a beautiful appearance, and attracted the attention of a large number of citizens of Jersey City. The colors were visible about ten minutes.

—Despatches were received at St. Louis, Mo., to-day, stating that a train conveying troops on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, was fired into by secessionists, near Palmyra, and one soldier killed and several wounded. Gen. Pope immediately sent orders to General Hurlburt to take such force as he deemed necessary to Marion County, and quarter them on the people, and levy a contribution of horses, mules, provisions, and such other things as may be useful to the soldiers, to the amount of ten thousand dollars, on the inhabitants of the county, and five thousand dollars on the citizens of Palmyra, as a penalty for this outrage.—Baltimore American, August 19.

—The Sixteenth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Powell T. Wyman, left their encampment at North Cambridge for the seat of war. Colonel Powell and a majority of the staff and line officers are graduates of West Point. Quarter-master Livermore is a son of Hon. Isaac Livermore, of Cambridge, and Gov. Banks (now Gen. Banks) has a brother in the regiment in the person of Capt. Gardner Banks, of Company H.—N. Y. Times, August 19.

—Governor Yates issued a proclamation to the people of Illinois, stating that he has obtained instructions from the Secretary of War to accept all companies that offer themselves for three years’ service; and announcing that all companies which shall report fully organized within twenty days from the 17th inst. will be received; that orders for the transportation, sustenance, and equipment of troops have already been given; that equipments of the best quality will be furnished in the shortest practicable period, and that arms will be procured as soon as possible.—(Doc. 192.)

—Nurses in the army were ordered to receive forty cents per day and one ration.—(Doc. 193.)

August 16.—Colonel Hecker, with his regiment, surprised a body of rebels-, four hundred strong, near Fredericktown, Mo., early this morning. He captured all their camp equipage, and his men ate the breakfast which had just been prepared by the rebels. Twelve prisoners were also taken.—General Prentiss took command of all the forces at Ironton, Mo.—N. Y. World, August 20.

—A New battery, erected by the rebels at a point a mile or two below Aquia Creek, Va., opened fire on the steamer Pocahontas, but inflicted no damage. This is the fourth battery which has been erected at that point. Officers report that, unless the Government takes immediate action to expel the rebels from these positions on the bank of the river, navigation will be completely closed. The enemy’s batteries already command a large part of the Potomac.—Louisville Journal, August 19.

—In the United States Circuit Court, sitting in the city of New York, the Grand Jury brought in a presentment against the Journal of Commerce, Daily News, Day Book, Freeman’s Journal, and Brooklyn Eagle, as aiders and abettors of treason, and recommended that the Court, in its judicial capacity, take cognizance of them. The Judge said he would turn over the presentment to Judge Wilson, at the October term.—(Doc. 189.)

—A Serious affray occurred at Saybrook, Conn., this afternoon. A number of prominent secessionists of the State had called a “peace meeting,” to commence at three o’clock, when a peace, or secession flag was to be raised, and several speeches were to be made. Among the speakers who were announced, and on hand, was W. W. Eaton, of Hartford. The fact becoming known in New Haven, about ninety residents of that city came up on the train this morning. On reaching Saybrook the New Haven boys marched in procession to the flag-staff, upon which it was rumored that a secession flag was to be raised, surrounded it, and immediately proceeded to hoist the Stars and Stripes, when Judge Colyer of Hartford, and a noted secessionist of Saybrook, with others, undertook to prevent the Stars and Stripes from being raised, and cut the halyards, and it is said also made an attempt to use the knife upon some of the New Haven boys, when a desperate affray commenced between the secessionists and Unionists, which resulted in Judge Colyer having one of his cheeks dreadfully cut, and the great peace advocate of Saybrook faring little better. Mr. Eaton was deterred from making his prepared speech; and quiet being restored, Capt. Joseph R. Hawley, of the returned First Regiment, whoso bravery at Bull Run has been frequently alluded to, made a capital Union speech, which was enthusiastically received by the assemblage. About forty of the New Haven boys returned home this evening, while fifty remained to watch movements for the night, and probably take care of the flag-staff so that no secession flag should be raised upon it. The flag which the secessionists intended to hoist was a white one with the word “Peace” inscribed thereon.— N. Y. World, August 17.

—The President declared by proclamation that, as their rebellious populations had failed to disperse and return to their duty as bidden in his proclamation of Feb. 28, the States of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, and Arkansas were in a state of insurrection, and that all commercial intercourse with them “is unlawful, and will remain unlawful until such insurrection shall cease, or has been suppressed.”—(Doc. 190.)

—Fifty-eight Thousand Dollars were seized by U. S. troops at Genevieve, Missouri, and taken to St. Louis.—N. Y. Herald, August 18.

—All safe-conducts, passes, etc., hitherto granted to enter or go beyond the U. S. army lines in Virginia, were revoked by general order.—Army Order, No. 4.

August 15.—At Arlington, Va., sixty noncommissioned officers and privates of the Second Maine Regiment of Volunteers, having formally and positively, in the presence of the regiment, refused to do any further duty whatever, alleging that they were not legally in the service of the United States, were, with the approval of the General-in-Chief, transferred, in arrest, from the regiment, as no longer worthy to serve with it, to be sent to the Dry Tortugas, in the Gulf of Mexico, there to perform such fatigue service as the officers commanding might assign them, until they should by their future conduct show themselves worthy to bear arms.—Army Orders.

—The Twenty-third Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, under the command of Col. Sanderson, left the camp near New Albany, for Indianapolis, and thence for the seat of war in Missouri.—Louisville Journal, August 16.

—Govenor Buckingham, of Connecticut, calls upon “the loyal and patriotic citizens of that State to organize in companies for four regiments of infantry.”—(Doc. 187.)

—Upon the refusal of Colonel Burke, the officer in command at Fort Lafayette in New York harbor, to produce his prisoners in court in response to a writ of habeas corpus, Judge Garrison of Kings Co., N. Y., who issued the writ, made formal application to General Duryea of the militia in Brooklyn to ascertain what force could be obtained by the county to execute the writ. General Duryea informed the sheriff that about fourteen hundred men could be raised, but that the county was in possession of no artillery sufficiently powerful to make an impression on the works, and that it would require between five and ten thousand men to take them.—N. Y. Evening Post, August 15.

—This afternoon the steamer Resolute was ordered from Aquia Creek to Matthias Point, Va., for the purpose of reconnoitring. Seeing a bateau filled with barrels on shore just below the point, a boat was sent from the Resolute with six men, to bring off the bateau. No sooner had the boat touched the beach than a volley of musket balls was opened upon them from a secession force concealed in the woods, killing three of the men instantly, namely—John James Fuller, of Brooklyn, master’s mate, who, it was subsequently ascertained, was pierced by two balls; George Seymour, captain of the gun, of New York, by seven, and Thomas Tully, of Boston, by two balls. Earnest Walter, a native of England, was wounded in the head. Another volley was fired by the enemy as they moved their position, or as soon as they had time to reload. The Resolute was about seven hundred yards from the shore, and fired in the midst of the rebels one shot of canister and nine of shrapnell. The scene on board the small boat is described as heart-sickening—the dead lying outstretched in it, covered with their own blood. The boat was towed a short distance from the shore by one of the crew named Sanderson, who quietly slipped into the water for that purpose, and thus concealed himself from the enemy. The other uninjured man lay in the boat, horrified by the scene through which he had just passed, while the wounded man helped Sanderson to row the boat toward the Reliance, from which assistance was immediately rendered.—(Doc. 188.)

August 14.—Jefferson Davis, at Richmond, Va., issued a proclamation, notifying all residents of the “Confederate” States, who do not acknowledge the authority of the same, to leave the “Confederacy” in forty days from the date of the proclamation.—(Doc. 182.)

—Robert Muir, of Charleston, S. C., and cousin of the British consul at Now Orleans, was arrested on board the steamer Africa at New York, just as she was leaving, as bearer of despatches from Jeff. Davis to the British Government. Several papers, showing he was such a person, were found on him.—National Intelligencer, August 16.

—Col. Farnham, of the N. Y. Fire Zouaves, died this evening at Washington of wounds received in the battle of Bull Run.—Idem.

—Proclamation of martial law, as follows, was made in St. Louis, Missouri:

Head-Quarters Western Department,

St. Louis, August 14.

I hereby declare and establish martial law in the city and county of St. Louis. Major J. McKinstry, United States Army, is appointed provost-marshal. All orders and regulations issued by him will be respected and obeyed accordingly.

(Signed) J. C. Fremont,

Major-General Commanding.

Provost-marshal McKinstry thereupon issued a proclamation calling upon all good citizens to obey the rules it has been deemed necessary to establish, in order to insure and preserve the public peace, accompanied with the assurance that the civil law will remain in force, and the military authority only be used when civil law proves inadequate to maintain the public safety; and that any violation of the order will be followed by prompt punishment, regardless of persons or positions.—(Doc. 183.)

—This afternoon at St. Louis, Provost-marshal McKinstry suppressed the publication of the War Bulletin and the Missourian, two newspapers which had been “shamelessly devoted to the publication of transparently false statements respecting military movements in Missouri.”—St. Louis Democrat, August 15.

—General Fremont ordered a re-organization of the United States Reserve Corps in St Louis, to comprise five regiments of infantry, with a reserve of two companies to each two squadrons of cavalry, and two batteries of light artillery, the troops to be required to enlist for the war, subject to the same regulations and receive the same pay as volunteer regiments.—N. Y. World, August 15.

—The First Fire Zouaves (Eleventh N. Y. V.) arrived in New York City, and were discharged on furlough. Previous to the discharge they were addressed in front of the City Hall by Gen. Prosper M. Wetmore.—N. Y. Evening Post, August 15.

—A mutiny broke out in the camp of the New York Seventy-ninth Regiment near Washington. Among their alleged grievances are, that it is proposed to attach them to the Sickles Brigade to which they object, and that they were promised a furlough in order to see to the comfort of their families, to reorganize, and to elect officers to fill existing vacancies; and as it appeared likely that this furlough would not be given, they refused to obey orders. A detachment of regular soldiers was sent to their camp, to act as circumstances might require. The result was the arrest of forty or fifty who took a more active part in the insubordination. These were taken into Washington City about eight o’clock P. M., and confined as prisoners, whilst the remainder of the regiment were marched to the Navy Yard under a strong guard of cavalry. —(Doc. 184.)

—The First Regiment of Minnesota Volunteers, numbering nearly eight hundred muskets, passed through Baltimore, Md., this morning, on their return home after three months’ service in the cause of the General Government. They have been operating in the region of country near Harper’s Ferry, Va.—Baltimore American, August 14.

—Bishop Whittingham of Maryland issued a pastoral letter to the clergy and laity of his diocese, with reference to the approaching fast-day.— (Doc. 185.)

—The question of retaliation and the exchange of prisoners is agitated in the Southern States. New Orleans papers of to-day contain an elaborate article on the subject.—(Doc. 186.)

August 13.—The New Orleans Delta of to-day rejoices over the contemplated expulsion of all citizens of the United States “from the Confederated States.” The law, it states, is, and the fact is confirmed from other sources, that all owning citizenship to the Federal Government are to be banished from the Confederated States. The Delta says:

“We cannot afford to tolerate enemies in our midst, because, forsooth, they may have the discretion to keep silent and to bear no arms in their hands. The man of Massachusetts, or the man of Kentucky, living, and perhaps thriving in our midst, has no business at this time to be among us, if he allows a reasonable suspicion to exist that he is not also cordially with us.”

—A severe skirmish took place a few miles from Grafton, Va., on the Fairmount and Webster road. Information having been received that a regularly organized body of rebels, living in the county, were lodged within a few miles of Webster, General Kelly sent Captain Dayton, of Company A, Fourth Virginia Regiment, with fifty men, from Webster to disarm them. After scouting nearly twenty-four hours he came suddenly on them, and after an hour’s severe fighting, succeeded in killing twenty-one and putting the others to flight, without loss to his command. The rebels numbered 200, and were composed of the worst characters of the county, led on by Zack Cochrane, sheriff under Gov. Letcher.—Ohio Statesman, August 16.

—The banks of New York, Philadelphia, and Boston agreed to take fifty millions of the Government loan, they to be the sole recipients of the Treasury notes.

William Gray, Franklin Haven, and J. Amory Davis were chosen a committee by the Boston bank directors to confer with the committees of the New York and Philadelphia banks in regard to the Government loan. The meeting adopted the following instructions to the Committee:

“That the Committee be authorized to say to the gentlemen of the Committees from the New York and Philadelphia banks, that, in the judgment of the gentlemen here assembled, the banks and bankers of Boston and of the State of Massachusetts and its people are prepared, ready, willing, and determined to do all in their power, in view of their duty to themselves, their trusts and their country, to aid it in suppressing the present rebellion by furnishing men and money to the utmost extent of their ability, now, henceforth and forever.”— N. Y. Evening Post, August 14.

—General Pope, at St. Louis, Mo., issued a general order, establishing regulations for the navigation of the Missouri River.—(Doc. 181.)

August 12.—Charles J. Faulkner, late U. S. Minister to France, was arrested in Washington by the Provost Marshal. The order for his arrest was issued from the War Department. A heavy detachment of infantry accompanied the Marshal to guard against any disturbance that the arrest might prompt. Mr. Faulkner acknowledged the authority, and signified his readiness to accompany the officer. He was taken to the jail, where the other prisoners of war are confined. Mr. Faulkner occupies a lower floor of the jail, and has a ward adjoining that of Dr. Fleming, of Virginia, who is also a prisoner and a man of wealth and influence. When first arrested, he was somewhat excited, but he shortly recovered himself, and during the afternoon conversed freely with one of the officers on the condition of France. When asked how the rebellion was regarded there, he answered, “France, sir, deeply regrets it.” He also stated that he had his passes all ready, and intended to leave for his home in Virginia today. In his conversation he carefully avoids expressing any opinion as to the political condition of the country. The charges upon which the arrest is based, are his successful efforts to procure arms in Europe for the use of the rebels, and the fact that he was going home to assume command of a regiment of rebels who had elected him colonel.—N. Y. Times, August 13.

—Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, in accordance with a resolution of Congress, issued a proclamation, appointing a day of public fasting and prayer, to be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnities and the offering of fervent supplications to Almighty God for the safety and welfare of the country, His blessings on the national arms, and a speedy restoration of peace.—(Doc. 178.)

—At one o’clock this afternoon, the office of the Democrat, a secession sheet published at Bangor, Me., was visited by a large number of people. During an alarm of fire, a crowd entered the office, cleared it of every thing it contained, and burned the contents in the street. Mr. Emery, the editor of the paper, escaped unharmed. A man who made some demonstrations in opposition to the acts of the mob, was badly used, but was finally rescued and put in jail.

—Judge Catron, of the United States Supreme Court, was expelled from Nashville, Tenn., by a Vigilance Committee, for his refusal to resign his office under the United States Government.—Baltimore American, August 14.

—Gen. Wool was ordered to the command of the Southeastern District of Virginia, headquarters at Fortress Monroe.—The Eleventh Regiment of New York Volunteers (First Fire Zouaves) left Washington for New York.—Troy Times, August 13.

—Twenty-two released prisoners of war arrived at Fortress Monroe from Norfolk, Va., under a flag of truce. They comprise the following persons:—Surgeons, Edward T. Taylor, First New Jersey; Jacob A. Stewart, First Minnesota; Eugene Peugnet, Seventy-first Now York; Foster Swift, Eighth New York; S. O. Thunkins, Fourth Maine; B. F. Buckstone, Fifth Maine; Wm. H. Allen, Second Maine; Jas. M. Lewis, Second Wisconsin; Gustavus Winston, New York Eighth; Chas. DeGraw, do.; _____ Normal, Seventy-ninth New York. These surgeons remained at Sudley Church and the stone building after the battle, attending the wounded, and were taken prisoners. They remained, some at Bull Run and others at Manassas Junction, attending upon the wounded for two weeks after the battle, and then were sent to Richmond. Finally they were released on parole and sent within the national lines, via Norfolk They have been courteously and kindly treated by the military authorities of the “Confederate ” States, and give the most unqualified denial to all stories of the killing or ill-treatment of the wounded. Mrs. Curtis, of New York, who went out a day or two after the battle and was taken prisoner, is also released.—(Doc. 179.)

—Ben. McCulloch, in a general order, congratulated “the army under his command” upon the victory at Wilson’s Creek, and hoped that “the laurels they had gained” would “not be tarnished by a single outrage.” He also issued a proclamation to the people of Missouri, calling upon them to act either for the North or the South.—(Doc. 180.)

August 11.—The Hagerstown Herald of today says: The Union men of the border counties in Virginia continue to seek refuge in Maryland from the frightful tyranny which the rebels are practising in that State. Within the last week upward of fifty have crossed the river from Berkeley and Morgan counties, leaving behind them their families and homes, to avoid being pressed into the service. One of the number brought with him the following notice, which ho took from a blacksmith’s shop in Morgan County:

All the militia belonging to the Eighty-ninth Regiment V. M., are ordered to meet at Oakland, on Monday next, as early as they can, in order to march to head-quarters, Winchester, forthwith—and I would make a friendly request of those men that failed to go before, for them to turn out now like true-hearted Virginians, and what they have done will be looked over, but if they do not regard this call they will work their own ruin.—They can never be citizens of Virginia, and their property will be confiscated. The General will send a troop of horse to Morgan as soon as we leave, and all those men that fail to do their duty will be hunted up, and what the consequence will be I am unable to say.

Samuel Johnston,

July 24,1861. Col. S9th Regiment V. M.

This is the condition of affairs to which the citizens of Maryland are invited by their legislators and the sympathizers with secession.

—Early this morning, Gen. Siegel, in command of the force lately under Gen. Lyon at Wilson’s Creek, fell back to Springfield in good order, and subsequently to Rolla, Mo.—N. Y. Times, August 15.

—General Hurlburt, in command of the national forces at Palmyra, Mo., issued an order to. the county authorities of Marion County, Mo., requiring the delivery by them of a stated amount of rations to his troops every day, and threatening, if the order was not promptly obeyed, to billet the regiment upon the city of Palmyra.—(Doc. 177.)

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Late addition to Volume 3:

 August 11.—Capt. Varian, of the Eighth regiment battery, N. Y. S. M., published a statement upon the reference to his command in Gen. McDowell report of the battle of Bull Run. “Seventeen of his men steadily refused to overstay their term upon any condition, and these finally carried the rest with them.”— N. Y. Times.

August 10.—Gen Lyon’s column marched until 2 A. M., when it was halted for two hours. Capt. Gilbert’s regulars were thrown out as skirmishers at 4 A. M., and the column moved forward. At 5 o’clock the enemy’s pickets were driven in, and soon after the army came in sight of the rebels’ position. McCulloch’s camp extended in a valley along Wilson’s Creek for three miles, and followed the bends of the streams to the north at its western extremity, and to the south at the eastern. Siegel’s attack was to be made at the latter point, and Lyon moved, therefore, upon the western and northern extremity, down the head of the valley. Blair’s First Missouri Regiment at about 6 o’clock drove a full regiment of infantry from a ridge at the end of the encampment, and at the same time Totten’s battery threw some shells among the enemy’s tents. Blair’s regiment moved forward up a second ridge, upon which they encountered a Louisiana regiment. Here they were reinforced, and finally gained the summit, driving the rebels before them. Two companies of regulars were at this time sent across the creek eastwardly to engage a rebel force in that direction, but were compelled to retire; when Lieut. Dubois opened his battery from the second ridge won, and threw a number of shells which exploded with great effect, and completely routed this body. Blair’s regiment was now withdrawn, and the Iowa First ordered to take its place, and the Kansas regiments to support the Iowa First. An attempt to charge with his cavalry was next made by McCulloch, but the charge was entirely broken by the fire of Totten’s battery. Both batteries were soon in position, and the battle resolved itself into the enemy’s attempt to dislodge them, and regain the ridges from which he had been driven. In this attempt he was repeatedly foiled. At about nine o’clock, as the enemy came on again, Gen. Lyon, who had received three wounds, put himself at the head of the Iowa First to lead a charge with the bayonet, when he received a rifle ball in though breast and fell dead. His fall, however, was not generally known. Major Sturgis assumed the command, and the battle went on.—Mean time, Gen. Siegel made his attack upon McCulloch’s right, drove the rebels for half a mile from their position and took possession of that extremity of their camp; but his advance was broken by the fire of a full regiment that he had permitted to approach in the belief that it was a reinforcement from Gen. Lyon. Unable to rally Salomon’s regiment, he was driven back with the loss of five guns. About noon, the enemy’s tents and his whole baggage train were destroyed by fire, supposed to have been his own act The fight still continued in front, and the last advance of the enemy, made at one P. M., was driven back by the whole national force in the field. Immediately after, Major Sturgis ordered a movement toward Springfield, and the whole force fell back in good order. McCulloch made no pursuit. The national loss was 800 in killed and wounded. Though the rebel loss is not known, it is thought to have been very large, as the national artillery fire was remarkably accurate.—(Doc. 175.)

—The Spanish Minister announced to the Secretary of State at Washington, that the seven American vessels captured by the pirate Sumter and carried into Cienfuegos, had been discharged by order of the Spanish Government.— Washington Republican, August 11.

—To-day Lieutenant Budd, commanding the Reamer Resolute, cleared out one of the rebel depots on the Potomac. It has been known for some time that the Herring Creek on the Maryland side, and Machodock Creek opposite on the Virginia side, were the dcpot for Maryland recruits to the rebel army in Virginia. The Resolute having approached within 300 yards of the shore of the creek, was fired on with musketry. A boat was immediately lowered, and Lieut. Budd with twelve men landed. The rebels fled at their approach and were pursued for a mile, but made their escape. Two muskets and a knapsack which they .threw away in flight were picked up. Upon returning to the house abundant evidence that it had been a rebel rendezvous, and papers containing important information, were found. The buildings were destroyed, and ten contrabands found on the premises were brought away.

After leaving the creek, Lieut. Budd learned from the negroes that there were 800 of the rebels concentrated at the Hague, about five miles back from the river, and that their ferryboat was about three-quarters of a mile up the creek. Meeting the schooner Dana, he took her gun and crew upon the Resolute, and placing the negroes in charge of two men of the Dana, he went up the creek and captured a large boat capable of carrying 25 or 80 men, but saw nothing of the rebels.

—The prize schooner Geo. V. Baker, of Galveston, and her confederate crew of four men in irons, were carried under the guns of Fortress Monroe. The schooner was captured by one of the United States blockading fleet off Galveston, Texas, and sent to New York with the United States crew on board. She was captured yesterday off Cape Hatteras by the rebel privateer York, who put four of her own men on board. Meanwhile the York was seen by the United States gunboat Union, who gave chase and burnt the privateer, but not until the crow had beached her and escaped. The Union then recaptured the Baker, and her crew.

—Isham G. Harris issued an order to the clerks of the county courts of Tennessee, requesting them to search the residences of the people for arms of every description, and to forward such arms to the military authorities at Nashville, Memphis, or Knoxville.—(Doc. 175½.)

—Between the hours of six and seven this evening eighty mounted men, led by Capt. White and a refugee named Talbot, attacked a smaller number of Home Guards at Potosi, Missouri, and were repulsed with a loss of two killed and three wounded. One man of the Home Guards was killed.—St. Louis Democrat, August 12.

—Prof. La Mountain made two successful balloon ascensions at Fortress Monroe, having attained an altitude of three thousand feet. He found the encampment of the Confederate forces to be about three miles beyond Newmarket Bridge, Va. There were no traces of the rebels near Hampton. A considerable force is also encamped on the east side of James River, some eight miles above Newport News. The two cannon mounted at Sewall’s Point toward Old Point, he thinks, are only large fieldpieces. There are, perhaps, one thousand Confederates at Sewall’s Point.—N. Y. Times, August 13.

—The Western Virginia State Convention, in a series of resolutions, declared itself “unalterably opposed to any compromise with the rebels.”—(Doc. 176.)

—The Helena (Arkansas) Shield, of this day, contains the following:—From the Hon. C. W. Adams of this county, who arrived at home a few days since from the northern part of this State, we learn that on last Monday week thirteen hundred Indian warriors—Southern allies —crossed the Arkansas River near Fort Smith, en route for McCulloch’s camp. These Indians are armed with rifle, butcher knife, and tomahawk, and had their faces painted, one half red, and the other black. We also learn that a regiment of mounted Texans likewise crossed the Arkansas at or near Fort Smith, for the same destination.

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Late addition to Volume 3:

August 10.—The narrative of Doctor Blaisdell, a physician lately resident in Macon, Ga., was published, in which he pronounced the whole story of Jeff. Davis having taken command in person at Manassas during the fight, a pure fiction.—Cincinnati Gazette.

August 9.—President Lincoln to-day made the following appointments of brigadier-generals for the volunteer force: Colonels Blenker and Slocum, of the volunteers, and Major Wadsworth, aide to Gen. McDowell; Colonel John A. Peck, Ex-Major of the regular army, who distinguished himself in the Mexican war; John H. Martindalc, a graduate at West Point; Ormsby M. Mitchell, Professor of Astronomy, of Cincinnati, a graduate of West Point and an ex-army officer.

—Ormond F. Nims’ battery of light artillery left Boston for the seat of war. The company departed from their camp at Quincy at 7J o’clock last evening, and, marching through South Boston, reached the Providence depot at 11¼ o’clock. An hour and a half was occupied in getting their guns, horses, and carriages on the cars. The battery consists of Bix rifled 6 pounders, and besides the regular caissons it has baggage wagons, forges, magazines, etc. Six hundred Schenckl’s shell and James’s projectile were sent from the State Arsenal for the use of the battery.

—The United States Marshal, at Boston, Mass., arrested a person who registered himself at the Parker House as “C. Jordan, Pittsburg, Pa.,” but who subsequently has confessed himself as John Williams, of Norfolk, Va., and was supposed to hold a commission in the rebel army. He was arrested as a spy, and by orders received from the Secretary of War, was sent to Fort Lafayette, New York harbor. —N. Y. Tribune, August 11.

—The Third Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers, who were in the battle at Bull Run, returned to Hartford, and were received amid the firing of guns, the cheers of the firemen and military, and an immense throng of citizens, who had assembled to welcome thorn home.— N. Y. Tribune, August 11.

—Lieut.-Col. Robert Nugent, of the Sixty-ninth Regiment N. Y. S. M., was appointed to a captaincy in the regular army of the United States. Captain Nugent was born in the North of Ireland, his brother John M. being at present the Mayor of Dumdalk. He came to America immediately after the abortive insurrection of ’43; and having strong military tastes, soon enrolled his name in the Fourth Company of the N. Y. National Guards, and served two years under Captain Riblet. On the organization of the Sixty-ninth in ’52, Captain Nugent became one of its earliest officers, and has served faithfully in its ranks as Lieutenant, Captain, Major, and Lieutenant-Colonel down to the present day.—N. Y. Tribune, August 11.

—General Lyon learned that the rebels, 22,000 in number, under Ben. McCulloch, were on Wilson’s Creek, nine miles from Springfield, Mo., and moved against them with his whole force, only 5,200. The force was disposed in two columns. One under Col. Siegel with his own regiment, and that of Col. Salomon’s, and six guns, moved 15 miles in a southerly direction to turn the enemy’s right flank, and the other wider Gen. Lyon moved forward to attack in front. Lyon’s column consisted of the Missouri First, Iowa First, Kansas First and Second, part of the Missouri Second, a detachment from Col. Wyman’s Illinois Regiment, all volunteers; eight hundred regulars, and two batteries of 4 and 6 guns respectively. There were also four mounted companies of Home Guards. Both columns left Springfield at about 8 P. M.—St. Louis Democrat, August 12.