Daily Observations from The Civil War

September 25.—At Trenton, New Jersey, the Grand Jury came into the United States Court, and made a lengthy presentment “that complaints have been made before this Grand Inquest concerning certain newspapers published in this State, and copies of the following papers issued during the last few months have been submitted, and carefully examined, namely: The Newark Evening Journal, The Warren Journal, The Hunterdon Democrat, The New Brunswick Times, and The Plainfield Gazette; that during the most critical period, while the capital of the nation has been besieged by armed insurgents, while eleven States in actual rebellion have been striving, by invasion and treachery, to plunge other States still remaining loyal into open opposition to the National Government, these newspapers have been, up to a very recent period, persistently denouncing and libelling these to whom the great duty of National defence is necessarily intrusted; in thwarting their efforts for self-preservation, and fomenting rebellion by discouraging and opposing the only means by which it can be put down. While they cherish a due regard for freedom of speech they feel it their duty to repudiate and denounce the conduct of these journals; that while the Press may freely criticize public men and measures in the peaceful contests of party, yet in a war for the life of a nation, the Press, as well as individuals, should uphold the existing Government or be treated as its enemies. They consider their duty fully discharged in reference to these newspapers by this presentment, leaving them to the wholesome action of public opinion. They recommend all loyal citizens, all public officers, all municipal corporations, vigorously to withhold all patronage from such newspapers as do not hereafter give their unqualified support to the National Government.”

—Smithland, Kentucky, was occupied by the National troops to-day.—Stocking-knitting associations were organized by the ladies of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania,

—This day General William F. Smith, with a force of several thousand men from the camps in the vicinity of the Chain Bridge, on the Potomac, proceeded to Lewinsville, Va., for the purpose of reconnoitring and obtaining forage. Upon arriving at that place his troops were permitted to rest from about half-past nine o’clock A. M., till three o’clock P. M., when there came in sight a large force of Confederate troops, consisting of four or five regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and six pieces of artillery. They came from Fall’s Church, and in a few minutes opened a fire of shot and shell upon the National troops, without, however, doing any other harm than slightly wounding one man. Their fire was returned by the batteries of Captains Griffin and Mott, who had thrown only Twenty-six shot and shell when the secessionists deemed it prudent to retire from the field. Their loss is not known. The object of the expedition having been accomplished, Gen. Smith, at about five o’clock, returned to his camp. He brought with him ninety-two loads of hay and corn, twenty sheep and twenty beef cattle— the sheep and cattle being the property of Quartermaster Means, of the Confederate service—and one prisoner, who mistook the National pickets for his own. He represents himself as an aid of Gen. Stuart. The Union troops of the expedition consisted of the New York Seventy-ninth, Third Vt., Nineteenth Indiana, and a portion of a Wisconsin regiment, with eighty regular cavalry, Griffin’s West Point battery, and a section, two guns, of Mott’s New York battery.

—This afternoon Lieut.-Col. Letcher, with a detachment of Col. Woodward’s regiment, captured James B. Clay, with sixteen of his men, while on his way to join Zollicoffer. They were taken to Camp Dick Robinson. John C. Breckinridge was with their party in Cincinnati, Ohio, but escaped.—National Intelligencer, Sept. 28.

—Lieutenant McCrea, with the steamers J. Bell and Seminole, made an attack on a rebel battery at Freestone Point, on the Potomac River.—(Doc. 59.)

—An action took place at Chapmanville, Va., between a force of National troops under Colonel D. A. Enyart of the First Kentucky Volunteers and a party of rebels. The latter were completely routed and lost sixty killed and seventy taken prisoners. The rebels in escaping were intercepted by Colonel Piatt of the German Ohio regiment, who surprised them and killed forty beside capturing a large number of prisoners.—(Doc. 59½.)

—A Skirmish occurred near Osceola, Mo., between a part of National troops of General Lane’s army, and a body of rebels, the former losing one killed and four slightly wounded, and the rebels having ten killed.—(Doc. 60.)

September 24.—Louis Philippe d’Orleans, Comte de Paris, the heir of Louis Philippe, (the eldest son of his eldest son,) and Robert d’Orleans, Duc de Chartres, the brother of Louis Philippe d’Orleans, were duly commissioned as captains of volunteers in the service of the United States, and attached to Major-General McClellan’s staff as aids. These young princes made it a condition of their service that they should receive no pecuniary compensation.

—General Prentiss, U. S. A., assumed command of the National forces at St. Joseph, Mo. No man in the whole Western army could have been sent there who is more acceptable to the people north of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad; and, under his command, the Union troops, whether Federal or State, are willing to do battle.—National Intelligencer, Sept. 28.

—A Portion of Colonel Geary’s force had an action to-day with five hundred rebels on the Virginia side of the Potomac, near Point of Rocks. They were sheltered on a high point on the Catochin Mountain, and in houses at the base. They were driven away by the rifles and battery of Colonel Geary, and the houses burnt. Several of the enemy were killed and wounded. None of the Federal troops were hurt.—N. Y. Times, Sept. 26.

—The Fifth regiment of Vermont Volunteers, under the command of Col. H. A. Smalley, passed through Jersey City, N. J., on their way to the seat of war. It numbers one thousand and seventy men.—Idem, Sept. 25.

—This night a party of about fifty mounted rebels rode into Warsaw, Ky., and broke into a building in which there were stored some arms belonging to the State, and carried them off. Six or seven Union men came up just as they were leaving, and were fired upon. The Union men returned the fire, killing one of the rebels and wounding several others. One of the Union men was wounded in the arm. The Union men had taken the locks off the guns that were stolen, intending to keep them off until they had organized their company.—Dubuque Times, Sept. 26.

—The Louisville Journal of this day has the following:—Last Saturday night (21st) lock No. 3, on Green River, was blown up by order of Gen. S. B. Buckner, commander of the Confederate forces at Bowling Green, Ky. We are informed that the other two locks have also been destroyed. General Buckner’s order for the destruction of lock No. 1 has fallen into our hands. It was intrusted to a spy named James Barnham, who was arrested at the ferry across Mad River, and, making an excuse to step aside for a few moments, he tore the letter in pieces, but his captors put the fragments together and read the following:

Bowling Green, Sept. 19, 1861.

Mr Geo. W. Triplett— My Dear Sir: Your letter is received. Lock No. 1 must be destroyed. I rely upon our friends at Owensboro’ to do it: not an hour must be lost. The destruction is a great deal to me in crippling our adversary. Assemble our friends without delay in sufficient force to accomplish the object. One of the best ways is to open all the gates but one, and to dig down behind the wall at both gates, to put one or two kegs of powder behind the wall, to apply a slow match, and blow the wall into the lock. If possible, it should be done in such a way as to leave a strong current through the lock, which will empty the dam. Provide every thing in advance; do not fail; it is worth an effort.

S. B. Buckner.

The Union men, on learning Gen. Buckner’s intention from this letter, attempted to guard the locks, and rallied five or sis hundred men for the purpose; but, ascertaining the approach of a greatly superior force of cavalry, they retreated, and the work of destruction was done. For this deed, Gen. S. B. Buckner, sooner or later, will have to render a terrible account. The locks and dams of Green River were a portion, and a large one, of the pride and wealth of Kentucky. We all remember at what cost of money and labor they were constructed. They were one of the most important and valuable internal improvements ever made in Kentucky. They opened a river market for the whole of the immense population of the Green Hiver section. But as a mere military manœuver they arc ruthlessly swept away, remorselessly annihilated in a night by a renegade Kentuckian, who brings an army for the conquest of his native State. Railroad bridges, railroad tracks, locks and dams, river packets, public and private property of all descriptions, are reclessly sacrificed by the invaders in the pursuit of their accursed purposes.

—the Twentieth regiment of Indiana Volunteers, under the command of Colonel W. L. Brown, left Baltimore for Fortress Monroe.— Baltimore American, Sept. 25.

—At St. Louis the injunction suppressing the Evening News was removed, and C. G. Ramsay, proprietor, and D. M. Grissom were released; assurances having been given that they would not publish statements about military matters as facts without first learning their truth, and that they would not publish any thing injurious to the interests of the National Government. The News has always been a strong Union paper.—Ohio Statesman, Sept. 26.

—To-day, while the Second Michigan regiment were performing picket duty at Bailey’s Cross Roads, in Virginia, a flag of truce was brought in by two Colonels and a Major, belonging to the rebel army at Munson’s Hill, asking a suspension of hostilities between pickets, which was acceded to by the commander of the National forces.—N. Y. Times, Sept. 26.

—The Ninth regiment of Maine Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Rutherford Rich, of Portland, left Augusta for the seat of war. The regiment numbers one thousand one hundred men, hailing from Calais, Canton, Hilton, Cornish, and Aroostook Counties—all parts of the State being represented. They consist of mechanics and laborers, and though comprising a number of Germans and Irish, are mainly native-born. Physically, they will bear comparison with any regiment in the field. They have the regulation uniform, of excellent material, commissariat wagons, and camp equipage.—N. Y. Times, September 26.