October 5.
Twenty-three men in two boats were sent from the United States steamer Louisiana into Chincoteague Inlet, to burn a schooner which it was thought the rebels were about to convert into a privateer. Near three hundred rebels on the shore endeavored to capture the boats, but were driven off by the guns of the steamer, and by the men in the boats, who fired the schooner and returned without loss.--(Doc. 69.)
The London Post of this date contains an editorial article looking almost directly to the recognition of the Southern Confederacy. Appearing in a journal understood to represent the sentiments of Lord Palmerston, it must be accepted, if in no less favorable light, as an attempt to sound public opinion on the subject. The London Times, same date, discusses the chances of the approaching campaign in the South, with the impression that they incline to the side of the National Government.
The Fourth regiment of Rhode Island Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Justus I. McCarty, left Camp Greene, for Providence, from whence they departed for the seat of war. The sixth battery of Rhode Island Artillery, numbering one hundred and five men, accompanied the regiment.--Woonsocket Patriot, October 11.
The gunboat Monticello, under the command of Lieutenant Braine, made an attack upon a body of rebels, that had driven the Twentieth Indiana regiment from their camp at Chicomacomico, North Carolina, and dispersed them with severe loss. A correspondent on board the Monticello gives the following account of the affair: “Last evening intelligence of the retreat of some of our troops reached us, and the Monticello was off at once. We ran up to Hatteras Light, and at early dawn this morning we found the Indiana regiment had retreated to the light-house before a force of nearly four thousand rebels. We ran around Hatteras Point close into the inner shoal, and stood up the beach to the north, looking for the rebels. At half-past 1 P. M. we found them retreating up the beach to where their steamers lay, they having discovered our approach. There was a regiment of Georgia troops and about eight hundred ununiformed fellows, armed with muskets. Running the steamer close to the beach, we opened on them with shell, and for four hours shelled them, during their attempt to embark. I tell you we fairly slaughtered them like sheep, sinking their boats as they attempted to get on board their vessels on the Sound side, blowing them to pieces as they waded out into the water. They threw away their arms, and ran wildly up and down the beach. We compelled them to strike all their flags ashore, and in their very faces landed a boat and rescued one of the Indiana regiment whom they had taken prisoner. We covered our boat with shells, and after firing upon them for four hours, and expending two hundred and eighteen shells, owing to night coming on we hauled off.” --(Doc. 70.)
