April 9.
Brigadier-Gen. Doubleday, in command of the military defences of the Potomac, issued a circular to the regiments in his brigade, forbidding the commanders from delivering up negroes, unless the claimants show authority from him.--N. Y. Evening Post, April 10.
At Poughkeepsie, New York, this day, all the bells of the city were rung and cannon fired, amidst great rejoicing, on account of the recent victories of the National troops.--Albany Statesman, April 10.
This evening, Col. Wright, of the Sixth Missouri cavalry, returned to Cassville, Mo., having made a successful expedition with four companies of his command, through the south-west corner of the State. All jayhawking bands in that locality were dispersed. Several skirmishes took place, which resulted in the death of several prominent rebels. One hundred and twenty-five prisoners were captured, all of whom, except the leaders and twenty-five intractable ones, were released on taking the oath of allegiance. A number of horses were captured, together with one hundred and twenty-two head of cattle, three hundred and twenty — seven bushels of wheat, and four thousand five hundred pounds of bacon. All rebel gangs not captured were driven by Col. Wright down to Standwaith, a point on the line of the Indian territory, twenty-five miles below Neosho.--Missouri Democrat, April 12.
Throughout the loyal States, large sums of money were raised for the relief of the wounded at the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, and tenders of surgical aid were made from various portions of the States.--National Intelligencer, April 11.
A skirmish occurred at Whitemarsh Island, near Savannah, Ga., between some companies of the Thirteenth Georgia regiment and a Michigan regiment, resulting in the repulse of the latter, with the loss of about twenty. The confederates' loss in killed and missing was five; slightly wounded, seven.--Savannah News, April 16.
[82] The Conscription Bill passed the rebel Congress this day.--Richmond Dispatch, April 10.--(Doc. 123.)
Governor Andrew Johnson, at Nashville, Tennessee, issued a proclamation, declaring vacant the offices of mayor, and most of the city councilmen, who refused to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and appointed other persons to serve pro tempore, until a new election could be held by the people.--Nashville Banner, April 9.
Jacksonville, Florida, was evacuated by the National troops this day. General Wright, the commander of the National forces, took possession of the schooners Anna C. Leverett and Magnum Bonum, belonging to private individuals, and the Government schooner James G. Still and steamers Cosmopolitan and Belvidere, and embarked fifteen hundred troops, with all their stores, two sections of Ransom's battery, with fifty or sixty horses, thirty guns captured along the river from the rebels, and about one hundred loyal families, with such of their effects as could be readily brought away when the fleet set sail.--(Doc. 124.)
Secretary of War Stanton issued an order that the chaplains of every regiment in the armies of the United States shall, on the first Sunday after the receipt of the order, give thanks to the Almighty for the great victories recently achieved by our armies, and invoking the continuance of his aid; and also tendering the thanks and congratulations of the department to Major-General Halleck for the signal ability and success that have distinguished all the military operations of his department, and to the army under his command for their spirit and courage, and to Generals Curtis, Sigel, Grant, Buell, and Pope, and the soldiers under their command, for their gallant and meritorious services. The Secretary of the Navy sent a congratulatory despatch to Commodore Foote, tendering him and the officers and men under his command the thanks of the department for his recent brilliant success.
General Prentiss and two thousand three hundred and eighty-six Union prisoners passed through Memphis, Tenn., this day. The men were in good spirits, and kindly treated by the inhabitants, particularly the Irish and German women. The citizens contented themselves with waving handkerchiefs and looking the interest which they dared not openly express. Gen. Prentiss made a Union speech to his men, and the citizens cheered him. The Provost-Marshal, L. D. McKissock, bade him remain silent. Prentiss told him he had four to one more friends in Memphis than he, (McKissock,) and said to the citizens: “Keep quiet for a few weeks, and you will have an opportunity to cheer the old flag to your heart's content.” The Union soldiers sang the Star-Spangled Banner, Red, White and Blue, Happy Land of Canaan, and Old John Brown, as they were starting on the cars for Tuscaloosa, Ala.--New York Tribune, May 2.
