May 15.
A company of infantry of General Geary's command was ordered to Linden, Va., to remain stationed there. A detachment of seventeen men, guard to the company wagon, reached there a short time before the main body of the company, which was on a train. They were attacked by a body of cavalry, variously estimated at from three to six hundred, coming upon them from four different directions. The Nationals resisted them, keeping up a sharp fire under shelter of the depot, which was riddled with bullets. Gen. Geary's men were overpowered; one was killed and fourteen were taken prisoners, three of whom were wounded, when the enemy hastily retired under fire.--General Geary's Despatch.
The United States gunboats Galena, Monitor, Aroostook, Naugatuck, and Port Royal were repulsed from Fort Darling, on the James River. The one hundred pound gun on the Naugatuck exploded at the first fire.--(Doc. 37.)
Great excitement existed in Richmond, Va., on the approach of Gen. McClellan's army and the gunboats. A joint Committee were appointed by the Legislature of Virginia to communicate with Jeff Davis in relation to the defence of the city. The General Assembly resolved that the capital of the State should be defended to the last extremity. Governor Letcher issued a proclamation calling all the officers out of service, and others who were willing to unite in defending the capital, to meet at the City Hall that evening. The meeting was held amid great excitement and enthusiasm. The action of the Governor was warmly commended.--(Doc. 109.)
In the Senate of Virginia Mr. Collier submitted a joint resolution declaring that slavery is the fundamental doctrine of Southern civilization.--(See Supplement.)
A skirmish took place, nine miles east of Batesville, Arkansas, between a party of the Fifth Illinois cavalry, under Lieut. Smith, and a small force of the enemy. The rebels were repulsed, leaving in the hands of the Unionists, a major, a captain, and one private. The Union party lost none.--Missouri Democrat.
Alexander H. Brown, Assistant Provost-Marshal at Charleston, S. C., issued the following regulations in reference to travelling in that department:
With the view of preventing any unauthorized person of color, bond or free, from leaving the city, the following regulations have been adopted by this department: 1. Railroads and other means of transportation are forbid conveying, without a passport, any free person of color or slave from the limits wherein martial law prevails. 2. Applications for passports for free persons of color must be made by their guardians or other responsible white person. 3. Applications for passports for slaves must be made either by their owners or responsible representatives or agents. 4. Travelling with a white person will not dispense with these regulations.
