June 16.
The Richmond Dispatch of this date says: “Desertion has become far too frequent in the confederate army. And yet the habit is not peculiar to confederate soldiers. There must be desertions from all military service where there [28] is no punishment for desertion. We mean no punishment adequate to the offence — none which a coward or vagabond had not rather encounter than endure the service or the perils of a battle. Death is the proper punishment, and it is the punishment prescribed in our laws — the punishment meted to the deserter by governments generally. We anticipate that our own government will be forced to resort to it. With a creditable humanity and forbearance, the policy of appealing to the pride of the soldier by advertisement, by disgraces, has been pursued by our commanders; but there is little pride and no honor in the deserter, and the fear of disgrace will not deter him from absconding. The penalty of death will. An example or two would have a fine effect.”
The battle of Secessionville, James Island, S. C., was fought this day, resulting in the defeat of the National forces.--(Doc. 72.)
Attorney-General Bates officially communicated to the Secretary of War his opinion concerning the relations of Governors of States to volunteers in the National service.--(See Supplement.)
At Memphis, Tenn., a large body of rebel officers and soldiers, together with citizens of the city, took the oath of allegiance to the United States.--Memphis Avalanche, June 17.
This day, while a few soldiers were hunting for deserters in the vicinity of Culpeper, Va., they suddenly came upon a rebel mail-carrier who was endeavoring to conceal himself in the woods. He was immediately arrested, after a slight resistance, and taken to headquarters at Manassas. A large number of letters to prominent officers in the rebel service, many of which contained valuable information, were found in the mail-bag, also ten thousand dollars in confederate bonds. The carrier's name was Granville W. Kelly.--Baltimore American, June 18.
Surgeon Hayes, One Hundred and Tenth regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, having been ordered to conduct to Washington a large detachment of sick and wounded men, and having shamefully neglected them after their arrival, the President directed that for this gross dereliction of duty he be dismissed the service, and he was accordingly dismissed.--General Order.
This afternoon the rebels in front of the National pickets near Fair Oaks, Va., attempted to flank a portion of the Union forces during a violent thunder-storm, but were soon repulsed with some loss. Lieut. Palmer, Aid to Gen. Sickles, while giving orders to the commandant of the regiment attacked by the rebels, fell pierced with three balls.
Four of the five men, who, while personating Union soldiers, entered and pillaged a house in New Orleans, La., of a large sum of money and other valuables, were this day hanged in that city. The fifth man was reprieved.
