November 28.
A submarine telegraph cable was successfully laid between Forts Moultrie and Sumter, in Charleston (S. C.) harbor, by Messrs. Seville, Denby, and Hobbs. When the burying of the cable was completed a salute was simultaneously fired in honor of the event from the forts, the order having been transmitted from Fort Moultrie. The communication between the forts was perfect, and much to the satisfaction of the skilful operators concerned.--Norfolk Day Book, November 30.
Two schooners from Baltimore, Md., one laden with coal and one with lumber, were captured by the steamer George Page, as they lay becalmed under the rebel batteries, on the Potomac. The National pickets challenged the Page, which passed in pursuit within a hundred yards of them, but the reply that she was a United States steamer deceived them. The Fifty-seventh and Sixty-first regiments of New York, the latter commanded by Col. Cone, made a reconnoissance from Springfield, nine miles from Alexandria, Va., and went three miles and a half beyond the Federal pickets, toward Manassas, when, discovering a rebel force numbering eight thousand men, they returned to their starting point, reaching it in good order and without casualties.
For the first time in the history of Virginia, thanksgiving-day was observed in that State. Governor Pierpont is the first Governor of Virginia who ever proclaimed one. Business was entirely suspended.--(Doc. 202.)
The Concordia Cavalry, Capt. Benjamin, left their encampment at Concordia, La., on the Magenta, for Bowling Green, Ky. They bear [95] in their midst a large-sized black flag, on which appear, in bold relief, death's head and bare bones. These Concordians go to expel, not capture, vandal invaders of their homes and firesides, and they will make their mark.--Concordia Intelligencer, November 29.
This morning the schooner Waterman, Capt. Huron, for Charleston, S. C., was wrecked off Tybee. She fell into the hands of the Yankee blockaders.--Last night the cotton and provisions on Hutchinson, Fenwick, and adjoining islands were destroyed by fire by the proprietors.--Commissary-General Whitaker, of Georgia, seized in that State, one thousand five hundred and forty sacks of salt, for which he paid as directed by Governor Brown.--The colored people of Vicksburg, Miss., advertise in the papers of that city to give a ball for the benefit of the soldiers from that State, in the Confederate service.--General Lee issued an order granting furloughs to those members of the South Carolina Legislature who were serving as soldiers in the Confederate States army, in that State, during the session, which commenced on the 25th ult.--Savannah News.
Adjutant-Gen. Thomas sent out instructions to Gen. Sherman, in Beaufort, S. C., to take possession of all the crops on the island — cotton, corn, rice, etc.--on military account, and ship the cotton, and such other crops as were not wanted for the army, to New York, to be sold there for account of the United States; also, to use negro slaves to gather and secure the crops of cotton and corn, and to erect his defences at Port Royal and other places on the island.--Washington Republican, Nov. 30.
A band of rebels, under the notorious Sy. Gordon, captured Capt. Robb, Capt. White, and Lieutenant Moonlight, three United States officers, from the railroad train, at Weston, Missouri.--The Sixty-third New York regiment (third regiment, Irish Brigade) left New York for Washington.
Col. Mulligan, the commander of the Irish Brigade at the siege of Lexington, Mo., had a reception at Detroit, Mich., and in response to a speech of welcome made an address, rehearsing some interesting particulars of the siege.--(Doc. 203.)
The Annual Thanksgiving festival of the Free States was celebrated this day — with more than usual earnestness. Proclamations by various persons in authority called attention to it as a fit occasion to render thanks, especially, that so many loyal men were ready to fight for the honor and glory of the country.--See Supplement.
