June 20.
The First regiment of New York cavalry encountered a portion of Jenkins's rebel force near Greencastle, Pa., and after a short skirmish defeated them, capturing twenty prisoners.--Extracts from the World, Express, and Caucasian, published in New York, the Cincinnati Enquirer and Chicago Times, were suppressed within the limits of the Eighth army corps, by order of General Schenck.--the fishing-boat L. A. Macomber, of Noank, Ct., while at anchor at a point twenty-two miles south-east of the South Shoal light, Mass., was boarded by the privateer Tacony, and afterward burned.--the rebel schooner Hattie was captured while attempting to run the blockade of Wilmington, N. C., by the National gunboat Florida.
A part of General Lee's army is already in the valley of Virginia, and a part probably in Maryland. The rest will probably follow on. At all events, Richmond is about to be uncovered of the defence afforded by the proximity of his troops. They will be removed to some more distant point, whence they cannot be brought instantly and readily to our assistance, if assistance we should need. This summer's campaign cannot be conducted efficiently, if large numbers of our regular troops are detailed to guard and protect our cities, and other assailable points. In country and in town we must protect ourselves against raiding parties by means of the militia and of volunteer associations for home defence. We learn from the United States papers that it is proposed in Pennsylvania to call out the militia up to sixty years of age, to repel apprehended invasion. Shall we do less to repel actual invasion? If she be ready to make such sacrifices to subjugate us, should we not be willing to make greater sacrifices to defend ourselves? Boys, from twelve to eighteen, are excellent marksmen, and although it might demoralize their principles, injure their characters, and endanger their health, to enlist them regularly in the army and expose them to the hardships of the camp, of long marches, and of indifferent diet, yet they may be drilled more readily than old men, and made efficient soldiers in a sudden emergency to aid in the defence of the city and its environs.--Richmond Sentinel, June 20.
The expedition that left Suffolk, Va., on the eleventh instant, returned to-day. Its leading object was to investigate the strength of, and destroy the three leading strongholds of the rebels on the Blackwater River, all of which were within a distance of twenty-five miles from Suffolk.--the citizens of Pittsburgh, Pa., held a mass meeting, at which martial law was called for and skulkers denounced. A general suspension of business and the raising of volunteer companies for defence were strenuously advocated.
The ship Isaac Webb, in lat. 40° 35′, long. 68° 45′, was captured by the rebel privateer Tacony, and released on giving bonds for forty thousand dollars; the crew and passengers of the brig Umpire, which was captured and destroyed by the Tacony on the sixteenth instant, in lat. 37°, long. 69° 57 1/2′, were put on board the Isaac Webb to be carried to New York.--A. J. Boreman was inaugurated as the first Governor of the State of West-Virginia.--the resistance to the enrolment in Holmes County, Ohio, ended.--A spirited engagement took place at Lafourche Crossing, La., this afternoon. Nearly two thousand rebels attacked the National forces who were guarding the bridge and were repulsed.--Frederick, Md., was occupied by the rebels under J. E. B. Stuart.
