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March


March 1.


A scouting-party of Union troops, under the command of Adjutant Poole, made a dash into Bloomfield, Mo., early this morning, and killed the rebel recruiting officer, Lieutenant Brazeau, captured the Provost-Marshal, with all his papers, twenty rebel guerrilla prisoners, a number of fire-arms, and a quantity of ammunition.--Missouri Democrat.


The English steamer Queen of the Wave stranded while endeavoring to run into Georgetown, S. C., and soon after was taken possession of by the crew of the United States gunboat Conemaugh.--Fifty men of the First Vermont cavalry, under Captains Wood and Huntoon, were surprised by a party of rebels at Aldie, Va.


To-day a fight took place in the vicinity of Bradyville, Tenn., between an expeditionary force of Union troops under General Stanley, and a body of rebel guerrillas under Colonel Duke, in which, after a stubborn resistance of twenty minutes, the latter were routed with great loss.--(Doc. 128.)


March 2.


The brigade of regulars from General Rosecrans's division went out on a foraging expedition from Murfreesboro, Tenn., this morning, and encountered the rebels posted in force, about sixteen miles distant on the Salem Pike. The Union forces consisted of one battalion of the Fifteenth infantry, Captain Keteltas; one battalion of the Sixteenth, Captain Crofton; two battalions of the Eighteenth, Captains Douglas and Fetterman; and one battalion of the Nineteenth--the whole under command of Colonel Shepherd, Fifteenth United States infantry. A section of Guenther's battery accompanied the infantry. The expedition moved out from Murfreesboro at seven A. M., and proceeded without interruption [51] to the vicinity of Eagleville. here it was ascertained that a strong body of the rebel cavalry were awaiting the National approach. Colonel Shepherd instantly ordered his force to take the proper positions, and, with a strong line of skirmishers thrown to front and flank, advanced steadily and cautiously upon the rebel position. In a few moments the National skirmishers engaged the enemy's outposts, and immediately thereafter the rebels moved quickly to the front and advanced across the front line of the skirmishers. A hot engagement ensued, and lasted for about ten minutes, when the enemy, unable to endure the galling fire of the regulars, broke and fled. They were shortly afterward got into a second line of battle, and, with heavy reen forcements, ventured a movement on the Union right, with the evident intention of assailing them by flank and rear. This design also failed, and the National forces repulsed the assailants a second time. They did not again make a stand, but made a hurried retreat, even heaving behind their dead, of whom there were several. The Unionists took no prisoners, but the enemy's loss in killed and wounded was considerable.--Chicago Times.


A Union Club was organized in Boston, Mass., and Edward Everett was elected to its presidency.--A slight cavalry fight took place near Petersburgh, Tenn., between a party of rebels and bushwhackers, and two hundred loyal Tennesseeans, under the command of Licutenant-Colonel Brownlow, in which the rebels were routed, with twelve killed and twenty wounded.--Captain Schultze, with a company of Union cavalry, surprised Mosby's rebel guerrillas at a point near Aldie, Va., and succeeded in capturing thirty of them, without any loss on the National side.


Thirty-three commissioned officers of the United States army having been found guilty of various charges by general Court-Martial, the details of the several cases being contained in General Orders No. 13, dated February eighteenth, 1863, and the sentence having been approved by the Commanding General, were this day dismissed the service.--Four guerrillas were captured at the house of one----Lisle, on the Nashville turnpike, three miles from Russellville, Ky.--Union meetings were held at Harrodsburgh, Lebanon, and Taylorsville, Ky.--Louisville Journal.


March 3.


Fort McAllister, on the Great Ogeechee River, Ga., was this day bombarded by a fleet of iron-clad monitors and mortar-schooners, under the command of Captain Drayton; but, after an almost incessant fire of eight hours duration, they failed to reduce it.--(Doc. 129.)


John Maginnis, late editor of the New Orleans True Delta, died this day.--A grand review of the rebel forces at Mobile, Ala., took place this day, by Major-Generals Withers and Buckner, and Brigadier-Generals Slaughter and Cummins. After the review, four pieces of artillery captured at Murfreesboro, were presented by General Withers, on behalf of the Alabamians and Tennesseeans in the army of the Tennessee, to the army of Mobile. Each piece was inscribed with the names of Alabamians who fell in that battle.--Mobile Advertiser.


First Lieutenant Gilbert S. Lawrence was dismissed the service of the United States for saying in the presence of officers and civilians, “I have no confidence in General Hooker. Burnside was stuck in the mud, and he will be stuck worse;” and also for publicly declaring: “I want to get out of the service. I don't believe we will succeed. I am dissatisfied generally. Nobody but McClellan can command this army.” --New York Tribune.


The schooner Kingfisher was captured and burned by the rebel privateer Alabama in latitude 1° 20 “, longitude 26° 20” .--The Spanish sloop Relampago was captured at Charlotte Harbor, Fla., by the National blockading schooner, James S. Chambers.--The Southern Union, a journal published in Georgia, having proposed to reconstruct the old Union of the States, was reprimanded by the Atlanta Confederacy, which asserted that “there are fewer abolitionists in Massachusetts than reconstructionists in Georgia.”


March 4.


The First East-Tennessee cavalry, Colonel Johnson, had a fight with a party of rebels led by Colonel Rogers, at a point on Harpeth River, near Chapel Hill, Tenn.; killed twelve, and captured seventy-two of the rebels, with all their horses and accoutrements. Majors Burkhart and Macy were in command of the National cavalry, all of whom passed through the engagement without injury.--The Thirty-seventh Congress of the United States terminated.--The sloop Ida was captured near Charlotte Harbor, Fla., by the blockading schooner James S. Chambers.--The Second New Hampshire regiment returned to Concord.


A skirmish took place at Skeet, N. C., between a scouting detachment of National troops [52] under the command of Captain Richardson, of the Third New York cavalry, and a party of rebel guerrillas, in which the latter were routed and dispersed. The Union party then advanced to Swan Quarter, where they encountered a superior body of rebels, but after a sharp fight of twenty minutes, they completely routed them, killing and wounding twenty-eight of their number. In this skirmish the Unionists had three men killed and fifteen wounded.--Newbern Progress.


The office of the Volksblatt, a German antiwar Democratic paper, published at Belleville, Mo., was visited by some persons unknown and thrown into disorder.


March 5.


A fight occurred at Thompson's Station, a few miles south of Franklin, Tenn., between a considerable body of Union troops under the command of Colonel John Coburn, and a large rebel force under General Van Dorn, resulting, after a desperate conflict of four hours duration, in the rout or capture of the whole Union force.--(Doc. 130.)


The editorial office of the Crisis at Columbus, Ohio, was visited by a body of soldiers who destroyed every thing they could find in it.--Gold sold in Richmond, Va., at three hundred per cent advance.--The rebels at Vicksburgh during the day threw shells occasionally at the National forces engaged in digging the canal opposite that place, doing no damage.


March 6.


The ship Star of Peace was captured and burned by the rebel privateer Florida, under the command of Captain J. N. Maffit.--General Hunter in command of the Department of the South, from his headquarters at Port Royal, S. C., issued an order drafting for garrison duty all the able-bodied negroes in his department, not otherwise employed in the service of the National government.--General Orders, No. 17.


March 7.


Major-General Schenck, commanding the Middle Department of the army of the United States, issued an order at Baltimore, Md., prohibiting the sale of secession music in his department, and commanding the publishers of the same to send to his office any such music as they had on hand at that time.


The Mobile Register published the following: “Let every man, woman, and child at home, with a yard square of ground, scratch it and put in corn. Every grain carefully intrusted to the fruitful earth is a mite of contribution to the nation's liberty. Every acre of cotton planted is a comfort to our enemies and a nail in the coffin of confederate independence.” --At New Orleans a meeting was held to discuss the propriety of establishing a provisional State government in Louisiana.--New Orleans Era.


This day the expedition, under Colonel Phelps, which left Belle Plain, Va., in steamers on Tuesday for Northumberland County, Va., returned to headquarters. The troops visited Heathsville, which they found deserted by the rebels. Then, throwing out large foraging parties from that base into Lancaster County and in other directions, they succeeded in capturing one thousand bushels of corn, fifty horses and mules, a large number of beef cattle and quite an amount of medical stores. Two post-offices and several stores were visited, and two important rebel mails captured. The cavalry also seized a large number of horses and mules. Some prisoners were also taken, among them Colonel Claybrook, a prominent rebel officer, and two clerks of the departments at Richmond, with a quantity of correspondence for citizens of Baltimore, and official papers addressed to parties in London, to the care of Baring Brothers.--New York Tribune.


March 8.


Early this morning, Captain John S. Mosby, commanding a company of rebel guerrilla cavalry, made a dash into Fairfax Court-House, Va., and captured Brigadier-General Stoughton, and over thirty other officers and privates, together with their arms, equipments, and fifty-eight horses.--(Doc. 131.)


The sloop Enterprise, having run out of Mosquito Inlet, was captured off Hillsborough, Fla., by the gunboat Sagamore.--The Forty-third regiment of Massachusetts, under the command of Colonel Holbrook, surrounded and captured a company of rebel cavalry, with all their officers, on the Trent road, some distance from Newbern, N. C.


March 9.


A small rebel force was this day captured six miles below Port Hudson, together with the signal book containing the signals used in the rebel army.--A large number of vagrant negroes were arrested in New Orleans, La.


The schooner Lightning, from Nassau, N. P., laden with dry goods, sugar and coffee, was this day captured by the United States steamer Bienville, thirty miles south of Hilton Head, S. C.


The British iron-screw steamer Douro, of [53] Liverpool, laden with cotton, turpentine, and to-bacco, from Wilmington, N. C., was this day captured in latitude 33° 41‘ N., longitude 77° 2 W., by the United States gunboat Quaker City.


To-day a skirmish took place near Bolivar, Tenn., between a detachment of National troops and a band of guerrillas, in which the latter were routed and eighteen of their number captured.


James Louis Petigru died at Charleston, S. C., in the seventy-fourth year of his age. Mr. Petigru was an avowed and active opponent of the nullification movement of 1830-32, a consistent and persistent Whig through successive Democratic administrations, and a bold, open, and loyal Union man in the critical winter of 1860-61. He sacrificed popularity without losing esteem. He was for many years the leader of the South Carolina bar, and one of the latest acts of his life was a masterly argument made by him before the rebel States District Court, against the confiscation and sequestration laws passed by the rebel Congress at Richmond. Although living amongst the most bitter and vindictive people of the rebel population, Mr. Petigru died a lover of his country, and loyal to the government of the United States.


Colonel C. C. Dodge returned to Norfolk, Va., after making a successful reconnoissance to Southfield, Chuckatuck, and Blackwater Bridge. At the latter place he had a fight with a party of rebels, but at the expiration of twenty minutes, they hastily withdrew. In this affair, several rebel prisoners were captured with their horses and arms.


A detachment of National troops under the command of Colonel Chickering, left Baton Rouge, La., for the purpose of reconnoitring the surrounding country and burning the bridges on the Comite River. They destroyed Bogler, the Strickland, and the Roberts bridges over that river, dispersed a large force of rebel guerrillas, and returned to camp without losing a man.


To-night, a second “Quaker gunboat,” or sham monitor, constructed of logs, with pork barrels for funnels, was sent adrift by the National fleet above Vicksburgh, for the purpose of drawing the fire of the rebel batteries. It showed that the rebels were always on the alert, for, although the night was very dark, ninety-four shots were fired at the mock vessel as she passed along the various batteries.


March 10.


Jacksonville, Florida, was captured by the First South-Carolina colored regiment, under the command of Colonel T. W. Higginson, and a portion of the Second South-Carolina colored regiment, under Colonel Montgomery. The people were in great fear of an indiscriminate massacre; but the negroes behaved with propriety, and no one was harmed.--(Doc. 132.)


The sloop Peter, of Savannah, Ga., while attempting to run the blockade at Indian River Inlet, Fla., was this day captured by the gunboat Gem of the Sea.--General Granger came up with the rebels at Rutherford's Creek, Tenn., and captured several of their number.


President Lincoln issued a proclamation, ordering all soldiers, whether enlisted or drafted, who were absent from their regiments without leave, to return to their respective regiments before the first day of April, on pain of being arrested as deserters, and punished as the law provided.--(Doc. 133.)


A detachment of National troops, consisting of the Sixth and Seventh regiments of Illinois cavalry, under the command of Colonel Grierson, attacked a body of rebel guerrillas, numbering four hundred men, under Colonel Richardson, encamped near Covington, Tenn., killing twenty-five, capturing a large number, and utterly routing and dispersing the rest. The camp and its contents were destroyed.


March 11.


In the rebel Congress, in session at Richmond, Va., Mr. Conrad, of Louisiana, offered the following peace preamble and resolution:

Whereas, The present administration of the United States, by its reckless disregard of all constitutional restraints, by its persistent efforts to subvert the institutions of these States, and the ferocious war which it is waging for that purpose, has more than realized the worst apprehensions of our people, and fully justified their wisdom and foresight in averting, by timely separation from the Union, the calamities which a longer continuance in it would have rendered inevitable; and

Whereas, A portion of the people of the United States have recently manifested their disapproval of the war, of the objects for which and the manner in which it is conducted, and their desire for its speedy termination, and several foreign Powers, notably the government of France, have expressed a similar desire;

Now, therefore the Congress of the confederate States, deeply impressed with the conviction that it is their duty to leave no means untried to [54] put an end to a contest injurious to the civilized world and disastrous to the parties engaged, believing that its prolongation can only tend to embitter and perpetuate feelings of hostility between States which, however politically disunited, must ever be intimately connected by identity of language and of religion, and by the immutable laws of geographical amity and of mutual demand and supply, deem the present time, when there is a momentary pause in conflict, a suitable one to utter the words of peace. The Senate and House of Representatives of the confederate States do therefore resolve that they will cordially cooperate with the Executive in any measures it may adopt, consistent with the honor, the dignity and independence of these States, tending to a speedy restoration of peace with all or with any of the States of the Federal Union.

The resolution was referred without debate to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.


Governor cannon, of Delaware, issued a proclamation enjoining upon the people of that State that they should hold true allegiance to the Government of the United States as paramount to that of the State of Delaware, and that they should obey the constituted authorities thereof before the Legislature of the State of Delaware, or any other human authority whatsoever.--(Doc. 134.)


The National Union Club, of Philadelphia, Pa., was inaugurated at that place this evening.--A brief skirmish took place at a point twelve miles east of Paris, Ky., between a party of rebel guerrillas and the guard of a National forage train, resulting in a repulse of the guerrillas.--Major-General Schenck, at Baltimore, Md., issued an order prohibiting the sale within his command of pictures of rebel soldiers and statesmen.


March 12.


The expeditionary force under Major-General Gordon Granger, which moved on Monday against Van Dorn's rebel army, returned to Franklin, Tenn., this afternoon, having driven the enemy beyond Duck River. The infantry went no farther than Rutherford Creek, but the cavalry, under Colonel Minty, of the Fourth brigade, made a thorough reconnaissance of the country beyond the creek to Duck River.

The second day's march brought the expedition to Rutherford Creek, where, for a time, the rebels promised fight. Their positions were well chosen, their artillery commanding the pike and several crossings. A blinding rain, however, prevented General Granger attempting the passage of the stream, which was flood-high and foaming.

The troops bivouacked for the night, expecting to drive the enemy on the succeeding day. Yesterday came in clear and beautiful, giving the artillerists a fine opportunity for practice, which they improved excellently by numerous shots. Preparations were made for an advance, and the infantry skirmishers were thrown out. The cavalry, under Col. Minty, supported by the Thirty-eighth Illinois infantry, made a crossing two miles up the creek in the face of the enemy who, however, fell quickly back from the National approaches. Soon word came back that the rebels were in rapid retreat, and finally at night the cavalry returned, announcing that all the rebels had fled beyond Duck River, which, of course, determined the return of the expedition.

The different cavalry skirmishes resulted in the loss on the National side of two killed and seven wounded.--Cincinnati Gazette.


March 13.


Fort Greenwood, on the Tallahatchie, Miss., was this day, and for the preceding two days, bombarded by the Union gunboats Chillicothe and De Kalb, and also by a land-battery of heavy Parrott guns. The guns of the fort were nearly silenced, but it being unassailable by infantry, the gunboats were compelled to retire without being able to reduce it.--(Doc. 135.)


The schooner Aldebaran was captured and burned by the rebel privateer Florida.--A Union meeting, under the auspices of the Union League, was held at Newark, N. J.--A slight skirmish took place at Berwick City, La., ending in the dispersion of a party of rebels, who attacked a National water-party from Brashear City.--Early this morning the signal-station at Spanish Wells, S. C., was surprised and burned by a party of rebels. A lieutenant and eight men were made prisoners and carried off.--(Doc. 136.)


March 14.


Newbern, N. C., garrisoned by the Ninety-second New York volunteers, under the command of Colonel Anderson, was this day at tacked by a large rebel force, under General Pettigrew. After a bombardment of four hours duration, a fleet of gunboats appeared opposite the city, and opening on the rebels dispersed them in great haste.--(Doc. 137.)


Brigadier-General B. S. Roberts, in command of the defences of the Upper Potomac, issued orders regulating the trade between Maryland and Virginia.--The Loyal National League, of New York City, was inaugurated at the Academy of Music in that city.--New York Evening Post.


[55] The rebel batteries at Port Hudson, La., were attacked by the Union fleet, under Admiral Farragut; but, after a terrible bombardment of several hours' duration, they were compelled to retire without reducing the rebel stronghold.--(Doc. 138.)


A force of National cavalry, under the command of Colonel Robert H. G. Minty, returned to Murfreesboro, Tenn., after a successful reconnoissance, of eleven days duration, into the surrounding country. They dispersed several squads of guerrillas, captured fifty prisoners, forty mules, thirty tents, a number of wagons, and provisions, and obtained some valuable information concerning the position and strength of the rebel forces.--Louisville Journal.


March 15.


The schooner Chapman, about leaving San Francisco, Cal., was boarded by officers of the United States government and taken into custody as a privateer. Twenty secessionists, well armed, and six brass Dahlgren guns, with carriages suitable for use on shipboard, were captured. Correspondence found on the persons of the prisoners identified them as in the interest of the rebels.--Eight hundred paroled National prisoners, en route to Chicago, were detained in Richmond, Ind., and while there they completely demolished the office of the Jefferson newspaper.


The British steamer Britannia, from Glasgow, with a valuable cargo, successfully ran the blockade into Wilmington, N. C.


March 16.


A boat laden with about two thousand dollars' worth of contraband goods was captured while attempting to run the blockade on Elizabeth River, near Norfolk, Va.


This evening a numerous and enthusiastic meeting was held in the City Hall, at Burlington, N. J., for the purpose of forming a Union League. Addresses were delivered by James W. Scovel and James C. Botts.


March 17.


A detachment of National troops under the command of Colonel Spear, attacked the rebel breastworks on the Black Water, near Franklin, Va., but without being able to carry them. The fight lasted for more than an hour, in which Colonel Spear had one man killed, and sixteen men wounded.--Baltimore American.


A spirited cavalry engagement occurred at Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock River, Va., between a strong reconnoitring force of Union troops under the command of Gen. Averill, and a body of rebel cavalry under Gen. Fitz-Hugh Lee, in which the latter, after a most desperate struggle, of four hours duration, were repulsed, and finally routed and pursued for a distance of six miles.--(Doc. 139.)


By order of the War Department, Colonel James B. Fry was detailed as Provost-Marshal General of the United States, in pursuance of section five of the act approved March 3, 1863, for enrolling and calling out the National forces, and for other purposes.--The British steamer Calypso ran the blockade of Charleston, S. C., and arrived at her wharf in that city without receiving any damage from the blockading fleet.--Charleston Courier.


Rear-Admiral Farragut, from the flag-ship Hartford, lying off Natchez, Miss., sent a letter to the Mayor of that city, stating that if the United States boats were fired on by the people of Natchez or by guerrillas, he would bombard the city.--Gold was quoted in Richmond, Va., at four dollars and twenty-five cents premium.


March 18.


This afternoon Captain Perkins, of the First Louisiana National cavalry, with a party of his men, left Brashear City, La., in order to meet an expedition of rebel cavalry, which had attacked a squad of men belonging to the One Hundred and Sixtieth New York regiment, at Berwick's Bay. About half-past 3 o'clock he fell in with the rebel force, at a point two miles beyond the National lines, and charged them with so much spirit that they turned and fled in confusion. The cavalry continued the chase, and a running fight was kept up for some seven or eight miles, where he found reenforcements for the rebels, in waiting to receive him. Their numbers greatly exceeding his, he gave the order to retreat, but was closely followed by the rebels, who kept up the fight for several miles on the return. In the affair ten of the rebels were killed and twenty wounded, and fourteen horses with all their trappings were captured by the Nationals.--Captain Julien, of the First Tennessee cavalry, was killed by guerrillas, near Hillsborough, Tenn.--Peace resolutions passed the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. During the debate on the resolutions James M. Scovel delivered an elaborate Union speech.


An enthusiastic Union meeting was held at Skowhegan, Maine.


March 19.


The British steamer Georgianna, with a cargo of medicines, dry goods, and six [56] pieces of field artillery of the Whitworth and Blakely patterns, was disabled and subsequently destroyed by the National blockading fleet off Charleston, S. C.--The Union gunboat Chenango was launched at Greenpoint, N. Y.--A party of soldiers sent to Rush County, Ind., to arrest deserters, succeeded in capturing six, but while on their way to the cars the deserters were rescued by a large party of mounted “Southern sympathizers,” who were armed with rifles. Two companies of infantry were then sent from Indianapolis, and the deserters were again taken into custody.--A skirmish occurred on Duck River, near Franklin, Tenn.--The schooner Fanny Lewis arrived at London, from Wilmington, N. C., having run the blockade with a cargo of cotton and turpentine.--London News.


March 20.


A battle was this day fought at Vaught's Hill, near Milton, Tenn., between a body of Union troops under the command of Colonel A. S. Hall, of the One Hundred and Fifth Ohio, and the rebel forces under Generals Wheeler and Morgan, terminating, after a well-contested struggle, in the defeat and retreat of the rebels, with a loss of nearly four hundred of their number killed and wounded.-(Doc. 141.)


March 21.


A fight occurred at Cottago Grove, Tenn., between the Union force stationed in that place, and a body of rebel guerrillas, numbering nearly two thousand men. The fight lasted for more than two hours with varying success; but finally, the Union party being reenforced, the rebels were driven off the field, and pursued for several miles, with great loss in killed and wounded.


The National gunboats Hartford and Monongahela passed Warrenton, Miss., and anchored below Vicksburgh.--Major-General Edwin V. Summer died at Syracuse, N. Y., this morning.--The British steamer Nicholas I. was captured while attempting to run the blockade of Wilmington, N. C., by the gunboat Victoria.--A fight took place near Seneca, Pendleton County, Va., between a party of loyal men, called “Swampers,” and a force of rebels, resulting in the defeat of the “Swampers.” --Wheeling Intelligencer.


A large force of Union troops, under the command of Generals Stuart and Sherman, in conjunction with the fleet of gunboats, under Admiral Porter, returned to the Yazoo, after a successful reconnoitring expedition to Steele's Bayou, Black Bayou, Muddy Bayou, and Deer Creek, Miss. In Deer Creek they were attacked in strong force by the enemy, but, after a contest of several hours' duration, he was driven off with considerable loss. The expedition destroyed two thousand bales of cotton, fifty thousand bushels of corn, and the houses and cotton-gins of the rebel planters along the route.--(Doc. 140.)


March 22.


This morning, at ten o'clock, a scouting-party of fifty men, belonging to the Fifth Missouri cavalry, encountered Quantrel's guerrillas near Blue Spring, Mo. A short skirmish ensued, after which the National cavalry retreated with a loss of nine killed, five missing and several wounded. The rebel casualties were not ascertained.--The steamer Granite City was captured off Eleuthera, Bahamas, by the United States gunboat Tioga.--Mount Sterling, Ky., garrisoned by a detachment of National troops, under the command of Captain Radeliff, was this day captured by a small body of rebel cavalry, under Colonel Cluke.--(Doc. 143.)


March 23.


The treaty between the United States and Liberia was officially promulgated.--The schooner Charm was captured at the mouth of Indian River Inlet, Fla., by a boat expedition from the National steamer Sagamore.--The expeditionary, force of National troops, under the command of Col. John D. Rust, which left Beaufort, S. C., on the nineteenth instant, arrived at Jacksonville, Florida, to-day.--(Doc. 148.)


March 24.


The rebel steamer Havelock, under the command of Captain L. M. Coxetter, ran the blockade into Charleston, S. C. A correspondent of the Mobile Register, gave the following account of her “narrow escape:” “She had run through the blockaders just before day, having left Nassau on the twentieth instant, bringing a most valuable cargo. After crossing the bar, however, she ran ashore on Drunken Dick Shoals, and it was feared the enemy's gunboats would run in and endeavor to capture her, which might have been done at the time had they had pluck enough to have attempted it. The confederate States rams Chicora, Captain Tucker, and Palmetto, Captain Rutledge, immediately got under weigh and went down to offer battle, should the enemy attempt a capture. There was evidently great commotion among the fleet, who could be seen rapidly signalizing each other. The battery was crowded by spectators watching events, and eagerly looking for some demonstrations on the part of the Federals, as our rams glided down to the scene of action. The British steamer Petrel, which had [57] been delayed in rendering assistance to the French steamer Renaudin, which had just gotten off, was now seen going out at this time, passing Sullivan's Island. Numerous sail-boats and barges were seen running down the bay, adding to the interest of the scene. For a time the greatest interest and excitement prevailed. By the assistance of the high tide, and after throwing overboard some ten heavy slabs of iron and about forty boxes of tin, the Havelock floated off and came safely up to the city, much to the chagrin of the Federals.”


Ponchatoula, La., was this day captured, after a brief skirmish with the enemy, by an expeditionary force of National troops, under the command of Colonel Clark.--(Doc. 144.)


The English schooners Mary Jane and Rising Dawn, while attempting to run into Wilmington, N. C., were captured by the gunboats State of Georgia and Mount Vernon.


March 25.


The United States rams Lancaster and Switzerland undertook to run the batteries at Vicksburgh. As soon as they came within range, the rebels opened a tremendous fire. The Lancaster was struck thirty times. Her entire bow was shot away, causing her to sink immediately, turning a complete somerset as she went down. All the crew except two escaped. The Switzerland was disabled by a sixty-four-pound ball penetrating the steam drum. She floated down; the batteries still firing and striking her repeatedly, until finally the Albatross ran along-side, and towed her to the lower mouth of the canal. Both these gunboats were improvised from light-built wooden river steamers, and not calculated to sustain a heavy fire.


Brentwood, Tenn., garrisoned by a force of National troops, numbering five hundred men, under the command of Colonel Bloodgood, was this day captured and sacked by the combined rebel forces of Wheeler, Forrest, Armstrong, and Stearns. After the capture, the rebel forces were pursued by a body of Union troops, under the command of General Green Clay Smith, and over-taken near Franklin, Tenn. The Nationals were inferior in numbers to their opponents, who were drawn up in line prepared to receive them, but they immediately made the attack, and, after a brief contest, they routed and drove them for a distance of five or six miles, killing and wounding great numbers of them. In their flight the rebels abandoned the whole of the plunder captured in Brentwood a few hours previous.--(Doc. 147.)


The citizens of Savannah, Ga., were suffering greatly for the want of an adequate supply of provisions. Even corn-meal could be had only in small quantities. The railroads were forbidden to carry any food out of the town.


Governor Brown, of Georgia, sent a message to the Legislature of that State, recommending the passage of an act restricting the planting of cotton to a quarter of an acre to each hand, under a heavy penalty. He also recommended that further restrictions should be put upon the distillation of spirits, so as to prevent the use of potatoes, peas, and dried peaches for that purpose. He was in favor of giving a cordial support to the rebel government.


The Union fleet of iron-clad monitors and gunboats under the command of Admiral Du Point, left Hilton Head, S. C., to-day.


The rebel schooner Clara was this day captured, while trying to run the blockade at Mobile, Ala., by the united States gunboat Kanawha.


The British steamer Dolphin, laden with contraband of war, was captured by the United States gunboat Wachusett off Porto Rico.


March 26.


A large and enthusiastic Union meeting was held this evening at Buffalo, N. Y. Resolutions firmly and decidedly for the support of the Government and the prosecution of the war until a peace was conquered, were unanimiously adopted.--The Legislature of Maine adjourned, having adopted concurrent resolutions fully indorsing President Lincoln's emancipation proclamation, approving the use of negroes in the military service of the United States, and opposing all suggestions of compromise.--An expedition sent to Rome, Tenn., by Gen. George Crook commanding at Carthage, Tenn., returned to-night, having captured twenty-eight prisoners, among them a rebel captain named Rice, together with seven wagons and thirty horses.--General Burnside issued an order assuming command of the Department of the Ohio.


March 27.


The following bill was this day presented to the Legislature of Virginia:

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That if any person buy any article of food (including salt) for man or beast, and withhold the same from market, or ask and receive more than five per centum commission or profit on cost and transportation, such person shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and shall forfeit the article so bought-one half to the informer and the other [58] to the Commonwealth: Provided, That this act shall not apply to market-men collecting supplies for daily city consumption, or to any person bringing such food from beyond the confederate army lines, or purchases for family consumption.

This act shall be in force from its passage, and continue during the war.


An important debate took place in the British House of Commons. concerning the depredations of the rebel privateer Alabama.


Jacksonsville, Fla., was burned, after its evacuation, this day by the National forces under Colonel Rust.--(Doc. 148.)


Colonel Talcott, of the rebel army, was arrested at New York City.--The English steamer Aries, while endeavoring to run the blockade, was captured by the gunboat Stettin, off Bull's Bay, S. C.--Robert Gay of company D, Seventy-first Indiana volunteers, convicted of desertion to the rebels, was shot at Indianapolis, Ind.--Fast Day in the rebel States.--Some clergymen in Norfolk, Va., attempted to hold service in their churches, in conformity with Jeff Davis's fast proclamation, but were prevented from so doing by the Union soldiers in that place.


This morning the United States steamer Hartford, the flag-ship of Admiral Farragut, engaged the rebel batteries at Warrenton, three miles below Vicksburgh, and passed below.


March 28.


The Legislature of Massachusetts adopted unanimously a resolution tendering to the soldiers of that State the thanks of the Commonwealth for the services they had rendered in the war for the restoration of the Union, and pledging such reenforcements to their support as the National authority should from time to time demand.--The National gunboat Diana, was this day captured by the rebels near Pattersonville, La.--(Doc. 149.)


This morning Coles's Island, nine miles from Charleston, S. C., was taken possession of by the One Hundredth New York volunteers, under the command of Colonel George F. B. Dandy.--(Doc. 150.)


The rebels burned the temporary bridge with which the National forces had replaced the Stone Bridge at Bull Run, Va. They also were engaged in collecting all the grain and other supplies they could obtain in Loudon and Fauquier counties in that State.


The steamer Sam Gaty was stopped and boarded at Sibley, Mo., by a gang of rebel guerrillas who killed a number and robbed all of the passengers of their money and wearing apparel; captured eighty negroes, twenty of whom they wantonly killed, and destroyed a quantity of government stores. The boat was then allowed to proceed on her voyage.--(Doc. 161.)


The expeditionary force of National troops under the command of Colonel Fairchild, of the Second Wisconsin infantry, returned to Belle Plain, Va., to-day after a successful foraging expedition to Northern Neck. One thousand pounds of pork, three hundred pounds of bacon, three thousand bushels of corn, and a large quantity of wheat, beans, and oats were secured. The cavalry portion of the escort seized a number of horses and mules, captured several prisoners, and broke up the ferries at Union and Tappahannock. The force also burned a schooner engaged in smuggling contraband goods into Virginia.--Baltimore American.


March 29.


The schooner Nettie was captured by the United States steamer South-Carolina, about twenty-five miles cast of Port Royal, with a cargo consisting of cotton, mostly damaged.--A party of blockade runners was captured at Poplar Hill Creek, Md., by a detachment of the First Maryland regiment, under the command of Lieutenant J. L. Williams.


A detachment of the Sixth Illinois cavalry, under the command of Colonel Loomis, while encamped near Somerville, Tenn, were surprised by a large force of rebel guerrillas under Colonel Richardson, but after a desperate conflict, in which the National party had over forty of their number killed and wounded, the rebels were beaten off and retreated.--Chicago Times.


Early this morning the National pickets in the vicinity of Williamsburgh, Va., were attacked by an overwhelming number of rebel cavalry, killing two, wounding six--including Lieutenant Wingel, of the Fifth Pennsylvania, in command of the pickets — and taking three prisoners. Eight horses were killed, one of which received as many as thirteen balls.


March 30.


President Lincoln issued a proclamation designating and setting apart Thursday, the thirtieth day of April, as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer.--(Doc. 151.)


The correspondence between the rebel agent in London, J. M. Mason, and Earl Russell, the [59] British Minister of Foreign Affairs, concerning the questions of the blockade of the Southern ports, and foreign intervention in the affairs of America, was made public.--See Supplement.


A battle was this day fought near Somerset, Ky., between a National force under General Gillmore, and the rebel army under General Pegram, resulting in a defeat and rout of the latter with great loss.--(Doc. 152.)


Washington, N. C., garrisoned. by two thousand National troops under the command of General Foster, was attacked this morning by a strong force of rebels under Generals Hill and Pettigrew. The Union pickets and skirmishers were driven in with considerable loss, but the gunboat Commodore Hull opening on the rebels with shell, they were driven back to the hills surrounding the town, where they immediately commenced to fortify themselves.--National Intelligencer.


Mount Pleasant, Va., was this day captured and plundered by a numerous band of rebel guerrillas under Colonel Jenkins. The town was garrisoned by a company of the Thirteenth Virginia volunteer infantry, under the command of Captain Carter. They intrenched themselves in the court-house, where they were attacked by the rebels, but after a four hours contest, in which the rebels had twenty killed, twenty-five wounded, and twenty-seven of their number captured, they hastily retreated from the town, many of them throwing away their booty.--(Doc. 153.)


General McClernand took possession of the town of Richmond, Miss., with a small force, driving the rebel cavalry from the place after two hours sharp fighting.


The rebel schooner Expeditious was captured in the Savannah River. The vessel was from Nassau, N. P., with a cargo of three hundred and forty sacks of salt, and attempted to run past Fort Pulaski up to Savannah. In the darkness she missed the channel and went into Calibogue Sound, where she was discovered at daylight. A detachment of the Forty-eighth regiment was at once put on board the Mattano and despatched to secure her, which they did.


March 31.


Captain Jabez C. Rich, of Gorham, Me., of the rebel marine corps, was arrested in that place to-day, and conveyed to Fort Preble by Provost-Marshal Elliott, under orders of the Secretary of War. He claimed to be a paroled prisoner.--The Legislature of Virginia passed a bill authorizing the impressment of the salt-works in Washington County, Va., to be worked on State account.--Major-General Herron was assigned to the command of the National army of the frontier.--A large Union meeting was held at Washington, D. C., at which speeches were made by Admiral Foote, Green Adams of Kentucky, Mayor Wallach, and others, and resolutions were adopted in support of the National Government and for the vigorous prosecution of the war against all traitors at home and abroad.--National Intelligencer.


President Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring all commercial intercourse not licensed and conducted as provided by law between citizens of the States now in rebellion, and those of the loyal States of the Union, to be unlawful and would remain unlawful until such rebellion should cease, notice of which would be duly given by proclamation.--(Doc. 155.)

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