Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1913 — The CIVIL WAR [ARTICLE]

The CIVIL WAR

Fifty years ago THIS WEEK

January 20, 1803. / John A. Andrews, governor of Massachusetts, was authrlzed by the National war department, “until further orders, to raise such numbers of volunteer companies of artillery in the ■' forts of Massachusetts and* elsewhere, and such corps of infantry for the volunteer infantry service, as he may find convenient, and he may include persons of African descent, organised into separate corps." 1 The Confederate privateer Orpte arrived off Havana and was allowed to proceed to anchorage. The Union Maj. Gen. Peck, in orders Issued from his headquarters at Suffolk, Va., expressed bis satisfaction at the soldierly qualities exhibited by Col. Alfred Gibbs, of the One Hundred and Thirtieth New York, and his confidence in his disposition and ability to discharge whatever duties might fall to him, with credit to himaelf and the National service. Gen. McClernand occupied Young’s Point, nine miles above Vicksburg, with a federal force. Gen. Fit*-John Porter was dismissed from the federal army for disobedience of orders at the second battle of Bull Run. January 21, 1863. Governor Vance of North Carolina sent a mesage to the state assembly* . notifying them that, although everything possible had been done to re--pel the northern invaders then threatening the coast, much remained to be done to strengthen their arms and increase their efficiency, and offering a few sugegstions on the subject. The national ship of war Morning Light and schooner Velocity, which were on blockade duty off Sabine Pasß, were surprised and captured by the Confederate steamers Josiah Bell and Uncle Ben. A detachment of Col. Douglass’ Union command in Missouri ran in with a band of Confederate captains In camp and captured four of them, after a sharp skirmish. Col. J. S. H. Mix of the Third New York cavalry, returned to Newbern, N. C., after a successful reconnoissance into Onslaw, Jones and Trent coun- ’ CI6B. ' - ' - ■ - ' The schooner Etiwan, while attempting to run'the blockade at Swash Channel, Charleston Harbor, was captured by the gunboat Ottawa, under command of Lieut William D. Whiting. . One hundred of Morgan’s Confederate irregulars made a descent on Murfreesboro, Tenn., capturing a large force of Union troops and carrying off 30 wagons. Galveston, Tex., being occupied by Confederate troops engaged in erecting defenses, Commodore H. H. Bells, commanding the federal blockading squadron, issued a warning to the consuls in the city, foreign subjects, and all persons concerned that the city was likely to be attacked at any time, and giving them 26 hours in which to withdraw. Fitz-John Porter was cashiered and dismissed the federal service. January 22, 1863. ThjS second attempt of the Federal Army of the Potomac, under General Burnside, to obtain possession of the south bank of the Rappahannock, as a base of operations against Richmond, was unsuccessful. The attempt was foiled by rainstorm which made the roads impassable. The brig Windward was captured and burned off the Cuban coast by the Confederate privateer Orete. John Gill Shorter, Confederate governor of Alabama, issued an address to the people of that state urging them again to come forward in the defense of the southern government, and expressing the hope that “none would be permitted to hide under cover of home from their appropriate duty." The federals reopened the canal dug by General Williams in order to get below Vicksburg. January 23, 1863. The Richmond Dispatch of date said: “A band of Tories about 70 in number, under an outlaw named Taylor, were this day attacked by a body of Confederates under Colonel Folk, In Johnson county, eastern Tennesee. The Tory cavalry and Infantry were parading in a field near Fish Springs. Colonel Folk ordered his men to swim the river and charge them. The Tories seeing this, abandoned their horses and took shelter upon the summit of a large ridge, Folk’s men were then dismounted, and charged up the ridge, completely dispersing the Tories. All their horses were captured. Four of the Tories were killed, and a number wounded and captured. The captured were immediately hung, by order of Colonel Folk. Taylor was killed." A severe snowstorm prevailed at Taunton, Charlottevllle, and other points An the Shenandoah valley. The National army and gunboats at Arkansas Post, Ark., haring blown , up the fortifications and demolished everything that could be made a means of offense and defense, evacuated the place and proceeded to Vicksburg. Simon Cameron resigned his position as American minister to Russia. General Burnside, commanding the Army of the Potomac, dismissed from their commands Generals Hooker, **

Franklin, Newton and Brooke, tor' “undermining the confidence of the army". ' H. Wilson, United States senator; from Massachusetts, offered in the. senate an extraordinary resolution of inquiry, respecting “the conduct of subordinate generals, in undermining confidence in their military superiors," January 24, 19p83. , General Dodge, commanding the National military district of Corinth. Mississippi, reported that the Confederates were putting to death many of the inhabitants of his district, for the only reason that they were loyal toi the National government. He gave the names of Beveral who had been hanged, others who had been hunted down by bloodhounds, and of others whose their heads. The steamer Warsaw, while on her way to Memphis, was fired into by a Confederate battery of two guns, on Island Ntunber 84, on the Mississippi river. . 1 • Brigadier General Daniel 8. Donelson wasi appointed to the command of the Confederate department of the East Tennessee, in place of B. Kirby Smith. * ~ i ,u-'- ■ January 25, 1863. The organization of the First regiment of North Carolina Colored volunteers was completed,\and the regiment sent on an expedition to the cpast of Georgia. It was composed of 860 men, officered by white men. All its recruits were volunteers. A party of Confederate cavalry attacked a National train on the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad, nine miles below Nashville, captured and paroled fifty men, and made an attempt to burn the cars, but National reinforcements arriving from different points, they left, after partially destroying two platform cars. A battalion of Col. Mii> New York cavalry surprised and captured an important Confederate picket post on the road from Newberne to Kingston, North Carolina, taking nine Confederate soldiers, with their arms and accoutrements. The Union General Palmer lost two killed and nine wounded in a fight with Confederates near Woodbury, Tenn. The president relieved Gen. Burnside, at his own request, command in the Army of the Potomac, and appointed him to a station in the west \ Gen. Joseph Hooker was made commander of the Army of the Potomac. J. Sherman of Ohio introduced in the senate of the United Btatea the - National bank bill, proposing the establishment of one uniform circular tion, of equal value throughout the country, upon the foundation of national credit, combined with private capital. January 26, 1863. Major-General Joseph Hooker superceded Gen. Burnside in command of the Federal Army of the Potomae. At Vicksburg, Miss., the gunboat Chilllcothe was engaged in shelling the Confederate lower batteries, without return. The Bark Golden Rule, belonging to the Panama railroad company, was overhauled by the Confederate privateer Alabama, fifty miles south of St. Domingo,.and burned, her captain being unable.to satisfy Captain Semmes of the Alabama that the cargo belonged to neutrals. The captain of the Golden Rule was treated with courtesy on board the Confederate, but the mates and crew were 1 placed in irons. General Palmer’s division of Grant’s Federal army fell in with seven regiments of Confederates at Woodbury, Tenn., and defeated them, after a sharp skirmish. One hundred prisoners were taken. The Confederate congress debated a resolution Introduced by Mr. Crockett of Kentucky, outlining terms on which peace would be Concluded with the north. The debate becoming desultory, Mr. Foote of Tennessee, proposed a plan to disjoin the northwest, ern states from the union and form with them a military league, offensive and defensive. Mr. Foote announced again his intention of introducing enlarged resolutions covering peace proposals. Governor Vance of North Carolina issued an order commanding the soldiers of that state who were illegally absent from their regiments in the Confederate army to return to their posts of duty on or before the tenth of February under pain of being tried, and, on conviction, exe.nted for desertion. (Copyright, ISIS, by W. O. Chapman.)