October 19.–Colonel Morgan, with two hundred and twenty men of the Eighteenth Missouri regiment, with two pieces of artillery, had a fight with some four hundred rebels, on Big Hurricane Creek, in Carroll County, Mo., killing fourteen, taking eight prisoners, and putting the balance to flight. Colonel Morgan had fourteen men wounded, two mortally.–(Doc. 98.)
–The Leavenworth (Kansas) Conservative of this date gives an account of the surrender of Fort Fillmore, New Mexico, as follows:–
On the 6th of July, Major Lynde had command of seven companies of infantry and two of cavalry, in all about seven hundred men. The next officers in rank were Captains Poster and Stevenson and Lieut. McAnnelly. On the 24th of July, at three o’clock p.m,, four hundred and eighty men, with four pieces of artillery, started for Mesilla; arrived there at dark; were drawn up in line of battle between two cornfields; there were no flankers and no skirmishers out; the cavalry were within eighty-five yards of the ambuscade laid by the Texans, who numbered less than two hundred, and were poorly armed. Shots were fired out of the cornfield, one of them taking effect on Lieut. McAnnelly, a true Union man. Major Lynde was behind a wagon. A perfect cross fire was opened on the cavalry, and, no officer now being in command of them, they retreated. No order had been given them to dismount, fire, or charge, and they retreated “on their own hook” to the rear of the infantry, in order to give the artillery a chance to fire. Our own infantry opened a perfect volley on our own cavalry– by mistake, it was said. A few shots were fired by the artillery, when the whole command was ordered to retreat back on the post. Arrived there at nine o’clock. Next day all were engaged in fortifying. At half-past ten an order was given to evacuate that night. The commissary was ordered to roll out the whiskey, and the infantry were allowed to drink it and fill their canteens. No water was furnished for the hot march before them. The march was undertaken in the most irregular manner, and before we had gone ten miles men were dropping from the ranks and falling down drunk. At two in the morning Texan troops were seen advancing on the Los Crusas road. Our adjutant, on being informed of it, made no preparations to resist an attack, but said:–”They have nothing to fear from us.” Of the seven companies, so many had been left drunk and captured that no more than two companies went into camp. The officers left the men, and held a long council of war. The men of the rifle command decided among themselves to fight. Just as they were ready Captain Gibbs came up, ordered a retreat upon camp, saying:–“We will fight them there.” As soon as they reached there, they were formed into line, and told to dismount for the last time. “You are turned over as prisoners of war,” was all they heard. All the arms and supplies were given up, the oath was administered, and next day the men were released on parole.
–The schooner Fairfax, of Georgetown, D. C., bound up the Potomac with 1,100 bales of hay and 500 barrels cement, was captured by the rebels off Shipping Point. This schooner and another vessel, in tow of the steam-tug Resolute, were fired upon when passing the rebel batteries, and at that critical moment the hawser by which the Fairfax was attached to the steamer broke. The vessel had necessarily to be left to her fate. She drifted toward the batteries, from which several boats started and took possession of her. The Resolute, with the other vessel in tow, proceeded up the river. This is the first serious disaster that has happened to any vessel in passing these batteries. –National Intelligencer, October 21.
–Twenty rebel prisoners, selected from among the North Carolinians on Bedloe’s Island, were sent to Fortress Monroe, there to be released upon taking the oath not to bear arms against the United States Government. This is done in response to the recent release of fifty-seven wounded soldiers at Richmond. As nearly all the persons released by the rebel authorities are disabled by wounds and disease, more than half of them having had a limb amputated, Col. Burke made a selection in the same manner from among the common soldiers, and these were taken who appeared to be most disabled and weakened by disease. Their names are not given. This action of the Government was an agreeable surprise to the prisoners, and the fortunate ones hailed their deliverance with unfeigned delight.–Baltimore American, October 21.
–Abel Smith, colonel of the Thirteenth regiment of New York Volunteers, died this morning, at Mechanicsville, N. Y., from injuries sustained on the railroad, at that place.– Gen. Heintzleman made a reconnoissance in considerable force along the telegraph road as far as Pohick Church and Acotink Creek, in Virginia, when some of the rebel pickets were met and driven back. It was ascertained that the rebel forces were posted between the telegraph road and Occoquan.– Washington Star, October 21.
–General Wool, at Fortress Monroe, issued an order, giving every male contraband employed in the department, eight dollars per month, and every female four dollars per month. –New York Tribune, October 21.