September 11.–Six rebels from Memphis, Mo., some of whom were identified as having served under Green, were arrested to-day near Salem, Iowa. They had with them a drove of one hundred and eighty cattle, which they said was for Chicago; the men were held as prisoners at Mount Pleasant.–N. Y. Herald, Sept. 13.
–A large party started out at seven o’clock this morning from the vicinity of the Chain Bridge, above Washington, under the command of Colonel Stevens, of the New York Highlanders. It consisted of several detached companies of infantry, a company of cavalry, and Captain Griffin’s battery. As the skirmishers advanced, the enemy’s pickets retired beyond Lewinsville, about seven miles from the Chain Bridge. The troops, having accomplished the object of their mission connected with the reconnoissance of the country, began to retrace their steps, when a large force of rebels, consisting of two regiments of infantry and Colonel Stuart’s regiment of Virginia cavalry, with a battery of four pieces, were seen approaching from the direction of Falls Church, evidently with a view of cutting them off and preventing their return to their camp; and line of battle was formed by the remainder of their forces. The rebel battery then opened with shell, which was replied to from Griffin’s battery. Several rounds were fired on each side, when the National troops ceased firing for about twenty minutes, in order to give the rebels an opportunity, which they would not embrace, of meeting them on the field–the rebels being for the greater part concealed in the woods. The National forces, on resuming operations, brought into action a thirty-two pounder, the shell from which soon silenced the rebel battery. The gun was then directed toward the cavalry, which appeared on the road leading to Fall’s Church, and soon sent them flying, a number reeling from their saddles and falling to the ground. The shells exploded in their midst. The command was then given to withdraw, and the Federal column fell back in good order to Chain Bridge, reaching there late in the afternoon.–(Doc. 42.)
–Thc Legislature of Kentucky adopted a resolution directing the Governor to issue a proclamation ordering the rebel troops encamped in that State to evacuate the soil of Kentucky. The resolution was passed by seventy-one yeas against twenty-six nays. A counter resolution, ordering both Union and rebel troops to leave the soil, was negatived under the rules of order. This action of the Legislature demonstrates the loyalty of Kentucky to the Union, without the slightest shadow of question or contradiction.
–Collector Palmer, at Stonington, Conn., this day seized the bark Cavallo from New York, Captain Washington. The schooner R. Fowler of New York, Captain Eldridge, was seized on the 9th. Beth vessels were taken under the confiscation act.
–Colonel James W. Wall, at Burlington, N. J., was arrested this afternoon by the United States Marshal, and taken to New York by the afternoon train. The arrest produced most intense excitement among the people, as Colonel Vail had been a leading man for many years.–Trenton Gazette, September 12.
–Charles Henry Foster, claiming to be a Congressman-elect from North Carolina, called upon the President, and tendered the services of a brigade of loyalists for the war.–N. Y. Herald, September 12.
–Paducah, Ky., being occupied by United States troops, the Postmaster-General directed its late mail facilities to be reestablished. They were cut off because the mails were tampered with there and in that vicinity by the secessionists.–National Intelligencer, September 11.
–The First Massachusetts regiment, under command of Colonel Cowdin, two companies of General Sickles’ New York Brigade, and two companies of Colonel Young’s Kentucky Cavalry, passed through Upper Marlboro, Md., and crossed the Patuxent into Anne Arundel County.–Baltimore American, September 18.
–With the view to promoting the health and comfort of the troops in and near St. Louis, Gen. Fremont appointed a Sanitary Committee of five gentlemen who shall serve voluntarily and be rewarded at the pleasure of the General. The object of this commission shall be to carry out such sanitary regulations and reforms as the well-being of the soldiers demands. It shall have authority, under directions of the medical director, to select and fit up and furnish suitable buildings for the army and brigade hospitals in places and in such manner as circumstances require, attend to the selection of women and nurses under the authority of Miss Dix, to cooperate with the surgeons of the various hospitals in finding male nurses, to consult with the commanding and regimental officers with regard to sanitary and general condition of troops and aid them in providing proper means for the preservation of health and preventing sickness by wholesome and well-cooked food, and obtain from the community at large such additional means of increasing the comforts, promoting the moral and social welfare of the men in camp and hospital as may be needed and cannot be furnished by Government regulations. The committee is not intended to interfere with the medical staff or other officers of the army, but to cooperate with them and aid them in the discharge of their present arduous duties.– Louisville Journal, September 13.
–The President issued a letter to Gen. Fremont, stating that the General’s late proclamation relating to the emancipation of the slaves of rebel owners must be interpreted in conformity with the recent act of Congress bearing on the question.–(Doc. 43.)
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Late addition to Volume 3:
September 7.–The Richmond Examiner of this day gives the following on the rebel commands in Virginia: The armies of Gen. Johnston and Beauregard have been temporarily combined, and styled the “Army of the Potomac.” While united for certain purposes, they are still distinct as ever in their organization and in the details of command. General Beauregard is at the head of the first corps and Gen. Johnston of the second. While the latter is the ranking officer of seniority of appointment, and could, according to regulation, assume entire command of the army, yet, with that deference for the feelings and soldierly reputation of his illustrious comrade, he has waived the right and remits to him the full enjoyment of all the authority and prerogative which he had anterior to his own arrival at Manassas. The commands are in all essentials distinct, and no order of a general character is ever issued by General Johnston without full and free interchange of opinion with General Beauregard. To say that this conduct is not appreciated by General Beauregard would do gross injustice to that gallant officer, and it gives us pleasure to inform our readers that nothing can exceed the mutual feeling of affection, respect, and confidence existing between our two distinguished Generals. There is no clashing of authority, no contention, no heart-burning. Every thing moves on in the army with the most perfect accord and good feeling. Nothing additional is reported as to movements on the Potomac. Our troops are steadily fortifying their advanced positions, and extending their lines in every direction. Regiments go down daily as reliefs to these on duty in the advance, so as to distribute the hardships of the forward positions. Meanwhile the whole army is on the alert. Nothing can exceed the enthusiasm of these troops or their anxiety for battle. A few days since the balloon came over in the direction of Munson Hill, where Captain Rosser, of the Louisiana Artillery, had several rifled pieces. When about a mile off, he fired at it, without disturbing its occupants. Sighting another of his pieces with more care, he repeated the experiment with a better result. This time the balloon disappeared earthwards with startling rapidity, and has not been seen since.