The Rebellion Record – A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore
    

A Diary of American Events.

September 24.–Louis Philippe d’Orleans, Comte de Paris, the heir of Louis Philippe, (the eldest son of his eldest son,) and Robert d’Orleans, Duc de Chartres, the brother of Louis Philippe d’Orleans, were duly commissioned as captains of volunteers in the service of the United States, and attached to Major-General McClellan’s staff as aids. These young princes made it a condition of their service that they should receive no pecuniary compensation.

–General Prentiss, U. S. A., assumed command of the National forces at St. Joseph, Mo. No man in the whole Western army could have been sent there who is more acceptable to the people north of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad; and, under his command, the Union troops, whether Federal or State, are willing to do battle.–National Intelligencer, Sept. 28.

–A Portion of Colonel Geary’s force had an action to-day with five hundred rebels on the Virginia side of the Potomac, near Point of Rocks. They were sheltered on a high point on the Catochin Mountain, and in houses at the base. They were driven away by the rifles and battery of Colonel Geary, and the houses burnt. Several of the enemy were killed and wounded. None of the Federal troops were hurt.–N. Y. Times, Sept. 26.

–The Fifth regiment of Vermont Volunteers, under the command of Col. H. A. Smalley, passed through Jersey City, N. J., on their way to the seat of war. It numbers one thousand and seventy men.–Idem, Sept. 25.

–This night a party of about fifty mounted rebels rode into Warsaw, Ky., and broke into a building in which there were stored some arms belonging to the State, and carried them off. Six or seven Union men came up just as they were leaving, and were fired upon. The Union men returned the fire, killing one of the rebels and wounding several others. One of the Union men was wounded in the arm. The Union men had taken the locks off the guns that were stolen, intending to keep them off until they had organized their company.–Dubuque Times, Sept. 26.

–The Louisville Journal of this day has the following:–Last Saturday night (21st) lock No. 3, on Green River, was blown up by order of Gen. S. B. Buckner, commander of the Confederate forces at Bowling Green, Ky. We are informed that the other two locks have also been destroyed. General Buckner’s order for the destruction of lock No. 1 has fallen into our hands. It was intrusted to a spy named James Barnham, who was arrested at the ferry across Mad River, and, making an excuse to step aside for a few moments, he tore the letter in pieces, but his captors put the fragments together and read the following:

Bowling Green, Sept. 19, 1861.

Mr Geo. W. Triplett– My Dear Sir: Your letter is received. Lock No. 1 must be destroyed. I rely upon our friends at Owensboro’ to do it: not an hour must be lost. The destruction is a great deal to me in crippling our adversary. Assemble our friends without delay in sufficient force to accomplish the object. One of the best ways is to open all the gates but one, and to dig down behind the wall at both gates, to put one or two kegs of powder behind the wall, to apply a slow match, and blow the wall into the lock. If possible, it should be done in such a way as to leave a strong current through the lock, which will empty the dam. Provide every thing in advance; do not fail; it is worth an effort.

S. B. Buckner.

The Union men, on learning Gen. Buckner’s intention from this letter, attempted to guard the locks, and rallied five or sis hundred men for the purpose; but, ascertaining the approach of a greatly superior force of cavalry, they retreated, and the work of destruction was done. For this deed, Gen. S. B. Buckner, sooner or later, will have to render a terrible account. The locks and dams of Green River were a portion, and a large one, of the pride and wealth of Kentucky. We all remember at what cost of money and labor they were constructed. They were one of the most important and valuable internal improvements ever made in Kentucky. They opened a river market for the whole of the immense population of the Green Hiver section. But as a mere military manÅ“uver they arc ruthlessly swept away, remorselessly annihilated in a night by a renegade Kentuckian, who brings an army for the conquest of his native State. Railroad bridges, railroad tracks, locks and dams, river packets, public and private property of all descriptions, are reclessly sacrificed by the invaders in the pursuit of their accursed purposes.

–the Twentieth regiment of Indiana Volunteers, under the command of Colonel W. L. Brown, left Baltimore for Fortress Monroe.– Baltimore American, Sept. 25.

–At St. Louis the injunction suppressing the Evening News was removed, and C. G. Ramsay, proprietor, and D. M. Grissom were released; assurances having been given that they would not publish statements about military matters as facts without first learning their truth, and that they would not publish any thing injurious to the interests of the National Government. The News has always been a strong Union paper.–Ohio Statesman, Sept. 26.

–To-day, while the Second Michigan regiment were performing picket duty at Bailey’s Cross Roads, in Virginia, a flag of truce was brought in by two Colonels and a Major, belonging to the rebel army at Munson’s Hill, asking a suspension of hostilities between pickets, which was acceded to by the commander of the National forces.–N. Y. Times, Sept. 26.

–The Ninth regiment of Maine Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Rutherford Rich, of Portland, left Augusta for the seat of war. The regiment numbers one thousand one hundred men, hailing from Calais, Canton, Hilton, Cornish, and Aroostook Counties–all parts of the State being represented. They consist of mechanics and laborers, and though comprising a number of Germans and Irish, are mainly native-born. Physically, they will bear comparison with any regiment in the field. They have the regulation uniform, of excellent material, commissariat wagons, and camp equipage.–N. Y. Times, September 26.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
0 comments… add one

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.