The Van Buren press., 1912-05-25
@
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK
MAY 20, 1862.

Edwin Stanly OF North Carolina re-
ceived his commission as military gov
ernor of the state, with authority TO
perform all The functions OF that sta
ton and suspend the writ OF habeas
corpus during the pleasure OF the
president, or until the loyal citizens OF
the state re-established a loyal gov
ernment, in accordance with the Con-
stitution of the United States.
Lieutenant Colonel Downey, who
was sent TO Wardensville, near Nor
field, Va, after guerrillas who had re-
Gently overpowered company OF con-
yalescent wounded National soldiers,
reported having killed the chief OF the
band and taken twelve prisoners.
A train of seventeen wagons that
left Rolla, Mo, was captured by par
tfsan Confederate band twenty miles
out on the Springfield road. The
wagons and their contents were
burned, and the mules driven OFF.
Lieutenant Colonel West took pos
session of Tucson Ariz., for the United
States. The Confederate force guard
ing the town retreated before over
balanced numbers, and the citizens
turned out to welcome the Union
troops.
Four Union gunboats bombarded
the Confederate works on Coles Is
land and Stone Inlet, S. c., compelling
the Confederates to abandon the is
land, which they did after burning
the barracks.
The Confederate pickets were driven
across Bottoms Bridge by skirmish-
ers of General COUGHS division OF the
Army of the Potomac. General Stone
mans division reached New Bridge,
also on the Chickahominy.
General Shepley was made mayor of
New Orleans by order OF General But
ler until such time as the citizens
should elect to that office a loyal citi-
zen of the United States.
May 81, 1862.
The second division Of General Hal
ecks Union army, advancing toward
Corinth, under command of Gen.
Thomas A. Davies, defeated the Con-
federates in a battle at Philips Creek
Miss.
General Stoneman, in company with
Prof. Lowe, made balloon reconnois-
sance from Gaines Mills, Va, where,
from an altitude OF 500 feet, they
could see the city Of Richmond, and
forces of Confederates In motion. Cen
eral Mcclellan sent the following re-
port to the war department: Il have
Just returned from Bottoms Bridge.
Have examined the country on the
other side, and made reconnaissance
on the heels of the enemy, who prob
ably did not like the skirmish OF yes
terday. The bridge will be repaired
by tomorrow, and others built All
the camps have advanced today"
Two mortars opened on Fort Pillow
at one o'clock and continued to fire
until six The fire was returned at In
tervals. Deserters from Fort Pillow
reported that 1856 dead bodies had
been removed from the gunboats after
the recent engagement with the
Union hotills.
Commodore Prentiss, Z. S. n, on
the Albatros, penetrated the interior
waters of South Carolina as far as
ten miles above Georgetown on the
Waccamaw river He had not suf.
fcent force to make landing.
Colonel Sedgewick, with the First,
Second and Twentieth Kentucky Ma
tional regiments, made reconnois.
sance IN front OF Corinth to develop
the position and strength OF the en-
envy. lie returned after n two hours
scrimmage, ip which he learned what
he wanted TO know
Recruiting Offices that had been
previously closed were reopened by
order of the United States govern
ment,
Brig, Gen. /. p. Hatch commanding
ihe cavalry IN General Banks Union
division, had skIrmish with some OF
Canby's cavalry near Strasburg, Va,
May %, 1862.
An attempt by civil officers to ar
rest fugitive slaves in the city Of
Washington was frustrated, after two
negroes had been taken, by the Sew
entysixth New York, The soldiers
leveled their muskcts at the police
md carried the remainder of the
slaves away with them,
The foreign consuIs AT Galveston,
requesting OF Captain Eagle, on the
U. s. S, $. Santce, that he assign II
place where they would be safe 10
tho impending bombardment, received
Tho following reply: Let me assure
you, gentlemen, that no person can
dcplore more than myself the misery
that would result from the lombard,
mont OF the town OF Galveston and
its fertilization, yet II IN duty that
viii become necessary TO enforce its
surrender II II not IN my power TO
give you an assurance OF security dur.
Ing the bombardmont, for II Is impos-
sible TO tell what direction the shot
and shell viii take"
General Prontlss' troops, captured
at the battle Of Plttsburg Landing,
Miss, were parolcd by tho Conled.
crates IN Montgomery, Ala.
Company J. Seventeenth MossNchu'
sotts, foil into an OmbuscNde Nt the
forks OF the Trenton and pollocks.
vile roads, Va, whittier they were
bound from Newbern, N C., TO seize
cotton that had been gathered togcth.
or by the Confcdcrotcs They ON.
capped with n loss OF three Killed and
eight wounded