While these scenes were being enacted in Washington, and the people of Springfield, Mo., and the adjoining counties were fleeing in all directions for safety from the advancing Confederates, General Fremont, at St. Louis, proclaimed the long-looked-for martial law, which tended to reassure the people, and, for a brief period at least, to silence outspoken secessionists:

I hereby declare and establish martial law in the city and county of St. Louis. Major J. McKinstry, United States Army, is appointed Provost Marshal. All orders and regulations issued by him will be respected and obeyed accordingly.

(Signed)

J. C. FREMONT,
Major-General Commanding.

August 15. Jefferson Davis issued a proclamation, ordering all Northern men to leave the South in forty days, or receive the treatment of alien enemies. The following is a copy verbatim:

PROCLAMATION OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Whereas, The Congress of the Confederate States of America did, by an act, approved on the 8th day of August, 1861, entitled "An Act respecting Alien Enemies," make provision that proclamation should be issued by the President in relation to alien enemies, and in conformity with the provisions of said act:

Now, therefore, I, JEFFERSON DAVIS, President of the Confederate States of America, do issue this my proclamation; and I do hereby warn and require every male citizen of the United States, of the age of fourteen years and upwards, now within the Confederate States, and adhering to the Government of the United States,

and acknowledging the authority of the same, and not being a citizen of the Confederate States, to depart from the Confederate States within forty days from the date of this proclamation.. And I do warn all persons above described, who shall remain within the Confederate States after the expiration of said period of forty days, that they will be treated as alien enemies.

Provided, however, That this proclamation shall not be considered as applicable, during the existing war, to citizens of the United States residing within the Confederate States with intent to become citizens thereof, and who shall make a declaration of such intention in due form, acknowledging the authority of this government; nor shall this proclamation be considered as extending to the States of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, the District of Columbia, the Territories of Arizona and New Mexico, and the Indian Territory south of Kansas, who shall not be chargeable with actual hostility, or other crime, against the public safety, and who shall acknowledge the authority of the Government of the Confederate States.

And I do further proclaim and make known that I have established the rules and regulations hereto annexed in accordance with the provisions of said law.

Given under my hand, and the seal of the Confederate States of America, at the city of Richmond, on this 14th day of August, A. D. 1861.

[SEAL.]

By the President,

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

R. M. T. HUNTER, Secretary of State.

August 16. In view of the utter disregard of President Lincoln's Proclamation, issued on the 15th of April, commanding the rebels to return to their allegiance within a specified time, the President issued a proclamation declaring the inhabitants of the States of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee,

Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Florida (except the inhabitants of that part of the State of Virginia lying west of the Alleghany Mountains, and of such other parts of the State and of other States as may maintain a loyal adhesion to the Union and the Constitution), to be in a state of insurrection against the United States, and that all commercial intercourse between the rebellious States and other parts of the United States is unlawful, and will continue so to be until such insurrection shall cease, or shall have been suppressed; that all goods and chattels, wares and merchandise, coming from any of said States, with the exceptions aforesaid, into other parts of the United States, without the special license and permission of the President, through the Secretary of the Treasury, or proceeding to any of said States, with the exceptions aforesaid, by land or water, together with the vessel or vehicle conveying the same, or conveying persons to or from said States, with said exceptions, will be forfeited to the United States; and that from and after fifteen days from the issuing of this proclamation, all ships and vessels belonging in whole or in part to any citizen or inhabitant of any of said States, with said exceptions, found at sea, or in any port of the United States, will be forfeited to the United States, leaving any party who may think himself aggrieved thereby to his application to the Secretary of the Treasury for the remission of any penalty or forfeiture, which the said Secretary is authorized by law to grant if, in his judgment, the special circumstances of any case shall require such remission.

Newspapers suppressed.

The New York daily and weekly Journal of Commerce, the daily and weekly News, the daily and weekly Daybook, the Freeman's Journal, all published in the city of New York, and the daily and weekly Eagle, published in the city of Brooklyn, were presented to the United States

Circuit Court by the Grand Jury, on the charge of encouraging the rebels in arms against the government, by expressing sympathy and agreement with them and dissatisfaction with the employment of force to overcome them. General Wool took command at Fortress Monroe, relieving General Butler.

Skirmish on the Potomac. Matthias Point is again the scene of another terrible tragedy, and again the navy yard at Washington receives its dead. On the afternoon of the 16th, at about half-past one o'clock, the steamer Resolute was ordered from Acquia Creek to Matthias Point for the purpose of reconnoitring. Seeing a batteau filled with barrels just below the point, a boat was sent from the Resolute with six men to bring off the batteau. No sooner had the boat touched the beach, than a volley of musket balls was opened upon her from a secession force concealed in the woods, killing three of the men instantly.

Another volley was fired by the enemy as they moved their position, or as soon as they had time to reload.

The Resolute was about seven hundred yards from the shore, and fired into the midst of the rebels one shot of canister and nine of shrapnell.

The scene on board the small boat is described as heartsickening the dead lying outstretched in it, covered

with their own blood.

The boat was towed a short distance from shore by one of the crew named Sanderson, who quietly stepped into the water for that purpose, and thus concealed himself from the enemy.

The other uninjured man lay in the boat, stupefied by the sad scene through which he had just passed, while the wounded man helped Sanderson to row the boat toward the Resolute, from which assistance was immediately rendered.

The Resolute reached the navy yard at eleven o'clock

at night, bringing the dead and the wounded man, who was sent to the hospital.

August 19. A battle took place at twelve o'clock at night at Charleston, Mo., between the National forces, about three hundred strong-consisting of the Twentysecond Illinois regiment, under command of Colonel Dougherty, accompanied by Lieutenant-colonel Ransom, of the Eleventh Illinois Regiment and a rebel force estimated at six to seven hundred men, and commanded by Colonel Hunter, of Jeff. Thompson's army.

Information having been received that the enemy were assembled in considerable force at Charleston, Captain Abbott and a portion of his command were sent out in the fore part of the day for the purpose of reconnoisance, and also to prevent the enemy from burning the trestlework on the railroad near Charleston. He encamped. within one mile and a half of the town, and passed the day in observation, and occasionally chasing the enemy's cavalry, who were scouting about the country in squads. They succeeded in informing themselves as to his strength, and returned to their camp, evidently contemplating an easy time in bagging him when night should come. About nine o'clock at night the train arrived with six companies about three hundred men. under command of Colonel Dougherty. He was informed by Captain Abbott that the enemy's strength at Charleston was one thousand, and also that he had received reliable information that they would make an attack upon him that night.

"We are going to take Charleston to-night," replied Colonel Dougherty. "You stay here, and engage the enemy until we come back; we shall not be gone long. Battalion, right face, forward march!" And on went Company E ahead, Company A next, and so on. "Double quick!" was given, and the two front companies only responded.