"To the People of New-Orleans," in which he re-tween the expeditionary force of Union troops, viewed his government since he had been ap- under the command of General Foster, and a body pointed to the command of the department.- of rebels, under General Evans. The object of (Doc. 74.) the Union General was to destroy the Goldsborc December 16.—A detachment of Union troops, railroad bridge, which being accomplished, after under command of Major Withers, Tenth Vir-nearly two hours' fighting, he retired, unmolested ginia infantry, while on a reconnoitring expedi- by the rebels.--(Doc. 73.) tion, entered the village of Wardensville, Va., and December 18.-Lexington, Ky., was this day captured the whole rebel mail, consisting of sev-entered and occupied by a large force of rebel eral hundred letters and a large quantity of newspapers.Wheeling Intelligencer. -IN obedience to orders from President Lincoln, Major-General Banks issued a proclamation assuming command of the Department of the Gulf.-(Doc. 75.) -A BODY of rebel troops, numbering about one thousand two hundred men, encamped in the vicinity of New-Haven, Ky., was surprised and captured by a detachment of Wolford's cavalry, under command of Captain Adams, First Kentucky, without firing a shot.-(Doc. 76.) -THE army of the Potomac was withdrawn from Fredericksburgh, Va., to the north side of the Rappahannock, because General Burnside felt fully convinced that the rebel position in front could not be carried, and it was a military necessity either to attack the enemy or retire. A repulse would have been disastrous to the National arms, under the then existing circumstances. The army was withdrawn at night without the knowledge of the rebels, and without loss either of property or men.-General Burnside's Despatch. troops under General Forrest. Before capturing the town the rebels encountered a body of Union troops under the command of Colonel R. G. Ingersoll, Eleventh Illinois cavalry, but after a fight of three hours' duration, in which the rebels lost forty of their number killed and wounded, the Unionists were forced to yield, leaving two pieces of artillery in the hands of the rebels. -YESTERDAY the steamer Mill Boy, while ly. ing at Commerce, Miss., was fired into by a body of rebel cavalry, killing three persons. On arriv ing at Helena, Ark., the Mill Boy reported the fact, when the gunboat Juliet, and transport City Belle, with detachments of the Eleventh and Fortyseventh Indiana, were despatched to Commerce, where they arrived to-day, and burnt the town and plantations for five miles around. December 19.-To-day Colonel Dickey, in command of a detachment of Union cavalry, returned with his command to camp near Oxford, Miss., after an absence of six days on a scouting expedition, during which time he and his party marched about two hundred miles, worked two days at the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, of which they destroy—AN artillery fight took place along both banks ed thirty-four miles, captured one hundred and of the river Neuse, near Whitehall, N. C., be-fifty prisoners, and a large amount of rebel stores, tween the forces under General Foster and the rebel forces under General Evans, resulting, after an hour's firing, in the withdrawal and silence of the rebel guns.-(Doc. 73.) and returned, passing around a body of rebels numbering nine to one, and reached camp without having a man killed, wounded, or captured.— (Doc. 77.) -YESTERDAY a party of General Stuart's rebel cavalry captured a train of twenty-six wagons laden with army supplies, at Occoquan, Va., and December 17.-Four hundred and sixty Union soldiers, including eleven commissioned officers, taken prisoners before Fredericksburgh, arrived at Richmond, Va.—The one Hundred and Seventy-to-day twelve of them were recaptured by a squadthird regiment of New-York volunteers left NewYork for the seat of war.-Baton Rouge, La., was occupied by a portion of the command of General Banks. ron of Union cavalry under Colonel Rush, after a sharp fight, in which the rebels were defeated, they having to destroy the remainder of the wagons in their flight.-The funeral obsequies of the late Brigadier-General George Dashiel Bayard, took place this day at Princeton, N. J.Rev. Dr. McPheters, of Saint Louis, Mo., was ordered by the Provost-Marshal General to leave the State within ten days for encouraging the -A FIGHT took place at Goldsboro, N. C., be- rebellion, and sustaining disloyalty in his church. -MAJOR-GENERAL GRANT, commanding Department of the Tennessee, issued an order from his headquarters at Oxford, Miss., expelling every Jew within his department, within twenty-four hours after the publication of the order. -A general dissolution of President Lincoln's --A FIGHT took place at Davis's Mills, Wolf Cabinet was announced.—The Legislature of Con- River, Miss., between the Union garrison stationnecticut adopted a resolution declaring its confi-ed at that post, composed of two hundred and dence in the President of the United States, and pledging itself to support and sustain him in the prosecution of all measures which might be found necessary to suppress the rebellion. December 20.-Holly Springs, Miss., was this day entered and sacked by the rebel army under General Van Dorn. An immense amount of public and private property was carried off or destroyed. The garrison surrendered after a very short resistance.-(Doc. 79.) -A SKIRMISH OCcurred near Halltown, Va., between a detachment of Union cavalry, under the command of Captain Vernon, and a body of rebel guerrillas. After a short fight the rebels were routed, leaving three of their number in the hands of the Unionists.-Frederick (Md.) Examiner. ---TRENTON and Humboldt, Tenn., were this day entered and captured by the rebel forces under General Forrest. They burned the dépôts, and all the Government stores they could not carry off-(Doc. 80.) -A TRAIN of wagons, twenty-seven in number, laden with provisions for the army of the Potomac, and a guard of one hundred and seventy men, were captured near Occoquan, Va., by a detachment of rebel cavalry under the command of General Wade Hampton.—Richmond Dispatch, December 24. -THE expeditionary army under command of Major-General W. T. Sherman, embarked at Memphis, Tenn., in over one hundred transports, for Vicksburgh.-(Doc. 91.) fifty men, under the command of Colonel William December 22.-General Pryor, with a detachment of rebel troops, attacked a body of NewYork Mounted Rifles, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel B. F. Onderdonk, who were stationed at Isle of Wight Court-House, Va., to protect the election of representatives to Congress, under a late order of General Dix. The Nationals were compelled to retreat after a short skir mish, in which the rebels lost two cavalrymen and a number of guns.-Baltimore American. -GOVERNOR SHORTER, of Alabama, issued an appeal to the people of that State, calling upon the men and youths exempt from the service of the rebel States by reason of their age or other cause, who were capable of bearing arms, to organize themselves into companies, to constitute a reserved force, subject to service in the State -AFTER reading the Commanding-General's report of the battle of Fredericksburgh, the President issued a proclamation tendering to the officers and soldiers of the army of the Potomac ert C. Schenck assumed command of the Middle Department and Eighth Army Corps of the United States, and issued general orders to that effect from his headquarters at Baltimore, Md. December 21.-A skirmish occurred near Nash-"the thanks of the nation."-Major-General Robville, Tenn., between a party of National troops belonging to General Van Cleve's division of the army of Tennessee, and a reconnoitring party of rebels, supported by four pieces of artillery, who were driven off, after exchanging a few shots.Secretaries Seward and Chase having sent in their resignations, President Lincoln acknowledged their reception, and informed the Secretaries that the acceptance of them would be "incompatible with the public welfare." They accordingly resumed their respective portfolios. -The expeditionary forces under General Foster, which left Newbern, N. C., on the eleventh instant, returned to their former quarters in that town to-day, having successfully accomplished the objects of the expedition.-(Doc. 73.) December 23.-Jefferson Davis issued a proclamation declaring General Butler, commanding the Department of the Gulf, to be a felon deserving of capital punishment, and ordering that he should no longer be considered or treated merely as a public enemy of the rebel States, but as an outlaw and common enemy of mankind.— (Doc. 85.) -THE rebel schooner Pelican, with a cargo of eighty-two bales of cotton, ran the blockade at Mobile, Ala. - Major P. Graham, and Lieutenant E. T. Dorton, both of the Fifteenth -THE obsequies of Rev. A. B. Fuller, late Arkansas rebel cavalry, "being convinced of Chaplain of the Sixteenth regiment of Massathe wickedness and folly" of the rebellion, chusetts volunteers, killed at Fredericksburgh, respectfully requested "alike the privilege of Va., took place at Boston, Mass.-A portion of peacefully returning to their allegiance and to Colonel Spears's Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry, their homes" in the North.-An attempt was had a spirited engagement at Joiner's Bridge, made by a party of rebels to cross the Rappa- four miles above Franklin, on the Blackwater hannock, fourteen miles below Port Conway, Va., River, Va., with a squadron of rebel cavalry and a and capture a squadron of the Eighth Pennsyl- body of infantry, whom he dispersed, capturing vania cavalry, but the movement was frustrated one man and horse, and three infantry soldiers by timely information of the rebel intentions by and their arms.--Philadelphia Inquirer. a trusty negro.-The National forces moved from Romney and took possession of Winchester, Va., which place was evacuated by the rebel pickets on their appearance before the town.-National Intelligencer. -A DETACHMENT of General Sherman's expeditionary army, under the command of General M. L. Smith, destroyed a section of the Vicksburgh and Texas Railway, about ten miles west of Vicksburgh, and burned the stations at Delhi and Dallas.-(Doc. 91.) December 25.-A skirmish took place at Green's Chapel, near Munfordville, Ky., between a de December 24.-In promulgating President Lincoln's preliminary proclamation of emancipation, General Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf, issued an address to the people of Lou-tachment of Union troops, under the command of isiana in order to correct public misapprehension Colonel Gray, and the advance-guard of the rebel and misrepresentation, for the instruction of the forces under General J. H. Morgan, which resulted troops of his Department, and the information of in the latter falling back on the main body, with all parties in interest.—(Doc. 86.) a loss of nine killed, twenty-two wounded, and five prisoners.-(Doc. 88.) -A LETTER from Alexander H. Stephens, VicePresident of the rebel government, written on the 24th of December, 1860, was made public. In it occurs the following: "While I hope for the best, I am prepared for the worst. The election of Mr. Lincoln, I am well persuaded, is owing much more to the divisions of the Democratic -THE rebel schooner Break-o'-Day, with a cargo of cotton, ran the blockade of Mobile, Ala.— Colonel Shanks, in command of the Twelfth Kentucky cavalry, attacked the rear-guard of the rebel forces, under General Morgan, at Bear Wallow, Ky., killing one, wounding two, and taking ten or twelve officers and men prisoners, with no loss to his own force.—(Doc. 88.) party, and the disastrous personal strifes among its leaders at Charleston and at Baltimore, than -A SKIRMISH took place at Bacon Creek, near to any fixed determination on the part of a majority of the people of the North to wage an exter- Munfordville, Ky., between a company of the minating war against Southern institutions. Dis- Second Michigan, Captain Dickey, and the adappointed ambition has much to do with the ori-vance-guard of the rebel forces, under General gin of our present troubles; the same cause will Morgan, resulting in a retreat of the Unionists, be greatly in the way of amicable and satisfactory with a loss of twenty-one men and two officers taken prisoners.-(Doc. 88.) adjustment. I can but believe that there is still enough patriotism in the land, North as well as South, to save the present Union under the existing Constitution, with all its guarantees and obligations, if the great heart of the nation can be touched and aroused. All that is wanting is a little time and patriotic forbearance."-A brief skirmish took place in the vicinity of Munford- -MAJOR STEVENS, of the Fourteenth Kentucky ville, Ky., between a detachment of the Second cavalry, with one hundred and fifty men, who Michigan cavalry, under the command of Lieuten- were ordered upon a scout to ascertain the whereant Darrow, and the advance-guard of the rebel abouts of a large band of guerrillas in the eastern forces, under General J. H. Morgan, resulting in part of Powell County, Kentucky, after travelling a retreat of the latter with some loss.—(Doc. 88.) | all night over obscure and dangerous bridle-paths, December 26. Thirty-eight condemned Indians were hung at Mankato, Minnesota, for participating in the late massacre in that State.— Jefferson Davis delivered an extended address on the subject of the rebellion, before the Legislature of Mississippi, assembled at Jackson.-(Doc. 87.) came upon the rebel camps this morning. The Brigadier-General Gibbs, and a force of rebel cavNationals dashed upon them, capturing their alry, in which the latter were routed and driven leader, a noted guerrilla, and eleven of his band. for six or eight miles. The Nationals captured The remainder, though outnumbering Major Ste- a number of horses and fire-arms, the latter of vens's force, were utterly routed, and escaped into which the rebels threw away in their flight.— the dense woods, brush, and mountain gorges. Baltimore American. Twenty-five horses and a large amount of clothing, blankets, guns, pistols, etc., that were being transported to Humphrey Marshall's camp, were also captured.-General Wright's Despatch. VAN BUREN, Ark., was entered and captured by a force of Union troops, under the command of General J. G. Blunt, together with the rebel garrison, a large amount of ammunition, four steamboats laden with army supplies, and a ferry-boat.-(Doc. 90.) December 27.-Elizabethtown, Ky., was this day captured by the rebel forces, under General J. H. Morgan, after a short resistance by the -MAJOR FOLEY, commanding an expedition Union garrison of the post, under the command sent by Major-General Granger to Elk Fork, of Lieutenant-Colonel H. S. Smith. An immense Campbell County, Tenn., composed of two hunamount of public and private property was de- dred and fifty men of the Sixth and Tenth Kenstroyed and carried off by the rebel troops.tucky cavalry, surprised a camp of rebels, three (Docs. 52 and 88.) hundred and fifty strong, at that place, killing thirty, wounding one hundred and seventy-six, and capturing fifty-one, without the loss of a man. All of their camp equipage was burnt, eighty horses, and a large amount of arms cap -A FIGHT took place at Dumfries, Va., between the garrison of the town, consisting of three infantry regiments, a section of a field-battery, and a regiment of cavalry, under the command of Colonel Charles Candy, and the rebel forces of tured.-General Wright's Despatch. Generals Stuart and Fitz-Hugh Lee, with a battery of artillery, in all about three thousand five hundred men, resulting, after a desperate conflict of several hours' duration, in a retreat of the rebel forces with great loss.--(Doc. 89.) -EARLY this morning the attack on Vicksburgh was resumed, and continued all day, but without any important result. The rattle of musketry and booming of cannon was heard on all sides, but when evening came, the opposing armies were found to be in much the same positions as when they began.-(Doc. 91.) sulting in the retreat of the latter, with a loss of one man and five horses killed.-Jackson (Miss.) Appeal. -YESTERDAY the expeditionary army, under General Sherman, successfully disembarked near the mouth of the Yazoo River, and to-day marched -A SKIRMISH took place near Clinton, La., beon Vicksburgh.--(Doc. 91.) tween a party of Stuart's Baton Rouge rebel cav-TO-DAY the Union army under General Sher-alry and a detachment of National cavalry, reman, in conjunction with the gunboats on the Mississippi, commenced the attack on the rebel forces before Vicksburgh. The gunboats, after several hours' firing, were compelled to retire, considerably disabled, but the Union troops, after a desperate contest of eight hours' duration, closing at nightfall, drove the rebel forces back some distance toward their works, both forces resting on their arms for the night.-(Doc. 91.) December 29.-A party of Mexicans, under the leadership of a half-Indian, named Munoz, invaded the State of Texas, and stole forty horses and fifty head of cattle from a ranche in Zapata County. Demand was made through the United States military authorities for the arrest and December 28.-The trestle-work at Muldraugh's punishment of the robbers by the Mexican offiHill, Ky., guarded by the Seventy-first Indiana cers, and also for the restitution of the property. regiment, was captured, after a fight of ten hours, Governor Lopez, of Tamaulipas, had the crimiby a superior force of rebels, under John H. Mor-nals arrested, but they subsequently escaped. gan, and destroyed.-New-Madrid, Mo., was eva- The property was never returned.--Brownsville cuated by the National forces, after destroying the barracks and magazine.-Louisville Journal. -A SKIRMISH OCcurred to-day in the vicinity of Suffolk, Va., between a reconnoitring force of Union troops, under the command of Acting Flag. THE United States Provisional Court for the State of Louisiana was opened at New-Orleans, with the reading of the order from President Lincoln, establishing the tribunal and appointing Judge Charles A. Peabody to preside over it.The Union army, under General Sherman, made a concerted assault on the rebel works at Vicksburgh, Miss., and after a desperate contest, were repulsed at all points with great loss.-(Doc. 91.) December 30-The Union army before Vicksburgh were occupied all day in removing the wounded and burying the dead.-(Doc. 91.) -TO-DAY, the Union expeditionary forces, under General Carter, completely destroyed the Union and Watauga bridges on the East-Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, and a locomotive, tender, and cars. They also captured four hundred rebel troops, six or seven hundred stand of arms, and a large quantity of valuable stores.(Doc. 92.) -MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN, commanding the Union army before Vicksburgh, raised the siege of that town by reembarking his army on his transports, and sailing out of the Yazoo.-(Doc. 91.) GENERAL J. E. B. STUART, with his rebel cavalry, returned to Richmond this morning from his expedition to Occoquan, Dumfries, and Anandale, Va., having been absent seven days, during which time he burned several bridges on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, and captured or destroyed large quantities of National stores. Richmond Dispatch, January 3, 1863. -THE iron-clad steamer Monitor, Commander Bankhead, sprung a leak and foundered a few miles south of Cape Hatteras, N. C. Four officers and twelve men were lost in her.-(Doc. 93.) -EMANCIPATION was celebrated in various portions of the loyal States of the Union.-A meeting of the workingmen of Manchester, England, was held at "Free Trade" Hall, for the purpose of passing resolutions in support of the National cause in the United States, and agreeing on an address to President Lincoln.-(Doc. 96.) JANUARY 1, 1863. -ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, issued his confirmatory Emancipation Proclamation, declaring the slaves in certain States and parts of States in rebellion to be henceforth and forever free.—An enthusiastic meeting was held in Tremont Temple, Boston, throughout the whole of this day-morning, afternoon, and evening-in honor of the Proclamation. The day was also celebrated in Norfolk, Va., by the entire negro population. They marched through the town in procession, numbering over four thousand Union flag, cheering for the downfall of slavery, persons, headed by a band of music, carrying the etc. At Beaufort, S. C., the day was celebrated by the freedmen, by an excursion up the Beaufort River to the encampment of the First South-Caro lina colored volunteers, where they were addressed by Brigadier-General Saxton, Colonel Higginson, Rev. Mr. French, and others. After singing an "Ode for Emancipation Day," the multitude partook of refreshments. The tables were loaded with roast beef, bread, coffee, etc. Five oxen were roasted whole for the occasion. -GALVESTON, Texas, was captured by a rebel -THE battle of Parker's Cross-Roads, Tenn., force under General Magruder. The town was was this day fought between a detachment of garrisoned by only three hundred troops, protectUnion troops, under the command of Colonel C. ed by six small gunboats: namely, the Westfield, L. Dunham, and a large rebel cavalry force, un- | Clifton, Harriet Lane, Owasco, Sachem, and der General Forrest. After a desperate conflict Corypheus. Of these, the Harriet Lane was capof several hours' duration, during which neither tured, after fighting until her captain and most party obtained the victory, General Sullivan ar- of his officers and crew were killed; the Westrived on the field with reenforcements, and field got aground and was prematurely blown up, attacked the rebels, routing them with great together with the commander of the fleet, Comslaughter. (Doc. 94.) modore Renshaw, and most of her officers and crew; the others escaped.-(Doc. 95.) -THE battle of Stone River, or Murfreesboro, Tenn., fought by the Union army of the Cumberland, under the command of Major-General Rosecrans, and the rebel forces under General Bragg, commenced early this morning. After a desperate conflict of more than ten hours' duration, both armies receded and suspended operations for the night, the contest being undecided. (Docs. 26 and 146.) -RICHARD YEADON, of Charleston, S. C., issued the following notice: "President Davis having proclaimed Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts, to be a felon, deserving of capital punishment, for the deliberate murder of William B. Mun:ford, a citizen of the confederate States, at NewOrleans, and having ordered that the said Benjamin F. Butler be considered or treated as an |