places of deposit will be speedily designated when suitable arrangements for supplies shall have been perfected. Due notice will be given of the time when the salt will be ready for delivery. The price, quantity for each person, and how it is to be sold and delivered, and the agents employed therefor, will be prescribed in future regulations, and published as required by law. ploit, and commanded by the lineal descendant of the illustrious Governor and dictator of SouthCarolina, John Rutledge, would, he trusted, prove herself not unworthy of that glorious name. He then recounted the stirring story of the twentyeighth of June, '76, and showed how hard-won was the unequal fight which first gave to South"the Palmetto Carolina her proud sobriquet, State." As the victory over the British fleet at After the price is so prescribed, the sale of any Fort Moultrie had given an impulse to the cause salt within the commonwealth at a higher rate of independence, in an early stage of the revoluper bushel, is declared by law to be a misdemean- tionary struggle, so the reduction of Fort Sumter or, and any violation of the rules and regulations gave us the prestige of victory in the very incepprescribed by the Governor is also a misdemeanor, tion of the present contest, and was attended with to be punished, upon conviction, by fine of not an éclat which inspired confidence and gave an less than one hundred nor more than two thou-accelerated impulse to our holy cause. sand dollars. A board of assessors has been appointed by the Legislature to assess the compensation or damages to be paid for property seized or used by the State under this law. The time and place of their meeting will be hereafter prescribed. The act prohibits all courts or judges from issuing orders or injunctions to stay any proceedings of the Governor, or his authorized agents, under this law. Doc. 4. It conferred name and fame, too, on Beauregard and Ripley, inspiring confidence in them as our leaders, and it proved the grave of the reputation of the renegade Kentuckian, Anderson, who soiled the honors of a gallant defence by persistent treason to his native State and section. Addressing himself, then, to the matrons and maidens of the Palmetto State, the orator referred in graceful terms to the debt which our city owed them for this auspicious event. He alluded to the inaction of the government in the construction of naval defences, and showed how the suggestion and example of one patriotic lady had stirred in the bosoms of the daughters of South CHRISTENING THE "PALMETTO STATE." Carolina the project of building these very boats, RICHMOND "WHIG" ACCOUNT. RICHMOND, Oct. 17, 1862. Ox Saturday last the gunboat "Palmetto State," built at Charleston, mainly through the efforts and offerings of the women of South-Carolina, was formally named and dedicated. We copy from our exchanges the following account of the proceedings: over the completion of which they were rejoicing to-day. The ladies, in every part of the State, enthusiastically embraced the scheme, and came forward, in large and cheering numbers, with votive offerings at the shrine of patriotism their free-will oblations on the altar of their country. Donations in money, plate, jewelry, works of art and ingenuity, family relics, tokens of affection, the widow's inite, and even bridal gifts, were All places affording a view of the boat and of poured forth as from an exhaustless fountain, to the site of the ceremonial were thronged at an arm Charleston with the means of naval defence. early hour, and a large proportion of the specta-The result was a gunboat fund exceeding thirty tors were of the fair sex. thousand dollars. This spirited action of our woAt an early stage of the proceedings General men had roused the governments, State and conBeauregard and staff, and Brig.-General Gist and federate, from their torpor, to the construction of staff, arrived and took position on the upper deck, these two noble iron-clad steamers. The propowhich, being elevated some distance above the sition that the Ladies' Gunboat Fund should be surrounding wharves, formed the rostrum for the paid over to the government, for the privilege of occasion. As the hero of Sumter, Manassas and naming the iron-clad steamer, then in course of Shiloh stepped upon the gangway and came with-construction by Messrs. Marsh & Son, the "Palin view of the assembled throng, he was welcomed with hearty and long continued cheers. At the appointed hour, the exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Smith, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church. THE ORATION.-Colonel Richard Yeadon (attired in the full uniform of the Wellington Rangers) then delivered an oration, of which the following is a synopsis: metto State," had proved agreeable to the fair contributors, and it was now the speaker's duty to fulfil the contract. Here the orator handed a check for thirty thousand dollars to Captain Ingraham, and then proceeded to perform the baptism. The oration was interrupted by frequent applause. THE BAPTISM.—As the young lady (Miss Sue Gelzer) who was the first contributor to the gunboat broke over the head of the iron-sheathed monster a bottle of choice old wine, Col. Yeadon pronounced the following words: He congratulated them on the completion of the first iron-clad ram built for the defence of Charleston Harbor - The Palmetto State. The name was one redolent of victory; and this noble craft, constructed, as she had been, under the di- "With all solemnity and reverence, and invokrection of the distinguished hero of the Koszta ex-ing on thee the blessing of Almighty God, noble boat 'Palmetto State,' I baptize thee, in the name of the patriotic ladies of South-Carolina. Amen." CLOSING ADDRESS.-He then addressed, in succession, Captain Ingraham, Captain Rutledge, and General Beauregard : Captain Ingraham: As commander of this naval station, the movements of the iron-clad steamers assigned to the defence of our harbor will be under your direction, and we rely confidently on your skill and experience to render those movements effectual and crown them with victory. Although not born to the sea, yet from early boyhood you were bred to the sea in tender years you were among those "who go down to the sea in ships and do business in the great waters." At the age of nine years you received a midshipman's warrant in the navy of the United States, and, young as you then were, you served in the war of 1812, under Commodore Chauncey, chasing and skirmishing with the British fleet on Lake Ontario. Passing through all the grades of the service, you became a post-captain, and in that capacity you bravely humbled the haughty Austrian in his attempt, in a foreign port, to oppress an embryo citizen of your country; and then and otherwise, during your prolonged career, you proved your fidelity to the once glorious, but now degraded, flag of Stars and Stripes, as long as it was an honor to serve under it. We look, sir, to your wise and veteran counsels and plans and gallant deeds to humble the pride and insolence of the vandal Yankee, should he dare to enter our harbor with the purpose of subjugation or spoliation; and we know that you will prove your fidelity even to the death, to the glorious Stars and Bars, under which, true to the State and to the city of your birth and your affections, you now patriotically serve. achieve a Saragossa defence, and you a fame equal, if not superior, to that of the chivalrous Palafox. Noble boat! you now bear a name which is at once a badge and incentive to victory; you are armed and equipped to do battle in a righteous war, against an unprincipled enemy; and, relying on the justice of our cause, let us hopefully and reverently commit your destiny to Him, with whom are the issues of life and death-of defeat and victory. THE CHICORA-A Goodly Sight-Just as the ceremony had been concluded, the other gunboat, the Chicora, came steaming up from the lower wharves, and, with colors flying fore and aft, saluted her consort. As the grim and invulnerable craft glided noiselessly, but in all the majesty of conscious might, up the stream, the admiration of the assembled multitude broke forth in loud and prolonged cheers for the Chicora and her energetic builder, Mr. Eason, who, with a large number of citizens, could be seen upon her upper deck. The pleasing ceremonial being over, the ladies were invited into the workshops of the Messrs. Marsh, where they partook of a bountiful collation. The whole affair passed off without any accident calculated to mar the pleasure of those present, excepting, perhaps, a light shower, which came down quite suddenly, and created some consternation for a while. Doc. 5. THE ESCAPE OF GENERAL STUART. OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL PLEASANTON. FREDERICK, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 1862. THE following are the main features of the report of Gen. Pleasanton, relative to the rebel raid into Pennsylvania: Captain Rutledge: In the event of an assault by the foe, it will be your lot and your duty to conduct this ship of war through the perils and the blood of battle, and we have every confidence that the descendant of John Rutledge will fight her well, and like his great ancestor, sooner cut On Saturday morning, (October eleventh,) at four off his right hand than give an order for her sur- o'clock, he received orders to start with his comrender and we augur for you in our harbor a mand, and was soon en route for Hagerstown, success equal and even superior to that of the in-arriving there about eleven o'clock. trepid Buchanan, with the old Merrimac, in the waters of Virginia. From your vessel and her consort, the Chicora, under the gallant Tucker, of Virginia, and the brave Warley, of South-Carolina, we look for a harbor defence that will both give safety to our city and immortality to her defenders. He There he was informed that the rebels were moving in the direction of Mercersburgh. started toward Clear Spring, on the Hancock road, to intercept them. He had proceeded four miles, when he was ordered to halt, by a despatch from headquarters. At half-past one o'clock P.M., he was ordered to move to Mechanicstown via Cavertown and Harrison's Gap, and sent patrols to Emmettsburgh and Gettysburgh to obtain information of the enemy. General Beauregard: Your wise strategy in the successful bombardment of Fort Sumter, and your heroism on the bloody and victorious fields of Manassas and Shiloh, make us hope and trust that, in your wisdom and energy, we will find a He arrived at Mechanicstown at half-past eight bulwark of safety and we feel a cheering assur- o'clock P.M. At half-past twelve o'clock A.M. he ance that, with you as the leader and director of sent scouts in the direction of Middleburgh, who our land forces, and with our numerous formida-reported that the rebel cavalry, under Stuart, had ble forts and batteries, aided by our steam rams passed through Middletown, five miles to the east and by the soldierly and accomplished Col. Col- of Mechanicstown, one hour before that time, quitt and his brave Georgians, Charleston will taking a private road to Woodsborough, and thence to Liberty, on the route to the mouth of the Monocacy. General Pleasanton started for this point via Frederick City, passing through the latter at five o'clock A.M., Sunday. He reached the Monocacy at eight o'clock A.M., and found four or five hundred infantry guarding the canal aqueduct and the roads to the ferries. They told him that they had neither seen nor heard of the rebel cavalry. He crossed the Monocacy with portions of the Eighth Illinois and the Third Indiana cavalry, and two guns of Pennington's battery, and sent forward a company on the Barnesville road to reconnoitre, while the main column moved in the direction of Poolesville. The advanced squadron had not passed more than one and a half miles from the ferry before they discovered a body of cavalry approaching, dressed in the uniform of the United States soldiers. The officers in command of the squadron made signals in a friendly manner, which were returned by the parties, who approached to within a short distance of each other, when the officer commanding the opposite party ordered his men to charge. Skirmishing took place; the enemy brought up a superior force, and opened a couple of guns, which obliged our men to retire. The two guns of Pennington's battery were brought into position and opened with a brisk fire, which checked the enemy's advance. At this time Pleasanton's command was not more than four hundred strong; four small companies of infantry were then taken to support the guns. Skirmishing took place until the remainder of Pennington's guns came up, and they soon drove off the enemy's guns. It was then discovered that the enemy had two guns in position at White's Ford, on this side, and one gun on the other side of the river. Pleasanton then took all the infantry at the mouth of the Monocacy, with the exception of two companies, and made a general advance. The enemy then retreated toward White's Ford, keeping up a rapid fire all the time. Pennington's horses gave out, and the men were obliged to push the cannon up the hills. The enemy, owing to this delay, effected a crossing over the river. This was at half-past one o'clock P.M. He then received information from Colonel Ward of Gen. Stoneman's division, that a brigade of infantry and a regiment of cavalry, and a section of artillery were in the neighborhood. He sent word to the General that the enemy had escaped. This was the first intimation he had of troops being in that vicinity. practicable for him to occupy that ford while the enemy was in his front. NEW-YORK "TIMES" ACCOUNT. WHITE'S FERRY ON THE POTOMAC, TWO MILES I have already sent you by telegraph a brief statement of the successful retreat of Stuart's cavalry over the Potomac at this point, after their daring and brilliant raid into Pennsylvania. I now transmit you such details as I have been able to learn by personal presence and inquiry on the spot. I chanced to be at the headquarters of General McClellan, near Knoxville, on Sunday forenoon, at the time heavy firing was heard down the river, in the direction of Point of Rocks and the mouth of the Monocacy. The cannonading was first heard briskly about nine A.M., and it continued, though with slackening rapidity, for two or three hours. Learning from Major Myer, chief of the signal corps, that the most eligible point for intelligence would be Point of Rocks, I started immediately on horseback for that place, six miles distant, reaching it in the course of an hour. On my arrival I found the entire population of this little railroad village in a state of intense panic. An infinity of alarming stories were brought up by persons arriving from down the river. Though differing in every other respect, all agreed that Stuart's cavalry were endeavoring to effect a crossing of the Potomac, a little below the mouth of the Monocacy, and a visit to the Point of Rocks was momentarily looked for-there being no obstacle whatever to their crossing there, if any difficulty should be found below. Shortly afterward a corporal of the Loudon Rangers, an independent company of loyal Virginia horsemen, came up from the mouth of the Monocacy, and brought the report which I transmitted to you by telegraph, to the effect that though a considerable portion of the rebels had succeeded in making good the transit, the main body had been captured. You already know how far, unhappily, from the truth was this pleasing report of the valiant Loudon Rangers. While debating whether I should proceed down to the scene of conflict, I ascended the hill at Point of Rocks on which the local branch of the signal corps has its station, and from this "coign of vantage" took a survey of the whole field. No troops, rebel or otherwise, were observable through the glass, with the exception of a body of soldiers drawn up in line back of a piece of woods on the Virginia shore, below the mouth of the Monocacy, wearing the National uniform. Imagining from this circumstance that Union troops occupied both shores of the Potomac, and that the whole rebel force was certainly bagged, I started for down the river at five o'clock, against the united persuasion of the whole assembled population, including the stout-hearted Loudon Rangers, who were sure that I would be either General Pleasanton succeeded in driving the rebels from the mouth of the Monocacy to White's Ford, a distance of three miles. The General is of the impression that had White's Ford been occupied by any force of ours previous to the occupation of it by the enemy, the capture of Stuart's forces would have been certain; but with his (Pleasanton's) small force, which did not ex-killed or captured. ceed one fourth of that of the enemy, it was not | To the mouth of the Monocacy the distance by VOL VI.-Doc. 2 alry struck the Poolesville road, near the mouth of the Monocacy. Here the Union advance-guard met the rebel cavalry, from two thousand to two thousand five hundred strong, under command of Generals Stuart, Hampton, and Fitz-Hugh Lee. Pleasanton's force did not number over five hundred horse. The rebels were clothed in the National uniforms taken at Pennsylvania, and were mistaken for our own troops. The rebel officers waited till the Union troops came close up, gave the salute, and then charged with carbines and pistols. At the same time they opened with two pieces of artillery, with the evident intention of forcing a passage to Monocacy Ferry. General Pleasanton was able to prevent this, and having succeeded at length in getting the battery in position on a hill by the road side, opened upon the rebels, and shelled them in the woods. Thus thwarted, they made for the crossing at White's Ferry, and all that the small force of Gen. Pleas anton could do was insufficient to prevent their making good their escape at this point. They were all safely across by half-past twelve o'clock. No damage was done to our side except one man wounded; rebel loss not known. the tow-path along the canal, which runs close by the Potomac, is six miles, while by the country road via Licksville, it is eight. As, however, the latter was certainly the safer, I took it. The roads were frightful. A cold pelting rain was pouring down, and night set in before I had half completed my journey. The bridges being all down, I had twice to swim the canal with my horse. The night was horribly dark, and the only feature of the desolate scene connecting one with civilization, was the telegraph-poles, my sole guides along the way. It was about nine in the evening when I reached the mouth of the Monocacy, whither I was led by the welcome sight of camp-fires ahead. Arriving, I found detachments numbering about seven hundred men, of the Sixth regular cavalry and the Eighth Illinois cavalry, who had arrived about an hour ahead of me, and were on their way to report to Gen. Pleasanton. As, however, it was ascertained that the General was some two or three miles below the mouth of the Monocacy, they had halted on the hither side of that stream, and the crossing being dangerous in the dark, they encamped on the road for the night. I spent it with them, horses and men both lying by the wayside-brisk fires fed by the Thus, unsuccessfully for us, ended this excitfence-rails being kept up to counteract, somewhat, ing cavalry race-one of the most remarkable on the effect of the drenching rain from which we record, in which our force made the unprecedenthad no shelter save our blankets. In the gray of ed chase of ninety miles in twenty-four hours. the morning we pushed on to Gen. Pleasanton's If the General in command of the Union force quarters, at White's Ferry on the Potomac, about did not capture the rebels, he certainly did the two miles below where the Monocacy empties into best he could under the circumstances. His the stream. From the General we learned the force was entirely too small to cut off their restory of the previous day. The cavalry reën- treat, after he did come up with them. It must forcement were many hours too late to be of any be remembered that they had four men to his service. The whole rebel force had succeeded in one; while the crossing was covered by bateffecting their escape into Virginia at this cross-teries, planted on both sides of the Potomac. ing about noon of Sunday. At ele Besides, in the line of his pursuit, he was strictly subject to orders from headquarters, and was thus cut off from all the advantage he would have had by being able to make cross-cuts on the enemy as he found them. Doc. 6. REPORT OF BRIG.-GENERAL BRANNAN. HEADQUARTERS EXPEDITION TO ST. JOHN'S RIVER, STEAMSHIP BEN DEFORD, Oct. 13, 1862. Lieutenant-Colonel W. P. Prentice, Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the South, Hilton Head, S. C.: Riding back to-day from White's Ferry to headquarters in company with General Pleasanton, I learned from that officer the chief points in his remarkable chase after the rebel cavalry. When he received his orders on Saturday morning from headquarters to proceed in pursuit he was stationed near Sharpsburgh. At seven A.M., he had started, his command consisting of portions of the Eighth Illinois cavalry, Third Indiana cavalry, EXPEDITION TO JACKSONVILLE, FLA. and Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry, with Lieut. Pennington's battery of horse artillery. ven A.M. of Saturday they made Hagerstown. Thence they moved out on Clearspring road three miles toward Hancock, but were recalled to Hagerstown by a despatch from headquarters. From Hagerstown they were ordered to Mechanicstown, which they made at eight P.M. of Saturday. Here COLONEL: In accordance with orders received they first got scent of the rebels, who were re- from headquarters, Department of the South, I turning southward on their detour from Cham- assumed command of the following forces, intendbersburgh, and were reported as having passed a ed to operate against the rebel batteries at St. little town cast of Mechanicstown, half past eleven John's Bluff, and such other parts of the St. Saturday night. From Mechanicstown, Pleas- John's River as should contain rebel works: anton set out in pursuit at one A.M., Sunday Forty-seventh regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, morning. At five A.M. he reached Frederick, and Col. T. H. Good, effective strength, $25; Seventh thence went directly south to the mouth of the regiment Connecticut volunteers, Col. Jos. HawMonocacy, the rebels passing a little ahead of him, ley, effective strength, 647; section of First Conby a parallel road a little east, through Newmar- necticut light battery, Lieut. Cannon, effective ket and Urbana. At eight A.M. the Union cav-strength, 41; detachment of First Massachusetts cavalry, Captain Case, effective strength, 60: total, 1573. The expedition left Hilton Head, S. C., on the afternoon of the thirtieth of September, 1862, on the transports Ben Deford, Boston, Cosmopolitan, and Neptune, and arrived off the bar of St. John's River early on the following morning, October the first, but was unable to enter the river until two P.M. the same day, owing to the shallowness of the channel. This expedition was joined by the following fleet of gunboats, Captain Charles Steedman, United States Navy, commanding, ordered to cooperate with it: Paul Jones, (lag-ship,) Cimerone, (Captain Woodhull,) Water Witch, (Lieutenant Commanding Pendegrast,) Hale, (Lieutenant Commanding Snell,) Uneas, (Lieutenant Commanding Crane,) Patroon, (Lieutenant Commanding Urann.) On the expedition coming within the river, three gunboats were sent up to feel the position of the rebels, and were immediately and warmly engaged by the batteries, apparently of heavy armament, on St. John's Bluff. A landing was effected at a place known as Mayport Mills, a short distance from the entrance of the river, and the entire troops, with their arms, horses, and rations, were on shore by nine o'clock on the night of the first. The country between this point and St. John's Bluff, presented great difficulties in the transportation of troops, being intersected with impassable swamps and unfordable creeks, and presenting the alternative of a march without land transportation-of nearly forty miles, to turn the head of the creek, or to reland up the river, at a strongly guarded position of the enemy. On further investigation of the locality, a landing was effected for the infantry, about two o'clock on the morning of the second, at a place known as Buck Horn Creek, between Pablo and Mount Pleasant Creeks, but owing to the swampy nature of the ground it was found impracticable to land the cavalry and artillery at that point. Here the gunboats rendered most valuable assistance by transporting the troops in their boats, and in sending their light howitzers to cover their landing. Col. T. H. Good, with the entire infantry and the marine howitzers, was ordered to proceed immediately to the head of Mount Pleasant Creek, and there establish a position to cover the landing of the cavalry and artillery. This movement was executed with great promptness and skill, surprising and putting to flight the rebel pickets on that creek. Indeed, the landing of the troops at Buck Horn Creek, and their rapid movements on Mount Pleasant Creek, proved to be most fortunate for us, such a proceeding being so unexpected on the part of the enemy as entirely to disarrange any plans they may have formed to prevent our landing. The pickets retired in such haste and trepidation as to leave their camps standing, their arms, and even a great portion of their wearing apparel behind them, and the men themselves may thank the intricate nature of the ground, together with their superior knowledge of a country almost im practicable to a stranger, that they effected their escape. On the afternoon of the third, the command of artillery and infantry were in position, at the head of Mount Pleasant Creek, distance about two miles from the enemy's works on St. John's Bluff. Here the statements of those belonging to the locality, though conflicting and unreliable in the extreme, appeared to agree in placing the strength of the rebels at one thousand two hundred, cavalry and infantry, in addition to the heavy batteries, which they represented as containing nine heavy pieces, two of them being columbiads. Under these circumstances, I deemed it expedient on consultation with Capt. Steedman, United States Navy, commanding naval forces, to call upon the garrison of Fernandina for reenforcements. To this call Col. Rich, Ninth regiment Maine volunteers, commanding that garrison, responded promptly, by sending three hundred men early on the following morning. Later on that day, from further information received, Captain Steedman, at my request, sent three gunboats to feel the position of the rebels, shelling them as they advanced, when the batteries were found to be evacuated. After which Lieut. Snell, United States Navy, sent a boat ashore and raised the American flag, finding the rebel flag in the battery-the United States steamer Water Witch retaining possession of the batteries until the arrival of the land forces. The command inmediately advanced from the position on Mount Pleasant Creek, and occupied the batteries and late camps of the enemy, at about eight o'clock on the night of the third. The cavalry not having landed with the other portion of the troops, were here disembarked. I found the late position of the enemy on St. John's Bluff to be one of great strength, and possessing a heavy and effective armament, with a good supply of ammunition, as will be seen by the accompanying inventory of ordnance captured the works being inost skilfully and carefully constructed, and the position greatly enhanced by the natural advantages of the ground, it being approachable from the land by but one route, which would lead the attacking party through a winding ravine, immediately under the guns of the position, and from the narrowness of the channel at this point, and the elevation of the bluff, rendering the fighting of the gunboats most difficult and dangerous. Most of the guns were mounted on a complete traverse circle, and, indeed, taking every thing into consideration, I have no doubt but that a small party of determined men could have maintained this position, for considerable time, against even a larger force than was at my disposal. On the day following my occupation of these works, (October fourth,) I proceeded to dismount the guns, and to move thein and the ammunition on board the transport Neptune, which work was completed on the seventh, when I forwarded them to Hilton Head, and caused the magazines to be blown up, and otherwise destroyed the en |