unarmed, could long be subjugated by a class | the United States, in accordance with the inof political adventurers always adverse to them; terpretations of the United States courts, as far and the fact that they have already rallied, re- as those laws may be applicable to Kentucky, organized their Government, and checked the and to enforce, with all the power of the State, march of these invaders, demonstrates how our obligations of neutrality as against the justly he appreciated them. Southern States, as long as the position we have assumed shall be respected by the United States. Gen. McClellan stipulates that the territory of Kentucky shall be respected on the part of the United States, even though the Southern States should occupy it; but in the latter case he will call upon the authorities of Kentucky to remove the Southern forces from our territory. Should Kentucky fail to accomplish this The failure, hitherto, of the State authorities, in consequence of the circumstances to which I have adverted, to organize its quota of troops called for by the President, imposed upon him the necessity of providing himself for their organization; and this has been done to some extent. But instructions have now been given to the agents of the Federal Government to proceed hereafter under your directions, and the company and field officers will be commis-object in a reasonable time, Gen. McClellan sioned by you. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, SIMON CAMERON, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, To His Excellency, Francis H. Pierpont, Gor- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto claims the same right of occupancy given to the Southern forces. I have stipulated in that case to advise him of the inability of Kentucky to comply with her obligations, and to invite him to dislodge the Southern forces. He stipulates that if he is successful in doing so, he will withdraw his forces from the territory of the State as soon as the Southern forces shall have been removed. This, he assures me, is the policy which he will adopt towards Kentucky. Should the Administration hereafter adopt a different policy he is to give me timely notice of the fact. Should the State of Kentucky hereafter assume a different attitude, he is in like manner to be advised of the fact. The well-known character of Gen. McClellan is a sufficient guarantee for the fulfilment of every stipulation on his part. To I am, sir, very respectfully, S. B. BUCKNER, Inspector-General. GENERAL BUCKNER TO GOVERNOR MAGOFFIN. [L. S.] be affixed, this twenty-sixth day of June has been entered into with Gen. McClellan, and of the purpose of Kentucky to carry out with S. B. BUCKNER, Inspector-General. GENERAL BUCKNER TO GOVERNOR MAGOFFIN. SIR:-On the afternoon of the 12th instant I reached Union City, Tennessee, about twentysix miles southeast of Columbus, Kentucky, in consequence of an exciting incident at Columbus, about noon of that day. I found that Tennessee troops, under command of MajorGeneral G. J. Pillow, were making preparations to occupy Columbus in force, having been invited to do so by the Mayor of Columbus, who had represented to Gen. Pillow that the place was, in all probability, strongly occupied by the United States forces from Cairo. arations for the reception of the force. Camp equipage will be sent from Louisville. You will be furnished hereafter with full instructions for your guidance. To On my representations of the position occu-To pied by Kentucky, Gen. Pillow at once suspended his preparations for the advance movement of his troops, manifesting every disposition to respect the neutrality of our territory. The highly excited state of the citizens of Columbus and vicinity, and the indiscretion of many of them, at every moment imperilling the peace of the Commonwealth, induced me to use the discretionary authority which you gave me to call into the field a small military force. I regard its presence in this section absolutely necessary to quiet the unhealthy excitement which exists, and to enforce the obligations which the State has undertaken to fulfil. Enclosed you will find my letter of instructions to Col. Tilghman. I am, sir, very respectfully, S. B. Buckner, Inspector-General. GENERAL BUCKNER TO COLONEL TILGHMAN. HEAD-QUARTERS KY. STATE GUARDS, PADUCAH, June 15, 1861. SIR:-The Commander-in-Chief directs that you call into the service of the State, as soon as practicable, six companies of the State Guard, four of infantry, one of artillery, and one of cavalry. You will station these companies for the present in the vicinity of Columbus, Ky. Amongst these companies it is desirable that the company of Capt. Lyon be included, and if practicable, the company at Columbus. You will assume the command of this force in person. Its general object will be to carry out the obligation of neutrality which the State has assumed in the contest now impending on our borders. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Doc. 301. THE BATTLE AT BETHEL, VA. COLONEL TOWNSEND'S REport. HEAD-QUARTERS, CAMP HAMILTON, June 12, 1861. Major R. A. Pierce, Brigade-Inspector, &c.: SIR-I have the honor to report for the information of Brigadier-General Pierce, that on Sunday evening, June 9th, I received orders from him to have my command in readiness, with one day's rations, to move that night to form a part of a column, composed of two regiments from Newport News, and Col. Duryea's and my own, intended to make a reconnoissance in force towards Yorktown. In obedience to these orders, with the concerted sign of a white badge upon our left arm, (at midnight,) I marched my regiment to Ilampton, where the General met the command and accompanied it. On approaching a defile through a thick wood, about five or six miles from Hampton, a heavy and well-sustained fire of cannister and small arms was opened upon the regiment while it was marching in a narrow road, upon the flank in route step, and wholly unsuspicious of any enemy, inasmuch as we were ordered to reenforce Col. Duryea, who had preceded us by some two hours, and who had been ordered to throw out, as he marched, an advance guard 2 miles from his regiment, and a sustaining force half way between the advance and the regiment; therefore, had Col. Duryea been obliged to retreat upon us before we reached his locality, we should have heard distant firing, or some of his regiment would have been seen retreating. The force which fired upon us was subsequently ascertained to be only the regiment of Col. Bendix, though a portion of the Vermont and 4th Massachusetts regiments were with it, having come down with two 6-pounder fieldpieces from Newport News to join the column. These regiments took up a masked position in the woods at the commencement of the defile. The result of the fire upon us was two mortally tow-wounded, (one since died,) three dangerously, and four officers and twenty privates slightly, making a total of twenty-nine. At the commencement of the fire the General, Captain Chamberlain, his aide-de-camp, and two mount Your attention will be specially directed ards restraining our own citizens from acts of lawless aggression; and, with this view, you will hold yourself under the direction of the judicial officers of the district. You will also give protection to all citizens who may claimed it, and who may be threatened in their persons, property, or enjoyment of their civil rights. You will direct Capt. Lyon to proceed at once to Columbus, to make the necessary prep howitzers, were about two hundred and fifty paces in advance of the regiment; the fire was opened upon them first by a discharge of smallarms, and immediately followed by a rapidly returned volley upon my regiment and the field-pieces; my men then generally discharged their pieces and jumped from the right to the left of the road, and recommenced loading and firing. In a few minutes the regiment was reformed in the midst of this heavy fire, and by the General's directions, retired in a thoroughly military manner, and in order to withdraw his supposed enemy from his position. On ascertaining that the enemy were our friends, and on providing for the wounded, we joined Col. Duryea and Col. Bendix. The former having returned and proceeded on the reconnoissance at Big Bethel, some seven or more miles on, we found the enemy in force, well fortified with a battery said to be of twenty guns, in position, some of them rifled cannon. The information relative to the guns in position at the Bethel battery was given to me on the ground by Col. Duryea, who informed me that he received it from a reconnoitring officer whom he had sent to the front to ascertain the position of things. On arriving at this point, in order to feel the enemy, battle was immediately given by the orders of the General. We were ordered to take up a position in a field about eight hundred paces from the battery. I was then directed by the General to advance to a position in a road at right angles to the main road leading to the battery, and about two hundred paces from it, on the left of Col. Duryea. I was then directed to send out skirmishers to ascertain the strength of the enemy's right, for which purpose I detailed Capts. John G. Butler and Edward S. Jenny, with their companies, to cross the field immediately in front of the right of the battery, and so to skirmish as to draw the enemy's fire, which they gallantly performed. The enemy's fire was delivered vigorously almost immediately upon these companies. Entering the field and crossing it myself, and considering that there might be a possibility of our capturing the battery, I moved the regiment up to the point where our skirmishers were engaged, a movement which the regiment performed in line of battle, as if on parade, in the face of a severe fire of artillery and smallarms, and in a manner entirely to my satisfaction. By the time the regiment had arrived at its position, it became evident that the right portion of the battery had been strongly reinforced by men from the enemy's left, and that an effort to take the battery there was useless; besides, a company of my regiment had been separated from the regiment by a thicklyhedged ditch, and as the regiment moved forward towards the skirmishers, this company marched in the adjoining field in a line with the regiment. This was not known to me until after the engagement. I supposed that when the regiment approached that it was the entire regiment; consequently, upon seeing among the breaks in the hedge the glistening of bayonets in the adjoining field, I immediately concluded that the enemy were outflanking us, and conVOL. II.-Doc. 12 67 ceived it to be my duty to immediately retir and repel that advance. I resumed, therefore, my original position on the left of Col. Duryea. Shortly after, all the forces were directed to retire, the design of the reconnoissance having been accomplished. I am not, of course, speaking of the movements of other corps excepting as immediately connected with my regiment, and it were especially gratuitous, inasmuch as their General was upon the field and directed the movements of the various commands in person. FREDERICK TOWNSEND, Colonel Third Regiment REBEL OFFICIAL REPORT. YORKTOWN, Va., June 11, 1861. Hon. J. W. Ellis, Governor of North Carolina: SIR-I have the honor to report that eight hundred of my regiment and three hundred and sixty Virginians were engaged for five and a half hours with four and a half regiments of the enemy, at Bethel Church, nine miles from Hampton. The enemy made three distinct and well-sustained charges, but were repulsed with heavy loss. Our cavalry pursued them for six miles, when their retreat became a total rout. Fearing that heavy reinforcements would be sent up from Fortress Monroe, we fell back at nightfall upon our works at Yorktown. I regret to report the loss of one man killed-private Henry L. Wyatt, Edgecomb Guards-and seven wounded. The loss of the enemy, by their own confession, was one hundred and fifty, but it may be safely estimated at two hundred and fifty. Our regiment behaved most gallantly. Not a man shrunk from his post or showed symptoms of fear. When more at leisure I will give you a detailed report of the operations. Our Heavenly Father has most wonderfully interposed to shield our hearts in the day of battle. Unto His great name be all the praise for our success. With much respect, D. H. HILL, Col. First Regiment N. C. Volunteers. REBELLION RECORD, 1860-61. ory, to aid in "maintaining the laws and integ Doc. 33. FIELD-OFFICERS.-Colonel, John H. McCunn; Lieutenant-Colonel, John Burke; Major, D. C. Minton; Adjutant, C. Murphy. rity of the national Union," I do hereby call THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT N. Y. S. V. upon all the citizens of this Territory capable of bearing arms, and liable to militia duty, to THE following is a list of the officers :report immediately to the Adjutant-General of the Territory, and proceed at once to organize themselves into companies, and elect their own officers, in the manner prescribed by the act of January 26, 1855, and the amendatory act of February 4, 1858, to organize the militia. The organization of each company will be immediately reported to Adjutant-General Frank Matthias, at Seattle, W. T., and through him to the Governor, when the commissions will issue to the officers elected. STAFF OFFICERS.-Doctors, John McNulty and William O. Meagher; Lieutenant, George W. Clarke; Colonel's Aide-de-Camp and Quartermaster, Hoyt; Chaplain, Rev. J. Tissott. Co. A-Captain, Gilbert Riordan; First Lieutenant, Philip Doherty; Ensign, Andrew J. Dregnan. Co. B-Captain, James T. Maguire; First Lieutenant, David Ren; Ensign, Robert Johnstone Bassett. Co. C-Captain, Michael Doran; First Lieutenant, Martin E. Lawlor; Ensign, Josiah W. Willett. Co. D-Captain, F. McHugh; First Lieutenant, Jas. D. Clark; En In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the Territory to be affixed, at Olympia, this tenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the Independence the eighty-sign, P. H. Hayes. Co. E-Captain, John KaHENRY M. MCGILL, fifth. [L. S.] Acting Governor of Washington Territory Doc. 32. GOV. PIERPONT'S PROCLAMATION. CITY OF WHEELING, June 22, 1861. WHEREAS, by an ordinance of the Convention of the people of Virginia, which assembled in this city on the 11th inst., entitled "An ordinance for the reorganization of the State Government," it was, among other things, or dained that "the delegates elected to the General Assembly on the 23d day of May last, and the Senators entitled under existing laws to seats in the next General Assembly, and those who may be hereafter elected to fill vacancies, who shall qualify themselves by taking the oath or affirmation" thereinafter set forth, "shall constitute the Legislature of the State, to discharge the duties and exercise the powers pertaining to the General Assembly," and it being by the same ordinance further ordained that the General Assembly shall assemble in the city of Wheeling, on the 1st day of July, in the year 1861, and proceed to organize themselves, as prescribed by existing laws, in their respective branches : Now I, Francis H. Pierpont, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, do, by this my proclamation, summon the Senators and members of the House of Delegates, thus composing the Legislature of the State, to assemble at the United States District Court room, in the city of Wheeling, at noon, on the 1st day of July, 1861. vanagh; First Lieutenant, J. McCorman; En- missioned staff are as follows:-Sergeant-Major, -New York Herald, June 24. Doo. 34. HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, To the Inhabitants of Western Virginia : THE army of this department, headed by Virginia troops, is rapidly occupying all Westand in support of such civil authorities of the ern Virginia. This is done in cooperation with State as are faithful to the Constitution and issued by me, under date of May 26th, 1861, laws of the United States. The proclamation will be strictly maintained. Your houses, famlies, property, and all your rights will be rebut armed rebels, and those voluntarily giving ligiously respected. We are enemies to none them aid. All officers of this army will be held responsible for the most prompt and vigorous action in repressing disorder and punishing ag Given under my hand and seal, at the city of Wheeling, this 22d day of June, in the year of our Lord 1861, and the 85th of the Common-gression by those under their command. wealth. By the Governor, F. H. PIERPONT. To my great regret I find that the enemies of the United States continue to carry on a L. A. Hagans, Secretary of the Common- system of hostilities prohibited by the laws of wealth. war among belligerent nations, and of course far more wicked and intolerable when directed against loyal citizens engaged in the defence of the common Government of all. Individuals You will pursue a different course; you will and marauding parties are pursuing a guerilla be honest, brave, and merciful; you will rewarfare, firing upon sentinels and pickets, spect the right of private opinion; you will burning bridges, insulting and even killing citi- punish no man for opinion's sake. Show to zens because of their Union sentiments, and the world that you differ from our enemies in committing many kindred acts. these points of honor, honesty, and respect for private opinion, and that we inaugurate no reign of terror wherever we go. I do now, therefore, make proclamation, and warn all persons that individuals or parties engaged in this species of warfare, irregular in every view that can be taken of it, thus attacking sentries, pickets, or other soldiers, destroying public or private property, or committing injuries against any of the inhabitants because of Union sentiments or conduct, will be dealt with in their persons and property according to the severest rules of military law. All persons giving information or aid to the public enemies will be arrested and kept in close custody; and all persons found bearing arins, unless of known loyalty, will be arrested and held for examination. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, ANOTHER PROCLAMATION. To the Soldiers of the Army of the West: You are here to support the Government of your country, and to protect the lives and liberties of your brethren, threatened by a rebellious and traitorous foe. No higher or nobler duty could devolve on you, and I expect you to bring to its performance the highest and noblest qualities of soldiers' discipline, courage, and mercy. I call upon the officers of every grade to enforce the highest discipline, and I know that those of all grades, privates and officers, will display in battle cool heroic courage, and will know how to show mercy to a disarmed enemy. Bear in mind that you are in the country of friends, not of enemies-that you are here to protect, not to destroy. Take nothing, destroy nothing, unless you are ordered to do so by your general officers. Remember that I have pledged my word to the people of Western Virginia that their rights in person and property shall be respected. I ask every one of you to make good this promise in its broadest sense. We have come here to save, not to upturn. I do not appeal to the fear of punishment, but to your appreciation of the sacredness of the cause in which we are engaged. Carry into battle the conviction that you are right and that God is on our side. Your enemies have violated every moral law; neither God nor man can sustain them. They have without cause rebelled against a mild and paternal Government; they have seized upon public and private property; they have outraged the persons of Northern men, merely because they came from the North, and of Southern Union men, merely because they loved the Union; they have placed themselves beneath contempt unless they can retrieve some honor on the field of battle. Soldiers, I have heard that there was danger here. I have come to place myself at your head and share it with you. I fear now but one thing, that you will not find foemen worthy of your steel. I know that I can rely upon you. GEO. B. MCCLEllan, Major-General commanding. Doc. 35. PROCLAMATIONS OF GOV. LETCHER, JUNE 14, 1861. To the People of North-Western Virginia: THE Sovereign people of Virginia, unbiassed, and by their own free choice, have, by a majority of nearly one hundred thousand qualified voters, severed the ties that heretofore bound them to the Government of the United States, and united this Commonwealth with the Confederate States. That our people have the right "to institute a new Government, laying its foundations on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness," was proclaimed by our fathers, and it is a right which no freeman should ever relinquish. The State of Virginia has now, the second time in her history, asserted this right, and it is the duty of every Virginian to acknowledge her act when ratified by such a majority, and to give his willing coöperation to make good the declaration. All her people have voted. Each has taken his chance to have his personal views represented. You, as well as the rest of the State, have cast your vote fairly, and the majority is against you. It is the duty of good citizens to yield to the will of the State. The bill of rights has proclaimed "that the people have a right to uniform government; and, therefore, that no government separate from or independent of the government of Virginia ought to be erected or established within the limits thereof." The majority, thus declared, therefore, have a right to govern. But notwithstanding this right, thus exercised, has been regarded by the people of all sections of the United States as undoubted and sacred, yet the Government at Washington now utterly denies it, and by the exercise of despotic power is endeavoring to coerce our people to abject submission to their authority. Virginia has asserted her independence. She will maintain it at every hazard. She is sustained by the power of ten of her sister Southern States, ready and willing to uphold her cause. Can any true Virginian refuse to reuder assistance. Men of the Northwest, I |