Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
On Saturday week, near South Mills above Elizabeth City, N. C., the 3d Georgia Regiment, Col. A. R Wright, attacked a strong force of the enemy, and fought them several hours. The Norfolk Say Book says:
Our force consisted of six companies of the 3d Georgia Regiment and McComas’ Artillery. The companies were not full and the whole number of men on our side may he set down at from three to five hundred.
The Union has lost one of its ablest defenders, and Pennsylvania a noble, upright citizen, ever zealous for the public good. General Charles Ferguson Smith died at Savannah, Tennessee, on Friday last, from an illness contracted at the time of his occupation of that town. The deceased officer was a son of Dr. Samuel B. Smith, of Philadelphia. From the date of his graduation at West Point, in 1825, his advancement, not only in rank, but in the esteem and confidence of his fellow officers, was merited and rapid. Commencing his military career as a second lieutenant of artillery, his distinguished merit on the fields of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, Cherubusco, and Contreras, raised him in quick succession to the rank of Major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel. At the time of his death he was colonel of the Third Infantry—one of the best regiments in the service. Such worth as his could not lie dormant in the present struggle.—In August last he was made a brigadier general. At the taking of Fort Donelson his valor was conspicuous, alike to friend and foe, and won for him the rank of major general.
The following is the letter sent to the Mayor by Capt. Farragut yesterday:
U. S. Flagship Hartford
At Anchor off the city of New Orleans, April 28, 1862
To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council of the city of New Orleans:
Your communication of the 26th inst. has been received, together with that of the City Council:
I deeply regret to see, both by their contents, and the continued display of the flag of Louisiana on the Courthouse, a determination on the part of the city authorities not to haul it down. Moreover when my officers and men were sent on shore to communicate with the authorities, and to hoist the United States flag on the Customhouse, with the strictest order not to use their arms unless assaulted, they were insulted in the grossest manner, and the flag which hd been hoisted by my orders on the Mint, was pulled down and dragged through the streets.
Fortress Monroe, April 22.—A small row-boat arrived here this morning, from Norfolk, containing three men, a woman, and two children, refugees.
They report that the Merrimac is still at the Gosport navy yard. Workmen were engaged in placing iron shields over her port-holes. It was supposed that the improvements would soon be completed, and the Merrimac be out again in two or three days. She was aground on the last day she came out, as was generally supposed here.
We have not had, by telegraph a clear and satisfactory account of the fight near Yorktown, in which the Vermont regiments were engaged. Neither do the letters from the army tell all we want to know about its purpose and proceedings. The following from a letter dated near Lee’s Mills, gives the clearest account of it we have seen:—