Most of the Federal regiments that took part in this engagement suffered severely, and many prisoners were taken by the rebels. The timely service rendered by the gunboats was mainly instrumental in defeating the enemy. Captain Montgomery, of General Newton's staff, had a most extraordinary escape from the Hampton Legion, into whose picket lines he became entrapped. Captain Montgomery knew that only the utmost self-possession could extricate him from his difficulty, and he coolly saluted them. They supposed he was a rebel officer, and asked him how far General Hampton was from them. Montgomery told them he had left him about ten rods distant, and said, "Now, boys, the General expects you to do your duty to-day!" and turned his horse slowly around to retire. But the rebels saw the "U. S." on his cap, and immediately sprang to their feet, while the Captain was dashing with all the speed of his horse down the road. But too late. A volley of minie rifle balls whistled round him, and his horse fell dead, pierced by seven balls. He fell upon Captain Montgomery's leg, giving him several severe bruises. The Captain fell back, with his head in a ditch, where he lay some ten minutes, pretending to be dead. The rebels came up to him, talking, swearing, and making their comments on the Yankee, while they rifled his pockets. The brave fellow lay perfectly still, holding his breath, while these rude men were searching his person; but a sense of his ludicrous position came upon him too strongly, and he burst into a hearty fit of laughter, much to the astonishment of those who believed themselves to be pillaging a dead body. Of course, there was no avoiding his fate now, and he surrendered himself a prisoner of war, with the merry laughter still bright upon his face. His captors were greatly annoyed by his coolness and his "shamming," and were leading him off to headquarters, when a couple of shells came whizzing through the air and exploding in their midst, dispersed them. Captain Montgomery seized the opportunity, and plunging into the woods found his way to the Federal lines, where, after a little rest, he mounted another horse and joined the fight again. CHRONOLOGY. 1860. Nov. 8. The election of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin, as President and Vice President of the United States, was announced at Washington. 9-11. James Chesnut, Jr., and James H. Hammond, U. S. Senators from South Carolina, resigned their seats in the Senate. Dec. 3. The Second Session of the 36th Congress opened at Washington. 10. U. S. House of Representatives appointed a Committee of 33 on the State of the Union. 10. Howell Cobb, of Georgia, Secretary of the U. S. Treasury, resigned his office. John A. Dix, of New York, was appointed his successor. 14. Lewis Cass, of Michigan, Secretary of State, resigned. 17. Meeting of the South Carolina State Convention at Columbus, and adjournment to Charleston. 20. The South Carolina "Ordinance of Secession" passed. 23. Discovery of a large embezzlement of the Indian Trust Funds, in charge of Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Department of the Interior. 24. Resignation of the South Carolina Representatives in Congress. 25. Intervention of citizens of Pittsburgh, Pa., to prevent the removal to the South of ordnance in Alleghany Arsenal. 26. Major Anderson removed his command from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. 26. Messrs. Barnwell, Orr, and Adams, Commissioners appointed by South Carolina to treat with the Federal Government, arrived at Washington. 27. Captain N. L. Coste, U.S.R. service, in command of the cutter William Aiken, betrayed his vessel into the hands of the State authorities of South Carolina, 28. The palmetto flag was raised over the custom-house and post-office in Charleston, S. C., and Castle Pinckney and Fort Moultrie were occupied by the South Carolina military. 28. Enthusiastic Union meeting at Memphis, Tenn. 28. Twenty-one guns were fired at Wil Jan. 2. Gov. Ellis, of North Carolina, dispatched troops to seize Fort Macon, the forts at Wilmington, and the U.S. Arsenal at Fayetteville. 3. Fort Pulaski, at Savannah, Ga., taken possession of by Georgia troops, by order of the Governor. 3. South Carolina Commissioners left Washington for Charleston, the President declining to receive any official communication from them. 4. United States Arsenal at Mobile seized by secessionists. No defence. 4. Fast day, by proclamation of President Buchanan. 4. Fort Morgan, at the entrance of Mobile Bay, taken and garrisoned by 200 Alabama troops. 5. Steamship Star of the West sailed from New York with troops and provisions for Fort Sumter. 7. Meeting of Alabama State Conven tion. 7. Meeting of Mississippi State Convention. 7. Meeting of Virginia Legislature. 7. Meeting of Tennessee Legislature. 8. Jacob Thompson resigned his place in the Cabinet, as Secretary of the Interior. 8. United States sub-Treasury at Charleston seized. 9. Mississippi Ordinance of Secession passed. 9. Steamship Star of the West, with supplies for Fort Sumter, fired into from Morris' Island and Fort Moultrie, and driv en from Charleston harbor. 11. Louisiana State trops, under Cap tain Bradford, took possession of the U.S. marine hospital, two miles below New Or leans, and ordered the removal of the patients, 216 in number. Jan. 11. Florida Convention adopted an | Ordinance of Secession by a vote of 62 to 7. 11. Alabama Convention adopted an Ordinance of Secession by a vote of 61 to 39. 11. Abolition meeting at Rochester, N. Y., broken up by a mob. 12. Senator Seward's great Union speech in the U.S. Senate. 12. Fort Barrancas and the Navy Yard at Pensacola, Fla., seized by rebel troops. 15. Col. Hayne, Commissioner from South Carolina to Washington, demanded the withdrawal of the garrison of Fort Sumter. 15. U. S. coast survey schooner Dana seized by Florida State authorities. 18. Massachusetts Legislature unani. mously tendered to the President of the U.S. such aid in men and money as he might request to maintain the authority of the general government. 19. Convention of Georgia adopted a secession ordinance by a vote of 208 to 89. 21. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, withdrew from U.S. Senate. 24. U. S. arsenal at Augusta, Ga., surrendered to the State authorities. 26. Louisiana Convention passed an ordinance of secession by a vote of 113 to 17. The popular vote afterwards taken was 20.448 for; 17,296 against. 29. U. S. revenue cutter Robert McClelland, Captain Breshwood, surrendered to State of Louisiana. 29. Secretary Dix's dispatch to Hemphill Jones at New Orleans, "If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." 31. South Carolina authorities offered to buy Fort Sumter. 31. U. S. branch mint and custom-house at New Orleans seized by State authorities. Feb. 1. Texas Convention at Galveston passed an ordinance of secession, to be voted on by the people on the 23d of February, and to take effect March 2. 1. U. S. revenue cutter Lewis Cass, Capt. Morrison, surrendered to the State of Louisiana. 4. A convention of delegates from the seceded States organized at Montgomery, Alabama; Howell Cobb, President, J. F. Hooper, Secretary. 5. Peace Convention at Washington or ganized; John Tyler, of Va., Chairman, J. C. Wright, of Ohio, Secretary. 8. Congress at Montgomery adopted a Constitution for a provisional government, to go into immediate operation; Jefferson Davis, President, Alex. H. Stephens, Vice President. 8 U. S. arsenal at Little Rock, Ark., with 9,000 stand of arms and 40 cannon, &c., was surrendered to State authorities. 13. The election of Lincoln and Hamlin, as President and V. President of the U. S., formally declared in the Senate by John C. Breckinridge, V. President. 18. Jefferson Davis inaugurated as President of the Southern Confederacy. 22. John Ross, principal Cherokee Chief, rejected a proposition of Gov. H. M. Rector, of Ark., to entice his nation to take part in the rebellion. 23. Hon. Abraham Lincoln, President elect, arrived in Washington. 23. U. S. property to a great amount, together with the various army posts in Texas, surrendered to the rebels by General Twiggs. Property valued at $1,500,000, besides buildings. 27. Peace Convention, at Washington, submitted to the Senate a plan of adjustment of the national difficulties, involving seven amendments to the Constitution. March 1. General Twiggs expelled from the army of the United States. 2. Revenue cutter Dodge seized in Galveston Bay by Texas authorities. 4. Abraham Lincoln inaugurated 16th President of the U. S., at Washington, 4. A State Convention declared Texas out of the Union. 5. Gen. P. T. Beauregard took command of the forces investing Fort Sumter, S. C. 6. Fort Brown, Texas, surrendered to State troops. 18. Supplies cut off from Fort Pickens and the Federal fleet in the Gulf of Mexico, by rebel authorities at Pensacola. 20. Sloop Isabel, at Pensacola, with provision for the Federal fleet, was seized by the rebels. 21. Great speech of A. H. Stephens, V. President of the Southern Confederacy, at Savannah, Ga. 30. Mississippi State Convention ratified the Constitution of the C. S., by a vote of 78 to 7. April 3. South Carolina Convention ratified the Constitution of the C. S. by a vote of 114 to 16. 10. Militia organized in District of Columbia for defence of the capital. 11. Steamship Coatzacoalcos arrived in N. York, bringing Federal troops from Texas. 11. Confederate States Commissioners left Washington. 12. Attack on Fort Sumter. 12. Reinforcement of Fort Pickens. 14. Evacuation of Fort Sumter. 15. Seventeen vessels from Southern ports, without U. S. clearances, were seized at New York and fined $100 each. 15. President's proclamation, calling for 75,000 volunteers to suppress insurrection, and also calling an extra session of U. S. Congress on July 4. 16. The government of the Southern Confederacy called for 32,000 men. 16. New York Legislature appropriated $3,000,000 for war purposes. 16. At New York, Philadelphia, Trenton and other places, journals were compelled to display the American flag. 17. State Convention of Va., in secret session, passed an ordinance of secession. 18. 500 volunteers from Pennsylvania, and 300 regulars, arrived at Washington. 18. Lieut. Jones, in charge of Harper's Ferry arsenal, hearing of the advance of a large Virginia force to seize the establishment, set fire to it, and retreated to Carlisle, Pa. 18. Great Union meeting at Wheeling, Va. 19. Seizure of the U. S. transport Star of the West, at Indianola, by Texas troops under Col. Van Dorn. 19. Sixth Massachusetts regiment on its way to Washington, attacked by a mob in Baltimore, and 3 killed and 7 wounded. In defending themselves, 7 rebels were killed and 8 wounded. 19. The N. Y. 7th militia, Mass. 4th and 8th militia, and R. I. Providence Artillery left New York on their way to Washington. 19. Clearances refused to vessels in northern ports to ports south of Maryland. 20. Eighth Mass. regiment reached Annapolis, Md. 20. Great Union mass meeting of citizens in Union Square, N. Y. 20. 600 kegs of gunpowder, destined for New Orleans, seized by the U. S. Marshal at New York, 20. Fourth Mass. regiment landed at Fortress Monroe. 20. U. S. arsenal at Liberty, Mo., seized. 20. Steamship Star of the West, having been seized by secessionists, was taken into New Orleans. 20. The ports of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, ordered to be blockaded by the President, as those States were in a state of insurrection against the govern lotte. N. C., seized by order of the Governor of that State. 21. Philadelphia and Baltimore railway taken possession of by U.S. government. 21. The N. Y. 6th, 12th, and 71st, and one R. I. and one Mass. regiment, with a battery, left New York on transports for the Chesapeake. 21. Fourth Mass. regiment arrived at Fortress Monroe. 21. Andrew Johnson, U. S. Senator from Tennessee, mobbed at Lynchburg, Va. 22. U. S. arsenal at Fayetteville, N. C., containing 37,000 stand of arms, 3,000 kegs of powder, and a large quantity of shot and shell, seized by State authority. 22. Depot of U. S. stores at Napoleon, Ark, seized under orders of Henry M. Bector, Governor of that State. 22. 3,200 Pennsylvania troops at Cockeysville, 14 miles from Baltimore. 22. Seventh N. Y. regiment land at Annapolis, Md. 23. N. Y. 8th, 13th, 28th, and 69th regiiments embarked for Washington. 22. Embargo laid, by the Mayor and Police Board of Baltimore, on provisions and steamboats, thus withholding the government stores in that city. 23. First South Carolina regiment left Charleston for the Potomac. 24. Fort Smith, Ark., seized by a rebel force under Col. Borland. 24. N. Y. 7th and Mass. 8th arrived in Washington. 25. A large amount of arms removed to Alton, Ill., from St. Louis arsenal, by Illinois volunteers, to prevent their seizure by rebels. 25. Col. Van Dorn, of Texas State troops, captured 450 U. S. troops at Saluria. 25. Transport Empire City, from Texas, arrived in N.Y.with 600 men of the 3d Infantry and 2d Cavalry, U.S.A., from that State. 25. Gov. Letcher, of Va., by proclamation, transferred that Commonwealth to the Southern Confederacy. 26. Gov. Brown, of Georgia, by proclamation, prohibited the payment of all debts to Northern creditors till the end of hostilities. 26. Bridges over Gunpowder Creek, on Philadelphia and Baltimore railway, and bridge over Bush river, on the same route, destroyed by the rebels. 26. Gov. Burton, of Delaware, issued a proclamation calling for volunteers to defend the Union. 27. Military Department of Washington assigned to Col. Mansfield; Department of Annapolis to Gen. Butler; Department of Pennsylvania to Maj-Gen. Patterson. 28. U. S. frigate Constitution arrived at New York from Annapolis. 29. Secession defeated in Maryland House of Delegates by a vote of 53 to 13. 29. Ellsworth's Fire Zouaves left New York for Annapolis. 29. Daily communication between Baltimore and Philadelphia re-established. May 1. Brig. Gen. Harney addressed a strong Union letter to his friends in Missouri. 2. N. Y. 69th (Irish) regiment arrived at Washington. 2. Col. F. P. Blair, Jr., announced that the four regiments called for from the State of Missouri, by the President, were enrolled, armed, and mustered into the service within one week from the call. 3. Gov. Jackson, of Missouri, in a message to the Legislature, recommended arming the State, and a union of sympathy and destiny with the slaveholding States. 3. Four New Jersey regiments, fully equipped, under General Runyon, started for the seat of war. 3. President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling into service 42,000 volunteers for three years, and directing the increase of the regular army and navy of the United States. 3. Privateer Savannah captured by the U. S. brig Perry. 4. Steamship Star of the West was put into commission as the receiving ship of the Confederate navy, at New Orleans. 5. Brig. Gen. Butler, with 6th Massachusetts and 8th New York regiments, took possession of the Relay House, at the junction of the Baltimore, Washington and Ohio railways, nine miles south of Balti more. 6. The six regiments called for from Indiana, were mustered into service in one week from date of the call. 6. Virginia admitted into the Southern Confederacy in secret session of Confederate Congress. 6. Police Commissioners of St. Louis, Mo., demanded of Capt. Lyon the removal of U. S. troops from all places and buildings occupied by them in that city outside the Arsenal grounds. 6. City military of Baltimore disbanded by order of Major Trimble, commander. 6. Confederate States Congress recognized war with United States, and authorized issue of letters of marque and reprisal. 6. Legislature of Arkansas passed an unconditional ordinance of secession, 69 to 1. 7. Major Anderson, with consent of Sec.of-War, accepted command of Kentucky state military. 7. Serious riot at Knoxville, Tenn., caused by hoisting a Union flag. 7. League between Tennessee authorities and Confederate States. 7. The late U. S. garrison of Fort Davis, Texas, consisting of 11 officers and 300 men, made prisoners of war by a force of 1,800 rebels near Eastonville. They all refused to enlist in the rebel army. 9. U. S. troops landed at Locust Point, in Baltimore, and were conveyed by the Balt. and Ohio branch railroad through the city. 9. The Confederate Congress authorized President Davis to raise such force for the war as he should deem expedient. 9. U. S. ships Cumberland, Pawnee, Monticello and Yankee enforcing the blockade off Fortress Monroe. 9. Steamers Philadelphia, Baltimore, Powhatan and Mount Vernon, armed by U. S. Government, and cruising on the Potomac. 9. Virginians have batteries in Norfolk harbor, at Craney Island, Sandy Point, the Hospital, Fort Norfolk, and the Bluffs, three miles from the Hospital. 10. Maj.-Gen. R. E. Lee appointed to command the rebel forces in Virginia. 10. Maj.-Gen. McClellan appointed to command the Department of Ohio. 10. The President directed that all officers in the army should take anew the oath of allegiance to the United States. 10. The secession military, under Gen. Frost, at St. Louis, Mo., surrendered to Capt. Lyon, commanding U. S. forces. A mob assailed the U. S. military after the surrender, and were fired on by them, and many killed and wounded. 10. The Winans steam gun captured by Gen. Butler, three miles from the Relay House, Md. 10. The Maryland Legislature passed a resolution imploring the President of the United States to cease the present war. 11. U. S. steam frigate Niagara of Charleston, S. C., and began the blockade of that port. 11. Gen. Harney issued a proclamation exhorting the people of Missouri, to maintain peace, and announced his determination |