October 21.–Twenty-one hundred men of the Fifteenth and Twentieth Massachusetts, the First California, and the Tammany regiments; the First U. S. Artillery, and Rhode Island battery, with five pieces of artillery, crossed the Potomac at Harrison’s Island or Ball’s Bluff, under command of Colonel E. D. Baker, to support reconnoissances above and below, under the general direction of Brig.-Gen. Stone. At about four p. M., they were suddenly attacked by a body of five thousand rebels under the Confederate General Evans. Unable through the disparity of numbers to hold their position, they were driven back to the river, and there, as no adequate means to pass the stream had been made, they were driven into it, or slaughtered on the bank. National loss: Killed, one hundred and fifty; wounded, one hundred and fifty; prisoners, five hundred.–(Docs. 35, 99.)
–The gunboat Conestoga having made a reconnoissance up the Tennessee River as far as the State line, returned to Cairo, Ill., this evening with two barges of flour that were seized on the way to the rebels.–N. Y. World, Oct. 22.
–The land forces destined to cooperate with the naval expedition against Port Royal sailed from Annapolis.–N. Y. Times, Oct. 24.
–A private letter published in the Boston Transcript, shows that Mr. Albert Pilsbury, for eight years American Consul at Halifax, is now acting as agent for the Confederates, purchasing vessels which he loads with assorted cargoes of warlike munitions, and then despatches to try and run the blockade. One of his ventures, the Argyle, sailed from Halifax a few days since, with a cargo valued at one hundred thousand dollars, and another is about ready to leave, with one hundred barrels of powder, packed in codfish drnms.
–The Ellsworth regiment, numbering one thousand and sixty muskets, left Albany, N. Y., for Washington. There was a perfect ovation at the departure of this regiment. Prior to their departure a handsome regimental banner was presented to the troops, with appropriate ceremonies, by the wife of Erastus Corning.–N. Y. Herald, Oct. 22.
–A Large body of rebels, under Jeff. Thompson and Lowe, were defeated at Fredericktown, Missouri, by Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana troops, about two thousand in number, under Colonel Carlin, Colonel Ross, Colonel Baker, Major Plummer, and Major Scofield. The engagement lasted two hours, when the rebels fled from the field in disorder, and took to the woods. Major Gavitt and Captain Hingham were killed in making a charge. Colonel Lowe, the rebel leader, was killed and four heavy guns were captured. The rebels were pursued for Twenty-two miles, when the chase was given over. Two hundred rebels were left in the field. Union loss, six killed and forty wounded.–(Doc. 100.)
–Capt. J. H. Barnes, with one hundred and fifty men of the Third Mass, regiment, while out from Newport News, Va., to get wood for the fort bakery, was attacked by a body of rebels, whom he drove off without loss.–N. Y. Herald, Oct. 24.
–Major Mix, of the Van Alen Cavalry, with thirty-one men, made a reconnoissance from Edwards’ Ferry, in Virginia, along the Leesburg road, beyond Goose Creek, drove in a vidette of the enemy’s, received the fire of a platoon of the rebels’ infantry, and returned without other loss than that of two horses.– (Doc. 101.)
–The Charleston Mercury, of this date, says: Our privateers are far from idle, although we hear less than formerly of their doings in the Kew York papers. Among their latest exploits is the capture of the brig Granada, of Portland, Me., (Pettingill, master,) from Neuvitas, Cuba, for New York, with a cargo of sugar, molasses, mahogany, and honey. We also hear it whispered that there has been an important (and not involuntary) accession to our stock of sugar, molasses, coffee, &c.
–General Zollicoffer, with six thousand infantry, sixteen hundred horse, and one battery of artillery, was repulsed by the Union forces under General Schoepf at Camp Wild Cat, Laurel County, Ky. For some days previous, the position had been held only by Colonel Garrard’s Kentucky regiment; but when it was knows that Zollicoffer would attack it, the Thirty-third Indiana and Seventeenth Ohio regiments, and Captain Stannard’s Ohio battery, were harried forward, and participated in the fight. Two separate, resolute, and unsuccessful attempts were made by the rebels to carry a bill occupied by the Federal force, when they withdrew. Their loss was unknown. National loss was four killed, and twenty-one wounded. (Doc. 102.)