Union troops were set to cross the Potomac yesterday. It was originally expected that they would make the journey on the first, but due to some issues in guidance the cross was abandoned. The plan for these eighteen regiments became to cross the river at 3 o’clock yesterday evening and stay unless forcibly driven back. We await word of the results of their movement.

The steamer St. Nicholas was seized by Secessionists after leaving Baltimore Friday evening. Captain Hollins traveled on the ship in disguise, some have said dressed as a woman. Once the steamer passed Point Lookout, Hollins discarded his disguise and took control of the ship with the aid of some other passengers. They then continued down toward Rappahannock River, capturing an additional three vessels along the way.

Accounts out of the South differ slightly regarding the St. Nicholas. According to periodicals there, it was Colonel Thomas and his Zouaves who captured the ship. It was at that point that it was placed under the command of Captain Hollins. This seizure has been referred to as “bold and masterly.”

Though there have been reports that the shipsteamer City of Alton was captured, this appears to be untrue. The camp at Cairo was troubled when the City of Alton had not returned, as it was due back the night before. Compounding this concern was the fact that the City of Alton had only taken with them one day’s rations. The shipsteamer W.H. Brown was dispatched, with provisions, under the direction of Colonel Payne, to locate the missing shipsteamer. As it turns out, the men of the City of Alton became stuck on the wrong side of a swamp after their march to the Secession camp in Commerce. Both shipsteamers arrived back in Cairo at 3 o’clock in the afternoon yesterday.

A dispatch, dated June the 29^th, out of Fortress Monroe remarked, among a number of other things, that a number of fugitive slaves had “come in.” This missive was intended for Northern papers, but periodicals in the South have also been privy to its information and have taken specific interest in the statement regarding fugitive slaves. There are feelings among Secessionists that the connotations surrounding this comment give the public the wrong idea. One reporter goes as far as to state, “Butler’s vandals, in fact, seize all negroes they can lay their hands upon, confiscate them as ‘contraband,’ drive them into the Fortress and put them to work, with short rations. This is the way the ‘fugitives come in.’”

Some strides are being made in ensuring the health of the Union soldiers by the Federal Government. Well-cooked, digestible food for volunteer regiments is a great focus. Mr. James M. Sanderson was authorized, after a request by the United States Sanitary Commission Governor Morgan, to take charge of the cooking departments of one or two of the regiments at Washington. Should this experiment succeed, Sanderson is likely to become permanently employed by the Federal Government to organize a system which supplies wholesome food to the troops.

In the News:

• The Richmond Daily Dispatch reports the sentence placed upon Sherman Greig.
• The Democratic Banner explains the large crop yield of this year.
• The New York Times discusses the conspiracy case in Pittsburgh.
• The Press relays information on the Secession force on the Potomac and Rappahannock.

Commentary:

• The Richmond Daily Dispatch expresses disapproval of Red Sulphur Springs.
• The Lebanon Advertiser discusses Abolitionists of the Western Reserve, Ohio.
• The New York Times looks at the feelings surrounding the reappointment of Colonel Emory.
• The Democratic Banner publishes a letter of Mr. Vallandigham regarding the late Senator Douglas.
• The Press talks about reactions to the comet.
• The Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph examines Independence Day.

Arts and Culture:

• The New York Times discusses the Winter Garden’s newest production, “Suspense.”
• The Press announces a Fourth of July excursion to Atlantic City.
• The New York Times reports the amount of money to be spent on fireworks tomorrow.

Runaways:

• A Negro man, calling himself James Toliver, was committed to the jail in the county of Westmoreland on the 20^th of May last.
• “Ranaway, a Negro Man named Horace, about 25 years of age, of light brown color, weights 160 pounds, and walks very slovenly.”

Military Notices:

• Headq’rs mounted City Guard: “Delinquents for non-attendance at Drills and Meetings, will attend themselves, or furnish written excuses, to a Court of Inquiry for the assessment of fines, to be held at the Drill Room, on Wednesday evening next, at 6 P.M.”

Obituaries:

• On the 11^th of June, a fearful catastrophe occurred at a colliery at Clay Cross, near Chesterfield, England, claiming twenty-three lives.
• John P. McAusland, aged thirteen years, was killed yesterday by eleven year old playmate, Thomas J. Roden.
• A mother and two daughters drowned as they were traveling home from a friend’s.
• An unknown man was attacked with a knife, later dying of the injuries sustained, in the alley by Womble Claiborne’s.

More turmoil out of Baltimore: Not satisfied with putting Police Chief George Kane’s being behind bars, General Nathaniel Banks has arrested the entire Board of Police Commissioners. The men were apprehended for continuing to hold sessions after both the public and the government had demanded their suspension. Furthermore, according to General Banks, “they declared that the Police law was suspended. . . . They refused to recognize the officers and men necessarily selected by the Provost Marshal for its protection, and hold subject to their orders now and hereafter the old Police force, a large body of armed men for some purpose not known to the Government, and inconsistent with its peace and security.” In spite of this move, General Banks maintains that Federal forces do not wish to interfere with the laws of the city and will relinquish military control when the General “is assured that the laws will be enforced in good faith.” Meanwhile, forces continue to search the city for caches of weapons.

Confederate General Beauregard has forbidden entry into or passage through the secessionist military lines in Virginia. However, he grants a sole exception for those with passports issued from the War Department.  Secretary Seward and General Scott have issued a similar order with regard to the Federal Army’s military lines.

Union forces are making their way through Missouri and may have already captured renegade governor Claiborne Jackson. Telegraph communication with the West has finally been restored so we should be receiving more frequent updates from Missouri soon.

According to the General Agent of the Missouri and Western Telegraph Line, emigrants are moving east in the highest numbers since 1851, and the Overland Mail Company has doubled the number of offices to accommodate the increased demand on its services.

With the nation’s attention turned to the escalating conflict in the mid-Atlantic states, Indians in the western territories are increasing raids and seizing property, horses, and food in mounting numbers. According to the Mesilla Times, an Arizona paper, “Ranches are being deserted, whole valleys and mining districts are being abandoned, and the Indians, unchecked, are growing bolder and bolder, and seem to have undertaken a war of extermination. . . . The Apaches are infinitely worse than ever before known.”

L. P. Walker, Confederate Secretary of War, issued a statement to Southern newspaper correspondents yesterday, warning them of the danger of reporting information about Confederate troop movements, weaponry, and military strengths and weaknesses, and asking them to exercise caution when reporting. He writes that “while I am as much the uncompromising advocate of an unshackled press as I am of the freedom of speech, and of the Independence of the Confederate States, yet I have thought it proper, under existing circumstances, to make an appeal to you to forbear from the transmission and publication of such intelligence as might be detrimental to the great cause in which we all feel so deep an interest.”

In the News:

• The New York Times has more on the arrests and the latest from Baltimore.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer has news from Washington and the arrival of the members of Congress.
• The Mesilla Times reports on Indian attacks in Arizona.
• The Providence Press examines the recent development of military reconnaissance by rail.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer has a roundup of Southern news items.
• The New York Times provides the latest foreign news.

Commentary:

• Amid rumors that Northern soldiers at Fort Monroe are wreaking havoc on private property, the New York Times is outraged by the “personal outrages, which disgrace the loyal army, and dishonor civilized warfare….They manifest an absence of that strict and stern discipline which constitutes at once the safety and efficiency of an army.”
• The Richmond Daily Dispatch publishes Secretary Walker’s request in full.
• The Philadelphia Press won’t trade ideology for peace.
• The correspondent for the London Times narrates his fascinating travels in the Confederate South.
• The New York Times critiques “volunteer diplomats” who tend to do more harm than good.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer assesses the leading candidates for Speaker of the House.

Arts and Culture:

• Looking back on the infamous bare-knuckle championship fight between America’s John Heenan and England’s Tom Sayers, the London Times wonders who could finally be awarded the championship title.

Many of the Federal troops stationed in Washington are preparing to move into Virginia within the next week, with the aim of discovering and removing threats from secessionist enclaves and scouting parties.  Although northern Virginia has not been the scene of any new fights recently, skirmishes between Confederate scouts and Federal troops continue to occur. The most recent, near Alexandria, killed one Union soldier and two secessionists from the Confederate scouting party.

In surprising news out of Fort Monroe, General Butler arrested Colonel Allen for misconduct in the field, including violations of both military law and private rights. A reporter at Fort Monroe says that Colonel Allen allegedly destroyed private property and disobeyed positioning orders. Colonel Allen disputes the charges and said he is prepared to defend himself against them.

Another arrest making news across the country is that of Marshall George Kane, head of the Baltimore police force. Kane had professed “he would not do anything against the Government so long as Maryland remains in the Union,” but reporters claim his staunch support of the Maryland secessionists was common knowledge in the city. There is no further information on the charges against him, but we will bring you updates as we receive them.

A judge in New York has ruled that volunteers for the Union Army under the age of 21 must have the “written consent of his parents, or guardian, or master.” So far the city has seen nearly 32,000 men volunteer for the cause, with many more in a position to do so if needed.

The New York Times has elaborated on General Beauregard’s strategy for attacking Washington, DC. The paper writes that “his plan is to get as near the Arlington outposts as possible with his main force and to shell the city—pushing his column on, meantime, to engage our forces, until he sees an opportunity to march upon the Capital with his reserve.” They attribute his information to a woman who recently arrived in the capital after having “escaped from Richmond after various vicissitudes.”

According to the San Francisco Herald, 5,000 volunteers from California will soon travel to Texas by way of Mexico, where they hope to “recapture the forts which have been taken by the rebels, and also to strengthen any Union sentiment which may remain in Texas.”

In the News:

• The New York Times describes the incidences involving Colonel Allen at Fort Monroe and investigates other allegations of misconduct among the soldiers stationed there.
• The Richmond Daily Dispatch publishes reports from Baltimore about the arrest of Chief of Police George Kane.
• The Philadelphia Press has news from abroad, including detailed dispatches from England and France.
• The Memphis Avalanche describes a gruesome murder in which a man was shot to death in his own bed.
• A correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer describes the stifling heat at Fort Monroe and its affect on the soldiers.

Commentary:

• The Principle Chief of the Cherokee nation urges his people to remain neutral in the conflict between the northern and southern states.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer condemns those soldiers who spent their pay on liquor, rather than remitting their compensation to their wives and mothers.
• The editorial staff at the Quincy Herald wants a battle, but “one bloodless victory, in which the enemy is routed . . . would be more accordant to our feelings, and quite as gratifying to our ambition.”
• The St. Louis correspondent for the New York Times discusses the plan for pursuing Missouri Governor Jackson as well as the importance of the recent events and the future of the state.
• The Dublin Nation hopes that America “may be saved from the terrible crime of forcing its Federal embrace upon any State at the expense of ruthless slaughter by fire and sword.”

Arts and Culture:

• The Richmond Daily Dispatch publishes a work on the many varieties of rotund women, whose author laments “the progressive extinction of the merry fat girl.”

Despite the relatively uneventful week, war excitement continues to spread. Although the only news to come out of the two months of war so far has been minor skirmishes and the slow buildup of troops in Virginia and Missouri, the nation’s attention remains riveted to this topic to the exclusion of all others.

However, a truly significant battle may soon be approaching, one that could well determine the outcome of the war by the end of the summer. While Union and Confederate leaders have been content to bide their time thus far, allowing their forces time to build up and prepare for a greater conflict, recent developments in Washington, Wall Street and popular opinion all point to an imminent shift towards a new phase in the war.

The inattention to events in Washington have not been due to a lack of news to report. Indeed, the past week has seen a dramatic increase in action around the capital, especially regarding the President and the top members of his cabinet. In addition to the regular meetings with troops and military engineers stationed throughout the City, President Lincoln has spent a great deal of time in meetings with his cabinet and military commanders discussing strategy in Virginia, which now assumes center stage following the setbacks to the secessionists in Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri. As General McClellan’s forces move deeper into western Virginia while troops from Washington close in on the Confederate troops in Manassas Junction, the Union appears to hold a commanding position in the war. Many believe that the President will opt to strike quickly, before the Confederates have time to bring more troops to the frontlines from the distant southern hinterland.

The mood of the people surely figures into Lincoln’s war calculations as well, and the America public appears now to strongly favor a swift and decisive attack on the Confederate forces. Gone are the days when Northern papers urged caution and warned the president against hasty decisions—his critics now accuse him of failing to act quickly enough to end the war and capture the Confederate capital in Richmond, only 100 miles away from the Union force. The patriotic fervor stirred up by the attack on Fort Sumter shows little signs of subsiding, while the growing Unionist sentiment in the remaining Border States—particularly Kentucky—makes such a policy considerably more appealing, as Lincoln now has more freedom take bold moves without fear of alienating voters in the Border States. Like any President, Lincoln is anxious not to lose the support of his people, and he is likely to take their views in mind when planning the next stage of the campaign.

Lastly, although they have received precious little attention since the beginning of the war, business interests on Wall Street and beyond remain very influential in Washington —particularly within the Republican Party—and their views are unlikely to go unheeded even during a time of civil war. While nearly all on Wall Street have been outwardly supportive of the President and the war effort, many privately worry that a protracted war could be disastrous for American industry, especially if the blockade of Southern ports and embargo on southern goods continues into the end of the year. Although the North has a considerably stronger industrial base than the South, it is just as reliant on Southern Cotton as the European powers, and northern businessmen are reluctant to part with this commodity for an extended period of time. Although these men are loyal and supportive of the war effort, their desire for a speedy end to the conflict will not be lost on this president and will surely shape his policies going forward.

Commentary:

• The New York Times discusses the impact of the German population on patriotism in the Union.
• An examination of the philosophy of education is provided by June’s Atlantic Monthly.
• The Southern Literary Messenger discusses the people and politics of Nicaragua.

Arts & Culture:

• A political cartoon in June’s Harper’s pokes fun at the various ethnic groups across the Union.
• A poem in the Southern Literary Messenger celebrates the South’s opposition to northern coercion.
• The Ladies’ Repository has translated the German story “What the Forest Said to Itself” into English and published it in it’s June edition.
• Harper’s New Monthly Magazine has published an account of a meeting with the Queen of Spain.

Military:

• The Richmond Daily Dispatch has printed a list of the military maxims of Napoleon of France.
• An account of the reception of Union regiments in New York was recently printed by the nearby Geo F. Nesbit and Co. printing house.

Tensions are slowly rising in Tennessee following discussions in the legislature about the possible secession of the eastern portion of the state. Although state voters approved the secession ordinance by a margin of two to one, sentiment in east Tennessee continues to strongly favor the Union. Last week a convention of representatives of the eastern counties submitted a proposal that they be allowed to secede from the state in peace. This measure is set to be debated in the coming weeks. All signs point to the debate being a vigorous one.

The recent election in Kentucky has produced a strong showing for unionist candidates, who now hold a majority of 50,000 at least – possibly higher as more votes are counted. This is emblematic of a gradual shift in attitudes across the state, which appears to be tilting further towards the Union with each passing week. An increasing number of surveyors have begun to enforce the embargo on the Southern states, refusing to allow Kentucky’s railroads to be used to transport goods to the Confederacy.

The Virginia convention at Wheeling issued a proclamation yesterday declaring the illegitimacy of the convention that passed the ordinance of secession and proclaiming itself to be the true voice of the people of Virginia. Although many in eastern Virginia will surely denounce the convention’s proclamation, it may receive considerable support from the western counties.

A New York Times report from a Southern army camp indicates that the Confederate forces are now erecting batteries and preparing their defenses at Manassas Junction, an important railroad crossing along the Manassas Gap Railroad, about forty miles south of the gap itself. Northern forces at Alexandria are slowly advancing towards this position, but progress has been slow, and it appears as though both sides are still preparing before making any direct attacks.

Skirmishes near the Union fortifications along the Chesapeake continue, including a recent incident near Grafton, Virginia, between a small Union scouting party and a group of forty Confederate troops. Casualties have been reported on both sides, but the battle was inconclusive.

Following his defeat at Booneville, Missouri, the fleeing Governor Jackson has retreated to the southwestern corner of the state along with his men. Secessionist troops from across the state have spent the past week traveling southwest to meet with the forces of the Governor. The majority arrived late this week. Reports differ, however, as to their ultimate destination; some anticipate a march upon the capital in Jefferson City, while others believe he plans to continue his flight across the border into Arkansas. Forces from Arkansas and Mississippi may head north to join forces with the Governor in preparation for a push north into Missouri. As Governor Jackson’s troops regroup, Union sympathizers from all corners of the state have begun to gather at Booneville under General Lyon, who still intends to pursue the Governor to the edges of the state.

Although Baltimore has remained relatively subdued for the past few weeks (aside from the arrest of the police chief accused of harboring Confederate sympathies), a large stockpile of arms and ammunition was discovered under the floors of City Hall, likely intended for use by secessionists. These stockpiles are probably connected to the disgraced police chief, who was found to have similar stockpiles under the floor of his own office. Army brigades in the area confiscated the materials.

The Union fortifications at Fort Pickens in Pensacola now appear safe from attack for the foreseeable future. For the past two months, Confederate General Braxton Bragg has overseen a sizable number of troops on the mainland in preparation for an attack upon the fort. Recent reconnaissance operations have discovered that the majority of these troops have recently departed the city, and a few fortifications are prepared for an attack upon Pickens.

Although little of note has occurred in the capital recently, the heads of all government ministries have remained extremely busy in organizing and preparing the war effort for the months to come. War Secretary Cameron has spend the week in meetings with Army and Navy officers discussing strategies and the recruitment needed to carry them out. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Chase is discussing the possibility of creating a national bank to help finance the war effort.

In the News:

• The Philadelphia Inquirer’s weekly letter from Baltimore discusses the hubbub surrounding the arrest of the chief of police.
• The New York Times has printed the proclamation issued by the Wheeling Convention in Virginia.
• The Richmond Daily Dispatch notes that the European powers are beginning to feel the economic pain from the shortage of southern cotton.
• A short overview of the latest news is provided by the Columbia Spy.
• The Hartford Times discusses a recent mob attack on a bank in Milwaukee.

Commentary:

• An editorial in the New York Times assesses the strength of the Confederate forces in Virginia, and concludes that we may be mistaken in assuming that Washington is out of danger.
• The Richmond Daily Dispatch discusses the merits and faults of General McClellan and General Butler, respectively.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer lauds the brave men of Kansas for their commitment to fight for the union despite the troubles they endured in the recent past.
• An article in the New Orleans Delta reports that the Federal blockade has improved the state of business within the city. (Reprinted in the New York Times.)
• The Quincy Whig Republican criticizes the President for failing to prosecute the war to the fullest extent of his abilities.

The news has just reached us that George P. Kane, Marshall of the Baltimore Police, was arrested yesterday morning on the order of General Banks. He is charged with treason against the United States. Banks has accused him of protecting U.S. residents who are stealthily providing hidden deposits of weaponry and contraband to secessionists. Kane is currently being held prisoner at Fort McHenry.

The United States government will soon have new bombshells. General James, of Rhode Island, has invented several new missiles that appear to surpass anything in the shape of an explosive shell yet invented. The new shell is conical, with an interior filled with combustible matter and a small cylinder. After discharge, the shell will not explode until the missile strikes an object.

Explosives are not the only way to ensure the destruction of one’s enemy: Making medical contraband has also been shown to have a similar effect. The North’s use of this method has met with severe criticism but not necessarily surprise in the South. One reporter writes:

We believe that never till the present highly humane and civilized war have medicines been made contraband. Yet even before the open rupture, Northern apothecaries refused to sell quinine and other articles in their trade, and since the war, none whatever are permitted to cross the border. The inhumanity which thus makes war upon the sick and afflicted, is, we believe, unparalleled in the history of civilized nations. There is, however, this consolation, that medicines in general kill more than they cure.

We recently mentioned that the people of Albany were in the process of creating an organization to memorialize Colonel Ellsworth. They have succeeded, and the Ellsworth Association has just released its second circular. Their plan to create a regiment composed of one member from each town of the state is now underway.

There are many rumors about generals on both sides of the war. General Lee is reportedly growing disgusted with secessionist leaders and wishes to return to the service of the United States government, but there has been no direct confirmation from Lee of the truth of this rumor. General McClellan, meanwhile, has expressly denied the rumor that he made any agreement with the Governor of Kentucky. Newspapers were reporting that an agreement had been struck after the two men met recently. McClellan states that “the only result of the meeting was a voluntary promise on the part of Magoffin that he would drive the Confederate troops from the soil of Kentucky.”

Drinking among the soldiers is continuing to cause problems. Late last night, several drunken soldiers from Camp Curtain were visiting a den in Meadow Lane when they got into a row. One was cut on the neck with a knife, while another had his head caved in. A man walking by barely escaped being struck by a large stone thrown by one of the men. No arrests were made, but this incident further illustrates the need for tighter controls on the consumption of alcohol.

In the News:

• The Richmond Daily Dispatch relays the movements of the Confederate Army.
• The Press reports on the most recent updates out of Tennessee.
• The Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph announces the arrest of the brother of the man who shot Colonel Ellsworth.
• The Central Press declares Prince Williams County to be suffering under a reign of terror.
• The New York Times discusses military and naval movements of the Union troops.

Commentary:

• The Richmond Daily Dispatch condemns the manner in which the New York Times recently discussed the Irish.
• The Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph presents Mrs. Swisshelm’s opinions on the care of babies.
• The New York Times prints correspondence out of Camp Pickens regarding secessionists in Manassas.
• The Central Press publishes a letter to the editor regarding county office elections.

Arts and Culture:

• The Press discusses the competition to create the best National Anthem.
• The Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph discusses the beauty of music in nature.
• The Richmond Daily Dispatch announces dramatic readings in Willis’ Rooms by Mrs. Francis Key Blunt.

Runaways:

• $10 Reward: Negro by the name of Jesse. “He is of rather low stature, though stout, light, ginger, bread color, and about 27 years of age.”
• $10 Reward: “Negro Man named Horace, about 35 years of age, of light brown color, weighs 180 pounds, and walks very slovenly; had on light grey coarse woolen clothes.”

Wanted:

• “Agents to sell packages of stationary and jewelry, at prices one third less than can be purchased elsewhere.”

Military Notices:

• Headquarters Army of the Potomac: “No person whatsoever with or without Passports, (Except from the War Department) will be permitted to enter the lines occupied by the Army of the Potomac with intention to pass thence, or thereafter into the United States, or the lines of the enemy.”
• Notice: “Volunteer Officers of the State are respectfully informed that beside the bonds required by law, there must be an order from the adjutant General, to authorize the Superintendent of the State Armory to issue arms.”

Obituaries:

• Carrie L. Magee, the daughter of James Magee, passed away Wednesday morning.
• Addie Bailey, aged one year and one day, daughter of James R. and Martha A. Nelson died yesterday.
• Jefferson Magruder, a young boy from Warrenton, fell to his death after climbing a tree last week.

Yesterday we discussed the dangers of powder in the wrong hands. Today we received yet another reminder of the truth of our warnings. One of the boys mentioned yesterday as having been set aflame by the explosion of some powder has now died from his injuries. Once again, we urge our readers to beware of the dangers of powder.

Forty Confederate cavalry crossed the Potomac the morning of June 25, almost immediately after the Federal night pickets withdrew along the line of the river. At Alexander Shaffer’s Ferry, the half way point between Falling Water and Dam No. 4, a ferryboat and skiff were destroyed. After this the Confederate troops recrossed the river and have not been found.

About 500 more troops arrived in Petersburgh, Virginia, yesterday morning from Georgia. Among the men who arrived are the Irvin Guards, Lafayette Volunteers, Calhoun Rifles, and a detachment belonging to the Ninth Georgia Regiment under the command of Captain George Hillyer. According to the Petersburgh Express, “All of them were in excellent trim, and many were splendid-looking soldiers.”

There was a tragic disaster in Wyandotte, Kansas on June 23 resulting in the deaths of forty volunteers for the First Regiment of Kansas. Captain Haines and the men were in the building to hold drills in preparation for being received into U.S. service. The center wall of the building suddenly gave way, burying the company beneath the rubble. Many men died instantly, some held on until shortly after they were freed. One man broke both his arms and his legs, and at least twelve others were injured. It is not known what caused the sudden collapse of this building.

In international news, the need to obtain new sources of cotton is pressing urgently upon England as it becomes clearer that the current conflict will not end soon. British manufacturers are growing more alarmed regarding the stability of their businesses and  are making efforts to stimulate cotton growth in every available region of the world. India has previously supplied some cotton to Britain, but the quality is much poorer than that from America. Africa, however, offers a comparable product, meaning that Britain may increasingly turn to the south for cotton for the foreseeable future.

The Annual Commencement ceremony of Columbia College was held yesterday at the Academy of Music. The Trustees took this opportunity to confer on Abraham Lincoln the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. The New York Times described the event:

The announcement of the act, by the President of the College, from the stage, to the immense and brilliant audience, male and female which its Annual Commencement always gathers, though taking them by surprise, was caught up at once and received with shouts of enthusiasm, the band instantly interrupting the accustomed gravity of the ceremonial by bursting into the National air.

As the conflict drags on, we ought to note that it has not stripped us of our enjoyment of the smaller pleasures of life, as was shown just the other day by the Eighth Ohio Regiment, which was Cleveland to Camp Denison by train. Captain Buckingham supposed the train would make a stop in Crestline and notified his wife. Unfortunately, orders were given to pass through the town without stopping. Though the train was not moving at full speed when it arrived in Crestline, it was still proceeding quickly. However, when Buckingham saw his wife on the platform, he made a desperate swing from the train. Embracing and kissing her quickly, he raced back, having barely enough time to catch the rear car. His comrades met his gallant gesture with thunderous applause.

In the News:

• The Richmond Daily Dispatch presents information on the fight near Leesburg, Virginia.
• The New York Times supplies updates on the approaching campaign in Virginia.
• The Huntingdon Globe reports on the riot in Milwaukee.
• The Press looks at the health of the Union Army.
• The Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph announces the ordering of New Jersey troops to Washington.

Commentary:

• The New York Times discusses the rumors out of Tennessee regarding the movements of the rebels.
• The Altoona Tribune reprints the Banner of Peace’s view on the North in the present crisis.
• The Press publishes a letter regarding an occurrence that took place on the march of the troops to Bethel.
• The Richmond Daily Dispatch comments on recent claims from Northern papers.

Arts and Culture:

• The Press publishes a song from Italy, entitled “A Vision in the Forum.”
• The Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph discusses the plans for music for the Fourth.
• The Richmond Daily Dispatch prints a song by G.H.M., Washington artillery, “Uprise ye braves.”

Runaways:

• $20 Reward: “Ranaway from the subscriber, on the 29th day of May, a Negro man named John Carry; has a wife at Robert P. Warring’s, in Essex county.”

Military Notices:

• Headquarters of the Forces: “General orders, No. 29.—The Periodical Muster for the payment of the Virginia Volunteers will be made on the 20th of June, 1861.”
• Ordinance Office: “All Accoutrements and Equipments. delivered to the Ordnance Department of the State of Virginia will, from and after the date, be turned into the Ordnance Warehouse, at the corner of 12th and Cary streets.”

Obituaries:

• Cyrus Shay, aged 47 years, First Lieutenant Company D. Twenty fifth Regiment, died in New York on Tuesday.
• Gilbert L. Wilson, the Treasurer of the New York Central Railroad, fell from the third story window of his residence, fatally injuring himself.
• The father of Charlotte Bronte died in the parsonage of Haworth on June 7.

Union troops will take position on the heights at Harper’s Ferry within a few days. Some secessionists are still in the area, and there have been rumors that they have been attacking citizens loyal to the Union. Many of these citizens have fled to Maryland to call on General Patterson for assistance. There are unconfirmed reports of some being killed during the flight. In related news, Colonel Yokes led the First Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers to Frederick to maintain law and order.

Richard Alvey of Hagerstown was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of treason. He was allegedly carrying on correspondence with secessionists. Alvey will remain in custody at least until the charge is fully investigated.

There are a number of military updates out of Ohio. The gunboat H.O. Tyler dropped down the river on June 24, and the Lexington and Conestoga were scheduled to leave yesterday. The Tenth Ohio regiment, under Colonel Lisle, left Camp Dennison on Monday for western Virginia. The Sixth and Seventh Ohio regiments are also scheduled to leave today. More than 6,000 men  will remain at Camp Dennison, comprising the Fifth, Sixth Seventh, Eighth, Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth Regiments. These forces will grow by 2,000 when they are joined by the First and Second Kentucky Regiments, who will be moving their quarters to Camp Dennison.

There have been a number of unfortunate incidents regarding soldiers in recent days. Charles Knecht, of the Thirty-first New York Regiment, was taken to the hospital with a sprained ankle when passing through Philadelphia. In a more tragic turn, Carran McCormick attempted to jump ashore when his boat was nearing the wharf but fell into the water and drowned. The body of McCormick, who was a member of the New York Thirty-seventh Regiment, has been recovered.

A letter from New York to Richmond claims that the “peace movement” is making headway in the city. Though the missive offered no names, it did suggest that many high ranking men are involved. It states, “It will in due time manifest itself indefinitely, first at a monster meaning in the open air up town—and second, in a memorial to Congress at the very commencement of the session.” We’ll provide more updates on this story as we receive them.

An important reminder for our readers: Powder, while an important wartime tool, is extremely volatile. Please be vigilant about safety procedures when handling it. Failure to do so may lead to a tragedy such as the one that follows: A few days ago, a group of boys thought it would be fun to explode some powder that had accidentally fallen on the floor during the production of cartridges and other war material at Thomas’ Tobacco Factory. The clothes of two of the children were set aflame, and they likely would have burned to death had their screams not attracted nearby gentlemen, who were able to strip the burning clothes from their limbs. As one reporter wisely noted after the incident, “Powder is a good servant, but a bad master.”

In the News:

• The New York Times reports the destruction of property at Martinsburgh.
• The Richmond Daily Dispatch provides information on recent fires in North Carolina.
• The Democratic Banner releases the resolutions of the legislatures of Connecticut and Iowa regarding peace movements.
• The Press relays updates from the Convention in Wheeling.
• The Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph announces the absorption of the Courier and Enquirer by the New York World.
• The Beaver Weekly Argus discusses the advance of the rebels on Fortress Monroe.

Commentary:

• The Richmond Daily Dispatch re-publishes an article from the New York Journal of Commerce asking when the end of the war shall be seen.
• The New York Times prints a letter to the editor regarding Colonel Washington A. Bartlett and the Naval Brigade.
• The Richmond Daily Dispatch includes Judge Parker’s charge to the Grand Jury of Frederick County, Virginia.
• The Agitator relays one young man’s method for recruiting volunteers in Georgia.
• The Lebanon Advertiser discusses the duty of the clergy.

Arts and Culture:

• The Beaver Weekly Argus publishes the poem, “Our Flag.”
• The New York Times discusses Mr. Jackson’s additions to “Our American Cousin at Home.”
• The Agitator publishes the poem, “The Right Must Win.”

Runaways:

• Big Reward: “A Negro man named William. He is a mulatto, and has a huge head, about 5 feet 10 inches high, of low when spoken to.”
• $10 Reward: A Negro named Jesse. “He is a father of low stature, though stout, light, gingerbread color, and about 27 years of age.”

Wanted:

• “The First Regiment of Louisiana Volunteers, now stationed at Pig’s Point, are in want of music, to the extent of a full band or a corps of drummers.”

Military Notices:

• Hdq’rs camp of Instruction: “The undersigned has been authorized to organize a Regiment of Light Infantry, to be commanded by himself. It is desirable that the companies composing this regiment should be made up of young and active men, and officered as far as possible by gentlemen of some military experience.”
• Executive Department: “The Colonel of Ordnance of Virginia will continue to attend to the issue of arms, both Artillery and Small Arms, belonging to this State, and to the manufacture of Field Carriages and Caissons.”

Obituaries:

• Samuel Westcott, aged four years and seven months, son of Deborah and Hunting M. Stewart, died on June 24.
• Chief Justice Storrs, 66 years old, of Connecticut died at 10 o’clock on the night of June 25.
• Joseph William, Esq., of Petersburg, Virginia, died last Sunday evening.
• Yesterday afternoon, Elias Griffin, employed at the shipyard of the Dry and Wet Dock Company, was killed when hooks used for hoisting slipped off a piece of timber and struck him in the neck.
• Two children were poisoned, then drowned, by their mother during a fit of temporary insanity.

Withstanding bombardment from several Federal ships earlier this month, Confederate forces continue to fortify their position at Acquia Creek with more armaments and men, estimated to be 2,000-3,000 strong.

Although Confederate forces abandoned Harper’s Ferry last week, dispatches from the area claim “that there is a body of fifteen hundred or two thousand rebels about three miles below, on the Winchester Road, but they do not show themselves.” There has yet to be a confrontation between the two sides.

The “violent secessionist” mayor of Lexington, Kentucky, abandoned his post and has been replaced by “a good Union man,” who promises to maintain order and “protect the rights of all classes of citizens, in which he is sustained by an almost unanimous voice of the people.”

Rioters did extensive damage to banks, stores and private property in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, yesterday, but there were no fatalities. The mob was reportedly enraged by bankers “throwing out of circulation the notes of a large number of the banks of this State.” Soldiers were ordered to combat the crowd but did not “for fear they would be overpowered.” The Governor has put the city under martial law and called for reinforcements from surrounding towns.

U.S. troops in Utah have been ordered back to Washington, presumably to join the forces marching on the seceding states. Residents in Utah, however, are angry at the prospect of losing their protection and having to rely solely on the territory’s militia.  Local officials will likely try to lodge a protest of the withdrawal directly with the Federal government. The call to leave Utah seemed to catch everyone off guard, as the Army had “recently executed contracts for large supplies of wood, hay, straw and grain,” and were engaged in “the current little expedition to Ruley Valley and vicinity, to impress upon the predatory red man a sense of his proper littleness, and of the impolicy of making enemies of his white brother.”

In the News:

• The New York Times has news from Union troops in Washington, including several instances of runaway slaves attempting to join the fighting forces.
• The Philadelphia Press collects items from several Southern newspapers.
• The New York Times has the latest from South America and Spain’s activities in the Antilles.
• The latest Pony Express brings news from California and Utah.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer has the latest from Missouri and the intelligence from the ships participating in the blockade.
• The New York Times covers a fatal building collapse in Kansas.

Commentary:

• The London Post is confident that Canada will “remain staunch and true” to the monarchy in spite of the American conflict.
• The Philadelphia Press believes history will hold Andrew Johnson in high esteem.
• The Richmond Daily Dispatch prints Tennessee Governor Isham Harris’s message to the state legislature.
• The Charleston correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer laments being cut off from news and information from the North.
• W.H. Russell, reporter for the London Times, describes his travels through the Southern Confederacy.

Arts and Culture:

• The Philadelphia Press recommends summer resorts for a relaxing getaway.
• The Richmond Daily Dispatch prints a poem entitled “The Cotton States’ Farewell to Yankee Doodle.”

Amid rumors that General Beauregard is set to surround and attack the capital with a force 180,000 strong, General McDowell sent two topographical engineers into a surveying balloon with expert Professor Lowe in order to scout the size and location of Confederate troops.  The three men ascended into the sky near Falls Church, Virginia, but the War Department did not release their findings to Washington’s anxious residents.

Vessels carrying supplies of arms and other war equipment will depart for the coast of Texas in the hope that distributing the weaponry to Union supporters will spark an uprising  against the state’s secessionist government led by former Governor Sam Houston.

Senator James Henry Lane has been appointed Brigadier-General of the Kansas Volunteers and will soon lead 7,000 of his fellow statesmen into Arkansas to rendezvous with regiments under General Prentiss in the heart of the Confederacy.

France has affirmed its neutrality in our national conflict. In addition to banning privateers from selling their wares at French ports, Emperor Napoleon released a declaration forbidding Frenchmen from taking money or purchasing products from either side, as well as from participating in the conflict or assisting privateers.

According to the New York Times, ex-Treasury Secretary Howell Cobb has a plan to enlist England’s help in defeating the Federal blockade of Southern ports by sending all Southern cotton to one blocked port. Cobb’s scheme hinges on England’s continued dependence on Southern cotton and their growing desperation as their supply is stymied by the Northern blockade.

The Wheeling Convention’s newly inaugurated “Governor of Virginia,” Francis Pierpont, gave a speech before the assembly lauding western Virginia’s adherence to the republican ideals upon which the state was founded. He criticized the eastern portion of the state for ignoring the dissenting western voice and promised to work hard to accomplish the objectives of the pro-Union convention.  The convention also adopted a loyalty oath that requires office-holders to affirm allegiance to both the U.S. Constitution and the original Virginia Constitution—which the Wheeling Convention “vindicated and restored”—while ignoring “anything in the Constitution and laws of the State of Virginia or in the ordinance of the Convention which assembled in Richmond the 13^th day of February last.”

In the News:

• The Daily Whig and Republican has the latest from Missouri.
• The New York Times excerpts accounts of the Boonville battle from several newspapers in Missouri and Kentucky.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer collects news items from several Southern papers.
• A correspondent for the Richmond Daily Dispatch sends a report from Fairfax-Court House.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer suggests other countries that Britain should trade with in order to meet its cotton needs.
• The Baltimore Sun has news from Fort Monroe.

Commentary:

• The Philadelphia Inquirer argues that captured privateers should be hanged “for the sake of justice and as a needed warning.”
• The Quincy Daily Whig and Republican wants the government to make the abolishment of slavery a key goal in quelling the Southern rebellion.
• The Richmond Daily Dispatch contends the Northern belief and General Scott’s promise that the war will be over quickly.
• The London Globe and London Times discuss Canada’s relation to the conflict in America.
• The Daily Whig and Republican wants the government to make the abolishment of slavery a key goal in quelling the Southern rebellion.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer prints Tennessee Senator Andrew Johnson’s pro-Union speech in Cincinnati. (Part one. Part two. Part three.)
• The Quincy Herald criticizes the practice of giving politicians high-level military commissions, pointing specifically to the failures of Brigadier General Hurlbut.
• The Daily Whig and Republican examines a Southern Christian circular threatening Northerners that they will butcher their slaves if the North provokes an insurrection, writing, “Men of the North, you hold in your hands the lives of half a million slaves, for as sure as there is a God in Heaven, if this war continues, and they, through your instrumentality, become dangerous and unmanageable, the last one of them will perish.”

Arts and Culture:

• The Richmond Daily Dispatch shares fascinating information about diamonds.
• The Daily Whig and Republican extols Poland hogs, advising, “a hog is a hog, but some hogs are more profitable than others.”