Saturday, June 4, 2011

Tuesday June 4

Very heavy rain last night.  William goes to Chillicothe.  Lizzie and I dined at Mr. W. D. Bailey's in company with Mrs. Emerson and Mr. George Emerson and others.  Very pleasant.  Picked lint, talked war, etc.
It is said that Gen. McClellan will advance 30,000 troops into Virginia.  It is stated tonight that Grafton is occupied now by Ohio, Virginia, and Indiana troops.  The secessionists fled to Philippi, Barbour, Co.; were pursued, surprised and captured, fifteen of the secessionists killed. Col. Kelly of Wheeling, the commander of the expedition was severely wounded, perhaps mortally.  It is reported that one of the prisoners fired upon him after the surrender.  The secessionists descend to the most dishonorable warfare.  Senator S. A. Douglas died at Chicago, Monday.  During the present crisis he has stood by the Union and never before could have been so sincerely regretted.  Flags at half-mast and firing of minute guns in many places testify the respect of the people.


Editor's comments:
This from the NY Times, June 3, 1861:
WASHINGTON, Monday, June 3. Lieut.-Gen. SCOTT to-night received a dispatch from Gen. MCCLELLAN, stating that the command under Gen, MORRIS, last night marched on Grafton. It was raining at the time. They surprised s party of Secessionists, near Phillippa, about 200 strong, and effectually put them to the route and killed some of them. A large quantity of arms, munitions, and a number of horses, which the Secessionists left in their alarm, fell into the hands of the Federals. The rebels retreated further into Virginia. Col. KELLY was mortally wounded.

Senator Stephen A. Douglas is the Democrat who had run against Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 election.  Long active in politics, he held controversial opinions about slavery and was well-known for his attempts to compromise.  Once Lincoln was elected, Douglas was entirely supportive of Lincoln and of maintaining the Union.  He contracted typhoid while making a circuit of speeches and died June 3, 1861.

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