ist in the military service of the United States, or of any such usurped Government or Governments.
By Mr. McCue, that the committee proposed to be appointed on the subject of salt, be authorized to inquire on what census Jno. N. Clarkson, as agent, has based his distribution of salt, and whether injustice may not have been done certain counties by the data upon which he has acted.
By Mr. Cowan, that the Committee of Courts of Justice inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the punishment and prevention of smuggling.
By Mr. Ambers, that a special committee be appointed to inquire into the cause of delay in delivering the supply of salt heretofore contracted for with Stuart, Buchanan & Co., to be delivered to the counties of the State; also, to inquire into the manner in which the Board of Public Works have facilitated or delayed its delivery; also, that said committee be authorized to send for persons and papers, and directed to report at as early a day as practicable.
wn up in line, on an extensive field well adapted to the manoeuvring of troops.
The men were well armed, comfortably clad, and had the appearance of regulars.
Gen. Stuart and Staff were on the field.
The General is one of the most graceful riders I ever saw.--He was mounted on his favorite steed, "Highflyer," a noble animal, and display.
The brigades of cavalry of this army have been divided into two divisions, Maj-Gen. Wade Hampton commands the first and Maj-Gen. Fitz Lee the second; Gen. Stuart commands both.--As the two now constitute a corps, it would be gratifying to this command to see Gen. Stuart elevated a round higher on the military ladder, or,Gen. Stuart elevated a round higher on the military ladder, or, in other words, made a Lieutenant-General.
Col. W. C. Wickham, of the 4th Virginia cavalry, and Col. M. C. Butter, of the 2d South Carolina cavalry, have been made Brigadier Generals.
Both, in my humble opinion, are good appointments.
There was a thunder storm to-day — a heavy rain fell, and was truly refreshing. Dyke
The fight at Culpeper.
--On Saturday night last, shortly after midnight, it was ascertained that the enemy in considerable force, (infantry, artillery and cavalry,) were crossing the Rappahannock at Stark's and Kelly's Fords, Gen. Stuart, in command of our cavalry, immediately disposed of his forces with a view of giving them a warm reception, although it was well understood that their force was vastly superior in numbers to that at his disposal.
The first collision occurred at Brandy Station, from which point our forces fell back on Culpeper Court-House.
Finally they were compelled to yield this point to the enemy, who advanced upon it in heavy force.
During the entire day, on Sunday, there was severe skirmishing between the enemy's advancing and our retreating forces.
At last accounts the enemy were four miles south of Culpeper Court-House.
In the engagement of Sunday we lost about thirty men killed and wounded.--What loss the enemy sustained is not known.
Col. Beal
a special committee which shall inquire into expediency of hiring to the Central and Virginia and Tennessee railroad companies, so many of the convicts in the State Penitentiary who can be spared, and who are non-producing, to work on the said roads, taking care for their safe-keeping and return.
By Mr. Hutcheson: Of repealing the law authorizing counties, cities and towns to issue notes under the denomination of $5, and to fix their redemption at an early day in Confederate currency.
By Mr. Stuart: Of compelling the Banks of the State to receive all Confederate Treasury notes on deposit.
By Mr. Anderson: Of repealing so much of the exemption law as relates to members of this Legislature.
By Mr. Woodley--Of requesting the President of the Confederate States to call an extra session of Congress, for the purpose of devising some plan for withdrawing Confederate Treasury notes from circulation, and of adopting some system of currency to defray the outstanding expenses of Government wi
eviewed the second and third divisions in the same manner as the first, and once more came back to the original starting point, the riders and horses both looking much jaded, the distance they having gone so swiftly over being fully nine miles.
General Lee immediately dismounted and came to his carriage, which was only a few steps distant, and in which were two of his daughters, and in a few minutes he called to his side many of his Generals, among them Generals Ewell, Longstreet, Hill, Stuart, Wilcox, and others, and gave his daughters an introduction to them.
His daughters have exceedingly pleasant and intelligent countenances, both having dark and piercing eyes, and both hearing some resemblance to their father.
The Generals now took a stand just by the flag, and the troops commenced passing in review before Gen. Lee, and as each flag in passing would be lowered as a salute, the General, in response, would take his hat off. And now I got a close view of the men composing
13th inst., your correspondent was informed that the Yankees were crossing at Rixey and Kelly's fords.
Soon after intelligence came that they were crossing at all the fordable points on the Rappahannock between the two fords mentioned above.--Gen. Stuart, with his usual vigilance, had not allowed himself to be surprised.
Through his scouts and other sources he had been apprised of the enemy's making preparations to cross the river, and sent orders to officers commanding the different brigadespshooters.
The enemy's cavalry was supported by Gen. Warren's command — the 12th army corps.
The fight continued until twilight, having commenced about 9 o'clock in the morning.
Our loss in killed and wounded will not reach fifty men.
General Stuart fell back to the Rapidan, where he bivouacked for the night.
He was in his saddle early on yesterday morning, and made a spirited attack on the enemy near Rapidan Station.
The engagement lasted all day. The Horse Artillery, commanded by Maj
erived but little, if any advantage.
The fight took place on Tuesday afternoon, near Liberty Mills, in Madison county.
Our force is represented to have consisted of the brigades of Gens. Fitzhugh Lee and Jones, the whole under the command of Gen. Stuart in person.
The enemy had advanced in line of battle to within a few miles of Liberty Mills, when they were charged by our cavalry.
The centre of the Yankee line gave way, and our men, dashing ahead, soon found themselves confronted by the enemy's infantry, who opened fire upon them.
In the meantime their cavalry closed in upon Gen. Stuart's flanks, nearly surrounding him. His men rallied, however, and in a fierce hand-to-hand fight, cut their way out. The extent of our loss in the engagement is not known, being variously estimated at from 125 to 400.
It is stated that our dead and badly wounded were left in the enemy's hands.
The Yankee loss is reported to have been heavy, but the statements with reference to it are who
ted, instructing the Committee of Courts of Justice to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the city of Richmond to impress coal pits and wood and wood land; and also to impress the free-negro convicts in the penitentiary to work in said pits and to procure wood; and also to impress railroads and other means of transportation.
Mr. Walton submitted a resolution to instruct the Committee of Finance to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill to provide for a tax of not less than two dollars and a half upon the seal of registry for free negroes.
Agreed to.
The resolution yesterday offered by Mr. Brooke for the appointment of a special committee to investigate thoroughly the causes of delay in the delivery of salt by Stuart, Buchanan & Co. was taken up, and, after some discussion, agreed to by a vote of 103 to 11.
The bill for the reorganization of the militia of the State was then taken up, and the House engaged in its consideration the remainder of the day.
e Central train last night, we have some further particulars of the fight in Madison county on Tuesday.
In the morning our cavalry, consisting of Hampton's, Jones's, and Robertson's old brigades, were stationed on the Rapidan river, near Liberty Mills.
They learned that the enemy were approaching in force on the turnpike road leading from Madison Court-House to the Mills, and preparations were at once made to meet them.
Our forces were drawn up in line of battle and a charge ordered by Gen. Stuart, who commanded in person.
Comparatively little resistance was made to this charge, the enemy giving away at the first onset.
Our troops pushed them for about a quarter of a mile, when they found themselves in front of a line of sharpshooters, who opened fire upon them.
Our front lines were then dismounted, to engage the enemy on foot.
A sharp fight ensued, lasting over an hour, in which the loss on both sides was considerable.
In the meantime, a column of the enemy which had adva
On the fact being known at Gen. Meade's headquarters yesterday morning, Gen. Buford's cavalry were sent across the Rapidan, and found the enemy's evacuation of the south bank had been completed.
On proceeding inland they came upon a portion of Stuart's cavalry, evidently covering the retreat of the rebel infantry.
A sharp skirmish ensued, but it did not result in our ascertaining whether the enemy had fallen back on Gordonsville, or whether it was attempting some flank movement to get betweeepresented that early in the morning one of Gen. Kilpatrick's brigades, consisting of the 5th Michigan, 5th New York, 7th Pennsylvania, and another regiment, attempted a reconnaissance on the south side of Robertson's river, when they were met by Stuart's rebel cavalry.
A fight ensued, continuing an hour, when our troops fell back upon the infantry reserves.
After another severe contest the infantry were compelled to give way, and a considerable number of them were captured.
A detachment
