the approach of an enemy. An hour and a half was passed in the above condition of things, when suddenly two companies of Federal cavalry, under command of Captains Montgomery and Switzler, led by Major Wright, advanced over the brow of the hill, in the rear of the rebels, and, plunging forward to within one hundred paces, delivered a murderous volley, which scattered the rebels like chaff before the wind. They fled precipitately up the ravine toward Lebanon, tearing through the brush in a perfect

rout.

A number of saddles were emptied, and horses were galloping riderless about the field. They were taken so completely by surprise that they had hardly time to return a few straggling shots. A voice was heard bellowing forth in the brush, "Why the h-11 don't you stand and fight?" The action was over in five minutes; it was a dash-a gleam of fire on the Union side, and a wild scamper for life on the other side. The latter were last seen running over a hill half a mile distant. Mr. Burns and some of the drivers then ascended an eminence, and, discovering the Union cavalry, threw up their hats and shouted for the latter to come up. The troops gave a return shout and came up. All were mutually surprised and elated by the result. Three rousing cheers were given with a will that made the welkin ring, for the glorious Stars and Stripes. Even the cripples participated in the demonstration, and tears of joy filled their eyes in view of their fortunate deliverance from further perils.

Our men had taken thirty prisoners. It was supposed that from twenty to twenty-five of the enemy were killed, but as our informants had to move forward, they could not ascertain the facts more definitely. Major Wright in

short time, came in this afternoon, and report that they were informed by a private who was in the rebel ranks during the fight, that they lost sixty in killed, wounded, and prisoners. These informants also state that John Dell, a wealthy farmer, near the mouth of the Big Piney, but obnoxious in consequence of his Union sentiments, was arrested yesterday by Lieutenant Stewart, of the Pulaski Rangers, and sent on to Lebanon.

Cavalry officers engaged.-Major Wright, Captain Montgomery, Captain Switzler.

Doc. 83.

PROPOSED EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.

THE following is the correspondence which took place between General Polk and General Grant in reference to an exchange of prisoners:

HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST DIVISION,
WESTERN DEPARTMENT.

To the Comm'ng Officer at Cairo and Bird's Pt.:

the Federal army, and am informed there are I have in my camp a number of prisoners of prisoners belonging to the Missouri State troops in yours. I propose an exchange of these pris of the Artillery, and Lieutenant Smith, of the oners, and for that purpose send Captain Polk, Infantry, both of the Confederate States Army, with a flag of truce, to deliver to you this com munication, and to know your pleasure in regard to my proposition.

prisoners effected on the third of September,
The principles recognized in the exchange of
between Brigadier-General Pillow, of the Con-
federate Army, and Colonel Wallace, of the
United States Army, are those I propose as the
basis of that now contemplated.

formed Mr. Burns that he saw sixteen dead
bodies near one place, and several more were
lying around. Our camp was four miles from
the scene of the battle. It was learned that a
skirmish had taken place between the pickets
Saturday night, and at break of day an expedi-
tion, consisting of four companies of cavalry, and
four of infantry to act as a support to the former,
were sent out to hunt up the enemy. Two com-
panies came upon him as above related, while
the infantry and remaining cavalry, although
advancing from different points, did not come
in time to take part in the action, nor was it
necessary. The Springfield men moved forward,
accompanied some distance on the way by the
cavalry. A truck broke down a mile this side
of the battle ground, and while repairing, they
were overtaken and passed by General Wyman
and the four companies of infantry, en route for To Major-General POLK, Columbus, Ky.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
L. POLK,
Major-General Commanding.
To which communication General Grant for-
warded the following reply:

their camp.

Our loss was one killed-Henry Tucker, of Springfield, belonging to Wood's Kansas Ran

}

HEAD-QUARTERS DEPARTMENT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, CAIRO, Oct. 14, 1861. GENERAL: Yours of this date is just received. In regard to an exchange of prisoners, as proposed, I can of my own accordance make none. I recognize no "Southern Confederacy" myself, but will communicate with higher authorities for their views. Should I not be sustained, I will find means of communicating with you. Respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT, Brigadier-General Commanding.

Doc. 84.

gers. He and one other belonging to Captain NATIONAL ENLISTMENTS IN CANADA. Wood's company were present.

LETTER FROM ARTHUR RANKIN.

Some of the men say there was one man wounded, but others think this is not so. Two MR. RANKIN was arrested for an alleged violacattle drovers, who were held as prisoners a tion of the neutrality laws, and bound over to

To the Editor of the Leader:

SIR: No one could be more willing than I am to concede to the journalist the right to comment upon the current events of the day, or on the conduct of public men, in so far as that conduct has any bearing upon public interests; but there are limits within which even the members of the privileged "fourth estate" ought to confine themselves. That you have overstepped those limits I shall endeavor to show.

On the arrival of the Leader of the 3d inst. at Windsor, my attention was directed to its leading article, headed "Violation of the Neutrality Laws." In that article you indulge in a strain far more likely to injure yourself in the estimation of any one whose good opinion is worth caring for, than to damage me, even if your statements were all true, instead of being, as most of them are, as false as they are malicious.

Sir, I shall not take upon myself to say what your motives are, and certainly your very slight knowledge of me, and your utter ignorance of my character, do not warrant you in presuming to make the comments you have indulged in.

Suffice it for me to observe, that, should I live to take an active part in the struggle now going on between the contending parties in the adjoining republic, my motives will be developed at the proper time. Meanwhile I shall not trouble myself by reply, or in any other way concern myself about any future work of fiction with which your inventive genius may prompt you hereafter to endeavor to deceive or amuse the public. It is now pretty well understood by men of the world, that the advocacy of the class of public writers to which you belong is a purchaseable commodity, which can generally be secured for a very moderate consideration. By and by, I trust, those capitalists who invest their means in printing establishments will discover the impolicy of employing persons of your stamp, and then we may look for some improvement in the tone of the Canadian press.

When English subjects took part, on either side, in the civil war in Portugal, it was considered no offence; and when, at a later period, the British Legion, under Sir De Lacy Evans, took part in a war of the same character in Spain, their conduct was not only regarded_without disfavor, but absolutely applauded, and even to this day, not to mention the thousands of English subjects who flocked to the standard of Garibaldi, are there not numbers of Englishmen in the Aus

In the first place, sir, permit me to ask, What do you know about my private circumstances, or what right have you to make my private affairs the subject of public comment? You may have heard statements about me, which, if you had been fully and correctly informed, you would have discovered to be wholly in-trian, the Prussian, and even in the Turkish ser

accurate.

vice? Why, then, should it be treated as a crime for Canadians to enter the American ser vice? Is the objection founded in reason, or upon prejudice? Is not the cause of the United States the cause of civilization and free govern ment? Has any struggle so largely affecting the welfare of mankind in general taken place in any other country on the face of the earth within the present or any former age?

Again, you say-speaking of my connection with the Federal Government of the United States-"A large sum was placed to my credit, and that I received instructions to draw to an indefinite amount in furtherance of the scheme;" and to give additional force to these falsehoods, you add, "These are facts, which admit, we believe, of being clearly established, and to those who are familiar with the career And as to the Queen's proclamation, I mainand circumstances of Mr. Rankin, we need not tain that it distinctly recognizes the right of every point out the motives of his real," &c., &c., &c. subject to dispose of himself in any manner he Now, sir, upon what ground have you permitted may think proper. It simply intimates it to be yourself to make these assertions? They are the policy of Iler Majesty's Government (as a not only false, but ridiculous; and pray, what government) to preserve a strict neutrality, and do you know of my motives? and from whom warns all subjects that if, in the exercise of did you get your information? It will be evi- their unquestioned rights as free men, they dent to any one, upon a moment's reflection, think proper to take part on either side, they that your representations are founded, at best, must do so on their own individual responsibil upon mere suspicion. Pray what are your mo-ity; but it does not even hint that any imputatives? Are you quite disinterested in your tion will be cast upon their characters, either as advocacy of slavery and the interests of your subjects or as members of society. Yon, sir, friend and patron, "Jeff. Davis"? Has your however, not content with slandering me, must philanthropic and truly British mind become carry your vulgar vindictiveness so far as to so enamored of the "peculiar institution," for endeavor to cast a slur upon the character of the suppression of which Great Britain has ex- those gentlemen from Toronto, in every way pended untold millions, that you are now pre- your superiors, who, animated by motives pared-as atonement for the errors of such men above your sordid comprehension, have recently as Wilberforce and his colleagues in the cause enrolled themselves in the cause of freedom and of humanity-to turn knight-errant in the cause enlightenment-the cause of the North against of "Southern chivalry"? the South. Let me tell you, sir, notwithstand

ing your puny efforts to the contrary, there will be no lack of Canadian gentlemen, not only willing, but eager, to avail themselves of the opportunity now presented to them of achieving an honorable distinction which cannot fail to secure them not only the applause of their countrymen, but the appreciation of their sovereign.

is twenty miles further down the Kanawha, where we arrived about nine A. M. Here we were joined by two companies of the Fourth Virginia, who had been sent up from Point Pleasant. While the men were getting breakfast, Col. Guthrie took a small detachment of men across to the Red House, and captured the goods in a store belonging to one of the rebel cavalry who had fired upon the boat.

At eleven o'clock information was received that the enemy, in force about eight hundred strong, with one company of cavalry, were encamped at Hurricane Bridge, some fourteen miles from Winfield. Our column, without further delay, moved forward. When about two miles from the town the advance, under command of Adjutant Clark, encountered the

That there are some "Provincialists," as you are pleased to call them, who will join with you in your absurd cry about the Queen's proclamation, I have no doubt; but no man of common sense, and common honesty, can construe that proclamation otherwise than I have done; and in conclusion I have only to add, that I have done nothing, and shall do nothing, inconsistent with my duty, or such as to subject me to the forfeiture of my rights either as a British sub-mounted scouts of the enemy, who fled in hot ject or a member of the Canadian Parliament; and when Parliament assembles I shall be at my post, prepared to perform my duty both to my constituents and to the country at large, independently, and to the best of my ability.

OCCUPATION OF WINFIELD, VA.
THE correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette
gives the following account of the occupa-
tion:-

CAMP RED HOUSE, WESTERN VA.,
October 19, 1861.

Your readers have already been apprised of
the firing of the rebel cavalry upon the boat
Izetta, as she was passing up the Kanawha
loaded with United States horses and army
stores, on the forenoon of October 11th. The
firing occurred from the town of Winfield, in
Putnam County, Va. As soon as intelligence
of the firing was received by Colonel Piatt, at
Camp Piatt, ten miles above Charleston, he
ordered out five hundred men, under command
of Lieut.-Col. Toland and Major Franklin, with
directions to proceed immediately to Winfield,
and there land the force and pursue the rebels.
In one hour after the order was issued five
hundred Zouaves, with all their arms and equip
ments, were on board the Silver Lake, making
rapid headway down the Kanawha, and all
eager to give the pirate rebels a taste of Gov-
ernment powder. We arrived at Charleston
about midnight of the eleventh, and were delayed
there by order of Col. Guthrie, commanding
that post, until seven o'clock of the next morn-
ing.
Colonel Guthrie accompanied us from
Charleston, and we proceeded to Winfield, which

haste toward their camp. Here let me remark, that Col. Guthrie had sent out from Charleston two companies of the Fourth Virginia regiment, who were to approach from another direction. Col. Toland now divided his force, sending a detachment under Major Franklin to attack them on the left, while he moved forward on the direct road. The boys moved up briskly, animated with the prospect of a fight. But the rebels in this part of Virginia have learned to run with such celerity, that there is no way to catch them except by coming upon them on all sides at once. The advance, moving on rapidly some distance ahead of the column, arrrived at the bridge just in time to send a few shots whizzing after the last of the rebels, as they scattered away over the hills to the rear. They had fled like frightened does, and that without any knowledge of the extent of our force, as they had seen only our advance guard consisting of twenty-five

men.

Our forces soon arrived, to find only smoking camp fires and terrified women. The boys were highly disgusted with the rebel method of warfare, and vowed they wished they could have come in on both sides at once, so as to have acquired an appetite for supper, by capturing the whole force of the enemy.

Having failed to find any rebels, the Zouaves determined to do the next best thing, which is always, in their opinion, to get chickens for supper. The poor feathered tribe were doomed to meet a fearful end. More than a hecatomb of them were sacrificed to appease the wrath of stomachs made hungry by a fatiguing march. In less than an hour after our arrival, soldiers might have been seen in every part of our camp brandishing chicken legs and munching crackers.

During the night the rebels came back in small numbers, and fired upon our pickets. Our men returned the fire, wounding one rebel and killing another, whom we buried on Sunday morning.

Scouting parties were sent out to scour the country; also, foraging parties, to take possession of such rebel property as would be useful to the Government. Orders were issued

and strictly enforced against the soldiers taking any thing without orders from the commanding officer. Occasionally, parties of rebels numbering five to fifteen, lurking in the woods, would fire on our pickets. On Monday, Col. Piatt having received orders from Gen. Rosecrans to send forward his whole force, we were joined by him with the remaining companies of the regiment.

in perfect order, though I imagine that our Cincinnati friends would hardly have recognized us as the same body of men which passed through that city a few weeks ago, on our departure for the field.

The whole of the confiscated goods, amounting in value to several thousand dollars, were turned over to Quartermaster Hart, for the benefit of Uncle Sam's pocket. I make so explicit a statement to show that we are in earnest. Col. Piatt and his officers fully appreciate the principle that those who are seeking to destroy our Government should not enjoy its pro tection.

We are now stationed at Winfield, or Putnam C. H., Va., on the left bank of the Kanawha, where the men are kept drilling daily, while detachments are constantly scouring the country in search of the rebels. Our camp is styled "Camp Red House," and letters directed to this point will reach us here.

We received reliable information from some Union inhabitants of the place, stating that the whole rebel force was only about two hundred and fifty, of which one hundred were cavalry. Had we been supplied with fifty cavalry, we could have captured every one of the enemy. Most of the people in the region of Hurricane Bridge are either unqualifiedly in favor of secession, or of that milk-and-water Union style, who never fight for the Union, and are never identified with that cause except in the face of a Union army. The cavalry company, which has been such a terror to the people of this county, Col. Piatt is now organizing a company of numbers about eighty to one hundred men, Virginians, from the Union men of this county, under cominand of Captain Herndon, a rebel who promise to furnish a defence to their own officer in the three months' service. They sub-homes hereafter. We promise you that the sist by plundering Union men, and are paid for Thirty-fourth will not be behindhand in fighttheir service by the Confederate Government. ing or any other duty they are called on to When Colonel Piatt came with his forces, he perform. ΚΑΡΡΑ. found our men drawn up in line, and just ready to march back to the Kanawha, they having been unable to find the enemy in any force, and having already captured a large amount of property belonging to prominent secessionists. However, he concluded to see for himself what this country produces. He ordered a delay, and sent out more parties in search of rebels and rebel goods. The success which attended these parties shows either the peculiar aptness of the Zouaves in capturing and confiscating "secesh" property, or the remarkable productiveness of the country in such goods. We started back on Tuesday, October 15, having taken seventy-five head of cattle, about fifty horses and wagons, fifteen yoke of working oxen, one hundred and fifty head of sheep, thirty barrels of flour, two thousand pounds of hams and bacon, fifty boxes of fine Virginia tobacco, and dry goods and notions from two stores.

Doc. 86.

CAPTURE OF LINN CREEK, MO.

OFFICIAL REPORT OF MAJOR WRIGHT. HEAD-QUARTERS FREMONT BAT. CAVALRY, CAMP MCCLURG, Oct. 15, 1861. GENERAL: At seven o'clock, on the morning of 14th, my command left Camp Grogus, in advance of the column, in the following order: A detachment of thirty men, well mounted, from Company A, five hundred yards on the extreme right; five mounted sentinels at the respective distances of one hundred yards from each other, reaching back to the head of the column; twenty scouts, each on the right and left flanks, to march in line with the head of the column with instructions to allow no one to pass forward or ahead of the column. Then we moved forward, feeling our way, without any inciDuring our stay, our scouts and pickets killed dent worthy of note until half-past eleven o'clock, eight and wounded several of the rebels, cap-on our arrival at Alex. Berry's, five miles southturing some cavalry horses and carbines-the latter weapons showing the kind of arms with which they were provided. Five prominent secessionists were taken prisoners, and marched with us back to camp.

The appearance of our regiment, on their march in return, was novel and amusing in the extreme-men, cattle, and sheep; Zouaves mounted on horses and mules; wagons loaded with every variety of "secesh" valuables; the prisoners marching under guard-the whole forming a cavalcade not unlike the old Roman triumphal entrées which attended Pompey and the Caesars in their days of regal poinp and pride. The regiment, however, came into camp

i

east of this place. I then learned that there was
no doubt but that Linn Creek was occupied by
rebel forces, and runor said that two thousand
had arrived the day before. I at once resolved
to strike them with all the available force I
had, leaving out the skirmishers and a sufficient
force to cover the front of the Thirteenth
nois regiment, then in my rear. I immediately
sent forward two scouts in citizens' dress, to
go into the town, take observations, and report
to me one mile out before I arrived. I then
called out Company D, Capt. Crockett, myself
taking the right, and ordered a descent upon
the town in double-quick. Arriving at the
point to meet the scouts, I called a halt. The