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LYNCHBURG "VIRGINIAN” NARRATIVE.

warm fires. The former luxury they have not | honest and truthful, as well as detailed account enjoyed during their service in the army. The of the most disgraceful rout that our armies Court House was filled, and so jovial were the have suffered during the war. men, that they really neglected the more pru-nate affair eclipses all the rising fame of GenThis unfortu dent course of going to sleep until late at night. eral Floyd and ends the ill-fated campaign in They joined in the merry song, and cracked Western Virginia in a blaze of glory for the jokes over their cup of warm coffee and hard Yankees." Yet the Examiner designates Genbread, as we are accustomed to witness at eral Floyd as the hero of thirty engagements. home, surrounded with all its comforts. Here, Well may General Floyd exclaim, "No more of the thought of the great privation they had en- that, Ilal, an' thou lovest me." dured was overwhelmed by the joys of the moment, and this meagre show of comfort was great in their estimation. In short, all of us were well fed, warm, and happy. At Fayette we found encamped General Schenck and brigade, who, together with our own force, made this village quite a city, and presented a very lively appearance. At eight o'clock A. M. the next day, we resumed our homeward march, under command of our gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Hawkins, Colonel Smith having gone ahead to make arrangements for recrossing the Kanawha. The rumor was current amongst us that we were on our way to Camp Dennison to winter, and although we justly deserve just treatment, on account of our labors for the last six months, no substantial confirmation of the fact has as yet reached us. An exceedingly rapid march was made. We crossed the Kanawha about half-past four P. M., and now are again going through the daily routine of camp duties, but looking forward to the gladsome tidings from head-quarters.

The general character of the expedition was an adventurous pursuit of Floyd, meeting with great success, and worthy of all praise at the hands of those in power. The report is here, that the flight of Floyd is to be attributed to some cannon shots sent from Tompkins' farm, but our sharp skirmishing and the recently deserted encampments, together with the vast amount of clothing, tents, stores, etc., thrown out of the rebel wagons on the retreat, prove too conclusively that only an actual pursuit would have driven them from Gauley. Our officers in command acted with care and military discretion, and the men endured hardships. All that is now asked is credit for what was done. We are here to do our duty, but not, in the performance of it, to be slighted. SOLDIER,

Of the Thirteenth Regiment O. V. I.

A SECESSION ACCOUNT.

CAMP CANTONMENT VERINA, Nov. 29, 1861. MR. EDITOR: Perhaps you have not had a treat from Cotton Hill, although you may have correct detailed account of General Floyd's reheard various accounts about it. I was at Meadow Bluff at the time of the retreat, but soon after left there, and joined the brigade here two days ago, and have carefully taken notes from accounts of the retreat furnished me by various officers. It is another dark shadow in the campaign of Western Virginia. It is an event that gives encouragement to and emboldens the enemy on all sides. I regret that it has to be related, but we must be honest, and give a correct ac count of failures as well as triumphs; though this is not the policy of the enemy, who never give a correct account of their defeats, but magnify them into victories. Our policy is truth, let the consequences be what they may.

On the evening of November 11, the enemy of an attack on the next day, and General Floyd made strong demonstrations, near Cotton Hill, ordered the army to fall back three miles, to Dickerson's encampment, where the fortifica tions were. the enemy were advancing to Fayetteville, to Next morning it was reported that cut off our retreat, and surround our brigade. This news caused General Floyd to order a retreat, which took place about eight o'clock at night, when the brigade retreated back to Fayetteville, two and a half miles, and halted to guard the road which the enemy were expected to come in to attempt to cut off our retreat. Here the brigade remained until just daylight, without shelter, victuals or repose, when they were ordered to continue their retreat. This port that the enemy was marching to Fayettewas on the morning of the 13th, when the rethe scouts returned and reported no enemy ville to cut off our retreat proved to be false, as near. The brigade continued its retreat ten miles on the 13th, and halted at Camp McCoy

A CORRESPONDENT of the Richmond Whig for the night. During the whole of the retreat, (Dec. 11) gives the following:

RICHMOND, December 10, 1861. SIR General Floyd's retreat from Cotton Hill, having been referred to by his friends as a proof of his masterly skill as a tactician, I invite your attention to the following letter, addressed by a reliable party to the Lynchburg Virginian, giving in brief the salient incidents of that retreat. On this letter the editor of the Virginian observes: "It gives, we doubt not, an

thus far, there was a great deal of excitement, fear, and especially loss of baggage, property, they burned about three hundred tents, several and provisions and on the night of the 11th, bales of new blankets and overcoats, and a number of mess chests, camp equipage of all kinds, and flour barrels were burst, contents scattered on the ground, and all kinds of provisions wasted and scattered, all to prevent the enemy from getting them. Wagoners were compelled to take the horses from the wagons,

mount them, and fly for safety, leaving about fifteen wagons in the hands of the enemy.

On the morning of the 14th, the brigade took up their march from Camp McCoy, and had gone but two miles when it was reported that the enemy were near and rushing on the brigade. At this the cavalry under command of Col. Croghan were ordered back to scout the country and ascertain the enemy's distance. When they had gone back two miles they met the enemy's pickets advancing, when Colonel Croghan ordered his men all to dismount, though he did not, when the pickets of the enemy fired on him, and he fell mortally wounded. His men took him up and carried him some two hundred yards to a house, when they discovered that the enemy-who were formed into a V, to flank our cavalry, and the signal to close in was the fire of the pickets in the road who had killed the colonel-were closing in, and the colonel told them to fly and save them selves, for he was dying. At the moment those who were with the colonel discovered that their horses had been taken by the Yankee pickets, who had rushed upon them, they turned and fled, and the whole cavalry came within five minutes of being all cut off and captured.

The cavalry then all swept on in abreast until they came up with the rear of our infantry, and proclaimed that the enemy were pursuing in double-quick time. Then appeared a scene in our army indescribable, and of terrific confusion. At the word, "the enemy are pursuing," all broke off in a wild run, some so frightened that they threw away their knapsacks and all they had, but gun and knife to defend themselves with. It required great effort upon the part of the officers, who were somewhat cool, to prevent a perfect rout. The enemy seemed to have the advantage, and pursued faster than our men could retreat, and came upon them even with the cannon, and fired six shot upon the rear of the brigade. The road was so bad and muddy, that the brigade could not march more than eight miles a day. There had been so much rain and wagoning along the road that it was & perfect mire, about half a leg deep, and all had to wade right through it.

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nize His hand, and acknowledge that not unto And, whereas with grateful thanks we recogus, but unto Him, belongeth the victory; and in humble dependence upon His Almighty strength, and trusting in the justness of our cause, we appeal to Him, that He may set at naught the efforts of our enemies, and put them to confusion and shame;

of the Confederate States, in view of the imNow, therefore, I, Jefferson Davis, President pending conflict, do hereby set apart Friday, the 15th day of November, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer; and I do hereby invite the Reverend Clergy and people of these Confederate States to repair on that day to their usual places of public worship, and to implore that He may give us victory over our enemies, the blessing of Almighty God upon our arms, preserve our homes and altars from pollution, and secure to us the restoration of peace and JEFFERSON DAVIS. prosperity.

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"With grateful thanks we recognize Thy hand, and acknowledge that not unto us, but unto Thee, belongeth the victory; and in humble dependence upon Thy Almighty strength, and trusting in the justness of our cause, we appeal to thee that it may please Thee to set at naught the efforts of all our enemies, and put

them to confusion and shame.

After this day the brigade continued its retreat on toward Pack's Ferry, but with a great deal of toil and difficulty, and finally encamped "O, Almighty God, we pray Thee that it here on the 24th of November. This encamp- may please Thee to grant us Thy blessing upon ment is near Peterstown, in the south edge of our arms, and give us victory over all our eneMonroe County, and it is expected that the bri-mies, wherever they may be. gade will winter near here.

W. L. B.

Dalton Guard, Phillips' Legion.

Doc. 164.

FAST DAY IN THE SOUTH.

NOVEMBER 15, 1861, was observed by the rebels as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. The following is Jeff. Davis' proclamation:

"Preserve our homes and altars from pollution, and secure to us the restoration of peace and prosperity; all of which we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Blessed Lord and Saviour, to whom, with Thee, the Father and the Holy Spirit, we will give all the praise and glory in time and throughout all eternity. Amen and Amen.”

-Atlanta Southern Confederacy, Nov. 9.

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Doc. 165.

CAPTURE OF A SECESSION FLAG,
AT MANCHESTER, MO., NOV. 15, 1861.
THE following is an account of the capture,
as given by the Missouri Republican:

CAMP HERRON, Mo.,
NINTH REG'T IOWA VOLS., Nov. 18, 1861.

The commander of this post, having learned that a certain very fine secession flag that had waved defiantly from a flagstaff in the village of Manchester, twenty miles distant from this place, until the successes of the Union forces caused its supporters to conclude that, for the present, "discretion would be the better part of valor," was still being very carefully preserved, its possessors boasting that they would soon be enabled to rehoist it, determined upon its capture.

On the 15th inst., he directed First Lieutenant H. C. Bull, of Company C, of this regiment, to take charge of the expedition, and to detail fifteen good men for the purpose, which detail the lieutenant made from Company C.

They left camp by the cars at half-past five P. M., landing at Merrimac, three miles from Manchester, proceeding from thence to Manchester on foot, and surrounded the house of 'Squire B., who had been foremost in the secession movement of that strong secession town, and was reported to be in possession of the flag.

The Esquire protested against the imputation, declaring that the flag was not in his possession, and that he knew not of its whereabouts. His lady acknowledged that she had for a time kept it secreted in a box in the garden, but as it was likely to become injured, she took it out, dried it in the sun, when it was taken away by some ladies, who lived a long distance in the country, whose names she refused to give. Finally, after a thorough but fruitless search of the house after the lieutenant had placed her husband under arrest, and he was being started for head-quarters, the lady, probably hoping to save her husband, acknowledged that it was taken by a Mrs. S., who resided a mile and a half in the country, not such a terrible long distance, after all. Her husband was then sent to Merrimac, escorted by four soldiers, and the remainder, conducted by the gallant lieutenant, started to visit the residence of Mrs. S., in search of the flag. The distance to the lady's residence was soon travelled, the house surrounded, and the flag demanded of Mrs. S., who proved to be a very intelligent lady, and was surrounded by a very interesting family. The lady replied to the demand that she would like to see the person that stated that she took the flag from Esquire B- -'s; that as to its whereabouts she had nothing to say; that the lieutenant could search her house, and if he could find any thing that looked like a flag, he was welcome to it. Ac

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cordingly, a thorough search was made, in which the lady and her daughter aided, but no flag was to be found. The lady then thanked the officer for the gentlemanly manner in which the search had been conducted, and added that she trusted he was satisfied. He replied he. was quite certain that she had the flag, and that it would have been far better for her to have yielded it; but as she did not, as unpleasant as the task was, he should arrest her and take her to head-quarters at Pacific City. Two men were then despatched for a carriage with which to convey the lady to Merrimac, and from thence the lady was informed that she would be sent by railroad. She accordingly made preparations to go, but after about an hour had elapsed in waiting for the carriage, the lady again demanded the name of the informants, and when told that it was Mrs. B., and that Esquire B. was already under arrest, she then asked whether any indignity would have been offered to her had the flag been found in her possession, to which the courteous lieutenant replied, “Certainly not, madam; our object with Esquire B. was his arrest, and the capture of the flag; but with you, our object was the flag."

"Will you pledge your honor," said she, "that if I surrender the flag I shall not be arrested, nor my family disturbed?" When replied to in the aflirmative, she added, "I wish you to understand, sir, that no fear of arrest or trouble would ever have made me surrender that flag; but Esquire B.'s family induced me to take that flag to save their family from trouble, saying that it should be a sacred trust, known only to ourselves, and I, consequently, surrender it."

She then went to a bed that had been fruitlessly searched, took from it a quilt, and with the aid of her daughters proceeded to open the edges of the quilt, and cut the stitches through the body of it, and pulled off the top, when behold! there lay the mammoth flag next to the cotton, being carefully stretched twice and nearly a half across the quilt. When taken out and spread, it proved to be a magnificent flag, over twenty one feet in length, and nearly nine feet in width, with fifteen stars to represent the prospective Southern Confederacy.

"Recollect," said the lady to Licut. Full, "that you did not find it yourself, and when you wish detectives you had better employ ladies." She also added, that she gave up the flag unwillingly. The daughter remarked that she had slept under it, and that she loved it, and that fifteen stars were not so terribly disnuion, in her estimation, after all.

The flag is now in possession of Col. Vandever, who remarked that it excelled any of the rebel flags that he saw at the battle of Bull Run or Manassas, Esquire B. is in custody, awaiting his trial.

R.

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PORT ROYAL HARBOR, November 18, 1861.5 SIR: I have the honor to report that Commander E. M. Yard, of the United States steamer Dale, captured the British schooner Mabel, on the evening of the 15th instant, in lat. 31 deg. 10 min., and lon. 80 deg. 52 min. 30 sec. west, and brought her into this harbor. She purported to be from Havana and bound for New York, but at the time of her capture was heading for St. Catherine's Sound.

Her cargo consists of seven bales blankets, four cases cloth, two cases saddles and bridles, three boxes starch, twenty-five boxes tin, one hundred and twenty boxes coffee, twenty barrels potatoes, three hundred and fifty pigs of lead, thirty bags of shot, one box shoes, six bags arrow root, one case pistols, (revolvers,) and two cases of cavalry swords.

The Mabel was formerly named the John W. Anderson, of Baltimore, as appears by the certificate of registry given at Nassau, N. P., found among his papers. She had no clearance from the port of Havana.

principles is unnecessary. Desperate measures require desperate remedies, and we hope that the flour will be taken, the men paid a fair market valuation for it, and receive a strong hint to "leave the country for their country's good." Other extortioners, whose names are furnished us, and which we shall probably publish for the scorn and execration of the community, have held the staple articles of provisions until they have risen several hundred per cent., and now the "patriots" are fattening upon what they stole from the families of the soldier. Their names always appear conspicuously in the list of donations, but they "give an inch and take an ell."

One of two things must be done, and that done immediately. Either the extortions must be put an end to by legislative enactment, or the people must rise and put an end to the extortioners.

A prominent citizen of Vicksburg has suggested to us that the dealers in all staple articles which have heretofore only required a small profit, be compelled by legislative enactment to submit, under oath, to an officer appointed by the Government, their invoices, with charges, and thirty-three and one-third per cent. allowed, at which price they shall be compelled, under an onerous penalty, to sell their goods. Of course, there are many articles which would not be profitable to sell at this rate, but we would have the Government to judge what The character of her cargo-part of it con-profit should be exacted, and if any of these traband-and her position as above given, seem domestic enemies shall attempt to get more, let to be strong presumptive evidence of her in- him be submitted to heavy fine and imprisontention to run the blockade. I have therefore ment. sent her to Philadelphia in charge of Master's Mate Levi Lane, of the United States steamer Dale, and seven men of that ship, for adjudication.

I have the honor to be, sir, respectfully your
obedient servant,
S. F. DUPONT,
Flag-officer Commanding South Atlantic
Blockading Squadron.

Hon. GIDEON WELLES,

Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

Doc. 167.

EXTORTIONERS AND THE REMEDY.

THE Vicksburg (Miss.) Sun of Nov. 16, contains the following on this subject:

We have been much flattered by the encomiums of many of our oldest citizens who have called upon us, and who have most cordially approved our leader of yesterday. We propose to state one or two new facts that have recently come to our knowledge, and to propose what we conceive to be a remedy against the Lincolnite extortioners of Vicksburg.

We are informed that large quantities of flour are stored in this city, and that the holders say they will not sell until they can get twenty dollars per barrel. Comment on these fellows'

We hope that our citizens will take a decided and energetic stand in this matter. They know as well as we do who are the offending parties, and we hope, within the next twenty-four hours, to hear of a call for a meeting of citizens, exclusive of all provision dealers, to devise means to suppress this evil. All provision dealers should be excluded, as no partiality should be shown, but the whole tribe should be placed under ban until the worse than Yankee inarauders in our midst are cast out from among

us.

We ardently hope to see prompt and decisive action taken in this matter by our Legislature, and if that ponderous body move slow, let our Verb. sat. citizens redress their own wrong.

sap.

Public opinion is fast settling down throughout the South upon the question mooted by the Sun. Some remedy will be devised for the evil complained of so justly.

The Oxford (Miss.) Intelligencer says: It is highly probable that the Legislature will, in a few days, pass a law touching the heartless speculators in salt throughout our State. We would like to see the State seal put upon the door of every salt speculator in the land, and an agent put at every door to sell the article at a fair price. Dealers here are demanding twelve dollars and fifty cents per sack.

Doc. 168.

BUCKINGHAM'S APPEAL.

HEAD-QUARTERS OHIO MILITIA, ADJ'T-GEN'S OFFICE,
COLUMBUS, November 16.

To the County Military Committees:
The time has come when the army of Ohio
must be completed. Our gallant navy, which
has never yet disappointed the nation, has es-
tablished a base of operations upon the shores
of South Carolina. Another will be established
on the gulf. Loyal men of Eastern Tennessee
invite us to the heart of the rebel confederacy.
The Union men of the South are throwing off
the fetters of a tyranny which bound them.
North Carolina having yielded to force, is
anxious to return to her allegiance. Friends
everywhere will welcome those who come as
their deliverers from despotism. The day of
terrorism is drawing to a close, and the move-
ment of revulsion has commenced. It needs
but the vigorous prosecution of movements
already inaugurated to bring it to a happy
conclusion, and all the signs promise a brighter
to-morrow.

Now is the time to strike. The deliverance of the nation rests with the people. In this day, Ohio must do nobly her part. She has already done much, but much more she is able to do. To the great Northwest belongs the work of opening the Mississippi. The river is ours, and we need it. No longer should rebel

batteries be allowed to cut us off from direct communication with the ocean. Our honor and interest alike urge us to the effort. The warm sun of the South invites us to a winter campaign. Kentucky, and a large portion of Tennessee, will join us in the march. Union men will hail with delight their deliverance from the pressure of an intolerable despotism, and if we are true to ourselves and them, the spring will open upon a reunited people.

Ten days more can be allowed for the com. pletion of regiments now forming in camps. Within that time much may be done, and by the 25th of November, Ohio contribute, at least, thirty-five thousand more of her soldiers to the grand column en route for Nashville and New Orleans.

To the accomplishment of this great object, the instant, earnest, and combined efforts of officers, committees, and patriotic citizens, are most urgently invoked. Companies are now more valuable than regiments will be in the spring, if the rebellion is allowed to survive the winter. Now, when the rebel confederacy seems to be staggering, is the time to strike, and the blows being vigorously followed up, the victory will be ours, and the stars upon our banner once more represent a united nation.

C. P. BUCKINGHAM, Adjutant-General, Ohio.

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Doc. 169.

GENERAL PATTERSON'S DEFENCE.

THE First Troop of Philadelphia (Pa.) City Cavalry dined together on Saturday, November 16th, at the Continental Hotel, to commemorate their foundation in 1775. Captain James presided, and Dr. Goddard, as Surgeon of the Troop, acted as vice-president. Among the guests were Major-Generals Patterson and Cadwalader. The dinner was altogether a delightful one. When the cloth was removed, the health of Major-General Patterson was proposed by Lieutenant A. K. Arnold, attached to the United States Cavalry, who was with the General during the whole campaign on the Potomac, and in response to an enthusiastic call, he made a speech. He returned thanks for the compliment paid him, and for the manner in which it had been received. He said that he was not in the habit of giving reasons for any thing he did or did not do, but in the presence of men of so much intelligence as the members of the First City Troop, a part of his command in the short campaign in the valley of Virginia, he considered it due to them as well as to himself to give a short statement of facts.

During the latter part of July, all Angust, and part of September, there was no slander against him so gross that it could not be asserted and reiterated with impunity and swallowed with avidity. The gentlemen of the Troop knew how false these slanders were. He had submitted to them in quiet, although he had the documents in his possession to prove that he did all that he was ordered to do, and more than any one had a right to expect under the circumstances in which he and his command were placed, and he defied any man, high or low, to put his finger on an order disobeyed.

The gentlemen of the Troop were witnesses of what was done, and he asserted what they knew to be true, that the column was well conducted. There was not a false step made, nor a blunder committed. The skirmishers were always in front, and the flanks well protected." They were caught in no trap, and fell into no ambuscade. They repeatedly offered the enemy battle, and when they accepted it they beat them. There was no defeat and no retreat with his column.

It might be asked, "Why have you not made this statement sooner?" Because the publication of the documents sooner would have been most detrimental to the public interests. He preferred bearing the odium so liberally bestowed on him, rather than clear himself at the CXpense of the cause in which we were all engaged. The time had arrived when the matter could, without injury to the service, be inquired into; and he was determined that it should be done, and that before long all the documents referred to should be published and spread before the American people, unless those whose duty it was to do so should in the mean time do him justice.

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