Page images
PDF
EPUB

regiment Cavalry, wounded in the head-dan- | only just, but necessary, to stop the cruelty and gerous; T. Dormey, Company D, Fourth regi- murder which have prevailed of late wherever inent Cavalry, wounded in the ankle; F. Kin- the rebels have the sway. ney, Company D, Fourth regiment Cavalry, wounded in the head.

The prisoners are composed in great part of recruits from the counties north of the Missouri | River, with a considerable mixture of the old soldiers of Gen. Price. Their appearance is decidedly better than that of the rebels I have seen heretofore. More uniformity in dress and more respectability in person. The last draft of Gen. Price is likely to be less numerous than his first, but far more influential in morale.

Col. Robinson, the senior officer, is a man of middle age, intelligent countenance, resided in Cooper County, and has been with Price from the beginning. Col. Alexander is younger, and looks more like chivalry; he also has been through the struggles of Dry Spring, Wilson's Creek, and Lexington, and tells some interesting stories of the hardships and hair-breadth escapes he has undergone. They are well dressed, that is to say, the material of their clothing is not fine, but the ornamentation is showy and evinces some attention to this important military qualification.

The detachment of cavalry under Lieut.-Col. Brown also burned a mill near Johnstown, on the border of Bates County. His force have travelled two hundred and fifty miles in six days, and have done an immense service to the country in that time. But the spirit of the men is up, and if their horses would stand it, they would soon clear the whole of Western Missouri of roving bands. This may also apply to the infantry and artillery, for never was there better feeling and more pluck than at this moment. The unexpected and unparalleled success has stimulated them to the highest pitch, and if Gen. Halleck would give the order to-morrow to attack Price in his intrenchments, a cavalry force would be in his rear before he could move. A force of cavalry has been ordered to make a circuit from Warrensburg, and we may expect to hear of more good luck in the way of captures. The prisoners will all be in to-morrow. Gen. Pope says there are over one thousand six hundred in all.

The slavery insurrection has completely turned the heads, as well as hearts, of the Important despatches were received Thursday traitors in Missouri. Neither the ties of reevening from Gen. Halleck under an escort. It ligion, humanity, patriotism, nor neighborhood, is reported that some of our messengers have have kept their wonted hold. This lunacy has been taken prisoners by the secesh, and it is of late taken a very strange and very cruel ordered that we fall back to Sedalia. Gen. shape. The Union men are being hunted out Pope, therefore, accompanied with the victors by these lawless dare-devils, like wild beasts or as an escort, and the wounded men, started, and noxious reptiles. A remarkable instance of made the journey (twenty miles) by two o'clock. this species of diabolism was related by a very The wounded were at once placed in the hos-worthy gentleman at head-quarters this mornpital, and it is feared one more at least may die. Following close upon us was the brigade of Col. Hovey, of the Twenty-fourth Indiana, who had been despatched with two regiments, a battery, and two squadrons of the First Missouri Cavalry, who proceeded on the Clinton road some twelve miles from Sedalia, when the cavalry, under Major Hubbard, some two hundred and fifty in number, made a reconnoissance of the country extending westward and southward, as far as the Grand River, beyond Clinton. Here they came upon the pickets of Gen. Rains, who, with an advanced cavalry force, was guarding the Grand River. This was, in fact, the outpost of Price's position. The pickets were driven in, one shot, and about sixty prisoners taken within the lines of Gen. Rains. Three miles beyond Clinton he burned a mill, at which the secessionists were grinding wheat and corn, took about six wagon-loads of feed, and found some mules, branded U. S. The owner of the mill pleaded the most unconscious innocence, but From Colonel Hovey, of the Twenty-fourth his reputation was undoubted, so the major in- Indiana, we learn the particulars of a successformed him that he would only burn his millful ruse, whereby he succeeded in making a down. "Oh God!" cried the man, "it cost me five thousand dollars." He was informed that if he heard of any more outrages on Union men, he would return and burn every house in the county belonging to a traitor. This is, among the soldiers and citizens, regarded as not

[ocr errors]

ing. It appears that the loyal people of Lexington have been banished from their homes for some weeks. One of the Home Guards, a German, Fettes by name, ventured to revisit his home in Lexington, since the proximity of General Prentiss. A party of rebels discovered him in a house, under a bluff, and seized him. They did not swear him, as some of our good-natured friends may imagine, but as the river was conveniently near, they tied a rock to his neck with a rope, and threw him into the river. The poor martyr, struggling for his life, managed to swim ashore, when these chivalrous sons of Mars threw him over again, and again he regained his foothold; a third time they cast him into the stream, and then left him for dead. Fettes, however, inanaged to carry the rock until he got into shoal water, and after waiting until his captors had gone, he made his escape, and by the help of friends, is now believed to be on the north side of the river.

capture of six prisoners and two hundred bushels of corn meal, but recently ground for the use of the rebels He was ordered by Gen. Turner to reconnoitre with about a hundred men on the road to Clinton. He left on Monday morning, taking Fairview and Siseonville on his

route. Learning on Tuesday that a party of the enemy was encamped at a mill near Chapel Hill, he adopted a scheme for bagging the whole of them next day.

He ordered his men into the wagons, and had them drawn, with the exception of a small guard, resembling a provision train. As they approached Hall's store the rebels appeared in the brush ready to seize the train. One of his officers rode around a hill to see the whereabouts of the party, when he encountered a mounted rebel, who raised his shot-gun, when he was brought to the ground by the revolver of Capt. Col. Hovey then ordered his men to emerge from their concealment, and a search made for the enemy. One of them was wounded in the fray, and one killed, two balls lodging in his neck. A few horses and mules fell into our possession, some of which were branded U. S. The mill was afterward burned, and the meal loaded up into our wagons. Col. Hovey arrived at Sedalia on Saturday morning, regretting that he had not been allowed to remain a day longer, as other bands are reported in the same vicinity.

The prisoners arrived at the camp near Knob Noster late on Thursday night, and on the next morning a detachment was sent back to Milford to discover, if possible, the wounded of the enemy. Gen. Pope, accompanied by the regular cavalry, engaged in the capture, as an escort returned to Sedalia. Early in the morning the weather, hitherto so favorable, turned to an extremely cold and bitter December blast, sweeping over the prairies with intense keenness. Many of the cavalry men suffered from frozen feet and ears; the insufficiency of the hats to protect them being painfully apparent. If a cap or hood to the overcoat could be introduced into our army, it would be worth all the cost. Later in the day a snow storm came up, as we reached the railroad. The prisoners with the infantry would make an easy march to the edge of the wide prairie intervening between them and Georgetown, and will, consequently, be in on Saturday night.

Doc. 232.

C.

[ocr errors][merged small]

North Edisto at two o'clock. Shortly after, I crossed the bar with the Seneca, piloted in by Capt. Boutelle in the Vixen, which vessel he, however, left when we were inside for the Pawnee, his vessel remaining astern of us.

At this time we could plainly see fortifications ahead on Edisto Island, distant a mile and a half. As it was reported to me they were filled with men, I commenced firing slowly from my bow guns, as did the Seneca; but, receiving no answer, soon ceased and, running by the batteries, anchored in the North Edisto River. On landing I found the fort, which was entirely deserted, to consist of two redoubts for five guns each, connected by a long curtain, and protected in the rear by a double fence of thick plank, with earth between, and loopholed. The guns, as the negroes informed me, had all been removed toward Charleston some weeks back. While I was making this exami nation Lieutenant Commanding Ammen had proceeded up the river for about five miles, the effect of which was immediately apparent in the firing of cotton-houses and outbuildings.

As during the night some negroes came on board and informed us that at the small town of Rockville, which was in full sight, there was a large encampment of soldiers, at least five hundred, and Capt. Boutelle offering to go up the creek on which it was, I determined to make them a visit in the Vixen, and at daylight of the 17th went on board of that vessel for the purpose, taking with me the boats and marines of the Pawnee and Seneca, under charge of Acting Master Snell. Owing to our running ashore we did not reach the town until near eight o'clock, a little above which was a sloop laden with cotton and provisions, which I took possession of and towed alongside.

There being still no signs of life on shore, I landed with about fifty men to reconnoitre, and was soon satisfied that the troops had left, as the first thing seen was the negroes pillaging a building, in which was a large quantity of commissariat stores, consisting of rice, sugar, bacon, corn, &c. This I stopped at once, and had what remained removed to the Vixen.

Being then informed that the camp, which was a mile from the water, was entirely deRECONNOISSANCE NEAR PORT ROYAL. serted, I went there; but although, so far as I

COMMANDER DRAYTON'S REPORT.

could learn, the troops had left at daylight, and it was then only a little after eight, the negroes, whom I found as busy as bees, had removed the most valuable part of what had been left, which was nearly every thing, excepting their arms. The encampment was a large one, had been occupied for many months, and its late tenants had evidently been in the possession of every comfort. I removed to the boats forty Sibley and four ordinary tents, besides a quantity of articles of no particular value, which were lying about, and found at a neighboring house, which seemed to have been used as

U. 8. STEAMER PAWNEE, PORT ROYAL, S. C., Dec. 21, 1861. SIR: In obedience to your order of the 14th instant, I left this harbor at daylight of the 16th instant, accompanied by the gunboat Seneca, Lieutenant Commanding Daniel Ammen, and coast survey steamer Vixen, Capt. C. O. Boutelle; but at the bar found that the heavy north-easter which was blowing had raised such a sea as to render it out of the question to attempt entering the rivers which I was directed to examine. I therefore returned to my an-head-quarters, a Confederate flag. chorage, which I left a second time, however, on the following morning, and reached the what was worth removing, and being desirous

Having pretty well cleared the ground of

of examining above, I left at two o'clock, and, proceeding up the river with the Vixen, not liking to trust the Pawnee in so narrow a channel, came on the Seneca, which had started at nine o'clock to explore, fast on a mud bank. We remained by her until nine o'clock, but found it impossible to pull her off, owing to the night tide not being as high as the morning one. While lying here, however, I sent the boats and burnt a sloop which had been run ashore some distance beyond, while attempting to escape from the Seneca, and which could not be got afloat.

The Vixen afterward returned for the night to the neighborhood of the Pawnee, but went back at daylight of the following morning with a party of men and boats from this vessel to lighten the Seneca, which vessel was got off at high tide.

While the Vixen was running up the river she came on a small sloop laden with cotton, from which two white men were taken, whom I now have on board as prisoners. As in the mean time nearly a hundred and fifty negroes, all in a great state of alarm, had collected on board the different vessels, I determined to land them on the point, (and called in the United States steamer Penguin, which was cruising off the port,) and to leave Lieut. Commanding Budd in charge of the river, after my departure, until he could hear from you. Capt. Boutelle was kind enough to go out in the Vixen and pilot the Penguin into her anchorage off the fort,

where she now is.

As the weather was too threatening to permit of my making a careful examination of the Stoco, as I intended, I determined now to return at once to this place and report to you the state of affairs at the North Edisto. This I have done, reaching my anchorage here at three o'clock to-day.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
P. DRAYTON,
Commanding.
Commanding South Atlantic Squadron.

Flag-officer S. F. DUPONT,

A SECESSION ACCOUNT.

The following appeared in the Charleston Courier:

GARDNER'S CORNER, S. C., December 19, 1861. About half-past one o'clock yesterday afternoon one of the enemy's gunboats passed by Port Royal ferry. Our batteries opened fire upon her, striking her three times. Upon meeting with this rather hot reception she steamed rapidly past, and ran aground about three miles the other side of the ferry. As soon as our troops became aware of the fix into which the Yankees had got themselves, Lieut. McElhenny, of Capt. Moore's field battery, (from Wilming ton, N. C.,) was despatched, with a section of the battery, to a point just opposite to the shoal on which the gunboat was aground. In the mean time three flats, crowded with the enemy's troops, had moved from the opposite shore, directed against our troops on the main. At under a sharp fire from one of their batteries that point our force consisted of Captain West's company of Jones' regiment.

On the morning of the 19th I ran down to the South Edisto, and, leaving the Pawnee and Seneca at the bar, went in with the Vixen. Lieut. McElhenny's battery arrived just as found the fortifications which are on Edisto the flats had come out about midway in the Island entirely deserted and partially de- stream. He immediately opened fire upon them stroyed. They consisted of two redoubts, which with tremendous effect. One of the flats was mounted, so far as I could judge, four guns each, soon sunk, and our fire created terrible havoc but the guns had been removed. The Dale among the soldiers on the other two flats, which being in sight across Otter Island, in the Ashe-hastily put back. Night came on and ended poo, I made signal, and Lieut.-Commanding the flood tide. The enemy's loss among the the cannonade. The steamer moved off with Truxton pulled over with four boats. He reported that every thing was quiet in the neighborhood of his anchorage, and that the fort on Otter Island was rapidly being placed in a state of defence. Up to the present time, although they had been in sight of the South Edisto forts, where we were lying, they had not yet

landed there.

Having finished my examination of the South Edisto, I returned to the Pawnee and stood north, with the intention of lying off Stoco for the night; but, as the weather looked threatening, and the Vixen was almost out of coal, I went into the North Edisto again for the night, in order to have an opportunity of supplying her with some. Lieut.-Commanding Budd reported every thing as when I left, but on the following morning negroes came in and stated that the troops who had left the encampment at Rockville, being largely reinforced, showed a disposition to reoccupy that place.

Col. Jones' regiment was moved up promptly men on the flats must have been very heavy. to the support of McElhenny's battery; but the enemy seem to have abandoned the attempt to cross, if such was ever their intention. Lieut. McElhenny's battery was exposed to an incessant fire from the guns of the steamer during the whole engagement.

[blocks in formation]

Rangers have all been driven in here from
Calhoun, Gilmer, Wirt, and Roane, on to the
head of the right-hand fork of Sandy Big Run
and the left-hand fork of Mill Creek. When
they came into town Dr. Chase took his men
and went to Cottageville, and the arins he left
he locked up in the jail. They took an axe
and picked the lock and took them. Chase had
gathered up all the arms in the country of dif-
ferent persons. There was but one or two guns
in the place, and one of them I had with me.
We are in a bad way here.
Yours, respectfully,

our town was visited by a band of Moccasin | ty, and all Union men will have to leave. The Rangers, and the town completely taken possession of. They numbered about twenty-five, all well armed. A gentleman of the name of Dr. O. G. Chase came here some eighteen or twenty days ago, for the purpose of forming or raising a company. He brought some fifty stand of arms, ammunition, clothing, &c., without any protection whatever. I think he had got his company made up to twenty or upward. He took all the arms from the citizens, rendering them entirely defenceless, and on yesterday morning Mr. Chase locked his arms up in the jail, and his clothing, &c., in a room in H. Progler's upper house, gathered up his men and went off to Cottageville, saying that he would hold the citizens of Ripley responsible if the arms, &c., were taken out or molested, when at the same time he had rendered the citizens entirely defenceless. Mr. Chase did not even stop (as I understand) at Cottageville, but left his men there and went on himself to Mason County.

The Moccasins took all the arms, clothing, &c., rifled the post-office, robbed my store of considerable, and then put off, with their booty. It has caused great excitement. They did not injure the person of any one. They got about ten muskets, five rifles, twenty suits of clothing, shoes, &c.

The people condemn the action of Mr. Chase, and in fact there is something very mysterious about the matter. Chase had old John Stalmaker arrested a few days ago, who is known to be one of the hardest cases in Brown Coun

ty. He took him along with him yesterday, saying that he would send him on to Wheeling; but instead of so doing he took him as far as Cottageville and there released him, which is by no means approved by the citizens.

Can there be no arrangement made by which we can get say two hundred troops stationed here during the winter? Provisions can be obtained here as cheap as at any other point. We will either have to have a sufficient force here to protect the place, or else have no force at all. I think the action of Mr. Chase should be examined into. Yours, in haste,

J. L. ARMSTRONG.

In corroboration of the above is the following from the postmaster of Ripley.

JACKSON C. H., VA., December 21, 1861.

Colonel D. Frost:

SIR: On the night of the 19th the Moccasin Rangers came into Ripley and took all the United States arms and ammunition that Dr. Chase had here recruiting for the Tenth regiment, (J. Boheve's,) robbed the post-office of all its contents and all my clothing but what I had on my back, and a box of clothing for the soldiers, and took from J. L. Armstrong's store a considerable amount. I wish you would see if we could have a force to protect us here; if we can't we will have to let all go in this coun

Doo. 234.

JOHN H. WETZEL

ENGAGEMENT AT DRANESVILLE, VA.

INSTRUCTIONS TO GENERAL ORD.

HEAD-QUARTERS MCCALL'S DIVISION, 1 CAMP PIERPONT, VA., Dec. 19, 1861. GENERAL: You will please move in command of your brigade, at six A. M. to-morrow, on the Leesburg pike, in the direction of Dranesville, The First Rifles, Pennsylvania reserve, Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, have been ordered to form, right in front, on the pike near Commodore Jones's house, and await your arrival, when the commanding officer will report to you for further orders. Captain Easton's battery has been directed to form on the left of the Rifles. The captain will report to you for orders.

Two squadrons of cavalry will also be placed under your command. The senior officer will report to you this evening for orders. Sherman, the guide, will likewise report to you for duty. The object of this expedition is twofold. In the first place, to drive back the enemy's pickets, which have recently advanced within four or five miles of our lines, (leaving a force of about seventy cavalry at Henderson's,) and carried off two good Union men and threatened others; and secondly, to procure a supply of forage. It has to-day been reported to me that there is a force of about one hundred cavalry lying between Dranesville and the river. This force might be captured or routed by sending a regiment of infantry up the pike beyond their position, to strike their rear by a flank movement to the right, while your disposable cavalry (after picketing the cross-roads near Dickey's) night move near the river and attack them in front on the left. Should you not arrive at Dickey's in time to make this movement and leave the ground on your return before nightfall, it must not be undertaken, as I do not wish any part of your command to remain out overnight. The forage will be procured at Gunnell's, or at some other rank secessionist's in the neighborhood of Dickey's. Direct your quarterina-ter to confine the selection of forage to corn and hay. Captain Hall will have charge of the wagon train. The regiment intended to move forward from Dickey's (if you think proper,

Jackson's) might ride in the wagons as far as | woods, left in front, and if the enemy showed Dickey's, and there be fresh for the forward movement.

I ain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. A. MCCALL,
Brigadier-General, commanding Division.
Brigadier-General O. C. ORD,
Commanding Third Brigade.

GENERAL ORD'S REPORT.

CAMP PIERPONT, VA., December 21, 1861.

SIR: I have to report that, in obedience to the enclosed order I, at six A. M. yesterday, started toward Dickey's and Henderson's, about three miles this side of Dranesville, on the Leesburg pike, with my brigade, the First Rifles, Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, Easton's battery, and two squadrons of cavalry. I likewise heard that it was probable there was a respectable picket of cavalry in Dranesville, and that the pickets supposed by you to be near the river, behind Dickey's, had left. I then determined to send three companies of the Tenth and twenty cavalry with the foraging party to Gunnell's, between the pike and the river, and with the remainder of the force proceed to Dranesville, satisfied that, though I might be exceeding the letter of my instructions, should I find the enemy and pick up a few, you would not object. This I did, though Colonel McCalmont, hearing that there was a large force on our left, remained with his part of a regiment, and that detained the two regiments behind him, (I had sent for them;) but was obliged to enter Dranesville with my artillery and cavalry, and a small advanced guard only on the road, the First Rifles and Colonel Jackson's regiment flanking this column in the woods on the right and left. The cavalry picket in town fled, scattered, and remained in small squads, watching.

himself on that side, to bring his regiment forward into line. Colonel Jackson's regiment, of which and its gallant colonel I cannot speak in too high terms, I ordered to flank the road in the same way on the right of the road in the woods, and do the same if the enemy showed on that side. Between these flanking regiments I ordered the Kane Rifles to meet the enemy (behind us) in the road, the cavalry to follow, and the artillery I took with me to post them and answer the enemy's artillery, which had opened fire on our (their) right, (the south,) directing the rear guard to cover the column of the Sixth and Twelfth regiments infantry in the road from cavalry. The artillery went at a run past the station I selected for them, capsizing one of their pieces. I brought them back, told the captain where to post his guns, and then went to remove the cavalry, then exposed in the road swept by the enemy, (whose attack was from a thickly wooded hill on our right flank, the south.) Their force, I saw, was a very bold one, very well posted, and the artillery was only about five hundred yards off, with a large force of infantry on both its flanks and in front, covered and surrounded by woods and thickets. Moving east with the cavalry, which was of no use here, I came to a place in the road, covered toward the enemy by a high bluff and dense thickets, which thickets I intended to occupy with infantry. Here I left the cavalry surrounded by dense forests, wherein they could neither fight nor be hurt. The accompanying sketch will show the ground.

As I had at first thought the enemy would attack on both sides of the road, and moved my infantry to meet such an attack, and as their attack was confined to the right, it became necessary to change my front. As neither McWhile waiting in Dranesville for the regi- Calmont nor Jackson had had time to come into ments in the rear to come up, I posted my ar-line under first orders, when I discovered this, tillery and cavalry and Jackson's regiment of and was moving by the flank, and as, before I infantry and a couple of companies of the First placed the artillery and cavalry, I had seen the Rifles, so as to cover the approaches, and sent rifles closely engaging the enemy by a flank for Colonel Kane's regiment to occupy the road movement, covering themselves by some houses in our then rear, my front being toward Cen- and fences, my right in meeting the attack thus treville. This I did because, from the occasional became the village of Dranesville, my left the appearance of a few mounted men on a slope gorge and woods occupied by my cavalry on behind some woods in a hollow to my left and the Leesburg pike. After securing the cavalry, front, and a broad mass of smoke in that neigh-I found, by carefully observing the enemy's fire borhood, I felt pretty sure that there was a force there preparing some mischief. As soon as Colonel McCalmont came up with his regiment, the Tenth, followed by Lieutenant-Colonel Penrose, the Sixth, and Colonel Taggart with the Twelfth, and while preparing to resist any attack and to cover my foraging party, I learned that the enemy, in force, had approached on the south side of the Leesburg pike, with field pieces and infantry, and had driven in my pickets, wounding two men. Thinking they would attack on both sides of the turnpike as I returned eastward, I ordered (to meet this expected attack) Colonel McCalmont's regiment on the left or river side of the road in the

and battery, that their guns were in a road which could be enfiladed. I ordered Captain Easton to right the capsized gun and bring it to the spot from which this road could be raked; removed two other guns to this spot, gave the gunners the distance and elevation, observed the result, and finding, after a round or two, that the enemy's fire slackened and the gunners were raking the road beautifully, without being discomposed by the enemy's fire, I told them "to keep at that," and determined to push the infantry forward. I found them (except the Kane Rifles, the Ninth, Jackson's, and the Tenth, the McCalmont regiment, which were as above stated) in the ditches, under fences, and cover

« PreviousContinue »