2. An expedition sent by Major-General Dana, from Rodney, Mississippi (composed of colored cavalry and infantry), reached Fayette on the second instant, capturing six hundred head of fine cattle, a large number of horses and mules, and several prisoners. Another expedition sent by General Dana attacked the enemy at Wood turing three guns, one captain, one lieutenant, fifty-four enlisted men, and killing forty of the enemy. No loss whatever on our side sustained in this engagement. not have been worth much. We put the colors in one of Lieutenant Hartz's trunks, and next day left San Antonio for the North. On the route we guarded the colors with our lives, always fearing that the rebels might find out what we had taken away and come after us, but they did not. We arrived safe, with our colors, on the twenty-sixth of May, 1861, in Washing-ville at seven o'clock on Thursday morning, capton, and turned them over to the regiment. Under these circumstances I think I am entitled to the honor of receiving a medal, as I believe that Congress intended to award them to enlisted men who have done acts similar to mine. I, therefore, very respectfully request that I may receive one, believing that I have performed one of the highest duties of a soldier, "having saved the colors of my regiment." And it will always be a happy day for me if I can see my regiment marching with their colors flying, and can say "that color I have carried on my body, and have rescued it from the hands of the rebels." 3. A cavalry expedition under Brigadier-General A. L. Lee, reached Clinton on Thursday morning at seven o'clock, capturing forty-seven prisoners, the rebel mails, telegraph office, &c., and a considerable quantity of stores and ammunition. Among the prisoners captured is Lieutenant-Colonel Pinckney, Provost Marshal General of the district, (installed in his office a few hours before the arrival of our troops), one captain and two lieutenants. From there the I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obe-expedition moved to Greensburg, where a tandient servant, JNO. C. HESSE, Colonel E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C., September 6, 1864. I endorse the within statement as true. Late Captain U. S. Army. NOTE. A medal was awarded Corporal Hesse for his good conduct in rescuing the colors of his regiment. Doc. 85. MAJOR-GENERAL CANBY'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION WEST MISAINIPPI, NEW ORLEANS, LA., October 10, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to transmit a summary of recent operations. nery and two thousand sides of leather were destroyed; and thence to Osyka, where four thousand pounds of bacon, twelve barrels of whiskey one hundred dozen boots and shoes, and large quantities of corn and meal were destroyed, and the telegraph operator and many important despatches captured. Camp Moore, with a large amount of clothing and gray cloth, was likewise destroyed, and over two hundred fine horses and mules captured. General Lee returned to Baton Rouge at noon yesterday, followed by a large number of negroes. 4. Lieutenant I. N. Earl, Fourth Wisconsin cavalry, commanding a special permanent scouting party of twenty-five men, having learned of an intended attempt to cross a valuable rebel mail at St. Joseph, on the western bank of the Mississippi, landed, on Saturday morning last, three miles above that place, proceeded inland about ten miles, where he succeeded in capturing Major Springer, Quartermaster and Chief of the Secret Service of the rebel war department, another Major, late Chief Commissary of Subsistence of the trans-Mississippi department, two captains, and two privates. The officers were riding in an ambulance which contained a large and valuable mail, and fourteen battle-flags, taken from our forces during the Red river cam mond. Lieutenant Earl, upon learning that a large mounted escort was close at hand, pushed for the river with all despatch, and reached here this morning, safely, with his captures. The boats found at St. Joseph, and upon which this party were to have crossed, were all destroyed. General Asboth, I regret to learn, will proba bly lose an arm. 1. An expedition into West Florida, under command of Brigadier-General Asboth, reached Marianna on the afternoon of the twenty-seventh of September, capturing that place after a stub-paign, and which were on their way to Richborn resistance of several hours. The result is the capture of eighty-one prisoners of war (among them a Brigadier-General and a Colonel), ninety-five stand of arms, large quantities of quartermaster's and commissary's stores, over two hundred fine horses and mules, and four hundred head of cattle. Our loss in killed and wounded amounts to thirty-two; of the former, Captain M. M. Young, Seventh Vermont, and Lieutenant E. W. Ayer, Second Maine cavalry; of the latter, General Asboth himself, who had his left cheek-bone broken and his left arm | Major-General H. W. HALLECK, fractured in two places. Very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, D. C. Doc. 86. CONFEDERATE CRUELTY. REPORT OF LIEUTENANT FITCJ. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, January 3, 1865. MAJOR: The following report of my capture and subsequent attempted murder is respect fully submitted for your information: I was captured on the twentieth December, fourteen miles in a south-eastern direction from Murfreesboro', in company with two other officers, Lieutenant D. G. Cooke, Seventeenth United States colored infantry, and Captain C. G. Penfield, Forty-fourth United States colored infantry, by a company of scouts belonging to Forrest's command, numbering thirty-six men, commanded by Captain Harvey. As soon as was moved by the neighbors to another house, and was moved nearly every night from one house to another, until the twenty seventh, when I was relieved by a party of troops sent from Columbus, and brought within the Federal lines. The privates were sent off on a road leading to the right of the one we took, about in the direction of Columbia, I should judge. I cannot but think they were killed, as about that time our forces occupied Columbia, the rebel army having retreated. There were twelve privates, belonging, I think to Craft's brigade. Very respectfully your obedient servant. GEORGE W. FITCH, First Lieutenant, Twelfth U. S. C. I. and A. A. Q. M. Major WILLIAM INNESS, A. C. Org. U. S. C. T Doc. 87. GENERAL WILSON'S RAID. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, NEAR PETERSBURG, Saturday, July 2, 1864. captured we were robbed of everything of any value, even to clothing. We were kept under guard for three days with some other prisoners (private soldiers of General Steadman's division, who were captured near Murfreesboro'), until we reached a small town called Lewisburg, some eighteen miles south of Duck river. There the officers were sent under a guard of The force composing the expedition consisted four men to report, as I supposed, to General of General Wilson's own division, and that of Forrest's headquarters. The guards told us General Kautz, from Butler's department, the that was their destination. They took us along whole under the command of the former, and the pike road leading from Lewisburg to Mases-numbering from five to six thousand men. ville about four miles, and then left the road There were also with the expedition three batand turned to the right, for the purpose, as they teries of four guns each, half rifled ordnance, said, of stopping at a neighboring house for the and half light twelve-pounders, and one battery night. After leaving the road about half a of small mounted howitzers. With this force mile, as we were walking along through a General Wilson set out at one A. M., on the twenwooded ravine the man in advance of us halted, ty-second of June, starting from the vicinity of partially turned his horse, and, as I came up, Prince George Court-house. He crossed the drew his revolver and fired on me without a Petersburg and Weldon railroad at Reams' word. The ball entered my right ear just station, at which point Colonel Chapman, with above the centre, passed through and lodged in the Second brigade of Wilson's own division the bone back of the ear; it knocked me sense- had a skirmish with a small foree of the enemy, less for a few moments. I soon recovered, how- which, however, was easily driven. ever, but lay perfectly quiet, knowing that my only hope lay in leading them to believe that they had killed me. Presently I heard two earbine shots, and then all was still. After about fifteen minutes I staggered to my feet and attempted to get away, but found I could not walk. About that time a colored boy came along and helped me to a house near-by. He told me that the other two officers were dead, having been shot through the head. That evening their bodies were brought to the house where I lay. Next morning they were decently buried on the premises of Colonel John C. Hill, near-by. The shooting occurred on the twenty-second, and on the twenty-third, about mid-day, one of Forrest's men came to the house where I was lying, and inquired for me; said that he had come to kill me. The man of the house said it was entirely unnecessary, as I was so severely wounded that I would die any way, and he expected I would not live over an hour. He then went away, saying that if I was not dead by morning that I would be killed. After he left I The expedition moved by way of Dinwiddie Court-house toward Petersburg and Lynchburg, on the south side of the railroad, which they struck at Ford's mills, near Sutherland's station. They then moved down the road, General Kautz in advance, as far as Ford's station, destroying the road as they moved. At Ford's station they captured two trains, comprising sixteen cars, with the locomotives, laden with refugees leaving Petersburg. After destroying the depot and captured trains, the command bivouacked at Ford's station for the night. Early on the morning of the twenty-third they resumed their march, General Kautz still in advance. Near Nottoway Court-house, a force of rebel cavalry, comprising two brigades, appeared on the right flank of the column, while moving some distance south of the railroad. Colonel Chapman, of the second brigade, formed in line and engaged the enemy. This was about three P. M., and the rencontre continued till nearly night, when the enemy was forced back. General Kautz, who had passed before the enemy appeared, proceeded the same evening to Burksville, the junction of the Petersburg with the Richmond and Danville railroad. Here he destroyed all the depots, railroad switches and appurtenances, and tore up the road as far as possible in every direction from the junction, after which he rested for the night. by which he could bring up troops or supplies to Richmond or Petersburg; and this being remembered, it is easy to appreciate the vast importance of the destruction of so large a portion of it. Even with the best facilities for repairing, it would require several weeks to place it in running order; weeks of exceedingly precious time to the enemy, and, considering the difficulties which embarrass them, including the army's interruption, it is doubtful whether they will succeed in reconstructing this railroad before the present campaign is decided. The Weldon road, although but a small portion of it is torn up, is equally unavailable, and prac tically the rebel army under Lee, and the rebel Government are isolated by an interval of many miles from all railroad communication with the interior of rebeldom. General Wilson, who, with the remainder of his force, had bivouacked at Nottoway Courthouse, on the afternoon of the twenty-fourth advanced across the country to Neberris station, on the Danville railroad, to meet General Kautz, who was to meet him at that place, destroying the road as he advanced. After forming a junction at that station the entire force advanced to Keysville and there bivouacked. The work of destruction was resumed early on the twenty-fifth and by three P. M. we had reached the vicinity of Staunton bridge, on the To return to the narrative of the raid. The Staunton river, having completely destroyed force arrived in the vicinity of Staunton bridge, every foot of railroad to that point. The dis-on the afternoon of the twenty-fifth. It was, of tance from Burksville, measured on the map, is course, desirable to destroy the bridge, which about thirty-five miles, and adding to this por- was a very important one, and an effort was tions of Southside road which were destroyed made to effect this object, General Kautz, who the aggregate would not be less than fifty miles was still in the advance, being assigned to make and probably more than that distance. the attempt. It was found that the enemy were fully prepared to defend it. Our approach had been heralded in advance, and the militia called hastily together from eight adjoining counties, had been concentrated at this point. The Danville road was constructed in a fashion known to some extent in the extreme West, but now little used; instead of ordinary Trail, solid beams of wood, technically called stringers, are placed upon the ties, and along their inner edges are firmly fastened long strips of iron, known as strap rails. The stringers were of yellow pine, and being perfectly dry, it was only necessary here and there to place a few rails from an adjoining fence, ignite them, and set the entire structure in a blaze. Miles of railroad might have been seen at a time in flames, and at night the whole canopy of the heavens was one glare of light. By day the conflagration, adding to the already suffocating temperature of the atmosphere, rendered the heat almost intolerable, and many people living in the vicinity of the railroad were obliged to leave their houses and settle in cooler localities. The rear of our column moving past the fires kindled by the advance was often compelled to leave the road and move at a respectable distance on the right or left, until after a little experience the plan was adopted of leaving depots and other buildings to be fired by those in the rear. The mode in which this work of destruction was accomplished was to dismount a portion of the command, and march them parallel with the railroad; face a regiment at a time toward the road, have them advance and ignite a section of the road in their front, and then resume the march. It was but the work of a few minutes for a regiment to perform its part, and the whole was accomplished nearly as fast as the column could move. It is only necessary to remind the public of what is already known, viz.: The fact that this railroad is now the only one upon which Lee could depend for communication with the south, south-east and south-west, and the only route From this point the raiders moved in a northeasterly direction, toward Weylesburg, which they reached after a night's march, near daylight on the morning of the twenty-sixth, halting there for about one hour. The twenty-sixth, twentyseventh, and the earlier part of the twenty-eighth of June were marked by few events of any importance, except that on the twenty-ninth, Brigadier-General W. F. H. Lee appeared on our left flank, which occasioned some little skirmishing, lasting but a very short time, and attended with few, if any, casualties. On the twenty-eighth we reached the Nottoway river at Double bridge. The Second Ohio cavalry of McIntosh's brigade, having advanced, drove the rebel pickets before them some miles, before we reached the bridge. There was, however, no force there large enough to give us any trouble, and we crossed without difficulty early in the afternoon. Thence we moved on toward Stony creek, intending to cross the Petersburg and Weldon railroad at Stony creek station. It had been designed to cross some miles further south, at Jarrett's station, but it was ascertained that the road at that point was guarded by a heavy force, made up partly of militia and partly of troops sent up from Weldon, and the design of crossing there was, in consequence, abandoned. The rebel pickets were met at the bridge, and no sooner had our vanguard, comprising a squadron or two of the Third Indiana and all of the Second Ohio, gone over, than the enemy began to show spirited resistance. They were, however, driven back along the direct road to the station, far enough to enable our entire force to get across. Less than a mile from the crossing the enemy were found in heavier force, and McIntosh's brigade, which was in the advance, having formed in line of battle, soon became fiercely engaged. Under the fire of the enemy our men continued to form a slight breastwork of rails, logs, stones, and whatever came to hand, and lying down behind it, held their ground with great determination against several desperate charges of the enemy. It was about an hour before sunset when the fight commenced. About eleven P. M., the impossibility of forcing a passage at this point having been clearly demonstrated, General Wilson despatched General Kautz up a left-hand road toward Reams' station. General Kautz' division was followed by the wagon and ambulance trains of the whole force, and General Wilson, having constructed a line of rifle-pits in the rear of the front line of battle during the night, left in them the First Vermont and the Eighth and Twenty-second New York, withdrawing the rest of his force a short time before daylight, and following Kautz to Reams' station. The men left with the led horses of the regiment, which remained to cover the rear, came in afterward, and reported that the enemy turning the right flank of the men in the breastworks, had captured the whole party. General Kautz, on reaching Reams' station, soon found that the enemy were strongly posted at that point also, and was sharply engaged before daylight. Wilson, with the troops he had brought up from Stony creek, passed by Kautz's rear, and was about to take position on his left, but had hardly formed in line of battle when he was attacked by a heavy force of infantry, a column of cavalry in the meantime, accounts say, passing round to the rear. The accounts of this affair are rather confused, but it appears that General Wilson, perceiving that his command was in danger of being surrounded, determined to try to save a portion of it, by moving out by the right flank, in a direction nearly due south, General Kautz in the meantime retaining his position, as also the Second Ohio, and parts of the Fifth New York, Second New Jersey, and several other regiments belonging to McIntosh's and Chapman's brigades. It is reported that Fitz Hugh Lee was killed in one of the engagements. The first information brought to headquarters of Wilson's position was by Captain Whittaker, of the First Connecticut, and Aid-de-camp to General Wil son. He left Ream's station at eight A. M., of the twenty-ninth, with forty men of the Third New York cavalry, and by cutting his way through a portion of a column on the move, he reached headquarters exactly at 10:20 A. M. Dashing at full speed through woods and swamps, over ditches and fences, and, in some cases, cutting their way with the sabre through the rebel troops, the greater part of General Kautz's division, consisting of the Fifth and Eleventh Pennsylvania, First District of Columbia, and Third New York, with the numbers already stated of the Second and Fifth Ohio, and a few other regiments, made their way with great difficulty into our lines, the enemy pursuing and firing upon them until they got within our picket-lines on the Jerusalem plankroad. It is said by some other men coming in that the rebels shot and bayoneted many after they had surrendered. One reports that while lying in a swamp he heard another, near him, cry out, "I surrender." 'Surrender, you Yankee," was the reply; "take that," accomparying the exclamation with a volley. The Richmond Enquirer, of the twenty-seventh, urged that no quarter should be given to any of the raiders, alleging that the death of every one of them would not be an equivalent to the rebel Government for the damage done. This, if true, is the most conclusive testimony that could be asked as to the complete effectiveness of the raid. Prisoners captured near Reams' station states that General Lee had sworn that not a single raider should get back. He has evidently made stupendous efforts to make his oath good, for not a single crossing on the Weldon road was left unguarded. The enemy had scouts out for miles to the westward on every road by which our troops could possibly approach, and carried information of the direction in time to meet us with a superior force at any point. It is difficult to ascertain exactly which troops were encountered at Stony creek and Reams' station, but it is certain that there was infantry at both points, besides probably the greater portion of their cavalry. The Sixth corps was immediately ordered out to the assistance of the cavalry, but by the time they arrived, which was near evening, the affair was over. They took a position and remained there until the afternoon of the thirtieth, employing themselves meanwhile in destroying the railroad, which was done most thoroughly for three or four miles. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, General Wilson has come into our lines with the Third cavalry division. There is considerable rejoicing over his return. The old Third division still lives, and will yet trouble the rebels. General Lee, in his violent rage, swore that not one should escape. The guns and wagons we can well afford to lose, in consideration of the irreparable damage done their roads. The cavalry of the Third division, with whom I have conversed, present a sorry picture. They are dusty and almost worn out by twelve days', incessant marching and vigils, during which they have marched over three hundred and fifty miles. Finding it impossible to cut through the rebel lines at Reams' station, and no help coming from the vicinity of Petersburg, General Wilson ordered his command to retreat, under cover of night, toward Suffolk. Having crossed Nottoway river about thirty miles below Petersburg, they struck for the railroad and crossed at Jarrett's station, and bearing southward, crossed the Blackwater at the county road bridge, and came into our lines at Cabin Point, five miles south-east of Fort Powhatan. Doc. 88. GENERAL DRAPER'S EXPEDITION. POINT LOOKOUT, MD., June 21, 1864. waved her head politely, and spoke as kindly as though all was expected. There the force was divided, one party under the command of Captain Hart, proceeded to the Rappahannock direct, by way of the rich country called the Hague, while the main party, under the command of the Colonel in person, took the direct road to Warsaw, the county town of Richmond county. When within some two miles of the town, we met two or three rebel horsemen, who attempted to escape but failed, as we succeeded in capturing one Sergeant Montgomery, the enrolling officer of Richmond county. Before he would surrender, however, he had his horse shot from under him. The command now marched direct to Warsaw, and in the immediate vicinity captured a large quantity of clothing, freshly made for the rebel soldiers, together with tobacco, whiskey, and other blockade goods. At At this place we encamped on Monday night. In the meantime a large lot of stock was sent with Captain Goodwin, Second Maryland, to take the transports at Nomani creek. On Tuesday morning the forces started on the road to Derrittsville, which place they arrived at on Tuesday night, and encamped on the large plantation of Dr. Middleton, a strong secesh, who furnished us with an ample supply of bacon and flour, and with a good deal of ill humor. this place we were joined by the command under Captain Hart, who brought in a large quantity of stock, fine horses, cattle, &c. He had a small brush with the rebels, and one man by the name of Harvey, a regular cavalry man, was captured by the rebels and carried in the brush. But when the negro infantry made a charge, they were compelled to run, and he made his escape. They told him they had a piece of rope awaiting for him, and that he would be hung at sunset. Captain Hart also burned some large mills filled with grain and flour. THE expedition that left here on Saturday night, June eleventh, has just returned, and proved to be a complete success, having had two engagements with the rebels, and destroying and capturing over three hundred thousand dollars' worth of property, a large proportion of which belonged to the rebel government. The expedition consisted of both land and naval | forces, the former under the command of Acting Brigadier-General Draper, commanding this post, accompanied by the following Staff: Captain P. H. Gibbs, Fourth Rhode Island, Assistant Adjutant General; Captain N. C. Goodwin, Quartermaster; Lieutenant A. Jenks, Aid-de-Camp; Lieutenant Scudder, Commissary of Subsistence; Lieutenant Jouley, Assistant Quartermaster; E. W. Walton, Surgeon. The land forces were conveyed on board the transports Georgia, Long Branch, Charleston, and Governor Hicks. The naval forces were under command of Commander Hooker, United States Navy, whose flagship was the Commodore Reed, together with the gunboats Fuchsia, Captain Street; Freeborn, Captain Arthurs, and the Teaser, Resolute, and Eureka. The land forces consisted of six hundred infantry, under the immediate charge of Captain Hart, Thirty-sixth United States cavalry volunteers, and fifty regular cavalry, under Lieutenant Denney. The naval land forces consisted of one hundred marines and sailors, under the charge of Captain Street, of the gunboat Fuchsia, assisted by Ensign Nel-ets, and as we advanced to the Rappahannock, son and Assistant Engineer Delano, United States Navy. The combined forces landed at the mouth of Pope creek, in Westmoreland county, Virginia, some fifty miles above the mouth of the Potomac. On Sunday morning the forces took the direct route to Montrose, the county seat of Westmoreland, reaching that place safely, but in the town the cavalry discovered some rebels, who fired on them and escaped down a deep ravine. On Sunday night we encamped one mile south of Montrose, near the mansion of Mr. Hungerford, a former clerk in the United States Treasury Department. He has several daughters, and one among them exhibited the utmost coolness under these trying circumstances. As our men were driving off her father's stock, she On this night the Colonel communicated with the gunboats, and they started at once around to meet us at Union wharf, on the Rappahannock. During Tuesday night and Wednesday morning there was constant firing on our pick they seemed to get bolder. We, however, reached the Union wharf by evening, and at once proceeded to build or repair the wharf, which was destroyed by General Kilpatrick in his raid through this section of the country about one year ago. This was not accomplished until Friday night. On Thursday the enemy appeared in our rear, and the cavalry were at once made in readiness to advance, the Colonel taking command in person, Lieutenant Denny being seriously indisposed. They soon came up with him in the vicinity of Parsons' farm, some three miles from the wharf. As soon as in sight of the rebels (some thirty strong), the Colonel immediately ordered a charge. This order was not obeyed by the troop of cavalrymen, who behaved in rather a bad manner. |