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which produce money and not bread, though he may not so intend it.

The humblest mother in all the land, who, amid the harrowing cries of a helpless family, can find time to plant a few potatoes near her cabin door; the poorest little boy whose infant and unskilled hands may plant a few hills of corn or gather the sheaves of harvest, will each do a more acceptable service in the sight of God and his countrymen, and is worthy of more honor than he who raises one thousand bales of cotton or one hundred hogsheads of tobacco, and ostentatiously devotes a small portion to some "Aid Society."

seizures have to be made to arrest starvation, let it be done by county or State agents. Should Providence favor our growing crops, a plenteous harvest will, I trust and believe, greet our gallant soldiers again victorious through another campaign, and bring us to the blessed day of peace and independence.

In order that the most effectual means in our power may be speedily and systematically adopted both for the husbanding and distribution of our present supplies, and for securing a large provision crop for the next year, I earnestly recommend that meetings of the farmers and planters of each county and neighborhood of the State be held The bright sunshine again warms and dries the immediately to express their condemnation of earth. We must use it to our salvation, or neg- cotton and tobacco planting, and to devise means lect it to our destruction. Plant, sow, dig and of mutual aid and assistance in the trials of the plough; corn, oats, potatoes-any thing and every coming season. Much good can be done in this thing which will support life. Let every body way, and a wholesome public opinion set forth, take to the fields, where the plough, not the mad-more powerful, perhaps, to steer us past our imdening wheels of artillery, furrow the generous pending dangers than the fines and penalties of a soil. These will prove the real fields of victory and independence. Hundreds of able-bodied young men in our towns and villages-non-producers-who, having procured substitutes or exemptions, now idle their time about empty stores or other unprofitable places, should be growing something, and adding to instead of diminishing the general fund.

Let none be idle. And above all, my countrymen, let none plant cotton or tobacco. Though the prices are high, and the temptation great, your profits would be made from the blood of brave men and the suffering of helpless women and children. Your children and your childrens' children would reap an abundant and enduring harvest of scorn, and the remembrance of the manner in which your wealth was gained would burn into your conscience to the hour of death. While I thus appeal to you in behalf of the preparations for another year, it is also my duty to speak of the present. Ninety days will bring us to harvest, and I am confident we can reach it without actual suffering, if all parties will do as duty and Christianity prompt. Let all who have to spare divide liberally with those who have not. Sell to the county and State agents when your neighbors are supplied, and do not wait for it to be impressed.

Impressed it certainly will be before our armies shall be disorganized by the suffering of their families for the want of that which you can spare, and for which a fair price will be offered you. Allowance your work-hands and your negroes. They are no better than soldiers, who live on half their daily portion. Put your stock in the woods and upon grass the moment they can live upon it, and conscientiously devote the saving to your neighbor's children whose father or brother is fighting your battles.

Let the magistrates see that distillation is arrested, by issuing promptly process against every man who dares to waste the precious grains of life in defiance of law. Avoid, above all things, mob violence. Broken laws will give you no bread, but much sorrow; and when forcible

statute.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. B. VANCE.

RALEIGH, April 2, 1863.

Doc. 165.

FIGHT NEAR PASCAGOULA, MISS.
COLONEL DANIELS'S REPORT.

HEADQUARTERS, SHIP ISLAND, Miss., April 11, 1863.

Brigadier-General Sherman, Commanding Defences of New-Orleans:

SIR In compliance with instructions from your headquarters to keep you promptly informed of any movements that the enemy might be known to be making up the Mississippi Sound, upon learning that repeated demonstrations had been made in the direction of Pascagoula, by confederate troops ashore, and in armed boats along the coast; and, furthermore, having reliable information that the greater part of the forces at Mobile were being sent to reenforce Charleston, I determined to make a reconnoissance within the enemy's lines, at or near Pascagoula, for the purpose of not only breaking up their demonstrations, but of creating a diversion of the Mobile forces from Charleston, and precipitating them along the Sound; and, accordingly, embarked with a detachment of one hundred and eighty men of my command on United States transport General Banks, on the morning of ninth April, 1863, and made for Pascagoula, Miss., where we arrived about nine o'clock A.M.-landed and took possession of wharf and hotel-hoisted the Stars and Stripes upon the building-threw out pickets, and sent small detachments in various directions to take possession of the place, and hold the roads leading from the same. Immediately thereafter, a force of over three hundred confederate cavalry came down the Mobile road, drove in the pickets, and attacked the squad on the left, from whom they received a warm reception. They then fell back in some confusion, reformed, and made a dash upon the detachment

us.

department to Major F. E. Dumas, Capt. Villeverd, and Lieuts. Jones and Martin, who were constantly in the thickest of the fight, and by their unflinching bravery, and admirable handling of their commands, contributed to the suc cess of the attack, and reflected great honor upon the flag under and for which they so nobly struggled. Repeated instances of individual bravery among the troops might be mentioned, but it would be invidious where all fought so manfully and so well.

stationed at the hotel, at which point they were again repulsed; confederate infantry, meanwhile, attacking my forces on the extreme left, and forcing a small detachment to occupy a wharf, from which they poured volley after volley into the enemy's ranks, killing and wounding many, with a loss of one man only. The fight had now extended along the road from the river to the wharf, the enemy being under cover of the houses and forest, whilst my troops were, from the nature of the ground, unavoidably exposed. The confederates had placed their women and children in I would also mention the names of, and thank, front of their houses, for a cover, and even armed in behalf of the regiment, Dr. Celso Pierrucci, their citizens, and forced them to fight against Surgeon of the United States store-ship Relief— After an hour's continuous skirmishing, the Dr. Skinner, Surgeon of the United States sloop enemy retreated to the woods, and my forces fell of war Vincennes-who so kindly volunteered back to the hotel and wharf. Then the enemy their services in behalf of the wounded, and so sallied forth again, with apparently increased assiduously attended to their every want; and numbers, attempting to surround the hotel, and also Quartermaster Sauvinet, who, by his valuobtain possession of the wharf; but they were able services, aided materially the embarkation again repulsed, and driven back to their cover-and disembarkation of the forces. the forest. It was here that Lieut. Jones, with a detachment of only seven men, having been placed on the extreme right, cut his way through a large force of the enemy's cavalry, and arrived at the hotel without losing a man, but killing and wounding a considerable number of the enemy. After continuous fighting from ten o'clock A.M., to two o'clock P.M., and on learning that heavy reënforcements of infantry and artillery had arrived from the camps up the Pascagoula River, I withdrew my forces from the hotel, and returned to Ship Island. The enemy's loss was over twenty killed, and a large number wounded. From my own knowledge, and from information derived from prisoners taken in the fight, and from refugees since arrived, the enemy had over four hundred cavalry and infantry at Pascagoula, and heavy reënforcements within six miles of the place. Refugees, who have arrived since the engagement, report the enemy's loss as greater than mentioned in my first report.

This expedition has completely changed the plans of the rebel leaders at Mobile, by creating a diversion from Charleston; heavy reenforcements having already been sent to Pascagoula and other points along the Mississippi Sound. I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant, N. U. DANIELS, Colonel Second Regiment Louisiana

N. O. Volunteers, Commanding Post.

Doc. 166.

FIGHT AT BLOUNT'S MILLS, N. C.

A NATIONAL ACCOUNT.

NEWBERN, N. C., April 11, 1863.

where a part of the command, through a mistake of orders, encamped for the night, while the advance pushed on to Little Swift Creek, four miles beyond. From this point our cavalry went to within a mile of Great Swift Creek, where they ascertained that the rebels had destroyed the bridge and barricaded the roads so it would be impossible to proceed. They also learned that the enemy were encamped there, about fifteen thousand strong, with batteries arranged to com

OUR expedition left Fort Anderson, on the Neuse River, opposite Newbern, at three P.M. on Wednesday, eighth instant, for the purpose of relieving Washington, by an overland route. We marched that afternoon as far as New-Hope The expedition was a perfect success, accom-school-house, on the road toward Swift Creek, plishing all that was intended; resulting in the repulse of the enemy in every engagement with great loss, whilst our casualty was only two killed and eight wounded. Great credit is due to the troops engaged, for their unflinching bravery and steadiness under this their first fire-exchanging volley after volley with the coolness of veterans; and for their determined tenacity in maintaining their position, and taking advantage of every success that their courage and valor gave them; and also to their officers, who were cool and de-mand the roads approaching in every direction. termined throughout the action-fighting their commands against five times their numbers, and confident throughout of success-all demonstrating, to its fullest extent, that the oppression which they have heretofore undergone, from the hands of their foes, and the obloquy that had been showered upon them by those who should have been friends, had not extinguished their manhood, or supp their bravery, and that they had still a to wield the sword and a heart to vitalirI would part call the

Finding it impossible to proceed by this route, we next attempted to gain the other side of the swamp by the route of Blount's Mill. But here again we were doomed to disappointment. We left New-Hope Corners about nine o'clock on Thursday morning, and came upon the rebels at Blount's Bridge, where we had a brisk fight for over an hour, losing about a dozen men wounded. The rebels had here also a superior force of infantry and artillery, had cut away the bridge over the creek, and had erected breastworks on he opposite side which commanded every ap

proach. We could only tell of the whereabouts of the enemy by the flashes of their guns and the smoke, (as they were masked,) while they had their artillery trained so as to sweep the roads completely.

Sergeant G. S. Morse, Co. F, Seventeenth Massachusetts, slightly.

Corporal S. W. Reed, Co. A, Seventeenth Massachusetts, slightly.

William Heath, Co. F, Third New-York artillery, severely in arm.

Patrick Donovan, Co. G, Seventeenth Massachusetts, slightly.

A. W. Barrett, Co. B, Seventeenth Massachusetts, severely in shoulder.

H. Rivers, Co. E, Seventeenth Massachusetts, slightly.

Thomas Murray, Co. F, Seventeenth Massachusetts, slightly.

Joseph Fishter, Co. F, Third New-York artil

At two o'clock news came back to the General that our cavalry had come upon the rebel pickets about a mile this side of Ruff's Mills. Immediately the line was put in motion, and we marched at a brisk pace to a point near an old church, where we halted while Captain Pond's company of cavalry and the Seventeenth Massachusetts volunteers were sent forward to reconnoitre. They had not been gone many minutes when we heard brisk firing in the direction of the mill, Captain Pond having come upon a line of cav-lery, severely in back. alry, dressed in the common blue uniform of our soldiers, whom he at first mistook for our own The rebels let our cavalry come up to within a few yards of them, when they opened a murderous fire and fled. Captain Pond immediately deployed his company on foot as skirmishers, and for a few moments the fire on both sides was quite spirited, amounting to no loss to us, except one man slightly wounded and one horse killed. The rebels retreated across the bare string-pieces of the bridge, and sought safety behind their works.

men.

After the engagement, our forces moved back to New-Hope, where we camped for the night, and yesterday we came into Newbern. -Philadelphia Inquirer.

Doc. 167.

OPERATIONS ON BAYOU TECHE, LA.

COLONEL GOODING'S REPORT.

four or five miles distant, the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York volunteers, Lieut.-Colonel Sharpe, following the line of the railroad.

A short distance from Pattersonville, pursuant to orders from General Emory, I sent the Fiftythird Massachusetts volunteers, Colonel Kimball, to reënforce Colonel Ingraham's brigade.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, OPELOUSAS, LA., April 21, 1863. As soon as the rebels had crossed, they com- SIR: I have the honor to report that in accordmenced using their artillery, and our boys re- ance with orders from General Emory, on the plied with a small cavalry howitzer. The two twelfth instant my brigade, excepting the One thirty-two pound howitzers were then sent for Hundred and Seventy-fifth New-York volunteers, ward, and they took position upon the brow of the marched with our army from Pattersonville tohill, just above the bridge, and within three hun-ward the enemy's works on Bayou Teche, some dred yards of the rebel works. The column of infantry was also moved down into the woods, while Belger's battery was held in readiness to join in the action. It was soon found that the thirty-twos had not sufficient ammunition to last them through a long action, and two guns of Captain Belger's were ordered down to relieve them. Captain Belger had just arrived upon the ground with his pieces, when a spherical caseshot landed in the midst of his men, wounding the Captain and killing his horse instantly. The battery then took up the fight, and for an hour the cannonading on both sides was terrific. But we labored under great disadvantage, as the thick woods upon both sides prevented our gunners from seeing the enemy's position, while they could fire at random at the woods on our side, and be tolerably certain of doing us some damage.

A short time subsequent I sent the Thirtyfirst Massachusetts volunteers, Lieut.-Colonel Hopkins, to the left bank of the Bayou Teche to reënforce the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth New-York volunteers, Colonel Bryan, who was skirmishing with the enemy's pickets on that bank of the bayou.

The Fifty-third Massachusetts volunteers and the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York volunteers afterward rejoined the brigade. On arriving in front of the enemy's works an artillery duel ensued. Seeing that my brigade was exposed Finding the contest so unequal, and the possi- to the shot and shells of the enemy, I marched bility of our crossing so very slim, General Spi- it two or three hundred yards to the rear, and nola ordered his command to fall back to New-caused the men to lie down. In the mean time Hope. The artillery, however, as a parting sa- the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth New-York lute, sent a few shells into the mill and lumber- volunteers, supported by the Thirty-first Massapiles, and when we left, they were in a fine blaze.chusetts volunteers, carried on a brisk skirmish The following is a list of casualties on our with the enemy on the left bank of the bayou, side: gallantly driving him before them.

Captain Belger, First Rhode Island artillery, wounded in thigh and horse killed.

Lieutenant S. G. Roberts, Co. G, Seventeenth Massachusetts, severely in arm.

On the morning of the thirteenth I was ordered to take my best regiment and proceed to the left bank of the Bayou Teche, assume command of all the forces, and hold at all hazards the pontoon

bridge which had been thrown across the bayou, which I did.

I had been there but a short time when I received an order from General Emory to attack a light battery of the enemy, which was throwing grape into General Paine's brigade, on the opposite shore of the bayou, and which was supposed to be in position outside of the enemy's works, on the left bank of the bayou, just above a sugarhouse, but was ordered not to storm the enemy's works.

I made my dispositions for the attack, advanced my skirmishers beyond the sugar-house, in plain view of the works, and discovered that there was no light battery outside the same.

The Thirty-first Massachusetts volunteers composed my line of skirmishers, supported by the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts volunteers, Lieut.Colonel Rodman.

the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York vol unteers had a superior force to contend with on the right, I ordered the Thirty-first Massachusetts to go to its support. The Thirty-first having arrived to its support, a short time afterward the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York volunteers, Lieut.-Colonel Sharpe, supported by the Thirty-first Massachusetts, under command of Lieut.-Colonel Hopkins, charged and carried a breastwork of the enemy in the woods in front of our right, killing many of the enemy and capturing eighty-six prisoners, among whom are two lieutenants, one of the Seventh Texas cavalry, and one of the Eighteenth Louisiana infantry.

The fight was continued in front by the Fiftythird Massachusetts volunteers and the artillery, and by the Thirty-first Massachusetts and One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York in the woods on the right, until darkness put a close to it; the The advance of my skirmishers was hotly con- troops having advanced to within two hundred tested by the enemy, who was driven before yards of the enemy's works, which line they held them. Å skirmish fight on the right of my line, notwithstanding repeated efforts of the enemy to in and near the woods, was kept up till about half-drive them back. This line was held during the past two P.M.

The ammunition of the Thirty-first Massachusetts being expended, it was relieved by the Thirty-eighth.

At this time I was reenforced by the Fifty-third Massachusetts volunteers, and the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York volunteers, and the remaining two sections of the First Maine battery. In accordance with orders from Generals Banks and Emory, I made my dispositions and immediately moved on the enemy's works. My dispositions were as follows:

Thirty-eighth Massachusetts volunteers in advance, deployed as skirmishers.

Fifty-third Massachusetts volunteers about one hundred and fifty yards in rear of the Thirtyeighth, and deployed as skirmishers.

Two sections of the First Maine battery, under command of Lieutenants Haley and Morton, on parallel plantation roads leading to the enemy's works, and immediately in rear of the second line of skirmishers, the remaining section in reserve. One Hundred and Seventy-fifth New-York volunteers in reserve immediately to the left and rear of the left section of the battery.

Thirty-first Massachusetts volunteers immediately to the right and rear of the right section of the battery.

night.

In my judgment, two hours more of daylight would have enabled me to turn the enemy's left flank and witnessed the triumphant entry of my troops into his works.

At half-past five A.M., of the fourteenth, the Fifty-third Massachusetts volunteers, commanded by Colonel Kimball, entered the enemy's works, and at the same time company D, of the Thirtyfirst Massachusetts volunteers, under the conmand of Captain W. J. Allen, who had deployed his company as skirmishers in the woods, entered the fort on the extreme left of the enemy's posi tion, it having been evacuated by the enemy during the night.

The loss in my brigade during the entire engagement was fifteen (15) killed and fifty-seven (57) wounded.

Among the killed were the gallant Captain Gault, Thirty-eighth Massachusetts volunteers, and Lieutenants Nutting and Frees of the Fiftythird Massachusetts and One Hundred and Fiftyfourth New-York volunteers, who lost their lives while nobly battling for their country.

About one hundred and thirty prisoners were captured, one hundred and fifty stands of arms, and thirty cavalry horses, with all their equip

ments.

One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York vol- Lieut.-Colonel Rodman, Thirty-eighth Massa unteers in the woods on the extreme right, hav-chusetts volunteers, mentions a case of marked ing been sent to turn the enemy's left flank. Detachments of cavalry posted in reserve some distance in rear of my right.

These dispositions being made, at a quarter-past three P.M., I ordered an advance of the whole. My advance was met by a brisk fire from the artillery and musketry of the enemy, who was driven into his works about five P.M.; the ammunition of the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts having been expended, it was relieved by the Fifty-third Massachusetts volunteers.

At about the same time, having learned that

coolness and bravery on the part of private Patrick Smith company, D, Thirty-eighth Mass chusetts volunteers, who, coming suddenly upa three rebels, shot one of them and compelled the other two to surrender, bringing them both in as prisoners.

My entire command, officers and men, behaved with marked coolness and courage throughout the entire engagement, proving themselves true men and brave soldiers.

I have to speak in the highest praise of all the members of my staff, who were necessarily

mounted and under fire during the entire engage

ment.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, O. P. GOODING, Colonel Commanding Third Brigade, Third Division. To F. A. FRENCH, A.A. A.G.,

Third Division.

NEW-YORK "HERALD" NARRATIVE,

NEW-ORLEANS, April 19, 1863.

On landing at Berwick City the brigade of General Weitzel proceeded to the outskirts, ahead, and to the right.. A strong infantry and cavalry force was thrown out as pickets, and the artillery posted in position commanding the roads and woods.

The enemy from the first was very bold, and appeared determined to harass our force as much as possible, contesting our apparent advance with The boasted spot of Southern rural grandeur-vigor, approaching to within a short distance of "The Country of the Attakapas," "The Garden our pickets, showing themselves and firing their of Louisiana," "The Paradise of the South"

is ours.

From Berwick City to Opelousas the victorious army of General Banks has advanced. Three battles, three gunboats and three transports the enemy have lost in three days. Twice were they defeated by the main army of General Banks behind their intrenchments on the Beasland plantation, between Pattersonville and Centreville, as the straggling fire and final silence of their guns in the face of our batteries on Sunday and Monday fully proved, while Grover at the same time was reaching their rear, harassing, engaging and finally driving them before him with such rapidity that they were compelled to make a stand on Monday at Irish Bend, where a sharp and decisive battle was fought, in which the rebels were defeated and fled into the woods.

Three gunboats-the Diana, Hart, and Queen of the West-are no more. The two former were fired in the Teche by the rebels, to prevent them falling into our hands-the former on Monday, the latter on Tuesday-while the Union gunboats Estella, Calhoun, and Arizona, at ten o'clock on Tuesday morning, discovered, attacked and destroyed in Grand Lake the famous iron-clad ram Queen of the West.

Three large transports-the Newsboy, Gossamer, and Era No. 2-which were lying at Franklin, were also destroyed by fire, as it was found impossible to get up steam and escape up or down the Teche before our troops would overtake and seize them. The consequence was that, like the Diana and Hart, they were burned to prevent them from falling into our hands.

The last accounts state that our forces are still following up the retreating, demoralized, and panic-stricken remnant of an army of eight thousand men, which a week ago were guarding the gate of this paradise, hourly expecting reenforcements and an immediate advance of the army and navy, when a sudden, combined and overwhelming dash upon Brashear City and New-Orleans should be made.

The commands of Generals Emory and Weitzel on Thursday and Friday arrived at Berwick City. General Banks and staff, who had been encamped for some days alongside the railroad, to the right, about a quarter of a mile from the dock at Brashear, embarked on board the Laurel Hill on Saturday afternoon, the eleventh instant, at twenty minutes to two P.M., landing at Berwick, (across the bay, about half a mile distant,) remaining there about two hours, when they started for the front.

VOL. VI.-Doc. 34

pieces.

The following day a reconnoissance was made by Captain Hubbard, of General Weitzel's staff. He was accompanied by the cavalry companies of Captain Williamson and Lieutenant Perkins. Our party had advanced but a short distance when the enemy fired upon them, retreating behind buildings. The rebels were in easy range from Fort Buchanan, and a signal being given for the fort to open fire, a few shells were thrown in the neighborhood of the enemy, who soon dispersed and fled hastily into the woods. The object of the reconnoissance having been accomplished, the party returned to Berwick City, reporting the country clear for miles around.

At twelve o'clock M., the next day, (Saturday, April eleventh,) an advance was ordered. Williamson's and Perkins's cavalry were again in the saddle, skirmishing with the enemy all day.

The following is the order in which the advance was made: Eighth Vermont, Colonel Thomas, extreme right; One Hundred and Fourteenth New-York, Colonel E. B. Smith, right centre; One Hundred and Sixtieth New-York, Lieut.Colonel Van Patten, left centre; Twelfth Connecticut, Lieutenant-Colonel Peck, left wing. Williamson's First Louisiana cavalry was in the extreme advance, closely followed by skirmishers from the different regiments. Captain Bainbridge's First United States artillery, company A, and the Sixth Massachusetts battery, Captain Caruth, accompanied them.

The enemy were seen all along the march, in small squads and singly, which thus compelled a careful advance and firing of the skirmishers at doubtful points, with occasional shelling. After advancing about five miles, the enemy opened with a battery of six and twelve-pound light pieces, posted near a large sugar-house on the right. Bainbridge's artillery was quickly in position, and so effective were the shells that the rebels soon ceased firing, limbered up their guns and hurriedly left, never stopping to make another attempt to stay our advance. Many of their shots, however, were well directed, falling in close proximity to our forces; but fortunately not a man was either killed or wounded. One of their shells entered the chimney of widow Mott's residence, another buried itself in the trunk of a large tree by the side of the house, while a third struck the residence of Mr. John M. Bateman, two or three hundred yards in the advance, exploded in the closet, scattering the china, pots, pans and victuals in every direction, and leaving that part of the house in ruins. In addition to

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