mouth of the gap, and ascertained that Stuart passed down to either Flint Hill or Warrenton. Four guns, supported by infantry, were found in position in the gap. It was also ascertained that Longstreet, with his corps, passed Flint Hill on Thursday last on his way to Culpeper, and that one of the Hills, with his command, was to have passed to-day from Front Royal. Doc. 30. GENERAL MCCLELLAN'S FAREWELL. THE following farewell address was read to the forces composing the army of the Potomac : HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, favorable. At Fredericksburgh I found the river too high to ford at the regular fording-places, and not wishing to expose my men by crossing them in small detachments in a ferry-boat, I sent your scout, to find some place where we could cross, which he soon discovered above the bridge among the rocks, to all appearances impassable, but at which place we managed to cross—one man at a time. My intention was to send the first Indiana cavalry through the town, while the Sixth Ohio would guard the crossing-place and secure the retreat. After crossing with the Indiana cavalry, under Capt. Sharra, I could plainly see the rebels gathering together in great haste to meet us, and not wishing to give them time to collect, started after them before the Sixth Ohio were over, leaving directions for them, and supposing that they would be over by the time I would fall back, if necessary. We found the city full of soldiers, who were almost entirely surAn order of the President devolves upon Major-prised, and made many prisoners, whom we sent General Burnside the command of this army. In to the ford, where I supposed the Sixth Ohio to be. parting from you I cannot express the love and It being nearly a mile from Falmouth through gratitude I bear you. As an army you have grown up under my care. In you I have never found doubt or coldness. The battles you have fought under my command will proudly live in our nation's history. The glory you have achieved, our mutual perils and fatigues, the graves of our comrades fallen in battle and by disease, the broken forms of those whom wounds and sickness have disabled-the strongest associations which can exist among men-unite us still by an indissoluble tie. We shall ever be comrades in supporting the constitution of our country and the nationality of its people. Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Poto mac: GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Doc. 31. DAHLGREN'S RECONNOISSANCE Fredericksburgh, and not wishing to run my horses so far, I sent Lieut. Carr, with a detachment ahead, to dash through the town and see where the enemy were concentrated. Lieut. Carr gallantly drove several detachments before him until they reached the main body. Having now found where the enemy were posted, I ordered Capt. Sharra to drive them away, which he did in the most effectual and gallant manner, charging a much larger force, and driving them wher ever they stood. The fighting was of the most desperate nature, our men using their sabres, and the enemy in several instances clubbing our men with their carbines. While the fight was going on, it was reported to me that the enemy had possession of the ford, the Sixth Ohio not having crossed to hold it. On hearing this, I ordered our men to fall back, and after a few moments' consultation with Capt. Sharra, decided to force a passage, but upon reaching the ford I found they had also left, not wishing to stand another charge. After seeing the command all over and on the road home, I started with twelve men for Acquia Creek to examine the railroad to that point, which we found in tolerable condition, exGENERAL: Agreeably to your orders, I started cepting the bridge over the Potomac and Occahe from Gainesville on the morning of the eighth Creeks, which we burned. At Occahe Creek we instant, to Fredericksburgh, to ascertain the force captured the enemy's pickets of four men, our of the enemy at that place, and then to examine surprise having been so effectually accomplished the Acquia Creek and Fredericksburgh Railroad that not one of the pickets was aware of our enon the return. I left Gainesville with sixty men tering Fredericksburgh. The enemy's loss was of the First Indiana cavalry-Gen. Sigel's body- considerable; but it is impossible to state the guard-and went to Bristow Station to obtain exact number. I know of three being killed, sevan additional force of one hundred men from the eral wounded, and thirty-nine prisoners. Our Sixth Ohio cavalry; but, finding they had moved loss, one killed and four missing. We also capto Catlett's Station, I went to that point, where tured two wagon-loads of gray cloth about to be we found them. After a slight delay in prepar-sent South. The enemy's forces consisted of five ing, we moved and travelled all night, stopping companies of the Fifteenth Virginia, and three once, an hour or so, to feed and water our horses. companies of the Ninth Virginia. We arrived at Fredericksburgh at half-past seven Although our object was to be there before daylight, it was impossible to do so, the distance being too great, and the roads and weather un INTO FREDERICKSBURGH, VA., NOV. 9. A.M. I have the honor to be, with great respect, General, your most obedient servant, ULRIC DAHLGREN, "CARLETON'S" DESCRIPTION. GAINESVILLE, November 11, 1862. To the Editor of the Boston Journal: The charge of Zagonyi at Springfield has been made a theme for an article in the Atlantic Monthly. It was a desperate exploit, an exhibition of courage, bravery, rashness unparalleled, because it was an emergency requiring an exhibition of such qualities. But that affair, although so brilliant, is hardly equal to the charge made on Sunday last at Fredericksburgh by a squadron of the First Indiana cavalry, commanded by Capt. Dahlgren. I am sitting in Col. Asboth's tent, at General Sigel's headquarters, listening to a plain statement of what occurred, narrated by a modest, unassuming sergeant. I will give it briefly. Gen. Burnside requested Gen. Sigel to make a cavalry reconnoissance of Fredericksburgh. Gencral Sigel selected his body-guard, commanded by Captain Dahlgren, with sixty men of the First Indiana cavalry and a portion of the Sixth Ohio. It was no light task to ride forty miles, keep the movement concealed from the enemy, cross the river and dash through the town, especially as it was known the rebels occupied it in force; it was an enterprise calculated to dampen the ardor of most men, but which was hailed almost as a holiday excursion by the Indianians. They left Gainesville Saturday morning, took a circuitous route, rode till night, rested awhile, and then under the light of the full moon rode rapidly over the worn-out fields of the Old Dominion, through by-roads, intending to dash into the town at daybreak. They arrived opposite the place at dawn, and found to their chagrin that one element in their calculation had been omitted-the tide. The bridge had been burned when we evacuated the place last summer, and they had nothing to do but wait till the water ebbed. Concealing themselves in the woods they waited impatiently. Meanwhile two of the Indianians rode along the river-bank below the town to the ferry. They hailed the ferryman, who was on the opposite shore, representing themselves to be rebel officers. The ferryman pulled to the northern bank and was detained till he gave information of the rebel force, which he said numbered eight companies five or six hundred men all told. The tide ebbed and Captain Dahlgren left his hiding-place with the Indianians- sixty-leaving the Ohioans on the northern shore. They crossed the river in single file at a slow walk, the bottom being exceedingly rocky. Reaching the opposite shore, he started at a slow trot toward the town, hoping to take the enemy by surprise. But his advance had been discovered. The enemy was partly in saddle. There was a hurrying to and fro-mounting of steeds confusion and fright among the people. The rebel cavalry were in every street. Captain Dahlgren resolved to fall upon them like a thunderbolt. Increasing his trot to a gallop, the sixty dauntless men dashed into town, cheering, with sabres glittering in the sun-riding recklessly upon the enemy, who waited but a moment in the main street, then ignominiously fled. Having cleared the main thoroughfare, Captain Dahlgren swept through a cross-street upon another squadron with the same success. There was a trampling of hoofs, a clattering of scabbards, and the sharp ringing cut of the sabres, the pistol-flash-the going down of horsemen and rider the gory gashes of the sabre-stroke a cheering and hurrahing, and screaming of frightened women and children-a short, sharp, decisive contest, and the town was in the possession of the gallant men. Once the rebels attempted to recover what they had lost, but a second impetuous charge drove them back again, and Captain Dahlgren gathered the fruits of the victory, thirty-one prisoners, horses, accoutrements, sabres-held possession of the town for three hours, and retired, losing but one of his glorious band killed and two wounded, leaving a dozen of the enemy killed and wounded. I would like to give the names of these heroes if I had them. The one brave fellow who lost his life had fought through all the conflict, but seeing a large rebel flag waving from a building, he secured it, wrapped it around his body, and was returning to his command, when a fatal shot was fired from a window, probably by a citizen. He was brought to the northern shore and there buried by his fellow-soldiers beneath the forest pines. Captain Carr, of company B, encountered a rebel officer and ran his sabre through the body of his enemy. Orderly Fitter had a hand-to-hand struggle with a rebel soldier, and by a dexterous blow, struck him from his horse, inflicting a severe wound upon the head. He seized the fellow's horse—a splendid animal-his carbine and sabre. His own sabre still bears the blood-stains-not a pleasant sight-but yet in keeping with war. It thrills one to look at it-to hear the storyto picture the encounter the wild dash, the sweep like a whirlwind-the cheers—the rout of the enemy, their confusion-the victory! Victory, not for personal glory, nor for ambition, but for a beloved country — for that which is dearer than life, the thanks of the living, the gratitude of unnumbered millions yet to be! Brave sons of the West, this is your glory; this your reward! No exploit of the war equals it. It will go down to history as one of the bravest achievements on record. Gen. Sigel is in ecstasies to-night. He is writing an order of thanks. The prisoners were brought in an hour ago by a squad, and here come the remainder of the troop, welcomed with wild hurrahs. The South will learn by and by that there are bold riders and brave men who were born in the cold regions of the North as well as in the sunny South-men who have not been gentlemen all their lives, brought up to the chase; but who have tilled the soil, wielded the hammer, held the plough, the spade-free men, who be lieve in free labor. The fabulous glory of the Black Horse cavalry is fading. Stuart has his compeers-Pleasanton and Dahlgren. We are beginning to learn war. We have had Southern dash and valor against inexperience, in horseman ship; but the cool intrepidity, determination and bravery of the Northern soldier is beginning to be felt. We shall hear more from Captain Dahlgren and his men. Doc. 32. PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ORDER. EXECUTIVE MANSION, GENERAL ORDER RESPECTING THE OBSERVANCE OF THE President, Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, desires and enjoins the orderly observance of the Sabbath by the officers and men in the military and naval service. The importance for man and beast of the prescribed weekly rest, the sacred rights of Christian soldiers and sailors, a becoming deference to the best sentiment of a Christian people, and a due regard for the Divine will, demand that Sunday labor in the Army and Navy be reduced to the measure of strict necessity. alongside; made sure that they could not extinguish the flames, and again steamed up the river. At one P.M. I reached the town of Jacksonville, landed, threw out my pickets, and placed guards over the public buildings. This place is the county seat of Onslow County, and is quite an important town. It is situated on the right bank of the river going up, and is thirty-five or forty miles from the mouth. I captured twenty-five stand of public arms in the court-house and post-office, quite a large mail, and two schooners. I also confiscated the negroes of the confederate postmaster. I forgot to mention that the town is situated on the main direct road to Wilmington. Several rebel officers escaped as I neared the place, and carried the news to that city. At half-past two P.M. I started down the river, and at five P.M. came in sight of a camp on the banks, which I thoroughly shelled. At the point where the schooner captured in the morning was still burning, the enemy opened fire on the Ellis with rifles, but were soon silenced by our guns. I had two pilots on board, both of whom informed me that it would be impossible to take the steamer from the river that night. High water and dayThe discipline and character of the National light were two things absolutely essential in order forces should not suffer, nor the cause they de- to take her out. I therefore came to anchor about fend be imperilled, by the profanation of the day five miles from the outer bar, took my prizes or name of the Most High. "At this time of pub- alongside, and made every preparation to repel lic distress," adopting the words of Washington an attack. All night long the signal-fires of the in 1776, men may find enough to do in the ser- enemy could be seen on the banks. At daylight vice of God and their country without abandoning I got under way, and had nearly reached the themselves to vice and immorality." The first worst place in the channel when the enemy opengeneral order issued by the Father of his Country ed on us with two pieces of artillery. I placed after the Declaration of Independence indicates the spirit in which our institutions were founded and should ever be defended: "The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country." ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Doc. 33. EXPEDITION UP NEW RIVER, N. C. LIEUTENANT CUSHING'S REPORT. my vessel in position, at once hoisted the battleflag at the fore; the crew gave it three cheers, and we went into action. In one hour I had driven the enemy from his guns and from the bluff, and passed within a hundred yards of their position without receiving fire. The Up to this time I had been in every way successful; but was here destined to meet with an accident that changed the fortune of the day, and resulted in the destruction of my vessel. About five hundred yards from the bluffs the pilots, mistaking the channel, ran the Ellis hard and fast aground. All hands went to work at once to lighten her, and anchors and steam used to get her afloat; but without success. U. S. STEAMER HETZEL, Nov. 26, 1862. headway of the steamer had forced her over SIR: I have the honor to report that I entered a shoal and into a position where, as the centre New River Inlet on the twenty-third of this of a circle, we had a circumference of shoal all month, with the United States steamer Ellis un- around. When the tide fell I sent a party ashore der my command, succeeded in passing the nar- to take possession of the artillery abandoned in row and shallow place called the Rocks, and the morning; but when they reached the field it started up the river. My object was to sweep was discovered that it had been removed while the river, capture any vessels there, capture the we were at work on the vessel. If I had secured town of Jacksonville, or Onslow Court-House, this I proposed to construct a shore battery to take the Wilmington mail, and destroy any salt- assist in the defence of my vessel by keeping the works that I might find on the banks. I expect- rebels from placing their batteries in position. ed to surprise the enemy in going up, and then At dark I took one of my prize schooners alongto fight my way out. Five miles from the mouth side, and proceeded to take every thing out of I came in sight of a vessel bound outward with a the Ellis, excepting the pivot-gun, some ammuniload of cotton and turpentine. The enemy fired tion, two tons of coal, and a few small arms. her to prevent her falling into our hands. I ran | Steam and anchor again failed to get my vessel d afloat. I felt confident that the confederates would come on me in overwhelming force, and it now became my duty to save my men. So all hands were called to muster, and the crew told that they could go aboard the schooner. I called for six volunteers to remain with me on board and fight the remaining gun. Knowing that it was almost certain death, the men came forward, and two masters' mates-Valentine and Barton -were amongst the number; these gentlemen subsequently behaved with coolness and bravery. I ordered the schooner to drop down the channel out of range from the bluffs, and there to wait for the termination of the impending engagement, and if we were destroyed to proceed to sea. Early in the morning the enemy opened on us from four points, with heavy rifled guns, (one a Whitworth.) It was a cross-fire and very destructive. Í replied as best I could, but in a short time the engine was disabled, and she was much cut up in every part, and the only alternatives left were surrender or a pull of one and a half miles, under their fire, in my small boat. The first of these was not, of course, to be thought of; the second I resolved to attempt. I fired the Ellis in five places, and having seen that the battle-flag was still flying, trained the gun on the enemy so that the vessel might fight herself after we had left her, and started down the river, reached the schooner, and made sail for sea. was low water on the bar and a heavy surf was rolling in; but the wind forced us through after striking several times. It We were just in time, for about six hundred yards down the beach were several companies of cavalry trying to reach the mouth of the inlet in time to cut us off. We hoisted our flag and gave three cheers and were off. Doc. 34. THE BATTLE OF CANE HILL, ARK. GENERAL BLUNT'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, ARMY FRONTIER, Į Major-General S. R. Curtis, Commanding the GENERAL: I have the honor to report that on the twenty-sixth of November, while encamped at Lindsay's Prairie, fifteen miles south of Maysville, I received reliable information that General Marmaduke, with a force estimated at eight thousand men, was at Cane Hill. I further learned that Marmaduke's command was the advance of Hindman's army, the remainder of which was expected to arrive at Cane Hill on the evening of the twenty-eighth. I immediately determined to attack Marmaduke, and, if possible, defeat him before the arrival of General Hindman with reenforcements. Early on the morning of the twenty-seventh I ordered all my transportation and commissary trains parked on Lindsay's Prairie, and after detailing a sufficient guard for its protection, I commenced my march with about five thousand men and thirty pieces of artillery, the men taking with them four days' rations of hard bread and salt. The distance to be travelled to reach the enemy was thirty-five miles, twenty-five of which was made by seven o'clock P.M., of the twenty-seventh, when the command bivouacked for the night. From that point I sent spies into the enemy's camp, and learned that their pickets were strongly posted upon the main road, (on which I was advancing,) and that it could be easily defended. I marched at five o'clock A.M., of the twentyeighth, leaving that road and making a detour to the left by a blind track; struck one that was obscure and unfrequented, and entered Cane Hill directly from the north. As I had anticipated, they had no pickets on this road, and I met no resistance until within half a mile of their camp. I neglected to state that when I took posses- The enemy had learned, however, the night presion of the enemy's ground, on the twenty-fourth, vious, that I was moving upon them, and was a salt-work was destroyed and ten boats render-prepared for our reception. In four hours I reached Beaufort. I brought away all my men, my rifled howitzer, and ammunition, the ship stores and clothing, the men's bags and hammocks, and a portion of the small I retained aboard a few muskets, pikes, and pistols to repel boarders. arms. ed useless that were to have been used for board- About two hundred of the Kansas Second, ing. At nine A.M., the United States steamer (cavalry,) under Col. Cloud, with two mountain Ellis was blown in pieces by the explosion of the magazine. Officers and men behaved nobly, obeying orders strictly under the most trying circumstances. I respectfully request that a court of inquiry may be ordered to investigate the facts of the case, and to see if the honor of the flag has suf my hands. fered in Lieutenant. howitzers, under Lieutenant Stover, were in the advance, which, with Rabb's battery and my staff and body-guard, constituted the only force upon the ground, the main column having been delayed in ascending a mountain about seven miles back to the rear. Of this fact I was not apprised until my advance was engaged. In passing down a gorge between two abrupt hills, their grand guard was encountered in considerable force; dashing on and driving them before us a few hundred yards, brought us to where the bluff, on the right, terminated, and in full view of the enemy, who were posted on the right of the road on elevated ground, with timber in the rear, their guns "in battery," bearing upon the road which I was approaching, and from which they immediately opened a brisk fire. I at once ordered Rabb's battery into position, Boston Mountains proper-the enemy placed his and also the two howitzers under Lieut. Stover, artillery upon it in position covering the road. when a fierce cannonading ensued, which lasted From this position he sought to prevent my force for the space of nearly an hour. My column not from proceeding up the valley and approaching being up, I could do nothing more than engage in the mountains. Directing two howitzers under this " artillery duel" until it arrived, and the Lieut. Updyke to the right upon a by-road, they enemy thinking, no doubt, that I had a large quickly obtained a good position on the enemy's force in hand, did not venture from under cover flank, while Rabb's battery opened upon them in of their guns. Reconnoitring upon their left, I front. They were soon forced to abandon the discovered an approach by which a force could high mound and seek the side and top of the be brought on their left flank and do them great mountain, where they made a determined resistdamage, and perhaps capture their artillery. Iance. Their artillery was posted on the crest of ordered Major Van Antwerp, of my staff, back to the mountain, while their mounted riflemen were meet the Kansas Eleventh and Hopkins's battery, dismounted and their whole force massed on the who were in the advance of the column, to bring sides and top of the mountain, which were coverthem up on the double-quick, and send the bat-ed with scattered timber and but little undertery with six companies of the Eleventh to follow brush. me with the object above named, and to take the other four companies to the support of Rabb's battery, but they were too far in the rear, and the men too much fatigued by the march to reach me in time. Major Van Antwerp took four companies down the road to Rabb's battery, the fire from which, as afterward appeared, although laboring under great disadvantage from the nature of the ground, had been very destructive on the enemy, compelling them to abandon their position and seek another on a high ridge three fourths of a mile further south, where their reserve had been posted. To this point access was very difficult, as rugged ravines intervened, and it could only be approached by the road. Taking a position on high ground facing them from the north, I opened upon them a destructive fire with my artillery, dismounting one of their guns and compelling them again to retire. For the third time they made a stand in the town, or rather on the south side of it, upon a commanding eminence running east and west, and a most admirable position for defence. Having now concentrated their entire force and selected this strong position, I felt assured that they had resolved on a desperate resistance and made my arrangements accordingly; but, after getting my forces across a deep and rugged ravine and deploying them into position ready to advance upon their long and well-formed lines, I discovered, much to my disappointment, that they had again retired and were in full retreat to the mountains, Tenney's battery coming upon the ground they had abandoned just in time to send a few shells in the rear of their retreating column as they escaped under cover of the wood. As the men and horses of the enemy were fresh, and mine were worn down and exhausted by hard marching, it was difficult to follow them in their flight, yet the men, eager for the fray, strained For nearly three miles from the town, in the direction of Van Buren, the road runs through a valley, in which are a few farms, alternating with low hills and ravines, covered with thick woods and brush. every nerve. Over this road a running fight with small arms took place without much damage occurring to either party. Reaching a large mound at the base of the first mountain-the commencement of the The nature of the ground was such that I could not use my artillery to any advantage, and the mountain could not be taken in any other way except by storm. I accordingly ordered up the the Kansas Second and dismounted them; they charged up the steep acclivity in the advance, under the command of Capt. S. J. Crawford and Captain A. P. Russell Major Fisk having been wounded by a piece of shell early in the day; next followed the Third Indian regiment, (Cherokees) under the command of Col. Phillips and its other field-officers, Lieutenant-Col. Downing and Major Foreman, voluntarily assisted by Major Van Antwerp, of my staff, and the Eleventh Kansas, under, the command of its field-officers, Colonel Ewing, Lieut.-Col. Moonlight, and Major Plumb. The resistance of the rebels was stubborn and determined. The storm of lead and iron hail that came down the side of the mountain, both from their small arms and artillery, was terrific, yet most of it went over our heads without doing us much damage. The regiments just named, with a wild shout, rushed up the steep acclivity, contesting every inch of ground and steadily pushing the enemy before them until the crest was reached, when the rebels again fled in disorder. Four howitzers and Rabb's battery were now brought up the mountain and the pursuit renewed; the Third Indian and Eleventh Kansas regiments on the right and left of the road, advancing in line through the woods, while the four howitzers occupied the road in front, with the Kansas Second and Sixth and Rabb's battery in the rear. About every halfmile the enemy made a stand, when the four howitzers and the Eleventh Kansas and Third Indian would as often put them to flight, leaving more or less of their dead and wounded behind them. Thus the fight continued for some three miles, until, on descending partially from the mountain into a valley, the Cove Creek road, leading from Fayetteville to Van Buren, was reached at the point where it intersects the road from Cane Hill to the last-named place. At this point the enemy again brought his artillery into requisition. It was now near sundown and darkness must soon put an end to the pursuit. Down the valley in front of us the ground appeared adapted to the use of cavalry to good ad |