apiece of four could be used, and then at an in- Fourth Virginia up Deer Creek, and another, the convenient angle-in fact, in only one position- Fiftieth Ohio, still further to the right. The and the broadsides of several were useless on ac- rebels, who were making a circuit about General count of the bank. Our immense superiority of Sherman, thus found the whole line occupied, metal was thus rendered almost useless for the and abandoned the attempt to cut off the gunpurpose of engaging an enemy that was endeav-boats for that day. During the afternoon the oring to encircle the Admiral's boats. If his rear troops and gunboats all arrived at Hill's plantawas gained, their superior numbers could board tion. Rebel scouts followed them within two the first or the last boat, and, having captured miles of the division headquarters. During the her, use her guns with fearful effect on the others. night the Thirty-seventh Ohio, Colonel Lieber, About mid-day the enemy commenced moving which was on picket about one half-mile out, was upon us, with the purpose of reaching the bank attacked by a squadron of cavalry. It immediof the creek below the gunboats and below the ately, upon the return of their fire, fell back. In infantry. General Sherman was some six miles the afternoon of the next day, the Eighty-third distant. The rebels are believed to have ad- Indiana, Col. Spooner, going out to relieve the vanced with about four thousand men. It must Thirty-ninth, was attacked by three regiments be borne in mind that our troops were on a belt of infantry and a squadron of cavalry. Acting of land which forms the bank of the creek, of not under instructions to draw them on, and to degreat width, back of which the bottom land was velop their whole force, Col. Spooner skirmished under water and impassable. The rebels came with them, but they refused to follow. The down with the intention of turning his right and Eighty-third lost one man killed. The enemy reaching the creek below. The gunboats and landed a steamer and two flatboats loaded with four mortars opened upon them, as soon as they troops and artillery, about six miles above, the discovered themselves in bodies. This firing em- night before. We remained two days at Hill's barrassed their movements and considerably re- plantation, waiting for the rebels to prepare. tarded them. They debouched through the wood But they would not give or receive battle. We and became engaged with the skirmishers of the embarked on the transports and gunboats, and Sixth. The fight was beginning to be in earnest, returned. The troops, gunboats, ammunition, but the rebels were gaining ground. The object and supplies, with a considerable quantity of cotwas not a battle, but to pass by Smith. The ton and fifty good mules, are all safe, and apfirst firing of the gunboats was heard by Gen. proaching Young's Point, as I write. Sherman near the Shelby plantation. He urged his troops forward, and after an hour's hard marching the Thirteenth regulars and One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois, who were in the advance, deployed as skirmishers, came upon a body of the enemy who had passed by the force which engaged Smith. Immediately engaging them, the enemy stood awhile disconcerted by the unexpected attack, fought a short time, and gave way. Our forces pressed them, driving them back toward Smith some two miles. The gunboats opened upon them thus hemmed in, and Black Bayou, a narrow stream heretofore only the day was ours. The rebels retreated, and the navigated by dug-outs, was made of the width of gunboats were saved for that day. Our loss was our steamers, with great labor of felling trees and but one killed and none wounded. The loss of sawing stumps below the surface. Every foot of the rebels was heavy. The plantation upon our way was cut and torn through a dense forest, which the engagement took place belonged to a never before traversed by steamers. I never witColonel Givins. He was killed, and his wife, a nessed a more exciting and picturesque scene beautiful woman, was also killed by a shell while than the transportation of the Third brigade, by riding into the wood. One shell from a mortar Gen. Stuart, the last day. Crowded with men, killed twenty-six, as they were rallying as skir- the steamer, at the highest possible speed, pushmishers. Another is stated to have killed and ed through overhanging trees and around short wounded forty persons. They suffered very much, but as we did not attempt to occupy the field, it cannot be ascertained. It being obvious that further advance was impracticable, the boats at once commenced moving backward, and made several miles that evening.

The next effort of the rebels was to pass around our lines in the afternoon and night, and throw their whole force still further below us. General Stuart, with four regiments of General Ewing's brigade, marched on IIill's plantation the same morning, having run his transports in the night, and immediately advanced the

There were destroyed by our troops and by the rebels at least two thousand bales of cotton, fifty thousand bushels of corn, and the gins and houses of the plantations whose owners had obstructed our progress and joined in the warfare. The resources of the country were found ample to subsist the army at Vicksburgh for some length of time, and by the destruction of them we crippled the enemy so far.

There were features about this expedition novel and exciting.

curves. Sometimes wedged fast between trees, then sailing along smoothly, a huge cypress would reach out an arm and sweep the whole length of the boats, tearing guards and chimneys from the decks. The last trip through the Black Bayou was in a night pitchy dark and rainy.

While the adventure was of uncertain success when the result seemed almost accomplished, and when our gunboats were surrounded with an enemy confident of victory, and their extrication seemed almost an impossibility-officers and men worked with equal alacrity, whether in building bridges or making forced marches, both by

one had been wounded and two captured. At some distance, a regiment of rebel cavalry could be seen drawn up across the pike; but Col. Hall did not offer battle, because he now became con

wished to draw him on to a more advantageous position. He moved on, therefore, without attacking, to the town of Auburn, and encamped near it for the night, the rebel force moving up also, and encamping within two miles of him.

day and in the night. The whole time was used in labor-constant and severe. It seems almost a miracle that the boats were saved. If Colonel Giles A. Smith had not arrived at the time he did, their safety would have been hopeless-ifvinced that he was followed by the enemy, and Generals Sherman and Stuart, by their utmost exertions and labor, had forwarded their troops a single half-day later—if the second forced march of Col. Rice, under Gen. Sherman, had been retarded a single hour, in all human probability not only our navy, but the first small force, under Smith, would have been lost. The simple truth is, that the gunboats were saved by Stuart's division. The traditionary jealousy between the army and navy at this point is, to a great extent, removed. There is no dispute or doubt in relation to the services performed by the soldiers of the line.

Doc. 141.

BATTLE OF VAUGHT'S HILL.*
CINCINNATI "GAZETTE" ACCOUNT.

MURFREESBORO, March 24.

It was on Wednesday, the eighteenth day of March, that Col. A. S. Hall, of the One Hundred and Fifth Ohio, commanding a brigade in General J. J. Reynolds's division, marched forth from Murfreesboro with a band of chosen men, to beat

On Friday morning, Col. Hall had fully made up his mind to give battle, and therefore proposed to return toward Murfreesboro, or march to Liberty, according as either course should seem most likely to bring him in contact with the enemy. Knowing by this time, however, that the rebels were much superior in numbers to himself, and that they were actually seeking a battle, he judged it most prudent to retire toward Murfreesboro, draw them after him, take up an advantageous position, and await their attack.

Early on the morning of the twentieth, therefore, he ascended a ridge to the rear of Auburn, and waited there for some time upon the highest ground, to reconnoitre. He did not wait long before he perceived the rebel advance moving cautiously after him, while he could also catch glimpses occasionally of their main body gliding

amongst the trees.

Moving down the ridge, Colonel Hall rapidly up the quarters of the rebels, who, for some days crossed a plain three miles in extent, toward the past had been making impudent demonstrations town of Milton, determining to reach Vaught's in Wilson County, and all along the left of our Hill, an eminence one mile south-west of that lines. His force consisted of two hundred and town, and there await the enemy. His rear-guard twenty-five men from his own regiment, under had just passed fairly through the town, when the the immediate command of Lieut.-Colonel Tolles; rebel advance was perceived coming over a slight three hundred and sixty from the One Hundred eminence on the other side. Our troops were now and First Indiana, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Doan; moving in a south-westerly direction toward Murthree hundred and thirty from the Eightieth Il-freesboro, along what is called Las Casas pike. linois, Colonel Allen; three hundred and fifteen A slight elevation of ground just below Milton, from the One Hundred and Twenty-third Illi- tempted Captain Harris to test the courage of the nois, Colonel James Monroe; forty-three horsemen (company A, Captain Blackburn) from the First enemy. Unlimbering one of his pieces, he threw a shell or two entirely over the town and plump Middle Tennessee cavalry; and two pieces (twelvepound Napoleons) and fifty men from the Nine-among the advance of the rebels. They immediately fell back upon the main body, which could teenth Indiana battery, Capt. Harris-in all, one thousand three hundred and twenty-three men of the town in gallant array. now plainly be seen coming up on the other side and two pieces of cannon.

The expedition reached Cainsville on Wednesday, failing to surprise a rebel camp in that vicinity, through the mistake of a guide, who led them a mile or two out of the way. They, however, picked up a couple of stragglers from this camp, and took up lodgings in the great palace of nature for the night.

On Thursday morning they moved to Statesville, another of the insignificant towns which are found in this part of Tennessee. Here they encountered a body of Phillips's rebel cavalry, and defeated them after a short contest, killing one, wounding another, and capturing three.

From Statesville they moved along a small stream called Smith's Fork, to the Liberty pike, upon reaching which they encountered another minor body of the enemy, who took to flight after

This battle is also known as the battle of Milton, Tenn. VOL. VI.-Doc. 30

On our part preparations were instantly made for battle.

The One Hundred and First Indiana were form

ed in line on the left of the road, to check the advance of the rebels in that direction, and support the gun which had already commenced to fire. The One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois was formed at the foot of the elevation upon which the piece of cannon was placed, across the pike, and extending into woods and cleared fields on the right. The Eightieth Illinois was still further to the right and somewhat retired, while the One Hundred and Fifth Ohio was held exclusively

in reserve.

There were cleared fields to the left of the road as well as to the right, but between these and Vaught's Hill, which Col. Hall intended to be his real battle-ground, there was upon the left a dense growth of cedars, along the east edge of which

ran a narrow lane to the left of the pike. There was also a cedar thicket near the town and upon the left of the town, through which the rebels would be obliged to pass before they could reach the open field where the One Hundred and First Indiana and the One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois were drawn up to receive them.

Col. James Monroe also made a speech to his men, briefer and more to the point.

"Boys! you have followed John Morgan for more than a thousand miles, in a vain effort to get a fight out of him. You have often said you would like no better sport than to meet him. Your wishes are gratified at last. Here he is. Now give him -!"

At the edge of this thicket the rebel skirmishers first appeared, and company B of the One Scarcely were these speeches ended when a Hundred and Twenty-third were immediately de- column of the enemy's cavalry was seen marchployed as skirmishers, and sent forward to op-ing by the flank, along the base of a range of hills pose them. A scattering fire of musketry was soon succeeded by several volleys, and it becoming evident that the enemy were hotly pursuing our skirmishers, Colonel Monroe sent forward two more companies, C and D, of the One Hundred and Twenty-third, to their support. Skirmishers from the One Hundred and First Indiana were at the same time pushed forward, and for half an hour a sharp but irregular firing was kept up in the thicket and in the streets of the town.

to the east of the town, evidently intending to turn our right. At the same moment another column emerged from the thicket on the west, and advanced through the open fields toward the One Hundred and First Indiana. Simultaneously with the advance of both these columns, the rebel infantry marched on in battle array through the town, while their artillery, from two or three different positions, opened upon our lines.

Our skirmishers immediately fell back toward their regiments upon the double-quick, and at the same time a retrograde movement was commenced by our entire line, in order to gain the position upon Vaught's Hill, which was the battle-ground originally decided upon.

The dense cedar thickets upon the left of the pike, through which the One Hundred and First Indiana had to retire, made their progress exceedingly difficult; and not only did the skirmish

the enemy, before they could rejoin their comrades, but the entire One Hundred and First became to some extent separated from the rest of the brigade, and for a considerable time Lieut.Col. Doan was thrown upon his own resources. Disentangling himself to some extent from the cedars, he was moving along the lane I have before mentioned, when he was suddenly set upon by Duke's and Breckinridge's regiments. He immediately formed his men in line along the lane, and met the rebel onset with determined courage.

By this time the stealthy cats, Wheeler and Morgan, thought they had played long enough with the poor little mouse before them. They had not the slightest doubt of their ability to pick up Col. Hall whenever it should suit their convenience. Why not? The redoubtable Morgan himself was here with the brigade which had first frightened almost to death and then captured poor Col. Moore at Hartville. And Colonel Hall had fewer men than Col. Moore had on that disgrace-ers of this regiment receive a terrible volley from fully famous occasion. In addition to Morgan's force here was the redoubtable "Major-General" Wheeler, with a brigade from his division Wheeler, entirely recovered from the effects of the thrashing which Dan McCook gave him in January, and flush from the big haul which he and Van Dorn made at Thompson's Station. Still more, these worthies had three regiments of Tennessee mounted infantry to assist them. And here were 66 'Colonel" W. C. P. Breckinridge, and Duke, and Gano, and Grigsby, and heaven knows how many rebel heroes besides. Would A. S. In the mean time, the Eightieth Illinois had Hall, a mere political Colonel," as some of our moved backward, and taken position along regular friends would say, attempt to make battle Vaught's Hill, facing nearly to the east; while against "Major-General" Wheeler and " Briga- the One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois had dier-General John Morgan, the two most no- also retrograded, and taken up a position along torious bandits on the continent, with eleven a line of fence at about two thirds the distance rebel regiments at their heels? Oh! impossible, from the foot of the hill to its summit, their right the thing was simply impossible. And, accord- resting upon the pike, their skirmishers extendingly, John Morgan made a speech to his men. ing across and connecting them with the left of "Behold before you," said he, "the same Yan- the Eightieth Illinois, while their left was endeavkees whom you have so often chased helter-skel-oring to communicate with the right of the One ter over hill and dale, the same breed of low-spir-Hundred and First Indiana. It will be observed ited cowards whom you have sometimes almost that in making this retrograde movement, the disdained to kill, as being unworthy opponents One Hundred and Twenty-third had almost enof your prowess. Remember how ignominiously tirely crossed to the left of the road from the they bowed their heads at Hartville, and like lusty bull-calves, roared for mercy almost before you could get your muskets trained upon them. Do you think they will stand against you now? No! they will break and run at the first fire, and your only difficulty will be in outrunning and picking them up before they can get back to their den at Murfreesboro."

right, where it was originally formed. This was in consequence of the fact that Vaught's Hill, our chosen position, was mainly on the left of the pike. The One Hundred and Fifth Ohio was still held in reserve, and was moved to the south side of the hill. Upon the summit was one of the "Napoleons," immediately under command of Capt. Harris, while the other was planted fur

ther to the right, just in the road, and was put | ly around the hill, the One Hundred and Fifth in charge of Lieut. Stackhouse. None of these Ohio holding the southern face, in reserve, and movements were child's play, and all took place behaving with great coolness, although shot and under fire, although as yet at long-range. shell from the enemy's cannon frequently came whizzing over the summit of the hill and dropped among them.

After the attack was made upon the One Hundred and First Indiana, Lieut.-Col. Doan gradually extended and retired the right of his line, It was perhaps two o'clock, when the rebels, until he came in communication with the left of enraged beyond bounds at the havoc made among the One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois, so them by Captain Harris's twelve-pound "Napothat now both regiments could be made available | leon," determined to capture it, if possible. Confor supporting the piece of artillery commanded centrating nearly the whole of Morgan's brigade, by Capt. Harris, which was doing terrible execu- they rushed forward and made a desperate assault tion on the rebel ranks, and which from the first upon the right of the One Hundred and First Inthey manifested an ardent desire to capture. In diana and left of the One Hundred and Twentyorder the better to effect this, they now made a third Illinois. Our boys, now advantageously desperate effort to turn the left flank of the One posted, suffered them to come within thirty or Hundred and First Indiana, and were partially forty yards of our line, when they opened upon successful. Major Steele, of that regiment, im- them with so destructive a fire that in a few minmediately applied to Col. Hall for assistance, as utes the victors of Hartville were retreating in his men were now in imminent danger of being the wildest confusion, leaving many a rebel, ramassailed in the rear, as well as upon the front and pant and exulting but a moment before, dead, flank. The application was instantly attended dying, bleeding, upon the ground. to, and a part of the Eightieth Illinois was hurried His troops around the southern base of the hill, to meet and drive back the enemy.

On

It was the last effort of the enemy. could no more be brought to the charge. every side a storm of bullets greeted them. It

During this time a desperate contest was tak-was death all around the hill! ing place upon the extreme left, where Col. Doan Sullenly withdrawing to the edge of the woods, was gallantly contending with the Second and upon the ground where our troops had first formed Fourth Kentucky, (the regiments of Duke and in line of battle, they planted three pieces of arBreckinridge,) and was momentarily in danger tillery, and opened a despairing, scattering, and of being overwhelmed. Redoubling his fire for ineffective fire, which did no damage whatever to a few minutes, and seeing the enemy temporarily the brave men who held Vaught's Hill. Neverrepulsed, he instantly ordered the left of his regi-theless, Capt. Harris trained his piece upon one ment to fall back, so that he could form a new line, facing to the west, and at right angles to the One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois. This movement being made hastily and in the face of the enemy, was necessarily attended with some confusion, and caused the right wing of the regiment to be somewhat withdrawn, so as to leave a considerable gap between it and the left of the One Hundred and Twenty-third. This breach was promptly repaired by Col. Monroe, who ex-again attack him. To create an impression upon tended his right, and moved over several companies to the left.

Both regiments were more fully prepared for any effort of the enemy, and resolved at all hazards to prevent Captain Harris's piece of cannon from falling into their hands.

of their guns, disabled it after a round or two, and compelled the others to draw off. One of the gunners of the disabled piece was afterward found blown into fragments, with one of his arms hanging to the limb of a tree.

No reënforcements had as yet come up to Col. Hall's assistance; he did not know the extent of the terrible loss he had inflicted upon the enemy, and supposed that they might be preparing to

the minds of the rebels that his reenforcements had arrived, he ordered his men to raise a shout. This they were in a good humor to do anyhow; and a lusty cheer made Vaught's Hill and all the forests round it fairly ring. At the same time, skirmishers were pushed out right and left. The fire from the rebel artillery redoubled for a moment, and then entirely ceased.

Previous to this, however, Col. Allen, with the Eightieth Illinois, had encountered that column of the rebel cavalry which had passed around to But all this cannonading on the enemy's part, our right, and as soon as it left the foot of the after their terrible repulse upon the left, was only range of hills on that side, and emerged into the for the purpose of concealing and covering their open fields, had poured into it a most deadly vol-retreat; and when our skirmishers advanced to ley of musket-balls, which had driven it back in the town, not a rebel was to be found, except utter confusion, with the exception of a small some who were so badly wounded that they could body that galloped past our left flank, passed en- not be carried off. tirely round the southern base of the hill, and As the rebels passed through Milton, they told actually joined the column under Breckinridge such of the inhabitants as had not run away, that which was assailing our left. The left of the Eigh- they had entirely beaten Col. Hall, but that the tieth, the extreme right of the One Hundred and arrival of reënforcements, ten thousand strong, Twenty-third, and our other "Napoleon" under to his assistance, had compelled them to retire. Lieut. Stackhouse, had all this time fully held It was, in fact, two hours from the time the last their own against rebel infantry in the centre. rebel disappeared, until the head of the reënforcOur line of battle now extended almost entire-ing column came in sight of Vaught's Hill.

The material results of the battle have been consequence of the cold weather and deep snow, already stated. Twenty prisoners were left in to chastise them if possible. Feeling that secrecy our hands, besides the wounded. Seven rebels was the truest way to success, I determined to were killed, and a proportionate number wound- deceive the Indians by sending a small force in ed, by the single volley with which the Eightieth advance, judging, and rightly, that they would not Illinois repelled the column of cavalry which as- fear a small number. sailed our right. Twenty-five of them were killed outright in their final grand attack upon our left, and were buried where they fell. Dr. Keller, Surgeon of Morgan's brigade, estimates the entire rebel loss at not less than four hundred killed and wounded.

Thus are two of the mock heroes of the rebellion, Morgan and Wheeler, for the present effect-about twelve miles from the Indian encampment. ually "played out." Pretty well done for one thousand three hundred green boys from the West, commanded by a "political" colonel.