Doc. 174. THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON, N. C. BRIGADIER-GENERAL HECKMAN'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS HECKMAN'S BRIGADE, where Colonel Hathaway, of Indiana, was shot in ons, arms, and equipments, ammunition, etc., the breast and fell dead from his horse. We are were all taken and brought into this place. Sevinformed by Mr. Joseph G. Blount that when Col-eral negroes were also taken. onel Hathaway fell, several Yankee officers went to him and fell on his body and wept like children. Colonel Streight asked Mr. B. to put the body of Col. Hathaway in a metallic coffin, and send it through the lines, but was informed that such a coffin could not be procured. He then asked him to put him in a pine coffin and bury him, but Mr. B. replied: "I can't do that, for you have burnt all my lumber." He then asked him to roll up the body in an oil-cloth and bury it. With this request Mr. B. complied, notwithstanding they burnt his bacon, corn, and all his provisions, his corn-crib, stables, and other outhouses, and took all his mules and horses. Colonel Streight apologized for the act by assuring him that what he (Streight) did was forced upon him by a military necessity. As General Forrest was in such close pursuit of Colonel Streight he did not have time to gratify the malignity of his black heart to the fullest extent. He, however, burned the Round Mountain Iron-Works, which belonged to the government and to Judge Samuel P. L. Marshall. On Friday night or Saturday a detachment of two hundred picked men were sent by Colonel Streight to Rome with orders to do their work and then return to the command. They came to Colonel Shorter's spring, one mile and a quarter from this place, where they were informed by a negro, "dat Rome is plum full of soldiers an' dem big guns is put up on cotton bags and are pintin up all de roads." They therefore returned to their command without approaching nearer than the spring. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by two regiments of my brigade, during the recent expedition to Washington, N. C.: Friday, (seventeenth instant,) having received orders to cross the Neuse River with my command and take the advance, I proceeded on the road toward Washington as far as Purify's plantation, distant from Newbern seven miles, the road for a greater part of the distance being of the most horrid character. The column not having closed up, I placed Belger's battery, commanded by Lieutenant Simpson, in position, and my two regiments of infantry and a squadron of cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant Beecher, in line to support them. I ther. ordered the troops to bivouac for the night. At daylight on the morning of the eighteenth, formed the line and continued the march without interruption until we arrived at Swift Creek road, at ten o'clock A. M. Learning that the road to Swift Creek was blockaded for a number of miles, I continued on the direct road to Blunt's Creek Mills. At twelve M., the main column being some distance in the rear, I halted to rest and allow the column to close up. After a halt of about two hours I was joined by General Naglee and staff, when we immediately pushed forward, and reached Blunt's Creek about half-past three P.M. Found the bridge over the creek destroyed; but with very little labor the pioneers constructed a passage through the mill. In the mean time General Forrest overtook the main body on Sunday morning, about ten o'clock, in Alabama, two miles from the Georgia line, and twenty miles from Rome. He sent a flag of truce to Colonel Streight with a demand to surrender. The surrender was soon agreed upon. When Colonel Streight returned to his command and informed his men he had surrendered, he Received orders from General Naglee to halt made a speech; at the conclusion of which he the column when it arrived, bivouac, and move proposed three cheers for the Union, to which forward early in the morning, the General prohis men responded. Thus ended one of the ceeding in the direction of Washington, accommost brilliant achievements for our arms of the panied by his staff. As soon as the cavalry arwar. General Forrest and his glorious men cap-rived and had fed their horses, I ordered them tured a force of three or four times greater than to follow, which they did, coming up with the his own; but, "one blast upon his bugle horn | General about eight miles from our encampment. is worth a thousand men." At half-past five A.M. column again in motion; The victory may be summed up thus-Yankee received orders, upon arriving at the road leading loss in killed and wounded, three hundred. to Hill's Point, to take one regiment of infantry There were paroled at Rome one hundred and and ascertain if the fort was occupied, and, if so, one officers, including two colonels, one lieuten- by whom. Accompanied by my staff, and folant-colonel, three or four majors, captains, etc.,lowed by the Ninth New-Jersey, I rode into the and one thousand three hundred and sixty-five privates, or one thousand four hundred and sixty-six in all, not including five surgeons and four chaplains, who were sent off without being paroled. A considerable number of the Yankees were left sick along their line of travel, others were broke down and were overtaken and paroled by General Forrest. Horses, mules, wag fort and found it occupied by detachments of the Forty-third and Forty-fourth regiments Massachusetts volunteers. At twelve м. received orders to continue the march toward Washington, leaving the Ninth New-Jersey and Twenty-third Massachusetts at Hill's Point. Placed the Seventeenth Massachusetts in ad having on board sick and wounded. I followed on up the bank, throwing shell after them till I thought them out of range, and ceased firing. By this time General Ellet had landed and was pursuing them. vance, and arrived at Washington at three P.M.mained behind, fired a few shots at a transport The Ninth New-Jersey volunteers arrived by boat from Hill's Point at five P.M. Left on steamer Escort for Newbern, N. C., on the twentieth, and reached here at six A.M. on the twenty-first. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ·C. A. HECKMAN, Brigadier-General Commanding Brigade. To Lieutenant-Colonel S. HOFFMAN, UNITED STATES GUN-BOAT LEXINGTON, HAMBURGH LANDING, April 28, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to report that on the twenty-fourth instant, while cruising down the river, ahead of General Ellet's fleet, I met the steamer Emma Duncan, Acting Master Griswold commanding, coming up to report his vessel for duty. Learning that he had been attacked by a field-battery at Green Bottom Bar, and had three men badly wounded, I proceeded down the river, giving him orders to follow me, in hopes of catching the rebels at or near the same place. I passed the bar about dark in the evening, but the enemy was nowhere to be seen. Arriving at the foot of Green Bottom Bar about midnight, I anchored till morning. Still seeing nothing of the enemy, I proceeded on up the river to meet and communicate with General Ellet. The Emma Duncan remaining nearly a mile in my rear, caught a ferry-flat coming out of a creek, after I had passed; the guerrillas in the flat jumped out and made their escape in the woods. The flat, however, was destroyed and set adrift. I cruised on up leisurely, keeping a good lookout for the enemy along the right bank, but saw no signs of them till I arrived at Duck River Shoals, when I heard musketry and artillery a short distance (not a mile) ahead. I pushed on over the bar and met General Ellet's fleet just at the head of the shoals, engaging the rebel batteries. I was then in good range, and at once opened fire on the enemy. There was not room for his boats to round or to back out of the channel. He was, therefore, compelled to push over the bar before he could effect a landing. I took the battery side, and moved up to cover his boats as much as possible, at the same time raking the bank with our heavy guns. The ram Monarch came in range and opened fire also. As soon as I rounded the point, the enemy fired a farewell shot at one of the brigade boats, limbered up and were off. Some few sharp-shooters re Several of the enemy were found dead on the bank, and many more were dragged off in the woods. I should suppose that their loss in killed and wounded is about twenty-five or thirty. I believe General Ellet lost two killed and one wounded on his boats; also, some horses killed. About eleven P.M. I left General Ellet at the foot of the bar, and proceeded on up the river with his boat and the Emma Duncan, to communicate with the fleet above. I arrived at Eastport in the afternoon of the twenty-seventh instant, and received a communication from General Dodge at Tuscumbia. LE ROY FITCH, Lieutenant Commanding. Acting Rear-Admiral DAVID D. PORTER, Commanding Mississippi Squadron. Doc. 176. THE FIGHT AT GREENLAND GAP, VA. GENERAL KELLEY'S DESPATCH. GREENLAND GAP, HARDING COUNTY, VA., April 28, 1863. To Lieutenant-Colonel Cheeseborough, A.A.G. THE affair at this place, on Saturday, was one of the most gallant since the opening of the war. Greenland Gap is a pass through the Knobley mountain, only wide enough for the road and a small mountain stream. This gap was guarded by Captain Wallace (Twenty-third Illinois) with a detachment of company G, Twenty-third Illinois regiment, and a small detachment of company H, Thirteenth Virginia infantry, Captain Smith, in all between seventy and eighty men. Captain Wallace occupied a large church at the west end of and near the mouth of the gap, and Captain Smith held a log-house about a hundred yards distant, both positions commanding the gap. Jones was compelled to capture or dislodge the little band before he could pass. His troops made three gallant charges, but were each time repulsed with great loss, especially of officers. The fight commenced at five P.M., and lasted till after dark. The rebels, availing themselves of the darkness, approached and fired the church, but the gallant Irish boys would not even then surrender till the burning roof fell in. The killed and wounded of the rebels outnumbered our whole force engaged. Five of the officers out of eight commanding the leading battalion which made the first charge, were either killed or wounded, among the latter Colonel Dulany, commanding. Captains Wallace and Smith had only two men killed and four wounded. I counted, to-day, eighteen dead horses within musket-range. most earnestly request the Major-General Commanding to apply to the Secretary of War to have every officer, non-commissioned officer and private engaged in the fight presented with a medal, in recognition of the gallantry displayed. B. F. KELLEY, I Brigadier-General. Doc. 177. THE MARMADUKE RAID INTO SOUTH-EAST MISSOURI. Editors Missouri Democrat: I WISH to furnish you a brief sketch of the Marmaduke raid into South-East Missouri, and the memorable retreat of his ten thousand confederates from Cape Girardeau into Arkansas, having been an eye-witness of every move made, for and against, from Saturday, April twenty-fifth, to Saturday, May second, when Marmaduke was driven into Arkansas, at Chalk Bluff, on the St. Francois River. I do this to vindicate the "truth of history," that thus far has not received full justice by the reports that have been put in circulation. prepared his plan of defence, which McNeil, on examination, pronounced unimprovable, and adopted it without alteration; simply furnishing more men to aid in carrying out the plan of the gallant Baumer, and by so doing manifested an abnegation of self that is singularly at variance with the general rule and practice of generals. But McNeil appears to have a holy horror of "red tape," and to be guided by but two rules of actionone, to help the country; the other, to damage the rebels as far as possible; and he has infused those points into every officer and soldier of his little command. Saturday morning the enemy advanced in force on the Cape. The Honorable W. R. Strachan, of Shelby, arrived and assumed position as Chiefof-Staff. Pickets five miles out of town were firing on the advance of the enemy. At eleven o'clock A.M. General McNeil, Colonel HustonSeventh Missouri cavalry, acting as mustering offi On Monday, the twentieth of April, General McNeil with one thousand two hundred men and six pieces of artillery, was at Bloomfield, Stod-cer-and Col. Strachan made a complete examinadard County, and found that Missouri had been invaded by Marmaduke, with four brigades, being the First army corps Trans-Mississippi department, C. S. A. tion of the place. The so-called forts, A, B, C, and D, were earthworks of the most simple form, being so slight in defence that cavalry could ride over and through them without ever pulling reinAt nine o'clock P.M., Monday, he received or- mounting in all ten guns, twenty-four and thirtyders to move from Bloomfield on Frederick- two-pounders. Colonel Huston took command town. Tuesday, twenty-first, at four o'clock of fort B, mounting four guns. Welfley's batA.M., marched, and with his little band camped tery of twelve-pound howitzers was planted on a four miles north of the Cape Girardeau road-ridge commanding the approach via Bloomfield; thirty miles march-crossing one swamp, in this battery was supported by two companies of which his train was stuck for the night. Part of the First Nebraska and the First Wisconsin cavthe command, First Wisconsin, was sent on to oc- alry-a portion of whom afterward did valuable cupy Dallas, and make reconnoissance in three service as sharp-shooters. The section of moundifferent directions, under Colonel La Grange, Ma- tain howitzers attached to the Second regiment jor Torrey, and Captain Paine. Wednesday suc- M. S. M. was to the right of Welfley on a ridge ceeded in getting train through the swamp, and still further out of town and commanding the apreached Dallas Wednesday night; found that proach by way of Jackson-this section under Captain Paine had encountered a vidette of the Captain McClanahan did admirable service, disenemy; rode over them and captured seven pris- mounting one of the enemy's pieces and doing fearoners. Major Torrey had captured the Sergeant- ful execution to his ranks. A section of rifled Major of Colonel Jeffries's regiment. By separate cannon, long twelves, under charge of Lieutenant examination of these prisoners it was clearly es- Stauber, were on the right of fort B, forming the tablished that the enemy in force had taken pos- right of the line of defence, while fort D was the session of Fredericktown and were preparing for extreme left, commanding approach to the town additional offensive operations. Becoming appre- from the south; this was the weak point of the hensive that if he advanced on Fredericktown it line, but fortunately was never attacked by the would be to find the enemy gone and on their enemy. In the afternoon it became evident that way to seize the important post of Cape Girar- Marmaduke with his whole force of ten thousand deau, General McNeil instantly turned his col- men, divided into four brigades under Colonels umn toward the Cape, resolving to beat the rebels Carter, Burbage, Shelby, and Green, had masked in reaching the town. Subsequent events de- their forces for an attempt to storm the place. monstrated that the General's judgment was sin- The continuous fire kept up by our artillery, gularly correct. Thursday, marched to Jackson, which had been advanced to within four hundred twenty-three miles, and the General pushed to yards of their line, and which was most admirathe Cape that night, twelve miles further. On bly served by Lieutenants Jacoby, Stauber, and Friday he established communications with St. Captain Callahan, excellently supported as they Louis vid Jonesboro, Illinois, and brought the were by the First Nebraska, First Wisconsin, whole force into town. The garrison now stood and a battalion of the Thirty-second Iowa as as follows: A part of First Nebraska infantry sharp-shooters, held the enemy in check-their under Lieutenant-Colonel Baumer, Commandant officers could plainly be seen urging their men of the post; a few men of the Second Missouri to the onset, but they could not be forced to artillery, under Captain Meisner-in all five hun- face the music. Their loss in officers was sedred men, which, with McNeil's force, brought vere. Major Blackwell, of Lafayette, wounded, the total up to one thousand seven hundred men. and a prisoner in the hospital, informed me that Colonel Baumer, expecting an attack, had already his regiment alone, (Colonel Colton Green's,) lost VOL. VI.-Doc. 36 five field and line-officers alone. The enemy retired at two o'clock and thirty minutes, simultaneously with the arrival of reënforcements, who doubtless were seen by them descending the river. General McNeil having determined to maintain the post to the last extremity, and fearing that the overwhelming force of the rebels might force him to his last resort, that is, retiring his whole force into Fort C, and battering the town down about their ears, the several steamboats arriving were seized and the large amount of public stores, teams, wagons, etc., were carried over to Illinois, so that if the town fell, its loss should be as harmless to the Government as possible. The women and children were also removed, and the little garrison then seemed as one man, resolved to do or die. All that caused any apprehension in the minds of the leading officers for the result, was the weakness of our left, and many a fervent went up for the arrival of a gunboat to strengthen that point. prayer At ten o'clock Saturday night, our pickets reported the arrival at their post of a flag of truce. General McNeil despatched Colonel William R. Strachan with instructions to act for him in the premises. Accompanying the flag of truce were Colonel Watson, three majors and two captains, with an escort. They were not allowed to come nearer town than three miles, and were the bearers of the following letter: HEADQUARTERS, FOURTH DIVISION, NEAR CAPE GIRARDEAU, April 25, 1863. To the Officer Commanding U. S. Forces in and around Cape Girardeau: SIR By order Major-General Sterling Price, commanding, I formally demand of you the immediate surrender, unconditionally, of the troops in Cape Girardeau and the adjoining forts, together with all the ammunition, stores and other property, belonging to the United States, in the If the surrender is made, I pledge myself to treat the troops as prisoners of war, and to parole and exchange them as soon as practicable. I shall scrupulously protect private property; no difference will be made in this particular between parties, whether Union or Southern sentiment. One half-hour is allowed for your decision. same. Colonel Watson, commanding Second Texas cavalry brigade, who bears the flag of truce, will present this demand and wait for your reply. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient serG. W. CARTER, Colonel Commanding Fourth Division, First Army Corps, Trans vant, Mississippi Department. On reading this interesting demand, Colonel Strachan requested Watson to tell Carter he must credit General McNeil with twenty-nine minutes, as one was sufficient for reply, and at once wrote the following: To G. W. Carter, Colonel Commanding, First Army Corps, Trans-Mississippi Department: SIR: I am instructed by General John McNeil to decline your demand for a surrender of the post of Cape Girardeau. He thinks himself able to maintain its possession. I have the honor to be, etc., WILLIAM R. STRACHAN, Colonel and Chief of Staff. That night the little garrison lay on their arms, and the next morning, Sunday, twenty-sixth April, the enemy opened fire from two batteries, one posted on the Jackson road, the other near the Bloomfield road, at ten o'clock and fifteen minutes. Shortly after the engagement had commenced, another flag of truce was announced, and the following was brought in: HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES FORCES, DISTRICT OF SOUTH-EAST MISSOURI, April 26, 1803. GENERAL: I have this moment arrived and learn that Colonel Carter has demanded the sur render of the forces in Cape Girardeau—the fortifications and Government property, which deWith my combined mand you have declined. forces now surrounding Cape Girardeau, I deem it an easy task to storm and capture the town, and I therefore reiterate the demand, that you immediately surrender to me unconditionally your command. In case the demand is not immediately complied with, I request that you will inform all noncombatants in the town to provide for their safety, as I will immediately proceed to attack your position and storm the works. Major Henry Ewing, Adjutant-General, is intrusted as the bearer of this flag of truce. I am, General, very respectfully, Brigadier-General MCNEIL, Commanding U. S. Forces in Cape Girardeau. General McNeil, to this insulting demand after the first answer, simply informed the rebel General that he had taken the precaution to remove the women and children, and so far from surrendering the place, he should defend it to the last extremity. Pending this flag of truce the firing was not discontinued, the General being determined that the rebels should not, under the palpable hypocrisy of a flag of truce, steal a march on him. Major Henry Ewing appeared somewhat disconcerted at not being allowed to see the preparations for Sir Marmaduke's reception, and remonstrated against the non-cessation of hostilities, pending the reception of his contemptible mission. The General coolly told him he was not engaged just then in exchanging compliments or cultivating the amenities of war. The rebels had his answer last night, and further discussion was superfluous. So the rebel Major had perforce to retire to his command, amid the thunder of artillery and the sharp rattle of musketry. At two o'clock and thirty minutes, Marmaduke realized the empty arrogance of his boast of taking the town by storm, ceased firing and withdrew his troops with heavy loss. A proud day it was for the brave and determined McNeil. The gratitude of hundreds of citizens was freely poured out; they recognized that against heavy odds he had saved their houses a mile and a half of the main force of the retreatfrom pillage, their homes from desolation, and ing foe, having driven their rear-guard in upon their town from destruction. The reënforcements their column. We got within three miles of the that arrived never fired a gun, the gunboats never Castor a little after dark. Here Lieuteuant Bast, discharged a shot, but to General McNeil and his son of G. Y. Bast, was taking supper at a farmlittle band of one thousand seven hundred he- er's. The farmer said that about five minutes roes belong exclusively the honors of the day. before a squadron galloped by, hailed the LieuAmongst those officers particularly active were tenant, told him the Yankees had rebuilt the Colonel Huston, of the Seventh Missouri volun- bridge and were close at hand. The Lieutenant teers, Lieutenant-Colonel Baumer, of the First Ne- could not believe them, and went back to supper; braska, Captain Meisner, of the artillery. Adju- but Lieutenant Poole, with some five of our boys tants Poole and Cramer were at all points of at- from the advance, charged by, Lieutenant Poole tack, and displayed a zeal and courage that aided killing two of the Texans as he passed, and remuch toward the good fortunes of the day. Colo- turning took the Lieutenant in, who was so benel Strachan was constantly employed in carry-wildered that he had not presence of mind enough ing orders and bringing up supports to the points menaced. The First Nebraska infantry proved that officers and men could be fully relied on in any emergency, and no one who witnessed or participated in the attempted storming of Cape Girardeau but will cheerfully award to them the highest praise. On Monday, at two o'clock P.M., General McNeil, without taking any rest-for Sunday night all hands were kept on the alert, expecting a night attack-started in pursuit of the retreating foe. That afternoon his wearied men marched sixteen miles to Whitewater, found the bridge destroyed, that General Vendever had made eight miles that day, engaged the enemy, and that part of one company of the Third Iowa had been gobbled up by them. The column from Cape Girardeau was not allowed to push on, prudential reasons ruling the order of advance next morning. General McNeil, with the invaluable assistance of the First Wisconsin, under Colonel La Grange, rebuilt the bridge in three hours, and the column pressed on. Colonel Benjamin of the Second M. S. M., having the advance, they rushed on some ten miles, when orders were received from General Vandever to stop the advance. They had captured two of the enemy who were finishing the destruction of a bridge, and who told them if they had come up ten minutes sooner they could have had the rear-guard of some fifty men, who destroyed the bridge, and had just disappeared. The advance under Benjamin pushed on until we were within a mile of the enemy, who were in force, when up rides an orderly from General Vandever, some ten miles in our rear, calling on them to halt. Orders were obeyed, although it gave the enemy additional time to shove ahead and rest their jaded animals. to make his escape. The same farmer informed us the enemy were at the Castor, and could not cross, the river being up. Guns were pushed on, and position taken to sweep the Castor Bottom so soon as day should dawn; but alas! the enemy succeeded in crossing during the night, and their sharp-shooters were posted in the woods on the opposite bank to dispute our crossing, while the main column should have time to get out of our way. A sharp skirmish ensued, the First Wisconsin succeeded in driving them, aided by artillery, and we had undisputed control of the fords, when, instead of crossing, it was understood that orders had been received from General Vandever abandoning the crossing and giving up further pursuit. So waited we for several hours, when General Vandever changed his mind and allowed us to move on once more. The delay prevented our getting over in time to occupy Bloomfield that night. We shoved on to Bloomfield next day, having sharp skirmishing in front, which at one time seemed like advancing toward a general engagement. But falling back was the ruling order among the rebels. On arriving in Bloomfield, several citizens informed us that we were but two hours behind. Again did joy illuminate the faces of the brave and resolute men of McNeil's column, but alas! its fitful flash soon died away, we remaining in town to give the enemy a good start again, when it was well known that forty miles would land him in Arkansas, across the St. Francis, and he could then laugh at us with impunity. Finally General Vandever gave to General McNeil two brigades, first under command of Colonel J. M. Glover, Third Missouri volunteer cavalry, and Finally, the column was allowed to push on-second under Colonel La Grange, First Wisconsin got within three miles of the Castor, captured cavalry. Vandever asked McNeil when he could Lieutenant Bast and a few others, who admitted move. "In half an hour," replied McNeil. "I they had no knowledge of the rapidity of our will march at four in the morning," said Vandemarch, and supposed the Whitewater had effect- ver. General McNeil marched all night without ually stopped us. On the east side of the Cas-rations or feed, the men never murmuring, so anxtor was Carter's division, numbering over three ious were they to make up the criminal delay thousand effective men; also Shelby's division. at the Castor and Bloomfield. At five o'clock Both brigades should have been captured at the A.M., Colonel Glover became engaged with the Castor. Prisoners have frankly admitted that enemy, forced them from their position, (although they expected they would be forced to surrender. it was a strong one,) and backed by their arFour times had McNeil's column been halted by tillery. About four miles further the enemy General Vandever, who was several miles in the made another stand. The artillery was hurried rear, and that several times when we were within up, skirmishers went to work, and soon Colonel |