ANOTHER ACCOUNT. CAMP ON SPANNIVAW CREEK, I. T., Oct. 24, 1862. On Wednesday, the twenty-second instant, the Kansas division of the army of the frontier, forcing a march in pursuit of Cooper, Col. Cloud of the Third brigade came up with the enemy on Spannivaw Creek, four miles beyond Maysville. The attack was sudden, energetic, and successful. The rebels were defeated, four brass pieces, all they had, were taken, and numbers killed and wounded. Our loss was three killed and seven wounded. The Kansas Second, Lieut.-Colonel Bassett, under Colonel Cloud, did the most of the work. X, Tenth Kansas Volunteers. Doc. 13. THE BATTLE OF POCOTALIGO, S. C. GENERAL BRANNAN'S REPORTS. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, HILTON HEAD, S. C., Nov. 1, 1862. GENERAL: I herewith transmit the report of an expedition from this department, ordered by the late Major-General O. M. Mitchel (then in command) to destroy the railroad and railroad bridges on the Charleston and Savannah line, in the vicinity of Pocotaligo and Coosahatchie. The forwarding of this report has hitherto been delayed, owing to the illness and subsequent death of Major-General Mitchel. The reports of the brigade and other commanders, together with a list of those officers and men who personally distinguished themselves, I will forward by the next mail. I have the honor to be, General, most respectfully your obedient servant, J. M. BRANNAN, Brig.-General L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army. HEADQUARTERS EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, To Lieutenant-Colonel W. P. Prentice, Assistant -- tive strength, one hundred and eight; section First, United States artillery, Lieut. G. J. Henry, commanding effective strength, forty; section Third, United States artillery, Lieut. E. Gittings, commanding-effective strength, forty; detachment N. Y. Volunteer Engineers, Lieut. Col. Hall commanding-effective strength, two hundred and fifty. Total effective strength, four thousand four hundred and forty-eight men. With this command I left Hilton Head, S. C., on the evening of the twenty-first of October, 1862, and proceeding up Broad River, arrived off Pocotaligo Creek, at half-past four o'clock A.M. with the transport Ben Deford and gunboat Paul Jones. Colonel William Barton, Forty-eighth regiment New-York State volunteers, fifty men Volunteer Engineer corps, and fifty men Third Rhode Island volunteers, in accordance with my orders, delivered early that morning, proceeded direct to the Coosahatchie River, to destroy the railroad and railroad bridges in that vicinity. The other gunboats and transports did not all arrive until about eight A.M., October twenty-second. I immediately effected a landing of my artillery and infantry at Mackay's Point, on the junction of Pocotaligo and Tullifiny Rivers. I advanced without delay in the direction of Pocotaligo bridge, sending back the transports Flora and Darlington to Port Royal Island for the cavalry. The Fest brigade being in advance with section from First United States artillery, followed by the Second brigade, with Col. Brown's command, the section of Third United States artillery, and three boat-howitzers, which Captain Steedman, commanding the naval forces, kindly furnished for this occasion, and a detachment of forty-five men from the Third Rhode Island volunteer artillery, under Captain Comstock, of that regiment. On advancing about five and a half miles, and debouching upon an open, rolling country, the rebels opened upon us with a field-battery from a position on the plantation known as Gaston's. I immediately caused the First brigade to deploy, and crossing my artillery to the front, drove the rebels from this position; they, however, destroyCOLONEL In accordance with instructions re-ed all the small bridges in the vicinity, causing ceived from headquarters, Department of the South, I assumed command of the following forces, ordered to destroy the railroad bridges on the "Charleston and Savannah line." -- much delay in my advance. These, with the aid of the Engineer corps, were reconstructed as we advanced, and I followed up the retreat of the rebels with all haste practicable. A portion of the First brigade (Brannan's) Col. I had advanced about one and a quarter miles J. S. Chatfield, Sixth regiment Connecticut vol- further when a battery again opened on us from unteers, commanding effective strength, two a position on the plantation called "Frampton." thousand; a portion of Second brigade, Brigadier- The rebels here had every advantage of ground, General A. H. Terry, commanding-effective being ensconced in a wood with a deep swamp in strength, one thousand four hundred and ten; front, passable only by a narrow causeway, on detachment Third regiment Rhode Island volun- which the bridge had been destroyed; while on teers, Colonel Brown commanding effective our side of the swamp and along the entire front strength, three hundred; detachment Forty- and flanks of the enemy (extending to the swamp) eighth regiment New-York State volunteers, Col. was impervious thicket, intersected by a deep Barton commanding — effective strength, three water ditch, and passable only by a narrow road. hundred; detachment of First Massachusetts Into this wood the rebels threw a most terrific cavalry, Capt. L. Richmond, commanding-effec- fire of grape, shot, shell, canister and musket balls, killing and wounding great numbers of my command. Here the ammunition for the fieldpieces fell short, and though the infantry acted with great courage and determination, they were twice driven out of the woods with great slaughter by the overwhelming force of the enemy, whose missiles tore through the woods like hail. I had warmly responded to this fire with the sections of First and Third United States artillery and the boat-howitzers, until finding my ammunition about to fail, and seeing any flank move-ed, who were lying writhing along the entire route, ment was impossible, I pressed the First brigade forward, through the thicket to the verge of the swamp, and sent a section of the First United States artillery, well supported, to the causeway on the further side of the wood, leaving the Second brigade with Colonel Brown's command, the section Third United States artillery and the boathowitzers, as a line of defence on my rear. The bridge across the Pocotaligo was destroyed, and the rebels from behind their earthworks continued firing on the only approach to it through the swamps. Night was now closing fast, and seeing the utter hopelessness of attempting any thing further against the force which the enemy had concentrated at this point from Savannah and Charleston, with an army of much inferior force, unprovided with ammunition, and not having sufficient transportation to remove the woundI deemed it expedient to move on Mackay's Point, which I did in successive lines of defence, burying my dead and carrying our wounded with us on such stretchers as we could manufacture from branches of trees, blankets, etc., and received no molestation from the rebels; embarked and returned to Hilton Head on the twenty-third instant. Facts tend to show that the rebels were perThe effect of this bold movement was immedi- fectly acquainted with all our plans, as they had ately evident in the precipitate retreat of the reb-evidently studied our purpose with care, and had els, who disappeared in the woods with amazing two lines of defence, Easton and Frampton," rapidity. The infantry of the First brigade im- before falling back on Pocotaligo, where, aided by mediately plunged through the swamp (parts of their field-works and favored by the nature of the which were nearly up to their arm-pits) and ground and the facility of concentrating troops, they started in pursuit. Some delay was caused by evidently purposed making a determined stand; the bridge having been destroyed, impeding the and, indeed, the accounts gathered from prisoners passage of the artillery. This difficulty was over- leave no doubt but that the rebels had very accucome, and with my full force I pressed forward rate information of our movements. on the retreating rebels. At this point, (apprehending from the facility with which the rebels progressed heading "Pocotaligo Creek" that they would attempt to turn my left flank,) I sent an infantry regiment with a boat-howitzer to my left to strike the "Coosahatchie road." The position which I had found proved, as I had supposed, to be one of great natural advantages to the rebels, the ground being higher on that side of the swamp, and having a firm open field for the working of their artillery, which latter they formed in a half-circle, throwing a concentrated fire on the entrance to the woods we had just passed. The rebels left in their retreat a caisson full of ammunition, which latter fortunately fitting the boat-howitzers, enabled us at a later period of the day to keep up our fire when all other ammunition had failed. Still pursuing the flying rebels, I arrived at that point where the Coosahatchie road, joining that from McKay's Landing, runs through a swamp to Pocotaligo bridge. Here the rebels opened a murderous fire upon us from batteries of siege-guns and field-pieces, on the further side of the creek. Our skirmishers, however, advanced boldly to the edge of the swamp, and from what cover they could obtain did considerable execution among the enemy. The rebels, as I anticipated, attempted a flank movement on our left, but for some reason abandoned it. The ammunition of the artillery here entirely failed, owing to the caissons not having been brought on, for want of transportation from Port Royal, and pieces had to be sent back to Mackay's Point, a distance of ten miles, to renew it. I greatly felt the want of cavalry, who, in consequence of the transports having grounded in Broad River, did not arrive till nearly four P.M., and who, in the early part of the day, would, perhaps, have captured some field-pieces in the open country we were then in, and would, at all events, have prevented the destruction of the bridge in the rear of the rebels. Great praise is due to the brigade and regimental commanders for their calm and determined courage during the entire day, and for the able manner in which they handled their several commands. Col. Barton, Forty-eighth regiment New-York State volunteers, as will be seen from the accompanying copy of his report, partially effected the object of this movement on the Coosahatchie, but meeting with too strong a force of the rebels, was forced to embark. I desire to call the attention of the Major-General commanding the department to the gallant and distinguished conduct of First Lieutenant Guy T. Henry, First United States artillery, commanding a section of light artillery. His pieces were served admirably throughout. He had two horses shot. The section of Third United States artillery, commanded by First Lieut. E. Giddings, Third United States artillery, was well served. He being wounded in the latter part of the day, his section was commanded by Lieut. Henry. The three boat-howitzers furnished by Captain Steedman, United States Navy, commanding the naval forces, were served well; and the officers commanding them, with the crews, as also the detachment of the Third Rhode Island volunteers, deserve great credit for their coolness, skill, and gallantry. The officers commanding these guns are as follows: Lieutenant Lloyd Phoenix, Ensigns James Wallace, Samuel P. Adams, and Frederick Pearson. and Savannah Railroad. In accordance with orders from General Mitchel, received on the evening of the twentieth instant, I left this port at eight o'clock A.M. on the twenty-first instant, with three hundred men of the Forty-eighth New-York volunteers, and fifty men of the Third Rhode Island artillery, (the latter under command of Capt. John H. Gould,) with three days' cooked, and seven days' uncooked rations, on The conduct of my entire staff, Capt. Lewis J. Lambert, A.A.G.; Captain I. Coryell, A.Q.M.; Lieuts. Ira V. Germain, and George W. Bacon, Aid-de-Camp, gave me great pleasure and satisfaction. My orders were transmitted by them in the hottest of the battle with great rapidity and correctness. To Col. E. W. Serrell, New-York Vol-board the armed transport Planter. unteer Engineers, who acted as an additional aidde-camp, I am much indebted. His energy, perfect coolness and bravery, was a source of gratification to me. Orders from me were executed by him in a very satisfactory manner. Licut. G. H. Hill, signal-officer, performed his duties with great promptness. He acted also as additional aid-de-camp, and gave me much assistance in carrying my orders during the entire day. Col. T. H. Good, Forty-seventh regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, Col. Chatfield being wounded early in the day, commanded the First brigade during the latter part of the engagement, with much ability. Nothing could be more satisfactory than the promptness and skill with which the wounded were attended by Surgeon E. W. Bailey, Forty-seventh Pennsylvania volunteers, (Medical Director,) and the entire medical staff of the command. The troops of the command behaved with great gallantry, advancing against a remarkably heavy fire of musketry, canister, grape, round-shot, and shell, driving the enemy before them with much determination. I was perfectly satisfied with their conduct. On arriving at Hilton Head, I received instructions as to my number on the line of the fleet, and also directions to report to Brig.-Gen. Brannan-who commanded the expedition—on reaching Mackay Point, for further orders. Soon after daylight on the morning of the twenty-second, I reported to Gen. Brannan on board the Ben Deford, and was directed by him to proceed with my command up the Coosahatchie River, as near to the town of that name as I might deem practicable, and disembarking under cover of the gunboats, which were to accompany me, to move toward the town, and, if possible, reach the Charleston and Savannah Railroad and destroy it at that point, and the bridge on it over the Coosahatchie. I was fully instructed, however, not to hazard too much in order to accomplish the above, but if opposed by a force at all superior, to fall back under cover of the fleet. There was some delay in starting, arising from the gunboats being well to the rear, which I improved in borrowing from Commander Steedman, on board the flag-ship Paul Jones, a twelve-pound Dahlgren boat-howitzer, and fifty-two rounds of ammunition, which proved of great service to me, and for which I desire to return my thanks. İ was also furnished by Gen. Brannan's order with fifty men from the New-York State Volunteer Engineers, under command of Capt. Eaton, provided with the necessary implements for cutting the railroad, etc. It affords me much pleasure again to report the perfect cordiality existing between the two branches of the service, and I am much indebted to Capt. Charles S. Steedman, U.S.N., for his valuable aid and assistance in disembarking and reembarking the troops; also in sending launches (with howitzers) to prevent an attack on our We were soon under way, and had proceeded pickets while we were embarking to return to some three miles up the river, when the gunboats Hilton Head. The fitting out of the expedition, turned around and came back, in compliance, as I as relates to its organization, supplies, transport-am informed, with an order from the flag-ship. ation, and ammunition, was done entirely by the Major-General commanding the department, who at first proposed to command it. I was not assigned to the command till a few hours previous to the sailing of the expedition from Hilton Head. The reports of the brigade and other commanders, with a list of the officers and men who rendered themselves personally worthy of notice during the engagement, I will forward as soon as received. I have the honor to be, Colonel, most respectfully, your obedient servant, J. M. BRANNAN, I, however, continued on my course in the Planter, meanwhile signaling to the flag-officer for at least one gunboat, in reply to which he kindly sent two, namely, the Patroon and the Marblehead, which followed after the lapse of a few minutes. The river at this point was very narrow and winding, but the water in most places was over twelve feet in depth at low-tide. I found no difficulty, therefore, in reaching a point two miles distant from Coosahatchie, but it now being almost dead low-tide, further progress by water was rendered impossible by the Planter running aground. Throwing a few shells in the woods, I disembarked with my infantry and engineers as expeditiously as possible, taking with me the boat-howitzer referred to above, in charge of Capt. Gould, Third Rhode Island artillery, and a detachment of twelve of his men. The swampy HEADQUARTERS RIVER, FORT PULASKI, Ga., October 28, 1862. nature of the ground rendered landing difficult, CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report my share but losing no time, I advanced toward the main in the recent operations against the Charleston | road, sending a request to the officer in command COLONEL BARTON'S REPORT. of the Patroon, the gunboat nearest me, and about a mile and a half astern, to cover the road in my rear as I advanced. I should state here that both of the gunboats were unfortunately aground, and were thus prevented from taking a position nearer to the Planter. My advance reported squads of cavalry in sight as the main body entered the road, which it did at right angles to the point of disembarkation. The road proved to be an excellent one, hard and firm, and evidently repaired but an hour or two before, the dirt being still fresh, and the tracks upon it showed plainly that artillery, infantry, and cavalry had just passed over it. I continued my advance toward the town, driving in the enemy's pickets and skirmishing the country as thoroughly as possible. When about one mile from the village the whistle of a locomotive was heard. I was informed by the contraband, who had been furnished as a guide, that it was the dirt-train which always passed at that hour, and which he said was well on its way to Savannah. A few moments, however, proved that he had misinformed me, for when the main body arrived at a point within a few hundred yards of the town, and when the skirmishers had already reached the railroad track and telegraph line, the train was heard and seen rapidly coming down the road. I quickly placed my battalion in position, and as the train approached I directed a heavy and rapid fire upon it, with grape, and canister, and musketry. This fire was very destructive. The train consisted of eight cars, six of which were platforms crowded with men, the two boxcars filled with officers. There were also two light field-pieces on board. Many were seen to fall at the first fire, (among them the engineer,) and twenty-five or thirty jumped from the train, most of whom were maimed or killed; the rest, with one exception, betaking themselves to the woods and swamps on the other side of the track. We carried away or destroyed here about thirty stands of arms, mostly rifles, and secured one of ficer's sword and cap, and a stand of silk colors belonging to the "Whippy Swamp Guards." We left a number of the enemy's dead and wounded on the track. We have since learned from the Savannah papers of the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth, that among the killed at this point was Major Harrison, of the Eleventh Georgia regiment, which regiment, with the Guards named above, were on the train. Immediately after the train had passed, Capt. Eaton, by my directions, set vigorously at work tearing up the railroad track, and continued thus until the retreat was sounded. After this occurrence I concluded, if possible, to push rapidly into the town and attack the troops while in the confusion of disembarking. I had proceeded but a short distance, however, before I came in full view of the enemy's forces, advantageously posted on the other side of the public road bridge, between that and the railroad bridge. They were flanked on their left by the river, and on their right by a thick swamp, with three pieces of artillery commanding the bridge. They immediately opened fire upon us with their artillery and infantry, fortunately for us, however, firing too high. I fired a few rounds in return, when, as it was now nearly night and the enemy's reënforcements above were double my entire force, I marched slowly back to my boats. During my retreat the skirmishers frequently observed and encountered small bodies of the enemy's cavalry, who were, however, easily driven off. I directed Capt. Eaton, of the engineers, to destroy the bridge on the road in my rear, which he did thoroughly, thus in a measure hindering the pursuit. The enemy, however, made his ap pearance and attacked us with infantry and artillery several times during my embarkation, but in each instance we drove them off with serious loss, as they were directly under the guns of the Planter and Patroon. As soon as the steamer again floated we returned to Mackay's Point by order of Gen. Brannan, and thence by way of Hilton Head to this port. I regret to report that during the last attack of the enemy Lieutenant J. M. Blanding, Third Rhode Island artillery, at that time in charge of the Planter, was dangerously wounded in the left arm and side. He is now, however, doing well. This was the only casualty on our side during the day. It affords me great pleasure to state that every officer and man of my command behaved during the day in the most commendable manner, evincing only a desire to meet the enemy, and regret at the necessity of a retreat. Major Green, Acting Lieutenant-Colonel Fortyeighth New-York volunteers, and Acting Major Captain Strickland, New-York volunteers, were especially useful. Capt. Gould, of the Third Rhode Island artillery, also rendered me most efficient service, as did also Captain Eaton, Serrell's Volunteer Engineers, all of whom displayed the utmost zeal, energy, and ability in all they were called upon to perform. I have the honor to be, Captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WILLIAM B. BARTON, PORT ROYAL, Friday, October 24, 1862. Encouraged by the perfect success of the recent enterprise at St. John's River and the Bluffton salt-works, and true to the promise that he made his troops, of giving them active employment on assuming command of the Department of the South, Gen. Mitchel has just prosecuted a third expedition, of greater magnitude and of more important aim, which, while yielding fresh lustre to our arms, I grieve to say, has only partially achieved its object, and adds another long list to the names of martyrs in the Union cause. The special design of this enterprise was to destroy the trestle-work bridges of the Charleston and Savannah Railroad, crossing the Pocotaligo, Tullifiny, and Coosahatchie. These streams are all tributaries of the Broad River; and to approach them it was determined, after a careful study of the map of this peculiarly impracticable and most difficult country for military operations, to make a landing at Mackay's Point, at the junction of the Broad and Pocotaligo Rivers, a distance of twentyfive miles from Hilton Head, where our troops could be debarked under cover of gunboats, and a march of eleven miles would take them to the village of Pocotaligo, at which place it was supposed the enemy would make a stand. The attack was intended as a surprise; and while our main force was to advance, as stated, a smaller body of troops, commanded by Col. Barton, of the Forty-eighth New-York volunteers, was to create a diversion by penetrating to the Coosahatchie bridge in the steamer Planter, convoyed by the gunboat Patroon; but with imperative orders to retire should they encounter a superior force. By cutting the railroad in the manner proposed, communication between the cities of Savannah and Charleston would be destroyed, and the way opened for a sudden blow upon one or both of these places, at the discretion of the Commanding General. shire volunteers. Transport Boston, with five hundred of the Seventh Connecticut volunteers, and three hundred and eighty of the Third NewHampshire volunteers. Gunboat Patroon, with fifty of the Third New-Hampshire volunteers. Gunboat Uncas, with fifty of the Third NewHampshire volunteers. Transport Darlington, with three hundred of the Sixth Connecticut volunteers. The Relief and schooner, with two hundred of the Sixth Connecticut volunteers. Gunboat Marblehead, with two hundred and thirty of the Third Rhode Island volunteers. Gunboat Vixen, with seventy of the Third Rhode Island volunteers. Steamer Florida, with three hundred of the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania volunteers. Gunboat Water Witch, with one hundred and thirty of the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania volunteers. Army gunboat George Washington, with two hundred and fifty of the New-York Volunteer Engineers. Steamer Planter, with three hundred of the Forty-eighth New-York volunteers. The Ben Deford, towed a flat-boat having on board a section of Lieut. Henry's battery First United States artillery, and the Boston another flat boat carrying a section of company E, Third United States artillery. The entire land forces were composed of portions of the first and second brigades of the Tenth army corps, respectively commanded by Brig.-Generals J. M. Brannan and A. H. Terry, the former being senior officer, and therefore commanding the expedition. At nightfall, of Tuesday, the twenty-first, the expedition was ready for departure, but did not leave until midnight, as nothing could be accomplished by reaching its destination before daybreak. The vessels left in the order above designated, but the night was misty, and one or two of them ran aground, delaying their arrival at the rendezvous for some hours beyond the time which had been fixed. The plan of this expedition was skilfully conceived, and every precaution adopted to render it successful. Few can imagine the perplexities attendant upon the movement of troops and artillery by water. It was necessary to construct flat-boats for the transportation of field-batteries; to concentrate all the light-draught boats; to gain such knowledge as might be gained imperfectly through scouts, of the character of the country to be traversed; to decide upon the possibility of debarking at the point selected; arriving at proper tides; providing for the subsistence of the troops, and a Meanwhile the tug Starlight was despatched hundred other details regarding prudence and with some boats of the Paul Jones and a small sagacious foresight, and which after all were sus- company of soldiers of the Seventh Connecticut, ceptible of disarrangement. Considering all these under Capt. Gray, to capture the rebel pickets at circumstances, and the fact that so many persons Mackay's Point and at a plantation on the Pocoare employed in the organization of an expedition taligo River, a few miles distant. This project of this kind, it is not to be wondered that informa- was only partially successful. At the plantation, tion of the projected attack passed our lines, and Lieut. Banks, of the enemy's picket, and three the enemy consequently was ready to receive us. men, were made prisoners, but through the inThe army transports of light draught were not competency of a negro guide, the guard at the sufficient for the transportation of the number of point escaped, giving warning of our approach. men required for this service, and in the emer- From the rebel officer who was taken, Gen. Brangency Commodore Godon, of the navy, was ap- nan learned that our attack had been apprehendplied to by Gen. Mitchel for assistance. Commo-ed by the enemy, and for several days they had dore Godon promptly agreed to take troops on the gunboats, and the soldiers were assigned as follows: been preparing for the encounter. The tedious process of putting the men ashore in small boats was commenced soon after six o'clock A.M., on Wednesday, and by ten o'clock, men, horses, and guns were landed, excepting the detachment of the Third Rhode Island volunteers, who were on the gunboat Marblehead, which was aground all day some miles down the river. Gunboat Paul Jones, Captain Charles Steedman, commanding naval forces, towing Wabash launches. Transport Ben Deford, with six hundred of the Forty-seventh Pennsylvania volunteers, and four hundred of the Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania volunteers. Gunboat Connemaugh, with The line of march was taken up soon, after ten, three hundred and fifty of the Fourth New-Hamp- the section of Lieutenant Henry's battery being shire volunteers. Gunboat Wissahickon, with at the head of the column, with skirmishers of the two hundred and fifty of the Fourth New-Hamp- Forty-seventh Pennsylvania regiment. Advanc |