Many of the people of this region ran away with him, many others were pressed in as conscripts, and others were called out in the militia. But a reaction is now taking place, and Captain Fuller, our active and polite Provost-Marshal, is full of business, paroling, granting passes, and generally whitewashing the returned fugitives. One of the most certain signs of the good results of the civilizing influence of this little army of patriots and gentlemen is that several of the ladies, wives of wealthy planters, have extorted a promise from me to ask you to send them the Delta. I am told they have been reading lies and nonsense for nearly two years now, and desire a change. The Feds seem to be vastly more popular than the Unfeds were. The former go into a house, store, or shop, and if they see any thing they want, they simply inquire the price and pay for it in money; while the latter would swagger around, wishing they might get a sight of a Yankee, that they might kill him and swallow him whole, take whatever they might want, and tender in payment some worthless shinplaster payable in confederate notes. They frequently did not pretend to pay any thing. One poor widow woman told me that they came to her house, quartered on her for two weeks, got drunk, broke her furniture, ate her substance, and finally sloped on the approach of the Federals, leaving her worse off in this world's goods by at least one hundred dollars, besides their unpaid bills. I could write innumerable instances related to me of their high and riotous doings, but I must pass on to other subjects. On Wednesday morning the General ordered Col. Birge, with his regiment, (the Thirteenth Connecticut,) to march to the Bayou des Allemands and open communication with Colonel Thomas, who was opening the Opelousas Railroad, and who was reported to be rather hard pushed by the confederates. Col. Birge went within four miles of the bayou, when he met some of Col. Thomas's officers, who reported the command as coming on slowly but surely, having not once fired a gun nor seen a hostile force. Communication being thus open, the Thirteenth came back to camp on Thursday. Col. Thomas reported that the rebels had burned the railroad bridge across the bayou, and that he was then engaged in repairing it - a work, he thought, of two or three days' time. The railroad bridge across Bayou Lafourche was burned also, but that was not so long as the one near Bayou des Allemands, nor so badly burned. The latter was about four hundred and fifty feet long, and pretty nearly destroyed. The former was soon repaired. Trains can now go over the road from Algiers to the dépôt near this place, and I shall be able to send you daily reports. The confederate military authorities have burned numerous warehouses filled with sugar. One at the dépôt, four miles from here, had three hundred hogsheads. Another, three miles dis VOL. VI.-Doc. 4 tant, contained two hundred and fifty. This sugar was totally destroyed. The reason alleged for this wanton destruction is that the Yankees would come and seize it! The real reason is, that the leaders were afraid that this sugar would contribute to restore friendly relations between the people and their true Government. It serves to make loyal men out of the planters, who can bring their produce to New-Orleans, obtain unprecedentedly high prices, in good money, and purchase in return therefor such goods as they need for their families at low prices. If the confederates cannot stop this trade, their cause will be damaged in the Lafourche country. We have all along heard that General Mouton intended to make a stand at the next point, from each of which he retreated, until he is said to have reached Berwick's Bay. Reports this morning say that this latter point is now evacuated, and the enemy is supposed to have gone in the direction of Vicksburgh. I learn that all along the line of the Opelousas road, the people who have been drafted as conscripts are deserting and coming in, taking the oath of allegiance. A Capt. Renshaw, it is said, who had a company of sixty-two men, lost forty by desertion this morning. Another small squad of eleven men were sworn in as loyal citizens this evening. It is probable that a considerable amount of sugar will find its way to your city, now the railroad is open to this place and beyond; and I have heard of one man already who has received permission to ship his stock, which consists of about three hundred hogsheads. It is likely there will be many more. The Eighth New Hampshire started this morning for Tigerville, about twenty miles distant, down the road. It is thought there is no enemy in this region now, and that communication will soon be open to Galveston. Colonel Thomas, of the Eighth Vermont, found four pieces of artillery mounted on a car, at the bridge of Bayou des Allemands. They were well spiked, and one was filled with balls to the muz. zle. Two were thirty-two pounders, and two were little four-pounder field-pieces. I am informed that the commander of the confederate forces at Bayou des Allemands, on learning the result of the engagement at Labadieville, or Napoleonville, shot seven prisoners belonging to the Eighth Vermont regiment. The supposed reasons for this act of barbarity are, that they were Germans who had been enlisted in NewOrleans, taken prisoners some time ago, and that he was afraid they might escape to their regiment, which he heard was making its way up the road, or that they might be recaptured. They are buried within a short distance of the bridge, and were taken up and fully identified by some of their former companions in arms. I cannot vouch for the truth of this statement, but give it as it was told me by some of the officers and men of the regiment. Doc. 17. rapidity, and then with enthusiasm went at the work in hand. The river was crossed, skirmish THE FIGHT AT CROSS HOLLOWS, ARK.* ers thrown out, and at one time his entire party, MISSOURI "DEMOCRAT" NARRATIVE, CROSS HOLLOWS, ARK., October 29. I TAKE this, the earliest opportunity, of sending you intelligence and further detail relative to another victory which has been gained in Northwestern Arkansas. Telegraphic despatches regarding the fight doubtless have already reached you and been presented to your readers. The facts of the case are these: The army of the frontier had been vainly pursuing the main body of the rebels for several weeks without hope of bringing on a collision, until news came that a considerable force had collected near Fayetteville. On Monday, Gen. Totten's entire division started from Osage Spring, a point five or six miles west of Cross Hollows, and equidistant with the latter to Fayetteville. His force moved at three o'clock in the afternoon, some six or seven thousand strong, going directly toward Fayetteville, which was seventeen miles distant. In the evening Gen. Herron received directions to take a body of cavalry and approach the enemy from the south-east and overwhelm them. He took nine hundred men, consisting of a portion of the First Iowa cavalry, the Seventh Missouri State militia, and the first battalion of the First Missouri cavalry, a portion of which formed his body-guard, and set out at eleven o'clock on Monday night, eight hours after the other division had taken its departure. He went south some six miles upon the direct road to Fayetteville, and then, turning to the left or east, made a wide detour through a blind, unfrequented path without a guide and under the cover of a night of tartarean darkness. This little party crossed the White River several times, and forced their way through tangled thickets, and by three or half-past three o'clock in the morning had made twenty-five miles and encountered the first pickets of the enemy. These were followed in with difficulty, the road apparently becoming more obscure. camp Just as the dawn was breaking they came upon a heavier picket, consisting, apparently, of one hundred and fifty men. A portion of the State militia was dismounted, and this party driven across the White River, which there intervened between Gen. Herron's forces and the rebel camp. It appeared, from a straggler and a boy that had been caught, that Col. Craven was at this with four thousand Texan Rangers and two pieces of artillery. This would have been discouraging to some men, but Gen. Herron had not marched his men all the way down there, through bramble and brake, for the purpose of marching them back again. Although he had expected to merely assist a larger force in subduing the enemy, he found himself with a new and very serious battle on his hands. Taking a hasty survey of the position, he disposed his willing forces with *This battle is also known as the battle of Fayetteville. with the exception of less than one hundred men, were engaged in the fight. No less than an hour and a half was consumed in crossing the river, the rebels having the advantage in long-range Minié muskets, while our boys had only their revolving pistols and rifles and a few carbines. After a severe contest, their advance was pushed across the river, and then they made a new line of battle, running through their camp, when they made a bold stand, and held our forces for another hour and a half. Finally, signs of yielding were detected, and then our boys charged upon them with a wild shout that sent terror to the hearts of the rebels, and added wings to their flying feet. In a moment their camp was deserted, and our gallant boys were in possession. There were many wooden barracks there, the place having been used last season, as winter quarters. These were burned to the ground, and all their cooking utensils, and a large amount of other camp equipage, were destroyed. A portion of their train was captured, and the entire rebel force, consisting of six regiments, were driven four miles into the Boston Mountains. A few prisoners were taken, not exceeding a dozen in number, and fifteen dead bodies were picked up on the field. The road by which the rebels retreated was thickly spattered with blood, showing that they took away many wounded, and upon several occasions they were seen taking We did away dead bodies upon their horses. not lose a man, and only five were wounded, which, of itself, is a remarkable piece of good fortune. This brilliant affair occurred twelve miles south of Fayetteville, on the Ozark road. Intelligence was brought that a large rebel force was between the scene of conflict and Fayetteville. General Herron, not relishing the idea of being entirely surrounded by a largely superior force, fell back toward Fayetteville, after resting for an hour upon the well-won field. Whatever rebel force there was upon this road disappeared over the band came upon the advance of Gen. Totten's dimountains, and within an hour the gallant little vision. Last night, at nine o'clock, the General returned to this place, having travelled fifty-four miles in less than twenty-three hours, whipped a force of rebels four times as large as his, taking them completely by surprise in a hostile country, and bringing his whole force safely home without the loss of a single life. ANOTHER NATIONAL ACCOUNT. CROSS HOLLOWS, ARK., October 29, 1862. Quite a brilliant affair in the way of a night raid took place in this vicinity yesterday, and is perhaps well worth a passing mention. The different divisions of the army of the frontier have been gallivanting about the country seeking for a muss with the rebels with very poor success for some weeks. Like the Irishman's flea, every time we thought we had them at any particular place, they were not there. We are in a hostile of Col. Craven. The case looked desperate, but country, where every living thing appears to act Gen. Herron is every inch a soldier, and a coolthe spy against us, apprising the secesh of our headed fighting man. He had made a weary approach whenever we make an important move-night-march, and he was determined not to go ment toward them. Intelligence came a few days back without giving the enemy a tussle. With a ago that a considerable body of the enemy bad rapid glance he took in the whole situation, comcongregated in the vicinity of Fayetteville, and prehending the advantages and disadvantages of would there give us fight. General Totten was the position immediately. His men consisted of ordered to move his division immediately upon portions of the brave Iowa First cavalry, the Sevthe latter place. He responded to this order by enteenth Missouri State militia-the same, by the starting at three o'clock P.M. Gen. Herron was way, who were forced across the State line at the encamped with his division at Cross Hollows, and point of the bayonet-and a part of the First batGeneral Totten's camp was at Osage Springs, six talion of the First Missouri volunteer cavalry, and miles west of the former camp, and equidistant in all numbered about nine hundred men. They with it from Fayetteville. On the evening of the were poorly armed, some with carbines, others same day (twenty-seventh instant) Gen. Herron with only sabres and revolving pistols, and the received orders to take a portion of the cavalry remainder with short-range revolving rifles; all belonging to his command, and to approach the else depended upon their dashing bravery and inenemy from the south-east simultaneously if pos- vincible spirits. It was impossible to decide who sible with Totten, who would move on them from was entitled to the most praise in this most unthe north-west. Fayetteville is seventeen miles equal conflict. No single company had ever been nearly south of the starting-point of both of these beaten in a previous battle, so they knew not parties, so that while Totten approached them what it was to be whipped. Disparity of numdirectly and by the shortest route, Gen. Herion, bers was forgotten; the victory to them was a who started eight hours afterward, would be foregone conclusion, and it only remained to win obliged to make a wide detour, and attack the it by fair hard knocks. At it they went, doing enemy in the rear. At eleven o'clock at night, their work manfully, and performing deeds of valor the latter General, supported by less than one that smacked of the marvels of ancient chivalry. thousand half-armed cavalry, left Cross Hollows Another hour and a half was spent in making an upon a very indefinite sort of errand. He did not impression upon the serried front of the rebels. know exactly where the enemy were encamped, At last word was conveyed along the lines that nor by what road to reach them. He had not an the enemy was in retreat, and in a moment our idea what their force amounted to; and he knew forces were charging into their camp with an innot where Totten would commence his attack. spiriting huzza that incited with new terror the This little party proceeded rapidly on the Fay- flying feet of the foe. They were driven some etteville road for some six or seven miles, then four miles, and after a hard-fought affair lasting they turned off to the left, on the east, into a about four hours in all, the field and a complete blind bridle-path. The night was pitchy dark, victory was ours. The rebel camp equipage and and the air sharp with frost. Without compass or barracks were destroyed, and a portion of their guide, the General led his men through bramble baggage-train captured. Several prisoners were and brake, tangled brushwood and thick forests, taken, and fifteen or twenty bodies found dead over mountains, through rivers and rock-ribbed upon the field. Doubtless many dead were carravines, coming upon a rebel vidette at about half-ried away, and all the wounded. Our loss was past three o'clock in the morning, some twentyfive miles from Cross Hollows. This was unexpected, but the facts of the case proved that the rebels were twelve miles below Fayetteville, on the Huntsville road. General Herron advanced his men, cautiously feeling his way by flankers and scouts, until daylight, when he came upon a strong picket-guard of two hundred cavalry. portion of the Missouri State militia were dis- FIGHT ON THE RIDGEVILLE ROAD, VA. A mounted and deployed as skirmishers. They worked beautifully, advancing bravely to the contest, and drove the secesh steadily toward their camp, which was in an open space on the opposite side of White River. Other pickets were encountered, who fell back to the edge of the stream, and there made a determined stand of an hour and a half. They were finally dislodged, and sent helter-skelter through the water to the oppo-, site shore. Our troops immediately followed, and there met, drawn up in a line of battle, the whole rebel force, consisting of two pieces of artillery and five regiments of Texan Rangers, numbering nearly five thousand men, under the command almost nothing. Five poor fellows were wounded, one of whom has since died. With that exception, it was almost a bloodless victory, as far as Gen. Herron's forces were concerned. Doc. 18. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL QUIRK'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS IRISH BRIGADE, CAMP JESSIE, To Capt. Melvin, Assistant Adjutant General: I arrived with my command at Greenland Gap (twenty-one miles) at eleven o'clock P.M., where I was informed that the enemy (Stuart's cavalry) four hundred strong, with about two hundred head of cattle, crossed the mountain near Greenland at two o'clock that afternoon. We then immediately advanced in pursuit, through the Gap, along the Ridgeville road, determined, if possible, to intercept them before they reached the crossing of that road, five miles from Petersburgh. When we arrived within three miles of the crossing, I halted the detachment, and sent forward Lieut. Hart and ten of his men to ascertain whether the enemy had passed the crossing, and he ascertained from a reliable source that the enemy, consisting of from three hundred to five hundred of Stuart's cavalry, Lee's brigade, were encamped within two miles back of the other road. At daylight we advanced upon the enemy, and when within seven hundred yards, I ordered Capt. Rourke to the front with his guns, when a few well-directed shell and shot, fired by Capt. Rourke in person, threw the enemy into confusion, and caused them to fly into the woods. I then ordered the cavalry to charge, which order was promptly and gallantly executed, particularly by company A, Lieut. Hart. After sixteen of the enemy were captured, being unable to find any more of the enemy, I ordered the cattle to be collected and driven with the greatest possible despatch toward our own camp, especially as I was apprehensive of an attack by Imboden, who was reported with a force of seven hundred men at Petersburgh, only five miles distant. I am glad to inform you our loss was none, while that of the enemy is known to have been at least three killed, sixteen were taken prisoners, nineteen horses captured, and one hundred and sixty head of cattle. I have been informed by one of the prisoners that the enemy's force consisted of two picked men from each company of Lee's brigade, Stuart's cavalry. The success of the expedition is owing to the rapidity of our movements, having advanced some thirty-five miles during the night, and to the cheerful and active cooperation of the officers and men composing the detachment. Lieut. John A. Ayres, of my regiment, Acting Adjutant of the detachment, rendered me valuable and efficient aid. The report is respectfully submitted. JAMES QUIRK, Doc. 19. THE FIGHT ON THE OSAGE RIVER. A NEGRO REGIMENT IN ACTION. LEAVENWORTH, Saturday, November 8. THE First regiment Kansas colored volunteers, or a portion of it, have been in a fight, shed their own and rebel blood, and come off victorious, when the odds were as five to one against them. For the last few weeks the recruits composing this regiment have been in camp "Wm. A. Phillips," at Fort Lincoln, perfecting themselves in drill. On the twenty-sixth of October, Captain Seamen received an order from Major Henning, commanding at Fort Scott, to take such a force as he could raise and proceed to a point on the Osage, Bates County, Mo., and there break up a gang of bushwhackers. We marched from Fort Lincoln with seventy men of the battalion raised by himself, under Capt. Pierson, (formerly of the First Iowa,) and Lieut. Thrasher, (formerly of the Third Kansas,) and one hundred and seventy men from Col. Williams's battalion, under the command of Capt. R. G. Ward, company B; Adjutant R. J. Hinton, Capt. A. G. Crew, company A, and J. Armstrong, company H, (the latter was formerly in company B, Third Kansas,) and Lieuts. Dickerson, company C, Huddleton, company E, Gardner, company F, and Minor, company D. This made in all two hundred and forty men, with the addition of half a dozen white scouts. The men were armed with the Prussian and Austrian rifled muskets, the former of which is an excellent weapon, and the latter a poor one, from constant liability to get out of order. On the twenty-sixth the command marched twenty miles, and on the twenty-seventh reached Dickies Ford, on the Osage, at about two P.M. Our destination was the house of a notorious rebel, named Toothman's, three miles from this ford. As we came in sight of it, we discovered at the same time a number of horsemen on the Osage bottoms, a mile to the south-east. The scouts and mounted officers galloped forward to reconnoitre, and soon discovered them to be rebel guerrillas. A citizen with a load of wood, on inquiry, stated that they were reported as Cockerell's, Hancock's, and Truman's gangs, moving south in the direction of Arkansas. Returning to the detachment, it encamped for the night, at Toothman's. We erected a rail barricade around the door-yard fence. The reports of scouts, as well as the women in the house, warranted the assumption that the rebel forces were several hundred strong. Our camp was within two miles of the famous Osage Island, an extensive tract of land, so called because the Osage had cut for itself two channels around it. That night we sent back messengers to Kansas for reenforcements. Being greatly in need of mounted men, we sent to the organized militia companies, also to Colonel Adams; commanding the Twelfth regiment, to camp at Fort Lincoln, and to Major Henning, at Fort Scott. We requested the latter to send what reënforcements he could along the south side of the Osage River, to Burnett's Ferry. Our intention was to skirmish with them until these reënforcements arrived, and when Major Henning's force arrived to make an attack on the Island from each side. All day we skirmished with the rebel pickets, at the same time sending out foraging and other parties. On the twentyninth the rebel pickets, which had occupied the highest mounds to the south-east of us, seemed to have been considerably reënforced. A detachment of about sixty men was sent out, under command of Capt. Armstrong and Adjt. Hinton, with directions to skirmish with the enemy, holding them in play while a foraging party proceeded in search of salt and corn-meal. The rebels were evidently well handled. They designed to draw on some detachment far enough from camp to overwhelm it before assistance could arrive. The skirmishing grew brisk, and shots were rapidly exchanged, though always at long-range and individual objects. The guerrillas would shout from the hill on which they were posted, in the most derisive manner, cursing the white officers for "d-d nigger-stealers, etc., etc. In fact they paid particular attention to the two or three white men on the field. The balls from long-range rifles came unpleasantly near. Soon after the commencement of the skirmishing, a shot from one of our men brought down a rebel. Soon another fell, evidently hit in the side, and then deploying the right wing of the skirmishers through a small ravine, and advancing up the slope beyond on the double-quick, we managed to give them a raking volley, which sent off several riderless horses. Passing over the ground, we discovered blood where one man had fallen. By the mouth of a prisoner whom Cockerell released that afternoon, we afterward learned that the rebels acknowledged seven killed and mortally wounded in the morning skirmish. Returning to camp under orders, the rebels fired the prairie behind us, and advanced their pickets under cover of the smoke. The wind was blowing almost a gale, and we were compelled to set a counter fire around camp, in order to prevent ourselves being completely overwhelmed by the smoke. Under its cover our scouts were driven in. Capt. Seamen then sent out a party of eight Cherokee negroes, who soon managed to get to the windward of the fire. They were directed to keep within sight of camp, but their eagerness for the prey soon led to a disobedience of orders. Sixteen men were then sent out under Lieut. Gardner to reenforce and bring them in. The Cherokees being somewhat unmanageable except by their own officers, Capt. Pierson accompanied Gardner to aid this purpose. Captain Crew and Lieut. Huddleston both left camp without orders and joined the squad. They advanced to the edge of the mounds, united with the first party, and in place of returning to camp, started to visit a log house half a mile distant, on the bottom land. There was the opportunity sought by the rebels, and they improved it, or sought to. The house was visited, and the party was returning across the prairie toward the mounds, in sight of camp, when from behind them to the south-east, on which the rebels had been posted in the morning skirmish, appeared about one hundred and thirty mounted men, advancing on the doublequick toward Gardner's party. In place of returning to the log-cabin, where a successful resistance could be made till reënforced, our detachment headed steadily for the mound. In the mean while, alarmed at camp at the lengthy absence of the party, we had sent out a detachment of fifty as a reserve, under Capt. Armstrong. When the cavalry came in sight, Capt. Pierson, who occupied a position from which the movements could be observed, signaled for the reserve to advance, which they were directed to do by the Adjutant, who then galloped to camp and hastened the moving forward of two detachments which Captain Seamen was hurrying out. Lieut. Thrasher, in command of the first, went on the double-quick down the ravine to the west, followed closely by that under Lieuts. Dickerson and Minor. In the mean while, the detachment under Gardner was attacked by the foe, who swept down like a whirlwind upon it. One volley was fired in concert which emptied several saddles, and then this devoted body was separated by the force of that sweeping charge. The fight thus became a hand-to-hand encounter of one man to six. The rebels were mostly armed with shot-guns, revolvers and sabres, our men with the Austrian rifle and sabre-bayonet. The latter is a fearful weapon, and did terrible execution in the hands of the muscular blacks. Six-Killer, the leader of the Cherokee negroes, fell with six wounds, after shooting two men, bayoneting a third, and laying a fourth hors du combat with the butt of his gun. Another one, badly wounded, Sergeant Ed. Lowrey, was attacked by three men; he had discharged his rifle, and had no time to load again, when they fell upon him with revolver and sabre. He was then badly hurt with a shot-gun wound. One man demanded. his surrender, to which the reply was a stunning blow from the butt of the rifle, knocking him off his horse. The negro, when approached, had his sabre-bayonet in hand, about to fix it on his gun. The prostrate man got a crashing blow from it on the skull as he fell, and then, as the other charged, the bayonet was used with effect on the nearest horse, and the butt of the gun on the next man. The sergeant received three wounds in the mêlée, but managed to get back to camp. I could give similar instances of nearly every man and boy of the party. There were several of the latter in the fight. One of them, Manuel Dobson, a lad of fourteen, received a ball through both arms. He afterward told Colonel Williams "that he couldn't kill but one of 'em," but adding, with commendable pride, "I brought my gun back." But to return to the field. As the enemy charged, Armstrong's detachment was seen coming up the hill on the double-quick. The boys broke for their lines. Lieut. Gardner, being a large and heavy man, had early endeavored to escape to them, but fell in the first and thickest of the fight with two wounds in his hip. One of the rebels dismounted as he fell forward, prone on his face, and placing his revolver to his head, fired. Fortunately the ball glanced, inflicting only a severe scalp wound. Lieut. Gardner lay there till the prairie fire overtook him, when he made an effort and got upon burnt ground, where we found him after the engagement. Lieut. Hud |