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Doc. 53.

FREMONT'S PURSUIT OF JACKSON.
NEW-YORK "TRIBUNE" ACCOUNT.

FREMONT'S HEADQUARTERS,
MOUNT JACKSON, VA., June 3, 1862.

alone remained to be traversed. The troops pushed on twelve miles through the rain, and halted at night where the Winchester and Strasburgh roads divide. On the narrow ridges along which the path wound in constant ascent, there was no plain or table-land for camp. By the side of the road the tired troops dropped and slept under the partial shelter of open forests, many of them too wet and tired even to build fires. The General and his staff spent the night in a deserted and ruinous house at the angle of the roads, and shared together the floor, which, because a roof was over it, was a comfort and a luxury. For the troops, especially, it was rough preparation for the expected battle on to-morrow, but the spirit of the men was most admirable. It was nine o'clock in the evening before the main column came by the house, but they passed with elastic step, which only the depth of the mud made unsteady, and whole regiments went by singing as they marched, and sometimes cheering as they passed headquarters.

GEN. FREMONT left Franklin on Sunday, May twenty-fifth. His troops were exhausted by previous forced marches to relieve Schenck and Milroy, from which they had not had time to recruit, and were weak from want of food. The first seven miles of road were only just not absolutely impassable by wagons. It was just such a road as cannot be found in the East, nor where an army has not passed. Wounded and sick were left at Franklin, because an attempt to carry them would have killed them. Nevertheless, with all its train of wagons, the army marched fifteen miles the first day. The next it reached Petersburgh, thirty miles from Franklin, at noon, and halted till Tuesday morning. Orders were then issued that knapsacks, tents, and baggage of every description that could possibly be dis- Next morning the sun came out. The advance pensed with should be left behind. The knap- moved at six o'clock, and by eight the whole colsacks were stored in houses; officers were allow-umn was in motion. An hour and a half aftered a single valise. Five days' rations of hard ward, while the General and his staff, riding next bread were issued to the troops, and on Tuesday the cavalry, were ascending one of the long hills the army advanced to Moorefield. It encamped which anywhere else would be mountains, sudin a valley five times broader, and infinitely more denly came the sound of a gun from the front. beautiful, than the valley at Franklin. On Wed- In a moment a succession of quick reports folnesday the march was ten miles, the roads grow-lowed, and announced unerringly that Col. Clusing continually more difficult, and rain falling eret's brigade was engaged with the enemy. steadily. Col. Cluseret, commanding the rear- The skirmish in advance is not very serious. guard, brought up his men with admirable rapid-Cluseret's position is a good one for infantry, but ity, having remained in Franklin till Monday, reached Petersburgh at four o'clock Tuesday, and starting again at midnight, brought his troops to Moorefield by seven o'clock.

Col. Pilsen sees at a glance that his artillery cannot be advantageously posted, and in the hope of inducing the enemy to advance, Cluseret is ordered to withdraw slowly. Four companiestwo of the Sixtieth Ohio and two of the Eighth Virginia - were thrown out as skirmishers, and the contest was for a while rather eager. An effort of the enemy to flank the position was repulsed with a loss of seven wounded, five of the Eighth Virginia and two of the Sixtieth Ohio, whose names are given below, with other casualties since occurred. The cannonade ceased about eleven o'clock, and was not renewed. It was soon known that only the rear-guard or flanking column of Jackson had been engaged, while his main force passed hurriedly on over the Winchester and Strasburgh road.

Thursday, the troops remained in camp, too much exhausted by their extraordinary fatigues and want of supplies to continue their march to any advantage. The delay was the result of a careful inspection of each brigade and regiment by the staff of Gen. Fremont, approved by the Medical Director, Dr. George Suckley. Refreshed by the halt, the army on Friday advanced to Wardensville, twenty miles distant. A reconnoissance had been made the day before by Lieut.Col. Downey, of the Third Maryland regiment, Potomac Home Brigade, who, with one company of Indiana cavalry, explored both roads and the village. On his return he was halted by a rebel But the wily "ebel meant to run- not fightwithin thirty feet, and challenged. As he drew and had succeeded in reaching Strasburgh just his pistol to reply, the soldier raised his carbine in season to pass between McDowell on the one and fired. The ball struck the horse of Colonel side and Fremont on the other. I know nothing Downey, and then passed through his coat at the of the movements of the former, except that his shoulder. The horse fell, and with him the advance-guard reached Strasburgh next morning, Colonel, who was stunned by the shock. Recov- twelve hours after it had been entered by Col. ering, he charged at the head of his men, and Cluseret, but it is certain no efforts could have drove through the town a large body of rebel cav-accelerated the march of the column under Gen. alry which had posted itself to intercept his passage. Two of the rebels were killed, and several wounded, without loss on our side.

On Saturday, May thirty-first, the last of the intervening mountain ranges was crossed, and the western barrier of the Shenandoah Valley VOL. V.-Doc. 11

Fremont.

Cluseret was ordered on, entered Strasburgh in the evening, marching in a storm of rain, and thunder and lightning, such as only the mountains know. A reconnoissance was immediately sent out. The force advanced three or four miles

beyond Strasburgh, and was stopped at midnight, in perfect darkness, by an ambush and a barricade. Col. Figyelmesi, of Fremont's staff, who was in advance with the cavalry, went through the one and over the other, not without severe injury to himself by the fall of his horse. As he felt his way along through the blinding storm, and over roads which were rivers of mire, a quick challenge came out of the darkness, and was answered with a demand for the countersign. "If you are Ashby's cavalry," replied the rebel leader, "it is all right, come on."

Recognizing Ashby's voice, Colonel Figyelmesi did "come on," and answered with instant order to charge. One officer and fifteen men followed him, and with this handful he rode straight into the famous rebel cavalry, and scattered it with the shock. Ashby gave the order to retreat at the first moment, yet in the brief contest three or four rebels were killed.

It was impossible in the darkness and tremendous storm of that night to send forward the main column. General Fremont, therefore, encamped his troops where his lines had been formed, and at six next morning advanced again upon Strasburgh. A mile from camp a courier met him with the news that the head of McDowell's column was approaching the train from the other side. The General instantly put spurs to his horse, and dashing over four miles of frightful roads, passed infantry, artillery, and cavalry, and, with only his staff for body-guard, entered he main street of Strasburgh just as Gen Bayrd, commanding the advance brigade of McDowell, rode in.

The First New-Jersey cavalry, Col. Halstead, came up shortly afterward, and with his regiment and the rest of his force, Gen. Bayard was ordered to press forward as rapidly as possible on the rear of the flying enemy. Stewart's Indiana and Sixth Ohio cavalry, under Col Zagonyi, who arrived very soon after, were also sent on, and in a few minutes Buell's and Schirmer's batteries, and the rest of the light artillery under Col. Pilsen, as fast as it could be brought to the front, were hurried ahead at full gallop. After a brief conference with Gen. Bayard, Gen. Fremont rode on with his staff.

more guns, it soon became too hot for the rebels, and they hastily abandoned their position and retreated. A second stand was attempted some miles further on, but with no better success. Col. Pilsen's excellent judgment in placing his batteries, and the rapidity and accuracy with which they were served, again compelled the enemy to fly, closely pursued each time by the New-Jersey cavalry, which, during the whole day, were in the advance. A third time Gen. Ewell, who was in command of the rebel rear-guard, halted and turned his guns on his pursuers. It was his strongest position, and he doubtless hoped that here, at least, a few hours might be gained for the main body. So close was our pursuit, and so near the hostile forces, that Col. Pilsen, while reconnoitring the ground, in order to get his artillery most effectively planted, suddenly found himself within thirty paces of a body of rebel cavalry. They fired; his horse was shot under him, and horse and rider went down together. The Colonel's arm was badly crushed, but he was otherwise unhurt, though two bullets passed through his boots. A squadron of cavalry opportunely appearing, the rebels retreated, and Col. Pilsen was rescued and carried to an ambulance. His wound, though painful, was not serious; and in spite of it, he was next morning on horseback, and again in charge of the artillery.

All along the road, and in the woods on either side, were strewn the relics which a fugitive army had left in its trail. Arms, clothing, stores of all kinds, were profusely scattered. A caisson of ours which had broken down and been left by Cluseret on his reconnoissance the night before, was passed within three or four miles of Strasburgh. Dead, wounded, and exhausted soldiers lay by the side of the road. Numerous prisoners were taken, and they gave themselves up often with evident willingness. In one group were men from the_Forty-second Virginia, Sixth Alabama, and a Louisiana regiment. One captain was taken in Strasburgh. He had ridden back for his sabre, which he carried in the Mexican war, and valued accordingly. It cost him his liberty. All sorts of reports of Jackson's strength and the condition of his army comes from the prisoners, but it may be gathered from them that he has about twenty-five thousand men, and is greatly in want of subsistence and supplies. In the rear is the famous Ashby's cavalry, fifteen hundred strong. People in the villages through which we passed told us that the army was hurrying on in panic, plundering all houses of provisions, and many of every thing else, and that the men were so exhausted that the officers were driving them on with their swords.

The morning for once was clear and beautiful, and the pursuit had every element of interest and excitement. The troops ordered forward came up in quick succession, and as we rode on, cavalry and flying artillery constantly overtook and passed us, tearing furiously along the road in their eagerness to reach the front in time for the expected fight. Very soon came the sound of guns rapidly served, and we knew that the enemy had halted with his rear-guard, in hope Woodstock was reached on Monday night. of making a stand long enough to delay the pur- Lieut.-Col. Downey, who again was sent forward suit. From a hill at the side of the road we to reconnoitre the town, found the rebel pickets saw the smoke of the guns and exploding shells, on the opposite side, and was twice fired on, but and then the cavalry, forming just below the escaped without injury. A negro woman told crest of a hill a mile beyond us, in the endeavor him that the rebels began to pass through the to charge the battery in flank, rode over the sum-town at sunrise, and that their rear-guard had mit, but were stopped by the timber and could just gone on. In other words, Jackson has less not reach the guns. As Col. Pilsen brought up than a day's start; and if his bridge-burning

does not save him, must be forced to stand and fight.

advanced on the road. They are all of the First Maryland regiment, said to have been cut to pieces in the unequal fight at Front Royal, and report that not more than forty of their regiment were killed, and that all the rest were captured. Jackson had with him two thousand prisoners, taken at different times from Gen. Banks's command. They have been treated with great seve

of his army, whether sick or well. Officers fell by the roadside from exhaustion and illness, and were forced on at the point of the bayonet. They were not allowed to stop on the road even for a swallow of the water which it crosses in frequent streams. I annex a complete list of casualties: WOUNDED IN COL. CLUSERET'S BRIGADE, IN SKIR

In the saddle again at seven o'clock on Tuesday morning. The troops have been on the march for hours. From Woodstock, which is rather a pleasant village, and, like all the hamlets of this valley, picturesquely planted among the hills, to Edinburgh the advance was without incident. A military bridge, constructed by Banks, cross-rity, half-starved, and forced to follow the retreat ing Stony Creek-a swift, wide stream-is half burned by the flying rebels; but they are now so closely pressed that they have no time to do thoroughly even the work essential to their safety. In half an hour it is so far repaired that the infantry cross. The cavalry have already passed through a ford above, which is so deep as to be sufficiently unpleasant for artillery. All the ammunition is taken out and carried over the bridge by hand; then the caissons and guns go through without disaster, aided in their passage by that extraordinary profusion of oaths which is deemed essential to such efforts. Four miles beyond, the rebels have again halted with artillery, and as our guns have been delayed in crossing, the cavalry can only wait for their arrival.

At Mount Jackson there is known to be a long bridge over the Shenandoah, a river too swift and deep to be forded. If they mean to fight on this side they must either lose their guns, or leave the bridge unharmed, and if they do the latter, their further retreat is impossible, for their rearguard will be cut to pieces unless supported. Jackson is too good a general to accept either alternative. His artillery remained in position just long enough to delay the advance of Gen. Bayard's cavalry, then crossed the bridge before our guns could be brought up, and burned it in the face of the cavalry, which Gen. Bayard permitted to remain spectators on the hill. When the smoke was seen, they were ordered forward, but arrived too late to save it. Under fire from the opposite side, the First Pennsylvania cavalry lost one man killed.

As soon as Col. Pilsen could bring up his guns, they were unlimbered on either side of the road, and opened on the rebel batteries. Beyond the river stretches a broad plain, the further end of which slopes gradually up into an irregular eminence, along which the enemy had placed his artillery. On its further side, and in the neighboring woods, his troops were quietly encamped out of range, and, the Shenandoah River in their rear, were safe for the night, as they supposed, and at any rate too tired to go much further. It was soon found that the distance was too great for our guns. Col. Albert, chief of staff, was in advance, and reconnoitring the position with a soldier's eye, saw that the river bends suddenly half a mile beyond the bridge, and sent Schirmer's battery to a hill on this side, which flanked the rebel camp, and at once forced them to withdraw to a more secure position. Nothing more could be done till the bridge was rebuilt, and the army was, therefore, halted for the night.

Twenty prisoners taken by Jackson at Front Royal escaped to-day, and met our troops as they

MISH, SUNDAY, JUNE 1.

Eighth Virginia regiment-Rufus Boyer, company A, slightly; Peter Wards, company B, do. ; George W. Douglas, company B, do.; Thomas Skelton, company B; Clark W. Card, company E, severely.

Sixtieth Ohio-C. Bennington, company A, slightly; Stephen Parris, company B, slightly.

JUNE 2, IN PURSUIT.

First New-Jersey cavalry-Corporal Charles G. Morsayles, slightly; George Jones, company D, severely; Sergeant George H. Fowler, company E, killed.

First Pennsylvania cavalry-George Tegarleir, company F, killed.

Doc. 54.

EVACUATION OF FORT PILLOW.
COLONEL ELLETT'S REPORT.

OPPOSITE RANDOLPH, BELOW FORT PILLOW, June 5.
Hon. E. M. Stanton:

To my mortification the enemy evacuated Fort Pillow last night. They carried away or destroyed every thing valuable. Early this morning Lieut.-Col. Ellett and a few men in a yawl went ashore, followed immediately by Col. Fitch and a party of his command. The gunboats then came down and anchored across the channel.

I proceeded with three rams twelve miles below the fort to a point opposite Randolph, and sent Lieut.-Col. Ellett ashore with a flag of truce to demand the surrender of the place. Their forces had all left in two of their gunboats only an hour or two before we approached. The people seemed to respect the flag which Lieut.-Col. Ellett planted. The guns had been dismantled and some piles of cotton were burning.

I shall leave Lieut.-Col. Ellett here in the advance, and return immediately to Fort Pillow to bring on my entire force. The people attribute the suddenness of the evacuation to the attempt made night before last to sink one of their gunboats at Fort Pillow. Randolph, like Pillow, is weak, and could not have held out long against a vigorous attack. The people express a desire

for the restoration of the old order of things, firing ceased, the rebels having ceased an hour though still professing to be secessionists. before.

CHARLES ELLETT, Jr.,

Colonel Commanding Ram Flotilla.

A NATIONAL ACCOUNT.

FORT PILLOW, Wednesday Night, June 4. Fort Pillow is fallen. The last rebel stronghold on the Mississippi is ours, and the way lies open to Memphis. The fortifications before which we have lain so long and into which we have poured so many thousands of ponderous shells, is at our mercy. Eight weeks have we besieged it with gunboats and mortars, and it now falls without the loss of a life.

RECONNOISSANCE-ACCOUNTS OF A DESERTER.

The cessation of the mortar-firing was probably to allow a reconnoissance to be made across Craighead Point. Col. Fitch sent a lieutenant and eight men over, who reported, on their return, that there were still men to be seen about the guns, but that the general appearance of the place was deserted.

A more satisfactory exploration was made, however, by Pilot Bixby, of the Benton, who took a cutter, with boat's crew, and went down to the point, where he landed. A deserter made his way to the cutter across the point, and informed The enemy is gone, quit, scampered, run away, us that the rebels had gone from Fort Pillow, unable to withstand the closing jaws of our fleets that the fort was abandoned, except by a garrison and armies; he is panic-stricken and demoralized. of twenty men, who had been left behind with While I write, the flaming bonfires of his stores, ten rounds of ammunition for each of the few his quarters, are lighting the heavens, and the guns still left in position. So earnest and posiflashes of his guns bespeak his haste. Victory! tive in his asseverations, that he offered to lead The immediate occasion of this desperate and the party to the works, and if they did not find ruinous step on the part of the subjects of King things as he described them, he offered his life as Cotton is no doubt the fate of Corinth, but the the forfeit. The deserter was brought to the real victory was gained on that dread day at Shi-flag-ship, where he repeated his story with greatloh, when the few stout and loyal hearts and the er detail. A pause of some three hours occurred, active brains of our freemen held back the tide of in which there was comparative silence on both rebellion by their determined and self-sacrificing spirit. Neither Corinth, nor Pillow, nor Memphis was safe after that crowning Sunday night. It became a question who should bring up the most men and resources for the next battle. We did it and the victory becomes bloodless in consequence. The exultation, the jubilee which this auspicious day will send to the hearts of thousands of our fellow-countrymen is the first fruit of the great restoration of peace and prosperity which is to flow in upon us from this hour. We have not only applied the tourniquet to this rebellion, but changed the current of the artery which is henceforth to throb with loyal and national-life-sustaining national blood.

sides.

It was about six o'clock as we had just risen from supper, when a cloud of white smoke was announced as appearing over the tops of the trees. An instant more, and a jet of water splashed up fifty feet high from the surface of the river right abreast of the point. A minute had elapsed when another, and after a while a third and fourth struck nearly in the same place. These seemed to confront the report of the deserter which had just been brought in, and while we were discuss. ing the truth of the report, a number of guns were fired from the fort, the shots from which could nowhere be discovered.

Not a gunboat was within range, the mortarboats had been already towed up from their position, not a skiff nor a human being could be seen, and it was finally concluded the enemy was probably firing at some of our scouting-party in the woods. Not until later did we discover that these were the parting salutes of the fugacious rebels-a vindictive leave-taking after so long and harmless a siege. So free were they with their ammunition, that they plied their guns with double and triple charges, and then left them to explode.

Flag-Officer Davis must have had some intimation of the rebel purpose in abandoning and destroying the place some day or two since. There have been an unusual number and variety of reconnoissances during this week, in tugs, in rams, in yawls, in gunboats, and by overland scouting. Reports certainly reached us two days ago of the evacuation, but when our mortars were fired they met with very ready responses. This morning the mortars opened at an unusually early hour. The firing was continued with great spirit during the morning, the rebels firing a shot in return at By half-past six or near seven we could perlong intervals. Probably twenty shots were re-ceive also an unusual quantity of light smoke ceived from them during the morning, all of which, coming as it were from the river opposite the however, fell short. Our tremendous shells could fort, which we took at first for the flotilla. The be seen very distinctly exploding over the bluff sun was setting gloriously at our backs as we on which their works were situated, the white, gazed at the dark bluffs. Soon the smoke grew expanding, fleecy cloud drifting slowly across the more dense and expanded. In half an hour it horizon long after the ponderous missiles had burst out further to the right, and in half an reached the earth. The day was cool, with a re- hour the tops of the woods were crowned with freshing north wind blowing, and the spectacle of the light reflection of fires. The principal seat the mortar bombardment was witnessed with of the burning material seemed to be on the great interest until about three o'clock, when the river's bank, nearly at the lower turn of the

river. By half-past seven the clouds had obscured the dipping sun; the illumination from the burning fort was grand. A grand and spreading column of smoke towered above the bluffs, while the leaping flames could be seen above the woods in two and sometimes three places. Several slight explosions took place during the fire. The conflagration lasted an hour and a half, when all relapsed into the original gloom. It was clear enough to see that the enemy were evacuating the fort. Capt. Phelps meanwhile went down to the foot of Flour Island in a tug and watched the operation at the distance of a mile and a half. He was, of course, satisfied of the evacuation, and determined upon landing early in the morning.

The fact that the rebels had held us here so long, and that we had taken no extraordinary measures to reduce the fort, seemed rather like reasons for holding it at all hazards rather than abandon it.

The two regiments of Cols. Fitch and McLean Forty-third and Forty-sixth Indiana - tired of the weary guard-duty on the Arkansas shore, among the mosquitoes and rattlesnakes, conceived the dangers of the rebel guns would hardly be more formidable than the common enemy of mankind.

A large picket force was landed on the Tennessee shore, under Capt. Schermerhorn, who made a detour round, so as to come in the rear of the fort. A bridge was constructed across Cole Creek. The rebels, discovering this, fancied that our force was much larger than it was, and in conjunction with the movements of Gen. Halleck, left them no alternative but to abandon the position.

THURSDAY, June 5. Early this morning the fleet got under way, and by sunrise our flag was waving from the heights of Fort Pillow. The rams under Col. Ellet, anxious, probably, to secure an equivocal The mortars, as we discovered, had thrown notoriety in being the first to land in an aban-shells into the works, and far beyond them into doned fortress, proceeded with all speed down the woods, but could not learn whether they the bend, followed by the Benton and her gallant killed any one. The presumption is against it, followers-Mound City, Cairo, Carondelet, Cin-as the garrison was quite small, and the places cinnati, St. Louis and the transports and mortar- of shelter abundant. fleet-until we had rounded the Craighead Point, so long the slice which separated us from

the rebels.

The approach is by a long and complete curve, in which the river runs, as at Columbus, right into the Chickasaw bluff, where the stream suddenly narrows until it becomes from two miles wide to nearly half a mile at the Fulton landing, just below the forts. The yellow sand bluff rises to the height of a hundred and fifty feet, and in general appearance is remarkably like the situation of Columbus, with the exception that the fortifications are placed lower down in the bend.

The works at Pillow may be described most easily, as first an irregular line of earthworks running along the base of the bluffs for the distance of half a mile continuous, with but one slight intermission, at a height of twenty-five feet from the river at this stage. The embankment, part of which appears to be old, is calculated for forty-one guns, though it is doubtful if more than eighteen have been mounted there at any time.

Above this, and on plateaux not quite even with the top of the range of bluffs, are two long batteries calculated for about twenty guns of various calibres. These works are of more recent construction. Besides this, there are on the heights, and in isolated positions near the top, excavations, behind which a single gun was mounted, or, more correctly speaking, dismounted. The plan of the rebels has evidently been to remove most of their best guns, and to shatter the rest by over-charges. A few of them have stood the test, and may be considered amply safe

It is impossible for any one who is at all acquainted with military engineering to pass over the works without arriving at the impression that, both by natural configuration and scientific aid, they are the most formidable works of their kind in the country. Never before, probably, was any place containing so many natural advantages for purposes of defence. The difficulties of storming the place are absolutely incred-hereafter. ible. Nothing but the most reckless and thoughtless bravery could ever have made entry into these lines if defended by five thousand determined men.

The capabilities of the works facing the river are enormous not only mounting the most formidable guns, but also subjecting the enemy to the most conical fire in approaching the place. Stronger than Columbus by nature, it was equally well fortified by art. Twice stronger than Island No. Ten, for the reason that the approach was barred, we could not even see the enemy, while he could look down upon our decks from his high bluff. The evacuation of so strong a place is evidence that the attempt to hold the river is relinquished.

Fort Pillow, named after the celebrated Gidcon J. Pillow, of Mexican ditch and Fort Donelson notoriety, is an immense system of earthworks, situated on the first Chickasaw bluffs, sixty-five miles above Memphis, and one hundred and seventy-five below Cairo. The first fortifications were, as I learned from a native, commenced about a year ago, early in June, 1861, at the time when Memphis was in a ferment, and the secession of Tennessee was eagerly canvassed. The original design has been greatly enlarged, so that little or no trace of the original can be found in the numerous additions which have been made from time to time, up to within a month ago. At first, only a few companies of confederate soldiers were kept here; but at the time of the

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