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portune. Her services were immediately offered to Gen. Arnold, to transport troops to the main land, and she was thus employed all day yesterday and this forenoon. About twelve hundred troops, together with a large amount of light artillery, siege-guns, ammunition, camp equipage, horses and supplies, have been conveyed across the channel, and are now actively employed in establishing themselves upon the "sacred soil." They have thrown up defences, planted cannon, and taken every measure to prevent a surprise, in case the enemy should attempt to repossess the forts, of which, however, there is not the slightest fear. The confederates have abandoned Florida, and I doubt if five hundred rebel soldiers can be found in the State to-day.

No minute examination has been made of these villages, but it is reported that neither of them has suffered severely by the evacuation. The Navy-Yard presents a scene of ruin and desolation. Smoke and flames still rise from the burning timbers of the extensive store-houses, work-shops, and the wharves, all of which are destroyed. The skeleton frame of the old Fulton has vanished into thin air, and the stocks where she stood so long are now an ash-heap. The splendid granite dock appears to be unharmed, and its wooden duplicate lies a wreck under Deer Island. The shears are standing in the yard. The foundry-building and the blacksmithshop are safe, and the tall chimney still erect. The rebels made every preparation to burn the Custom-House, but were probably driven away by the fire from Fort Pickens, as it is uninjured. All the government buildings outside the yard were burned.

The rebels removed all the heavy columbiads from the forts and batteries, but left many fortytwo-pounders. When the fire broke out, twenty guns were seen in position from Fort Pickens.

The rebels left the keys of the magazines of McRae and Barrancas, and of the gates of the latter Fort, hanging against the walls outside, as if to invite their successors to walk in and take possession. But our troops were not to be caught

Last evening, Lieut. L. L. James, Second artillery, of Gen. Arnold's staff, with a boat's crew, crossed the channel to Fort McRae. Lieut. James raised the Stars and Stripes on the staff where the confederate rag has so long hung. A salute was fired in honor of the old ensign, and three cheers given for the Union and three for the flag. The Fort presented a sad spectacle of charred and smoking timbers, blackened walls and demolished masonry. The timber-flooring in all the casemates, which had sustained the upper tier of guns, was entirely consumed, as were the gates of the main salle porte, and the timbers of the blindages. Only three pieces of ordnance remain-with that chaff. The disposition of the keys had ed in the Fort-two thirty-two-pounders, from one of which a shot had been discharged during the conflagration, and the casemate howitzer, both spiked and dismounted. In the land-battery adjoining the Fort were found two pieces of peculiarly constructed rebel artillery, of the usual inoffensive character, but which occupied the places of two heavy rifled cannon which had been removed. The "Quakers" were the merest shams-not logs, but constructed of two wooden wheels for muzzle and breech, wooden slats forming the body of the piece.

too much the appearance of a sinister design; and with a wariness which marks the true soldier, when venturing into the enemy's country, they avoided the trap which may have been laid to blow them up, and instead of entering the Fort by the main passage, they scaled the walls. The magazines of both forts will be excavated, in order to ascertain if the rebels left any infernal mechanism by which to destroy the Federals.

sacola at the time of the bombardment, as near as it can be ascertained, were as follows: There were forty-two guns on the island on which Fort McRae is situated, including the armament of that work and the water-batteries. There was a battery of two ten-inch mortars, and another of two ten-inch columbiads, just above the residence of Col. Chase, which also mounted between them three forty-twos and two eight-inch guns. The light-house battery, rendered famous by the destructive fire it poured into Pickens during the January bombardment, remains intact. The guns have been removed. In the rear of the light-house was a mortar, supposed to be a teninch sea-coast.

Bragg took away with him, in march, a large rifled cannon and ten-inch columbiad, which constituted the light-house battery. The armaThe light-house was set on fire, but only slight-ments of the different batteries and forts at Penly injured. Fort Barrancas sustained little injury from the vandals, owing to the incessant shower of grape poured into that work from Fort Pickens. It was damaged more by the bombardment of December and January than by the rebels, but still is in excellent condition. The redoubt is untouched. Casemates in the counterscarp gallery, in the old Spanish battery, and the redoubt in the rear of Fort Barrancas, are uninjured. Barrancas Barracks, an immense pile on the right of the Fort, escaped the torch of the incendiaries; but the magnificent naval hospital, said to be the finest structure of the kind in the United States, lies a mass of smouldering ruins. It was behind this hospital that Bragg had a heavy mortar battery during the first bombardment, and shielded from the fire of Pickens by the humane folds of the yellow flag which floated over the hospital, he kept up an incessant fire upon the Federal garrison. So general was the ruin of the towns of Woolsey and Warrington from the two bombardments, that there seemed but little remaining to feed the conflagration.

There were four batteries between the lighthouse and Barrancas, which mounted seven fortytwos and five eight-inch columbiads. Between Fort Barrancas and the barracks were four fortytwos in two batteries, which are still there, besides four ten-inch columbiads, which had been removed. Next to the hospital battery, to which I have referred, were four eight-inch columbiads,

which did not open fire. Next in order was Wheet's battery, consisting of two ten-inch columbiads and three thirty-twos; Church's battery, with one ten-inch and two smaller guns. There was a ten-inch columbiad mounted on a point in the Navy-Yard, and batteries of unknown number and strength lined the shore from the yard to Pensacola. At the mouth of Big Bayou there were two ten-inch and several smaller guns mounted. Nearly all the heavy guns used here were transported from Norfolk, after the seizure of that place by the rebels.

MOBILE "REGISTER" ACCOUNT.

PENSACOLA, May 10, 1862. The scenes of last night closed the long campaign of Pensacola-of its history you are sufficiently familiar. The order for the destruction of the Warrington Navy-Yard, and all public property at that place and Pensacola that could not be moved, was successfully carried into execution at the Yard and Pensacola.

the night before had merely been done to catch him and his little schooner.

He was promptly rebuked by a confederate officer, who was standing near by unofficially, by being told that he had no right to ask such questions under a flag of truce; a very proper rebuke, which the Federal officer seemed, for a rarity, to feel and appreciate.

The interview alluded to above was with Mayor Bobe. The surrender of the city was demanded and promptly refused. The Mayor was told that the city would be occupied during the day by the Federals, and that the people need not be alarmed, as they would be protected. In the boat's crew two deserters were identified.

The city is generally deserted, but few people remaining. The track of the railroad is torn up and the iron removed. The telegraph-office is closed and the wire removed.

Doc. 14.

OPENING OF SOUTHERN PORTS.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S PROCLAMATION.

About half-past eleven o'clock, the signal being given by Brig.-Gen. Thomas Jones, in an instant the torch was applied at every point, and in a few WHEREAS, By my Proclamation of the nineminutes the whole works, gun-carriages, etc., in teenth of April, one thousand eight hundred and Forts Barrancas and McRae, and the hospitals, sixty-one, it was declared that the ports of certogether with all the other buildings in the Navy-tain States, including those of Beaufort, in the Yard proper, in the villages of Woolsey and Warrington, were in flames.

State of North-Carolina, Port Royal, in the State of South-Carolina, and New-Orleans, in the State At the same instant the torch was applied to of Louisiana, were, for reasons therein set forth, the oil-factory and all the government buildings intended to be placed under blockade; and wherein the city of Pensacola, and to the steamers at as the said ports of Beaufort, Port Royal, and the wharf. The scene was grand, thrilling and New-Orleans have since been blockaded; but as sublime. The bay was as light as mid-day, while the blockade of the same ports may now be safethe murky clouds overhead reflected back an ap-ly relaxed with advantage to the interests of comparently liquid sea of fire. Fort Pickens could merce,

be plainly seen, and its garrison seemed to have suddenly aroused, astounded and surprised. In a short while, however, Pickens opened with shot and shell. Our boys, not relishing the compliments, instantly returned it from one or two smooth-bore forty-fours and thirty-twos, which quickly cleared the ramparts of Pickens of all sight-seers. Whether anybody was "hurt" is not known. Pickens seemed to be, and must have been, perfectly ignorant of our movements, and from the heaviness of its fire, was in a paroxysm of wrath and rage.

The task of dismantling the forts and batteries, and the removal of everything worth transporting, even to small bits of copper and lead, in the face and very teeth of an enemy, was one of a most difficult and delicate nature. This has been most admirably executed by Gen. Jones. The Federals can now take possession of an inhospitable sand-beach.

Now, therefore, be it known that I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, pursuant to the authority in me vested by the fifth section of the act of Congress, approved on the thirteenth of July last, entitled, "An act further to provide for the collection of duties on imports, and for other purposes," do hereby declare that the blockade of the said ports of Beaufort, Port Royal, and New-Orleans shall so far cease and determine, from and after the first day of June next, that commercial intercourse with those ation contraband of war, may, from that time, ports, except as to persons and things and informbe carried on, subject to the laws of the United States, and to the limitations and in pursuance of the regulations which are prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury in his order of this date, which is appended to this Proclamation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

About half-past seven o'clock in the morning a Federal sailing schooner ran up within about half a mile of the city, and sent a boat on shore with a flag of truce. The Federal officer was more anxious to find out what was going on and [L. S.] obtain information than anything else, for the manner in which he sailed up the bay was very cautious and prudent, as though he expected a rebel ruse and the destruction of the property

Done at the City of Washington, this twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-sixth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State.

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TREASURY DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, May 12, 1862.

Regulations relating to trade with ports opened by proclamation:

moved by different routes, and detachments of troops under experienced officers were sent in every direction to explore the roads leading from Front Royal to Strasburgh, Middletown, Newtown, and Winchester, and ascertain the force, position, and purpose of this sudden movement of the enemy. It was soon found that his pickets were in possession of every road, and rumors from every quarter represented him in movement, in rear of his pickets, in the direction of our camp.

The extraordinary force of the enemy could no longer be doubted. It was apparent, also, that they had a more extended purpose than the capture of the brave little band at Front Royal.

This purpose could be nothing less than the defeat of my own command, or its possible capture by occupying Winchester, and by this movement intercepting supplies or reenforcements, and cutting off all possibility of retreat.

First. To vessels clearing from foreign ports and destined to ports opened by the proclamation of the President of the United States of this date, namely: Beaufort, in North-Carolina, Port Royal, in South-Carolina, and New-Orleans, in Louisiana. Licenses will be granted by consuls of the United States upon satisfactory evidence that the vessels so licensed will convey no person, property, or information contraband of war either to or from the said ports; which licenses shall be exhibited to the collector of the port to which said vessels may be respectively bound, immediately on arrival, and if required, to any officer in charge of the blockade; and on leaving either of the said ports every vessel will be required to have a clearance from the collector of the customs according to law, showing that there has been no violation of the conditions of the license. Any violation of the said conditions will involve the forfeiture and condemnation of the vessel and cargo, and the exclusion of all parties concerned from any further privilege of entering the United States during the war for any purpose whatever. Second. To vessels of the United States clear- The suggestion that, had their object been a ing coastwise for the ports aforesaid license can surprise, they would have given notice of their only be obtained from the Treasury Department. approach by an attack on Front Royal, was anThird. In all other respects the existing block-swered by the fact that on the only remaining ade remains in full force and effect, as hitherto established and maintained; nor is it relaxed by the proclamation, except in regard to the ports to which the relaxation is by that instrument expressly applied. S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury.

Doc. 15.

RETREAT OF GENERAL BANKS.

GENERAL BANKS'S REPORT.

It was also apparent from the reports of fugitives, prisoners, Union men, and our own reconnoitring parties, that all the three divisions of the enemy's troops known to be in the valley, and embracing at least twenty-five thousand men, were united and close upon us, in some enterprise not yet developed.

point of attack-the Staunton road-our outposts were five miles in advance, and daily reconnoissances made for a distance of twelve miles toward Woodstock.

Under this interpretation of the enemy's plans, our position demanded instant decision and ac tion. Three courses were open to us: first, a retreat across Little North Mountain to the Potomac River on the West; second, an attack upon the enemy's flank on the Front Royal road; third, a rapid movement direct upon Winchester, with a view to anticipate his occupation of the town by seizing it ourselves-thus placing my command in communication with its original base HEADQUARTERS ARMY SHENANDOAH, June, 1862. of operations, in the line of reënforcements by Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War: Harper's Ferry and Martinsburgh, and securing a INFORMATION was received on the evening of safe retreat in case of disaster. To remain at May twenty-third that the enemy in very large Strasburgh was to be surrounded; to move over force had descended on the guard at Front Royal, the mountains was to abandon our train at the Col. Kenly, First Maryland regiment, command-outset, and to subject my command to flank ating, burning the bridges and driving our troops toward Strasburgh with great loss. Owing to what was deemed an extravagant statement of the enemy's strength, these reports were received with some distrust; but a regiment of infantry, with a strong detachment of cavalry and a section of artillery, were immediately sent to reënforce Col. Kenly. Later in the evening, despatches from fugitives who had escaped to Winchester informed us that Col. Kenly's force had been destroyed, with but few exceptions, and the enemy, fifteen or twenty thousand strong, were advancing by rapid marches on Winchester.

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tacks without possibility of succor; and to attack, the enemy being in such overwhelming force, could only result in certain destruction. It was therefore determined to enter the lists with the enemy in a race or a battle, as he should choose, for the possession of Winchester, the key of the valley, and for us the position of safety.

At three o'clock A.M., the twenty-fourth inst., the reënforcements-infantry, artillery, and cavalry-sent to Col. Kenly were recalled; the advance-guard, Col. Donnelly's brigade, were ordered to return to Strasburgh; several hundred disabled men left in our charge by Shields's diOrders were immediately given to halt the re-vision were put upon the march, and our wagónenforcements sent to Front Royal, which had train ordered forward to Winchester, under es

cort of cavalry and infantry. Gen. Hatch, with nearly our whole force of cavalry and six pieces of artillery, was charged with the protection of the rear of the column and the destruction of army stores for which transportation was not provided, with instructions to remain in front of the town as long as possible, and hold the enemy in check, our expectations of attack being in that direction. All these orders were executed with incredible alacrity, and soon after nine o'clock the column was on the march, Col. Donnelly in front, Col. Gordon in the centre, and Gen. Hatch in the rear.

The column had passed Cedar Creek, about three miles from Strasburgh, with the exception of the rear-guard, still in front of Strasburgh, when information was received from the front that the enemy had attacked the train, and was in full possession of the road at Middletown. This report was confirmed by the return of fugitives, refugees, and wagons, which came tumbling to the rear in fearful confusion.

It being apparent now that our immediate danger was in front, the troops were ordered to the head of the column and the train to the rear; and in view of a possible necessity for our return to Strasburgh, Capt. James W. Abert, Topographical corps-who associated with him the Zouaves d'Afrique, Capt. Collis - -was ordered to prepare Cedar Creek bridge for the flames, in order to prevent a pursuit in that direction by the enemy. In the execution of this order Capt. Abert and the Zouaves were cut off from the column, which they joined at Williamsport. They had at Strasburgh a very sharp conflict with the enemy, in which his cavalry suffered severely. An interesting report of this affair will be found in the reports of Capt. Abert and Capt. Collis.

The head of the reorganized column, Col. Donnelly commanding, encountered the enemy in force at Middletown, about thirteen miles from Winchester. Three hundred troops had been seen in town, but it soon appeared that larger forces were in the rear. The brigade halted, and the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania, Col. Knipe, was ordered to penetrate the woods on the right and dislodge the enemy's skirmishers. They were supported by a section of Cothran's New-York battery. Five companies of the enemy's cavalry were discovered in an open field in the rear of the woods, and our artillery, masked at first by the infantry, opened fire upon them. They stood fire for a while, but at length retreated, pursued by our skirmishers. The Twenty-eighth New-York, Lieut. Col. Brown, was now brought up, and under a heavy fire of infantry and artillery, the enemy were driven back more than two miles from the pike. Col. Donnelly, being informed at that point, by a citizen in great alarm, that four thousand men were in the woods beyond, the men were anxious to continue the fight; but as this would have defeated our object by the loss of valuable time, with the exception of a small guard, they were ordered to resume the march.

the admirable conduct of the officers and men. We lost one man killed and some wounded. This episode, with the change of front, occupied nearly an hour, but it saved our column. Had the enemy vigorously attacked our train while at the head of the column, it would have been thrown into such dire confusion as to have made a successful continuation of our march impossible. Pending this contest, Col. Brodhead, of the First Michigan cavalry, was ordered to advance, and, if possible, to cut his way through and occupy Winchester. It was the report of this energetic officer that gave us the first assurance that our course was yet clear, and he was the first of our column to enter the town. When it was first reported that the enemy had pushed between us and Winchester, Gen. Hatch was ordered to advance with all his available cavalry from Strasburgh, leaving Col. De Forrest to cover the rear and destroy stores not provided with transportation. Major Vought, Fifth NewYork cavalry, had been previously ordered to reconnoitre the Front Royal road, to ascertain the position of the enemy, whom he encountered in force near Middletown, and was compelled to fall back, immediately followed by the enemy's cavalry, infantry and artillery. In this affair five of our men were killed and several wounded. The enemy's loss is not known.

After repeated attempts to force a passage through the lines of the enemy, now advanced to the pike, Gen. Hatch, satisfied that this result could not be accomplished without great loss, and supposing our army to have proceeded but a short distance, turned to the left and moved upon a parallel road, made several ineffectual attempts to effect a junction with the main column. At Newtown, however, he found Col. Gordon holding the enemy in check, and joined his brigade. Major Collins, with three companies of cavalry, mistaking the point where the main body of the cavalry left the road, dashed upon the enemy until stopped by the barricade of wagons and the tempestuous fire of infantry and artillery. His loss must have been very severe.

Six companies of the Fifth New-York, Col. De Forrest, and six companies of the First Vermont cavalry, Col. Tompkins, after repeated and desperate efforts to form a junction with the main body-the road now being filled with infantry, artillery and cavalry-fell back to Strasburgh, where they found the Zouaves d'Afrique. The Fifth New-York, failing to effect a junction at Winchester, and also at Martinsburgh, came in at Clear Spring, with a train of thirty-two wagons and many stragglers. The First Vermont, Col. Tompkins, joined us at Winchester with six pieces of artillery, and participated in the fight of the next morning. Nothing could surpass the celerity and spirit with which the various companies of cavalry executed their movements, or their intrepid charges upon the enemy.

Gen. Hatch deserves great credit for the manThis affair occurred under my own observa-ner in which he discharged his duties as chief of tion, and I have great pleasure in vouching for cavalry in this part of our march, as well as at

the fight at Winchester, and in covering the rear of our column to the river; but especially for the spirit infused into his troops during the brief period of his command, which, by confession of friend and foe, had been been equal, if not superior, to the best of the enemy's long-trained mounted troops.

From this point the protection of the rear of the column devolved upon the forces under Col. Gordon.

The guard having been separated from the column, and the rear of the train having been attacked by an increased force near the bridge between Newtown and Kernstown, Col. Gordon was directed to send back the Second Massachusetts, Lieut.-Colonel Andrews commanding, the Twenty-seventh Indiana, Col. Colgrove, and the Twenty-eighth New-York, Lieut.-Col. Brown, to rescue the rear of the train and hold the enemy in check. They found him at Newtown with a strong force of infantry, artillery and cavalry.

The Second Massachusetts was deployed in the field, supported by the Twenty-eighth New-York and the Twenty-seventh Indiana, and ordered to drive the enemy from the town; and the battery was at the same time so placed as to silence the guns of the enemy.

Both these objects were quickly accomplished. They found it impossible to reach Middletown, so as to enable the cavalry under Gen. Hatch to join the column, or to cover entirely the rear of the train. Large bodies of the enemy's cavalry passed upon our right and left, and the increased vigor of his movements demonstrated the rapid advance of the main body. A cavalry charge made upon our troops was received in squares on the right and on the road, and in the line of the left, which repelled his assault and gained time to reform the train, to cover its rear and to burn the disabled wagons. This affair occupied several hours the regiments having been moved to the rear about six o'clock, and not reaching the town until after twelve.

A full report by Col. Gordon, who commanded in person, is inclosed herewith. The principal loss of the Second Massachusetts occurred in this action.

The strength and purpose of the enemy were to us unknown when we reached Winchester, except upon surmise and vague rumors from Front Royal. These rumors were strengthened by the vigor with which the enemy had pressed our main column, and defeated at every point the efforts of detachments to effect a junction with the main column.

determined to test the substance and strength of the enemy by actual collision, and measures were promptly taken to prepare our troops to meet them. They had taken up their positions on entering the town after dark, without expectations of a battle, and were at disadvantage as compared with the enemy.

The rattling of musketry was heard during the latter part of the night, and before the break of day a sharp engagement occurred at the outposts. Soon after four o'clock the artillery opened its fire, which was continued without cessation till the close of the engagement.

The right of our line was occupied by the Third brigade, Col. Geo. H. Gordon commanding. The regiments were strongly posted, and near the centre covered by stone walls from the fire of the enemy.

Their infantry opened on the right, and soon both lines were under heavy fire. The left was occupied by the Third brigade, Col. Dudley Donnelly commanding.

The line was weak, compared with that of the enemy, but the troops were posted, and patiently awaited, as they nobly improved, their coming opportunity. The earliest movements of the enemy were on our left, two regiments being seen to move as with the purpose of occupying a position in flank or rear. Gen. Hatch sent a detachment of cavalry to intercept this movement, when it was apparently abandoned. The enemy suf fered very serious loss from the fire of our infantry on the left. One regiment is represented by persons present during the action, and after the field was evacuated, as nearly destroyed.

The main body of the enemy was hidden during the early part of the action by the crest of the hill and the woods in the rear.

Their force was massed apparently upon our right, and their manoeuvres indicated a purpose to turn us upon the Berryville road, where, it appeared subsequently, they had placed a considerable force, with a view of preventing reenforcements from Harper's Ferry. But the steady fire of our lines held them in check until a small portion of the troops on the right of our line made a movement to the rear. It is but just to add, that this was done under the erroneous impression that an order to withdraw had been given. No sooner was this observed by the enemy, than its regiments swarmed upon the crest of the hill, advancing from the woods upon our right, which, still continuing its fire steadily, advanced toward the town.

The overwhelming force of the enemy now suddenly showing itself, making further resistance unwise, orders were sent to the left by Capt. De Hauteville to withdraw, which was done reluct

At Winchester, however, all suspicion was relieved on that subject. All classes-secessionists, Unionists, refugees, fugitives and prisoners argued that the enemy's force at or near Win-antly but in order, the enemy having greatly chester was overwhelming, ranging from twentyfive thousand to thirty thousand. Rebel officers, who came into our camp with entire unconcern, supposing that their own troops occupied the town as a matter of course, and were captured, confirmed these statements, and added that an attack would be made upon us at daybreak. I

suffered in that wing. A portion of the troops passed through the town in some confusion; but the column was soon reformed and continued its march in order.

This engagement held the enemy in check for five hours.

The forces engaged were greatly unequal. In

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