Doc. 140.

my train, which was returning without corn. I caused the train to go back, and joined both of

CAPTAIN JOCKNICK'S RECONNOISSANCE. my battalions together. At Stewart's plantation

REPORT OF CAPTAIN JOCKNICK.

I learned that the enemy was near by, and I determined to attack him.

When a mile beyond Stewart's plantation, which is about six miles from this place, my advance-guard, under Capt. Knight, came suddenly upon the enemy, and the fight commenced in I sent my companies forward, one after earnest. another, amid a continuous blaze of fire from the enemy, who were strongly posted among the I tried sevetrees and on the edge of a swamp. ral times to charge them, but they were so well posted, and the underbrush was so thick, that I was unable to do so, notwithstanding my men were close upon them, some of them being within fifty yards.

I fought them in this way for at least half an hour, when seeing that I could not force them from their position, as they outnumbered me greatly, and it being dark, I gave orders to move back to a large corn-field, where I knew if they followed me I could cripple them, as they would not then have the advantage of their cover.

WASHINGTON, N. C., June 25, 1862. SIR Having within the last few days received a number of reports from various sources in regard to certain fly-trap contrivances made by the rebels on the Greenville road, for the purpose of catching my mounted patrols whenever they should venture beyond their usual limit of four miles, I made yesterday a reconnoissance with my company to Tranter's Creek, a distance of eight miles, where they were said to have a large force on each side of the stream. I advanced cautiously, with my advance-guard dismounted and acting as skirmishers, but could discover no signs of the presence of an enemy until we struck the bridge, where our late engagement took place. Here, within reach of our rifles, and partially concealed behind the trees, we could just discover, in the bend of the road on the other side of the stream, two mounted pickets, whom my men were exceedingly anxious to relieve from all further troubles in this world; but, as I did not wish to make a noise until the object of my reconnoissance I got my men out in fine order, and upon was accomplished, their lives were spared. I reaching the turn in the main road halted, but found the bridge partially destroyed, the mill the enemy had been so severely handled that where they made their last stand entirely desert- they made no attempt to follow. It was now ed, and no traces whatever of the presence of a quite dark, when, seeing nothing further could large force. In the direct road to Greenville, and be done, I returned to this camp. As I left the a mile from this point, is another bridge, which woods the enemy retreated, leaving their dead Lieutenant Allis crossed at the time of his engage- men lying in the road, and to-day they have sent ment; but, although I made a careful reconnois-in a flag of truce to obtain permission to bury sance of that locality, no rebel pickets could be seen. About twelve feet of the centre of this bridge had been sawed off, and a breastwork of logs and lumber constructed on the other side; but, as I said before, no indications of the pres

ence of rebel troops could be found.

I mention these little particulars merely to show that our late battle at Tranter's Creek has had a salutary effect on the enemy, and that we shall probably not be molested here for some time to come. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. F. JOCKNICK, Captain Commanding Company I, Third New-York Cavalry. First Lieutenant R. M. HALL,

Adjutant Third New-York Cavalry, Newbern, N. C.

Doc. 141.

BATTLE OF VILLAGE CREEK, ARK.

COLONEL BRACKETT'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS NINTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS CAVALRY, CAMP ON VILLAGE CREEK, JACKSON COUNTY, ARK., June 28, 1862.

CAPTAIN: Yesterday afternoon I received orders from General Steele to send a force down White River to reënforce the Third battalion of my regiment, which I had sent out under Major Wallis on a foraging expedition, the train of the Post Quartermaster having been attacked by the enemy. Accordingly I started with the Second battalion of my regiment, and shortly after overtook

them.

On my way in, I met an artillery and infantry force going out under Brig.-Gen. Benton, but it was too dark for him to travel, and he halted. and fought with the most perfect coolness and My officers and men are entitled to great praise,

determination.

I had with me Majors Humphrey and Wallis, (wounded,) Captains Gifford, Chidister, Knight, (wounded;) Cameron, Blake more, and Booth; Adjutant Stevenson; Battalion Adjutant Blackburn, (wounded,) Lieuts. Harring ton, Shear, Ellsworth, Bayley, and Shattuck, all of the Ninth Illinois cavalry.

My guide, William McCulloch, Sergeant-Major Price, Battalion Sergeant-Majors Knight and Roberts, and Chief Bugler Fritson also behaved admirably.

I was struck with a rifle-ball in the breast, which sickened me for a time, but I soon recovered from its effects sufficiently to give orders.

My wounded men were well cared for by Surgeon James W. Brackett and Assistant Surgeon Charles Brackett, for which they have my thanks.

My loss was thirty-three officers and men killed and wounded. Seven horses killed and twenty-four wounded. The loss to the enemy, under Colonel Matloek, was severe. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient serv ALBERT G BRACKETT, Colonel Ninth Illinois Cavalry

ant,

To Capt. J. W. PADDOCK,

Ass't Adjt.-General, Steele's Division, Curtis's Army.

Doc. 142.
OPERATIONS AT VICKSBURGH, MISS.

GENERAL WILLIAMS'S OFFICIAL REPORTS.
HEADQUARTERS Second Brigade, VICKSBURGH, July 4, 1862.

Wisconsin, Ninth Connecticut and four guns, after marching two miles, taking a branch road by Hamilton's plantation, which led to the rear of the reported rebel camp-some said five hundred, some nine hundred strong, pitched between the Port Gibson Railroad and the road from Grand CAPTAIN: Leaving the Twenty-first Indiana, Gulf to Willow Springs, and which branch road Sixth Michigan, a section of Everett's battery and produced the only two roads-namely, the railMcGee's cavalry, and taking with me the Thir- road and Willow Springs road leading from Grand tieth Massachusetts, Ninth Connecticut, Seventh Gulf to the interior-took the direct road which Vermont and Fourth Wisconsin, regular Nims's cuts the railroad about one mile in rear of Grand battery and two sections of Everett's, I left Ba- Gulf. One of the regiments, the Seventh Verton Rouge on the morning of the twentieth of mont, was to cooperate with the Fourth WisconJune; arrived off Elles Cliff in the afternoon of sin and Ninth Connecticut in the contemplated the twenty-second, where I found three gunboats attack on the camp, and the other, Col. Dudley's, awaiting my approach. To cover the transports to be held in reserve at the fork of the two roads. in passing the cliffs I landed, so as to occupy all The rebels, apprised of our coming, had decamped, the woods leading from the cliffs to the interior, leaving some of their sick, a few old tents, numeand cut off two field-guns reported to be in posi-rous booths, some articles of household furniture tion on the cliffs. The Thirtieth Massachusetts and a secession flag. (See herewith Col. Paine's and two guns of Nims's made a touring march of report.) The town of Grand Gulf, which our eight miles, while the Fourth Wisconsin, with troops, before leaving, burned to the ground, was skirmishers in advance, followed by the Ninth abandoned by all save a single sentinel on picket, Connecticut and four guns of Nims's and two of who, left behind, was captured by Col. Dudley's Everett's, marched directly forward by the cliff-flankers. road leading to the battery and to Natchez, distant eighteen miles, giving time, however, for Dudley's column first to reach this road and cut off the retreat to Natchez. Soon the skirmishers of the Fourth Wisconsin came upon the abandoned battery, abandoned save by a gun-limber left behind in the abandonment. Limber benches, tables, a broken whiffle-tree, some few ears of newly-gathered green corn, from a neighboring field, and the well-trodden earth marked the place of the camp, near the battery, which was spacious, shaded and afforded a clear view of the river, up and down, and was perfectly protected by its height above the river from the fire of the gunboats. The rebel method of using their guns from the cliffs is to run the gun forward till it projects beyond the cliff, depress it, fire and run the gun back out of sight, load and repeat.

On the twenty-fifth we arrived here off Vicksburgh, and commenced running and levelling the line of the cut-off canal, and on the morning of the twenty-seventh broke ground. Between eleven and twelve hundred negroes, gathered from the neighboring plantations by armed parties, are now engaged in the work of excavating, cutting down trees, and grubbing up the roots. The labor of making this cut is far greater than estimated by anybody. The soil is hard clay, as far as yet excavated-sixteen and a half to seventeen feet--and must be gone through with, say some four feet more, before the water can be let in; for all concur in this: that we must come to sand before the clay.

In

Yesterday the river fall was only two inches. Drift-wood was seen coming down, and the Missouri Republican of the twenty-eighth of June Negroes afterwards told us that the battery, announces the flooding up of the Missouri River consisting of two guns and ninety mounted men, and the rise of the Upper Mississippi. Under left some five hours before our landing; but the the heading of the June rise, with the hard-workfellows had greatly loitered on the way, for Col. ing twelve hundred negro force engaged, and this Dudley reported he was within an hour of inter- prospect of a rise, we are in good heart. The cepting them. The twenty-third of June Rod-project is a great one, and worthy of success. ney was passed without molestation, but having learned from various sources that resistance to the further advance of the transports would certainly be made by guns in position on the heights of Grand Gulf, we entered Bayou Pierre about three o'clock on the morning of the twenty-fourth, and attempted to reach its point of intersection with the Port Gibson and Grand Gulf Railroad, in order to move from thence on the rear of the town and heights of Grand Gulf. After passing up the bayou some nine miles, and still eight miles from Port Gibson, a raft across the bayou stopped us. We then backed down, for the bayou was too narrow to turn in, to one Colonel Berry's plantation, four miles only by a good wagon-road. Here, at about eleven o'clock in the morning, the troops were landed. The Fourth VOL. V. Doc. 35.

the next three days we expect to be ready for the water of the Mississippi. The fleet of FlagOfficers Farragut and Davis are awaiting the result with great interest, seven of Flag-Officer Farragut's vessels having passed Vicksburgh at eleven o'clock on the morning of the twenty-eighth without alarming the batteries of the town, and are anchored with Flag-Officer Davis's fleet of six mortar-boats and four gunboats on the west side of Burney's Point. The mortar vessels of Commodore Porter and the remainder of Flag-Officer Farragut's fleet remain below Vicksburgh. Captain Davis arrived from Memphis on the first of July.

To protect Commodore Porter's mortar fleet, lying close along the east bank of the river, within range of the batteries of Vicksburgh, but con

cealed from their view by a dense forest from the teries at the city of Vicksburgh, Miss., had been cnemy's skirmishers, I have despatched some in contemplation for some time, in order to ef three hundred men, under Major Whitmore, of fectually open the river, and it was at first the Thirtieth Massachusetts, for picket and re- thought that the squadron under Commodore connoitring on that side of the town. In the Farragut could accomplish this end alone, but a next five or six days I hope to be in the posses-reconnoissance made a month since induced the sion of much information regarding the batteries, belief that we could not attain a sufficient elevation their approaches, and the forces in support. with our guns to reach the rebel batteries located Respectfully, your obed't servant, on the bluffs. Accordingly the mortar fleet of T. WILLIAMS, Commodore Porter, which was then lying at Pensacola, was sent for, and after the lapse of a month all the vessels of the fleet were towed up the river and anchored below the city of Vicksburgh.

Brigadier-General Volunteers Commanding. P. S.-Lieutenant Elliott's Brigade Quartermaster goes down for supplies, and can furnish details not given here.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, BELOW VICKSBURGH,
July 6, 1862.

This ship, together with the Richmond and Brooklyn, arrived some three or four days previous to the fight. The navigation of the river with large ships had to be made with extreme caution, and rendered it necessary to come to anchor at night, so that our progress up the river was very slow. A part of our fleet was left at New-Orleans and Baton Rouge, but a majority of the vessels were brought up the river.

On the twenty-sixth instant the bomb-flotilla opened fire on the batteries, but met with very little response. Their labors, however, only continued during daylight. The nature of the country in and around Vicksburgh rendered it admirably adapted for defensive operations, and the rebels seemed to have taken advantage of it, and mounted guns in every commanding position. Their increased strength was apparent, and indicated that no time had been thrown away since our first reconnoissance was made.

CAPTAIN: The Tennessee left here last evening with the mail, but hearing the beating of drums at Grand Gulf, proceeded no further, and returned this evening for an additional gunboat to protect her in passing that point. Her return enabled me to supply an omission in my report of the fourth instant. It is that the eight longranged rifled guns of Nims's and Everett's batteries, from their position behind the levee at Burney's Point, distant seven eighths of a mile from the enemy's nearest battery on the upper side of Vicksburgh, coöperated gallantly and effectively with the fleet in the cannonade and bombardment of the twenty-eighth ult. Everett's battery lost one man and one horse killed. The fall of the water in the river is nearly at a stand-point, and the drift of logs and brush foreshadow what the newspapers promise, namely, a June rise. The work of the negro force on the cut-off, they being The city of Vicksburgh is located on the side organized into squads of twenty, with an intel- of a hill which slopes gradually down to the waligent non-commissioned officer or private to each, superintended by officers, is satisfactory. The Flag-Officer and his fleet are most sanguine and even enthusiastic. I regard the cut-off to be my best bower. Should it fail me, I shall resort to the next best to seize and hold the enemy's batteries, or at least spike their guns.

Respectfully, your obed't servant,

T. WILLIAMS, Brigadier-General of Volunteers. P. S.-The reconnoissance of to-day has shown how we ought not to approach the batteries; that of to-morrow will probably give the affirmative side.

RUNNING THE VICKSBURGH FORTS.

The annexed letter was written by a young participant on board the United States steamer Hartford, the flag-ship of Commodore Farragut.

UNITED STATES STEAMER HARTFORD, MISSISSIPPI River,

ter's edge. Guns were mounted in front of the city, back of the city, to the sides of the city, in fact, in the city. No thought seemed to be given to the safety of the place, their desire to bar the passage of vessels up the river predominating over all else.

us.

Just as day began to dawn on the morning of the twenty-eighth, the rebel batteries opened on The Richmond, Scioto and Oneida preceded us, while the Brooklyn and the gunboats brought up the rear. By the time we had got in complete range it was fully daylight, and an immense shower of solid shot was poured into us.

The fire seemed to come from columbiads, and was particularly directed on the flag-ship. Our starboard battery was belching forth a fearful hail on the rebels, whilst we were going at such a slow rate of speed as to scarcely give us steerage-way. Most of their batteries mounted one or two guns, and were scattered over the whole surface of the hill. Some were mounted behind THREE MILES ABOVE VICKSBURGH, June 29, 1862. earthworks, whilst some were protected by solid DEAR FATHER: Yesterday morning, at about rocks. We were so close to the batteries that half-past two o'clock, we got under way, and the men could be seen working the guns and under a most galling fire passed the city of Vicks- waving their hats in defiance. Most of their burgh, and are now anchored above the city some shots were too high to disable us, but completely three miles, in company with four of the advance tore our rigging to pieces. They also cut off boats of Flag-Officer Davis, of the Upper Missis-about seven or eight feet of our maintopsail yard, sippi Flotilla. but the toplift prevented it from falling. A solid

The project of silencing and capturing the bat-shot struck us just at the water's edge, and lodged

EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 1, 1862. GENTLEMEN: Fully concurring in the wisdom of the views expressed to me in so patriotic a attack land forces, and were very indignant at the The rebel troops were told they were going to manner by you in the communication of the twen-officers for leading them into such a scrape. ty-eighth day of June, I have decided to call into the service an additional force of three hundred thousand men.

OPERATIONS BEFORE VICKSBURGH, MISS. in sight!" "All hands to quarters, and let her