habitants came out of the score of poorly-built, Goodhart was shot through the head and through tumbled-down old houses. Many, doubtless, had the heart, and died instantly. Private Stone was left the town. Some time ago it was the head- shot in the head, and killed instantly. The rebquarters of the rebel cavalry in this vicinity, and els were most severely punished; twenty were up to the time of the arrival of our troops some left dead on the field, and nine were taken prisforce had always been kept there. None, how-oners. Five were taken prisoners and one killed ever, were to be seen then. A small portion of the next day, who were making their way back the troops landed and went a short distance be- to Kentucky. Sixty horses and mules, and some yond the town, but no enemy was discovered. A forty guns, fell into our hands. Capt. Fullerton private of the cavalry-a small young fellow-is in full pursuit of the enemy. who by some chance was just returning on furlough, was captured, with the usual double-barreled shot-gun and old-fashioned sword. The rebels had evidently determined to make no re sistance whatever. Killed-Calvin Terry, First Lieutenant, shot through the body; John Goodhart, Second Lieutenant, shot through the heart and head; Jacob F. Stone, private, shot through the head. Wounded-John C. Philbrick, First Sergeant, shot in right arm, arm since amputated; R. S. Easkin, Second Sergeant, in left arm, slightly; A. Galespie, flesh-wound in thigh; Wm. Beaman, severely in knee; Peter Sharp, hip and thigh, seriously; Wm. Warner, slightly in knee. J. R. LOCKE, Chaplain Second Illinois Cavalry. On the seventeenth a body of troops were landed, and after marching about four miles, arrived at several large salt works, belonging to rebels of the names of Hawkins, Burnam, and Saunders. These were destroyed. In a clump of trees on the marsh, facing the creek, were a deserted battery and wooden barracks, once furnished with four guns. These had been taken for the defence of Newbern, and were captured by our troops here. The battery, together with the barracks, was destroyed. Several other reconnoissances CAPTURE OF THE STEAMER FAIR PLAY. were made in other directions, but the enemy kept themselves at safe distances, and could not be found. On Tuesday the expedition, having accomplished its object, returned to Beaufort. Doc. 182. FIGHT AT MERRIWETHER'S FERRY. CHAPLAIN LOCKE'S NARRATIVE. MARION CITY, TENN., August 18, 1862. On the morning of the fifteenth, a messenger reported to these headquarters that sixty or seventy rebel recruits for Jackson's cavalry, from Graves and Hickman counties, Kentucky, were passing within eight miles of this place south ward, under one Capt. Binfield, who had taken the oath some time since at Hickman. Colonel Harris, commander of the post, immediately ordered out company C, Captain Fullerton, Second Illinois cavalry, in pursuit. The Colonel accompanied the expedition in person. The company left at seven A.M., under command of Lieut. C. Terry, and overtook the enemy about twelve M., at Merriwether's Ferry, on the Obion River, thirty miles from Union City, where they were about to cross, to join some one hundred and fifty others who were camped on the opposite side of the river. The engagement lasted about half an hour, our men behaving in a most gallant manner. As our men came up, the enemy dismounted and hid behind trees and logs, while those on the opposite side of the river opened a cross-fire, which resulted in the death of three of our men-Lieuts. Calvin Terry and John Goodhart, and private Jacob F. Stone. Lieut. Terry was shot through the body, and only lived about an hour. Lieut. Doc. 183. CHICAGO "EVENING JOURNAL" ACCOUNT. UNITED STATES STEAM RAM FLEET, ABOVE VICKSBURGH, MISS., August 21, 1862. THE rams Switzerland, Monarch, Sampson, and Lioness, of Col. Alfred W. Ellet's Mississippi ram fleet, in connection with the gunboats Benton, Mound City, and Gen. Bragg, under command of Capt. Phelps, of the Benton, (who is in command of the gunboat flotilla during Commodore Davis's illness,) together with the transports A. McDowell and Rocket, with the Fifty-eighth and Seventysixth regiments Ohio volunteers, and a battalion of cavalry, under command of Col. Wood, of the Seventy-sixth Ohio, left Helena, Arkansas, on Saturday morning, August sixteenth, for a cruise down the Mississippi. Nothing of interest took place until Sunday afternoon, when we picked up seven "contrabands" in a skiff, who reported that a rebel steamer had come up the river a short distance above them the day before. There being a plantation below, we landed to see if we could get any information from the planter. He denied having seen any boat, but the negroes confirmed the report of the boys we had picked up. He was the meanest secesh I have yet seen. He said he had no corn nor any kind of vegetables, but we found any amount, and sent the negroes down to the boats loaded with corn and beans. We also captured two pigs to roast, besides chickens. He begged very hard for some coffee, a luxury he had not indulged in for a long time. We gave him a little, but not enough to treat him much. We proceeded down the river, and early Monday morning captured the rebel steamer and transport Fair Play, loaded with arms, ammunition, and stores for Gen, Hindman's division of the rebel army. She had five thousand five hundred stand of arms, part Enfield rifles, a large amount of ammunition, etc. There was also a regiment was very warm. 66 by the other boats, which made the rebels do some tall skedaddling" through the fields and woods. of cavalry and infantry camped near the bank of the river, where there was a section of the Vicksburgh and Shreveport Railroad. On our approach the rebels fled in great haste. Our troops were Our boat was the first to land, and I was one landed as soon as possible, and sent in pursuit. of the first off the boat. We captured two fortyThey followed the rebels as far as Richmond, and two pounders, one rifled; two thirty-two-poundcaptured fifty prisoners and several baggage-wag-ers, one twenty-pound boat-howitzer, a brass ons, besides numerous muskets, etc. We burned twelve-pound Mexican gun-one that was capthe dépôt and many cars, and destroyed the rail- tured by the United States in the Mexican war; road bridge. Our men were much fatigued, as a large amount of ammunition of all kinds, and they had started without breakfast, and it was about twenty muskets and necessary equipments. near noon before they returned, and the weather I went into some buildings which they had been using, and captured a revolver, (from its appearance I think it must be the first one ever made,) some confederate money, and several other valu able articles. We were compelled to blow up the four large guns and destroy most of the ammunition, for want of transportation. While we were loading the guns to burst them, some negroes came up with a pair of huge wheels, (such as are used in hauling heavy timber,) with five yoke of cattle attached, to haul the guns from the river, where they had been landed from the Fair Play the week before, to the fortifications on the bluff. They took us at first for secesh, as they said they expected a great many there to help place the guns in position. They were much surprised, and wanted to go with us. We took them on board, let the cattle loose, and destroyed the wagon. There were six or eight ladies on the Fair Play, "dreaming the happy hours away," little dreaming, however, that the terrible Federals were so near them; but when they awoke, and found how near we were to them, they immediately left, up the bank, and took refuge in a corn-field. They left en deshabille, with portions of their clothing in their arms. The gentlemanly reporter of the New-York Times called my attention to a young lady going up the bank, her fair form encircled in a long white dress; but I immediately left for the other end of the steamer, being a very bashful young man. He being a married man, it did not make so much difference. A trusty guard was sent out by the gallant Captain of the Benton, and, after hunting for some time, found six ladies, and assured them they were welcome to come aboard for their clothing, and they need have no fear. They came, and I saw several of them in a wagon, with their servants and baggage, going on a visit to some friends. A great many trophies were picked up in the town. One of the gunboat men found a silver goblet with Dan Sickles's name on it. It was captured by one of the rebels, and was brought out here, where a man paid fifty dollars for it, as a trophy taken from the Yankees. Capt. Phelps is going to send it to Gen. Sickles. On Monday night we dropped down the river and anchored near the mouth of the Vicksburgh cut-off, which was to cut off Vicksburgh, but did not. The river is now some ten feet below the bottom of the ditch, or canal, as it is called. We are about five miles above the city by water, and three by land. The rebels, when they found we were there, came up with a flag of truce on a steamer, and wanted to know if we had any prisoners to exchange, when, in reality, all they wanted was to see what our strength was-an old trick of theirs. Tuesday noon the gunboats Benton and Mound City, with three of Colonel Ellet's rams, and a detachment of the Fifty-eighth Illinois and Seventysixth Ohio volunteers, under command of Major Dester, of the Fifty-eighth, left the rest of the fleet for a trip up the Yazoo River, as far as possible, in hopes of capturing or destroying some transports which the rebels had up there, and of which we heard they were making gunboats. We proceeded up as far as Hayne's Bluff, Mississippi, where we discovered the rebels at work erecting batteries on the bluff, so as to command the river. The Benton opened on them, and was followed We laid there all night, and on Tuesday morning again moved up the Yazoo River. We got as far as the mouth of the Big Sunflower, and the gunboats could get no further. Doc. 184. EVACUATION OF HARRISON'S LANDING. HARRISON'S LANDING, Saturday, Aug. 16, 1862. HARRISON'S Landing is evacuated. Without a struggle, without a blow, without even the loss of a single man, the immense army of the Potomac, officers and men, bag and baggage, stores, tents, horses, ammunition, and contrabands, are now far away from Harrison's Landing, leaving it a deserted and desolate plain. For several days this important movement has been going on. Ten days ago, when on the way from Fortress Monroe to Harrison's Landing, in the mail-boat John A. Warner, I was convinced that the evacuation had already commenced, from the fact that steamer after steamer, and vessel after vessel, passed us steaming or sailing in the direction of Fortress Monroe, laden heavily with horses and stores. All agree that the whole affair had been admirably well planned and executed. For a wonder, every body did not know every thing that was to take place before an order was given, and for a still greater wonder after an order was given no one knew the result; for if it related to the movement of a brigade or division, men and officers, colonels, and even generals, speculated as to the meaning of the move, such as "What does it mean?" "Where are we going?" "Is the whole army going to move?" etc.; and even at this moment your reporter is asking the two former questions at Fortress Monroe, without being able to obtain more than a supposition for an answer. I have said that this movement had been in contemplation some time, but the first intimation of it took place on Monday last, when McCall's division received orders to strike their tents, provide six days' rations, and be ready to move at a moment's notice. At nine o'clock at night the whole division arrived at the wharf, and embarked quietly on steamers; left the Landing some time during the night for Acquia Creek, as was supposed, via Fortress Monroe. An order was next issued that no more vessels loaded with supplies should proceed further than Fortress Monroe; and on Wednesday ten days' rations were served to the army, which was required to be in readiness to move at an hour's notice. All the knapsacks of those who were ordered to march by land were placed on board barges and schooners, for the humane purpose of relieving the men of their weight and incumbrance during the hot and weary march. On the same day General McClellan and Colonel Ingalls left Harrison's Landing for the nearest telegraph station, and communicated with the War Department as to future movements, returning the following day. On Thursday the army commenced evacuating in earnest. All the siege-guns were removed from the front, and safely embarked on Thursday and yesterday on board barges and schooners. Porter's corps led the van of the overland portion of the army on Thursday night. On Friday morning every tent was struck, and then, for the first time, was it generally known that the whole army was about evacuating Harrison's Landing. On Thursday night fifty sail of vessels left the different wharves, loaded with stores, and yesterday the remainder of the stores were placed on boats and steamers by the contrabands. All the cavalry that remained before the final departure of the land forces acted as pickets, and a strong rear-guard of infantry and artillery was placed to protect the baggage-trains. The sick and wounded who remained at the different hospitals were placed on board the regular steamboats belonging to the Sanitary Commission at the Long Wharf, and were among the first to move out into the stream. Contrabands were shipped on schooners, barges, and pontoon-boats, and it was an amusing sight to see the long line of boats with their ebon freight pass the different steamers and wharves, to take their places among the others anchored in the stream, or hear the questions, answers, and jokes which passed between the two parties, amid the "ha! ha's!" of the white men and the "ya! ya's!" of the black. Gen. McClellan and most of his staff went by land, and yesterday afternoon Col. Ingalls and Captain Rankin started across the peninsula on horseback. Captain Sawtelle remained to direct the operations at the Landing, and great praise is due him for his energetic and indefatigable exertions and excellent management throughout. All being now safely embarked on board the different vessels, Col. Butler, commandant of the depot-guard, called in his sentinels, who were on duty at the different wharves, and embarked his regiment on board the North-America. His regiment, the Ninety-third New-York, have performed the arduous duties of guarding the dépôts at White House and Harrison's Landing with credit to themselves and satisfaction to the whole army. And now they, too, are all embarked, and the last steamer has steamed to the centre of the stream, the mighty fleet quietly resting at anchor on the bosom of the placid James, waiting for the changing of the tide, which is the signal of departure. A The last steamer had paddled out in the stream. This occurred about nine o'clock. The moon was about half full, shedding sufficient light to clearly distinguish surrounding objects. Up and down the river, far as the eye could reach, the fleet lay quietly at anchor, the many-colored signal-lights, bright and flickering, looked like fairy stars of various hues, flashing along the whole line. light breeze was blowing up the river, rippling the water noiselessly, each ripple moving as with fiery life, from the reflection of the fires on the banks. A sound of many voices singing a hymn, in the direction of the negro barges, came floating musically over the water, to the tune of "We're bound for the happy land of Canaan." All else was still as death, and as I sat upon the deck of the steamer looking at the enchanting scene, I thought of "peace and good-will to men, rather than of war and war expeditions. We did not leave until near seven o'clock A.M., when all being in readiness at the change of the tide, the whole fleet moved slowly down the river. Nothing occurred of any particular consequence during the voyage. -N. Y. Tribune. Doc. 185. THE BATTLE OF LONE JACK, MO. GENERAL BLUNT'S REPORT. Col. E. C. Catherwood, Commanding, Sedalia : YOUR despatch of this, the eighteenth, is just arrived. I came upon the united forces of Coffee, Hunter, Tracy, Jackman and Cockerhills, numbering four thousand, at Lone Jack, at seven o'clock P.M. on the fifteenth instant. On the morning of the sixteenth the rebel forces attacked Major Foster with six hundred State militia at Lone Jack, defeating him, and captured two pieces of artillery. The loss on each side was about fifty killed and seventy-five to one hundred wounded. Among the latter was Major Foster. Foster's command made a gallant fight, and were only defeated by overwhelming force. On my arrival at Lone Jack I found General Warren with a command of eight hundred, consisting of the First Missouri and First Iowa cavalry and two pieces of artillery, threatened with an immediate attack by the whole rebel force, the rebel pickets being then in a part of his camp; but on hearing of my approach they immediately commenced a retreat under the cover of night, availing themselves of the shelter of heavy timber for a distance of six miles, crossed our trail in the rear, and made a precipitated flight south. They have never halted since they commenced their retreat except long enough to feed their horses, and crossed the Osage at this point yesterday at eleven o'clock A.M. My advance, under Col. Cloud, skirmished with their rear-guard during the day yesterday, killing and wounding several and taking a number of prisoners. Coffee is talking of forming a junction with Rains at Greenfield, and make a stand, which I hope they may do, as my command is much exhausted by forced marches, and stock badly used up. Since I left Fort Scott, my command has marched over two hundred miles and an average of forty miles per day without tents, and the last two days without subsistence, except as we could forage off the country, yet the men have borne their fatigue and privations cheerfully in anticipation of meeting the enemy. I arrived here at two o'clock this morning, and shall march in an hour for Greenfield. JAMES G. BLunt, OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE. HEADQUARTERS, SEDALIA, Mo., August 24, 1862. Colonel Catherwood: then ceased upon the left for more than an hour, the enemy, in full force, continuing the attack upon our right with increased fury. The cannoniers all being wounded or missing, the cavalrymen used the piece admirably, sending grape and canister in the enemy's ranks with great rapidity and effect. The action continued an hour after we rescued the cannon, when the rebels were repulsed and driven entirely from the village. The victory was ours, but the enemy was soon heavily reënforced, and we were compelled to retreat. When our artillery was taken, dismay seemed for a moment to spread through our right and centre, but it was only momentary. Their silence gave warning, like the momentary hushing of the storm before it comes with its most furious sweep and havoc. With the cry of “Onward, men," the right and centre, aided by company A and my company, rushed upon the enemy regard less of danger, repulsing the continued assault of over two thousand rebels for four hours. In the mean time the rebels, in considerable force, charged upon our rear, but were repulsed by about one hundred of our men, with a fire so destructive that they abandoned that point of attack, although a large corn-field covered their advance. At the close of the four hours' assault, our men succeeded in rescuing one piece of the artillery from the enemy. Eight hundred of us fought three thousand rebels, and the victory was ours, the reenforcements of the enemy only compelling us to retreat. Our whole loss was sixty killed and one hundred wounded and missing; that of the enemy was about one hundred and ten killed and wounded. The loss of my detachment was nine killed, fortyfive wounded, and thirteen missing. SIR: On the morning of the fifteenth instant, about eight hundred men (our detachment included) were sent out from Lexington, under command of Major Foster. We arrived in the vicinity of Lone Jack at ten P.M. on the evening of the same day, where we learned that the enemy, two thousand five hundred strong, were encamped one and one half miles north of the village. At eleven P.M., three fourths of a mile south of the village, we encountered a heavy picket of the enemy, and a skirmish commenced. One discharge of the artillery and a volley from SURRENDER our rifles scattered them in every direction, and the column proceeded. The artillery was again brought to bear upon them, shelling their camp with such effect that they retreated, and the skirmish ended. Doc. 186. OF CLARKSVILLE, TENN. COLONEL RODNEY MASON'S DEFENCE. CAMP CHASE, Tuesday, August 25, 1962. To the Editor of the Ohio State Journal: I HAVE found the papers filled with accusations against me, touching the surrender of Clarksville, and telegrams grossly misrepresenting the facts in the case. I have only to state my relations to that event, and leave to a candid and not ungen At daylight on the morning of the sixteenth instant, our pickets reported them to be advancing upon us in three columns of about one thousand men each. Our line of battle was scarcely formed when they came upon us, yelling like sav-erous people the verdict upon me. ages, and sending their balls into our ranks thick as hail. Companies A and E were on the left, and company B was in the centre of the line. Our whole line opened upon them with severe effect, but our right was driven back by overwhelming numbers, and our artillery was captured by the enemy. Things were different on the left. Company A and my company, and another company of militia, repulsed a large force of cavalry, which charged furiously upon our left, aiming to rout us at the first dash. In this sharp contest every man stood to his post like a hero. The action On the twelfth of June, Gen. Halleck published an order changing the boundaries of the districts of Gen. Buell, and providing, among other things, that Gen. Buell should relieve the forces of Gen. Grant, then in garrison at Clarksville. This order was never carried out. After Gen. McClel lan's retreat on James River, the rebel sympathizers became very active and open in recruiting, and the evidences of a general rising multiplied. About the same time the river fell so that a class of boats that could reach Clarksville could not proceed to Nashville, and begun to deposit their cargoes for reshipment. These stores gradually accumulated, and created a temptation for an attack that had not before existed. I warned the officers at Gen. Buell's headquarters of the necessity of increasing my force. I begged them for cavalry to scour the country, but especially for artillery. Gov. Johnson tried to obtain for me even a section of a battery, but failed. I telegraphed to Colonel Lowe, at Fort Henry, and to Lieut.-Col. Olney, at Paducah, for assistance; the latter started a battery on a boat, but it could not get up the river, and returned. I telegraphed to Gen. Grant, as did also Col. Lowe; the General telegraphed me to give notice to Nashville of a day when I would leave the post, and to move on that day. I gave this notice, and visited Nashville a few days after, to represent matters at headquarters. Major Seidell, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, urged me to remain, stating that Gen. Buell had requested General Grant to countermand his order. I finally agreed to await the result, but told him that while I thought I could hold any camp against infantry, that I was in no condition to sustain an artillery attack; that I was fully advised of the strength of the enemy, and that I was advised by Lieut.-Col. Bristow, of the Kentucky cavalry, that they intended to attack Clarksville. That, while I was willing to do the best I could, I would not hold myself responsible for the post. He still urged me to remain. On the day I had fixed for my departure, I received an order from Gen. Grant to remain. The day I was in Nashville, Gov. Johnson also telegraphed Gen. Halleck, recommending that I should be allowed to bring the remainder of my regiment from Fort Donelson to Clarksville. So matters remained, becoming more and more threatening, of which they were fully advised at Nashville. On Monday morning I received notice of the approach of the enemy in force. I was near my headquarters in the city, and immediately started for camp, which I reached just as the enemy galloped down the street. I found Lieut. Col. Andrews, who was in command, forming the men in position. The enemy halted out of range, and sent in a flag of truce, demanding a surrender. I called my officers together, and submitted the proposition to them. The matter was some time in consideration. Pending the negotiation, I asked and obtained leave to send Lieut.-Col. Andrews along the line to verify their statements of their force. He counted them to the number of about eight hundred, well armed, one company with volcanic rifles, ("sixteen-shooters,") one with carbines, some with muskets, and the remainder with double-barreled shot-guns. Besides this number, they were joined by citizens, variously armed, making their entire force about one thousand or one thousand one hundred; and this increasing every hour, by a constant stream of people coming in from the country. They had, besides, a battery of four guns, six and twelve-pounders. To oppose this force, the officers reported to me one hundred and ten men, in all one hundred and fifty-two men, with no artillery, except a little gun picked up at the rolling-mill, and of no account whatever. We had relied on holding the college, about which we were encamped, against infantry; but its walls were only thick enough to explode a shell as it passed through them. We had thrown up some rifle-pits to guard the open approach, but had nothing that could be called "fortifications." Our total nominal force was about two hundred and ninety enlisted men; but we had four detachments of six to eight each up the river, guarding boats; another down the railroad, and another guarding the wharf, telegraph-office, commissary and quartermaster's warehouses, and the stables; so that the total force in camp, as reported to me, was only one hundred and fiftytwo men. The officers first voted part for surrender and part against it. I told them that we would then fight for it, and started for the flag of truce. While we were talking, Lieut.-Colonel Andrews came to me and said the officers were now unanimous in their recommendation for surrender, and I asked an interview with Col. Woodward, which resulted in our capitulation. The question for my consideration was a simple one. On the one hand I had the strongest possible motives for desiring to make a desperate resistance; on the other hand, my conviction that we could not hold the building against an artillery attack, and that we could not stand a siege I knew, for we had not sufficient supplies of either water or food. My men out of camp were all prisoners, and I could see nothing for it but surrender, either before the fighting or after. I had needlessly, and against my own judgment, sacrificed the lives of my men. My duty, I thought then, and I think so now, was plain; and terrible as have been the results to myself, I am sure that my conscience could again, under like circumstances, demand a similar action. I knew, as the Louisville Democrat suggests, that I had an opportunity to retrieve my good name, but I have never permitted a selfish consideration to influence my conduct on a matter of public duty; and as God is my helper, I trust I never may. Had I for such motives sacrificed the lives of my brave men uselessly, I should have received, as I would have deserved, the execrations of the very men who now, for other reasons, traduce me, and I should not have been sustained by the voice of my own conscience. The telegraph says I am to be dismissed from the service. Should this even be so, I am ready to meet even that. I can at least then, if discharged from my parole, reënter the service, as on the day after the President's proclamation I first entered it, as a private soldier, and I shall then ask all those now censuring me to go with me, and let us see which can look death most calmly in the face. If then, responsible for my own life only, I falter, let them indeed call me a coward. R. MASON. STATEMENT OF COMPANY OFFICERS. The undersigned, commissioned officers of the line, who were at Clarksville, Tenn., on duty at the time of the surrender, have read with deep |