James Dye went to hospital sick; three wounded rolls were ordered to be made out to-day; no in the regiment. We continue to get news of Johnston's approach.

June 29.-Firing very moderate; we are dig-time determined him to make the movement ging to meet the undermining foe. The Second, Fifth, and Sixth Missouri are guarding the threatened point. We relieve each other every six hours. Weather pleasant; no loss to-day.

June 30.-Firing moderate; we threw among them to-day, a keg containing one hundred pounds of powder, with a fuse in it—we are not apprised of the damage it done. Our muster-Documents, ante.

seemed to treat it as a holiday frolic as they were rowing away, waving their hats to General Taylor and General Mouton, who were on the bank watching their departure.

The boat expedition having left, Genera.s Tay

horses, overtook Colonel Majors, commanding a brigade of cavalry, on the Atchafalaya, and instantly unfolded to him his plan of campaign, in which that gallant young officer was to play such a conspicuous part. Majors was to push boldly through the Grosse Tete, Marangoin, and La-lor and Mouton proceeded below Pattersonville, to fourche country, to Donaldsonville, thence to Thibodeaux, cut off the railroad and telegraph communication, then push rapidly to the Boeuf River, in the rear of Brashear City, and at the first sound of Mouton's and Green's guns, attack them at that place.

After seeing Colonel Majors well on his way, General Taylor returned via Washington and Opelousas, and pushed on rapidly to General Mouton and Green's headquarters, to superintend in person the attack on Brashear City and its forts. Orders had been already given them to make this attack. Advice of Majors's movements, and directions to open communication with him via the lakes, so that they could make a combined movement.

Two of General Taylor's staff had been urging on preparations for crossing the troops over the bay. Lieutenant Avery particularly had used every exertion, under direction of Brigadier-General Green, in the construction of skiffs and flats. Major-General Taylor arrived at General Mouton's headquarters on the morning of the twenty-first. Generals Mouton and Green had not been idle in carrying out their orders.

arrange for the other movements. Mouton, with the Seventh Texas, Fourth Texas, and Second Arizona regiments, stood post at Gibbons Point, on the island of the name, and immediately opposite Fort Buchanan. From this place his sharp-shooters could sweep the gunners from their positions at the heavy guns in the Fort. General Green with his old regiment, (Fifth Texas,) Walker's battalion, Second Louisiana cavalry, Valverde and Nichols's batteries, took position just before day in Berwick City, ready to open on all their camp, (which extended up and down the opposite bank for two miles,) also to keep in check their gunboats. Every matter of importance being now ready, Major-General Taylor waited with confidence for the boom of Green's artillery, which was to be the signal of attack.

Immediately after daylight General Green fired the first gun from the Valverde battery at a gunboat of the enemy which was standing up the bay in the direction of the upper fort, (Buchanan.) Instantly the whole bay was in a blaze; all of our guns first played upon the immense line of tents of the enemy, which were occupied by about one thousand Yankees. They were completely For a few days previous they had organized surprised-they had not imagined an enemy in the different corps and their positions in the im- twenty miles of them on this side of the bay, pending attack. Shortly after General Taylor's (their prisoners admit this.) Their heavy guns from arrival at Mouton's headquarters, one of his staff the three forts now opened on Green, at the same brought up from General Green's headquarters a moment the sharp crack of Mouton's thousand despatch of twelve м. the previous day, from Col- Enfield rifles is heard continually from Gibbons onel Majors; that daring commander had already Point, sweeping their gunners from their places arrived at Thibodeaux, after a triumphant cam- like a whirlwind would dash the sand of the despaign throughout the whole Lafourche-had cap-ert; all are anxious to hear the roar of Majors's tured Plaquemine, with one hundred and fifty guns. The worthy pupil of old Stonewall strains prisoners, destroyed three large sea-going vessels his ear for the signal. If Majors has arrived at loaded with valuable stores-had taken Donald- the Boeuf crossing, we have bagged them all; sonville with its garrison—had attacked that same day the enemy at Thibodeaux, driven him with Pyron's Texan infantry, at the point of the bayonet, from his strong position-had charged and routed his cavalry by charging him with Lane's, Stone's, and Phillips's Texan cavalry, and was now ready to cooperate with us in our movement of to-morrow.

At six P.M. on the evening of the twenty-first, a "forlorn hope," composed of volunteers from the different regiments, embarked in the skiffs and sugar-coolers prepared for them. Theirs was the proud privilege of storming the almost impregnable fort on the opposite side of the bay at dawn the following morning, while Generals Green and Mouton occupied them at different points in their front.

It was a hazardous mission to cross that Lake (twelve miles) in these frail barks-to land at midnight on the enemy's side, in an almost impenetrable swamp, and await the dawn of day to make the desperate attempt which would insure them victory or a soldier's death; but they

still we do not hear them, although the cannonade has been going on without intermission for one and a half hours. What has become of the storming party? They have not yet attacked; there is no sign of them; presently we hear one, two, and then the long, distant sound of artillery from the Boeuf. Majors is. there! Their communication is cut off completely. Just at this moment, to add to the enemy's confusion and disaster, the long looked-for "forlorn hope" made its appearance in the edge of the woods; with a real Texas yell they dashed at once, with bayonets fixed and pistols drawn, full at the threatening walls of the proud forts. In twenty minutes they had climbed its walls, dispersed its garrison, torn down the stars and stripes, and hoisted the "bonnie blue flag" over its ramparts. Leaving a small band to take care of the Fort, the gallant Hunter rushed on to the camps below, the affrighted enemy throwing down their arms and surrendering indiscriminately, until he had swept the whole place. Green, in the mean time, had engaged their gunboat with the Valverde and

GENERAL: Herewith I have the honor of inclosing Brigadier-General E. S. Dennis's report of the battle of Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, The African regiments being inexperienced in fought on the seventh day of June, 1863, together the use of arms, some of them having been with the list of casualties. In this battle most of drilled but a few days, and the guns being very the troops engaged were Africans, who had but inferior, the enemy succeeded in getting upon our little experience in the use of fire-arms. Their works before more than one or two volleys were conduct is said, however, to have been most gal-fired at them. Here ensued a most terrible handlant, and I doubt not, with good officers, they will make good troops.

The enemy at this time appeared to be extending his line to the extreme right, but was held in check by two companies of the Eleventh Louisiana infantry A. D., which had been posted beIt was agreed between them that the Captain hind cotton-bales, and part of the old levee. In should take the left side of Walnut Bayou, and this position the fight continued until near noon, pursue it as far as Mrs. Ames's plantation, while when the enemy suddenly withdrew. Colonel Leib proceeded along the main Richmond Our men, seeing this movement, advanced road to the railroad dépôt, three miles from Rich-upon the retreating column, firing volley after volmond, where he encountered the enemy's pickets ley at them while they remained within gunshot. and advance, which he drove in with but little The gunboat Lexington then paid her com

pliments to the flying foe, in several well-directed shots, scattering them in all directions.

I here desire to express my thanks to the officers and men of the gunboats Choctaw and Lexington, for their efficient services in the time of need. Their services will long be remembered by the officers and men of the African brigade, for their valuable assistance on that dark and bloody field.

The officers and men deserve the highest praise for their gallant conduct, and especially Colonel Glasgow, of the Twenty-third Iowa, and his brave men, and also to Colonel Leib, of the Ninth Louisiana A. D., who, by his gallantry and daring, inspired his men to deeds of valor, until he fell, seriously though not dangerously wounded.

I regret to state that Colonel Chamberlain, of the Eleventh Louisiana A. D., conducted himself in a very unsoldier-like manner. The enemy consisted of one brigade, numbering about two thousand five hundred, in command of General McCulloch, and two hundred cavalry. The enemy's loss is estimated at about one hundred and fifty killed, and three hundred wounded.

and engaged a three-gun field-battery there sta tioned. After three shots they ceased firing, and, landing with Lieutenant West and thirty men, I took possession of the bluff, where the clothing, equipments, and breakfast-fires left behind betrayed a very hasty departure. This bluff affords the key to the river, and we held it all day until sunset, though with constant skirmishing between my pickets and those of the enemy.

We found, as we expected, a row of spiles across the river at Wiltown, and a prisoner whom we had taken affected great terror of torpedoes. None, however, appeared, and the able engineering of Captain Trowbridge, in three hours effected a passage for the two small vessels. This was too late for the tide, and we were obliged to wait till noon before ascending farther.

At the first attempt to ascend with the flood- tide the Governor Milton went aground, and the Dean going about a mile further, had another engagement with the same battery, and again drove it back. She also running aground, we were compelled to wait an hour longer for the tide, when the two small vessels ascended together. We It is impossible to get any thing near the loss met with no further interruption (the rice-fields of the enemy, as they carried killed and wounded on each side being indefensible) till within two off in ambulances. Among their killed is Colo- miles of the railroad bridge, Here the Dean unnel Allen, Sixteenth Texas. Inclosed please find luckily grounded again, and all efforts to get her tabular statements of killed, wounded, and miss-off being fruitless, I signalled Major Strong, on ing, in all six hundred and fifty-two. Nearly all the missing blacks will probably be returned, as they were badly scattered.

board the tug, to proceed upward to the bridge. He soon found himself under the fire, at two hundred and fifty yards, of a six-gun field-battery planted that morning on the shore, and, after a severe engagement, in which my vessel could render but little aid, our little consort was com

The enemy, under General Hawes, advanced upon Young's Point, whilst the battle was going on at Milliken's Bend, but several well-directed shots from the gunboats compelled them to re-pelled to withdraw; and when at last the Dean was tire.*

got off, the tide rendered it necessary to abandon the attempt. We were at this time more than thirty miles from the mouth of the river, and about twenty miles from Charleston.

Descending the river, the Dean had another fight with her old enemies, apparently reënforced, who shelled us very severely from a point near Wiltown. We passed the spiles successfully, but regretted to find the Milton aground upon them. The John Adams tried in vain to pull her off, and

EXPEDITION UP THE SOUTH-EDISTO, S. C. the officers on board were reluctantly compelled

OFFICIAL REPORT OF COLONEL HIGGINSON.

ON BOARD STEAMER JOHN ADAMS,
July 11, 1863.

Briyadier-General Saxton:

to abandon her, as the tide was rapidly falling. I was drawing in the pickets and taking them on board the Dean when this decision was made and acted upon, and it was then too late for me to do any thing but order the little vessel to be set on GENERAL: I have the honor to submit a report fire, which was accordingly done, the few men on of an expedition up the South-Edisto River, un-board having been safely removed. dertaken with your consent and that of General Gillmore, commanding department.

I left Beaufort on the afternoon of the ninth, with the armed steamer John Adams, the transport Enoch Dean, and the small tug Governor Milton. I had with me two hundred and fifty of ficers and men of my regiment, and a section of the First Connecticut battery, under command of Lieutenant Clinton.

By four o'clock the next morning we anchored before Wiltown, twenty-one miles up the river, *See page 12, Docs, ante.

After this we met with no further incident, except making five in all. I am happy to say that in all one more artillery fight on the way down the river, these engagements the artillerists, both white and black, did themselves much credit, as indeed did all my command. I must especially mention companies K (Captain Whitney) and G (Lieutenant Sampson) upon whom very exposed duty devolved, in the way of skirmishing.

We brought away about two hundred contrabands, six bales of cotton of the best quality, and two prisoners, F. Hall (Sixth cavalry) and G.

My command reports two killed, private July Green, company A, and Wm. S. Verdier, company C, and one wounded, myself not severely, in the side, from the concussion of a shell. Beside these the engineer of the Milton was killed, (Mr. Mills,) and one contraband, name unknown. One sailor was slightly wounded in the foot, and one contraband lost a leg. Considering the number of shells that exploded in and near the vessels-fifteen having passed through the Enoch Dean alone-I am surprised that the list is no larger.

The loss of the enemy is unknown, but the prisoners stated that one of our first shots dismounted a gun and killed three men.

I have the honor to be, General, very respectfully your obedient servant,

T. W. HIGGINSON,

Colonel Commanding.

A NATIONAL ACCOUNT.

CAMP FIRST REGIMENTS,
BEAUFORT, S. C., July 16, 1863.

Henry Barnwell, of the Rebel Troop, one of the succeeded in driving the rebel cavalry and infanwell-known family of that name. Both were cap- try, capturing one lieutenant and one private betured by my skirmishers, with their horses and longing to the Sixth S. C. While the skirmishfull equipments. For want of transportation, we ing was going on, the John Adams was employed left behind a number of fine horses. We de-in removing some spiling that extended across stroyed large quantities of rice, by burning the the river. The work was done under the superrice-houses, and cut the dams of the rice-fields. vision and engineering of Captain Trowbridge, No private property not amenable to military rules First S. C. V., and was done with despatch, openwas burned or pillaged, though there was abun- ing a breach wide enough for the boats to pass dant opportunity for so doing. up the river. The little Milton and the Dean passed through the breach and proceeded up the river for about a mile and a half, and encountered a battery of two guns. The Dean exchanged a few shots with the battery, when the battery retired. The Milton meanwhile got aground, when the rebels posted a battery of two guns on the opposite bank and commenced a brisk fire on the Milton. A few well-directed shots from Lieutenant Clinton's guns on board the Milton caused them to retire. The Dean went on about a mile further and encountered two more rebel guns, one on each side of the river. A few shots drove them back. Owing to the draft of the Dean she was obliged to return to the spiling. I almost forgot to mention a detachment of Captain Rogers's company, (F,) who accompanied the expedition and were landed below the bluff, and proceeded about a mile to some extensive rice-mills containing about fifteen thousand bushels of rice, and burned them all. We were detained about two hours for the tide to rise, so that we could fulfil the object of our mission. We then weighed anchor, and the Milton and the Dean proceeded up the river to burn the bridge about fifteen miles from the spiling. When about six miles from the spiling the Dean got aground, and Colonel Higginson ordered the Milton to proceed up the river, but when about twenty rods from the Dean the Milton was fired at from the shore by a three-gun battery. One shell hit the Milton about midships, and exploded, injuring her machinery and killing her engineer. The Milton was obliged to turn back, leaving the Dean aground and exposed to two batteries-one on each side of the river. The Dean was hit with eleven shots from the rebels while aground. One shell burst quite near Colonel Higginson, injuring him severely by the concussion. Another shell passed through the bows of the Dean, killing one gunner and injuring three deck-hands severely. Captain Dolly expended all his ammunition for his ten-pounder rifle, and had only his six-pounder howitzer to fight with. The Dean managed to get afloat by using tar to get up steam, and proceeded down the river and encountered a battery of five guns about four miles from the piles, which riddled the Dean completely with shot and canister. The Milton had meanwhile run down the river, and, by mistake, run headlong on the spiles. Being unable to get her off, she was abandoned and burned. The machinery of the Dean was now disabled, and she was taken in tow by the John Adams.

Thinking perhaps that you would like to hear of an expedition made by a detachment of the First S. C. volunteers, I will proceed to give you a few items.

The expedition left Beaufort on the ninth of July, at four P.M., and arrived at Wiltown Bluff next morning about three A.M. The expedition was composed of four companies of the First regiment S. C. volunteers-companies A, B, G, and K--with a detachment of twenty men from company C, who nobly and fearlessly worked the guns on board the gunboat Enoch Dean. The little steamer Governor Milton, commanded by Major Strong, First S. C. V., was armed with two brass twelve-pounder Armstrongs from the Connecticut battery, commanded by Lieutenant Clinton, First Connecticut battery. The John Adams had on board two twenty-four pounder rifles and two twenty-four pounder howitzers, commanded by Mr. Edward Herron and Lieutenant Walker, First S. C. V. The Enoch Dean had two guns, one ten-pounder Parrott and one six-pounder howitzer, commanded by Captain George Dally, First S. C. V. On arriving near the bluff a contraband was seen on shore and a boat sent for him. He reported a battery of three guns on the bluff. The John Adams fired one gun and was answered by one gun from the bluff, when the rebels retired. Companies K, Captain Whitney, and G, Lieutenant Simpson, landed at the bluff and deployed their companies as skirmishers. After marching about one mile they encountered about one company of cavalry and a company of sharpshooters, when they had a brisk, skirmish and VOL. VII.-Doc. 12

We then proceeded down the river; but it would be well to mention another brisk skirmish which occurred before embarking, between the rebels