line, and frequently the balls of the enemy would reach to, and even pass over my men, though it was evident that the range of the Indian guns bore no comparison to ours. About this time I twice received the order to cause the firing to cease, which order I found difficult to execute, owing to the wide extent of my line, and the intense eagerness of the men.

I then received orders that, as the train was closed up, I should form my regiment in order of battle, deployed as skirmishers, holding two companies in reserve, and that thus advancing, our order of march would be resumed in the face of the enemy. In a few minutes the dispositions being made, all was ready, and in the order of battle indicated we passed the hill, and found that the enemy had fled. We saw them but once again for a moment on a distant hill in great numbers, when they entirely disappeared. My regiment marched in deployed order of battle in echelon at the head of the column for eighteen miles, expecting and ready at any moment to meet the enemy.

The number of Indians so suddenly charging upon us was estimated at not less than from one thousand five hundred to two thousand. They were well mounted and moved about with the utmost rapidity and with their characteristic hideous yells. The artillery, under Captain Jones and Lieutenant Whipple, did great execution, as I could well observe, and the fire of my men did effective service, and enabled us to hold the enemy at bay till the train was closed up and the regular dispositions for its defence made. At least three of the enemy were seen to fall by the fire from any line, their bodies being thrown on ponies and rapidly carried away. The artillery must have killed and wounded a considerable number. Nothing could exceed the eagerness, firmness, and gallant bearing of all the officers and men of my command during this unexpected, and by far numerically, the greatest effort the Indians had yet made upon the forces of the expedition. In their courage and earnest desire to clear the enemy from the hill by a double-quick charge, my officers and men were a unit. Nothing but the imminent peril of the train could induce them to cease the advance they had so gallantly begun.

On the thirtieth of July, while at Camp Slaughter, on the Missouri, I received an order to send three companies of my regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Jennison, to join an expedition under Colonel Crooks, the object of which was to skirmish through the timber and heavy underbrush to the river, and destroy the property of the Indians known to be upon its banks. This most laborious task was assigned to companies B, F, and K, and a portion of company C. A report of their operations will, of course, be given you by the officer commanding the expedition.

I desire, Captain, to avail myself of this opportunity to express my sincere gratification at the good order, faithful devotion to every duty, most determined perseverance in the long and weary marches, uncomplaining in the severe guard and trenching labors, submitting unmurmuringly to VOL. VII.-Doc. 28

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, July 16, 1863. To the Editor of the New-York Tribune: SIR: In the almost vain hope of helping to avert new horrors of war from which the soul of every Christian citizen must shrink-with the prayerful wish, rather than with the expectation, of saving your people and mine, your Government and mine, your cause and mine, from crimes political and military too terrible to contemplate without a shudder, I ask you to lay before your countrymen certain most grave facts, affecting at once their character and their existence as a nation, and coming home with a most kindly warning to "the business and the bosom" of every man among you who has interest to appeal to, a conscience to rouse, or a heart to touch. And I ask the New-York Tribune thus to speak for the humane among us to the humane among you, for two reasons; first, because that journal is the exponent of the doctrines of the Federal Administration, of the dominant party in the United States; and then, because abominable as those doctrines must ever be to us-cruel as are your counsels, impracticable as is your language-the Tribune has at least been from the beginning a consistent and courageous partisan, a fair and open foe--neither asking nor giving favors, playing no fantastic political tricks, nor bidding for all applause at once.

How I came by the knowledge of the facts which, in the very eagerness of a patriotic fear, I take this extraordinary means of imparting to your party, your rulers, and your people is "neither here nor there." Let it suffice to assure you, and I know you will believe me, that my opportunities have been as sure as the use I make of them is pure.

Let me comfort you with the assurance that I shall serve these facts to you in a form as compact as possible; for, indeed, I have but little to hope from the chances of this letter's ever reaching you. As to the peril to myself that is nothing.

On the third day of July, 1863, the Honorable Alexander H. Stephens, Vice-President of the confederate States of America, ran down from

Richmond in a confederate steamer, under a flag of truce, to the mouth of the James River, where he had conference with Acting Rear-Admiral S. P. Lee, commanding your blockading squadron, as to certain matters of state.

place, with all that was left of the "young massa a lock of hair or a trinket.

But no matter for that. He came to talk to you of self-preservation, of retaliation, and all that's shocking in the meaning of that word. He came I need not occupy your space (or at least your to tell you of the native devil that has slept so time, sir) with formal dilations. You know long, to be awoke at last, in the bosoms of a simthere was brief correspondence between our Vice-ple, dependent, affectionate race. He came to President and your Government. Mr. Stephens implore you in the name of God not to do this desired audience for the purpose of presenting to abominable thing. the consideration of Mr. Lincoln certain propositions bearing upon the spirit and conduct of the war. Mr. Lincoln declined to confer with Mr. Stephens, and Mr. Stephens returned to Richmond. Not to waste words in controversy, that, Mr. Tribune, was, I believe, the end of the expedition.

But not the end of speculations as to its real object. The guesses of your journals have been far more numerous than the possibilities. I propose to disenchant you. Therefore this letter.

The Vice-President of the confederate States was sent to ask the President of the United States to coöperate with the former government in measures conducive to the cause of humanity, to the cultivation of the most Christian shapes of warfare-such measures, in the first place, as might be agreed upon between them to lighten the troubles of prisoners, and alleviate the pains of the wounded. And had Mr. Stephens been so fortunate as to procure the audience he so frankly and simply sought, I, for one, believe that the mercy of his errand would have met with proper recognition. This, however, secondarily.

The primary object of the Vice-President's mission was to protest, in the name of his government and people, against the mustering and arming of the blacks, which now constitutes almost the only clear feature of your policy. He came to implore you, in the name of a people whose resources must have surprised you, of a government whose ability you have frankly acknowledged, of soldiers whose courage and devotion and endurance you have felt, to this consummation not to come at last. He came to assure you, on the good faith of his government, on the simple truth of his fellow-countrymen, that not one single regiment or corps of negroes has ever been brought into the confederate service, to be turned armed against you.

He came to remind you that such negroes as have, from time to time, been found on breastworks and in trenches, have been caught with spades only or picks in their hands; that, such as have been found in regiments, an insignificant number, have been, in all cases, body-servants, sometimes of officers, sometimes of privates, who of their own will, out of the love which you know they bear us, have chosen to follow their masters to the death. And these you have found among your prisoners. He could have told you, if diplomacy permitted sentiment, (God save the mark!) of many, such "chattels,' some of thern white-haired, begging, stealing, fighting their way home again, to the "ole missus" and the old!

Else he would have to fall back upon statistics and the grim phraseologies of war, and remind you that the four millions of negroes that appear in the tablets of your census for 1860 are the working hands of both sexes only. That number does not include the superannuated or the infants. Out of these four millions, at least seven hundred and fifty thousand ablebodied fellows, loving, and trusting their masters, and ready to follow them up to the mouths of your cannon, (ah! do not continue to befool yourself on that question of ties,) can be enrolled, armed, drilled in three months.

They can be officered in every grade by their own masters, those who have seen most service and won most honor. They can be segregated, regiment by regiment, with the white troops. In all the departments, the quartermasters, the commissariat, and the medical, white officers can administer for them. Superior commands in the black regiments can be made the meed of gallant service in the white. In fine, the entire system, as it operates in the Sepoy service in India, and as it has been modified by distinguished British officers at the request of our government to meet the peculiarities of our people- peculiarities which constitute incalculable advantages, presenting as they do, love and confidence in place of hate and jealousy and suspicion-can be put in working order at once.

This is what I tell you can be done. This is what the Vice-President of the confederate States came to tell you will certainly be done forthwith. Will you tell your people this?

It is not for me to speculate upon the consequences of these new and dreadful elements, whirled into new forms of conflict and complication, to prolong and intensify the war. My mind, in striving to grasp the subject, lets go its hold, and shrinks as from something at once terrible and loathsome. I cannot speak of things which seem to cry aloud out of the future with the tongues of women and of babes, with the contention of angels of friends, mixed of pity and fury.

But I do see in all this a hidden mine of power in the South which your policy may in one fatal moment spring upon the country, to bury all we once loved and were proud of in an undistinguishable monstrosity of disgust and death.

RANDOLPH.*

*See the Mission of Alexander H, Stephens, at pages 135 and 199 Documents, ante.

Doc. 128.

THE DRAFT RIOT IN BOSTON.

BOSTON "POST" NARRATIVE.

BOSTON, July 15, 1863.

riotous demonstrations that might have been made, and to which the State authorities lent a willing hand. Captain E. J. Jones, of the Eleventh battery, was ordered to proceed to the armory, Cooper street, and be in readiness for any emergency which might arise. During the after

nature were brought in from Readville. An order was also issued to the Metropolitan horse railroad to furnish thirty horses for the battery, which was at once complied with. At five o'clock a company of one hundred men from the Third artillery regiment at Fort Independence reached the city, and marched up State, Washington, and Court streets, in which thoroughfares they were cheered lustily. The company was fully pre

THERE was no little excitement in the city yes-noon extra cannon and other material of a like terday afternoon and last evening, growing out of the preliminary enforcement of the conscription act. It appears that Mr. David Howe and Mr. Wesley Hill, connected with enrolling office, District Four, were engaged yesterday noon in serving notices to those who had been drafted. While in the prosecution of this work they were interrupted, and somewhat severely treated, as will be seen further on. Mr. Howe was in the act of leaving a notice at No. 146 Prince street,pared for immediate service, had such been rewhen he and Mr. Hill were set upon with violence quired. Their presence in the city was quite by a small crowd which had been following them. generally welcomed. The First battalion of draMr. Hill immediately escaped and proceeded as goons, Major Wilder, were notified to be in imquickly as possible to the provost-marshal's office, mediate readiness, in case their services were reNo. 106 Sudbury street, to inform Captain Howe quired. Governor Andrew issued an order for of what was taking place. Mr. Howe was push- the Forty-fourth regiment to assemble at their ed and hustled, and finally struck upon the head. armory, Boylston Hall, forthwith, and await orAt this point Officer Wilkins, of Station One, ar- ders. They assembled with alacrity, and were rived and rendered assistance to the imperilled ready for service during the afternoon, evening, man. Mr. Wilkins succeeded in getting Mr. Howe and night. The Forty-fifth regiment were oraway from the crowd, and entered the store of dered to assemble this morning at Readville at Mr. Stearns, on the corner of Prince and Com-sunrise, or as soon afterward as possible. mercial streets, where the blood was washed from his face. The officer then started to walk with Mr. Howe to his lodgings--the Merrimac House but as soon as they reached the street, the crowd, which had by this time greatly increased in numbers, again set upon Mr. Howe. This time he was thrown down and badly beaten. He was subsequently taken into a house on Causeway street, where Dr. A. B. Hall attended him. He had five or six cuts about his head, which bled freely, and an equal number about his face. Both eyes were cut, and so swelled that the sight was temporarily lost. There were several severe bruises on his side, but no bones were broken. He was removed to his lodgings at night.

Since the above was in type, matters have assumed a much more serious aspect, involving the loss of life of several persons. At half past eight o'clock the telegraph fire alarm was sounded. This had previously been agreed upon as the signal of danger. A crowd had assembled in Dock Square, numbering some five hundred persons, evidently premeditating a demonstration of some sort. This was soon developed. The hardware store of Thomas P. Barnes, No. 28 Dock Square, was broken open by the mob, and in a very short time rifled of guns, pistols, bowie-knives, and other similar goods. About one hundred guns, seventy-five pistols, four dozen bowie-knives, and a quantity of superior cutlery were stolen, valued at about four thousand dollars. From the fact While these acts of violence and disorder were that these articles were selected, and no other progressing, a corps of policemen was detailed to goods harmed, it is supposed that the rioters quell the same. Officer Trask, of Station Two, were aware of their location in the store. The was severely wounded about the head and neck, mob next attempted to enter the gun-store of mostly by bricks and other missiles thrown at John P. Lovell, over the store of Mr. Barnes. him. Officer Winship, of Station One, was se- But in this they did not appear to have succeedverely used after the same style. Officers Os-ed. They next went to the well-known store of trando and Wasgatt, of the same station, were more or less bruised; but on no occasion did either of the officers give way to the rioters, or allow themselves to be intimidated in the least degree. The above are all the acts of violence we could learn. The crowds that assembled were evidently overawed. They proceeded without further demonstrations to the vicinity of Station One, Hanover street. Squads also gathered in Commercial and North streets, Haymarket Square, and other localities at the North End. The same was the case last evening.

In the mean time the city authorities instituted measures of the most efficient nature to quell any

Mr. Reed, Faneuil Hall Square, and were about to obtain a forcible entrance, when they were met by the police, under command of Mr. Dunn, of the detective force, who at once made an assault upon the invaders. In the mêlée a man named James Campbell, the ringleader, was shot in the head and one arm. He was arrested and taken to Station Two, where his wounds were attended to by Dr. Palmer. They are not dangerous. He is in the employ of Michael Doherty, a wellknown liquor-dealer in North street. An attempt was made to bail him out, but this was unsuecessful. He endeavored to shoot Officer Dunn, who appeared to be too quick for him. As soon

increased as a knowledge of the disturbances was made known, and during the afternoon many were looking on through curiosity, while others talked over the matter of the draft with considerable feeling.

in the hip, the bone being badly shattered, and his arm broken. He was sent to the hospital, and may survive.

The boys were all taken to the office of Dr. Walsh, in North square, and such measures were taken for the relief of the living as were found to be necessary. There were reports that the body of a woman was seen carried through the streets on a bier, but it could not be learned who she was. Reports of other persons being killed and wound

These serious indications of difficulty caused measures to be taken to increase the police force in suitable locations, and orders were issued to notify the Lancers, the Eleventh battery, Captain Jones, and the Forty-fourth regiment, to be ready for immediate service. An order was also sented it was difficult to verify. to Fort Warren for troops, and three companies ware sent up, which, after being marched through several of the principal streets, were quartered at the barracks in Beach street. A company of regulars was also sent up from Fort Independence, and nearly a company of the Second cavalry, from Readville. These precautions, it was believed, would be sufficient to prevent any difficulty during the night.

As night approached, many young men, in squads of from six to twelve or more, from various parts of the city, were seen moving toward the North End, some of them with sticks or clubs, but even then it was not clear that any mischief was designed. At about half-past eight o'clock, a crowd of from five hundred to one thousand gathered in front of the armory of the Eleventh battery, in Cooper street, with riotous demonstrations. Captain Jones warned the crowd of the dangers of a riot, but this did not avail, and an assault was made upon the building. Stones and bricks were freely thrown, the windows were broken, and the door forced, when some of the rioters entered the building, and several of the members of the battery were injured. It was then manifest that some more effectual measures must be taken, or the guns in possession of the battery would be captured. A gun had been loaded with canister-shot, and when the mob were about to triumph, it was fired with fatal effect, killing several and wounding many more.

This shot caused the mob to waver, but they did not give way entirely until a bayonet-charge was made upon them. The statements during the evening were very conflicting as to the result of the firing, but as near as could be ascertained at a late hour, the killed and wounded were as follows: A man about thirty-five years of age, name not known, was killed, eleven shot taking effect in his head and body, and his right arm was nearly shot off. The body was taken to the First station-house. William Currier, a man of seventy-one years, father of Officer William W. Currier, who lived near the Armory, was killed, it is supposed, by the mob. He belonged in Bow, New-Hampshire, and had been living in this city about six months. John Norton, a boy ten or twelve years of age, living at No. 166 Endicott street, shot through the heart, and died instantly. Michael Gaffy, fourteen years old, living at No. 31 Cross street, was shot in the bowels, and probably did not survive the night; his hand was also shot off. P. Reynolds, a boy of twelve years, living in Boston Place, was shot

About the same time with the attack on the Armory, a mob of several hundred persons made a rush into Dock Square, to procure arms. The store of Thomas P. Barnes, No. 28, was broken open, the door and window being demolished, when the best arms in the store were immediately seized upon and carried away. Not less than one hundred guns, nearly as many pistols, and three or four dozen bowie-knives, valued at some three thousand dollars, were stolen. From appearances in the choice of the articles, and the position from which some of them were taken, it is believed that the leaders must have had knowledge of their location. The door of the entry adjoining was broken open, and the mob rushed up-stairs to the shop of John P. Lovell, gunsmith, but it did not appear that the shop was entered.

The next rush was made for the store of William Read & Son, Faneuil Hall Square. A guard of several officers has been stationed in this store, known to have a larger and more choice stock of fire-arms than any other in the city. When the mob entered Dock Square, John M. Dunn, detective officer, who was at Mr. Read's store, hurried to the Second station-house, filled a carriage with officers well armed, and driving rapidly reached the store just as the mob was breaking in. One man who struck a blow upon the window was shot in the head, and the mob received a check. This man was James Campbell, very stout and muscular, and although the shot took effect above his eye, causing much blood to flow, it did not appear that he was seriously injured. He was carried to the station-house, and locked up. Some efforts were made to effect his release on bail, which, however, proved ineffectual.

As soon as the riotous demonstrations became known, an alarm was given to turn out the military, as well as the police force. It was but a short time before nearly the entire day police force in the city proper reported for duty at the Second station, with a delegation of some thirty from South-Boston. This force was sent to Dock Square as fast as assembled, but the mob had separated, departing in different directions. The Mayor, Chief of Police, and Deputy Chief, were early at the scene of the riot, promptly and efficiently directing the movements of the police, and giving directions for the posting of the military.

The Light Dragoons were early on duty, and were placed as a patrol force in the neighborhood of the Cooper street Armory, in Haymarket