early hour, it is impossible to gather, from crude statements, those truthful narratives which ought to adorn the page of history. The results of the battle may be briefly summed up. Judged by all the rules of warfare, it was a victory to our arms. If we failed to rout the enemy, it was only because the nature of the ground prevented him from running. Wherever we whipped him, we either drove him against his own masses on the right, left and centre, or into the mountains; and against the latter position it would have been impossible to operate successfully. Nowhere did he gain any permanent advantage over the confederates. Varying as may have been the successes of the day, they left us intact, unbroken, and equal masters of the field with our antagonist. Last night, we were inclined to believe it was a drawn battle, and the impression generally obtained among the men that, because they had not, in their usual style, got the enemy to running, they had gained no advantage; but to-day the real facts are coming to light, and we feel that we have indeed, achieved another victory. Twenty thousand additional men could not, under the circumstances, have made it more complete. Georgia; Colonel Newton, of the Sixth Georgia; Captain Nesbit, commanding Third Georgia, and Lieutenant-Colonel Barclay, of the Twenty-third Georgia, (reported killed ;) Major T. S. McIntosh, of General McLaw's staff, and Lieutenant S. B. Parkman, of Read's Georgia battery. Also, Col. Strong, Captains Ritchie and Calloway, and Lieutenants Little and Lynne of the Sixth Louisiana, and Captain McFarland and Lieutenant Newman, of the Seventh Louisiana. Wounded: Major-General Anderson, of SouthCarolina; Brigadier-General Anderson, of NorthCarolina; General Lawton, of Georgia, in leg; General Wright, of Georgia, in leg; General Ripley, of South-Carolina, in throat; Colonel Duncan McRea, who succeeded Ripley in command, slightly; Colonel Magill, of Georgia regulars, lost an arm; Majors Sorrell and Walton, of Longstreet's staff; Colonel Gordon and LieutenantColonel Lightfoot, of the Sixth Alabama, Captain Reedy, of the Third Alabama, (wounded and missing at Boonesboro Gap ;) Colonel Alfred Cumming, of the Tenth Georgia; Major Tracy, badly, and Captain Watson, of the Sixth Georgia; Lieutenant-Colonel Sloan, of the Fiftythird Georgia; Colonel Jones, of the TwentyWe took a few prisoners, not more than six or second Georgia; Lieutenant-Colonel Crowder, seven hundred in all. The Federals fought well badly, of the Thirty-first Georgia; Major Lewis, and were handled in a masterly manner, but their Captains Harney and St. Martin, and Lieulosses have been immense probably not less tenants Murphy, Cook, Current, Dea, Montthan twenty thousand killed and wounded. They gomery, Bryant, Wren, Birdsall, and McJimsey, had the advantage, not only of numbers, but of of the Eighth Louisiana; Colonel Penn, Capa position from which they could assume an offen- tains Frank Clark and O'Connor, and Lieutenants sive or defensive attitude at will, besides which, Smith, Orr and Martin, of the Sixth Louisiana; their signal-stations on the Blue Ridge command- Captains Herrin, Morgan and Harper, and Lieued a view of our every movement. We could not tenants Knox, Tarpey, Flower, Talbot, and Wells, make a manœuvre in front or rear that was not of the Seventh Louisiana; Major Menger, Captain instantly revealed to their keen look-outs, and as Hart and Lieut. Patterson, of the Fifth Louisiana; soon as the intelligence could be communicated Colonel Hately, Lieutenant-Colonel T. B. Lamar, to their batteries below, shot and shell were Sergeant-Major Anderson, of the Fifth Florida; launched against the moving columns. It was Captain Gregory, and privates Hagin, Henry, this information, conveyed by the little flags upon Bryant, Parker, Strickland, Bateman, Yon, Barthe mountain-top, that no doubt enabled the en-nett, Dillard and Martin, of company H, of the emy to concentrate his force against our weakest points and counteract the effect of whatever similar movements may have been attempted by us. Our loss is variously estimated at from five to nine thousand. SAVANNAH "REPUBLICAN" ACCOUNT. SHARPSBURGH, September 17, 9 P.M. A bloody battle has been fought to day. It commenced at daylight and lasted until eight o'clock at night-fourteen hours. The enemy made the attack, and gained some advantage early in the day on the left, and subsequently the right, but was finally repulsed with great slaughter. Our own losses have been heavy, including many officers of worth and position. For the present can only mention the following: I same regiment; S. B. Barnwell, Color-Sergeant of Oglethope light infantry, Fifth Georgia, about knee, and leg amputated; Captains Caracker and Carey, and Lieutenants Macon, Guy and Hubert, of Fourth Georgia; Major Randolph Whitehead, of Forty-eighth Georgia; Captain Charles Whitehead, of General Wright's staff; Major Harris, of Twentieth Georgia; and Colonel William Smith, (late Governor, and known as Extra Billy Smith,) of Virginia, badly. Gens. Lawton's and Wright's wounds, though severe, are not considered dangerous. The same may be said of Colonel Gordon's and Lieutenant-Colonel Lightfoot's of Sixth Alabama; Major-General Anderson's, BrigadierGeneral Anderson's, and Brigadier-General Ripley's. I have omitted to mention, in the proper place, Killed Brigadier-Generals Starke and Branch; that Major Robert S. Smith and Lieutenant Lewis Colonel Douglas, of the Thirteenth Georgia, com- Cobb, of the Fourth Georgia, were killed; also, manding brigade; Colonel Homes, of the Second Lieutenants Underwood and Cleveland, of the Georgia Colonel Milligan, of the Fifteenth Geor-Eighteenth Georgia. Captains George Maddox gia; Colonel S. B. Smith, of the Twenty-seventh and Crawford, Lieutenants Callahan and Wil liams, and Sergeant McMurray, (the latter mor- ard, rallied them forward. No sooner did the galPri-lant General thus throw himself in the van than four bullets pierced his body, and he fell dead amidst his men. The effect, instead of discouraging, fired them with determination and revenge, and they dashed forward, drove the enemy back, and kept them from the position during the rest of the day. This list imperfect, perhaps, limited as it is, and comprises only such names as I have been able to gather up during the progress of the fight. My arrangements have all been made to procure full, as far as possible, correct lists of the killed and wounded, provided the army should not move immediately. It being evident that the "Young Napoleon," finding he could not force his way through the invincible ranks of our army in that direction, had determined upon a flank movement towards Harper's Ferry, and thus obtain a position in our General Lee, with steady foresight, antici pated the movement by drawing the main body of his army back on the south side of the Potomac, at Shepherdstown, Va., whence he will, of course, project the necessary combinations for again defeating his adversary. But I cannot say more at this time. This brief and hastily written note is designed to be the forerunner only of my account of the battle, and is sent now because an opportunity is offer-rear. ed to forward it to the post-office at Winchester. I will only add, that the timely appearance of McLaws on the left, about nine o'clock in the morning, saved the day on that part of the field, and that to Toombs we are indebted for saving it in the afternoon on the right. Both charges were brilliantly successful. A. P. Hill got up at two P.M., and went in at four, and contributed largely to the success of the day. Nearly all the troops behaved with great spirit. Again I say-and with this remark I conclude this note the prospect is, we shall have to return to Virginia. P. W. A. RICHMOND "INQUIRER" ACCOUNT. RICHMOND, September 23. We have received authentic particulars of the sanguinary battle at Sharpsburgh alluded to elsewhere, and concerning which so many painful rumors were afloat on yesterday. We have the gratification of being able to announce that the battle resulted in one of the most complete victories that has yet immortalized the confederate arms. The ball was opened on Tuesday evening about six o'clock, all of our available force, about sixty thousand strong, commanded by General Robert E. Lee in person, and the enemy about one hundred and fifty thousand strong, commanded by Gen. McClellan in person, being engaged. The position of our army was upon a range of hills, forming a semi-circle, with the concave towards the enemy; the latter occupying a less commanding position opposite, their extreme right resting upon a height commanding our extreme left. The arrangement of our line was as follows: Gen. Jackson on the extreme left, Gen. Longstreet in the centre, and Gen. A. P. Hill on the extreme right. The fight on Tuesday evening was kept up until nine o'clock at night, when it subsided into spasmodic skirmishes along the line. Wednesday morning it was renewed by Gen. Jackson, and gradually became general. Both armies maintained their respective positions, and fought desperately throughout the entire day. During this battle Sharpsburgh was fired by the enemy's shells, and at one time the enemy obtained a position which enabled them to pour a flanking fire upon a portion of our left wing, causing it to waver. At this moment Gen. Stark, of Mississippi, who had command of Gen. Jackson's division, galloped to the front of his brigade, and seizing the stand The enemy's artillery was served with disas trous effect upon our gallant troops; but they replied from musket, howitzer, and cannon with a rapidity and will that carried havoc amidst the opposing ranks. The battle was one of the most severe that has been fought since the opening of the war. Many of our brave men fell. At dark the firing ceased, and in the morning (Thursday) our army were ready to recommence the engagement, the enemy having been forced back the evening before, and the advantage of the battle being still on our side. Firing was consequently opened upon the new position supposed to be held by the enemy, but no reply was obtained, and it was then discovered that he had disappeared entirely from the field, leaving many of his dead and wounded in our hands, and about three hundred prisoners. The report current on yesterday that a truce occurred on Thursday for the burial of the dead was unfounded. The prisoners stated that their force was more than a hundred thousand strong, and that McClellan commanded the army in person. Our loss is estimated at five thousand in killed, wounded and missing. The prisoners state that their ranks were greatly decimated, and that the slaughter was terrible, from which we may infer that the enemy's loss was fully as great, if not greater, than our own. The following is a list of commanding officers killed and wounded in the engagement: Gen. Stark, of Mississippi, commanding Jackson's division, killed. Brig.-Gen. Branch, of North-Carolina, killed. Brig.-Gen. R. H. Anderson, wounded in hip, not dangerously. Brig. Gen. Wright, of Georgia, flesh wounds in breast and leg. Brig.-Gen. Lawton, in leg. Brig. Gen. Armistead, in the foot. Brig.-Gen. Ripley, in neck, not dangerously. Brig. Gen. Ransome, of North-Carolina, slightly. Col. Alfred Cummings, in command of Wilcox's brigade, slightly. Doc. 123. SKIRMISH AT POCATALIGO, S. C. A NATIONAL ACCOUNT. BEAUFORT, S. C., June 1, 1862. ON Thursday morning last, May twenty-ninth, a skirmish occurred at Pocataligo, a point near the Charleston and Savannah Railroad, between Salcahatchie and Coosahatchie, in which our forces, under command of Col. B. C. Christ, of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania volunteers, routed about eight hundred of the rebels. The engagement was conducted entirely with infantry on our side, and was prolonged for about two hours before the enemy were finally dislodged. The details of the affair, which was, in military parlance, a reconnoissance, are as follows: On the evening of the twenty-eighth ultimo the Fiftieth Pennsylvania regiment, together with one company of the Eighth Michigan volunteers, Capt. Doyle, and one company of the Seventy-ninth Highlanders, left Beaufort, arriving at Port Royal Ferry, and crossing over to the main land at daylight. Thence the line of march for Pocataligo, via Garden's Corners, was instantly taken up, Col. Christ driving in the enemy's pickets three times before the latter point was reached. At Garden's Corners company E, under the command of Lieut. Lantz, was left, and Major Higginson, of the First Massachusetts cavalry, came up with a force of eighty men and horses. | unteered to take his men over the narrow stringpieces, and let them drop into a ditch on our right, when they would be able to operate under partial cover and at shorter range. The movement was successful, and about three hundred of the troops were got over. Under command of Lieut.-Col. Burnholts, they gradually approached the opposite side of the marsh, and drove back the enemy on our right, when a charge was made on our left, and the enemy commenced a rapid retreat to the woods. As soon as it could be done, the bridge was replanked, and the cavalry were ordered in pursuit; but the enemy took refuge in a wood, where cavalry could not operate with advantage, and recourse was again had to the infantry. The long march of twenty-four miles, however, together with the fight, had so jaded and fatigued them that they were unable to pursue the traitors as fast as they retreated. At this moment Lieut. Cannon, in charge of a section of the First Connecticut battery, reported himself. The action had lasted nearly two hours, and by the time Col. Christ could recall the companies in pursuit and again get ready to move, more than three hours had elapsed. Negroes escaping to our lines brought us information that the enemy were being reënforced from McPhersonville and Grahamville, and in view of this fact, as well as the scarcity of ammunition, it was deemed prudent to retire, and we accordingly returned to Port Royal Ferry, where we arrived at After a brief halt at this point, we again started eleven P.M. Small detachments of cavalry folfor Pocotaligo, via the Sheldon road, and with lowed us as far as Garden's Corners, where they the exception of occasionally driving in the ene- were repulsed and driven back by the pickets of my's pickets, which delayed our march to a con- company E, who unhorsed one of their number. siderable degree, we reached our destination Our loss during the engagement was two killed without interruption. Here we were met by the and nine wounded. The rebel loss it is impossienemy, about eight hundred strong, his force con-ble for me exactly to state, but it must have been sisting, as near as we could judge, of six companies of mounted riflemen and four companies of infantry. Among the latter was a considerable number of colored men, who fought apparently with all the zeal of their masters. The enemy's position was exceedingly well chosen, and was a most formidable one, but he was dislodged and compelled to retreat. Pocotaligo, from our point of attack, is reached by a causeway about one fourth of a mile in length, flanked on either side by a marsh, through which a sluggish stream winds its way. Over this stream, and not more than eighty or a hundred yards from the end of the causeway, was a bridge, some fifteen feet in width, which the rebels had so far destroyed as to make it impassable, save by crossing on the string-pieces. On the opposite side of the marsh is a narrow strip of woods, through which we skirmished, some smart firing ensuing on both sides, with, however, but little effect. At this juncture it became evident that the enemy was posted under cover of the trees and ditches, within good rifle range, on either side of the causeway, and that in order to dislodge them we must have a nearer range for our arms. Capt. Charles Parker, of company H, accordingly vol-I severe, as seven dead bodies of their men were found upon the field. We also captured two prisoners, one of whom has been sent to headquarters, and the other, who was wounded, was taken to the hospital. The following are the casualties on our side, all of the killed and wounded belonging to the Fiftieth Pennsylvania regiment: KILLED. Capt. Charles Parker, company H. WOUNDED. R. McClellan, company A, shot through the lung; dangerous. U. Wenrich, company A, shot in the right lung; dangerous. D. Shearer, company A, three buckshot in head, breast, and arm. Corp. G. C. Flafmeisher, company B, shot in right lung; dangerous. J. Isle, company B, accidentally wounded by a bayonet. C. M. Sherling, company D, shot in the loin; dangerous. E. S. Wood, company G, shot in the arm. J. Denishon, company G, shot in the thigh. A. Chrisler, company I, shot through the shoulder. The name of the wounded prisoner in our hands is G. Hughes, of the Rutledge Mounted Rifles, shot through the arm and wounded in the back. The loss of Capt. Parker is universally lamented throughout the brigade. He was in the three months' service, but reënlisted, together with his entire company, at the expiration of his term of service. Modest and unassuming in his deportment, he was yet a brave and accomplished officer. His gallantry in crossing the frail bridge at Pocotaligo cost him his life. He was pierced by three rifle-balls, and fell while cheering his men on the perilous passage. Our troops returned in excellent condition, having all re-crossed the ferry before four o'clock on the morning of the thirtieth, thus performing a march of thirty-two miles, fighting two hours, and making two difficult river-crossings, in twenty-seven hours. Their endurance, considering the heat, and the fact that the operation was undertaken at the close of the day, was remarkable. Doc. 124. COLONEL DODGE'S EXPEDITION INTO NORTH-CAROLINA, MAY, 1862. NORFOLK, VA., June 1, 1862. water. sers. Over this stream there is a floating or raft-bridge, held to the banks by means of haw In the centre of this bridge there is a draw for the passage of small craft up and down the river. This draw was sustained by a chain and an iron pin, and before the arrival of our troops the pin had evidently been removed by some parties cognizant of their approach. The greatest care was observed in crossing the bridge; but, notwithstanding the caution used, after the passage of the advance-guard, the draw sank with eight men and horses upon it. With considerable difficulty the men were all saved; but two horses were lost. The night was exceedingly dark and stormy, but the judicious management and energy of Colonel Dodge and his officers soon repaired the damage to the bridge, and the entire command passed over without further disaster. After leaving Edenton, the command pushed on to Mintonville, where the rebel officers were captured, as mentioned in my letter of yesterday. The officers were taken from their beds, and were greatly surprised at the ap pearance of Colonel Dodge and his party of twenty picked men. They had no idea that there was a Union soldier within many miles of them. There was great consternation in several quarters among the families of the captured rebels, but the decided firmness and delicacy of the commanding officer overcame all objections, and the prisoners were soon on their way to Suffolk. The celerity of Colonel Dodge's movements contributed to his success, for he was surrounded I HAVE been favored with some particulars in by enemies, and it became apparent that, by some relation to the recent brilliant expedition of the well-devised code of signals among the rebels, his New-York Mounted Rifles, under command of appearance was anticipated in some instances, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. Dodge, into North-Caro- and at Hertford, Sunsbury, Mintonville and Gateslina. The object of the expedition was to open ville he was assured that he would never reach communication with Elizabeth City and to obtain Suffolk. But his dash and dare, promptness of information in relation to the topography of the decision and good judgment, brought him safely country between this position and certain points through one of the most brilliant expeditions of in North-Carolina, the condition of the roads, and the campaign. By means of this dashing reconthe general sentiment of the people in that region. noissance the Government has become acquainted At Elizabeth City and Edenton Colonel Dodge with important information in regard to the situ was treated with the greatest respect, and the ation of the rebels in that portion of North-Caropeople gave marked evidences of joy at the ap- lina. The nature of the roads in various direcpearance of the Union troops. At both of these tions has been ascertained, and the position and places the Union men have been greatly oppress-intentions of certain rebel forces made fully ap ed by the secession leaders, and hardly dare, as parent. The expedition is almost unparalleled yet, to express their sentiments openly. They, in military movements, considering the time conhowever, exerted themselves to the utmost to sumed and the distance travelled. The march make Colonel Dodge's command as comfortable rivals that of Havelock in India, where two hunas possible, by preparing the men food and enter-dred miles were passed over in five days and a taining the officers. On the way from Elizabeth half; and which led to Havelock's promotion City the Mounted Rifles passed through the little from a captaincy to a lieutenant-colonelcy. Col. village of Hertford, and here they met a decided Dodge travelled one hundred and sixty-eight opposition to the appearance of the old flag. The bells were rang and a town meeting was immediately convened, not to obstruct the passage of the troops, but to express indignation at their visit. This tempest in a teapot did not affect Colonel Dodge, who very quietly proceeded on his road, after staying as long in the place as his pleasure dictated. In passing from Elizabeth City to Hertford the troops crossed the Perquimans River, a broad, deep and rapid sheet of miles in four days, over corduroy roads, through the Dismal Swamp, where in some places the water was breast-high to the horses, and with the exception of the slight casualty at the bridge over the Perquimans, he brought in his men and horses in good condition. He travelled over sixty miles, along the chain of the enemy's outposts, with a small force of one hundred and forty men, beyond the reach of support, and in constant danger of being cut off. The officers of the expedition, and who have received the com- Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. Dodge, commanding. Company A-Lieutenant D. C. Ellis. Colonel Dodge reports that the condition of the people along the route which he travelled is becoming deplorable. The crops appeared to be generally neglected, and he expresses a fear that much suffering must ensue from a want of supplies. The sentiments of the people he represents to be of a mixed character-a love for the Union prevailing, but the fear of future secession oppression preventing an open expression in favor of the Government. Doc. 125. the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be in good faith represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto, at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State and the people thereof have not been in rebellion against the United States. That attention is hereby called to an act of Congress entitled, "An act to make an additional article of war," approved March 13, 1862, and which act is in the words and figure following: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That hereafter the following shall be promulgated as an additional article of war for the government of the army of the United States, and shall be observed and obeyed as such. "ARTICLE All officers or persons of the military or naval service of the United States are prohibited from employing any of the forces under their respective commands for the purpose of returning fugitives from service or labor who may have escaped from any persons to whom such service or labor is claimed to be due, and any officer who shall be found guilty by a court-martial of violating this article, shall be dismissed from the service. EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. By the President of the United States of America. I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy thereof, do hereby proclaim and declare that hereafter as heretofore the war "SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this will be prosecuted for the object of practically act shall take effect from and after its passage." restoring the constitutional relation between the Also to the ninth and tenth sections of an act United States and the people thereof in those entitled, "An act to suppress insurrection, to States in which that relation is, or may be, sus-punish treason and rebellion, to seize and confispended or disturbed; that it is my purpose upon cate property of rebels, and for other purposes," the next meeting of Congress to again recommend approved July 17, 1862, and which sections are the adoption of a practical measure tendering pe- in the words and figures following: cuniary aid to the free acceptance or rejection of all the slave States, so-called, the people whereof may not then be in rebellion against the United States, and which States may then have voluntarily adopted, or thereafter may voluntarily adopt, the immediate or gradual abolishment of slavery within their respective limits, and that the effort to colonize persons of African descent, with their consent, upon the continent or elsewhere, with the previously obtained consent of the government existing there, will be continued; that on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State, or any designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United "SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That no States shall be then, thenceforward and forever, slave escaping into any State, Territory, or the free, and the executive government of the United District of Columbia, from any of the States, States, including the military and naval authority shall be delivered up, or in any way impeded or thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom hindered of his liberty, except for crime, or some of such persons, and will do no act or acts to re-offence against the laws, unless the person claimpress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts ing said fugitive shall first make oath that the they may make for their actual freedom, that the person to whom the labor or service of such fugiExecutive will, on the first day of January afore- tive is alleged to be due, is his lawful owner, and said, by proclamation, designate the States and has not been in arms against the United States parts of States, if any, in which the people there- in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid of respectively shall then be in rebellion against and comfort thereto; and no person engaged in "SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That all slaves of persons who shall hereafter be engaged in rebellion against the government of the United States, or who shall in any way give aid or comfort thereto, escaping from such persons and taking refuge within the lines of the army; and all slaves captured from such persons or deserted by them, and coming under the control of the government of the United States, and all slaves of such persons found on (or being within) any place occupied by rebel forces and afterwards occupied by the forces of the United States, shall be deemed captives of war, and shall be forever free of their servitude and not again held as slaves. |