and the truth flashed upon their minds as the guns-left loaded and spiked in the forts and batteries, heated by the flames-went off one after another, keeping up a brisk cannonade along the entire line of defence. By the light of the conflagration the rebels were seen running along the beach, carrying torches, with which they were firing everything that fell in their way-barracks, officers' quarters, wharves, the buildings in the Navy-Yard, and the frame of the ship Fulton, on the stocks.

The facts being reported to Gen. Arnold, the commander of Fort Pickens, he immediately ordered the beat of the “long roll," and opened a tremendous cannonade from the barbette-guns and the water-batteries above the Fort, for the purpose of compelling the rebels to abandon their work of destruction and hasten the evacuation of the place. The firing was kept up five hours with the desired effect. The enemy were driven from the fortifications, and in their haste to escape, abandoned and left standing their camp, near the house of Gen. Chase, between the Lighthouse and Barrancas. Their tents and a large amount of equipments were secured. By this prompt and decisive action of Gen. Arnold the designs of the traitors were in a measure frustrated, and the result of the conflagration was not so disastrous as from its magnitude was at first apprehended.

"

by telling them: "As soon as the Yankees came they would be let loose upon them to outrage their women, pillage their houses, and destroy their property.' The people, however, were not at all apprehensive after having seen the invaders, who received assurances from all sides that their presence was acceptable to the masses. Capt. Jackson was informed that three or four companies of cavalry were picketed some three or four miles from Pensacola, on the road to Mobile, and subsequently learned that there were one thousand dragoons. The rebels burned two steainers, the Bradford and Neiffie lying at Pensacola, but succeeded in escaping up the bay with the old Time, a light-draught steamer, which made such a flight from the Navy-Yard, January first, when Pickens wished a party of drunken excursionists a "happy New Year."

The wharves at Pensacola are but slightly damaged, Long Wharf being the principal sufferer. By the surrender of the town, Gen. Arnold secured between six and seven thousand feet of lumber. An extensive oil-factory in the outskirts of Pensacola, containing fifteen thousand dollars' worth of oil, was entirely destroyed, to prevent its falling into the hands of the Unionists. While the conflagration was at its height, the steamer Harriet Lane, with Commander Porter, of the mortar flotilla, on board, was running down the coast from Mobile. The unusual and startling appearance of the sky indicated that something of a serious nature was transpiring, and Capt. Wainwright steamed into Pensacola Harbor.

UNITED STATES STEAMER HARRIET LANE,
PENSACOLA, May 10, 1862.

Soon as the rebels had been dispersed, Gen. Arnold sent an officer to the blockading schooner Maria J. Wood, then lying off Fort Pickens, requesting the commander to come into the bay, Capt. Porter, being desirous of coöperating which he did, being the first vessel that has with Gen. Arnold in reestablishing the dignity passed under the guns of McRae and Barrancas and enforcing the laws of the United States over for twelve months. The schooner proceeded up this important position, despatched the following to the city of Pensacola, taking Capt. R. H. Jack-letter to his Honor the Mayor of Pensacola : son, aid-de-camp to General Arnold, and A. A. General, who was charged with a demand for the unconditional surrender of the place. He landed, and was met by about one hundred and fifty people, and who, with one single exception, manifested unbounded joy at the arrival of a representative of the United States authority. He found the wharves in flames, and directed the people to extinguish them. They promptly responded to his request-the negroes emulating the example of the white people, and chanting: "Dey have come at last, dey have come at last.' Capt. Jackson proceeded to the house of Mayor Bobee, discovering as he went that the town appeared deserted, grass growing in the streets, and everything wearing a sad and forsaken appear

ance.

Upon the appearance of the Mayor, he made the demand for an unconditional surrender of the town and its defences; to which demand the Mayor said he complied to the extent of his authority, and added: "The confederates had so long held sway there, and usurped the power which rightfully belonged to the municipal authorities, that he did not know really how much authority he had left." On returning to his vesel, Capt. Jackson was told that the confederates had attempted to excite the fears of the people

VOL, V.-Doc. 4

SIR: I wish to confer with the authorities of this place, whoever they may be, civil or military, in regard to preserving good order in case there should be any disposition to commit excesses on unoffending and loyal citizens, and I wish to obtain information relating to late events and the destruction of public property. I take this opportunity to say that any abusive or disrespectful conduct, from mobs or other parties in this town, towards the persons belonging to the naval vessels of the United States, will be treated as an inimical act, and will be resented as if it was assault and battery. No one need fear any interference with their rights or property as long as they conform to good order.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, DAVID D. PORTER, Commanding Mortar Flotilla. The Mayor replied that he had received the communication, and would be pleased to confer with Commander Porter on board the Harriet Lane, at his earliest convenience. He did so in the course of the morning. The interview failed to be productive of any considerable profit or encouragement to the naval commander.

The arrival of the Harriet Lane was most op

No minute examination has been made of these villages, but it is reported that neither of them has suffered severely by the evacuation.

portune. Her services were immediately offered to Gen. Arnold, to transport troops to the main land, and she was thus employed all day yesterday and this forenoon. About twelve hundred troops, together with a large amount of light artillery, siege-guns, ammunition, camp equipage, horses and supplies, have been conveyed across the channel, and are now actively employed in establishing themselves upon the "sacred soil." They have thrown up defences, planted cannon, and taken every measure to prevent a surprise, in case the enemy should attempt to repossess the forts, of which, however, there is not the slightest fear. The confederates have abandoned Flo-yard. The foundry-building and the blacksmithrida, and I doubt if five hundred rebel soldiers can be found in the State to-day.

Last evening, Lieut. L. L. James, Second artillery, of Gen. Arnold's staff, with a boat's crew, crossed the channel to Fort McRae. Lieut. James raised the Stars and Stripes on the staff where the confederate rag has so long hung. A salute was fired in honor of the old ensign, and three cheers given for the Union and three for the flag. The Fort presented a sad spectacle of charred and smoking timbers, blackened walls and demolished masonry. The timber-flooring in all the casemates, which had sustained the upper tier of guns, was entirely consumed, as were the gates of the main salle porte, and the timbers of the blindages. Only three pieces of ordnance remain- | ed in the Fort-two thirty-two-pounders, from one of which a shot had been discharged during the conflagration, and the casemate howitzer, both spiked and dismounted. In the land-battery adjoining the Fort were found two pieces of peculiarly constructed rebel artillery, of the usual inoffensive character, but which occupied the places of two heavy rifled cannon which had been removed. The "Quakers" were the merest shams-not logs, but constructed of two wooden wheels for muzzle and breech, wooden slats forming the body of the piece.

The light-house was set on fire, but only slightly injured. Fort Barrancas sustained little injury from the vandals, owing to the incessant shower of grape poured into that work from Fort Pickens. It was damaged more by the bombardment of December and January than by the rebels, but still is in excellent condition. The redoubt is untouched. Casemates in the counterscarp gallery, in the old Spanish battery, and the redoubt in the rear of Fort Barrancas, are uninjured. Barrancas Barracks, an immense pile on the right of the Fort, escaped the torch of the incendiaries; but the magnificent naval hospital, said to be the finest structure of the kind in the United States, lies a mass of smouldering ruins. It was behind this hospital that Bragg had a heavy mortar battery during the first bombardment, and shielded from the fire of Pickens by the humane folds of the yellow flag which floated over the hospital, he kept up an incessant fire upon the Federal garrison. So general was the ruin of the towns of Woolsey and Warrington from the two bombardments, that there seemed but little remaining to feed the conflagration.

The Navy-Yard presents a scene of ruin and desolation. Smoke and flames still rise from the burning timbers of the extensive store-houses, work-shops, and the wharves, all of which are destroyed. The skeleton frame of the old Fulton has vanished into thin air, and the stocks where she stood so long are now an ash-heap. The splendid granite dock appears to be unharmed, and its wooden duplicate lies a wreck under Deer Island. The shears are standing in the shop are safe, and the tall chimney still erect. The rebels made every preparation to burn the Custom-House, but were probably driven away by the fire from Fort Pickens, as it is uninjured. All the government buildings outside the yard were burned.

The rebels removed all the heavy columbiads from the forts and batteries, but left many fortytwo-pounders. When the fire broke out, twenty guns were seen in position from Fort Pickens.

The rebels left the keys of the magazines of McRae and Barrancas, and of the gates of the latter Fort, hanging against the walls outside, as if to invite their successors to walk in and take possession. But our troops were not to be caught with that chaff. The disposition of the keys had too much the appearance of a sinister design; and with a wariness which marks the true soldier, when venturing into the enemy's country, they avoided the trap which may have been laid to blow them up, and instead of entering the Fort by the main passage, they scaled the walls. The magazines of both forts will be excavated, in order to ascertain if the rebels left any infernal mechanism by which to destroy the Federals.

Bragg took away with him, in march, a large rifled cannon and ten-inch columbiad, which constituted the light-house battery. The armaments of the different batteries and forts at Pensacola at the time of the bombardment, as near as it can be ascertained, were as follows: There were forty-two guns on the island on which Fort McRae is situated, including the armament of that work and the water-batteries. There was a battery of two ten-inch mortars, and another of two ten-inch columbiads, just above the residence of Col. Chase, which also mounted between them three forty-twos and two eight-inch guns. The light-house battery, rendered famous by the destructive fire it poured into Pickens during the January bombardment, remains intact. The guns have been removed. In the rear of the light-house was a mortar, supposed to be a teninch sea-coast.

There were four batteries between the lighthouse and Barrancas, which mounted seven fortytwos and five eight-inch columbiads. Between Fort Barrancas and the barracks were four forty twos in two batteries, which are still there, be sides four ten-inch columbiads, which had been removed. Next to the hospital battery, to which I have referred, were four eight-inch columbiads,

About half-past eleven o'clock, the signal being given by Brig.-Gen. Thomas Jones, in an instant the torch was applied at every point, and in a few minutes the whole works, gun-carriages, etc., in teenth of April, one thousand eight hundred and WHEREAS, By my Proclamation of the nineForts Barrancas and McRae, and the hospitals, sixty-one, it was declared that the ports of certogether with all the other buildings in the Navy-tain States, including those of Beaufort, in the Yard proper, in the villages of Woolsey and War-State of North-Carolina, Port Royal, in the State rington, were in flames.

About half-past seven o'clock in the morning a Federal sailing schooner ran up within about half a mile of the city, and sent a boat on shore with a flag of truce. The Federal officer was more anxious to find out what was going on and [L. S.] obtain information than anything else, for the manner in which he sailed up the bay was very cautious and prudent, as though he expected a rebel ruse and the destruction of the property

TREASURY DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, May 12, 1862.

Regulations relating to trade with ports opened by proclamation:

First. To vessels clearing from foreign ports and destined to ports opened by the proclamation of the President of the United States of this date, namely: Beaufort, in North-Carolina, Port Royal, in South-Carolina, and New-Orleans, in Louisiana. Licenses will be granted by consuls of the United States upon satisfactory evidence that the vessels so licensed will convey no person, property, or information contraband of war either to or from the said ports; which licenses shall be exhibited to the collector of the port to which said vessels may be respectively bound, immediately on arrival, and if required, to any officer in charge of the blockade; and on leaving either of the said ports every vessel will be required to have a clearance from the collector of the customs according to law, showing that there has been no violation of the conditions of the license. Any violation of the said conditions will involve the forfeiture and condemnation of the vessel and cargo, and the exclusion of all parties concerned from any further privilege of entering the United States during the war for any purpose whatever.

moved by different routes, and detachments of troops under experienced officers were sent in every direction to explore the roads leading from Front Royal to Strasburgh, Middletown, Newtown, and Winchester, and ascertain the force, position, and purpose of this sudden movement of the enemy. It was soon found that his pickets were in possession of every road, and rumors from every quarter represented him in movement, in rear of his pickets, in the direction of our camp.

The extraordinary force of the enemy could no longer be doubted. It was apparent, also, that they had a more extended purpose than the capture of the brave little band at Front Royal.

This purpose could be nothing less than the defeat of my own command, or its possible capture by occupying Winchester, and by this movement intercepting supplies or reenforcements, and cutting off all possibility of retreat.

It was also apparent from the reports of fugitives, prisoners, Union men, and our own reconnoitring parties, that all the three divisions of the enemy's troops known to be in the valley, and embracing at least twenty-five thousand men, were united and close upon us, in some enterprise not yet developed.

Second. To vessels of the United States clearThe suggestion that, had their object been a ing coastwise for the ports aforesaid license can surprise, they would have given notice of their only be obtained from the Treasury Department. approach by an attack on Front Royal, was anThird. In all other respects the existing block-swered by the fact that on the only remaining ade remains in full force and effect, as hitherto point of attack-the Staunton road-our outposts established and maintained; nor is it relaxed by were five miles in advance, and daily reconnoisthe proclamation, except in regard to the ports sances made for a distance of twelve miles toto which the relaxation is by that instrument exward Woodstock. pressly applied. S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury.

Doc. 15.

RETREAT OF GENERAL BANKS.

GENERAL BANKS'S REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY SHENANDOAH, June, 1862.

Under this interpretation of the enemy's plans, our position demanded instant decision and action. Three courses were open to us: first, a retreat across Little North Mountain to the Potomac River on the West; second, an attack upon the enemy's flank on the Front Royal road; third, a rapid movement direct upon Winchester, with a view to anticipate his occupation of the town by seizing it ourselves—thus placing my command in communication with its original base of operations, in the line of reenforcements by Harper's Ferry and Martinsburgh, and securing a safe retreat in case of disaster. To remain at Strasburgh was to be surrounded; to move over the mountains was to abandon our train at the

tacks without possibility of succor; and to attack, the enemy being in such overwhelming force, could only result in certain destruction. It was therefore determined to enter the lists with the enemy in a race or a battle, as he should choose, for the possession of Winchester, the key of the valley, and for us the position of safety.

Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War: INFORMATION was received on the evening of May twenty-third that the enemy in very large force had descended on the guard at Front Royal, Col. Kenly, First Maryland regiment, command-outset, and to subject my command to flank ating, burning the bridges and driving our troops toward Strasburgh with great loss. Owing to what was deemed an extravagant statement of the enemy's strength, these reports were received with some distrust; but a regiment of infantry, with a strong detachment of cavalry and a section of artillery, were immediately sent to reenforce Col. Kenly. Later in the evening, despatches from fugitives who had escaped to Winchester informed us that Col. Kenly's force had been destroyed, with but few exceptions, and the enemy, fifteen or twenty thousand strong, were advancing by rapid marches on Winchester.

At three o'clock A.M., the twenty-fourth inst., the reënforcements-infantry, artillery, and cavalry-sent to Col. Kenly were recalled; the advance-guard, Col. Donnelly's brigade, were ordered to return to Strasburgh; several hundred disabled men left in our charge by Shields's diOrders were immediately given to halt the re-vision were put upon the march, and our wagonenforcements sent to Front Royal, which had train ordered forward to Winchester, under es

cort of cavalry and infantry. Gen. Hatch, with the admirable conduct of the officers and men. nearly our whole force of cavalry and six pieces | We lost one man killed and some wounded. of artillery, was charged with the protection of the rear of the column and the destruction of army stores for which transportation was not provided, with instructions to remain in front of the town as long as possible, and hold the enemy in check, our expectations of attack being in that direction. All these orders were executed with incredible alacrity, and soon after nine o'clock the column was on the march, Col. Donnelly in front, Col. Gordon in the centre, and Gen. Hatch

in the rear.

The column had passed Cedar Creek, about three miles from Strasburgh, with the exception of the rear-guard, still in front of Strasburgh, when information was received from the front that the enemy had attacked the train, and was in full possession of the road at Middletown. This report was confirmed by the return of fugitives, refugees, and wagons, which came tumbling to the rear in fearful confusion.

This episode, with the change of front, occupied nearly an hour, but it saved our column. Had the enemy vigorously attacked our train while at the head of the column, it would have been thrown into such dire confusion as to have made a successful continuation of our march impossible. Pending this contest, Col. Brodhead, of the First Michigan cavalry, was ordered to advance, and, if possible, to cut his way through and occupy Winchester. It was the report of this energetic officer that gave us the first assurance that our course was yet clear, and he was the first of our column to enter the town. When it was first reported that the enemy had pushed between us and Winchester, Gen. Hatch was ordered to advance with all his available cavalry from Strasburgh, leaving Col. De Forrest to cover the rear and destroy stores not provided with transportation. Major Vought, Fifth NewYork cavalry, had been previously ordered to reIt being apparent now that our immediate dan- connoitre the Front Royal road, to ascertain the ger was in front, the troops were ordered to the position of the enemy, whom he encountered in head of the column and the train to the rear; and force near Middletown, and was compelled to fall in view of a possible necessity for our return to back, immediately followed by the enemy's cavStrasburgh, Capt. James W. Abert, Topographi-alry, infantry and artillery. In this affair five of cal corps-who associated with him the Zouaves our men were killed and several wounded. d'Afrique, Capt. Collis-was ordered to prepare enemy's loss is not known. Cedar Creek bridge for the flames, in order to prevent a pursuit in that direction by the enemy. In the execution of this order Capt. Abert and the Zouaves were cut off from the column, which they joined at Williamsport. They had at Strasburgh a very sharp conflict with the enemy, in which his cavalry suffered severely. An interesting report of this affair will be found in the reports of Capt. Abert and Capt. Collis.

The

my until stopped by the barricade of wagons and the tempestuous fire of infantry and artillery. His loss must have been very severe.

After repeated attempts to force a passage through the lines of the enemy, now advanced to the pike, Gen. Hatch, satisfied that this result could not be accomplished without great loss, and supposing our army to have proceeded but a short distance, turned to the left and moved upon a parallel road, made several ineffectual attempts to effect a junction with the main column. At Newtown, however, he found Col. Gordon The head of the reorganized column, Col. Don-holding the enemy in check, and joined his brinelly commanding, encountered the enemy in gade. Major Collins, with three companies of cavforce at Middletown, about thirteen miles from alry, mistaking the point where the main body Winchester. Three hundred troops had been of the cavalry left the road, dashed upon the eneseen in town, but it soon appeared that larger forces were in the rear. The brigade halted, and the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania, Col. Knipe, was ordered to penetrate the woods on the right and Six companies of the Fifth New-York, Col. dislodge the enemy's skirmishers. They were De Forrest, and six companies of the First Versupported by a section of Cothran's New-York mont cavalry, Col. Tompkins, after repeated and battery. Five companies of the enemy's cavalry desperate efforts to form a junction with the were discovered in an open field in the rear of the main body-the road now being filled with inwoods, and our artillery, masked at first by the fantry, artillery and cavalry-fell back to Strasinfantry, opened fire upon them. They stood fire burgh, where they found the Zouaves d'Afrique. for a while, but at length retreated, pursued by The Fifth New-York, failing to effect a junction our skirmishers. The Twenty-eighth New-York, at Winchester, and also at Martinsburgh, came Lieut.-Col. Brown, was now brought up, and un-in at Clear Spring, with a train of thirty-two der a heavy fire of infantry and artillery, the en- wagons and many stragglers. The First Veremy were driven back more than two miles from mont, Col. Tompkins, joined us at Winchester the pike. Col. Donnelly, being informed at that point, by a citizen in great alarm, that four thousand men were in the woods beyond, the men were anxious to continue the fight; but as this would have defeated our object by the loss of raluable time, with the exception of a small guard, they were ordered to resume the march.

This affair occurred under my own observation, and I have great pleasure in vouching for

with six pieces of artillery, and participated in the fight of the next morning. Nothing could surpass the celerity and spirit with which the various companies of cavalry executed their movements, or their intrepid charges upon the enemy.

Gen. Hatch deserves great credit for the manner in which he discharged his duties as chief of cavalry in this part of our march, as well as at