on board Commodore Farragut's flag-ship, the seem to like the looks of her antagonist, and steam sloop-of-war Hartford.

division, who was sick, and thus met his death. He was in the act of speaking to some one down in the cockpit when a solid shot came through the ship's side and severed his head down to his shoulders. His head was literally torn to pieces, and but fragments of it could be found, while his body fell across the edge of the hatch, and his life's blood gushed in torrents down in the orlop. He was a clever fellow, and he and I were fast friends.

The same shot that killed poor Lounsberry also struck a colored cook, taking half of his head off, and also wounded several others. A man named Cameron was also struck in the head and his head partly taken off, on the spar-deck, and but a few feet from where I stood. Our loss in the engagement is three killed and six wounded. The rebels seemed, as usual, to concentrate all their fire on the "Old Hartford."

I wish it to be remembered that we whipped this vessel, made it run out of the fight and haul down colors, with two less guns than they had; and at the same time fought two rams, which were firing at us with great guns and small arms this, too, with our miscellaneous crew, who had never, for the most part, been on board a ship, or at big guns. I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed) J. N. BROWN, Lieutenant Commanding.

To Brig.-Gen. M. L. SMITH,

Commanding Defences at Vicksburgh.

A true copy: J. F. GIRAULT,

A. A. General.

C. S. GUNBOAT ARKANSAS, VICKSBURGH, July 23, 1862. SIR: I beg leave herewith to send a list of names of the killed and wounded of the detachment who so nobly volunteered from the forces All of Commodore Davis's vessels, except the of your command, on June last, to aid in mak captured steamer Sumter, are still above the citying up a crew for this vessel, to wit: to prevent the ram from going up, and all of our fleet are lying below with steam up, ready for action at a moment's notice. The ram could be seen moving about in front of the city yesterday, but she has not attempted to run the gauntlet again. Capt. Porter, of the Essex, says he can take the ram, and Flag-Officer Farragut says he may do so, but I don't know whether it will be tried or not. Owing to the darkness and the smoke, no one in the fleet saw a sign of the ram on the night we passed, otherwise an attempt would have been made to sink her by running into her.

Lieut. Heisler, of the marine corps, died on his way to Memphis. He was attached to this ship and was going home on account of ill-health. I have no more room and must now close, and remain your affectionate son, ALBERT.

REBEL REPORTS AND NARRATIVES. OFFICIAL REPORT OF LIEUTENANT BROWN. HEADQUARTERS THIRD DISTRICT, VICKSBURGH, July 25, 1862. SIR: I am directed by the Brigadier-General Commanding to hand you the accompanying communications from Capt. Brown, of the C. S. gun

boat Arkansas.

Killed-John Kane, private, Pinkney's bat talion Louisiana volunteers; Charles Madden, private, Clinch's battalion Louisiana artillery; Henry Shields, company E, Antonio Florez, company G, and Daniel O'Sullivan, company A, of the Twenty-eighth Louisiana volunteers. Total killed-five.

Wounded-Wm. Alexander, private, Clinch's battalion Louisiana artillery; Thomas Lynch, sergeant, Clinch's battalion Louisiana artillery; Bernard Martinez, private, Twenty-eighth Louisi ana volunteers. Total wounded-four. Total killed and wounded--nine.

I regret the loss of these men to the vessel and to their country. They fought well. Very respectfully,

(Signed)

J. N. BROWN,

To Brig.-Gen. M. L. SMITH,

Commander C.S.N.

Commanding at Vicksburgh.
A true copy: J. F. GIRAULT,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

GENERAL VAN DORN'S DESPATCH.

VICKSBURGH, July 18

batteries, ran gloriously through twelve or thirThe sloop-of-war Arkansas, under cover of our of-war. Our loss was ten men killed and fifteen teen of the enemy's rams, gunboats, and sloopswounded. Captain Brown, her commander and smoke-stack of the Arkansas was riddled. Other hero, was slightly wounded in the head. The wise she is not materially damaged, and can soon be repaired.

and the boats ran ashore to keep from sinking. Two of the enemy's boats struck their colors, Many were killed and wounded. This is a glori ous achievement for the navy, her heroic commanders, officers, and men.

One mortar-boat, disabled and aground, is now burning up. All the enemy's transports and all the vessels of war of the lower fleet, except a sloop-of-war, have gotten up steam, and are off to escape from the Arkansas. (Signed)

EARL VAN DORN,
Major-General Commanding.

GENERAL COOPER'S ORDER.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE,
RICHMOND, July 22, 1862.

The successful defence of Vicksburgh against the mortar fleet of the enemy by Major-Gen. Van Dorn and the officers and men under his com

Now, the moral of this is, that our batteries and people have been afraid of a set of cowards, who stood less hammering when brought in front corded. The fellow ran away without scratchof an equal foe than history has heretofore reing us.

The two "swift and stiff" rams of Commodore

mand entitles them to the gratitude of the coun- Ellet were making splendid time down-stream, try, the thanks of the government, and the ad- and we, in the hope of disabling or destroying miration of the army. By their gallantry and them with our guns, pushed on after, but they good conduct they have not only saved the city gained steadily and gave us breathing time beintrusted to them, but they have shown that fore the final struggle, which was soon to come. bombardments of cities, if bravely resisted, As we rounded a point the immense fleet came achieve nothing for the enemy, and only serve to in view. The river seemed to be blocked up by unveil his malice and the hypocrisy of his pre-armed vessels of all descriptions. There was tended wish to restore the Union. The world now sees that his mission is one of destruction,

not restoration.

Lieutenant Brown and the officers and crew of the confederate steamer Arkansas, by their heroic attack upon the Federal fleet before Vicksburgh, equalled the highest recorded examples of courage and skill. They prove that the navy when it regains its proper element, will be one of. the chief bulwarks of national defence, and that it is entitled to a high place in the confidence and affection of the country.

By command of the Secretary of War,

S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General.

GRENADA "APPEAL" ACCOUNT.

the majestic Hartford and Brooklyn and half-adozen other boats, together with the cumbersome tar-boats and transports by the score. and unwieldy up-river boats, besides rams, morAll were under way taking position. It seemed to me that their plan was to form a complete line across the river in the shape of the letter V, the point up-stream; the Hartford occupying the van and centre, the Brooklyn immediately astern, the right and left wings being composed of rams and gunboats of both classes. We made one dash to break the left wing, near Farragut's flag-ship. As we approached the enemy looked on in mute wonder and astonishment. Not a gun was fired at long-range. All were waiting for the moment when the dreadful missiles would be most effective. The large sloop had her eleven-inch guns VICKSBURGH, July 17. charged with solid shot and bided their time with At six o'clock on the fifteenth inst., while the steadiness, never diverging an inch from their Arkansas was in Old River, into which the Yazoo position; the little ones, however, edged off to empties, about one and a half miles from the the right and left, bows up-stream. Gunboat Mississippi, she made out three of the enemy's No. Six fired the first gun, loaded with grape, but vessels bearing down upon her-one an iron-clad with too much depression. It fell short. At the gunboat, the others rams. In a few minutes same instant the port-bow gun of the Arkansas they were within range, and commenced the ac- sent a solid shot crushing through one of the tion. The ram was more deliberate and cau-iron-clads, which alone sent her to the flank. tious, approaching till within a few hundred yards, when she opened with her bow battery. At this the enemy turned and fled, the Arkansas pursuing directly after the gunboat, raking her by frequent discharges from her forward guns. The port-bow gun was disabled. But in twenty minutes from the time the running began, the enemy deserted their guns, having been whipped by the starboard-bow gun alone! The fight began at close range, which was gradually decreased to about forty yards, and when at this latter distance the port-bow gun was again brought into action, and commenced to assist its mate to demolish the Yankee's river pride. The effects of these terrible engines were soon apparent. The crippled duck commenced his favorite dodge of hunting for shallow water, and for this purpose sheered into the left bank of the river, exposing himself to the port broadside of the Arkansas, which was poured into him at a depression, and went crashing through his sides and bottom. He did not return the fire. As he fell behind, our steam battery commenced the raking process again, which caused the rascal to haul down his colors, set a white flag, and desert his vessel.

As we neared the Hartford, a ram (the Lancaster) took up her position just ahead of us, but the port gun blew her up, and the crew jumped overboard on all sides, the Arkansas running through the sinking, drowning people. Now we were in the midst of the melée; broadsides came as fast as blows from a blacksmith's hammer ; crash came the shot and grape through the ports. But we were through. As soon as we came in front of Vicksburgh the enemy below showed signs of a stampede. They forthwith burned a mortar-boat, their transports got up steam, and had not our crew been exhausted we could have destroyed the whole bevy.

But the thing was not over for the day. At sundown Farragut's fleet commenced passing down, eight going down and exchanging shots with us as they passed. But as we were not at our favorite range, we have no idea what damage we inflicted.

Before closing, I must pay my respects to the "sturdy" rams that were to pounce upon us. The rascals gave us a very wide berth; and I would advise Abraham I. to dispense with Col. Ellet, Medical Cadet Ellet, Lieut. Ellet, etc., etc.,

(see Phoenix's Survey of Mission Dolores Railroad.) No doubt they whizzed away at Mr. Montgomery's light boats, but when they heard the ring of the true metal from our vessel, they "skedaddled."

Doc. 153.

THE FIGHT NEAR MEMPHIS, MO.

MISSOURI "DEMOCRAT" ACCOUNT.

On the eighteenth of July, Major John Y. Clopper, in command of a detachment of Merrill's Horse, about three hundred strong, and a detachment of Major Rogers's battalion, Eleventh Missouri State militia, about one hundred strong, attacked and, after a very severe fight, entirely routed Porter and Dunn's combined bands of guerrillas, six hundred strong. At last accounts Major Clopper was still in swift march upon the forces of Porter, which had fled south, crossed the railroad and posted themselves for another fight in the vicinity of Florida, where they were doubtless attacked this morning by our forces, which crossed the road in pursuit of Porter yesterday.

The fight took place near Memphis, Mo., and was brought on by a small advanced guard being fired upon by the enemy, who were concealed in heavy brush and timber across the road, where they had halted and chosen the ground for their fight. They were immediately attacked by Major Clopper, and after a desperate conflict were completely driven from the field, leaving a large number of their dead and wounded on the ground.

Doc. 154.

EXPEDITION TO BEAVER DAM, VA. OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL POPE. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, July 21, 1662. To Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War: THE cavalry expedition I directed Gen. King to send out, on the nineteenth, has returned. They left Fredericksburgh at seven P.M. on the nineteenth, and after a forced march during the night, made a descent at daylight in the morning Dam Creek, twenty-five miles west of Hanover upon the Virginia Central Railroad at Beaver Junction, and thirty-five miles from Richmond. for several miles, burned the dépôt, which conThey destroyed the railroad and telegraph-line tained forty thousand rounds of musket ammuni tion, one hundred barrels of flour, and much other valuable property, and brought in a captain in charge as a prisoner. The whole country was thrown into a great state of alarm. One private was wounded on our side. The cavalry marched most successful, and reflects high credit upon eighty miles in thirty hours. The affair was the commanding officer and his troops. As soon as full particulars are received, I will transmit to you the name of the commanding officer of the troops engaged.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN POPE, Major-General Commanding

RICHMOND "DISPATCH" ACCOUNT.

RICHMOND, July 23. We have received a full and correct account of the raid made by the Harris cavalry upon the The severity of the fight is well illustrated by dépôt at Beaver Dam, Hanover County, on Sunthe fact that five successive charges across the day morning last. From the best information it open ground, on the concealed enemy, were re-appears that they left Fredericksburgh on Saturpulsed, and the sixth was successful, resulting in a hand-to-hand struggle, in which one man of Merrill's Horse was killed by a blow with a stock of a musket across the back of the neck, breaking his neck.

At the time the messenger left the ground all of our killed, wounded, and missing had been found, amounting to eighty-three, and twentythree dead guerrillas had been discovered upon the field, yet the search among the thick brush for the dead and wounded of the enemy had just commenced.

In Major Clopper's hasty note, written on the field, and when just starting in pursuit, he says: "I cannot find terms adequate to express my admiration of the heroic manner in which my command stood the galling and destructive fire poured upon them by the concealed assassins. The enemy are badly whipped, and in a free fight,

and I follow at once.

"The enemy were well concealed in thick brush and timber, and I must do them the justice to say that they fought desperately. They will not meet me on other ground.”

day evening about four o'clock, and came some fourteen miles of the way that night. Early Sunday morning they came on to Beaver Dam, where they arrived about eight o'clock. Here they found nothing to oppose them, and they at once set to work to destroy, by burning the dépôt-of fice, water-tank, and cord-wood. In the dépôt there were about one hundred and seventy barrels of flour belonging to the army, a few bushels of oats, a case of shoes, a small lot of ammunition and a few arms, some tents, and perhaps a few other things of little value, nearly all of which were consumed.

They also tore up the railway in several places, and cut down about a half-dozen telegraph-poles. The operator, Mr. Smith, was arrested for refus ing to give them information, but succeeded in making his escape. They also obstructed the railroad-track, expecting to throw the train off, but luckily failed in their attempt. The up-train was signalled, and induced to turn to Richmond, by a servant named Dick, the property of Dr. Terrill of Hanover. Their stay at Beaver Dam was limited to some thirty minutes, at the end of which time the whistle of the up-train sounded, and some one having told them that there would

FIRST. Ordered that military commanders with- GENERAL: I have the honor to report that in the States of Virginia, North-Carolina, Geor- in obedience to your orders, I left Fredericksgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tex-burgh at four o'clock P.M., the twenty-second as and Arkansas, in an orderly manner seize and instant, with detachments of the Harris Light use any property, real or personal, which may be necessary or convenient for their several commands, for supplies, or for other military purposes; and that while property may be destroyed for proper military objects, none shall be destroyed in wantonness or malice.