A woman having informed me that a scouting party came along at seven A.M. daily to the church, I placed in ambush Capt. Allan M. Seymour with his company. He had just placed his men in position, when his alluring detail was suddenly attacked by nine or ten men, supported by some fifty others. Capt. Seymour immediately charged, forcing the advance back upon their supports. went to his assistance with a small force, leaving Major Chapman and Davies to guard the crossroads at the church. The enemy was whipped and driven into the river. Lieutenant Kimball crossed and soon returned, reporting that the camp was in sight and the enemy in column of platoons in the road, with skirmishers covering several hundred yards in front. I ordered up the reserve, and with Major Davies and Captain Walters reconnoitred the enemy. He occupied a good position on the brow of a hill sloping gently toward the river-level in rear and a fine position for a cavalry fight. I determined at once to attack him, leaving Captains Seymour, McIrvin and Grinton to guard the ford. I directed Major Davies to deploy the carbineers of the Harris Light cavalry as skirmishers on the right and left of the road in columns of platoons to charge. Major Davies advanced rapidly with his skirmishers, gaining ground to the right for the purpose of flanking the enemy and forcing his skirmishers back and beyond his column in the road. Major Chapman seeing that this column was about to retire, charged most gallantly, routing and pursuing him to within sight of Hanover Junction, nearly five miles. His camp was destroyed, tents and stores burned, also seven car loads of grain. Suddenly and almost unexpectedly a large force of cavalry (afterwards found to be Stuart's) came down on the right. I ordered up the reserve, and the enemy, though greatly outnumbering our tired and worn-out soldiers, was promptly met by Majors Davies and Chapman, and forced back in great confusion far beyond the range of Capt. Walters's carbineers. Having accomplished all that could be done with safety, I at once recrossed the river and took up a strong position near the church. The enemy did not have the boldness to follow. At twelve M. we started for Fredericksburgh, and reached camp at eleven P.M. of the same day. company L, and Regimental Color-Sergeant Alfred Randolph, won praise from all by deeds of daring done by each. I have the honor to be your obed't servant, JUDSON KILPATRICK, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding A NATIONAL ACCOUNT. FREDERICKSBURGH, July 24, 1962. Immediately upon the heels of the brilliant dash upon Beaver Dam, and before the exuber ance and congratulations have ceased, another affair, equally daring in its conception and surpassingly successful, has instilled enthusiasm into the ranks and opened the eyes of rebeldom to the new order of things. As our cavalry returned from Beaver Dam on Sunday evening, it will be remembered that the rebels followed them up to within a short distance of Fredericksburgh. Finding that they could not overtake us, they proceeded down towards the Bowling Green road, where they surprised a party of the Third Indiana cavalry, capturing a lieutenant and seven men. On Tuesday evening, at four o'clock, Lieut.-Col Kilpatrick started out in pursuit of the enemy, believed to be lurking in our vicinity, with one hundred and eighty men of the Harris light caralry, under Major Davies; one hundred and twenty of the Third Indiana, under Major Chapman; and companies B and E of the Brooklyn Fourteenth, under Capt. Mallory. Sixteen miles from Fredericksburgh, at the junction of the Bowling Green and Newmarket roads, the command bivouacked for the night, and at two o'clock next morning Col. Kilpatrick pushed on with the cav alry, leaving the infantry to guard the ford of the Mattapony, and to act as a reserve in an emergency. Mount Carmel was reached at daylight. Here it was expected the rebels were encamped, and preparations were made for surprising them, but no enemy could be found. Hearing that the rebels passed along there every morning, Colonel Kilpatrick sent Capt. Seymour, with fifty men, to ambush them; but the party had proceeded but a short distance before they suddenly came upon the enemy. The command immediately charged upon the rebels, who broke like sheep, and rushing down to the North Anna River, abandoned horses, arms, clothing, and every thing, and plunged pell mell into the stream. Following them across, the pursuit was continued until Kilpatrick came upon them, drawn up in the road in columns of platoons, with dismounted men, armed with rifles, deployed as skirmishers in the fields to the right and left. Although having an infe rior force, Col. Kilpatrick determined to attack them. A number of men were deployed as skir mishers, and the column drawn up preparatory to a charge. In the mean time Col. Kilpatrick, During the long march, and the two skirmishes in the morning, the whole command, officers and men, conducted themselves most nobly. I would particularly mention Major Davies, who deserves great credit for the gallant and able manner in which he handled his skirmishers. He and his officers, Capt. Walters and Lieut. Plum, of company L, and Lieut. Kimball, of company F, were constantly in the advance, and exposed to the sharpest fire of the enemy. Major Chapman and his whole command, who promptly obeyed each Major Davies, and Capt. Walters rode up towards order and charged most gallantly-braver and the enemy, only three hundred yards distant, and more eager men never met an enemy; Adjutant opened conversation, the rebels inquiring what Benjamin Gregory, who fearlessly and correctly he wanted, to which the Colonel replied: "What carried orders on the field, and his untiring exer- does it look like ?" Returning to the column, the tions during the entire expeditions; Sergeants skirmishers, under Major Davies and Capt. WalMcCutchen, company F, Gribben and Harris, ters, commenced to advance. As yet not a shot This dash cannot fail to impress the rebels with the fact that the department of the Rappahannock is about to prove rather a troublesome neighbor, and unless Stuart's men exercise more courage their laurels will very soon have faded. A portion of Ashby's old command was also in the fight, as we are informed by prisoners, and when the rebel authorities learn the inferiority of our force, they may possibly reflect upon the probability of a Yankee being equal to at least one rebel. Doc. 157. FIGHT AT TRINITY, ALABAMA. COLONEL WALKER'S REPORT. } HEADQUARTERS THIRTY-FIRST OHIO VOLUNTEERS, WINCHESTER, TENN., August 8. Adjutant-General Charles W. Hill: GENERAL: I beg leave to report that at about four o'clock on the afternoon of the twenty-fourth ult., Lieut. M. B. W. Harman, in command of company E, Thirty-first O. V. I., with one platoon of his company, numbering twenty-five men, including non-commissioned officers, who were stationed at a place called Trinity, near Decatur, Ala., for the purpose of guarding the Memphis and Charleston Ralroad, were attacked by a force of rebel cavalry, which numbered about three hundred and fifty men. The attack was made when Lieut. Harman and his little band were engaged in erecting a stockade-fort, and they were without immediate possession of their arms, which were stacked near at hand. At the first fire they sprang to their arms and commenced the most Spartan-like resistance which the history of this had been fired. Presently the rifles and carbines opened along the line, the enemy's balls whistling over our skirmishers' heads, while now and then a rebel reeled and fell before our deadly carbines. This continued several minutes, the cavalry maintaining their position in the road. One shot intended for Colonel Kilpatrick passed through a horse's head, killing him instantly, and striking the Colonel's left side, fell to the ground. On the skirmishers slowly but surely pressed, both sides jeering each other, each confident of victory. Soon it became evident that the enemy must retire, and in a moment the rebel commander was heard to order: "By platoons, left about, wheel." Hardly had the rebels turned their horses' heads when Major Chapman and the Indiana boys were upon them, dismounting men, capsizing horses, and driving the enemy helter skelter towards their camp. In after them went our cavalry, hurrying them down towards Hanover Junction, where they retired behind reënforcements, when our men fell back to the abandoned camp. Here a portion of the cavalry fired a railroad train loaded with grain, a number of wagons, tents, baggage, commissary and medical stores, and other valuable property. While the handful of men were hastening the work of destruction, a large body of Stuart's cavalry appeared at a short distance. Had they charged they would have utterly annihilated our troops, as they outnumbered us three to one; but, halting a moment to reconnoitre, Col. Kilpatrick determined on a bold strike. Sounding the rally, his scattered men closed up behind the platoon which the Colonel had suddenly thrown across the road, while Major Davies was sent with skirmishers to flank the enemy. Stealing off to the right, Major Davies had succeeded in getting on their flank and al-war, so far, has furnished. At least twelve of the most on their rear before being discovered. Opening a brisk fire upon their flank, the whole command wheeled and fled, followed by our cavalry, who, after chasing them down the railroad as far as was deemed prudent, returned, first, however, building a number of fires along upon the track. The party then returned to camp, reaching Fredericksburgh last night at twelve o'clock, having marched seventy-four miles in twenty-four hours, routed a vastly superior rebel force, composed principally of Stuart's famous cavalry, destroyed several thousand dollars' worth of property, cut down the telegraph line, and captured a large number of horses, together with several prisoners. Majors Davies and Chapman and Capt. Walters did remarkably good service, and were highly complimented by Col. Kilpatrick. The cars have not yet commenced running on the Central Railroad, and this affair will be likely to hinder the repair of the road to a great extent. A Richmond paper, found in the rebel camp, stated that Gen. Stuart was building a bridge across the North Anna River, over which he intended, with two thousand men, to commit depredations in this direction. Col. Kilpatrick left word for Stuart that he need take no more trouble about the bridge, as we should give them all they could attend to on their own side. VOL. V.-Doc. 36 enemy were killed, and not less than thirty or forty wounded, but the precise number of either killed or wounded could not be ascertained, as the enemy was able to carry off his wounded and all but five of his dead. Lieut. Harman held his position, fighting like a lion at bay, though he was badly wounded in the face, and painfully though not seriously in the left arm. His example inspired his men to emulate his conduct, and all but two of the twenty-six fought with desperate valor. Charles Cross was shot in the right iliac region, the ball passing upward and backward. He died immediately. Zachias Buckingham was struck by a large musket-ball, which entered at an inferior angle to the scapular, passing out between the second and third ribs, cutting the upper section of the right lobe of the lung. The wound is considered mortal. Walter Case was hit in the shoulder by a musket-ball. John F. Clason was wounded by a ball passing through the fore-arm. Wm. S. Bennett was shot in the neck. Wm. Herenden received three buckshot in the right arm, and a rifle-ball in the right thigh. F. Conklin was shot through the back of the head; James Maxwell in the right thigh; Lewis Rose, in the hand; J. Le Roux, through the armn; and L. Bard, through the back. Two other privates were wounded whose names I have not learned. It is thought by the surgeons that all except Buckingham will recover. You will see by this report that one half of this little band were killed and wounded. The work upon the fortifications had not advanced far enough to afford them any protection. They remained masters of the field until a late hour at night, when they were taken to Decatur. nounce other instances of disgraceful neglect, and contrast them with another of gallantry. The guard at Courtland Bridge, consisting of companies A and H, Tenth Kentucky, under the command of Capt. Davidson, and a part of Capt. Eggleston's company, First Ohio cavalry, was completely surprised and captured, with but trifling loss, on the morning of the twenty-fifth ult, by a force of irregular cavalry. On the same day, the companies of Captains Boyle and Goben, Tenth Indiana, which were ordered to protect two bridges on the same road, respectively six and twelve miles east of Courtland, deemed it wiser to bring in an empty train which came up, than to defend their posts, threat It is believed that the same force which attacked Lieut. Harman did much mischief along the railroad during the same day. Near Courtland, Ala., eighty of the Tenth Kentucky volunteers were taken prisoners, and two companies of the Tenth Indiana driven away, and in addition | to which bridges and trestlework all along the line between Courtland and Decatur were de-ened with an attack from the same irregular cav stroyed. A PROCLAMATION. alry, and so put themselves on the train and arrived at Decatur, a few miles distant, without the loss or injury of a man. On the same day and on the same road, eight miles from Decatur, a guard consisting of twentyfive men of company E, Thirty-first Ohio, under command of Lieut. Harman, were suddenly attacked by a greatly superior force of the same cavalry. They defended themselves gallantly, and repulsed the enemy, killing several of the number. Lieut. Harman and eleven of his men were wounded, himself in two places, and two of his men were killed. neglect and bad conduct on the part of guards bring dishonor upon them, and may even jeopard ize the safety of an army. If these appeals to their personal and professional pride should fail of their object, he warns them that the extreme penalty of the law must intervene to punish the guilty, and save the army from the jeopardy in which they place it. In pursuance of the sixth section of the Act of The General submits these examples to the reCongress entitled, “An Act to suppress insurrec-flection of the troops. He reminds them that tion, to punish treason and rebellion, to seize and confiscate the property of rebels, and for other purposes," approved July seventeenth, 1862, and which Act, and the joint resolution explanatory thereof, are herewith published, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, do hereby proclaim to and warn all persons within the contemplation of said sixth section to cease participating in, aiding, countenancing, or abetting the existing rebellion, or any rebellion, against the Government of the United States, and to return to their proper allegiance to the United States, on pain of the forfeitures and seizures as within and by said sixth section provided. The duty of guarding the communications of the army is among the most important with which an officer and his troops can be intrusted. Vigilance, determination, and the preparation of suitable de fences, in the way of intrenchments or stockades, will prevent such attacks, or enable a small force In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my to repel a greatly superior one. Had the orders hand and caused the seal of the United States to for bridge-guards to fortify their posts been be affixed. promptly executed, and proper vigilance been obDone at the city of Washington, this twenty-served, the attacks referred to, if made at all, fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord would have had very different results. [L. S.] one thousand eight hundred and sixtytwo, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-seventh. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. This order and General Order No. 32 will be read at the head of every company and detach ment. J. M. WRIGHT, A.A.G. Doc. 160. Colonel and Chief of Staff THE SURRENDER AT COURTLAND, ALA. REBUKE FROM GENERAL BUELL. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO, IN CAMP, GENERAL ORDERS, No. 37. THE Major-General Commanding has to an THE RAID INTO KENTUCKY. CINCINNATI, July 25, 1862 To Gen. Geo. B. Wright, Quartermaster-General, In compliance with your order of the sixteenth, soners. Arriving at the entrance to Paris, our column was halted. The centre, composed of the Ohio troops and the artillery, was one mile from the town. We were informed that an attack was expected, and the men stood by their guns one hour and a half, when we learned to our chagrin that Morgan had retreated towards Winchester. a creditable reputation. the undersigned took the cars on the Central Ken-up our line of march, Brig.-Gen. Smith in comtucky Railroad, from the dépôt in Covington, with mand. Our advance continually drove in the about one hundred men for Cynthiana, Kentucky, rebel scouts, killing seven, and taking eight priat which place Lieut.-Col. Landrum, of the Eighteenth Kentucky, was in command. Receiving orders to move towards Paris, and distribute my force at the different stations, to guard bridges, I proceeded to Paris, which place was reached at two o'clock in the night. There were at this post detachments of companies, thirty-five from Capt. Whittlesey's camp, under the command of his It is but justice to the Ohio troops, to inform Lieutenant, thirty men under command of Capt. you that they were eager and ready for the fight. Bugsby, of the Eighteenth Kentucky regiment, Two companies of the Cincinnati police took off and the home guards of Paris, numbering sixty- their coats, and under their Chief, Col. Dudley, seven men, infantry. There were also sixty men were anxious to meet the enemy. The detachon horseback, under command of the Hon. Mr. ment of Capt. Whittlesey's Cincinnati company Wadsworth, member of Congress from the Mays- deserve commendation for their gallantry, while ville district, making a total of forces in Paris, as the troops from Camp Dennison, under Captain reported to me, of two hundred and thirty-three Ayers, were prompt and efficient, and had oppormen, rank and file. During the day, reenforce-tunity offered, would have earned for themselves ments to the number of sixty men, from Mt. Sterling, under Captain Evans, came in. These were After the retreat of the enemy, we encamped home guard cavalry. Brig.-Gen. Ward ordered for twenty-four hours. On the morning of the me to take command of this post. Upon assum- twentieth we were ordered to move, the rearing the command, I immediately proceeded to or- guard being assigned to my command. I found ganize the forces for service, and appointed the it impossible for the troops sent out with me to Hon. Mr. Wadsworth, with the rank of Major, to follow on to Winchester. I therefore left them the command of all the home guard cavalry. at Paris, under command of Captain Ayres, with Pursuant to orders, he took command of forty instructions to remain until further orders from men, and proceeded towards Lexington, on a me, after I had arrived at Winchester. Receivscouting expedition. At eleven o'clock P.M. Major ing orders from Gen. Smith to proceed to LexingWadsworth returned, and reported that John Mor- ton, I moved my command the next day, (the gan, with a force of from one thousand to one thou- twenty-first,) and reached Lexington at night. I sand two hundred men, was moving down the road rode over with Dr. Bush to Paris that night, and to Cynthiana. I immediately telegraphed Lieut.- found that the men left in charge of Capt. Ayres Col. Landrum, at Cynthiana, of Morgan's move- had gone to Cincinnati the morning previous. I ments, and his advance on that place. I also returned to Lexington the same night, and found sent a message to Capt. Ayres, commanding the Col. McCook with your orders. After instructing brigade guards, between Paris and Cynthiana, to the Lieutenant in charge of the sick at Lexington join me with his forces at Paris. I also tele-to report to Col. McCook the condition of the men, graphed to Gen. Ward, at Lexington, the position of affairs, and asked for reënforcements to hold Paris. He answered that I should send to him at Lexington all the men I could spare. Satisfied that I could not weaken my force, I did not send any men to Lexington. About seven o'clock in the evening, Lieut.-Col. Landrum reported the fall of Cynthiana. Upon consultation, it was deemed advisable to fall back on Lexington. We moved at eleven o'clock that night, and proceeded fourteen miles on the Lexington road. About daylight we had reached Col. Metcalf's advance post from Lexington, where he had encamped. Col. Metcalf was ordered to move forward with all his force, on Paris, and started about four o'clock. I was again detailed to take command of all the infantry and support the batteries. Thirty-five of my men were reported as unable to travel, and by my order were sent by the Surgeon to the Lexington hospital. We moved on towards Paris, and at dark encamped five miles from the town. During the night our pickets were driven in three different times; and as the infantry, with the artillery, held the advance, I found them all in line of battle at the word. On the morning of the nineteenth we again took I obtained leave to return home, and arrived here Doc. 161. SKIRMISHES IN TEXAS COUNTY, MO. MISSOURI "DEMOCRAT" ACCOUNT. HOUSTON, TEXAS COUNTY, Mo., July 23, 1862. LAST Friday, a detachment of one hundred men from companies E and F, Third Missouri cavalry, and one half-section of light battery L, Second Missouri artillery, the whole under the command of Captain Bradway, marched from this place to attack the notorious Col. Coleman, who was said to be encamped at a place known as the Mountain Store, situated about twenty-five miles from here. When within five miles of the store, the advanceguard of the detachment came suddenly upon a Doc. 162. THE BATTLE OF BAYOU BARNARD. band of sixty of Coleman's men, led by himself. We killed three of the rebels, wounded several, took fifteen prisoners, three horses, and six guns. From the prisoners we learned that Coleman had moved his camp to the right-hand fork of the Big Piney, near a Mr. Harrison's, and that when we met him, he was on his way to camp. On the morning of the twenty-sixth, we mov-cond, and Third) lay in camp at Wolf Creek, ed to attack the enemy's camp. After we had under directions of Colonel Furness, the ranking marched about two and a half miles, our advance commander, Col. Phillips, of the Third, selected met the enemy's pickets and drove them in. one thousand two hundred men picked from the Hearing heavy and continuous firing, Capt. Brad- three regiments, and a section of Captain Allen's way sent forward Capt. Call, with twenty men of battery, under Lieut. Baldwin. Col. Phillips sent his company, to support the advance, and find Major Forman down the west side of Grand River the location of the rebel encampment. In a short with one half of the force and the two pieces of time, he sent word to Captain Bradway that he artillery, (Parrott guns.) The other six hundred had met a large body of the enemy, and was men went down with him through Talequa and then driving them in the direction of their camp, Park Hill. Talequa is the capital of the Cheroand asked for reënforcements. Capt. B. imme-kee Nation, and is a small decayed town. Park diately sent sixteen men, and at the same time moved rapidly forward with the balance of his command. On every side was seen evidence of the enemy's haste. Blankets, hats, caps, and pieces of saddles were strewn all along the road, while here and there was a poor fellow lying by the roadside, wounded by a rifle-ball. Pressing forward, we soon came to the Big Piney, or rather the right-hand branch of it. At this stream the road forks to the right and left. To the left, we could hear an occasional shot, and a small trail led in that direction, but the main trail led to the right. Capt. Bradway determined on taking this road. But he had not gone twenty yards, when he was met by a perfect stream of balls and buckshot, which appeared to be directed specially at him, for he was about forty feet in advance of his He immediately ordered Lieutenant Waldeschmidt to get his gun in position, and give the enemy a taste of canister. men. At this moment Capt. Call came up, having driven the rebels into and through their camp, and followed them until he heard our cannon, when he came to our assistance; but he was too late, for the enemy had fled before his arrival. In these two skirmishes we killed five and wounded twelve. We also took two prisoners. Not one of our men was injured, although many had narrow escapes. THE FIGHT IN BOLLINGER COUNTY, MO. Colonel T. C. Merrill: GREENVILLE, July 30, 1862. SIR: Yesterday, at eleven o'clock A.M., Captain Whybank, with one hundred and twenty men of companies A and F, Thirteenth regiment, attacked Major Tenley and Captain Polson and one hundred and eighty men, near Bollinger's Mill, Bollinger County, killing ten, wounding a large number, and capturing a lot of horses, guns, etc. The brush was so thick, it was impossible to find all the wounded. The rebels were well mounted and well equipped. We did not lose a man. Full particulars by mail. B. T. LAZAR, Hill is the residence of John Ross, whose mansion is a beautiful one, handsomely furnished, with a lawn and shrubbery, and a great deal of comfort and beauty clustered around it. The design of the expedition was, first, to check the inroads of the enemy from Fort Davis, who were expected to devastate the country; se condly, to cut off the three rebel regiments, Col Winter's, Taylor's, (Folsom's,) and McIntosh's, all of whom had moved to the north side of the Arkansas. It had been arranged that one part of the force should enter Gibson from the west side of Grand River at daylight on the morning of the twenty-ninth ult., while the other at the same moment entered from Park Hill. Col. Folsom's regiment, under Col. Taylor, together with part of Col. Winter's regiment, and a company of whites, were in Gibson. The remainder of Col. Winter's regiment, some three hundred and fifty men, had gone up Grand River on the morning of the twenty-eighth, and that night reached a spot twenty miles from Gibson, on Grand River, and made a demonstration just at dusk on Major Forman's rear. At noon, Col Taylor, with his command as enumerated, started up the Park Hill road, and met Colonel Phillips about two o'clock. The loyal Indians had been sent forward in three columns, converging to a point a few miles from Gibson. An advance-guard, under Lieut. Hanway, had been sent forward to the forks of the road to reconnoitre. It was at this moment that some three hundred of Taylor's force charg ed up a slope on the advance-guard. Lieutenant Hanway vainly attempted to hold them in check. The advance guard was scattered, and fled through the woods. Fired with the hope of cutting them off, the rebels hurried on, and in about a mile ran into the advance-guard of the centre, which held them in check a few moments on the Talequa road. The heaviest part of the Union force was on this road, and as these Indians have the first lieutenants and sergeants of white officers, selected from the non-commissioned officers of white regiments, they were thrown in line of battle, and waited on the slope, in timber, on the edge of the brush prairie, for the attack of the enemy. One |