by the other boats, which made the rebels do some tall "skedaddling" through the fields and woods.

was very warm.

There were six or eight ladies on the Fair Play, "dreaming the happy hours away," little dreaming, however, that the terrible Federals were so near them; but when they awoke, and found how near we were to them, they immediately left, up the bank, and took refuge in a corn-field. They left en deshabille, with portions of their clothing in their arms. The gentlemanly reporter of the New-York Times called my attention to a young lady going up the bank, her fair form encircled in a long white dress; but I immediately left for the other end of the steamer, being a very bashful young man. He being a married man, it did not make so much difference. A trusty guard was sent out by the gallant Captain of the Benton, and, after hunting for some time, found six ladies, and assured them they were welcome to come aboard for their clothing, and they need have no fear. They came, and I saw several of them in a wagon, with their servants and baggage, going on a visit to some friends.

A great many trophies were picked up in the town. One of the gunboat men found a silver goblet with Dan Sickles's name on it. It was captured by one of the rebels, and was brought out here, where a man paid fifty dollars for it, as a trophy taken from the Yankees. Capt. Phelps is going to send it to Gen. Sickles.

On Monday night we dropped down the river and anchored near the mouth of the Vicksburgh cut-off, which was to cut off Vicksburgh, but did not. The river is now some ten feet below the bottom of the ditch, or canal, as it is called. We are about five miles above the city by water, and three by land. The rebels, when they found we were there, came up with a flag of truce on a steamer, and wanted to know if we had any prisoners to exchange, when, in reality, all they wanted was to see what our strength was-an old trick of theirs.

Tuesday noon the gunboats Benton and Mound City, with three of Colonel Ellet's rams, and a detachment of the Fifty-eighth Illinois and Seventysixth Ohio volunteers, under command of Major Dester, of the Fifty-eighth, left the rest of the fleet for a trip up the Yazoo River, as far as possible, in hopes of capturing or destroying some transports which the rebels had up there, and of which we heard they were making gunboats. We proceeded up as far as Hayne's Bluff, Mississippi, where we discovered the rebels at work erecting batteries on the bluff, so as to command the river. The Benton opened on them, and was followed

a large amount of ammunition of all kinds, and about twenty muskets and necessary equipments. I went into some buildings which they had been using, and captured a revolver, (from its appearance I think it must be the first one ever made,) some confederate money, and several other valu able articles. We were compelled to blow up the four large guns and destroy most of the ammuni tion, for want of transportation. While we were loading the guns to burst them, some negroes came up with a pair of huge wheels, (such as are used in hauling heavy timber,) with five yoke of cattle attached, to haul the guns from the river, where they had been landed from the Fair Play the week before, to the fortifications on the bluff. They took us at first for secesh, as they said they expected a great many there to help place the guns in position. They were much surprised, and wanted to go with us. We took them on board, let the cattle loose, and destroyed the wagon.

We laid there all night, and on Tuesday morning again moved up the Yazoo River. We got as far as the mouth of the Big Sunflower, and the gunboats could get no further.

Doc. 184.

EVACUATION OF HARRISON'S LANDING. HARRISON'S LANDING, Saturday, Aug. 16, 1862. HARRISON'S Landing is evacuated. Without a struggle, without a blow, without even the loss of a single man, the immense army of the Potomac, officers and men, bag and baggage, stores, tents, horses, ammunition, and contrabands, are now far away from Harrison's Landing, leaving it a deserted and desolate plain.

For several days this important movement has been going on. Ten days ago, when on the way from Fortress Monroe to Harrison's Landing, in the mail-boat John A. Warner, I was convinced that the evacuation had already commenced, from the fact that steamer after steamer, and vessel after vessel, passed us steaming or sailing in the direction of Fortress Monroe, laden heavily with horses and stores. All agree that the whole affair had been admirably well planned and executed. For a wonder, every body did not know every thing that was to take place before an order was given, and for a still greater wonder after an order was given no one knew the result; for if it related to the movement of a brigade or division, men and officers, colonels, and even generals, speculated as to the meaning of the move, such as "What does it mean?" Where are we going?" "Is the whole army going to move?"

etc.; and even at this moment your reporter is asking the two former questions at Fortress Monroe, without being able to obtain more than a supposition for an answer.

I have said that this movement had been in contemplation some time, but the first intimation of it took place on Monday last, when McCall's division received orders to strike their tents, provide six days' rations, and be ready to move at a moment's notice.

At nine o'clock at night the whole division arrived at the wharf, and embarked quietly on steamers; left the Landing some time during the night for Acquia Creek, as was supposed, via Fortress Monroe. An order was next issued that no more vessels loaded with supplies should proceed further than Fortress Monroe; and on Wednesday ten days' rations were served to the army, which was required to be in readiness to move at an hour's notice. All the knapsacks of those who were ordered to march by land were placed on board barges and schooners, for the humane purpose of relieving the men of their weight and incumbrance during the hot and weary march. On the same day General McClellan and Colonel Ingalls left Harrison's Landing for the nearest telegraph station, and communicated with the War Department as to future movements, returning the following day.

On Thursday the army commenced evacuating in earnest. All the siege-guns were removed from the front, and safely embarked on Thursday and yesterday on board barges and schooners. Porter's corps led the van of the overland portion of the army on Thursday night. On Friday morning every tent was struck, and then, for the first time, was it generally known that the whole army was about evacuating Harrison's Landing. On Thursday night fifty sail of vessels left the different wharves, loaded with stores, and yesterday the remainder of the stores were placed on boats and steamers by the contrabands. All the cavalry that remained before the final departure of the land forces acted as pickets, and a strong rear-guard of infantry and artillery was placed to protect the baggage-trains. The sick and wounded who remained at the different hospitals were placed on board the regular steamboats belonging to the Sanitary Commission at the Long Wharf, and were among the first to move out into the stream. Contrabands were shipped on schooners, barges, and pontoon-boats, and it was an amusing sight to see the long line of boats with their ebon freight pass the different steamers and wharves, to take their places among the others anchored in the stream, or hear the questions, answers, and jokes which passed between the two parties, amid the "ha! ha's!" of the white men and the "ya! ya's!" of the black.

Gen. McClellan and most of his staff went by land, and yesterday afternoon Col. Ingalls and Captain Rankin started across the peninsula on horseback. Captain Sawtelle remained to direct the operations at the Landing, and great praise is due him for his energetic and indefatigable exertions and excellent management throughout.

All being now safely embarked on board the different vessels, Col. Butler, commandant of the depot-guard, called in his sentinels, who were on duty at the different wharves, and embarked his regiment on board the North-America. His regiment, the Ninety-third New-York, have performed the arduous duties of guarding the dépôts at White House and Harrison's Landing with credit to themselves and satisfaction to the whole army. And now they, too, are all embarked, and the last steamer has steamed to the centre of the stream, the mighty fleet quietly resting at anchor on the bosom of the placid James, waiting for the changing of the tide, which is the sig nal of departure.

A

The last steamer had paddled out in the stream. This occurred about nine o'clock. The moon was about half full, shedding sufficient light to clearly distinguish surrounding objects. Up and down the river, far as the eye could reach, the fleet lay quietly at anchor, the many-colored signal-lights, bright and flickering, looked like fairy stars of various hues, flashing along the whole line. light breeze was blowing up the river, rippling the water noiselessly, each ripple moving as with fiery life, from the reflection of the fires on the banks. A sound of many voices singing a hymn, in the direction of the negro barges, came floating musically over the water, to the tune of "We're bound for the happy land of Canaan." All else was still as death, and as I sat upon the deck of the steamer looking at the enchanting scene, I thought of "peace and good-will to men," rather than of war and war expeditions.

We did not leave until near seven o'clock A.M., when all being in readiness at the change of the tide, the whole fleet moved slowly down the river. Nothing occurred of any particular consequence during the voyage. -N. Y. Tribune.

Doc. 185.

THE BATTLE OF LONE JACK, MO.

GENERAL BLUNT'S REPORT.

Col. E. C. Catherwood, Commanding, Sedalia: YOUR despatch of this, the eighteenth, is just arrived. I came upon the united forces of Coffee, Hunter, Tracy, Jackman and Cockerhills, numbering four thousand, at Lone Jack, at seven o'clock P.M. on the fifteenth instant. On the morning of the sixteenth the rebel forces attacked Major Foster with six hundred State militia at Lone Jack, defeating him, and captured two pieces of artillery. The loss on each side was about fifty killed and seventy-five to one hundred wounded. Among the latter was Major Foster. Foster's command made a gallant fight, and were only defeated by overwhelming force.

On my arrival at Lone Jack I found General Warren with a command of eight hundred, consisting of the First Missouri and First Iowa cavalry and two pieces of artillery, threatened with an immediate attack by the whole rebel force, the rebel pickets being then in a part of his

accumulated, and created a temptation for an attack that had not before existed. I warned the officers at Gen. Buell's headquarters of the necessity of increasing my force. I begged them for cavalry to scour the country, but especially for artillery. Gov. Johnson tried to obtain for me even a section of a battery, but failed. I telegraphed to Colonel Lowe, at Fort Henry, and to Lieut.-Col. Olney, at Paducah, for assistance; the latter started a battery on a boat, but it could not get up the river, and returned. I telegraphed to Gen. Grant, as did also Col. Lowe; the General telegraphed me to give notice to Nashville of a day when I would leave the post, and to move on that day. I gave this notice, and visited Nashville a few days after, to represent matters at headquarters. Major Seidell, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, urged me to remain, stating that Gen. Buell had requested General Grant to countermand his order. I finally agreed to await the result, but told him that while I thought I could hold any camp against infantry, that I was in no condition to sustain an artillery attack; that I was fully advised of the strength of the enemy, and that I was advised by Lieut.-Col. Bristow, of the Kentucky cavalry, that they intended to attack Clarksville. That, while I was willing to do the best I could, I would not hold myself responsible for the post. He still urged me to remain. On the day I had fixed for my departure, I received an order from Gen. Grant to remain. The day I was in Nashville, Gov. Johnson also telegraphed Gen. Halleck, recommending that I should be allowed to bring the remainder of my regiment from Fort Donelson to Clarksville.

So matters remained, becoming more and more threatening, of which they were fully advised at Nashville. On Monday morning I received notice of the approach of the enemy in force. I was near my headquarters in the city, and immediately started for camp, which I reached just as the enemy galloped down the street. I found Lieut. Col. Andrews, who was in command, forming the men in position. The enemy halted out of range, and sent in a flag of truce, demanding a surrender. I called my officers together, and submitted the proposition to them. The matter was some time in consideration. Pending the negotiation, I asked and obtained leave to send Lieut.-Col. Andrews along the line to verify their statements of their force. He counted them to the number of about eight hundred, well armed, one company with volcanic rifles, ("sixteen-shooters,") one with carbines, some with muskets, and the remainder with double-barreled shot-guns. Besides this number, they were joined by citizens, variously armed, making their entire force about one thousand or one thousand one hundred; and this increasing every hour, by a constant stream of people coming in from the country. They had, besides, a battery of four guns, six and twelve-pounders. To oppose this force, the officers reported to me one hundred and ten men, in all one hundred and fifty-two men, with no artillery, except a little gun picked up at the rolling-mill, and of no account whatever. We had

relied on holding the college, about which we were encamped, against infantry; but its walls were only thick enough to explode a shell as it passed through them. We had thrown up some rifle-pits to guard the open approach, but had nothing that could be called "fortifications.” Our total nominal force was about two hundred and ninety enlisted men; but we had four detachments of six to eight each up the river, guarding boats; another down the railroad, and another guarding the wharf, telegraph-office, commissary and quartermaster's warehouses, and the stables; so that the total force in camp, as reported to me, was only one hundred and fiftytwo men.

The officers first voted part for surrender and part against it. I told them that we would then fight for it, and started for the flag of truce. While we were talking, Lieut.-Colonel Andrews came to me and said the officers were now unanimous in their recommendation for surrender, and I asked an interview with Col. Woodward, which resulted in our capitulation.

The question for my consideration was a simple one. On the one hand I had the strongest possible motives for desiring to make a desperate resistance; on the other hand, my conviction that we could not hold the building against an artillery attack, and that we could not stand a siege I knew, for we had not sufficient supplies of either water or food. My men out of camp were all prisoners, and I could see nothing for it but surrender, either before the fighting or after. I had needlessly, and against my own judgment, sacrificed the lives of my men. My duty, I thought then, and I think so now, was plain; and terrible as have been the results to myself, I am sure that my conscience could again, under like circumstances, demand a similar action. I knew, as the Louisville Democrat suggests, that I had an opportunity to retrieve my good name, but I have never permitted a selfish consideration to influence my conduct on a matter of public duty ; and as God is my helper, I trust I never may. Had I for such motives sacrificed the lives of my brave men uselessly, I should have received, as I would have deserved, the execrations of the very men who now, for other reasons, traduce me, and I should not have been sustained by the voice of my own conscience.

The telegraph says I am to be dismissed from the service. Should this even be so, I am ready to meet even that. I can at least then, if discharged from my parole, reënter the service, as on the day after the President's proclamation I first entered it, as a private soldier, and I shall then ask all those now censuring me to go with me, and let us see which can look death most calmly in the face. If then, responsible for my own life only, I falter, let them indeed call me a coward. R. MASON.

STATEMENT OF COMPANY OFFICERS.

The undersigned, commissioned officers of the line, who were at Clarksville, Tenn., on duty at the time of the surrender, have read with deep

regret a telegraphic despatch, purporting to come from Russellville, and comments thereon, giving a basely false report of the action. To the ends of obtaining simple justice, we submit a faithful statement of the facts.

About ten days after the battle of Shiloh, our regiment was sent from thence to garrison and hold Fort Donelson and Clarksville. Four companies were stationed at the former place, under Lieut.-Col. Andrews, the other six at Clarksville, under Colonel Mason. We had lost one hundred and thirty-seven men in the battle at Shiloh, out of five hundred and ten-balance of regiment being sick in hospital at the time. We were divided to garrison the above places. After sending back to Ohio the sick, we did not, all told, number three hundred men fit for duty; still both places have been held for more than three months. Our number for duty has never, at Clarksville, numbered two hundred. Col. Mason constantly called on superior officers for reënforcements and for artillery, but because of supposed greater necessity at other places, neither were sent.

Rumors of designed attacks upon us were received for several days, and, by Colonel Mason's order, several temporary rifle-pits were constructed. A few days before the attack, Lieut.-Colonel Andrews came up from Donelson, (forty-five miles distant,) and Major Hart was sent to take his place at the Fort. On the morning of the attack, Col. Mason was near the river, attending to the duties of the post, and upon hearing of the enemy's approach, made his way to the camp.

Upon the approach of the enemy Lieut.-Colonel Andrews immediately placed all men in camp in line of battle. Detachments had been sent to guard steamers with Government stores on the way to Nashville, others on telegraph-line, and still others to guard Government stores on the landings, so that at the time not more than one hundred and twenty-five men were in line. As Colonel Andrews was preparing to open fire upon the enemy, Col. Mason had, by a circuitous route and rapid movement, reached the camp. At that moment a flag of truce approached from the enemy. Of course all movements were halted, and the messenger was sent to Colonel Mason.' He immediately summoned us to his quarters in council.

were drawn in line some four hundred yards distant; one company armed with new sixteenshooter rifles, one company with carbines and sabres, balance with double-barrel shot-guns; at the left and rear were drawn up about one hundred infantry; at other points of street-crossings were stationed probably two hundred men. Besides these, about one hundred and fifty cavalry had dashed through the city to the landing. This was Col. Andrews's report. But several others had reconnoitred, and discovered two bat teries of artillery planted within five hundred yards of us-the people, six or seven thousand in number and containing at least one thousand fighting men, were rising and turning out armed -there were but five or six Union families in the city.

We had not the sign of artillery but a little bell-muzzled piece Col. Andrews had patched up at Donelson and brought along - a grapeshot could not be put in its chamber; we have no ammunition for that! Under these circumstances we thought it madness to hold out, and we unanimously advised Colonel Mason to surrender. N. J. HARTER, First Lieutenant, company I Seventy-first.

ISAAC MASON, Second Lieutenant, company C.
IRA L. MORRIS, First Lieutenant, company C.
SMITH H. CLARK, Captain, company D.
J. R. WOODWARD, Captain, company C.
T. W. BOWEN, Captain, company K.
C. H. KRAUM, Captain, company F.
SOL. J. HOUCK, Captain, company I.
THOS. T. MOORE, Adjutant.

WM. H. CALLENDER, Captain, company E.
H. M. DRURY, Lieutenant, company D.
L. W. BEANAR, Lieutenant, company F.

Doc. 187.

THE FIGHT AT GALLATIN, TENN.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHNSON'S REPORT.

HARTSVILLE, TENN., August 22, 1862. Colonel J. B. Fry, A.A. G., Chief of Staff, Huntsville, Ala.:

He returned and reported that, as near as he could ascertain, about four hundred cavalrymen

recalling my infantry and artillery, and I sent them back to McMinnville.

Hearing that the enemy, under Col. Morgan, was encamped in an old field in the angle formed by the Cumberland and Craney Fork, with my cavalry I marched to the point designated, and found that I had been incorrectly informed, but