tion of his dilapidated, musty, and worm-eaten patriotism. Finding here a good supply of excellent water, we "rested and refreshed ourselves till eight o'clock in the evening, when our march was resumed. The night was calm and beautiful. The moon, at her full, rose high in the heavens, and her. soft light, filtered through the thick foliage of the forest, lay in patches on the hill-sides and in the ravines. The whole scene was wild and romantic, and was fully appreciated by many in our gallant little army, although we knew we were moving in the face of the foe. We would have felt rebuked by the sweet quiet of the scenery, had we not felt and known in our very hearts the justice of our cause. moved in the direction of the town, driving the enemy's pickets before them for more than two hours. About eleven o'clock our advance came in full view of their position. For a defence against cavalry and infantry they had made a good choice, as there would have been no chance of taking it but by storm or by flanking, either of which would have no doubt cost us many lives. But as a defence against artillery, they could have selected few worse ones. They occupied a ridge of land dipping towards the west into a valley entirely cleared and divided into fields. Their entire line of battle was covered by fences against which they had leaned rails closely together, and at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and on the side in the direction of our At half-past two o'clock in the morning of the approach. Their centre and right were further sixth we halted at Blue Springs, and bivouacked protected by a large farm house, barn and other for the residue of the night. Here we ascertain-out-buildings. Their left was further shielded ed that parties of guerrillas were hovering round, by a tobacco-house and orchard; while their some fifty or more having approached within a skirmishers guarding both flanks were protected half-mile of our pickets. During Saturday we by heavy woods. In their rear, and nearly the moved slowly forward to a good position called whole length of their line, there were thick forest Free Stone Springs, within ten miles of the town, and dense undergrowth, into which they could where a beautiful supply of excellent water was easily fall back, if necessary, and which would found. Here we remained during the residue of give an excellent cover to bushwhackers. the day and the following night. Information Our line of battle was formed in open fields, was received from time to time, giving positive and along a ridge of about equal elevation to the assurance that the enemy, one thousand one one held by the rebels, and separated from it by hundred or one thousand two hundred strong, the valley, to which I have referred, about one were in a good position about four miles this half-mile in width. The two sections of the batside of the town, awaiting our approach, hav-teries, before mentioned, held the centre; the ing determined to give us battle. During the right was composed of the Seventy-first Ohio and afternoon a small reconnoitring party, under Eleventh Illinois under command of Colonel Lieutenant Moreing, of the Fifth Iowa cavalry, Ransom and Major Hart-the Seventy-first occame upon their pickets, who fled precipitate-cupying the extreme right; the left was held by ly, and were closely pursued by our men. The the Thirteenth Wisconsin, commanded by Lieuchase continued more than a mile when the tenant-Colonel Chapman. The cavalry-Fifth cavalry were fired upon by fifty or more of Iowa -under command of Lieutenant-Colonel the rebels lying in ambush. Not a man was Patrick, supported the entire line. injured by the volley; and but one horse killed and three wounded, though the concealed force was not more than fifteen yards from the road with guns at a rest. Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick, of the Fifth Iowa cavalry, was immediately ordered forward, with four companies of cavalry, three of infantry, and one piece of artillery, for the purpose of driving in their pickets and creating the impression that our main force was advancing upon them. During Saturday night a negro man fell into the hands of our cavalry picket under command of Captain Croft. From him a pretty correct knowledge of the position of the rebels was obtained. But the Captain not being fully satisfied, resolved that he would feel of them. He called for ten volunteers from his company, who would be willing not only to drive in their pickets, but ride into their lines and draw their fire, that he might know their exact position. The requisite number was promptly offered, and at dawn of Sabbath morning he made a dash at their pickets, chased them in, riding to within two hundred and fifty yards of their barricades, drawing their fire and retiring without sustaining any injury. Early on Sabbath morning (seventh) our forces At five minutes past eleven o'clock, by my time, the cannonading commenced, and continued from thirty-five to forty minutes. The guns were admirably served and did excellent execution, Colonel Lowe at times sighting them himself. The firing was rapid, and between the explosions of shells and the reports of the guns, there was quite a roar of battle. True, there was comparatively little of the sharp cracking of the rifled muskets, as none of the infantry were in good range, except company D, of the Eleventh Illinois, skirmishing on our extreme left, who exchanged about four rounds with the rebs, and company A, of the Seventy-first skir mishing on our right. When the enemy gave way and commenced retreating, the line of battle was ordered to move forward rapidly, and nearly in the same order in which it was drawn up. This command was obeyed in the most prompt and gallant style. The whole line moved rapidly and steadily forward, crossing fields, mounting fences, and finally scaling the enemy's barricades, hoping to find them in the dense woods just beyond. But no; they had fled and were in full retreat towards Clarksville. It was impossible to overtake came up. to aid in these outrages, and our regiment, with two others, were ordered up to disperse them, part to land above and part to land below them, to preclude the possibility of their escape. On the night of the seventh a part of the Fourth Wisconsin embarked on a transport, and at daylight next morning landed at the supposed place of rebel rendezvous. It so happened that we landed on the plantation where the enemy's pickets were posted the night previous, but retired when they discovered the boat. The main body were posted back in the cane-fields to the west and in ambush. Two companies from our regiment proceeded through the fields to the west along a ditch, on the banks of which grew very tall weeds, affording a complete cover. After proceeding half them with infantry, hence some cavalry companies, under Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick, were pushed forward to prevent their tearing up the Read River bridge, the only direct and available approach to the town. The cavalry came upon them in the very act, charged them, drove them from it, and held the position, till the main force Two pieces of artillery were planted on a bluff completely commanding the place. The guerrillas fled precipitately through the town, not taking civil leave even of their dear friends, and scattered in every direction. Col. Lowe sent in a flag of truce, demanding the "immediate and unconditional surrender" of the place, or giving ten minutes for the removal of the women and children, as the town would be shelled unless surrendered. It humbled itself before the "mud-sills "ja mile, to a cross-road, one of the men in advance of the North, and they occupied it. It was a proud day for the remnant of the Seventy-first; and, riding in advance with Major Hart, I turned in my saddle, and looked with a thrill of pleasure upon the "boys as they covered with dust, marched with a steady, firm tramp into the public square, bearing aloft their regimental flag. discovered three of the enemy's cavalry. Seeing him alone, they advanced and ordered him to halt, when the whole command fired, killing one and mortally wounding the other two. The horses of these three rebels were killed. From this point the command, with two companies of the Fourth Wisconsin, marched cautiously half a The expedition was admirably conducted. mile south, and thence one mile and a half west, Colonel W. W. Lowe, who planned and execut-through cane and rice-fields and reeds and weeds ed it, is a fine officer-a West-Point graduate immensely high. All directions offered complete prudent, cautious and brave. The loss of the protection for an ambushed enemy. Here we enemy was seventeen killed, and from forty to halted, formed in line, and placed in battery our fifty wounded. Our loss, none. We captured artillery in command of Lieut. Brough of comabout fifty horses, and a considerable quantity pany C. We shelled in all directions to feel for of arms and accoutrements. We also took a the enemy, then proceeded cautiously a third of number of prisoners, burned about one thou-a mile south to a road running west one and a sand bales of hay, destroyed two hundred and half miles to the swamp. fifty boxes of commissary stores, captured three In going through the tall weeds to this road Government wagons, and, by pressing teams, we our skirmishers began to pick up crouching prisbrought away about two hundred boxes of Gov-oners, and before we finished had gathered twenernment property. ty-five. A few minutes previously, and at the Having received peremptory orders from the time our artillery commenced fire, the whole regiWar Department to return to this post, we left ment was drawn up in this road and in the high Clarksville alone in her shame, and arrived weeds, but after a few rounds they dispersed in here on Wednesday, (tenth,) A.M., having made the utmost confusion down to the swamp, leaving a march of over seventy miles, met and whip-two stand of colors, and every thing else which ped the enemy, superior to us in numbers, re- would impede rapid flight, such as blankets, captured Clarksville, all in about five days. Doc. 205. FIGHT ON THE MISSISSIPPI. SURGEON READ'S REPORT. CARROLLTON, NEAR NEW ORLEANS, To Governor Morton: SIR: I have to report that the Twenty-first regiment of Indiana volunteers performed a very brilliant achievement on the eighth instant, twenty-five miles from New-Orleans, up the Mississippi and on its right bank, in utterly routing and dispersing five hundred mounted Texan Rangers, driving them into the swamps and capturing most of their horses. The guerrillas had for some time been molesting our steamers by firing into them, as they passed up and down. News reached headquarters that a regiment of Texan Rangers had come coats, canteens, spurs, and arms. We pursued them to the swamp, where we found their horses had been ridden in until mired, and then abandoned by their riders who waded on as best they could to get out of our way. We captured in the swamp before we stopped two hundred and fifty horses, all saddled, bridled, and mired. Our men had to wade in mud and water to their arm-pits but they labored with brave hearts and without a murmur. At sundown we returned to our transport with the spoils of the day, wearied and worn out with the severest labor under the worst burning sun I have almost ever felt. We returned to our encampment in the fore part of the night, unloaded, and immediately started back to recover what horses might be left. At daylight we were at the same landing, and at ten o'clock A.M., in the swamps, where we secured forty more horses. We found killed six of the rebels, and took twenty-five prisoners, among them Capt. January and Lieut. Coxe. These men were well equipped, companies under command of Lieut.-Col. Frankhad fine horses, and all armed with revolvers, lin, Thirty-fourth regiment O. V. I., to make a carbines, many Sharpe's rifles, and double-bar- reconnoissance to Cassidy's Mills, two companies reled shot-guns, and such spurs! to be appre- to go on the Laurel Creek road, and the remainciated they must be seen. The regiment was ing two on the Raleigh road. He did not discover commanded by Col. Edwin Waller, and was rep- the enemy. resented to be brave and daring. It was the most wonderful rout of the war and not an instance of five hundred well-armed and well-mounted men so thoroughly dispersed. But little may be apprehended from them in future, as it will take them a long time to equip in so good a manner. Capt. January is an old friend of mine, and he told me that they confidently expected to surprise and capture or kill our entire command. Soon after the engagement had commenced in town, I sent a division under command of Capt. H. C. Hatfield, Co. A, to our right to skirmish and protect our train on the Gauley road. I then advanced with the two remaining divisions and attacked the enemy on his left, who was posted in the woods on the summit of a steep hill, overlooking my advance. After three hours' fighting with a heavy loss, being unable to gain the woods, I retired to the base of the hill, from which I had engaged the enemy, leaving a number of skirmish The four companies under Lieut.-Col. Franklin, returned about seven o'clock P.M. Three days before this, the Twenty-first landed nine miles below this point to disperse a band of guerrillas, who fired from ambush on a companyers on the field until after dark. of the Ninth Vermont stationed at Algiers, going on platform-cars twenty miles to their outpost on the railroad. We landed on the right bank of About ten o'clock P.M., I ordered two of said the river, and proceeded a few miles west, through companies under command of Capt. J. A. Andercanebrakes, to the railroad dépôt. As we ap-son, Co. I, to try and ascertain the strength of proached it we saw eight or ten of their mounted the enemy on his left flank. By skirmishing, pickets, on whom we opened fire; but they aban-with a loss of several wounded, he was found in doned their horses and fled into the woods and heavy force. This caused him to place a picket cane-brakes with so much haste that they es- near the Gauley road. caped unhurt. We captured their horses and found in the dépôt nine of our soldiers badly wounded. This occurred the day previous, and we made them a speedy visit. The poor wounded fellows were so delighted to see us and be relieved they shed tears when they saw us. The rebels had carts ready to carry them off, no one knew where, but the prisoners were told, to hang them. We brought away the prisoners, and committed the house where they lay to the flames. Our regiment is in fine health and spirits, and would be glad to see some one from our State, just to let them know they are not forgotten. We are all proud of our State, and proud of the exhibition of its patriotic sons in sustaining the country in its present perilous crisis. The Twenty-first will perform its part nobly and well. It is for its country, first, last, and forever; and against every man and woman whose hands are against it, and against all men who will not sustain it in its terrible trials to sustain the best Government ever framed by human mind. Yours truly, EZRA READ, Surgeon Twenty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteers. On our retreat on the morning of the eleventh, the head of my column was fired on by the pickets of the enemy on the Gauley road, who were driven in, but firing soon followed from the left flank of the enemy, on my whole column. I succeeded, however, in passing, but with a loss of several wounded and missing. During the engagement at Charlestown, Va, several of my command were wounded by shell. The casualties were one commissioned officer and twelve enlisted men killed; six commissioned officers and seventy-four enlisted men wounded; one commissioned officer and thirty-five enlisted men missing. Aggregate, one hundred and twenty-nine. The command fought bravely, the officers par- I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your Doc. 207. ENGAGEMENT AT MUNFORDSVILLE, KY. LOUISVILLE "JOURNAL" ACCOUNT. LOUISVILLE, September 16, 1862. By persons arriving last evening from Munfordsville, which place they left Sunday night, we have obtained a full report of the battle of Sunday, fought between Colonel Wilder's Indiana brigade and the rebel troops of the renegade Buck ner. The following is a circumstantial account of the affair: The intrenchments within which our troops fought are situated about one mile from Woodsonville, opposite Munfordsville, on the south side of the river, and are built so as to protect the Green River railroad bridge. Immediately south of the works, and three hundred yards from them, a strip of woods crosses the railroad. A portion of this had been felled, and forms an abattis in front of the intrenchments. Beyond the woods is another open space, which was the scene of the battle between Col., Willich and Terry, in December last. To the right and left of the intrenchments are extensive open fields of undulating surface, extending on the left to Woodsonville and the turnpike road, by which the rebel approach was made. formed, and the fight for some time was carried on chiefly by the infantry. The rebels moved their artillery and the greater part of the infantry to the left, and formed on the Woodsonville road, preparatory to making an assault on the left of the works. It was on this part of the works that the twenty-four-pounder, which had done such terrible execution, was posted. While this disposition of the rebel troops was being made, a few of the Indianians made a venturesome sortie toward the woods, and while under fire from the woods, succeeded in bringing in several prisoners, among whom was a major of a Mississippi regiment. This officer, in conversation with the United States officers, stated that, on the part of the field on which he had fought, on the right of the railroad, they had left four hundred killed and wounded. The garrison of the intrenchments on the morn- The second assault was on the right, and charing of the attack consisted of the brigade of Col.acterized by the same desperate energy as the Wilder, of the Seventeenth Indiana infantry, first. The rebels crossed the open fields under a which was composed of the Seventeenth, Sixty-heavy fire, and only halted under the brow of a seventh, and Eighty-third regiments of Indiana hill, two hundred yards from the works. They troops, and company G of the Louisville Provost mounted the hill and pushed forward rapidly. Guards, under command of Lieut. H. Watson. They sprang over the narrow trenches and mountThe rebel force attacking consisted of two bri-ed the works. But the gallant Indianians did gades of the First division of Gen. Bragg's army, not quit their places, and many of the rebels, bayunder Simon H. Buckner, but commanded in this oneted, fell back into the ditches. It is stated attack by Brig.-General Duncan, of Mississippi. that many were thus killed by the bayonet. The brigades were composed of Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama troops. Our pickets were first fired on about three o'clock on Sunday morning, but the engagement did not become general until about five. The pickets at the house of Mr. Lewis, on the right of the railroad and beyond the woods, were first attacked, but they did not fall back until five o'clock. It is noteworthy that the rebels made their first attack at the same point at which they attacked Col. Willich. As soon as it was light enough to see their way, the rebels pushed forward, confident of success, and drove the picketguard through the woods and into the intrench ments. Forming in the edge of the woods and protecting themselves among the fallen trees in our front, the rebels kept up a continuous firing, which was replied to no less vigorously by our men within the works. Colonel Wilder posted his three regiments in an admirable position, guarding every approach to the works. Throughout the whole engagement Col. Wilder conducted himself coolly and deliberately, and effected his manoeuvres with marked skill. The first attack of the rebels, made under cover of a shower of shells thrown from three pieces of heavy artillery posted on the right of the railroad, was desperate, and the repulse bloody. The rebels rushed through the thick abattis with loud shouts, but retreated before the terrible fire of the Indianians, with demoniac shouts of pain and rage. The four pieces of our artillery continued to pour shot and shell into their ranks, and the heavier piece on the left of our works succeeded in dismounting two of the guns posted in the woods. Retreating to the woods, the rebels again After this assault the rebels kept up a desultory fire until about eleven o'clock, when they fell back beyond the woods and ceased firing. The troops on our right, seeing the others retreating, fell back, and left the two pieces of artillery formerly dismounted on the field. During the last attack a force of rebel cavalry, with a piece of light artillery, appeared at Munfordsville, and, from the bluff, before the town, threw a few shells into our works. After the third shell the gun was dismounted, and the rebels retired. During the engagement the cavalry company was ordered to remain under cover beneath the bridge, and took no part in the conflict. The rebels were estimated by captured officers and men to be eight thousand strong. Their loss will approximate five hundred killed and wounded. Among them is a colonel of a Mississippi regiment. The rebels engaged in burying the dead stated to our men that they had lost six hundred men. The story of the wounded major is probably nearest the truth, and it may be safely said that their loss will reach that number. Our loss was eight killed and twenty wounded. Among the killed is Major Abbott, of the Sixtyseventh Indiana regiment. By a person who left Munfordsville late last evening, Col. Dunham sent word that the rebel loss was over five hundred. We have taken one hundred and ten stand of small arms and two pieces of artillery, six-pounders. Thus, upon the field made glorious by the Indianians, under Willich, have Indianians won the second battle of Munfordsville, and, in shedding lustre on the national arms, added new honors to the State from which they hail. Doc. 208. EXPEDITION TO PONCHATOULA, LA. OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL BUTLER. don, whose commander, Capt. Read, had kindly consented to coöperate with me. The object in view was to surprise the village of Ponchatoula, the headquarters of the rebel General Jeff. Thompson, forty-eight miles north of the city, on the line of the Jackson Railroad. Major-General H. W. Halleck, Commanding Ar-To that end the New-London was to land her HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, mies of the United States: GENERAL: Having been informed that a small force of the enemy were repairing Manchac Pass, and that the troops had been withdrawn from Ponchatoula, forty-eight miles north of this city, the headquarters of Gen. Jeff. Thompson, I directed Major Strong, my Chief-of-Staff, to take five companies of men to complete the destruction of the bridge and the repairs, if any, and by a division of his force to endeavor to secure the person of Gen. Thompson, and to destroy his supplies. Owing to the heavy draught of water of our boats, as set forth in Major Strong's report, herewith inclosed, it was found impossible to carry out the plan as originally proposed. But Major Strong, not to be baffled, determined upon an attack, and in open day, at the head of one hundred and twelve men, made a march of ten miles upon the headquarters of a General who was collecting forces to attack New-Orleans, drove away a light battery of artillery, supported by three hundred infantry, took and occupied the town, destroyed the telegraph and post-offices, captured the despatches, possessed himself of the General's presentation sword, spurs, and bridle, as trophies, (our officers do not plunder generals' quarters of shirts and stockings,) burned his supply-train of twenty cars, and returned at his leisure-inflicting treble loss upon the enemy in killed and wounded. I beg to commend this to the Commanding General as one of the most daring and successful exploits of the war, equal in dash, spirit, and cool courage, to any thing attempted on either side. Major Strong and his officers and men deserve great credit. It may have been a little daring, perhaps rash, but that has not been an epidemic fault with our officers. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your A true copy: GEO. C. STRONG, Assistant Adjutant-General. Major-General B. F. Butler, Commanding De- men at Manchac bridge, whence at daybreak next morning they were to drive the enemy that might be found there northwards to Ponchatoula, while the remainder of the force, having found the way fifteen miles up the Tangipahoa in the night, were to land and march six miles westward and capture Ponchatoula in season to secure those of the enemy who had been driven up from Pass Manchac. The attempt at surprise failed, for not only was the New-London unable to get over the bar into Manchac Pass in the darkness, but the Ceres, too large for the easy navigation of the narrow and winding Tangipahoa, failed in each of the two succeeding nights to reach her destination on that river in season to admit of our gaining Ponchatoula before daylight. I resolved, therefore, to go with that steamer to Manchac bridge, and did so on the morning of the fifteenth. From that point, Captain Winter was sent with his company southward, to make the destruction of the railroad on Manchac Island complete, which duty he thoroughly performed. Capt. Pickering's company was left to guard the steamer, and the companies of Captains Thornton and Farrington began a forced march of ten miles upon Ponchatoula. A locomotive one mile below the village gave notice of our approach, (which could not be concealed,) and ran northward, giving the alarm at the village, and thence to Camp Moore for reenforcements. We met, on entering Ponchatoula, a discharge of canister, at seventy yards, from a light battery, in charging which Captain Thornton fell severely wounded. His company, then, under Lieut. Hight, reenforced Capt. Farrington's pla toon on the enemy's right, while Lieut. Coon, with the second platoon of that company, took a position, under partial cover, on the left of the enemy's line. From these positions our men poured in so deliberate and destructive a fire that the enemy was driven from the field, the artillery galloping away, followed by the infantry, on a road through the forest, in a north-westerly direction. We then set fire to a train of upwards of twenty cars, laden with cotton, sugar, molasses, etc., and took the papers from the post and the telegraph-office, de stroying the apparatus in the latter, and General Jeff. Thompson's sword, spurs, bridle, etc., from his quarters in the hotel. The sword was presented to him by the so-called "Memphis pa triots." GENERAL: Pursuant to your orders of the thir teenth instant, I embarked on the afternoon of that day on board the steamer Ceres, at Lakeport, with three companies of the Twelfth regiment Maine volunteers, commanded respectively by Capts. Thornton, Farrington, and Winter, and A written document was obtained which one company, Captain Pickering's, of the Twenty- showed the rebel force at that point to consist sixth Massachusetts regiment. I had previously of three hundred troops of the Tenth Arkansas sent one hundred men of the Thirteenth Connec- regiment, one company of the home guards, and ticut regiment on board the gunboat New-Lon-one company of artillery with six pieces. |