hands, this twenty-ninth day of August, A. D. 1861, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-fifth year. S. H. STRINGHAM, Flag-Officer Atlantic Blockading Squadron. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Major-General U. S. A., Commanding. S. BARRON, Flag-Officer C. S. N., Com'g Naval Forces Va. & N. C. WILLIAM F. MARTIN, Col. Seventh Light Infantry N. C. Volunteers.

W. L. G. ANDREWS, Major Com'g Forts Hatteras and Clark. The results of this capitulation were the capture of 715 men, including the commander, Com. Barron, who was at the time Acting Secretary of the Navy of the Confederate States, and Major Bradford, Chief of the Ordnance Department of the Confederate States army, 2 forts, 1,000 stand of arms, 75 kegs of powder, 5 stand of colors, 31 pieces of cannon, including one 10-inch columbiad, a brig loaded with cotton, a sloop loaded with provisions and

stores, 2 light boats, 150 bags of coffee, &c. The forts were held and garrisoned by U. S. troops, and the Fanny and Monticello retained at the inlet to keep off the Confederate gunboats, and capture vessels attempting to run the blockade. On the 30th Sept. a fortification called Fort Oregon at Ocracoke Inlet, about 15 miles below Hatteras Inlet, was abandoned by the Confederate forces, and on the 16th of September an expedition from Hatteras Inlet visited and destroyed it. On the 7th of September, four Confederate vessels, and on the 8th a fifth, attempted to enter Hatteras Inlet, and were all captured by the steam-tug Fanny. On the 2d of October the Fanny was captured by a party of Confederates in armed steam-tugs; her two brass cannon and 35 men belonging to the 9th N. Y. volunteers (Hawkins' Zouaves) were taken, and a considerable quantity of stores.

A CAMPAIGN Was now commenced by the enemy in Western Virginia. Gen. Henry A. Wise was at Lewisburg, the capital of Greenbrier County, organizing his brigade for an advance down the Kanawha valley, when Gen. Floyd (ex-Secretary of War) arrived with three regiments of infantry and a battalion of cavalry. After a consultation with Gen. Wise, whom he outranked, he resumed his march westward. At Tyree's, on the west side of Sewall Mountain, he was first met by the Union pickets, who were driven back upon their command with a loss of four killed and seven wounded. At Locust Lane he was overtaken by Gen. Wise, and the two commands advanced to Dogwood Gap at the intersection of the Summerville road with the turnpike from Lewisburg to Charleston. The main body of the Union force was stationed at Hawk's Nest, on New River, seven miles east of Gauley bridge, under Gen. Cox, with outposts at Cross Lanes and Carnifax ferry. Leaving at Dogwood Gap posted two pieces of artillery to keep open his line if a flank movement should be attempted from Carnifax ferry, Gen. Floyd advanced to Pickett's Mills. Here learning that his rear was threatened by the Union troops at Carnifax ferry and Cross Lanes, he left Gen. Wise to hold the turnpike, and moved at once upon Carnifax ferry to attack the Federal troops supposed to be there. He arrived at noon, but the Federal troops were at Hawk's Nest. On attempting to cross the river with his force, the boat was capsized and drawn over the rapids. His infantry and a small

portion of his cavalry had crossed, but the mass of the cavalry and four pieces of artillery were still on the eastern side of the river. With great efforts another boat was prepared in a day and the transportation completed. Meanwhile Col. Tyler advanced from Hawk's Nest, but arrived too late to gain an advantage over Floyd, whose forces were now concentrated. On the contrary, the regiment was surprised by Gen. Floyd while at breakfast on the 26th of August, and with difficulty escaped capture.

Gen. Floyd then proceeded to strengthen his position and to bring up supplies for his men. Meanwhile Gen. Rosecrans, on Sept. 10th, advanced to attack the enemy; and about three o'clock in the afternoon he sent forward Gen. Benham, with his brigade, to make a reconnoissance in force. They were soon engaged with the enemy, and after a severe action were about being reenforced, when, from the great difficulties of the position rendering night fighting almost impossible, Gen. Rosecrans ordered his men to form in order of battle and rest upon their arms, intending to renew the attack in the morning. During the night Gen. Floyd and his force withdrew across the Gauley, leaving their camp, baggage, small arms, and munitions of war, and burning the bridge which he had constructed, and the ferry boats. Being unable to effect a crossing of the river, Gen. Rosecrans could not pursue them, but took a few prisoners. The Federal loss was, according to official report, 15 killed and 80 wounded; that of the Confederates was less, as they were protected by the forest and their fortifications

Meanwhile Gen. Wise had marched down to Big Creek in Fayette County, where a slight skirmish took place with some Union troops. Gen. Floyd, on retreating from Carnifax ferry, went to the summit of Big Sewell Mountain, having been joined on his way by Gen. Wise. Here a consultation was held, and it was decided to retreat to Meadow Bluff as a position which guarded all the approaches to Lewisburg and the railroad. Gen. Wise, however, refused to retreat, and proceeded to fortify his position, which he called Camp Defiance. Meanwhile Gen. Rosecrans advanced to Tyree's, a public house on the turnpike road in Fayette County. Such was the position of the enemy's forces in the Kanawha valley when Gen. Robert E. Lee arrived and took command. After the defeat of Garnett and his forces on July 14th, by Gen. McClellan; Gen. Lee was ordered to succeed him, and with as little delay as possible to repair to the scene of operations. He took with him such reënforcements that on joining the remnant of Gen. Garnett's command, his force was about sixteen thousand men. His plan was to dislodge the forces of Gen. Rosecrans from Cheat Mountain, and thus relieve northwestern Virginia. In August he arrived in the neighborhood of the mountain on the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike, and found Gen. Reynolds in command of the forces under Gen. Rosecrans, who, since the removal of Gen. McClellan to Washington, was in chief command in northwestern Virginia.

The aim of Gen. Lee on perceiving the strength of Gen. Reynolds, was to dislodge him by strategic movements, and capture his forces. With this object he cautiously moved along the road leading from Huntersville to Huttonsville in Randolph County, and, reaching Valley Mountain, halted to arrange his plans for attacking a body of Union troops stationed about eight miles below on Tygert's Valley River, and about five thousand strong. Thence he moved over the spurs of the mountains, and with great difficulty succeeded in getting below this body of Union troops, and at the same time placed a force east and west of them. Meantime fifteen hundred men of the forces of Gen. H. R. Jackson, under Col. Rust, of Arkansas, advanced from Greenbrier River around another position of the Union troops at Cheat Mountain pass, ten miles distant from the former Union force, for the purpose of an attack. This attack was to be the signal for Gen. Lee to attack the force on Tygert's Valley River. But Col. Rust finding the position so well prepared for defence, concluded that the attack could not be made with any hope of success, and ordered a retreat. No signal was thus given to Lee, and no attack therefore made by his forces, which retreated back to Valley Mountain without firing a gun. The attack of Col. Rust was designed merely to hold the force at Cheat Mountain Pass while the contest took place on the Valley river. Probably the attack

of Lee would have been successful if it had been made without regard to the retreat of Rust, and would have resulted in giving him control for a time of that portion of West Virginia.

Lee now determined to move to the Kanawha Valley to relieve Gens. Floyd and Wise. Gen. Rosecrans was already on his march thither to oppose Floyd. All their forces were thus concentrated under Lee at Wise's position on Big Sewell Mountain, amounting nearly to twenty thousand men. The position was strengthened by a breastwork extending four miles. Meanwhile Gen. Rosecrans, who had approached within view of the enemy's position, where he remained some days prepared to receive an attack, concluding that it was not likely to be made, and that the enemy's position was too strong for him to assail successfully, quietly withdrew to his former position on the Gauley River, thirty-two miles distant. The reasons given by the enemy for not following, were the muddy roads, swollen streams, and the weakness of his artillery horses.

Meanwhile, on Oct. 2d, Gen. Reynolds, with about 5,000 men, left his camp at Cheat Mountain to make an armed reconnoissance of the forces of the enemy encamped on Greenbrier River and in the neighborhood. He reached the enemy's camp shortly after daylight, drove in the pickets, and his advanced regiments approached to within 700 yards of the intrenchments, and opened fire. A battle followed, of about four hours' duration. The Confederate force at the camp were driven from their guns, three of which were disabled; their reserve came up after the action had continued about two hours, and, thus reenforced, they maintained their position behind their breastworks, but did not sally out to attack the Federal troops. Gen. Reynolds, finding his ammunition exhausted, and having accomplished his purpose, withdrew in order, without being pursued, and returned the same night to his camp. The Federal loss was 8 killed and 32 wounded. The Confederate loss was inuch larger, and was estimated by Gen. Reynolds as at least 300. Gen. Reynolds brought away 13 prisoners. The enemy state that their loss did not exceed fifty, and estimated that of Gen. Reynolds between two hundred and fifty and three hundred.

On the approach of winter Gen. Lee was ordered to take charge of the coast defences of South Carolina and Georgia; Gen. Wise was ordered to Richmond, and the forces were all withdrawn by the authorities at Richmond, except those under Gen. Floyd, and a force of 1,200 men on the Alleghany Mountain. On December 13th this force, at Camp Alleghany, was attacked by Gen. Milroy.

The Union troops consisted of portions of the 9th and 13th Indiana, the 25th and 32d Ohio, and the 2d Virginia, numbering in all 1,750 men. The Confederate force was under the command of Gen. Johnson, of Georgia, and was estimated at 2,000. The action commenced

about daylight and lasted till 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when the Confederates set fire to their camps and retreated to Staunton, in the valley of Virginia, thus vacating Western Virginia, at least that portion west of the Kittatinny range. The loss, as officially reported, was about equal on both sides: the Federal troops having 20 killed and 107 wounded; and the enemy 25 killed, 97 wounded, and about 30 of their men being taken prisoners.

Meantime Gen. Floyd, after the departure of the other Southern troops, moved by the way of Richard's ferry, Raleigh, and Fayette Court House, to Cotton Hill on the west side of the Kanawha River. Cotton Hill is in Fayette county, opposite the mouth of the Gauley River. Gen. Rosecrans was posted on both sides of the Gauley River above the mouth, and the hostile forces were in full view of each other. To cut off the retreat of Gen. Floyd, a movement was planned by Gen. Rosecrans across Miller's, Montgomery's, and Loop Creek ferries, concentrating at Fayetteville. Floyd detecting the movement immediately fell back, barely in time to escape capture. His rear was attacked and pursued some twenty miles, causing considerable loss. He now retired, and was subsequently transferred to Tennessee.

Some skirmishes took place during this period in West Virginia, attended with small loss to either side, but without special importance.

Meanwhile military movements of considerable interest had been made in Missouri. After the battle at Wilson's Creek, the forces of Gens. McCulloch and Price retired to the frontier of Arkansas. Here they remained until the latter part of August, when Price with a considerable force of Missourians began another movement into the State. As he advanced reenforcements joined him. Among others was Gen. Thos. A. Harris with about three thousand men, who been engaged in active guerrilla operations in northern Missouri. On September 7th a skirmish took place between a body of Kansas troops under Gen. Lane, which encountered the advance of Price at a stream called Drywood, near Fort Scott. The Kansas troops, although presenting a bold front, were soon compelled to retire. Fort Scott was also evacuated. Price then continued his march toward Lexington, where Col. Mulligan was in command. Lexington, the capital of Fayette County, is in a high and healthy sitnation, on the right bank of the Missouri River, 120 miles, by the road, west of Jefferson City. The population was about 5,000.

On the 29th of August a body of Home Guards, with some United States regulars posted at Lexington, were attacked by a large Confederate force. The Federal force numbered 430, and was intrenched. The assailing party had no artillery, and were repulsed with a considerable loss, and subsequently withdrew. This attack showed the importance of sending forward reenforcements. Accordingly, on the

9th of September, the town was occupied by an Irish Brigade under Çol. Mulligan, which, in addition to a small force there, consisting of Home Guards, a few Kansas troops, a portion of the Missouri 8th regiment, and seven hundred of the Illinois cavalry, swelled the number to 2,500 men. Soon after a Confederate force under Gen. Price threatened an attack upon them. No time was lost in the work of intrenching their position, chosen about midway between the new and old towns of Lexington, which are about a mile apart, connected by a scattering settlement. Midway stood a solid brick edifice, built for a college, and about this a small breastwork had been already begun. By Col. Mulligan's order this was extended, and the troops commenced the construction of an earthwork, ten feet in height, with a ditch eight feet in width, enclosing a large area, capable of containing a force of 10,000 men. The army train, consisting of numerous mule teams, was brought within this area. The work was pushed with great vigor for three days, or until Thursday, the 12th, at which time that portion assigned to the Irish Brigade was well advanced, that of the Home Guard being still weak on the west or New Lexington side.

The college building, within the fortification, became Col. Mulligan's headquarters. The magazine and treasure were stored in the cellar and suitably protected. The hospital of the troops was located just outside of the intrenchments, in a northwesterly direction. The river, at that point, is about half a mile wide, and about half a mile distant from the fortifications. The bluff there is high and abrupt, the steamboat landing being at New Lexington.

The artillery of Col. Mulligan consisted of five brass pieces and two mortars, but, having no shells, the latter were useless. The cavalry had only side-arms and pistols.

On the 12th, scouts and advanced pickets driven in reported the near approach of the enemy's force. The attack was led by Gen. Rains with a battery of nine pieces of artillery against the point least prepared to resist assault. The Confederates were repulsed, and the result warned them that they had no easy task on hand. The hospital, containing about twenty-four patients, was not spared by the assailants. Some of the sick were pierced with bayonets or sabres in their cots. The chaplain and surgeon of the brigade were taken prisoners.

Skirmishing continued for several days, during which the enemy brought more of their artillery into action. Messengers had been sent to Jefferson City by Col. Mulligan to urge the necessity of reenforcements, but they had been captured. At the same time, sufficient troops were sent out by the enemy to intercept any Federal reënforcements. Thus a party of 1,500 Iowa troops were met and forced to retire when they had arrived within sixteen miles of the river.

The situation of the Federal force was daily growing more desperate. Within their lines were picketed about the wagons and trains a

large number of horses and mules, nearly three thousand in all, now a serious cause of care and anxiety; for, as shot and shell plunged among them, many of the animals were killed or wounded, and from the struggles of the latter the danger of a general stampede was imminent. The havoc in the centre of the intrenchment was immense. Wagons were knocked to pieces, stores scattered and destroyed, and the ground strewn with dead horses and mules.

On the 17th the water gave out, and being cut off from the river, the Union troops were reduced to great straits. Rations, also, began to grow short. Meanwhile, the contest continued with little cessation, as a brilliant moon shone all night. Gen. Price had sent to Col. Mulligan a summons to surrender, to which the latter sent a refusal, saying, “If you want us, you must take us." The Home Guard, however, had become discouraged and disheartened, and on the 21st, while Col. Mulligan was engaged in another part of the camp, a white flag was raised by Major Becker, of the Guards, in the portion of the intrenchments assigned to him. As soon as this was made known to Col. Mulligan, he ordered the flag to be taken down, which was done. The severest of the fighting during that day followed in a charge made upon the enemy's nearest battery. Subsequently the Home Guards left the outer work and retreated within the line of the inner intrenchments, about the college building, refusing to fight longer, and here again raised the white flag, this time from the centre of the fortifications, when the fire of the enemy slackened and ceased. Under this state of affairs, Col. Mulligan, calling his officers into council, decided to capitulate, and Capt. McDermott went out to the enemy's lines, with a handkerchief tied to a ramrod, and a parley took place. Major Moore, of the brigade, was sent to Gen. Price's headquarters, at New Lexington, to know the terms of capitulation. These were: that the officers were to be retained as prisoners of war, the men to be allowed to depart with their personal property, surrendering their arms and accoutrements. Reluctantly this was acceded to.

At 4 P. M. on Sept. 21st, the Federal forces were marched out of the intrenchments. They left behind them their arms and accoutrements, reserving only their clothing. The privates, numbering some 1,500 strong, were first made to take the oath not to serve against the Confederate States, when they were put across the river, and, in charge of Gen. Rains, marched on Saturday night to Richmond, sixteen miles; whence, on Sunday, they marched to Hamilton, a station on the Hannibal and St. Joseph's Railroad, where they were declared free to go wherever they pleased. While on this march they experienced generous and humane treatment, both from Gen. Rains and from the residents.

The Federal force at Lexington was composed of the 23d regiment (Irish Brigade),

Col. Mulligan, 800; 13th Missouri, Col. Peabody, 840; 1st Illinois, Col. Marshall, 500; Home Guards, Col. White, 500; total, 2,640, with one 4, three 6, and one 12-pounders, and two 4-inch mortars. The Confederate force had been increased from 3,000 by the arrival of reënforcements to a large number, estimated at 10,000. It appears by the official report of Gen. Price, who took command at the outset, that, in addition to the large force he brought with him from the southwest, he was joined, before the battle, by the forces under Martin Green, Harris, Boyd, and Patten, all of whom participated in the siege. Green's force, when he crossed the river at Glasgow, was 2,500 men; Harris had 2,700 when he crossed; and Patten and Boyd had a considerable number. The force of the garrison was only 2,640 men. The loss of water, and the inferiority of numbers caused the surrender. Gen. Price says that the firing was continued for fifty-two hours. The enemy adopted for defence a breastwork of hempen bales, which they rolled before them as they advanced. Their loss they state at 25 killed and 72 wounded. The Federal loss in killed and wounded was estimated from 300 to 500. Gen. Fremont, upon hearing of this surrender, sent the following despatch to Washington:

HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT,
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 23, 1861.

}

Col. E. D. Townsend, Adjutant-General: I have a telegram from Brookfield that Lexington has fallen into Price's hands, he having cut off Mulligan's supply of water. Reënforcements 4,000 strong, under Sturgis, by the capture of the ferry boats, had from the southwest, and Davis from the southeast, upno means of crossing the river in time. Lane's forces wards of 11,000 in all, could also not get there in time. I am taking the field myself and hope to destroy the enemy either before or after the junction of the forces under McCulloch. Please notify the President immediately. J. C. FREMONT, Major-Gen. Commanding.

Some remarks appeared in the St. Louis "Evening News" a few days after, commenting upon the neglect of the authorities at St. Louis to send out reenforcements, when the paper was immediately suppressed by Gen. Fremont, and its publisher and editor sent to prison, from which they were subsequently unconditionally released.

As a strategetical point, the loss of the town was a serious affair to the Federal cause, and a gain of no small value to the Confederates. Its possession would tend to retain that part of Missouri on the Union side, while its loss would expose Kansas, as well as the northern and western parts of Missouri.

The capture of Lexington, the most im portant affair to the Confederates which occurred in the State, doubtless caused Gen. Fremont, on September 27th, to hasten from St. Louis to Jefferson City. On the 3d of October Gen. Price abandoned Lexington, and as the Union force concentrated at Jefferson City, he retired to Springfield and still further south. His force was extravagantly estimated at this time at twenty thousand men and up

ward. The original purpose of Gen. Price had been to move from Lexington northward and destroy the railroad, and then attack the Federal forces in Northwestern Missouri, but the approach of Fremont prevented its accomplishment. No one of the Confederate generals sustained his position so well as Gen. Price, with the slender resources at his command. It was necessarily, therefore, a part of his system of operations to avoid a doubtful conflict. Retiring produced no discouragement upon his men. At the same time, by retiring, he came nearer to Arkansas, from whence he could expect supplies and reenforcements, whilst the Federal force, on advancing, would be removed further and further from its chief source of sup plies. The advance of Gen. Fremont, in the southwest, was made in five divisions, under Gens. Hunter, Pope, Sigel, Asboth, and McKinstry. Each division was subdivided, and was composed of cavalry, artillery, and infantry, ambulances, &c., and whatever was necessary to enable it to act independently. Gen. Fremont accompanied the advance with Gens. Sigel and Asboth.

On the 14th of October he arrived at Warsaw on the Osage River, sixty-five miles southwest of Jefferson City, where he prepared to cross by means of bridges. On the opposite bank was a considerable rebel cavalry force at the time of his arrival, which was dispersed by canister-shot. The bridge was finished about the 21st, and on the 26th the troops reached Bolivar. Gen. Fremont left on Sunday with Gen. Sigel by forced marches, for Springfield. Gen. McKinstry still continued at Warsaw with the reserve, and Gen. Pope was on the other side of the Osage. Gen. Hunter was with the right wing advancing, and Gen. Sturgis with the left. On the 27th Gen. Fremont arrived at Springfield, where the national flag was displayed by the people with every demonstration of joy. On the 25th a dashing charge was made by Maj. Zagonyi with a hundred and fifty of Gen. Fremont's Body Guard, armed with Colt's rifles, upon a force of the enemy about half a mile west of the town, by which the latter were dispersed.

The retreat of Gen. Price had been steadily in advance of the Union troops. On the 13th he was at Clintonville, Cedar County, twentyfive miles south of Papinsville, on the Carthage Road. His entire army had passed the Osage. On the 17th he was expected by the Union general to make a stand, and again on the 19th. On the 24th he was at Nesho, in Newton County, and had united with Gen. McCulloch. The Legislature of the State had convened here at this time. Only a small number of members were present.

In Northwestern Missouri, Col. Morgan, on the 19th, with two hundred and twenty of the 18th Missouri, had a skirmish with a larger rebel force at Big Harrison Creek in Carrol County. Fourteen of the enemy were reported to have been killed, and eight were taken

prisoners. The Federal loss was two killed and fourteen wounded. On the 21st the rebel garrison at Fredericktown was surprised by a portion of the 1st Missouri regiment, and the town recaptured.

In Southwestern Missouri, a skirmish took place near Lebanon on the 13th of October between two companies of mounted men under Major Wright and a small body of secession cavalry, in which the latter were surprised and routed with a small loss. On the 17th a skirmish took place near Pilot Knob, and on the 22d another at Fredericktown. Several other skirmishes of small importance, otherwise than as showing the activity of both Federal and secession troops, occurred during the month of October.

So much complaint had been made relative to the management of the Western Department by Gen. Fremont, that the Secretary of War proceeded to St. Louis for the purpose of investigation. An interview with Gen. Fremont took place at Tipton, and when about to return from St. Louis to Washington, the Secretary issued the following order:

ST. LOUIS, October 14, 1861. GENERAL: The Secretary of War directs me to communicate the following as his instructions for your government:

Quartermaster's Department in this city, amounting In view of the heavy sums due, especially in the to some $4,500,000, it is important that the money which may now be in the hands of the disbursing officers, or be received by them, be applied to the current expenses of your army in Missouri, and these examined and sent to Washington for settlement; debts to remain unpaid until they can be properly the disbursing officers of the army to disburse the funds, and not transfer them to irresponsible agents; in other words, those who do not hold commissions from the President, and are not under bonds. All officers. The senior Quartermaster here has been contracts necessary to be made by the disbursing verbally instructed by the Secretary as above.

It is deemed unnecessary to erect field-works around this city, and you will direct their discontinuance; also those, if any, in course of construction at Jefferson commissions have been given by you. No payments City. In this connection, it is seen that a number of will be made to such officers, except to those whose appointments have been approved by the President. This, of course, does not apply to the officers with instructed by the Secretary; also, not to make transvolunteer troops. Col. Andrews has been verbally so fers of funds, except for the purpose of paying the troops.

The erection of barracks near your quarters in this

city to be at once discontinued.

of Gen. Lane's command are committing depredations The Secretary has been informed that the troops on our friends in Western Missouri. Your attention is directed to this, in the expectation that you will apply the corrective.

Maj. Allen desires the services of Capt. Turnley for proper to accede thereto. a short time, and the Secretary hopes you may find

it

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obe dient servant, L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General. Major-General J. C. FREMONT,

Commanding Department of the West, Tipton. On the 1st of November an agreement was entered into between Gens. Fremont and Price that a joint proclamation should be signed by