Chapter XI: Part 11

It will be recollected that the withdrawal of the Federal troops from Springfield and the leading points of both central and southern Missouri, had given free scope to the action of the enemy. Seditious proclamations had been issued by Ex-Governor Jackson and General Price, and had been thoroughly circulated. Enlisting agents, also, had been very active, and some two thousand recruits, mostly drawn from the northern counties, were proceeding by slow stages southward, to unite with the main body under General Price.

A well laid plan was matured by Generals Halleck and Pope to capture these reinforcements; and two brigades of General Pope’s division were dispatched without exciting any suspicion as to their destination, to intercept the enemy on their march. The brigades were constituted as follows:

First Brigade, Acting Brigadier-General Steele.—Twenty-seventh regiment Ohio Volunteers, Colonel Kennett; Twenty-second regiment Indiana Volunteers, Colonel Hendricks; First regiment Kansas Volunteers, Colonel Thayer; one battery First Missouri Volunteers, Lieutenant Marr; four companies regular cavalry, Colonel Amory.

Second Brigade, Acting Brigadier-General Jeff. C. Davis.—Eighteenth regiment Indiana Volunteers, Colonel Patterson; Eighth regiment Indiana Volunteers, Colonel Benton; Twenty-fourth regiment Indiana Volunteers, Lieutenant ——; one battery First Missouri Artillery, Lieutenant Klaus; one squadron First Iowa Cavalry, Major Torrence.

The whole was under the immediate command of General Pope. The four companies of regular cavalry were the fragments of the original companies, B, C, D, and E, and numbered but a little over a hundred men. They were under the command of Captain Crittenden, of the regular army, son of Hon. John J. Crittenden.

The command started from Sedalia on Sunday, the 15th, and encamped at night eleven miles distant on the road to Clinton. The next day they marched twenty-six miles, and at sunset arrived at Shawnee Mound, in Henry county. Here reports of various companies of rebels began to come in from residents and from Union scouts. One company of near five hundred was heard of at a point about twelve miles north-west, and several smaller bodies directly south, from Clinton to Butler. General Pope then dispatched his whole available force of cavalry, nearly seven hundred, before they had secured three hours’ rest, after the five hundred near Morristown. The cavalry under Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, of the Seventh Missouri Volunteers, pushed on all night, and arriving at the rebel camp they found it vacated. The enemy had received warning and fled precipitately, leaving numerous evidences of haste. The cavalry, notwithstanding their forty miles’ continuous march, pushed on after the fleeing rebels till they reached Rose Hill, picking up some twenty or thirty stragglers on the road. At Rose Hill the rebels separated into several squads, some taking the road west, others taking the south route to Butler, and Colonel Brown had no other alternative than to rest his exhausted horses, and finally to make his way back to the main column next day, near Warrensburg. He brought in nearly one hundred prisoners.

General Pope in the meantime kept advancing in a direction west of north to Chilhowee, a most important point, being the centre of numerous cross-roads. This was near the site of the rebel camp just referred to, and here the pickets brought in some few straggling men who were bound for Price’s army. At Chilhowee they heard of a rebel force of 1,800 from the north, and of the scouring of the country south of Clinton by Major Hubbard, of the First Missouri Cavalry. The direction of the Union forces was at once east, toward Warrenburg. That night (Wednesday) they encamped two and a half miles west of Warrenburg. The reports were confirmed by a loyal man, who was on his way to give the information. He gave their location as at Kilpatrick’s mill, on the Clear fork of Blackwater Creek. (Milford is the post-office name.) Early on Thursday morning they started in the direction of Knob Noster, being directly south of the enemy. Colonel Merrill’s Horse was ordered to take the direct road running parallel with the course of the Blackwater, so as to intercept them in case they took a western course.

The brigade of Colonel Davis was placed in the advance, with orders to keep well up to the cavalry, a section of artillery being ready to support the cavalry upon a minute’s warning. General Pope, with the main body, kept due west for Knob Noster, ready to come up if necessary. Colonel Davis, finding that the enemy was still in camp at Milford, diverged to the left, and put the regular cavalry, under Lieutenant Amory, in the advance, the four companies of the First Iowa Cavalry, under Major Torrence, being next. On approaching the mill, the men discovered that the rebels were posted on the opposite side of the bridge, across the dam. Finding that it would be dangerous to charge the bridge mounted, Lieutenant Amory ordered the men to dismount and skirmish with pistols and sabres, as infantry, the fourth man holding the horses of the other three. This they instantly did, and advanced under the lead of Lieutenant Gordon, of Company D. Some ineffectual skirmishing took place between the regulars, who were sheltered behind a barn on the south of the creek, and the rebels, who were on the north side. During this interval the Iowa Cavalry filed off to the left, in the attempt to cross the stream higher up, but after vainly traversing its steep sides and muddy bottom for a mile, returned to find Lieutenant Amory charging across the bridge, the rebels having deserted it upon seeing Colonel Davis, with the artillery advancing. Lieutenant Amory followed the road, thinking that the rebels might flee to the north. Lieutenant Gordon immediately dashed after some of the scattering fugitives through the wood, and after penetrating a few rods, received a volley from the enemy, whom he just then discovered formed in line. He instantly formed in line, and ordered his men to fire.

The cavalry, under Major Torrence, and the regulars, under Lieutenant Amory, had in the mean time reached the flank and rear of another body of the enemy, who was thus enclosed on one side by a long marsh, on the other by a deep and muddy mill-pond, and on the third by our cavalry. Colonel Davis had by this time come up in the rear. A white flag was displayed, and Colonel Alexander, a young man, came forward and asked if thirty minutes would be allowed them for consultation. Colonel Davis’s answer was “that as night was closing in, that was too long.” Colonel A. then asked if he would be allowed to go to headquarters and bring back the answer of the commander of the corps, Colonel Robinson. Permission being granted, he returned in about five minutes, with the response that “they would be obliged to surrender as prisoners of war.” The arms were stacked, and the men formed in line and marched between two files of infantry, the Eighteenth and Twenty-fourth Illinois, with all the honors of war. Colonel Davis immediately sent dispatches to General Pope announcing his success, and as night was closing around, the arms were hastily stowed in wagons, and the Federal troops commenced the march for camp. One thousand guns of all kinds were captured, with a full supply of clothing and provision. One of the enemy was killed, and several wounded. Two Federals were killed and eight wounded.

Dispatches were received Thursday evening from General Halleck ordering the Union troops to fall back to Sedalia. General Pope, therefore, accompanied with the victors as an escort, and the wounded men, started and made the journey (twenty miles) by two o’clock.

Following close upon them was the brigade of Colonel Hovey, of the Twenty-fourth Indiana, who had been dispatched with two regiments, a battery, and two squadrons of the First Missouri Cavalry, on the Clinton road some twelve miles from Sedalia, where the cavalry, under Major Hubbard, some two hundred and fifty in number, made a reconnoissance of the country extending westward and southward, as far as the Grand river, beyond Clinton. Here they came upon the pickets of General Rains, who, with an advanced cavalry force was guarding the Grand river. The pickets were driven in, one shot, about sixty prisoners taken within the lines of General Rains, and a mill near Clinton burned.

The detachment of cavalry under Lieutenant-Colonel Brown also burned a mill near Johnstown, on the borders of Bates county. His force travelled two hundred and fifty miles in six days.

Colonel Hovey, of the Twenty-fourth Indiana, effected a successful ruse, whereby he succeeded in making a capture of six prisoners and two hundred bushels of corn meal. He was ordered by General Turner to reconnoitre with about a hundred men on the road to Clinton. He left on Monday morning, taking Fairview and Siseonville on his route. Learning on Tuesday that a party of the enemy was encamped at a mill near Chapel Hill, he adopted a scheme for capturing the whole of them next day.

He ordered his men into the wagons, and had them drawn, with the exception of a small guard, resembling a provision train. As they approached Hall’s store the rebels appeared in the brush ready to seize the train. One of his officers rode around a hill to see the whereabouts of the party, when he encountered a mounted rebel, who raised his shot-gun, when he was brought to the ground by a revolver. Colonel Hovey then ordered his men to emerge from their concealment, and a search was made for the enemy. One of them was wounded in the fray, and one killed, two balls lodging in his neck. A few horses and mules were captured, some of which were branded U. S. The mill was afterward burned, and the meal put in Hovey’s wagons.

The total number of prisoners taken exceeded sixteen hundred. The march was accomplished in exceeding cold weather, and many of the troops suffered severely.

BATTLE OF DRANESVILLE, VA.

DECEMBER 20, 1861.

In the month of December, the Pennsylvania reserve regiments, under the command of Major-General McCall, constituted the right wing of the great Potomac army. The division occupied an extensive range of country, beyond Langley’s church and tavern, the encampments stretching toward Lewinsville. Beyond this, north-westwardly, an open country extended, in the direction of Leesburg, some twelve or fifteen miles, unoccupied by hostile forces. Midway was the village of Dranesville, a small town, almost deserted.

It having been determined to send a foraging party to take possession of a quantity of hay, oats and provender known to be in this neighborhood, the brigade of General E. O. C. Ord, the third of McCall’s division, was assigned to the duty.

The force consisted of the Sixth regiment, Colonel W. W. Rickets; Ninth, Colonel C. F. Jackson; Tenth, Colonel John S. McCalmont; Twelfth, Colonel John H. Taggart. The regiment of riflemen known as the Bucktails, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas L. Kane; a battery of two twenty-four-pounders and two twelve-pounders, commanded by Captain Easton, and a detachment of cavalry from Colonel Bayard’s regiment, also accompanied the expedition. Each regiment was strongly represented, and there were about four thousand men in the expedition. The order for march was received on Thursday evening, the men being directed to take with them one day’s rations. The morning was clear, and rather cold, with a slight mist around the sun, and a thin layer of frost whitening the road and coating the grass. The Bucktails were assigned the advance of the infantry column, the cavalry preceding as scouts, and battery being in reserve. Colonel Taggart’s regiment brought up the rear. A number of teams were also in company. Each regiment had two companies of flankers thrown out, on either side of the column, to scour the woods, search the thickets, and prevent the column from falling into an ambuscade. They halted at Difficult Creek, a narrow stream, with a heavy stone bridge. The stream is fordable, the average width being thirty feet.

The march continued. The day became warm, the sky soft and clear, as the soldiers approached Dranesville. About noon the flanking companies of the Twelfth regiment came in and reported that a large body of rebels could be seen from a neighboring hill. At another part of the line shots were exchanged between the hidden enemy and the Union flanking companies. Instantly a line of battle was formed, but no enemy appeared, and the firing ceased.

The delay was that of a few minutes. The Union men were anxious, expectant, and enthusiastic. Suddenly a fire was opened upon our line from a wood or thicket nearly a mile distant. The enemy’s battery contained six guns, and was placed in a road skirting the wood, and sheltered by it. Their guns were of large calibre, and they fired shells. At first they passed over the column and exploded beyond. The rebel artillerymen discovered this, altered their range, and their shells fell short. In the mean time, Easton’s battery was brought into position on the side of an elevation in front of the Twelfth regiment, which was in line of battle. General Ord himself sighted the guns, and a sharp fire was opened upon the enemy.

The Union infantry laid down on their arms, awaiting the orders of their superior officers. At length the fire of the enemy began to be irregular and uncertain, proving that they either intended to retreat or change position. At this time Colonel Kane, who was on the right of the column, discovered the infantry of the enemy passing through an open clearing near the wood, evidently intending a flank movement, or designing to occupy a brick house within a hundred yards of his regiment. He sent a detachment of twenty men, under command of Lieutenant Rice, to take the house, which they did, and, under shelter of its walls, opened fire upon the advancing regiments. Having bestowed the family found in this house safely in the cellar, the small garrison demolished the windows and attacked the enemy, which was afterwards discovered to be an Alabama regiment, under command of Colonel John H. Forney; a Kentucky regiment, commanded by Colonel Tom Taylor; and a South Carolina regiment. They took the shelter of underbrush, and, under the supposition that the house was filled by Union troops, opened a heavy fire upon it, supported by two small guns, which threw shot and shell upon it. They advanced nearer and nearer every volley, the brave Union riflemen firing rapidly and with great effect. Colonel Kane was among them all the time, inspiring them with his example. They fell on the ground, they loaded their pieces, rising suddenly, taking deliberate aim, and lying down to load again. The burden of the enemy’s fire was directed at the house, and it was shattered and pierced, the roof being broken, and some of the walls giving way.

The Federal fire was so terrific that the enemy fell back from the advanced position they had assumed, abandoned their flanking manœuvre, and retreated to the woods under cover of their battery, which kept up an irregular and uncertain fire. The Bucktails advanced in pursuit. As they rose to follow, Colonel Kane, who was leading them, was wounded. He fell, but instantly arose, and continued to advance. In the mean time General Ord ordered the line to charge and take the battery. The order was given to the Twelfth regiment, Colonel John H. Taggart commanding. It was received with a cheer by the men, and they advanced in the direction of the unseen battery. They proceeded to the edge of the wood and entered, keeping the line as straight and precise as on dress parade. The wood was dense, and so impenetrable that the men found it difficult to proceed. Colonel Taggart threw his scabbard away and preceded his men with his drawn sword in one hand and his pistol in the other.

They came into an open clearing, only to find that the rebels had retreated in the most precipitate manner. While the Union troops were crowding through the woods, the enemy had started along the Leesburg road, taking their cannon, but leaving their dead and wounded, and large quantities of arms and ammunition. A single caisson remained. Their magazine had been struck by a shell, and exploded with appalling effect. Around it the dead and dying were heaped in masses—fifteen men and five horses being killed. The Union men were wild with the enthusiasm of victory, and having placed the wounded in the houses near by, and chopped the gun-carriages to splinters, they started in pursuit of the retreating foe.

This was about three o’clock. General McCall, with his staff, had arrived on the ground only to hear of a victory won. Knowing that an advance would be fatal, he ordered a recall, and with the wounded and dead, and the trophies of war, the troops returned from the field.

The brave and victorious band arrived at Langley’s about nine o’clock in the evening, where they were met by thousands of their shouting and exultant comrades.

The rebel troops engaged in this battle were on the same errand. Two hundred wagons had been sent out by General Stuart, their commander, under the care of a foraging party, escorted by the Eleventh Virginia, Colonel Garland; the Sixth South Carolina, under Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. Secrest; the Tenth Alabama, Colonel John H. Forney; the First Kentucky, Colonel Sam. Taylor; the Sumter Flying Artillery, Captain Cutts, and detachments from Ransom’s and Radford’s Cavalry. The rebel troops fought well, and did honor to themselves as soldiers, whose nerve and bravery would have been worthy of triumph in a sacred cause. Their loss was seventy-five killed, one hundred and fifty wounded, and thirty prisoners. Of the Federals, seven were killed and sixty-one wounded.

EXPEDITION TO SHIP ISLAND.

DECEMBER, 1861.

General B. F. Butler, after having been stationed for a short time at Fortress Monroe, was assigned to the North-Eastern Department, and located his headquarters at Boston, where he superintended the organization of the New England troops, and the fitting out of an expedition intended to make a demonstration at some point on the Southern coast. A portion of his troops sailed from Boston on the 23d of November, in the steam transport Constitution, which arrived at Fortress Monroe on the 26th, with the Twenty-sixth Massachusetts, and the Ninth Connecticut regiments, and Captain Manning’s battery—making a total of one thousand nine hundred men. Brigadier-General J. W. Phelps here took the command, and reached Ship Island harbor, in Mississippi Sound, December 3.

On the west end of this island there was a partly-finished fort, occupied by Lieutenant Buchanan and one hundred and seventy sailors and marines, with several ship guns in position. The rebels had evacuated the island in September, destroying what they could not carry away with them.

General Phelps, on assuming the command of Ship Island, published a proclamation “To the loyal citizens of the South-west,” in which he defined the political “motives and principles” by which his command would be governed. He then at the very opening of his address, declared that every slave State admitted into the Union since the adoption of the Constitution, had been admitted in direct violation of that instrument. That every slave State that existed as such at the adoption of the Constitution, was by that act placed under the “highest obligation of honor and morality to abolish slavery.” The rest of the “proclamation” was in harmony with these statements. General Phelps made an official report of his expedition to General Butler, who reported the facts to the Adjutant-General of the United States. General Phelps was commended for the successful manner in which he had performed his military duties, but his proclamation was pronounced superfluous and uncalled for.

The occupancy of Ship Island being secured, the forces remained in undisturbed possession, awaiting the future movements of the commander of the expedition.

ENGAGEMENT AT MOUNT ZION.

DECEMBER 28, 1861.

On the 23d of December, General Prentiss, commanding the army of Northern Missouri, having his headquarters at Palmyra, received orders to disperse a body of the enemy’s forces that had concentrated in Boone County. In pursuance of his instructions he started on the following morning with two hundred of the Third Missouri Cavalry, Colonel John Glover, and five companies of Sharpshooters, under Colonel Birge, and arrived at Sturgeon on the evening of the 26th.

During the following day, having learned that there was a concentration of rebels near the village of Hallsville, in Boone County, General Prentiss sent forward one company of cavalry, commanded by Captain Howland, to reconnoitre in that vicinity. Captain Howland proceeded to Hallsville, but found no rebels. After proceeding about two miles beyond, his advance guard encountered the rebels in force, commanded by Colonel Dorsey. Captain Howland endeavored to draw off his company, having taken nine prisoners, but was overpowered. Being wounded, and having lost his horse, he was taken prisoner, with one private of his company. The remainder of his men made good their retreat, arriving at Sturgeon at nine o’clock, P. M.

Having learned the position of the enemy, General Prentiss ordered his command, numbering in all four hundred and seventy, to march at two o’clock, A. M., at which hour he started, and after marching a distance of sixteen miles, at eight o’clock A. M. of the 28th inst. found one company of rebels, commanded by Captain Johnson, in position to the left of the road leading from Hallsville to Mount Zion. General Prentiss ordered two companies of sharpshooters to pass to the rear of the enemy, and one of cavalry to dismount and engage them in the front.

Colonel Glover opened fire, and succeeded in killing five and capturing seven prisoners, from whom was ascertained the number and position of the main force—the enemy being posted at a church, known as Mount Zion, in Boone County, one mile and a half in advance, numbering near nine hundred men. General Prentiss ordered the cavalry under Colonel Glover forward, accompanied by two companies of Birge’s sharpshooters. Colonel Birge, arriving near the encampment, ordered one troop of cavalry to dismount and engage the enemy. The sharpshooters were afterward ordered through a field on the right to skirmish with the enemy’s left, and if possible drive them from the woods.

The firing being heavy, and these three companies proving unable to drive the enemy from his cover, Colonel Glover, with his available force, moved in double-quick to their aid, and for half an hour longer the battle raged and became a hand-to-hand fight. Captain Boyd’s company of sharpshooters were in the midst of the rebel camp. Also, Major Carrick, with Company C of the Cavalry. When Colonel Glover arrived, the enemy retreated, leaving in the Federal hands 90 horses and 105 stand of arms. The battle was brought to a close about 11 A. M.

The reserve of two companies coming into action at the moment the enemy gave way, the victory was complete. After collecting the wounded, the Federals proceeded to care for those of the enemy, placing them in the church, and sent for farmers and friends in the vicinity to render assistance, when they returned to Sturgeon, where they arrived at 9, P. M. The loss in the battle of Mount Zion, and in the engagement of the evening previous, was: Killed, 3; slightly wounded, 46; severely wounded, 17. Rebel loss: Killed, 25; wounded, 150.

ARKANSAS, AND THE INDIANS.

The prominent and active men in the State of Arkansas, and particularly all who held official positions, were allied politically with the South Carolina conspirators, while the majority of the people, in the early stages of the insurrection, were loyal. Hence, the leaders were slow in their movements to carry the State out of the Union; but when the Confederate government had become organized, and transferred to Richmond, and the rebellion had been fully inaugurated by the attack on Fort Sumter, followed by the proclamation of President Lincoln, they deemed that the time had come for the development of their plans. The Governor of the State, Henry M. Rector, on the 22d of April, 1861, directed the seizure by State troops of the United States stores at Napoleon; followed on the 24th by the capture of Fort Smith by the forces under Colonel Borland.

The Legislature being convened at Little Rock, an unconditional ordinance of Secession was passed on the 6th of May, and on the 18th the Confederate Congress at Richmond declared the admission of Arkansas to the Southern Confederacy.

It was the misfortune of the loyal men of the State that they did not number in their ranks any citizens of power and influence, who had energy sufficient to organize the Unionists, and oppose a barrier to the acts of the enemies of the Federal Government. Unarmed and unorganized, while the conspirators were in a state of preparation for any resistance that might be made, protest and opposition were of no avail, and the loyal men of the State were compelled to submit, and endure the persecutions and depredations of the more numerous secessionists.

A great deal of excitement was occasioned during the month of November by the discovery that the Union men of Izard, Fulton, Independent and Searcey counties had secret organizations and societies for mutual protection and co-operation. This accidental disclosure exasperated the conspirators, who adopted the most violent measures to disperse the Unionists, and break up their associations. Many were taken to Little Rock and hanged, while others were arrested in the woods, attempting to escape beyond the State, and shared the same fate. Large numbers of refugees, however, succeeded in reaching Missouri, where they remained, and subsequently, under Captain Ware, a member of the Arkansas Legislature, organized as a military body at Rolla, Missouri, and entered the service under General Curtis, receiving large accessions on the marching of Curtis’ expedition into the State.

Impressed with the importance of securing the services of the Indian tribes within the limits of Arkansas, as well as the adjoining territory, the agents of the Richmond government were instructed to negotiate with the Cherokees and Creeks on the borders of Arkansas, promising the payment of the United States annuities by the Confederacy in case of their allegiance. On the 24th of August an agreement was entered into by some of the Cherokee chiefs, and the two tribes raised 2,000 men for the war. The nations were divided on the question, the most intelligent being convinced that loyalty to the Federal Government was their true policy not less than their duty. The Choctaws, Chickasaws, and other tribes were treated in a similar manner, and with the same results—secession having the effect of dividing the Red Men of the forest as it had divided the pale faces of the east.

From authentic sources it was learned from the Seminole agency that Opothleyoholo, a loyal chief, had collected together four or five thousand Indians, and about thirteen hundred negroes, who had gone to him with the hope of being rendered free. When General Cooper (rebel,) at the head of the Creek, Choctaw and Chickasaw regiments, with other Indians, amounting to near five thousand, advanced upon Opothleyoholo’s camp, his followers fled, leaving all behind. Opothleyoholo left with a few adherents for the south-west. Most of his followers were reported to be with Colonel Cooper, who was said to have a very large Indian force with him.

BOMBARDMENT AT FORT PICKENS.

On the 1st of January, 1862, Fort Pickens with the rebel forts and batteries on the Bay of Pensacola again awoke the thunders of their heavy artillery, whose tremendous explosions reverberated for thirty miles along the Florida coast.

The loyal garrison at the fort had been long chafing under the restraints of continued inaction. The commander, Colonel Harvey Brown, Fifth United States Artillery, had been anxiously awaiting the time when a sufficient force would be at his command to drive the unwelcome foe from his position near the fort.

Lieutenant Adam J. Slemmer, of Pennsylvania, of the First United States Artillery, the former brave commander, who saved the fort by his courage and loyalty, on the 12th of January, 1861, had been relieved, on account of ill-health. He received a Major’s commission in the Sixteenth United States Infantry, May 14th, 1861.

On the first day of the year a small steamer was seen from Fort Pickens making her way toward the Navy Yard. She was a saucy, defiant looking craft, and some one on board waved a secession flag ostentatiously in sight, as if challenging a fire. This was an exasperating insult to the restive men shut up in the fort. Colonel Brown had frequently warned General Bragg against forcing the presence of these insolent steamers upon him, and when this presumptuous little craft approached Fort Pickens, with its flag in commotion, he opened fire upon her. She drew in her flag and retreated instantly with a crestfallen, retrograde movement, in amusing contrast with her first approach.

The fire from Fort Pickens was directly answered by all the rebel batteries, and in a brief time the engagement became general. The firing on both sides was kept up through the entire day, and at night Pickens maintained a slow fire from her thirteen-inch mortars, which was promptly returned by the rebels.

About midnight a conflagration broke out in the Navy Yard. It flamed up furiously, consuming the buildings of the Yard, and spreading to the town of Woolsey, adjoining the Navy Yard on the north, where it raged all night.

The scene during the night was wonderfully magnificent. Every shell could be tracked in its course through the air from the moment it left the gun until it exploded, scattering destruction all around. These shells, rising up against a cloud of surging flame, which sent its red light in a continued glare landward and seaward, formed an appalling spectacle. The minutest outline of the grim fort seemed sketched on a back-ground of fire, rendering the light which Colonel Brown hung out from its walls, in scornful bravado, offering a sure mark to the enemy, scarcely more than one of the ten thousand sparks that filled the atmosphere with gleams of gold. Far off over the beautiful land the light of that conflagration spread, filling the inhabitants with alarm; and so brightly did it flame over the ocean, that the United States steamer Mercedita floated in the glow of its ruddy light when over twenty miles at sea.

Through the heat of this conflagration the guns kept up their slow booming thunder, adding to the sublime interest of the scene. The firing on both sides was remarkable for its extreme accuracy. Shells in countless numbers fell inside of Fort Pickens, and were returned with double vigor by its guns.

All the batteries were engaged, and did their work admirably. Fort McRae, which had been so roughly handled by the Federal squadron at the last engagement, resumed its accustomed vigor, and Battery Scott kept up a constant fire throughout the engagement.

Several ships of the squadron were present, but took no part in the fight. It was well they did not, for nothing could have been gained, and probably much would have been lost had they attempted to oppose their wooden sides to stone walls and earthworks.

The bombardment was the old story of fort against fort, at a distance too great for any decisive result. The Unionists gained nothing, yet expended a large amount of powder, shot and shell, and the enemy had no greater advantage. Apart from the burning of Warrington, the Navy Yard and Woolsey, no injury worth speaking of was sustained. The next day Fort Pickens stood out against the sky grim and strong as it was before the bombardment. There were but few if any casualties worth recording during this affair. Even Colonel Brown’s lantern, hung out to guide the rebel shot, failed to invite any real injury; and except that it left a wide field of devastation behind, the bombardment of Fort Pickens had few important results.

ROUT OF GENERAL MARSHALL AT PAINTSVILLE, KY.

JANUARY 7, 1862.

On the 7th of January, Colonel Garfield, who had his encampment on Muddy Creek, in Eastern Kentucky, marched to attack the rebel General Marshall, who with a large force of men and a battery of four pieces, was known to have an entrenched camp at Paintsville, the capital of Johnson county. Colonel Garfield’s command, composed of the Forty-second Ohio, the Fourteenth Kentucky, and Major McLaughlin’s squadron of Ohio cavalry, making an effective force of about fifteen hundred men, broke up their camp on Muddy Creek, and moved toward Paintsville. While on the march they were reinforced by a battalion of the First Virginia cavalry, under Colonel Bolles, and by three hundred of the Twenty-second Kentucky, raising the force to about twenty-two hundred men. The enemy, under Humphrey Marshall, numbering three thousand five hundred men, and having a battery of four pieces, learned of the approach, and also that of the Fortieth Ohio and of four hundred of Colonel Wolford’s cavalry by the way of Mount Sterling and the valley of the Paint Creek. They had, two days previously, after burning large quantities of grain, broken up their intrenched camp, and effected a retreat to the heights on Middle Creek, two miles distant from Prestonburg. They had left a corps of observation at the mouth of Jennie Creek, three miles west from Paintsville, of three hundred cavalry, and a large force of infantry about seven miles up Jennie Creek, to protect and facilitate the passage of their trains.

Immediately on arriving Colonel Garfield, learning the position of this cavalry, but unaware of the whereabouts of the other divisions of the rebel force, immediately commenced the erection of a pontoon or floating bridge across the Paint Lick Creek, at Paintsville. At four P. M. he crossed with eight companies of the Forty-second Ohio, and two companies of the Fourteenth Kentucky, with a view of making an armed reconnoissance, and if possible of cutting off and capturing the cavalry. At two P. M. he had dispatched Colonel Bolles’ cavalry and one company of the Forty-second, under the command of Captain S. M. Barber, with orders to give a good account of the cavalry. But later in the day, on learning the possibility of cutting them off, he had sent orders to Colonel Bolles not to attack them until he had obtained time to get in their rear. Not receiving the last orders, and indeed before they were issued, Colonel Bolles, in obedience to his first directions, crossed the Paint by fording, and vigorously assaulting the enemy, soon put them to flight up the valley of Jennie. In their haste, followed as they were by the cavalry, they strewed the road with their equipments, while here and there a dead or wounded soldier gave proof that they were losing men also. The pursuit was kept up for seven miles, right into the infantry division which was guarding the train. Stationed on either side of the road, that did not permit more than two to ride abreast, it opened a heavy cross-fire on the Union cavalry, compelling them to fall back, and finally to retreat, which they did in good order, having inflicted a loss of twenty-five in killed and wounded, according to rebel account, and losing but two killed and one wounded. Fifteen rebels were taken prisoners. Meanwhile Colonel Garfield, with his command, having remained a short time to fully explore the enemy’s deserted fortifications, (consisting of lunettes, breastworks, rifle-pits and a fort situated on the top of a conical hill,) and wholly unaware of what had taken place, pressed forward to the hoped for consummation of the march. But few miles had been traversed, however, when the evidences of a hasty retreat became so apparent that all were convinced that the enemy had flown. The object of the march having been thus thwarted, an early return to Paintsville became desirable, and it was accomplished at the dawn.

BATTLE OF MIDDLE CREEK, KY.

JANUARY 10, 1862.

Having recruited his men by a night’s rest at Paintsville, Colonel Garfield was preparing to start in immediate pursuit on the morning of the 8th, but receiving information of the superior force of the enemy, he awaited the arrival of the Fortieth Ohio regiment, and Wolford’s Kentucky cavalry, by way of Mount Sterling. These troops joined him on that day, raising his effective force to about two thousand four hundred men, after deducting Colonel Bolle’s Virginia cavalry, which, in obedience to orders, had returned to Guyandotte in that State. On the 9th, Colonel Garfield detailed from the Forty-second and Fortieth Ohio, and Fourteenth Kentucky each three hundred men, and from the Twenty-second Kentucky two hundred men, and taking the immediate command, supported, however, by Colonel Craner of the Fortieth, and Major Burke of the Fourteenth. After detaching Colonel Wolford’s and Major McLaughlin’s cavalry up Jennie’s Creek, he marched up the river road leading to Prestonburg. Early on the morning of the 10th, Colonel Sheldon of the Forty-second Ohio, in command at the camp, received a dispatch from Colonel Garfield, stating that he had found the enemy, and asking reinforcements. In compliance with the order, at six A. M. on the tenth, Colonel Sheldon marched with eight hundred men, who eagerly pressed forward on their way to the scene of action. As Colonel Garfield had stated, he had found the enemy two miles from Prestonburg, on Middle Creek, in a chosen position among the hills, with between four and five thousand men and four pieces of artillery. The Fifth Virginia regiment, Colonel Trigg, Colonel John S. Williams’ Kentucky regiment, Colonel Moore’s Kentucky regiment, Markham and Wicher’s cavalry, and the Fourth Virginia infantry, lay in full strength on the hills at the forks of the creek, while their battery seemed to forbid all approach. Nothing deterred by the formidable position and number of the enemy, Colonel Garfield, not fully aware of their exact locality, sent skirmishers forward with a view of drawing the enemy’s fire, and thus ascertaining his whereabouts. Not succeeding in this, about noon he sent forward his escort of cavalry, some twenty strong, in a headlong charge. This accomplished the object, for the enemy, thinking the whole Union force upon them, opened with musketry, shot and shell upon the cavalry, and a small party of the skirmishers under Adjutant Olds of the Forty-second, then in a cornfield immediately in front of the position of Colonel Williams’ Kentucky regiment, and flanked on the left by the artillery and Trigg’s Virginia regiment. The cavalry made a hasty retreat, and the enemy concentrated their whole fire on Adjutant Olds and his party, but without effect. After replying with some fifteen rounds of musketry, and observing a large force thrown out on his right, with intent to cut him off, he fell back upon the main body. The position of the enemy thus disclosed was as follows: Colonel Williams’ regiment was behind a ridge at the head of the gorge, and on the right of the road, so that his fire commanded the gorge and road for a half-mile. Colonel Trigg’s regiment, the Fourth Virginia, was on the crest of the crescent-shaped hill on the left of the road, commanding it by their flanking fire. The artillery was between the two at the forks of the creek and the turn in the road and gorge. The evident design of the enemy was to draw the Unionists up the road in front of their cannon and between the cross-fire of the three regiments, but this well-formed plan failed in its execution, as in their impotence or nervousness they neglected to reserve their fire for the approach of the main body. The remainder of their force were in the rear of their cannon, in a strong supporting position. Occupying Graveyard Point, the end of a high ridge on the right of the creek north of his main body, Colonel Garfield dispatched a hundred men across the creek to ascend the horn of the crescent farthest up the gorge. The ascent was most difficult, the men being compelled to creep on their hands and knees most of the way. On attaining the summit, they were greeted with the whole fire of Trigg’s regiment, stationed at the base, and deployed along the other horn; also by a fire from the artillery and the reserve in the rear. On the top of the ridge, and at points nearly equi-distant from each other, were three piles of stone, the possession of which was eagerly sought for by the contending parties.

The small band on the summit of the ridge were now reinforced by two hundred men, and assisted by the reserve at Graveyard Point, who poured a galling fire on the deployed right flank of the enemy, they soon drove him from the first stone pile, and took possession of it.

A force of two hundred men was then thrown out by Colonel Garfield for the ascent of the lower horn of the crescent. These soon reached the summit, where being reinforced by Colonel Craner of the Fortieth with three hundred men, they captured the third stone pile, while the rebels were thus confined to the second or central one. The fire was now exceedingly heavy. Both parties betook themselves to the shelter of the rocks and trees, and the battle raged furiously, the shots tearing through the branches and surging up the defiles of the mountains in a wild tumult of sounds.

About half-past four a burst of loud cheering heralded in reinforcements for the Union troops. A detachment of brave soldiers came in simultaneously with the shouts that welcomed them, panting, and almost breathless from the fatigue of a long march; for fifteen miles they had struggled through the mud of a broken road without breakfast, and at a tiresome pace. Excited by the sound of the conflict, they had marched the last two miles on the double-quick, and came in bathed with perspiration, bespattered with mud, and half the men carrying their coats on their arms.

Though fatigued with the forced march, and faint with hunger, these noble fellows demanded only to be led at once into battle. After a short rest, they were thrown across the creek to ascend the right horn of the crescent, but were finally ordered back, as it had now become too dark to advance with safety, and the storm of battle, by mutual consent, ceased. Resting upon their arms, determined to renew the battle in the morning, the Union troops spent the night; but when morning dawned, the enemy, it was found, had vanished. Under cover of the darkness he had burned his heavy baggage and retreated. He left twenty-seven dead on the field, and it is definitely ascertained had some one hundred and twenty-five wounded, of whom forty-two subsequently died. The Federals lost two killed and twenty-five wounded.

The Richmond papers claimed a brilliant Confederate victory on this occasion, estimating the Federal forces at 8,000 men, and their loss at 400 killed and wounded.

BATTLE OF SILVER CREEK, MO.

JANUARY 8, 1862.

It was the misfortune of Missouri, more than any other State, to be a battle-ground for the guerrilla forces of the rebels, and for the skirmishing engagements of the war. These minor battles, while they had but little effect on the great result, inflicted untold horrors on the people dwelling there.

At the opening of the year 1862, General Pope had command of the North-western District of the State, with his headquarters at Otterville, Cooper county.

Having heard that the enemy was busily engaged in recruiting men in Roanoke and adjoining counties, Major W. M. G. Torrence of the First Iowa Cavalry was ordered to concentrate and take command of several small bodies of Federal troops, then guarding important points in the district, and to break up the rebel encampments.

From Booneville, Major Torrence proceeded to Fayette, Howard county, and for several days was actively engaged in scouring the country and endeavoring to ascertain the position and strength of the rebel forces. He found that Colonel Poindexter was recruiting in various places in the county, and that he was encamped with his principal force, of from five to seven hundred men, on Silver Creek, and had other camps to reinforce him when ready to move, to the number of from twelve to fifteen hundred men.

They further reported that he had pledged himself to his men that he would _clean out_ the Federals in the county of Howard in a very few days. Night after night was selected to surprise the Union camp with his whole force, but through some mishap they never appeared. On the morning of January 8th, all was in motion in the Federal camp, under orders from Major Torrence to hold themselves in readiness to move with all their able-bodied men at an early hour. They took up their line of march for Roanoke, and, after moving a few miles, were joined by Major Hubbard’s command. The forces now comprised a portion of Merrill’s horse, under Major Hunt, one company of the Fourth Ohio, under Captain Foster, a part of the Missouri First, under Major Hubbard, and four companies of the First Iowa, under Major Torrence. After passing the town of Roanoke, the whole column moved rapidly about five miles, and halted to have position and duties assigned to the several commands. Learning that the enemy were in a strong position on the Creek, where it probably would be impossible to charge them with mounted men, it was determined to dismount and fight as infantry.

Captain Foster was assigned the advance, followed by Merrill’s Horse and the Missouri First, all armed with carbines. The First Iowa were to make a descent upon the camp with drawn sabers, and if impossible to make a charge mounted, they were to dismount and move on foot. Lieutenant Dustin, of the First Iowa, with ten men, formed the advance guard. All being in readiness, they moved forward very rapidly, and followed the tortuous windings of a road leading through narrow lanes and thick timber, till the sharp crack of a rifle warned them that they were upon the rebel pickets. This was the signal to rush forward, which was done. On, on they pushed, through underbrush and defiles, till the advanced guard rushed to the entrance of their camp, and found the enemy drawn up in line of battle. It was now found that the thick timber and underbrush forbade a charge upon the camp. The order to dismount passed along the lines, and a column of armed infantry emerged from the lines on the roadside, ready for the onset. The battle now commenced in earnest, and volley after volley of musketry told that the work of death had begun.

The enemy rushed from their line of battle, after their second volley, into the intrenchment formed by the creek, and behind trees, logs, etc., opened fire upon the Union lines, which was promptly answered by their forces, armed with carbines, by a continued fire. Major Torrence now ordered his men forward with revolver and sabre, to make a charge on the camp; and with a yell running wildly along their lines they advanced, in the face of the enemy’s fire, and rushed into their camp. So great was the eagerness to move forward, that three companies claimed the honor of being first in camp.

The enemy now gave way tumultuously, and ran from their camp, leaving guns, horses, camp equipage, powder, and a large quantity of new clothing for men in Price’s army. It was a complete rout, as the appearance of the camp fully attested. It was now nearly dark, with a heavy fog, and fearing that the enemy had only retired as a ruse to rally and come to the attack again, the order was given to destroy the whole camp and equipage. The work of destruction was soon complete—wagons, saddles, tents, blankets, clothing, etc., were gathered up, flung on the fires, and soon became one heap of burning ruins. The Federals now looked up their dead and wounded, and cared for them. The enemy’s dead lay in all portions of the camp, and the groans of their dying mingled with the exultant shouts of the victors. It was a fearful struggle, as the soldiers all knew that they never could retreat, and it was victory or death to them. The cool courage and gallant bearing of the officers in command, were worthy of Americans.

The loss of the enemy was 12 killed, 22 wounded and 15 prisoners. That of the Federals 3 killed and 10 wounded.

BATTLE OF MILL SPRING, AT LOGAN’S CROSS-ROADS, KY.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 1862.

This battle was the first of the series of splendid triumphs that occurred early in the year 1862, which resulted in severe losses to the rebel armies of the West, both in men and material. It was the first breach in their well-planned line of defence, by which the right wing of the Confederate army of the West was broken, and their great stronghold at Bowling Green, the centre of their operations, laid open to the advancing army of the Union.

After the discomfiture of Zollicoffer in his attack on the camp of General Schoepf, at Camp Wildcat, on the 21st of October, he left two regiments to defend the post at Cumberland Gap, and occupied a position on the Cumberland river, opposite Mill Spring, at the mouth of White Oak Creek. Here he was engaged in fortifying this most advantageous natural position, and in recruiting and organizing an army, which was now formidable in numbers, and whose frequent forays had rendered his name a terror to the loyal inhabitants of that region.

The rebel stronghold was familiarly known among the inhabitants as “Zollicoffer’s Den.” It was situated on the north bank of the Cumberland, where it is intersected by White Oak Creek. The country for two miles from the river is entirely clear, and broken into hills of imposing altitude. Six of these hills, forming a picturesque range, commanded each other and the entire approach to the camp for miles around. On these hills Zollicoffer had raised breastworks and redoubts. The south side of the river, commanding the entire camp, was also well fortified.

On the 6th of January the rebel Major-General George B. Crittenden, commanding the division to which Zollicoffer’s brigade was attached, arrived at Mill Spring, and established his headquarters. He brought to his position three Tennessee and one Mississippi regiment, and was afterwards reinforced by three regiments from Bowling Green, and still more recently by some fifteen hundred Virginia troops from Knoxville. This gave him, all told, over ten thousand men. A very effective portion of his force was a body of cavalry, from two thousand to three thousand strong, in which he was superior to General Thomas, but which was of no service to him in the engagement.

General Buell, the Federal commander in Kentucky, having now at his disposal a competent army to commence offensive operations, ordered General Thomas to advance with his division against General Crittenden’s position at Mill Spring. With two brigades under his command General Thomas broke up camp near Lebanon and marched, by way of Columbia, toward the rebel stronghold. On Thursday, the 16th of January, the Ninth Ohio (German), Colonel McCook, brother of the General in command at Mumfordsville, the Second Minnesota, Colonel Van Clear; Tenth Indiana, Colonel Manson; Fourth Kentucky, Colonel (formerly Judge) Fry of Danville, and Colonel Wolford’s Kentucky Cavalry, and one battery, with General Thomas and staff, arrived after a most fatiguing march of many days. They came in incessant rain, over horrid roads, via Jamestown, at a point about eight miles south-west of Somerset, on the road leading to Hart’s Ford, and the rebel intrenchments, and pitched their tents near a fork of country roads, upon what is known all through that section as “Logan’s place,” a very extensive plantation of several thousand acres. On Friday, the Fourteenth Ohio, Colonel Stedman, and the Tenth Kentucky, Colonel Harlan, three detached companies of the First regiment of Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, and an Ohio battery, reached within eight miles north-west of the position of General Thomas. After undergoing indescribable hardships in making their way on a direct line, through the wild, rugged, heavily-timbered, and almost untravelled country intervening between that point and Columbia—(they had to construct a road as they went)—they encamped there.

General Schoepf’s command was stationed at the time the above seven and a half regiments arrived at a short distance south-west of Somerset. It comprised the Seventeenth, Thirty-first, Thirty-fifth and Thirty-eighth Ohio, the Twelfth Kentucky, Colonel Haskins, the First and Second Tennessee regiments, some companies of cavalry, and two batteries. On Saturday morning, in accordance with orders received the previous evening, that part of General Schoepf’s command constituting General Carter’s brigade, consisting of the Twelfth Kentucky, the First and Second Tennessee, and Captain W. E. Standart’s battery, left their camps, with twenty-four hours’ rations, and proceeded five miles on the Columbia road to Fishing Creek, where they halted, awaiting further orders. At five o’clock they were ordered to join General Thomas’ main body at Logan’s Place. In crossing the swollen creek the water reached to the waists of the men. Owing to the wretched condition of the road, they did not reach their point of destination until midnight.