and carried off by four men. The safety of the living precluded the idea of removing the dead. And thus the gallant little band quitted the scene of their glory, and scampered off, each one as best he could, toward the woods. The retreat was covered by a small detachment who remained in the fort for an hour after their comrades left. Among those who remained were Capt. Harms, with six men; Lieut. Milchers, with four men; and Lieut. Bischoff, with four men. These worked three guns until about two o'clock, when they also quitted the post.

The abandonment of Fort Beauregard was equally a necessity. The garrison were exhausted, and in momentary danger of being cut off. When Colonel Dunovant ordered a retreat, tears of mortification and indignation filled the eyes of Capt. Elliott at the sad necessity. The retreat was admirably conducted, and rendered entirely successful by the prudent energy of Capt. Hanckel, one of Gen. Ripley's aids, who had got together some twelve flats at Station Creek, by which the troops passed safely over to St. Helena Island From there they passed to Beaufort Island, and reached the train at Pocotaligo without the loss or injury of a man. In this fort none were killed, and but five were wounded, and two of these were wounded by negligence in loading a cannon, by which hot shot was driven on the powder without the wet wad preceding it.

The rest of the story is briefly told. Late on Thursday night the garrison of Fort Walker had collected at the landing, in the hope of being able to reach Bluffton by water. Luckily, several small Confederate steamers were within hail. But here a ludicrous mistake occurred. The retreating troops imagined the little steamers to be Yankee gunboats; while the crews of the steamers were convinced that the troops were a body of disembarked Yankees. Acting upon this double delusion, a deal of mutual reconnoitring was made, and it was only after a vast variety of strategic approaches that they reached the conclusion that it was "all right." A quick trip to Bluffton followed. Thence the regiment marched to Hardeeville, seventeen miles distant. The road along which they dragged their exhausted frames was filled with a heterogeneous throng of fugitives of all conditions, carriages, carts, and conveyances of every description that could, by any possibility, be pressed into service. The spectacle was a sad

one.

Thus ended the defence of Port Royal. The mortification of the disaster is lessened by the consciousness that our troops deserved success. What injury we did to the enemy we do not know. Our firing was, of course, less efficient than theirs. Our troops were volunteerstheirs were picked artillerists; yet, it is very remarkable how few were killed or wounded among our troops. This battle, in this respect, was very much like the battle of Fort Sumter. How so many cannon could have been dismounted and rendered useless, and yet so few

of those who worked them injured, seems very marvellous. Our troops did their duty faithfully and bravely, and fought until to fight longer would have been sheer folly. Though encountering immense odds, no signs of cowardice marked their conduct. Officers and soldiers exemplified the ancient character of the State, and deserve our profound gratitude and admiration.

Doc. 37.

THE BURNING OF THE DRY DOCK,

AT PENSACOLA, FLA., SEPT. 2, 1861. A CORRESPONDENT writing from Fort Pickens September 14, gives the following account of the affair: Several months since, the rebels removed the dry dock, lying at the Warrenton Navy Yard, out into the channel and sunk it, the object being to intercept the passage of vessels into the bay in case of an engagement. Not content with the disposition thus made of it, a plan was formed to pump out the water, raise and float it further down to a position opposite Fort McRea, where the channel is very narrow, and where, if sunk, it would effectually bar the passage inward of any vessel of size.

On the night of the 31st of August, Colonel Brown got an inkling of the design on foot, from the unusual stir at the Navy Yard, the frequent passage of boats to and from the shore, conveying, what afterward proved to be fuel for the furnaces, to the dock, &c. His plans to defeat the accomplishment of the purpose which the enemy had in view were quickly formed. Selecting one of his most trusty officers, Lieut. Shipley, he gave him orders to hold himself in readiness with a crew of picked men, to man a boat the following night, cautiously to approach the dry dock, land upon and set fire to it, then retreat as speedily as possible for the fort.

Colonel Brown, in the mean time, made every preparation for a general engagement. He could not believe that the enemy would allow a handful of men to approach so near his batteries, burn the dock, and find their way unmolested back to the fort, and he had fully determined, if the retreating boat was fired upon, at once to open with all his guns upon the Navy Yard and the adjoining batteries, which, we all trusted, would lead to a general engagement.

All the next day (Sunday) was employed in making preparations. At the fort bomb-shells were filled and placed convenient to the mortars, the furnaces were filled with fuel, ready to be ignited at a moment's warning, for the purpose of heating cannon balls, and the officers and men were all detailed to their respective positions at the guns.

In our camp there was an unusual degree of excitement. Although we could not expect to take a very active part while the bombardment lasted, yet we longed for the fray to commence.

As there were several guns upon the opposite shore pointing directly toward our camp, every

thing was placed in a state of readiness so that a removal could be made at a moment's notice, and now we waited expectantly for the coming darkness.

Night came, cloudless; the heavens, lit up by hosts of stars, looked beautiful beyond description. The opposite shore was plainly visible, and the enterprise seemed too hazardous, as in the planning of it, a darker night had been looked for. Upon consultation it was thought best to wait till the following night.

All day Monday a strong breeze blew from off the Gulf; rain was expected but none fell. Night came and the sky was cloudy.

A few minutes after "tattoo," (nine o'clock,) Lieutenant Shipley left the beach in front of the fort in a boat with eleven picked men, rowing noiselessly for the dry dock.

The boat reached the dock without being challenged, was made fast, when the men sprang up prepared to encounter and overcome the sentries, who had often been seen stationed upon it at night; none were found, however, and they proceeded to accomplish their work. Combustible material of various kinds had been prepared and brought along, together with three large columbiad shells. These were placed in the boilers. The combustibles properly arranged, word was given for the men to go aboard the boat, Lieutenant Shipley remaining to apply the match, which done, he quickly followed in their wake. Scarcely had a distance of twenty yards from the doomed structure been gained by the gallant little band when the flames burst forth, followed almost immediately by the explosion of the shells which filled the air with fragments that fell in a perfect shower around the retreating boat, but fortunately injuring none of its crew.

As the first streak of flame mounted upward, the "long roll" sounded at the Navy Yard, the soldiers stationed there turned out in haste, the engineers ran to their guns, and every thing was wild confusion: but not a shot was fired, the boat reached the shore in safety, the crew disembarked and proceeded to the fort to receive the congratulations of their comrades, Meanwhile the whole sky was illumined by the tall spires of flame which shot upward from the burning dock.

All night long the fierce element sped on its work of destruction, and when morning dawned a shapeless mass of ruin, floating upon the water, was all that remained of the dry dock, which cost the government upwards of a million and a half of dollars, but which the "mad demon of rebellion" had wrested from its grasp. Who would have thought that the hot-headed Southerners could bear all this tamely? Some immediate act of retaliation was expected, but none followed.

Nearly two weeks went by, and life in camp, which had been slightly swayed from its usual monotonous course by the event just narrated, turned back into the old channel.

The enemy made no demonstrations. Every

thing seemed quiet upon the opposite shore. The columbiad planted upon the dock of the Navy Yard frowned upon our camp, plainly visible, now that the dock yard no longer intercepted the vision.

Doc. 38.

THE SUMTER'S CRUISE.

LETTER FROM CAPTAIN SEMMES.

C. S. STEAMER SUMTER, PUBRIO 2, BELLO,

VENEZUELA, July 26, 1861.

SIR: Having captured a schooner of light draught, which, with her cargo, I estimate to be worth some $25,000, and being denied the privilege of leaving her at this port until she could be adjudicated, I have resolved to despatch her to New Orleans with a prize crew, with the hope that she may be able to elude the vigilance of the blockading squadron, and run into some one of the shoal passes to the westward of the Mississippi-as Barrataria, Berwick's Bay, &c. In great haste I avail myself of this opportunity to send you my first despatch since leaving New Orleans. I can do no more, for want of time, than merely enumerate events.

We ran the blockade of Passe l'Outre (by the Brooklyn) on the 30th of June, the Brooklyn giving us chase.

On the morning of the 3d I doubled Cape Antonio, the western extremity of Cuba, and on the same day captured off the Isle of Pines the American ship Golden Rocket, belonging to parties in Bangor, Maine. She was a fine ship of 600 tons, and worth between $30,000 and $40,000. I boarded her.

On the next day, the 4th, I captured the brigantines Cuba and Machias, both of Maine also. They were laden with sugars. I sent them to Cienfuegos, Cuba.

On the 5th day of July, I captured the brigs Ben. Dunning and Albert Adams, owned in New York and Massachusetts. They were laden with sugar. I sent them to Cienfuegos.

On the next day, the 6th, I captured the barks West Wind and Louisa Kilham, and the brig Naiad, all owned in New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, and laden with sugar. I sent these also to Cienfuegos.

I

On the same day I ran into Cienfuegos myself, reported my capture to the authorities, and asked leave to have them remain until they could be adjudicated. The Government took them in charge until the Home Government should give directions concerning them. coaled ship, and sailed again on the 7th. On the 17th, I arrived at the Island of Cuazuo, without having fallen in with any thing. I coaled again here, and sailed on the 24th. On the morning of the 25th I captured, off Laguayra, the schooner Abby Bradford, which is the vessel by which I send this despatch.

I do not deem it prudent to speak of my future movements, lest my despatch should fall into the hands of the enemy.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. SEMMES.

The following letter from a passenger or sailor on the Sumter gives a sketch of her voyage and summary of its results:

PORTO CABELLO, NEW GRANADA, July 26, 1861.

DEAR ANDY: After nearly one month's sailing around the West India Islands and the Spanish Main, we have at length arrived at this ancient dilapidated city. As you doubtless remember, the Sumter went into commission on Jane 5. Her trial trip took place on the 12th, and she left New Orleans on the 18th for the forts, between which (Forts St. Philip and Jackson) she lay at anchor for eleven days, and ran the blockade on June 30. Before this event occurred, however, I should have mentioned that an unsuccessful attempt was made to run the gauntlet of the hostile fleet; and also that a party from the Sumter landed at the lighthouse at Pass-a-l'Outre and destroyed all the Government property there. As I said before, the Sumter ran the blockade on June 30. The day was a most beautiful one. It reminded me very much of one described in "Lord Tom Noddy's Ride to the Execution -a poem I read a number of years ago:

"Sweetly, sweetly, the morning breaks with roseate streaks,

Like the first faint blush on a maiden's cheeks."

Early on the morning of the 30th-two o'clock-the steamer Empire Parish came alongside of the Sumter, and delivered two hundred barrels of coal, and then dropped down the river to reconnoitre. In a few hours she returned and reported the coast clear. Immediately the Sumter tripped her anchor and got under way; she lay then at the head of the Passes. All was bustle and activity on board. In about one hour we were at the bar of the Mississippi, and very soon after we crossed it the Brooklyn hove in sight, and then the chase began, which lasted for more than three hours -as beautiful a regatta as ever was witnessed. It was a pleasant sight to see the Brooklyn crowding on canvas, and all to no purpose.

It is not surprising that she made such strenuous exertions to capture the Sumter, for she is a beautiful little craft, with her tall, raking masts and long tender spars-in fact, she looked as charming as a belle decked for a ball or a bride arrayed for the marriage ceremony; and it must have been particularly disagreeable to her commander to give up the pursuit. When it was observed that the Brooklyn had given up the chase, Captain Semmes ordered all hands below on deck, and offered three cheers for the Southern Confederacy, and from the quarterdeck to the forecastle, alow and aloft, a shout rent the heavens that would have gladdened the heart of any Southron. The Sumter then

First the fire ascended the mizzenmast and foremast. I have seen many beautiful sights, ran along the deck to the main, and then to the but this burning vessel was the most sublimely grand sight my eyes ever witnessed. On the following day, the once-glorious Fourth of July, more of the same sort; on the 6th, two barks we captured two brigantines; on the 5th, two and a brig-making eight captures, including the one destroyed. As the Sumter had only one hundred and six men in all, after she had put her prize crews on board, her own crew was considerably diminished, so that it was absolutely necessary for her to put into some port in order to dispose of the aforesaid captured

vessels.

Accordingly, the vessel's prow was turned in the direction of Cienfuegos, Island of Cuba, where we arrived on the 6th. Six of the prizes were left at this place in the hands of a prize agent, with Government protections. The 7th, the schooner Cuba, has not, up to this time, been heard from. She may have been recaptured by some Yankee cruiser, or possibly may have been overpowered by her original crew, which was not transferred to the Sumter.

Left Cienfuegos on the 7th, and on the 9th saw the high hills of the Island of Jamaica. On July 16 arrived off St. Anne, Island of Curaçoa; on the following day steamed inside and came to anchor, where we remained for one week. Our intercourse with the citizens of this place was very pleasant, and we left it with regret. On the 25th we captured the schooner Abby Bradford, of Boston, and towed her into Porto Cabello, New Granada. The prize—a valuable one-cannot be disposed of here, nor will the authorities permit any intercourse.

Thus have I attempted to give you an outline of our transactions from the time we left up to the present writing, and I assure you that any thing else but a "masterly inactivity" has characterized our actions. Yours truly,

FRANK DRAKE.

This will be handed you by Mr. William May, who goes as navigator of the prize Abby Bradford, sent in charge of a prize crew to New Orleans, by way of Berwick's Bay.

Doo. 39.

COLONEL JACKSON'S CALL

TO THE YOUNG MEN OF KENTUCKY.

By the authority, and for the service of the Government of the United States, I propose to

organize in Kentucky a regiment of cavalry, to serve three years or during the war, to consist of ten companies, each company to contain not less than eighty-four nor more than one hundred and four rank and file. Volunteers owning good horses can have them appraised, mustered into the service, and paid for by the mustering officer. The captains and lieutenants are to be elected by the companies respectively. Captains of companies will report to me at the Galt House, in Louisville, as soon as practicable. No company must be removed from its point of organization until ordered into camp. Transportation to the point of rendezvous will be furnished. None but active, vigorous men, and men of steady habits, will be received. Capt. Richard W. Johnson, of the regular army, has been detailed to act as lieutenant-colonel. I intend to make this regiment in all respects equal to the best drilled and disciplined corps in the regular army.

I know this call will be patriotically answered. The soil of Kentucky has been wantonly invaded. J. S. JACKSON.

LOUISVILLE, September 6, 1861. We invite attention to the Military Call we publish. No word of ours can lend force to the simple but kindling appeal. It will stir the hearts of the loyal youth of our commonwealth like the soaring notes of a bugle. The magnitude and grandeur of the cause at stake, the exciting and peculiar solemnity of the present juncture in the mighty struggle, the sudden and unprovoked invasion of Kentucky by the Confederate forces, and the capacity and courage, the glorious manhood, and the lofty and spotless honor of the leader who here summons his youthful compatriots to the field, conspire to invest the call with a resistless charm. Young men of Kentucky! read the call, and answer it. Rally under the flag of your country for the protection of your State.

-Louisville Journal, Sept. 7.

Doo. 391.

CAPTURES AT HATTERAS INLET.

OFFICIAL REPORT OF COM. ROWAN.

sorted cargo, consisting of blankets, cloth, iron, steel, brogans, axes, &c., all of which were purchased in New York and Boston, as is shown by bills of lading from different leading houses in those cities.

I send the prize to Philadelphia or New York, at the discretion of the prize-master, Lieutenant Crosby, so that he may be authorized to enter the port most accessible at this stormy period of the year.

I send all the papers found on board the prize, in charge of Lieut. Crosby, to be handed to the proper admiralty officer, also Capt. Ireland and four of the crew. I shall detain for the present two passengers, believed to be supercargoes; also the mate. When this duty is completed, I have to request that Lieut. Crosby may be permitted to return to his important duties at this post, as post captain, under the orders of Gen. Wool. I send Capt. Crosby on board of the prize because he is the important witness of what occurred after we boarded the schooner. This vessel, like the three already captured, stood in under the belief that the forts were still in the hands of the enemy, (the Pawnee, showing no colors, was taken for an English cruiser,) and were not boarded until they were

inside the bar.

We are beginning to see signs of the enemy on the southwestern side of the entrance, where it is believed a picket guard frequents to watch our movements.

I enclose a letter found among the papers of the so-called Susan Jane, which may give the Department some idea of the policy in Nova Scotia.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. ROWAN, Commander U. S. Navy. GIDEON WELLES, Sec. Navy, Washington.

Doc. 40.

SENATOR WHITAKER'S RESOLUTIONS, OFFERED IN THE KENTUCKY SENATE, SEPT. 9, 1861.

Resolved, That Kentucky's peace and neutrality have been wantonly violated, her soil has been invaded, the rights of her citizens have been grossly infringed by the so-called Southern Confederate forces. This has been done without cause; therefore

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, That the Governor be requested to call out the military force of the State to expel and drive out the invaders.

Resolved, That the United States be invoked to give aid and assistance, that protection to invasion which is granted to each one of the States by the 4th section of the 4th article of the Constitution of the United States.

Resolved, That Gen. Robert Anderson be, and he is hereby, requested to enter immediately upon the active discharge of his duties in this