Doc. 165.

CAPTURE OF A SECESSION FLAG, AT MANCHESTER, MO., NOV. 15, 1861. THE following is an account of the capture, as given by the Missouri Republican:

CAMP HERRON MO NINTH REG'T IOWA VOLS., Nov. 18, 1861. The commander of this post, having learned that a certain very fine secession flag that had waved defiantly from a flagstaff in the village of Manchester, twenty miles distant from this place, until the successes of the Union forces caused its supporters to conclude that, for the present, "discretion would be the better part of valor," was still being very carefully preserved, its possessors boasting that they would soon be enabled to rehoist it, determined upon its capture.

On the 15th inst., he directed First Lieutenant H. C. Bull, of Company C, of this regiment, to take charge of the expedition, and to detail fifteen good men for the purpose, which detail the lieutenant made from Company C.

They left camp by the cars at half-past five P. M., landing at Merrimac, three miles from Manchester, proceeding from thence to Manchester on foot, and surrounded the house of 'Squire B., who had been foremost in the secession movement of that strong secession town, and was reported to be in possession of the flag.

The Esquire protested against the imputation, declaring that the flag was not in his possession, and that he knew not of its whereabouts. His lady acknowledged that she had for a time kept it secreted in a box in the garden, but as it was likely to become injured, she took it out, dried it in the sun, when it was taken away by some ladies, who lived a long distance in the country, whose names she refused to give. Finally, after a thorough but fruitless search of the house after the lieutenant had placed her husband under arrest, and he was being started for head-quarters, the lady, probably hoping to save her husband, acknowledged that it was taken by a Mrs. S., who resided a mile and a half in the country, not such a terrible long distance, after all. Her husband was then sent to Merrimac, escorted by four soldiers, and the remainder, conducted by the gallant lieutenant, started to visit the residence of Mrs. S., in search of the flag. The distance to the lady's residence was soon travelled, the house surrounded, and the flag demanded of Mrs. S., who proved to be a very intelligent lady, and was surrounded by a very interesting family. The lady replied to the demand that she would like to see the person that stated that she took the flag from Esquire B's; that as to its whereabouts she had nothing to say; that the lieutenant could search her house, and if he could find any thing that looked like a flag, he was welcome to it. Ac

cordingly, a thorough search was made, in which the lady and her daughter aided, but no flag was to be found. The lady then thanked the officer for the gentlemanly manner in which the search had been conducted, and added that she trusted he was satisfied. He replied he was quite certain that she had the flag, and that it would have been far better for her to have yielded it; but as she did not, as unpleasant as the task was, he should arrest her and take her to head-quarters at Pacific City. Two men were then despatched for a carriage with which to convey the lady to Merrimac, and from thence the lady was informed that she would be sent by railroad. She accordingly made preparations to go, but after about an hour had elapsed in waiting for the carriage, the lady again demanded the name of the informants, and when told that it was Mrs. B., and that Esquire B. was already under arrest, she then asked whether any indignity would have been offered to her had the flag been found in her possession, to which the courteous lieutenant replied, "Certainly not, madam; our object with Esquire B. was his arrest, and the capture of the flag; but with you, our object was the flag."

"Will you pledge your honor," said she, "that if I surrender the flag I shall not be arrested, nor my family disturbed?" When replied to in the affirmative, she added, "I wish you to understand, sir, that no fear of arrest or trouble would ever have made me surrender that flag; but Esquire B.'s family induced me to take that flag to save their family from trouble, saying that it should be a sacred trust, known only to ourselves, and I, consequently, surrender it."

She then went to a bed that had been fruitlessly searched, took from it a quilt, and with the aid of her daughters proceeded to open the edges of the quilt, and cut the stitches through the body of it, and pulled off the top, when behold! there lay the mammoth flag next to the cotton, being carefully stretched twice and nearly a half across the quilt. When taken out and spread, it proved to be a magnificent flag, over twenty one feet in length, and nearly nine feet in width, with fifteen stars to represent the prospective Southern Confederacy.

"Recollect," said the lady to Lieut. Bull, "that you did not find it yourself, and when you wish detectives you had better employ ladies." She also added, that she gave up the flag unwillingly. The daughter remarked that she had slept under it, and that she loved it, and that fifteen stars were not so terribly disunion, in her estimation, after all.

The flag is now in possession of Col. Vandever, who remarked that it excelled any of the rebel flags that he saw at the battle of Bull Run or Manassas. Esquire B. is in custody, awaiting his trial.

R.

Doc. 166.

THE CAPTURE OF THE MABEL.

COMMODORE DUPONT'S REPORT.

THE following official report from Commodore Dupont describes the capture of the British schooner Mabel:

FLAG-SHIP WABASH, PORT ROYAL HARBOR, November 18, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to report that Commander E. M. Yard, of the United States steamer Dale, captured the British schooner Mabel, on the evening of the 15th instant, in lat. 31 deg. 10 min., and lon. 80 deg. 52 min. 30 sec. west, and brought her into this harbor. She purported to be from Havana and bound for New York, but at the time of her capture was heading for St. Catherine's Sound.

Her cargo consists of seven bales blankets, four cases cloth, two cases saddles and bridles, three boxes starch, twenty-five boxes tin, one hundred and twenty boxes coffee, twenty barrels potatoes, three hundred and fifty pigs of lead, thirty bags of shot, one box shoes, six bags arrow root, one case pistols, (revolvers,) and two cases of cavalry swords.

The Mabel was formerly named the John W. Anderson, of Baltimore, as appears by the certificate of registry given at Nassau, N. P., found among his papers. She had no clearance from the port of Havana.

The character of her cargo-part of it contraband-and her position as above given, seem to be strong presumptive evidence of her intention to run the blockade. I have therefore sent her to Philadelphia in charge of Master's Mate Levi Lane, of the United States steamer Dale, and seven men of that ship, for adjudication.

I have the honor to be, sir, respectfully your obedient servant, S. F. DUPONT, Flag-officer Commanding South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

Hon. GIDEON WELLES,

Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

Doc. 167.

EXTORTIONERS AND THE REMEDY.

principles is unnecessary. Desperate measures require desperate remedies, and we hope that the flour will be taken, the men paid a fair market valuation for it, and receive a strong hint to "leave the country for their country's good." Other extortioners, whose names are furnished us, and which we shall probably publish for the scorn and execration of the community, have held the staple articles of provisions until they have risen several hundred per cent., and now the "patriots" are fattening upon what they stole from the families of the soldier. Their names always appear conspicuously in the list of donations, but they "give an inch and | take an ell."

One of two things must be done, and that done immediately. Either the extortions must be put an end.to by legislative enactment, or the people must rise and put an end to the extortioners.

A prominent citizen of Vicksburg has suggested to us that the dealers in all staple articles which have heretofore only required a small profit, be compelled by legislative enactment to submit, under oath, to an officer appointed by the Government, their invoices, with charges, and thirty-three and one-third per cent. allowed, at which price they shall be compelled, under an onerous penalty, to sell their goods. course, there are many articles which would not be profitable to sell at this rate, but we would have the Government to judge what profit should be exacted, and if any of these domestic enemies shall attempt to get more, let him be submitted to heavy fine and imprisonment.

Of

We hope that our citizens will take a decided and energetic stand in this matter. They know as well as we do who are the offending parties, and we hope, within the next twenty-four hours, to hear of a call for a meeting of citizens, exclusive of all provision dealers, to devise means to suppress this evil. All provision dealers should be excluded, as no partiality should be shown, but the whole tribe should be placed under ban until the worse than Yankee marauders in our midst are cast out from among

us.

We have been much flattered by the encomiums of many of our oldest citizens who have called upon us, and who have most cordially approved our leader of yesterday. We propose to state one or two new facts that have recently come to our knowledge, and to propose what we conceive to be a remedy against the Lincolnite extortioners of Vicksburg.

We are informed that large quantities of flour are stored in this city, and that the holders say they will not sell until they can get twenty dollars per barrel. Comment on these fellows'

sap.

Public opinion is fast settling down throughout the South upon the question mooted by the Sun. Some remedy will be devised for the evil complained of so justly.

The Oxford (Miss.) Intelligencer says: It is highly probable that the Legislature will, in a few days, pass a law touching the heartless speculators in salt throughout our State. We would like to see the State seal put upon the door of every salt speculator in the land, and an agent put at every door to sell the article at a fair price. Dealers here are demanding twelve dollars and fifty cents per sack.

He would state a few facts. On the 3d of June he took command at Chambersburg. On the 4th he was informed by the General-in-Chief that he considered the addition to his force of a battery of artillery and some regular infantry indispensable. On the 8th of June, a letter of instructions was sent him, in which he was told that there must be no reverse; a check or a drawn battle would be a victory to the enemy, filling his heart with joy, his ranks with men, and his magazines with voluntary contributions; and, therefore, to take his measures circumspectly, and attempt nothing without a clear prospect of success. This was good instruction and most sensible advice. Good or bad, he was to obey; and he did.

On Friday, the 13th, he was informed that, on the supposition that he would cross the river on the next Monday or Tuesday, Gen McDowell would be instructed to make a demonstration on Manassas Junction. He was surprised at the order, but promptly obeyed. On the 15th he reached Hagerstown, and, on the 16th, twothirds of his forces had crossed the Potomac. The promised demonstration by Gen. McDowell, in the direction of Manassas Junction, was not made; and on the 16th, just three days after he had been told he was expected to cross, he was telegraphed by the General-in-Chief to send him "at once all the regular troops, horse and foot, and the Rhode Island Regiment and Battery," and told that he was strong enough without the regulars, and to keep within limits until he could satisfy him that he ought to go beyond them. On the 17th he was again telegraphed, "We are pressed here. Send the troops I have twice called for, without delay." This was imperative, and the troops were sent, leaving him without a single piece of artillery, and for the time, a single troop of cavalry. It was a gloomy night, but they were all brought over the river again without loss.

On the 20th of June he was asked by the General-in-Chief to propose, without delay, a plan of operations. On the 21st he submitted to the General-in-Chief his plan, which was to abandon the present line of operations, move all supplies to Frederick, occupy Maryland Heights with Major Doubleday's heavy guns, and a brigade of infantry to support them, and with every thing else-horse, foot and artillery -to cross the Potomac at Point of Rocks, and unite with Colonel Stone's force at Leesburg, from which point he could operate as circumstances should demand, and as the General's orders should require. No reply was received; but on the 27th, the General telegraphed him that he supposed he was that day crossing the river in pursuit of the enemy.

and of his own force; that he would not, on his own responsibility, attack without artillery, but would do so cheerfully and promptly, if he would give him an explicit order to that effect. No order was given. On the 29th he received the harness for his single battery of six smoothbore guns, and on the 30th gave the order to cross. On the 2d of July he crossed, met the enemy, and whipped them.

On the 9th of July a council was held, at which all the commanders of divisions and brigades, and chiefs of staff, were present. Col. Stone, the junior line officer, spoke twice and decidedly against an advance, advocating a direct movement to Sheppardstown and Charlestown. All who spoke opposed an advance, and all voted against one. On the same day, he informed the General-in-Chief of the condition of affairs in the valley, and proposed that he should go to Charlestown and occupy Harper's Ferry, and asked to be informed when he would attack Manassas. On the 12th he was directed to go where he had proposed, and informed that Manassas would be attacked on Tuesday, the 16th. On the 13th he was telegraphed: "If not strong enough to beat the enemy early next week, make demonstrations so as to detain him in the valley of Winchester." He made the demonstrations, and on the 16th, the day General Scott said he would attack Manassas, he drove the enemy's pickets into his intrenchments at Winchester, and on the 17th marched to Charleston.

On the 13th he telegraphed the General-inChief that Johnston was in a position to have his strength doubled just as he could reach him, and that he would rather lose the chance of accomplishing something brilliant than by hazarding his column, to destroy the fruits of the campaign by defeat, closing his telegram thus: "If wrong, let me be instructed." But no instructions came. This was eight days before the battle of Manassas. On the 17th, General Scott telegraphed: "McDowell's first day's work has driven the enemy beyond Fairfax Court House. To-morrow the Junction will probably be carried." With this information he was happy. Johnston had been detained the appointed time, and the work of General Patterson's column had been done.

On the 18th, at half-past one in the morning, he telegraphed General Scott the condition of the enemy's force and of his own, referring to his letter of the 16th for full information, and closed the despatch by asking, "Shall I attack?" This was plain English, and could not be misunderstood, but he received no reply. He expected to be attacked where he was, and if Manassas was not to be attacked on that day, as stated in General Scott's despatch of the day previous, he ought to have been ordered down

delayed until he came. He could have been there on the day the battle was fought, and his assistance might have produced a different result.

Doo. 170.

RETREAT OF THE WILD CAT BRIGADE.

A CORRESPONDENT gives the following minute account of this affair:

many wept with vexation and despair. Their officers appealed earnestly to their patriotism, announcing to them that General Thomas had ordered them to countermarch in order to meet the rebels, who were reported moving toward Crab Orchard in strong force to cut them off, and that a retrograde movement was necessary to save the expedition. It was also stated by officers of various regiments, that Zollicoffer was reported marching up from Tennessee with a strong column, to form a junction with Buckner, to penetrate the Blue Grass country. Such were the facts and statements prior to the hour of marching. The subsequent facts will appear in the following diary:

LONDON, KY., Wednesday, November 13. Long before eight o'clock P. M., most of the troops of the Wildcat Brigade, with three days' rations in their haversacks, were prepared to march. The sick who could be removed-and there were many too feeble to walk, yet able to ride were transferred to those wretched instruments of torture to the ill or the healthful

rest.

As that wretched struggle with the elements, over execrable roads, will be remembered by five thousand abused volunteers as long as they retain their faculty of memory, it deserves description.

You will remember that Wednesday afternoon, November 13th, General Schoepf issued an order requiring all the troops to be ready to march at eight o'clock that evening. Commanders of corps were directed to carry with them all their sick, leaving such baggage and stores as could not be transported. Previously there had been rumors of an advance, and when the order to prepare to move was issued to the troops, it was received with exultation. The Tennesseeans were especially delighted, and prepared with alacrity to return to their firesides. It had been currently reported that letters had been received by prominent Tennesseeans, from friends at Louisville and Washington, assuring them that the Cumberland Gap expedition would soon be pushed to an issue. This order, therefore, confirmed the report; and I am told that Hon. Andy Johnson, General Carter, Colonel Byrd, Colonel Spears, and others, were elated at the prospect of an immediate fruition of their hopes. They did not seem to comprehend that the order concerning the sick implied a retrograde movement. But when informed of the fact, they were overwhelmed with sorrow and indignation. Mr. Johnson turned from his informant, and entered his hotel without one word, in utter despair.

army-wagons, some of which were uncovered, thus exposing suffering men to the raw night air. But many poor bed-ridden fellows who were necessarily left, remained confined to the hospitals, a prey to harrowing apprehensions of captivity. Of course surgeons and guards were detailed to minister to their wants and protect them until they should be removed. But how many men were closely packed in ambulances and wagons, I could not learn. Colonel Steedman would not leave any, and had over one hundred stowed away as comfortably as possible. The surgeon of the Twenty-third Indiana, horrified at the order, protested vehemently; but he was informed decisively, the order from head-quarters is that all the sick must be removed, and orders must be obeyed. He still protested that removal would certainly result in the death of some of his patients, and he was told to quarter them with private famnilies at London. But the Thirty-third Indiana brought away one hundred and eighty-nine sick. I did not inquire how many were removed by other regiments, but the number was large. Besides many feeble fellows just discharged from hospital, but yet unfit for duty, shouldered their muskets and donned their heavy knapsacks, preferring the cruelties of a forced march to the hazards of captivity.