us.

DOCUMENTS.

upon the plantation. All the negro cabins were vacant and empty. On their flight they had removed household furniture, poultry, and pigs, It was desolation and every thing movable. itself. The party soon returned, and, as the Pembina was to run into Tybee to get despatches, I again went on board the Ottawa, and the flotilla steamed rapidly toward Port Royal. A short time after dark, while we were between Tybee and Port Royal, a strange steamer was seen ahead. The men were sent to quarters, the guns cast loose, and the ship prepared for action. We ran down toward her, and an officer was despatched in the gig to ascertain her character. While on the way he was met by a boat from the steamer, coming toward An officer stepped aboard and stated it was the Rhode Island, bound from Port Royal to Tybee. Having lost her way, he wished directions. They were given, and we both went on our respective ways. We arrived at our anchorage at nine o'clock, after a most delightful trip of two days. The weather throughout was lovely-perfect June weather-perhaps a trifle too warm in the noonday sun for comfort, but altogether very desirable weather. The sea was smooth and the sail delightful. Of one thing all are now fully convinced, and that is that the new gunboats are the most efficient and serviceable vessels that we have in the navy. Their light draught enables them to penetrate into the waters that lead into the States along the coast, and go anywhere they Unfortunately can be of the least service. they were not put together so well as they might have been, and their engines fall far short of the contract standard. In short, they are not what they ought to be, and what they But with all their failwere contracted to be. ings I wish we had fifteen or twenty more in We could then these waters this very day. accomplish much.

Doc. 225.

SKIRMISH AT DAM No. 4,
POTOMAC RIVER, december 11, 1861.

SHARPSBURG, December 13, 1861.

commenced firing on the house, killing three
and wounding several.

At this time the enemy retreated back to
the woods, and after waiting some time, Capt.
Williams, of Company E, obtained permission
to cross over and reconnoitre; and upon going
near to the house they had been firing at he
observed a company of infantry, who com-
menced firing upon him and his men, consisting
of Corporals H. W. Wescott, R. S. Richards,
privates; James McGuire, Lemuel Hazzard,
Oliver Hubler, T. Robbins, of Company E, and
private Isaac Hall, of Company K. They re-
turned the fire and retreated while loading. In
the mean time, while their attention was direct-
ed to the infantry, some eighty cavalry rushed
in between them and the river, thereby cutting
them off from the assistance of their friends.
As soon as they discovered their position they
returned their fire upon the cavalry, unhorsing
several. In a few minutes they were com-
pletely overpowered and borne off prisoners in
the sight of their friends, as the distance was
too great to reach with the guns and there
being no artillery, all hope of relieving them
for the present disappeared, as it was under-
stood the enemy was two thousand one hundred
strong; one thousand five hundred came from
toward Shepherdstown and six hundred from
Martinsburg, bringing with them fourteen boats
to use in crossing the river.

It was the intention for one part to attract the attention of our troops, and in the mean time the other company were to cross at the lock and come in on the rear, and either capture or drive away our men, and then rush to the Dam and break it, thereby rendering the canal entirely useless. In this they were foiled, and kept at a distance until reinforcements were One messenger was despatched to sent for. Williamsport for artillery, and another sent to this place. But a short time elapsed, when Company B, commanded by Captain Noel, and Company G, commanded by Lieutenant Baldwin, were on their way to meet the enemy, and as the report of the guns were heard in the distance, it gave renewed vigor to those who had already marched to Shepherdstown and returned without a shot at Secesh; and having partaken of a light dinner, were off in another direction, prepared for a heavy conflict with We arrived at those marauders who attack the unprotected portion of our picket lines. Dam 4 just after dark, and it then being too late to see the enemy, and as they had threatened to break the Dam at daylight, our men were set to building breast works and digging rifle pits, which were finished and occupied in time to give them a warm reception; but, as they have done in every skirmish along our lines, they finished their work, and left before the reinforcements arrived.

ON the morning of the 11th instant heavy cannonading was heard in the vicinity of Dam No. 4, and about one o'clock P. M. a messenger arrived in haste for reinforcements, stating that the enemy had attacked the pickets and were endeavoring to demolish the Dam, by cannonading. When the enemy were first seen they appeared to be out on a scouting expedition, and Major Hubler immediately sent twentyfive men to a lock about one mile above the Dam, and so soon as the enemy arrived at that point they commenced firing on our pickets. We remained in our position until about nine They returned the fire, instantly killing four and wounding ten, three mortally. The enemy o'clock A. M., and no one being observed on then fell back to a house about one mile from the other side it was supposed that quite a the river, when the men remaining at the Damnumber had taken refuge in an old church,

when the cannon was placed in position and is known as the old "Greenbank Road" to threw a ball into the building, but no one was attack the enemy on his left-the Ninth Indiana there. About eleven o'clock Lieut. Gallagherunder Col. Moody and Major John B. Milroy ; crossed the river, under cover of our guns, to see if he could learn any thing relative to Capt. Williams and his party, and learned that they were safe, though prisoners, and on their way to Martinsburg. Captain Williams was much beloved by the entire regiment, and his vacancy will be hard to fill, and all that were with him were picked men. That they fought hard for their freedom was plainly seen and sensibly felt, as they killed five and wounded quite a number during their capture.

Second Virginia under Major Owens. At ten o'clock A. M., December 13th, the Thirteenth Indiana, Twenty-fifth and Thirty-second Ohio, and Bracken Cavalry under Major Dobbs, Col. J. A. Jones, Captain Hamilton and Captain Bracken, accompanied by Brigadier General R. H. Milroy, his staff, consisting of Captain S. J. Drumın, A. Q. M., Lieut. J. O. Craven, Aide-deCamp, and Lieut. Aide-de-Camp Isaiah B. McDonald, of Gen. Reynolds' staff. This column took the Staunton pike and moved along very cautiously, meeting with no opposition till within sight of the rebel camp, when one of the advance guard, a young man by the name of Latham, of the Twenty-fifth Ohio, was shot and killed by a rebel picket. After throwing out additional skirmishers, the column proceeded and marched to a point within a half mile of the enemy's camp, where a halt was ordered. Here the column waited only a short time, when they were ordered to march, when the same left the road and commenced to ascend the depart-mountain to the enemy's right. After driving in and capturing some of the rebel pickets, the column reached the top of the mountain to the enemy's right in good order.

There is much credit due Companies E and K for the coolness and decision shown during the time, and every shot fired was expected to tell, and for that reason the enemy fell back, as the officers thought best to leave the Damn rather than lose their men. While they were in consultation one man was struck in the right eye and instantly killed, at a distance of seven hundred yards. During the evening a few cavalry made their appearance at the Lock, when Orderly Brown, of Company K, fired and killed one instantly, and the rest took a hasty ure and have not been seen since.

Doc. 226.

BATTLE OF CAMP ALLEGHANY, VA.,

FOUGHT DECEMBER 13, 1861.

A CORRESPONDENT of the Cincinnati Commercial gives the following particulars of the battle.

CHEAT MOUNTAIN SUMMIT,
December 20, 1861.

On Thursday morning, December 12th, the Union troops under command of Brig.-Gen. R. H. Milroy, took up their march for the enemy's camp, which is situated on the top of the Alleghany Mountains, eight and a half miles beyond the Greenbrier River, or what is better known, Camp Bartow. This Camp Bartow is the Camp at which Gen. Reynolds reconnoitered so effectually October 3d last, and from which the rebels have since fled. This Camp Bartow, is at a point on the Staunton Pike, called "The Traveller's Repose." The Union command, consisting of detachments from the Ninth and Thirteenth Indiana, Twenty-fifth and Thirtysecond Ohio, Second Virginia regiment, and Bracken's Cavalry, numbered in all about two thousand men. The column reached Camp Bartow about eight o'clock P. M., where the same halted and rested.

At this point the column was divided into two divisions-one consisting of the detachments from the Ninth Indiana and Second Virginia regiments, numbering about one thousand strong; the other consisting of the detachments from the Thirteenth Indiana, Twenty-fifth and Thirty-second Ohio regiments, and Bracken Cavalry. At 11 P. M. the Ninth Indiana and Second Virginia took up their march on what

The fight commenced about twenty minutes after daylight. The following, from the report of the fight by Col. Jas. A. Jones, of the Twenty-fifth Ohio regiment, I am permitted to extract. Col. Jones is a cool and brave officer, and saw the whole action on the enemy's right. He says: "After leaving the pike we advanced up the mountain, which was very steep and rocky, for about one mile, to the summit, on the right and rear of the enemy's camp, to await the attack of the Ninth Indiana and Second Virginia, as you directed. But as we approached the top of the hill we discovered the enemy's pickets, who immediately retreated on our approach. I gave the order to pursue them in double-quick, as the enemy would be informed of our advance. One company of the Thirteenth Indiana, being in advance, was conducted by Lieut. McDonald, of Gen. Reynolds' staff, until we arrived at the edge of the woods, in full view of the enemy's camp. Finding them already formed, and advancing with a large force to attack us, Lieut. McDonald halted the company of the Thirteenth Indiana, and ordered it to deploy into line, immediately formed the Twenty-fifth Ohio on his left, and the other two companies of the Thirteenth Indiana on our left, and a detachment of the Thirty-second Ohio formed on their left. The fire was already opened on the right, and was carried through the lines. After a few rounds the enemy retreated in great confusion, with great slaughter, leaving their dead and wounded. They now again rallied, and commenced to advance, returning our fire with great vigor. Some of the men commenced falling to the rear all along the line. Captains Charlesworth and Crowe,

of the Twenty-fifth Ohio, Lieut. McDonald, | and the amount of fallen timber thrown in their Captains Myers and Newland, of the Thirteenth way by the rebels the day previous, their march Indiana, and Captain Hamilton, of the Thirty- was much impeded, so that they did not reach second Ohio, rallied them, and brought them in time to make a simultaneous attack with up into line in a few moments. The enemy fell Gen. Milroy's column on the right. Col. Moody back, and attempted to turn our right flank, but arrived with his force just about the time the was immediately met and repulsed. Our men Twenty-fifth, Thirty-second Ohio, and Thirby this time had become broken, but were again teenth Indiana had retired, hence had to fight rallied by the officers of the different commands, the rebels single-handed, which he, Major Milwho conducted themselves nobly. The enemy roy, of the Ninth, and Major Owens did until again attempted to advance upon us, but shared three o'clock P. M., when they retired in fine the same fate as before, and, after making order, bringing off all their wounded and most several attempts to drive us from the woods, of their dead. Whenever the rebels would deployed to the left to turn our left flank and come out of their works, the Ninth and part of get in our rear. I ordered a portion of the the Second Virginia would drive them back command to advance and attack them, which with great slaughter. This force fought the rebwas done in a gallant manner, the enemy re-els for six hours, killing many men and officers. tiring to their cabins. They soon appeared again, however, and our men finding that they were not receiving the support of the Ninth Indiana and Second Virginia, quite a number commenced retreating, and it was with great difficulty that they were rallied. Some did not return, but disgracefully left the field. The remainder of the command fought like veteran soldiers, and drove the rebels again to their cabins; but they were soon rallied by their officers, and renewed the attack with a large reinforcement, pouring a galling fire into our thinned ranks; yet our men held their position, and returned the fire with great energy and slaughter, the officers of the different detachments urging and cheering them on.

Taking the whole matter as a fight, the Union troops did very well-though their plans were thwarted by the fallen timber on the left of the rebel camp, thereby frustrating a simultaneous attack. The fight has done much good

in the first place it has taught the rebels that our boys are not afraid of them, even three to one. Considering the severity of the battle, and the length of the same, our loss is small when compared with that of the enemy, which cannot be less than two hundred killed, thirtyone prisoners, and a great many wounded. The gallant Union boys feel encouraged by the result. Col. Anderson, Major Rigger, Capt. Mollibon, and many other officers, are acknowledged to be killed, and that Gen. (or Col.) Johnson, commanding, was wounded in the mouth. So you see that the late battle was a good thing on our part-the rebels so regard it.

"Many of the men had left the field with the wounded, and some without cause, which had very much reduced our number, and our ammunition was almost exhausted. Their artillery I here venture to say that there has not been was turned upon us with shot and shell, but a single fight of the war as nobly fought as the without any effect, and the enemy was again late one at Camp Alleghany. The troops which compelled to retire to their cabins, with great attacked the enemy on the right of their camp slaughter, as usual. Our ammunition being ex--the Thirteenth Indiana and Thirty-second hausted, I thought it prudent to fall back to the head-quarters of the Commanding General, which was done in good order."

Ohio, together with over two-thirds of the Twenty-fifth Ohio-fought beyond description; never did old veterans fight more bravely; and had the column on the other side succeeded in making time, one of the grandest victories of the war would have been achieved in a short time. As it is, our boys did well, and are satisfied.

The fight here lasted about three hours. The Union forces engaged at this point were about seven hundred and fifty strong; the rebels about twenty-five hundred, and nine pieces of artillery. The following are the officers who were engaged on the right, all of whom, it is Bracken's Cavalry, though not directly ensaid, behaved well to the last: Colonel Jones, gaged, were on the ground anxious for a "pitch Twenty-fifth Ohio; Captains Charlesworth, in." The gray-haired Captain Bracken is a Crowell, Johnson, and Askew; Lieutenants cautious and watchful man, and has splendid Dirlam, Bowlus, Merriman, Wood, and Haugh- boys. Gen. Milroy, the commander of the exton, of the Twenty-fifth Ohio; Lieut. Aide-de-pedition, was quite energetic, and always in the Camp McDonald, of General Reynolds' staff, lead in the proper place-no braver man lives. Major Dobbs, Adjutant C. H. Ross, Captains Newland, Johnson, Harrington, Clinton, Kirkpatrick, Myers, Smith, Delong, Shields, Bailey, Durbin, Jones, (killed,) and many others, of the Thirteenth Indiana; Captain Hamilton and Lieutenant Brent, of the Thirty-second Ohio. All of these did their duty manfully, and made great slaughter among the rebels.

Owing to the very bad road which the Ninth Indiana and the Second Virginia had to travel,

The following is a list of our killed and wounded, as many friends will look with interest to see the fate of their friends in the battle, to wit:

KILLED, WOUNDED, AND MISSING. TWENTY-FIFTH OHIO REGIMENT.-Killed.-Co. D-Private Charles Latham. Co. E-Corporal Levi S. Stewart; Privates Christopher J. Thayer, Isaac Nyne. Co. F-Private John C. Fuller. Co. G-Private Wm. J. Maher.

Benj. Kenyon, slightly; Frederick Fisher, slightly. Co. K-Sergeant A. W. Huffman; Privates John Nelroman, seriously; John Kath, slightly. Missing.-Co. D-Private William Brown. Co. E-Sergeant Lat. Randolph. Co. F-Privates William Stinson, Jacob Weassan.

Wounded. Co. A-Sergt. Hezekiah Thomas, | Co. E-Sergeants G. L. J. King, slightly; D. J. seriously; Privates J. W. Holland, seriously; Kemp, slightly; J. R. Cole, slightly. Privates C. H. King, seriously; Levi Butler, slightly; John Burns, left on field; Col. Song, slightly; Henry Meek, slightly; Levi Ryan, slightly; George Huid, slightly; Thomas Boyne, slightly; Wm. J. Lockwood, slightly; Samuel Henry, Wm. Shields or Shuly, slightly; M. Honlert, slightly; James McMullins, slightly; Daniel J. slightly; E. Lam, slightly. Co. G-Privates Crooks, slightly; James C. Bolan, slightly. Co. Dennis Spencer, slightly; Elijah Mitchell, slightB-Second Lieut. John D. Merriman, slightly;ly. Co. H-Second Lieutenant William O'Neil, First Sergt. George W. Martin, slightly; Cor- in the thigh; Sergeant William A. Durst, slightporal Charles Beck, left arm fractured; Private ly. Co. I-Corporals H. H. Swindler, slightly; Joseph J. Hopton, slightly. Co. C-Sergeant Wm. Henthorn, supposed mortally; Privates Jonathan Dunn, supposed mortally; W. J. Henthorn, slightly; Elijah Beckett, severely; Isaiah Masters, slightly. Co. D-First Lieut. Derius Dirlam, slightly; Sergeant Hiram A. Ward, supposed mortally; Privates Wm. Jones, NINTH INDIANA REGIMENT.-Killed.-Co. Asupposed mortally; Jonathan Ward, severely; Privates Daniel S. Souders, Jackson Kilmer. William White, slightly; Daniel S. Coe, severe- Co. E-Sergeant Thomas R. McKay. Co. Fly; R. B. Compton, slightly. Co. E-Privates Private Walter H. Pangborn. Co. G-Privates John E. Rearich, severely in leg; Richard D. Joseph Gordon, Perry Knowles, Charles Wilson. Phelps, severely, in thigh; August Fruh, Co. H-Corporal Benjamin F. Huntington. slightly, on the head. Co. F-Corporal En- Wounded. Co. A-Capt. Thomas Madden, ville A. Hasson, slightly, in elbow; Privates seriously. Co. B-Privates Stephen Wilcox, Thomas Jones, severely, in thigh-fractured; Sweet. Co. C-Private Erastus SanAsa Meredith, severely, in shoulder; George ders. Co, D-Private Moris E. Richards. Co. Alter, slightly, in elbow; John McKinly, slight- E-Capt. James R. Sherwood; Private Charles ly, in hand; Hugh Wilson, slightly-toe shot H. Allen. Co. I-Privates Christian Bliss, Leoff. Co. G-Privates George Haney, supposed visone Packard, William Hackerthorn. Co. Kmortally; Michael Harris, slightly, in neck; Sergeant Frank M. Rust; Private David WidJohn D. Fisher, slightly, on top of head; Gil- man. bert J. Ogden, slightly, in right leg; John Ewalt, slightly, in right arm. Co. H-Corporal Cornelius S. Barrett, severely, in face; Privates John P. Durson, severely, in arm; William Chadwick, elbow shattered; Blair Kinkead, severely, in calf of leg; George W. Read, severely, in cheek. Co. J-Privates Archelam Snigo, slightly, in hand; Wm. Barlo, slightly; N. C. Lovett, slightly; Isaac Kirk, slightly; James Break, slightly, in leg. Co. K-Privates Sheppard Lewis, supposed mortally; Harlem Page, severely; Andrew Hutchinson, slightly.

Missing.-Co. A-Private John Richards. Co. D-Private Wm. H. Brown. Co. I-Private Lorenzo Shackler. Co. K-Privates Marcus L. Decker, John H. Briscoe. THIRTY-SECOND OHIO REGIMENT.-Killed. Co. F-Pri

Co. G-Private Samuel H. Prior. vate William Clarke.

SECOND VIRGINIA REGIMENT.-Killed.-Co. A-Private Gustavius Steider, shot in the head. Co. G-First Lieutenant Sickman.

Wounded. Co. D-Fourth Corporal John L. Heist, mortally. Co. C-Fourth Serg't Christ. Schweder, dangerously. Co. F--First Corporal James Stewart.

Slightly Wounded.-Co. A-Second Lieutenant O. R. West, in the knee. Private Samuel L. Reynolds, in shoulder. Co. D—Private M. B. Mayson, shot through body. Co. G— Private William Hulville, in cheek. Total killed

wounded "missing

20

WHEELING "INTELLIGENCER" ACCOUNT.

CAMP ELKWATER, VA., Dec. 18, 1861.

Wounded.-Co. F-Privates Abraham Lessy, seriously; John Clarke, seriously. Co. GPrivates Robert J. Hamilton, seriously; Har- On the 9th of December, an order was reper Brosens, seriously. Co. H-Private Chas.ceived from head-quarters, at Huttonville, for a Prior, seriously. Co. K-Private Thomas B. portion of the Second Virginia to report at Hess, seriously. Co. B-Private Isaac Hamilton, slightly. Co. F-First Lieutenant Charles C. Brant, slightly; Private Will Sharpe, slightly. Co. G-Private James White, slightly.

Cheat Mountain Summit immediately, or as soon as the weather and muddy roads would permit. About 2 o'clock P. M. of that day, detachments of Companies A, C, D, G, H, I, J and K, in all about two hundred and ninety men, under command of Major Owens, took up the line of march for the Summit, where we Wounded.-Co. A-Private Jas. Miller, slight-arrived at 9 o'clock, and were joined by detachly. Co. B-Private Matt. Fogen, slightly, left on ments of the Twenty-fifth and Thirty-second field. Co. C-Serg't Edward Foster, seriously. Ohio, Ninth and Thirteenth Indiana regiments,

THIRTEENTH INDIANA REGIMENT.-Killed.Co. B-Private William Day. Co. K-Second Lieutenant Joseph P. Jones.