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this point last night. It is stated that this man | intelligence that an action of some magnitude gave the enemy intelligence that a large force under General Banks was preparing to cross at Williamsport and march upon Winchester, and probably inducing General Jackson to make the recent demonstration upon Williamsport.

Reports from Union men on the other side state that during the gallant repulse of last Tuesday by two companies of the Indiana Twelfth at this place, eight rebels were killed outright and twelve wounded. It will be recollected that the enemy had two small guns, and made an attack on our pickets there, who with their rifles compelled the former to beat a hasty retreat. This occurred at the time of the capture of Captain Williams and seven men, of the Twelfth Indiana. The attacking forces comprised detachments from Col. Ashby's command, under Captains Henderson, Mason, and Baylor.

Your correspondent was kindly furnished with recent copies of the Virginia Republican, published at Martinsburg, and a Richmond Dispatch of the 18th inst., by private Peter Messner of the Indiana Twelfth, a Hungarian patriot and refugee. This man is always on the alert in watching the enemy's movements, and is spoken of by his superiors as possessing untiring vigilance.

MERCERSVILLE, (on the river four miles below Dam No. 5,) Dec. 22, 1861. This little hamlet is inhabited by persons engaged in the canal trade, but being, without an exception, strong Unionists, threats have been made by the enemy to destroy their habitations, causing considerable anxiety. This place is closely watched by the Indiana boys.

Last night the large barn occupied by John E. Conode, but owned by Samuel Stonebreaker, of Baltimore, was fired by an incendiary, and consumed, with nearly all its contents, including six horses, five cows, several tons of hay, five hundred bushels of wheat, hogs, agricultural implements, wagons, harness, &c. Loss twelve to fifteen thousand dollars. Mr. Conode

is a Unionist, and was absent from home at the time.

SHARPSBURG, Dec. 22, 1861. Captain Howes battery of the Fourth regular artillery arrived here to-night, en route from Romney to Washington. The men are perfect war dogs in appearance, having performed the most arduous duties under General Kelly, in Western Virginia.

Doc. 237.

had taken place between a detachment of one hundred and fifty men of the Twentieth Regiment New York Volunteers, in command of Major Engelbert Schnoepf, and about seven hundred rebel soldiers. The particulars of the affair are as follows: Major Schnoepf having lost a man from his command the day before, left Newport News on Sunday morning, at eleven o'clock, at the head of one hundred and fifty men, and wended his way toward Newmarket Bridge in search of him. Arriving near the bridge, the Major detailed some of his men to cross the creek, and charged them to search closely in the woods; as the man might have hidden himself from the enemy, who was seen about the place for several days previous. The reserve was placed behind the Newmarket Bridge, (that is, where the crossing formerly was,) and another detatchment at Sinclair's farm. The position of our men had scarcely been taken up, when the skirmishers of the Twentieth regiment discovered the enemy, consisting of three companies of infantry, among them one company of negroes, who appeared in the front, and made an attack. The left flank was attacked at the same time by two squadrons of cavalry, who came dashing along at a terrible gait, and with deafening yells. Our men stood their ground manfully, and, as soon as the proper moment came to fire, the cavalry being near enough, (about one hundred and fifty yards,) the order to fire was given, and obeyed with alacrity. The reserve drove the cavalry back, killing several of them while retreating. The skirmishers on the other side of the bridge were recalled by the stroyed, they were compelled to swim across, Major, and owing to the bridge having been dehotly pursued by the enemy. The pursuit of the rebels was so determined that a hand-tohand engagement occurred. The pursuing party was joined by the negro soldiers, and Captain Stumpf, of the Twentieth regiment, was struck upon the back with the butt end of a musket, but not severely hurt.

Major Schnoepf hereupon took a position, deploying his entire force along the river banks as skirmishers, and a terrible fight ensued. The enemy fired by companies, whereas the fire of our men on the pursuers was by files, and so rapid that one rebel officer and a private that stood on the opposite shore were killed, and tumbled into the river on their faces. The enemy hereupon withdrew as fast as possible, firing as they ran, leaving their dead and wounded behind. Six men of the Twentieth regiment were slightly wounded. The enemy's loss, as

AFFAIR AT NEWMARKET BRIDGE, VA., far as ascertained, was ten killed (three were

DECEMBER 22, 1861.

-THE following account of this affair was written by a correspondent at Fortress Monroe, under date of Dec. 23d:

The monotony of camp life here and at Camp Hamilton was broken yesterday by the

picked up yesterday and seven to-day) and probably twenty or more wounded. One of the latter was brought off the field and treated by Assistant Surgeon Heiland, of the Twentieth regiment. Several horses of the cavalry were also killed. The corpses of the two men who fell into the creek floated off with the tide, and Acting Brigadier-General Weber sent a detatch

ment off to pick them up, if possible, in order to have them decently interred.

One of the bodies only was found, and in the centre of the forehead was a hole from a bullet, which evidently was the cause of the death of this poor man. In his pockets were found a number of letters, and by these we ascertained that his name was John Hawkins, Adjutant of the Alabama Minute Men. On his coat the buttons bore the letters A. M. M. About thirty dollars in shinplasters were also found on his body, and a small bag, slung about his neck, contained nineteen dollars in gold. The bills were on the banks of North Carolina and Virginia, and as low as ten cents in value. The enemy had retreated about three hundred paces, and having again taken up a position, commenced to pour a terrible fire upon Major Schnoepf's command, without, however, doing any execution. The shower of bullets was so terrible that the houses, trees, and fences in the vicinity were completely riddled. The Turners, however, being greatly inferior in strength, kept a safe distance, and did not reply to this fire.

Immediately after the fight commenced, Major Schnoepf, seeing that he had to cope with a force three to one, sent off an orderly to Newport News, and also a messenger to Acting Brigadier-General Max Weber, for reinforcements. General Weber instantly despatched the six companies of the Twentieth regiment, in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Weiss, stationed at Camp Hamilton, and, in company with Captain H. M. Burleigh, provost marshal of the camp, proceeded to the scene of action. Brigadier-General Joseph R. T. Mansfield also hastened to the battle-field, heading the remainder of the Twentieth regiment battalion at Newport News, and the Second regiment New York Volunteers.

The Union Coast Guard, in command of Colonel D. W. Wardrop, being anxious to participate in the affair, were in marching order in the shortest possible time, and marched to Hampton Bridge, where they were kept in reserve. Such was the anxiety of the Coast Guard to be in the fight that a number of them smuggled themselves into the ranks of the Twentieth regiment, and were only discovered after having crossed | the bridge. The other regiments of General Weber's brigade were very much disappointed in not being able to march forward and mingle in the impending battle, as they thought.

When General Weber arrived at the scene of action the fight was over, and the enemy was still visible in the distance, on the retreat. General Weber, however, received information that several of the men belonging to Major Schnoepf's battalion were missing. He thereupon sent Lieutenant-Colonel Weiss in command of one company across Newmarket Bridge to follow the enemy in quest of the missing Turners. Colonel Weiss found three men who had been sent ahead as skirmishers before the action, and had the enemy, during the entire action, between VOL. III.-Doc. 41

them and the Twentieth regiment, but had remained undiscovered by the rebels, lying in the woods.

Shortly after the arrival of the reinforcement headed by General Weber, from Camp Hamilton, Brigadier-General Mansfield and staff, accompanied by the Second regiment N. Y. S. V., Colonel J. B. Carr, came to the scene of action. The enemy, however, had by this time probably reached a distance of five miles; and the bridges being taken up our men could not march in pursuit. Numerous trophies were captured by the gallant Twentieth. One beautiful saddle, belonging evidently to the horse of an officer that had been shot, was brought back to Newport News, as also numerous muskets, sabres, and pistols.

The engagement commenced about one o'clock, and lasted until after three. Acting BrigadierGeneral Weber and General Mansfield complimented General Schnoepf highly on his bravery and the steadiness of his men. The Twentieth regiment acted with the precision of regulars, and not the first man was found to waver or fall back. Dr. Heiland, Assistant Surgeon of the Twentieth regiment, accompanied the battalion, and proved himself not only a very efficient surgeon, but also a brave and courageous soldier. His ambulances and instruments were in readiness as soon as the first volley was fired; and to his care and skill it is owing that the few men wounded are in such good condition. None of our men who were hit by the enemy's shots are fatally injured. Julius Kumerle, of Company G, was shot in the arm; Christian Teubner, Company K, shot in the elbow and above the wrist; Orderly-Sergeant Rohr, of Company K, of Williamsburg, was wounded in the neck, but not fatally. The names of the other three I could not ascertain, they being at Newport News.

The rebels, although retreating before the steady fire of our men, behaved bravely; but their smooth-bore muskets, notwithstanding well handled, were no match against the sharp and deadly rifle, handled with murderous aim by the gallant Twentieth regiment.

The main fight began at Sinclair's farm; but the enemy's line extending to Newmarket Bridge, and the Twentieth regiment men being in a body there, the rebels concentrated their entire force at that point.

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Doo. 239.

EXPERIENCE OF ALFRED ELY, M. C.,

WHILE IN PRISON AT RICHMOND, VA. THE particulars of Mr. Ely's capture and a portion of his experience at Richmond are as follows: He was captured by a South Carolina company of infantry, about five o'clock P. M. of the day of the battle of Bull Run. He had stopped at a blacksmith's shop to have his car

petual warfare with him. Hard contested battles and skirmishes were matters of almost daily Occurrence. Nor is it to be forgotten that laborious and arduous marches, by day and by night, were necessary, not only as furnishing you the opportunity of fighting there, but of baffling the foe at different points upon the march of invasion. And it is a fact which entitles you to the warm congratulations of your General, and to the thanks and gratitude of your country, that in the midst of the trying scenes through which you have passed, you have proved your-riage mended, and after that waited a while for selves men and patriots, who, undaunted by superior numbers, have engaged the foe, beaten him in the field, and baffled and frustrated him in his plans to surprise you.

On all occasions, under all circumstances, your patriotism and courage have never faltered nor forsaken you. With inadequate transportation, often illy clad, and with less than a full allowance of provisions, no private has ever uttered a complaint to his General. This fact was grateful to his feelings; and if your hardships have not been removed or alleviated by him, it has been because of his inability to do So. But your exemplary and patriotic conduct has not passed unobserved nor unappreciated by the Government in whose cause we are all enlisted. It is an acknowledged fact that you have made fewer claims, and imposed less trouble upon it, than any army in the field, content to dare and do, as becomes true soldiers and patriots.

Now, at the close of your laborious and eventful campaign, when you may have looked forward to a season of rest, your country has bestowed upon you the distinguished compliment of calling you to another field of action. That you will freely respond to this call your past services, so cheerfully rendered, furnish the amplest assurance. Kentucky, in her hour of peril, appeals to Virginia, her mother, and to her sisters for succor. This appeal is not unheeded by their gallant sons. The foot of the oppressor is upon her. Trusting in the cause of justice, we go to her relief, and, with the help of Him who is its author, we will do our part in hurling back and chastising the oppressor who is desecrating her soil.

Soldiers! your country, your friends whom you leave behind you, will expect you, in your new field of labor, to do your duty.

Senator Foster, of Connecticut, who had gone out with him. While waiting he walked down toward a ravine, in which he saw a company of National troops skulking or in ambush, but, as he approached them, they receded, and just as Mr. Ely paused, to return to his carriage, a spent musket-ball struck the earth near him. He stepped behind a large tree near by to be out of danger, and continued his observations. In a moment a cannon-ball went crashing through the branches of the tree, and seemed to be felling the whole top upon him. By the time he recovered from this surprise, a company of soldiers, accompanied by two welldressed officers, emerged from the woods near by.

On perceiving Mr. Ely, the two officers advanced and demanded his name. He answered, "Mr. Ely, of New York." The question followed, "Do you hold any civil office in the Government?" For the first time Mr. Ely said he felt he was in trouble. He replied that he was a member of Congress, and thereupon one of the officers clapped his hand upon him and declared him a prisoner, but assured him he should be treated with every consideration. They took him to their Colonel, and introduced him formally as "Hon. Mr. Ely, Member of Congress from New York." Instantly the Colonel drew a pistol, cocked it and levelled it at Mr. Ely's head, not two paces distant, and said, "You d-d rascal, I'll blow your brains out." The two officers who had arrested Mr. Ely instantly threw themselves upon the Colonel, forced his pistol back, and persuaded him away. They then apologized to Mr. Ely, saying they were ashamed of their Colonel, who was excited by drinking. This officer was Colonel Cash, and the officer who arrested Mr. Ely was Captain Mullins.

Remember that the eyes of the country are Mr. Ely was put with a large herd of prisonupon you, and that upon your action, in part, ers, and all were started to Manassas. It was depends the result of the greatest struggle the a march of seven weary miles, and the prisonworld ever saw, involving not only your free-ers suffered tortures from the dust, heat, and dom, your property, and your lives, but the fate of political liberty everywhere.

Remember this, and, relying on Him who controls the destinies of nations, as of individuals, you need not fear the result. By order, Brig.-Gen. JOHN B. FLOYD.

H. B. DAVIDSON,
Major and Asst. Adj.-Gen.

thirst. At Manassas, which they reached at nine o'clock P. M., they were driven into an open space, surrounded thickly by guards, and all began to fall on the ground, then wet with a fast-falling rain, to seek rest and sleep. While Mr. Ely was preparing for a similar movement an officer rode into the yard and called aloud to know if "Mr. Ely, of New York, was present." Mr. Ely thought his time had come now

to be shot. Nevertheless he answered the call, | Faulkner, to the jail, and the two were granted and was told that General Beauregard required the favor of an interview with the unfortunate him to come to his head-quarters. He followed officers. Mr. Faulkner expressed his surprise the officer and reached the log house surround- at this rigor, and he stated that such was not ed by a verandah, on the porch of which, with the treatment that the privateers received in a single candle burning on it, was a table, and New York and Philadelphia-that, although around the table sat Jeff. Davis, Beauregard, they were held for capital crimes, they were Extra Billy Smith, Porcher Miles, and other allowed to receive visitors, and to have all the rebel officers, apparently reckoning up the re- comforts compatible with their safe custody. sult of the day's battle. Porcher Miles ap- Mr. Ely thinks that, based upon this last stateproached Mr. Ely, and expressed regret at his ment by Mr. Faulkner, the rebel authorities will situation, but in a moment changed his tone, lessen the severity of their treatment. remarking that he had no opinion of Congressmen who would come to aid an army in invading a State. Mr. Ely was sent off to sleep in a barn, where he found the captured National officers.

The next day they were all started to Richmond. The morning after their arrival there Messrs. Bocock and Pryor, of Virginia, and Keitt and Boyce, of South Carolina, called upon Mr. Ely and stated that they should use their influence to secure his release. They made an application for this purpose to Jeff. Davis, who called a meeting of his Cabinet and the result was a consultation of several hours. The Cabinet generally favored Mr. Ely's release, but Davis, Benjamin, and Hunter were opposed to it, on grounds of public policy, and Walker, the Secretary of War, sent an elaborate communication stating that the Cabinet had come to the conclusion to deny the application.

Of the reckless and outrageous conduct of the rebel guards Mr. Ely speaks in terms of the utmost censure. He states that the prisoners had not been in the tobacco warehouse fifteen minutes before a bullet was fired into the window of one of our prisoners, who had ventured to put his head outside, and that in this way seven men had been wantonly killed. This conduct met with severe censure from all who were aware of the facts, but he was not apprised that any action had been taken to punish the offenders by the rebel authorities.

A few days before his release, Mr. Ely was again visited by Messrs. Bocock and Boyce, who stated that they intended to use their efforts to get him exchanged for Mr. Faulkner. The following day he saw announced in a Richmond paper that Mr. Faulkner had been released on his parole for thirty days, on condition that he should proceed to Richmond and procure in

of failing, to return to Fort Warren. He could hardly credit this, as he thought, had it been a fact, Bocock and Boyce would have been aware of it; but as each additional day's intelligence announced the progress of Mr. Faulkner, he became convinced that his release was near at hand.

Mr. Ely's arrival was announced by the Rich-exchange for himself Mr. Ely, or, in the event mond papers and the whole press of the South, by which he soon became notorious. Visitors came to see him by hundreds, and it was not unfrequently the case that he had forty in his room at a time. Among them were Breckinridge, Humphrey Marshall, and ex-Minister Preston, who expressed the opinion that his being held in custody was an outrage. The Governors and Episcopal Bishops of most of the rebel States, were also visitors. In fact, they came to him from all parts of Jeff. Davis' dominions. Bouquets were sent him almost daily, and sometimes not less than a dozen a day. His meals too, nicely prepared, were sent him by the families of citizens. In his conversations politics were rarely alluded to, except he himself introduced the subject, when there was a free interchange of opinion.

The position of our hostages at Richmond is painful. Seven of them are confined in a room about twelve by fifteen feet in the Richmond jail, having two stnall windows, which admit but little light. They are permitted to see no person but the jailer and the negro who waits upon them, and are only permitted to leave their cells thirty minutes in the morning, and the same time in the afternoon, to walk in the narrow promenade between the jail building and the interwall. Their food consists of jail fair, sobby corn bread and boiled beef, and they are not permitted to have any thing better, even though they purchased it. When Mr. Ely was released he went, in company with Mr.

Mr. Faulkner was received in Richmond with a perfect ovation, thirty thousand people being out. The following day Mr. Faulkner called upon Mr. Ely, and they had a pleasant interview, and, having both been prisoners, they could well appreciate their mutual position in the past. He announced that he had an interview with Jeff. Davis and his Cabinet, and he was happy to state that they had decided upon his release. The following day Gen. Winder came to the prison, and with much formality and dignity entered the room, and in the pres ence of Mr. Ely's fellow-prisoners presented him his release, and announced to him that he was a free man, and that he should be happy to see him at his own house. After the interchange of a few pleasant words Gen. Winder left.

A meeting of the Prison Association, of which Mr. Ely was the president, was at once convened, and Mr. Ely made a farewell address of nearly an hour in length. In it he rehearsed many of the incidents of the history in which they had borne a part, and that, notwithstanding their confinement, they had succeeded in making their hours pass cheerfully by, and he was gratified to announce that, though there

was so much in the separation from their fam- | difficult for the sharpshooters to attain their ilies and friends, in the want of common com position unperceived, the enemy manifesting at forts and the annoyances they suffered to irritate disposition to retire. them, there had never yet been the slightest difficulty during their whole five months' imprisonment. The deepest emotions were visible on the countenances of all of the members present, and nearly all were affected to tears. They parted with their president with mingled feelings of joy at his deliverance and regret at his departure.

At five o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Faulkner again called at the prison with Gov. Letcher's carriage, and they proceeded to the Governor's mansion, where they dined together, and parted with a mutual expression of personal good feeling. Mr. Ely proceeded to Norfolk by railroad, being everywhere regarded with great interest, and thence reached Fortress Monroe and Baltimore. -N. Y. Times.

Doc. 240.

FIGHT AT MOUNT ZION, MO.

GENERAL PRENTISS OFFICIAL REPORT.
HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF NORTH Missouri,
PALMYRA, Mo., Jan. 4, 1862.

Capt. John C. Kelton, Assistant Adjutant-Gen-
eral Department of Missouri:

In pursuance of a special order, received on the evening of Dec. 23, 1861, I proceeded from Palmyra for Sturgeon on the morning of the | 24th day of December, with five companies of the Third Missouri Cavalry, Col. John Glover commanding. I 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, I sent forward one company of cavalry, commanded by Captain Howland, to reconnoitre in that vicinity. Capt. Howland proceeded to Hallsville, but found no rebels. After proceeding about two miles beyond, his advance guard encountered the rebels in force, conmanded by Col. Dorsey. Capt. 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, I immediately ordered five companies of cavalry, Col. John Glover commanding, and five companies of sharpshooters, Col. Birge commanding, numbering in all four hundred and seventy, to march at two o'clock A. M., at which hour I started, and after marching a distance of sixteen miles, at eight o'clock A. M. of the 28th inst., I found one company of rebels, commanded by Capt. Johnson, in position, to the left of the road leading from Hallsville to Mount Zion. I 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, it being

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

The firing being heavy, these three companies not being able to drive the enemy from his cover, Col. Glover, with his available force, moved in double-quick to the aid of the three companies engaged, and for half an hour longer the battle raged and became a hand-to-hand fight. Capt. Boyd's company of sharpshooters were in the midst of the rebel camp. Also, Major Carrick, with Company C, Third Illinois Cavalry. When Col. Glover arrived, the rebels could not stand the fire of our rifles, and retreated, leaving in our hands ninety (90) horses and one hundred and five (105) stand of arms. The battle was brought to a close about eleven A. M.

The reserve of two companies coming into action at the moment the enemy gave way, our victory was complete. After collecting our wounded, we proceeded to collect those of the enemy, placed them in the church, and sent for farmers and friends in the vicinity to render assistance. I collected wagons, made our wounded as comfortable as possible, and at four P. M. started for Sturgeon, where we arrived at nine P. M. Our loss in the battle of Mount Zion, and in the engagement of the evening previous, is as follows: Killed, three; slightly wounded, forty-six; severely wounded, seventeen. Rebel loss.-Killed, twenty-five; wounded, one Lundred and fifty.

I have not been able to get a correct report of the rebel missing; but having taken thirty prisoners from the barn, their punishment is a severe one. Sixty of the rebels, with Captain Howland and four of our men as prisoners, arrived at the camp at night, twenty miles distant from the field of battle.

Permit me to mention that our entire force behaved gallantly. I make special mention of the following officers: Colonel John M. Glover, Major Carrick, Lieutenants Yates and Kirkpat rick, of the Third Missouri Cavalry; Colonel Birge, Captain Boyd, and Adjutant Temple, of Birge's Sharpshooters, and Lieutenant Edwin Moore, my aide. I also assure you that the men behaved with coolness and daring during the engagement.

Annexed please find list of names of our killed

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