the faithful and tried in the graver and severer, I stroke; whether they count it misfortune or and not less ennobling, trial of manhood. And not, it will be their own chickens coming home whatever others may think, or dream, or fear, to their own roost-their own fault, and if it over this poor vision of mine, neither by day shall fall in the good providence of God that nor night, since first the triumphant shout rung other men beside those of my own peculiar from one sea to the other, after the 17th of complexion and blood shall taste the sweets of April, 1861, has there been with me a shadow liberty, God be praised. (Great applause, and of a doubt. The American people, inspired by three cheers for Governor Andrew.) I am glad confidence in their cause and their own trust that this is not heresy in the commercial mein God, have taken up the arms which have so tropolis of New York. I suppose that, although long lain unused by their side, and, almost un- we ought not, if peace had been preserved, bidden, have gone into battle; from the hill- either to invade, or counsel, or promote invasides, from the valleys, from the workshops, sion of any constitutional right preserved to from the railroads, from the seaside, from the any State, when a State or people trample fishing smacks of our dear old commonwealth, the Constitution itself beneath their feet, and they all have come; from every calling, from endeavor to crush us and our children with it, every profession, from every sect, whether of re- we may at least have the poor privilege of ligion or politics, whether of belief or unbelief, praying for the happiness of them all-bond as they all have coine, under the impulse of a new well as free. I look with the assurance of coninspiration. And whatever misfortune, if mis- fident faith for an early restoration of universal fortune should come, might befall our flag or peace. I have no idea, not the slightest, that our arms, either at Washington, or Baltimore, the next Fourth of July will find these people or Philadelphia, or New York, we of New in arms; but if it must be that we shall conEngland will rally behind the Berkshire Hill tinue to pour out our money and our blood, to and make the Switzerland of New England the spend our lives in waging, by any form of conrampart of our liberties. (Cries of " Bravo,' test, this holy war, let it come, let it abide, let and tremendous cheering.) But neither in New it stay with us, let the sword be the constant York, nor Philadelphia, nor Washington, will emblem glittering before our eyes, let the flag our armies suffer defeat. We went down to Bull advance and armed men tread beneath its Run, as I had the honor to remark in conversa- folds, until in Heaven's own time a perfect, astion with a gentleman to-day, a congregation of sured peace shall come, established upon the town meetings without a leader. (Laughter.) foundations of eternal right, upon which alone Wheresoever we march again we march as an ar- can any victory be secured. And now I have my, disciplined, drilled, thoroughly banded, and to thank, from the bottom of my heart, the ably commanded, the men knowing who their sons of New England, resident in New York, commanders are. And we will not be content for the kindness of this reception given to our much longer with defending Washington under Twentieth regiment. the walls of the Capitol nor on the banks of the Potomac. (Applause.) Washington shall be defended at Charleston, South Carolina; at Savannah, Georgia; at the city of New Orleans, and all the way up the Mississippi. (Great applause.) The Union men of the South shall be liberated by the arms of the men of the North and the West; and all men capable of bearing arms, capable of allegiance, will yet be summoned, unless a blight or blast shall site the head of every American statesman in America-shall be summoned to the American standard wherever that flag advances. (Great applause.) And it is not my opinion that our Generals, when any man comes to the standard and desires to defend the flag, will find it important to light a candle to see what is the complexion of his face, or to consult the family Bible to ascertain whether his grandfather came from the banks of the Thames or the banks of the Senegal. (Applause.) But all they who have attempted to overthrow the national Constitution, which was their ægis as well as ours, to destroy their American liberty as well as ours, to overthrow the hopes of their posterity as well as ours, to destroy civil society and social life in their own midst, shall find that their peculiar patriarchal institution, staggering, shall fall beneath their own parricidal Doc. 31. THE OCCUPATION OF PADUCAHI, KY., CAIRO, Ill., September 11. A CORRESPONDENT of the St. Louis Democrat, gives the subjoined account of the occupation: The last few days have been distinguished by important movements. Your correspondent has been absent at Paducah, which must bo my apology for not writing sooner. It is evident now, from the immense preparation and the vigorous action of Gen. Fremont, that the great fall campaign has commenced, and that before many days elapse we shall be in the midst of the stirring and stern realities of an active war. On Thursday evening (September 5) of last week, the gunboats Tyler and Conestoga received orders to convoy a large body of troops to Paducah. The Ninth Illinois regiment, formerly commanded by General Paine, and now under command of the gallant Major Phillips, and the Twelfth Illinois regiment, under command of Colonel John McArthur, with four pieces of Smith's Chicago Artillery, under command of Lieutenant Charley Willard, embarked on the steamers G. W. Graham and W. H. B., and left this port at about eleven P. M., the Tyler, Commodore Rogers, leading the advance, and the Conestoga, Captain Phelps, bringing up the rear. The noble fleet pushed out into the stream amid the cheers of assembled thousands, and steamed majestically up La Belle Riviere. We reached Paducah about eight o'clock Friday morning. The disembarkation of the troops was quickly and beautifully performed. Colonel McArthur's regiment landed at the Marine Hospital, in the lower part of the city-the Ninth at the foot of Main street. The former quartered at the Hospital-the latter took up their line of march up Main street to the depot of the Ohio and New Orleans Railroad. A sullen, gloomy aspect pervaded the city, indicative of the most rebellious and obstinate feeling. Every place of business was closed. Knots of men stood at every corner, with knit, compressed brows and quivering lips, and occasionally a suppressed cheer would arise for Jeff. Davis, and curses on what they termed Lincoln's abolition troops. The troops, with heavy, measured tread, marched on. As we got further up town women and children ran out and cheered for Jeff. Davis. The women seemed crazed with excitement. A musket went off by accident in the rear ranks. The first impression was that the troops had been fired into; but not a head was turned, and the column moved steadily on. On arriving at the depot it was found that all the rolling stock had been sent off. A large quantity of contraband supplies, marked for the rebel States, was found in the depot, and immediately seized. They were marked for Fort Gibson, Memphis, Union City, and New Orleans. The whole value of the seizure is over twenty thousand dollars. Amongst these goods seized were about six hundred barrels of flour, one hundred barrels of lard, one hundred and sixty bags of coffee, a large quantity of leather, several hundred boxes of starch, soap and candles, several hogsheads of bacon, boxes of boots and shoes, and a large quantity of rations. Drays were busily employed on Friday and Saturday in hauling them to the wharf boats, to be shipped to Cairo. On arrival, Commodore Rogers immediately took possession of the telegraph office. He was refused admittance, but the prompt application of the butts of muskets in the hands of his marines, gave quick entrance. It was found that the battery of the office had been carried off. The wires were immediately cut. The Postoffice was next searched, and a large number of the most violent secession letters to rebels in the South were found. A large detachment of five companies of infantry and a battery of Smith's Light Artillery -the gallant Lieut. Charles Willard commanding, all under Major Phillips, were detached and marched rapidly down the railroad about seven miles. No enemy was discovered; but, as Pillow was reported in large force advancing, a large bridge and trestle work were burned in order to prevent his taking us by surprise. A large log dwelling-house was discovered to be burning down when our troops arrived. It had been set on fire by the rebels, lest our troops might take quarters in it. The report became current in Paducah that a large force of rebels from Tennessee were momentarily expected down the Tennessee River per steamboat. The gunboat Conestoga was sent up that river some thirteen miles to watch movements, and also to capture any boats running into rebel territory. She gave an excellent account of herself, although she met with no enemy in force. Early on Friday a steamer was seen approaching, which, as soon as she got in sight of the Conestoga, took to her heels. The Conestoga gave her chase, and she was soon run ashore, her officers and crew scampering over the bluffs. She turned out to be the Jefferson, a small stern wheel boat, with a heavy load of tobacco, valued at eight thousand dollars. On the next day she captured a stern wheeler, a fine boat, the John Gault; also a small dinkey, called the Pocahontas, belonging to John Bell, of Tennessee. These prizes are all safely moored at Cairo. The battery of the telegraph was not found. The wires had been cut by the rebels a few miles beyond the burned railroad bridge. Several large coils of telegraph wire were seized at Paducah by our troops. The stampede of the inhabitants from Paducah was astonishing and immense, and ere this scarcely a hundred families are left here, out of a population of from fifteen to twenty thousand people. On Friday and Saturday Main street was perfectly choked with carriages and vehicles, containing families and household furniture, leaving the city for points back in the country. Many went over to Illinois. A perfect panic seemed to possess them, which no assurance of our officers or troops could allay. They had got the idea into their heads that Pillow was advancing on us, that in case of an attack the town would be shelled and burned by our gunboats. General Grant, on his arrival with his command, immediately issued a proclamation, assuring the people of safety and protection, and General Paine, left in command, issued the most strict orders to his troops, prohibiting them under the most severe penalties, from entering the houses of any of the citizens. Yet, still, they seemed determined not to be convinced, and the men who had wives and children went to them and poisoned their ears with the stories that we were abolitionists and murderers. To show their rebellious disposition, I will cite a case: Gen. Grant gave permission to several river officers to hoist a National flag on the top of the St. Francis Hotel. The landlord objected, saying that it would bring trouble on him, that he did not want its protection. He was told to keep quiet, that that flag must wave | rebels, is in almost everybody's mouth. We from there in place of the secession flag he had understand that when he enlisted, he was a stuallowed to float over him before our troops dent in Racine College, and was formerly a stucame, and that if he or any other rebels inter- | dent in Beloit College. He is only about twentyfered with that flag, or pulled it down, they one or twenty-two years of age, well built, and would be led out and shot down. This assur- | very agile and active. He was regarded in colance from General Paine quieted his nerves, lege as the best jumper, runner, &c., and withal and that flag floated, defying the rebels, despite an excellent shot. He was popular with the many remarks by them that "the damned rag students. His parents reside in Shopiere, Rock must come down." County. From his account of his escape we take the following:— On Saturday an unfortunate accident, but providential in its result, happened. The gunboat, Tyler, while the crew were practising at the guns, by some carelessness of the gunners, let fly a sixty-four-pound shell, which struck a house on the levee, and knocked a huge hole in it. Fortunately the shell struck it on the line of the pavement, and went into the lower story, not occupied, and exploded. This event was immediately magnified by the rebels as the first attempt at shelling the town, and the terror of the women and children were duly increased. Shortly afterward Lieutenant Charley Willard's battery went out on the public square to practise, and on the discharges women and children would leap from carriages and run out from houses, and throw themselves flat in the street, while their rebel husbands would stand and gloat over their terror. Our officers and men had to go to them and assure them of their safety, and that they would be protected, and the poor creatures, relieved of their fright, would thank them. Still the exodus kept on, and it is now thought that out of a population of some fifteen thousand, not three thousand people are left. The most perfect terror of a battle and of the burning of the city seemed to prevail. In the mean time our troops were reinforced rapidly. On Saturday part of Colonel Oglesby's Eighth regiment, the Forty-first Illinois, and the American Zouave regiment, from Cape Girardeau, were poured in, increasing our force to about five thousand effective men. From the most reliable reports recently received at that point there is no rebel force short of Union City and Columbus, and no immediate attack on Paducah is apprehended. As I was passing through a thicket, I was surrounded by six rebel soldiers-four infantry and two cavalry. The footmen were poorly dressed, and badly armed, having old rusty altered muskets. The cavalry were well mounted and well armed. Seeing I was caught, I thought it best to surrender at once. So I said, "Gentlemen, you have me." I was asked various questions as to who I was, where I was going, what regiment I belonged to, &c., all of which I refused to answer. One of the footmen said, "Let's hang the d-d Yankee scoundrel," and pointed to a convenient limb. Another said, "No, let's take him to camp and hang him there." One of the cavalry, who seemed to be the leader, said, "We will take him to camp.' They then marched me through an open place-two footmen in front, two in the rear, and a cavalry man on each side of me. I was armed with two revolvers and my sword. After going some twenty rods, the sergeant, who was on my right, noticing my pistols, commanded me to halt and give them up, together with my sword. I said, Certainly, gentlemen," and immediately halted. As I stopped, they all filed past me, and, of course were in front. This We were at this time in an open part of the woods, but about sixty yards to the rear was a thicket of undergrowth. Thus every thing was in my favor. I was quick of foot and a passable shot. Yet the design of escape was not formed until I brought my pistol pouches to the front part of my body, and my hands touched the stocks. The grasping of the pistols suggested my cocking them as I drew them out. I did, and the moment I got command of them Gen. C. F. Smith is now commanding at I shot down the two footmen nearest me-about Paducah. At Cairo the greatest military activ- six feet off-one with each hand. I immeity prevails. A very large force is being rapid-diately turned and ran toward the thicket in ly formed in and quartered either here, at Bird's | Point, or at the new camp on the Kentucky side, called Camp Holt. This last-named camp was established yesterday, and a heavy battery erected so as to command the Ohio and Mississippi opposite Bird's Point. Fortifications are also being rapidly thrown up here. Doc. 32. EXPLOIT OF CAPT. STRONG. PRAISE of Capt. Strong, of the Belle City Rifles, Second Wisconsin regiment, for his brilliant exploit in escaping, as he did, from the the_rear. The confusion of my captors was apparently so great that I had nearly reached cover before shots were fired at me. One ball passed through my left cheek, passing out of my mouth. Another one-a musket ball-went through my canteen. Immediately upon this volley, the two cavalry separated, one to my right and the other to my left, to cut off my retreat-the remaining two footmen charging directly toward me. I turned when the horsemen got up, and fired three or four shots; but the balls flew wild. I still ran on-got over a small knoll, and had nearly regained one of our pickets, when I was headed off by both of the mounted men. The sergeant called to me to halt and surrender. I gave no reply, but fired at him and ran in the opposite direction. He pursued and overtook me, and just as his horse's head was abreast of me, I turned, took good aim and pulled the trigger, but the cap snapped. At this time his carbine was unslung, and he was holding it both hands on the left side of his horse. He fired at my breast without raising the piece to his shoulder, and the shot passed from the right side of my coat, through it and my shirt to the left, just grazing the skin. The piece was so near as to burn the cloth about the size of one's hand. I was, however, uninjured at this time, save the shot through my cheek. I then fired at him again and brought him to the ground-hanging by his foot in the left stirrup and his horse galloping toward his camp. I saw no more of the horseman on my left, nor of the two footmen-but running on soon came to our own pickets-uninjured save the shot through my cheek, but otherwise much exhausted from my exertions. WM. E. STRONG, Capt. Co. F, Second R. W. V. -Daily Wisconsin. Doc. 33. CAPTURE OF LEXINGTON, MISSOURI. GEN. FREMONT'S DESPATCH. HEAD-QUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, ST. LOUIS, September 23. To Col. E. D. Townsend, Adjutant-General: I have a telegram from Brookfield that Lexington has fallen into Price's hands, he having cut off Mulligan's supply of water and reinforcements, four thousand strong, under General Stufgis. By capture of the ferry-boats, he had no means of crossing the river in time. Lane's force from the southwest, and Davis' force from the southeast, upward of eleven thousand in all, could not get there in time. I am taking the field myself, and hope to destroy the enemy, either before or after the junction of the forces under McCulloch. Please notify the President immediately. J. C. FREMONT, Major-General Commanding. PRICE'S OFFICIAL REPORT. HEAD-QUARTERS M. S. G., Camp Wallace, Lexington, Sept. 23, 1861. To the Hon. Claiborne F. Jackson, Governor of the State of Missouri: I have the honor to submit to your Excellency the following report of the actions which terminated on the 20th instant with the surrender of the United States forces and property at this place to the army under my command: After chastising the marauding armies of Lane and Montgomery, and driving them out of the State, and after compelling them to abandon Fort Scott, as detailed in my last report, I continued my march toward this point with an army increasing hourly in numbers and enthusiasm. On the 10th inst., just as we were about to encamp for the day, a mile or two west of Rose Hill, I learned that a detachment of Federal troops and Home Guards were marching from Lexington to Warrensburg, to rob the bank in that place, and plunder and arrest the citizens of Johnson County, in accordance with General Fremont's proclamation and instructions. Although my men were greatly fatigued by several days' continuous and rapid marching, I determined to press forward so as to surprise the enemy, if possible, at Warrensburg. Therefore, after resting a few hours, we resumed the march at sunset, and marched without intermission until two o'clock in the morning, when it became evident that the infantry, very few of whom had eaten a mouthful in twenty-two hours, could march no further. I then halted them, and went forward with the larger part of my mounted men till we came, about daybreak, within view of Warrensburg, where I ascertained that the enemy had hastily fled about midnight, burning bridges behind them. The rain began to fall about the same time. This circumstance, coupled with the fact that my men had been fasting for more than twentyfour hours, constrained me to abandon the idea of pursuing the enemy that day; my infantry and artillery having come up, we encamped at Warrensburg, whose citizens vied with each other in feeding my almost famished soldiers. An unusually violent storm delayed our march the next morning till about 10 o'clock; we then pushed forward rapidly, still hoping to overtake the enemy. Finding it impossible to do this with my infantry, I again ordered a detachment to move forward, and placing myself at their head, continued the pursuit to within two and a half miles of Lexington, when, having learned that the enemy were already within town, and it being late, and my men fatigued by a forced march, and utterly without provisions, I halted for the night. About daybreak the next morning a sharp skirmish took place between our pickets and the enemy's outposts. This threatened to become general. Being unwilling, however, to risk a doubtful engagement, when a short delay would make success certain, I fell back two or three miles and awaited the arrival of my infantry and artillery; these having come up, we advanced upon the town, driving in the enemy's pickets until we came within a short distance of the city itself. Here the enemy attempted to make a stand, but they were speedily driven from every position, and forced to take shelter within their intrenchments. We then took our position within easy range of the college, which building they had strongly fortified, and opened upon them a brisk fire from Bledsoe's battery, which, in the absence of Capt. Bledsoe, who had been wounded at Big Dry Wood, was gallantly commanded by Capt. Emmitt McDonald, and by Parsons' battery, under the skilful command of Capt. Guibor. Finding after sunset that our ammunition, the most of which had been left behind on the march from Springfield, was nearly exhausted, and that [ so greatly, that, resolving to regain them, they my men, thousands of whom had not eaten a made upon the house a successful assault, and particle in thirty-six hours, required rest and one which would have been honorable to them food, I withdrew to the Fair Ground and en- had it not been accompanied by an act of savage camped there. My ammunition wagons having barbarity-the cold-blooded and cowardly murbeen at last brought up and large reinforce- der of three defenceless men who had laid down ments having been received, I again moved into their arms and surrendered themselves as pristown on Wednesday, the 18th inst., and began oners. The position thus retaken by the enemy a final attack upon the enemy's works. was soon regained by the brave men who had been driven from it, and was thenceforward held by them to the very end of the contest. Brig.-Gen. Rains' division occupied a strong position on the east and northeast of the fortifications, from which an effective cannonading was kept up on the enemy by Bledsoe's battery, under cominand, except on the last day, of Capt. Emmitt McDonald, and another battery, commanded by Capt. C. Clark, of St. Louis. Both of these gentlemen and the men and officers under their command are deservedly commended in the accompanying report of Brig.-Gen. Rains. Gen. Parsons took a position southwest of the works, whence his battery, under command of Capt. Guibor, poured a steady fire into the enemy. Skirmishers and sharpshooters were also sent forward from both of these divisions to harass and fatigue the enemy and to cut them off from water on the north, east, and south of the college, and did inestimable service in the accomplishment of these purposes. Col. Congreve Jackson's division, and a part of Gen. Steen's, were posted near Gen. Rains and Gen. Parsons, as a reserve, but no occasion occurred to call them into action. They were, however, at all times, vigilant and ready to rush upon the enemy. Shortly after entering the city on the 18th, Col. Rives, who commanded the Fourth division in the absence of Gen. Slack, led his regiment and Col. Hughes's along the river bank. to a point immediately beneath, and west of the fortifications; Gen. McBride's command, and a portion of Gen. Harris's having been ordered to reinforce him. Col. Rives, in order to cut off the enemy's means of escape, proceeded down the bank of the river to capture a steamboat which was lying just under their guns. Just at this moment a heavy fire was opened upon him from Col. Anderson's large dwelling-house on the summit of the bluffs, which the enemy were occupying as a hospital, and upon which a white flag was flying. Several companies of Gen. Harris's command and the gallant soldiers of the Fourth division, who have won upon so many battle fields the proud distinction of always being among the bravest of the brave, immediately rushed upon and took the place. The important position thus secured was within one hundred and twenty-five yards of the enemy's intrenchments. A company from Col. Hughes's regiment then took possession of the boats, one of which was richly freighted with valuable stores. Gen. McBride's and Gen. Harris's divisions, meanwhile, gallantly stormed and occupied the bluffs immediately north of Anderson's house. The possession of these heights enabled our men to harass the enemy The heights to the left of Anderson's house, which had been taken, as before stated, by Gens. McBride and Harris, and by part of Gen. Steen's command under Col. Boyd and Major Winston, were rudely fortified by our soldiers, who threw up breast works as well as they could with their slender means. On the morning of the 20th inst., I caused a number of hemp bales to be transported to the river heights, where movable breastworks were speedily constructed out of them by Gens. Harris and McBride, Col. Rives, and Major Winston, and their respective commands. Capt. Kelly's battery (attached to Gen. Steen's division) was ordered at the same time to the position occupied by Gen. Harris's force, and quickly opened a very effective fire, under the direction of its gallant captain, upon the enemy. These demonstrations, and particularly the continued advance of the hempen breast works, which were as efficient as the cotton bales at New Orleans, quickly attracted the attention and excited the alarm of the enemy, who made more daring attempts to drive us back. They were, however, repulsed in every instance by the unflinching courage and fixed determination of our men. In these desperate encounters, the veterans of McBride's and Slack's divisions fully sustained their proud reputation, while Col. Martin Green and his command, and Col. Boyd and Maj. Winston and their commands, proved themselves worthy to fight by the side of the men who had by their courage and valor won imperishable honor in the bloody battle of Springfield. About two o'clock in the afternoon of the 20th, and after fifty-two hours of continuous firing, a white flag was displayed by the enemy on that part of their works nearest to Col. Green's position, and shortly afterward another was displayed opposite to Col. Rives. I immediately ordered a cessation of all firing on our part, and sent forward one of my staff officers to ascertain the object of the flag, and to open negotiations with the enemy, if such should be their desire. It was finally, after some delay, agreed by Col. Marshall and the officers associated with him for that purpose by Col. Mulligan, that the United States forces should lay down their arms and surrender themselves as prisoners of war to this army. These terms, having been made known, were ratified by me and immediately carried into effect. Our entire loss in this series of engagements amounts to twenty-five killed and seventy-five wounded. The enemy's loss was much greater. |