ammunition, several pieces of artillery, and the most important city of Western Missouri.

Doc. 59.

LIEUT. MCCREA'S REPORT

ON POTOMAC RIVER REBEL BATTERIES.

Colonel Mulligan perhaps never dreamed of the possibility of not being reinforced. It never entered into his thoughts that with forty thousand friendly Federal troops within a few days' march of him, he could be neglected, and left to the mercy of a besieging force for a whole week, and finally compelled to surrender for the want of the succor which could have been sent, and which no doubt he confidently presumed, would be sent. It was with the confident conviction of being promptly supported that, when asked to surrender by Price on Sunday, the 15th, he answered with a ringing defiance, and instantly prepared for a desperate combat. He thought that if he should hold out for three days and he resolved that he would he would be reinforced from the river, or the enemy attacked in the rear and forced to raise the siege.

U. S. STEAMER J. BELL, INDIAN HEAD, POTOMAC RIVER, Sept. 25, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report:-This morning, about sunrise, I discovered men at work digging, &c., at Freestone Point. I got under way at half-past nine a. M., (having satisfied myself that they were making batteries,) in company with the Seminole, Lieut. Norton in charge. I ordered her to follow my motions. We proceeded to Freestone Point, and I went close in and fired six shells, dispersing the workmen, and receiving no return of fire I stood out. At that moment the Seminole opened fire with her battery, which was immediately answered from the said point with rifled shot, disclosing the existence of a for some time, continually answered by the battery there. The Seminole continued her fire battery on shore. After she fired sufficiently long in my opinion, I ordered her to cease firing and return to her anchorage. After tak

But we cannot think that Price himself ever imagined he would be allowed leisurely to march to Lexington, surround the garrison, and beleaguer it for a whole week, without being disturbed in his amateur-like operations by any of the thirty or forty thousand Federal troops that were within a few days' march of him.

But the heroic officer calculated too largely on the cooperation of the authorities at St. Louis. Price arrived at Warrensburg, thirty-five miles from Lexington, two weeks ago yesterday. Everybody knew that he was marching on Lex-ing a curve by nature of the channel, anon ington, and that he would make a desperate standing up the river, she was fired upon by attempt to take it. while passing the Valley City she was informed the battery on shore, which she returned; and that a shot from shore had passed through the bows of the said vessel; and not having sufficient steam to make any progress to get out of the reach of the enemy's battery, requested Lieut. Norton to tow him toward Indian Head; which was done. The enemy's battery continued their fire upon all vessels and steamers

He, perhaps, never conjectured that he could, with a ragged, ill-armed, unpaid, half-demoral-passing up and down until three P. M. To the ized army, without a baggage train, and with a best of my judgment there are four guns at said poor supply of war material, march all the way battery; one rifled gun, extreme range, as many from Springfield over a rugged road, and attack of their shots, during their firing, almost touched and capture a Federal garrison, supported, or the Maryland shore. No one was injured dur that ought to have been supported, by a departing the action. The officers and men fired de

liberately and coolly.

inent that has hundreds and thousands of tons of shot, shell, powder, cannon, artillery, musI have the honor to be your obedient serkets and rifles, and that has command of all the vant, E. P. MOCREA, Commanding. rivers, all the railroads, and all the steamboats in the State, for the speedy transportation of To Commander JOHN P. GILLIS, Commanding men and material to any point of danger.

Division of Potomac Flotilla.

But so it is, and Price and Jackson and Parsons, in their exultations over their unlookedfor victory, must feel even more surprise than we do, at being allowed to achieve it without interruption.

ler County, brought us by despatches from Jefferson City. A portion of Colonel McClurg's regiment of Home Guards, while on their way from Jefferson City to Linn Creek, Camden County, was surrounded by a large force of the enemy, near Tuscumbia, and, it is said, three hundred of them captured.

Doc. 59.

SKIRMISH NEAR CHAPMANSVILLE, Va.,
SEPTEMBER 25, 1861.

Misfortunes seldom come singly; for, in addition to the surrender of Lexington and the repulse of the Federal troops at Blue Mills Landing, we have to chronicle a reverse in Mil-gives the following account of this skirmish:

THE correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette

CAMP ENYART, October 1, 1861. The necessities for aid in Western Virginia led the Government to order the Thirty-fourth regiment into the field before the brigade of Zouaves was completed.

This to the officers was a great disappointment, as the drill is peculiar, rendering their cooperation a very important element of their efficiency and success. Yet, like true soldiers,

they responded to the call with the regiment completed, and marched for Western Virginia with a notice of six hours, and reached Camp Enyart Thursday the 19th of September. The officers, believing that the best drill they could give the Zouaves would be to let them go through their peculiar tactics with a rebel army for interested spectators, and learning that the enemy was in force about fifty miles from their camp, took up their line of march early Monday morning, having been in camp but three days. Col. Piatt had under his command, of the Thirty-fourth regiment, about five hundred and fifty men, while Lieut.-Col. Enyart had three hundred of the First Kentucky, and two hundred Home Guards of Virginia. The forces moved together until they reached Peytona, on As Capt. Anderson scaled the breastwork, the Cole River, where they separated, Col. En- Capt. Miller closed upon the left and Capt. yart going up the Cole River. Col. Enyart did Rathbone came in upon the right, his men not meet the enemy in force at any place, but crying "Zouave!"-the main column moving his men did meet and ford swollen rivers, and up the road in double-quick-until they were marched on short rations, and were anxious to brought to a temporary halt by obstructions meet with the running enemy of old Virginia. placed in the road by the enemy. The rebels, Col. Enyart did not join Col. Piatt until they terrified by the strange bravery and almost wild met on the Kanawha, on their return. Col. enthusiasm that were exhibited by each advancPiatt's command immediately proceeded thence ing column, ran in confusion, leaving their dead, to Boone Court House, and encamped that wounded, clothing, guns, horses, &c., making night one mile beyond. The next day, after their escape by Capt. Rathbone's right, his comproceeding some sixteen miles, they came up pany being too far up the mountain to cut off with the advance guard of the enemy, con- their retreat. Capt. West, commanding Comsisting of cavalry, when a brisk fire was ex-pany F, was detailed to scour the mountain on changed, the cavalry retreating. After the the west, on the left of the road. Capt. O. P. retreat of cavalry the battalion was immediately Evans on the west side of the mountain, on the put in order of battle. The advance guard of right side of the road. Capt. Herman Evans, fifteen men was led forward by Adjt. Clarke, commanding Company H, on the east side of proceeding along the road. Scouts were sent the mountain, on the left of the road. Each out on either side of the road to meet and re- of these companies moved with despatch, yet pulse the sharpshooters of the enemy. such was the knowledge of the rebels of the by-paths in the mountains, and belonging to the "F. F. V.'s", and having been drilled at running all summer, that but two were captured. Among interesting objects captured was a genuine secession flag, captured by Lieut. Brown. The perception of Col. Piatt in planning the battle, and his coolness during its execution, show him to be worthy of the high and responsible position to which he has been called. Lieut.-Col. Toland, from the part he executed during the entire engagement, demonstrated fully that he has courage to fight and ability to command. During the engagement the peculiar whistling of Minié balls was heard at that part of the column where Cols. Piatt and Toland were commanding. There were found two Mississippi rifles, which were aimed at our worthy commanders; but our colonels were protected, while Col. Davis of North Carolina fell, engaged in sustaining an unholy rebellion.

The force proceeded in this order for about two miles, meeting the pickets of the enemy, exchanging shots with them incessantly, and driving them back with increased confusion at each charge.

Being unable to ascertain the position of the rebels, the entire force halted for a few moments, and Colonel Piatt rode in advance and took observations with his glass, but could not ascertain their force and position, as it was covered with a thick growth of underbrush. After these observations a command was issued to forward the column. The scouts moved on with rapidity and enthusiasm, the main body moving up the narrow road cautiously and firmly. The fire continued to increase, and shots were rapidly exchanged from the right and left with the enemy, until our advanced guard reached within sixty yards of their main force.

The column was some eighty yards from the enemy when they received a perfect volley of fire upon their right, indicating that the rebels were in force in that direction. Company A, commanded by Capt. Rathbone, was ordered to deploy as skirmishers to the right, up the side of the mountain, and if possible to flank the enemy on their left.

Company C, commanded by Capt. Miller, was ordered to the right, up a similar mountain, to flank the enemy on their left.

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Company I, commanded by Capt. Anderson, was ordered directly up the ravine, on the left. In this position he drew the concentrated fire of the rebels upon his company, who made use of the knowledge thus obtained by rapidly charging upon and destroying the enemy's breastworks. The centre moved directly up the road. With this disposition of the forces, Col. Piatt routed them from their strongly fortified and well-selected position, in confusion. Capt. Anderson was the first to mount their breastworks, his men following him in the face of a terrible fire without flinching or confusion.

Seriously wounded: John Essex, Isaac Z. Bryant, Henry A. Massey.

Slightly Second Lieut. R. B. Underwood, B. A. Harper, J. G. Young, Jacob Genagi, Henry W. Price, and G. R. Wait.

We hope every report from the Thirty-fourth Ohio, Piatt Zouaves, may be better, until rebellion shall be crushed and peace and harmony restored. COLE.

night.

In my next I may describe our homeward march-or, I should perhaps say homeward swim, for we were in the water two days and two nights, and only half a cracker to each man was given out by our commissary. Yours, in truth, ALBANY P. -Cincinnati Commercial, Oct. 8, 1861.

ger, Allen County, O., and Jefferson Black, Cir- | Little Red; a dash by our boys upon the enecleville, Auglaize County, Ohio; both of Com- my's right, left, and centre; a fire from the pany I. enemy's breastworks, above which about three hundred rebel heads suddenly appeared, unknown by our men till that moment. They sent a perfect storm of bullets, over, under, and into our men. A few minutes more and our boys were inside the breastworks, chasing them over the mountains, the enemy running away like cowards as they proved to be. They left twenty-nine dead behind. Their force was four hundred and fifty infantry, and fifty cavalry. Our force was five hundred and sixty, composed of Co. A, Capt. Rathbone; Co. B, Capt. O. P. Evans; Co. C, Capt. Miller; Co. F, Capt. S. West; Co. I, Capt. Anderson; Co. H, Capt. H. E. Evans. We buried our three brave dead comrades that ght, carried our CAMP ENYART, KANAWHA, Oct. 2. wounded to the house wherein the rebel coloEDS. COM.: The Zouave Thirty-fourth regi- nel lay mortally wounded, deserted by all his ment, Ohio, have had a chance to show their men but one. Our whole column finally marched metal. This was on Wednesday, on Kanawha into the little town of Chapmansville, formerly Gap, near Chapmansville, Va. After march-head-quarters of the enemy, and camped for the ing forty-two miles, they came upon the enemy, who were behind breastworks, but could not stand our boys' steady fire, for they retreated in utter consternation, their Col. J. W. Davis, of Greenbrier, Va., (but the traitor is a native of Portsmouth, Ohio,) being mortally wounded. We killed twenty, took three prisoners, a secesh flag twenty feet long, with FIFTEEN STARS, four horses, one wagon, ten rifles, (one of which I claim,) twelve muskets, and commissary stores, (very low.) We lost three killed, nine wounded; one since died. The rout of the enemy was complete, although they had a brave and a skilful commander, and strong position, with two days' information of our intentions. They fled the moment their commander fell. The fight lasted about ten minutes opposite the breastworks, but a running fire was kept up previous to that, by the Bushwhackers and rebel cavalry for two hours. At every turn of the road over the mountains, they would fire upon our advance men, wheel round, and gallop away. This kind of fight was kept up till we came suddenly upon their breastwork, immediately in line of our entire column. It was made on the side of a knoll, between two mountain sides, the road running between the mountain and knoll on our right, and a small ravine running between the knoll and the mountain on our left. The wily rebel commander had adroitly cut down the brush on the right, placing a force of one hundred men on the mountain top on our right, who raked our column from the front to the centre. This was to draw our attention from their breast works. Our men naturally fired upon the rebels on their right, steadily advancing up the road, until within twenty feet of the enemy's works, when the rebels suddenly opened fire from their right, left, and centre. The order from Col. Piatt and Lieut.-Col. Toland, to flank right and left, was immediately responded to by the Zouaves with a hurrah, a Zouave yell, and a cry of "wood up" from

THE FIGHT OF THE PIATT ZOUAVES.

The following letter is exclusively devoted to the fight which the Piatt Zouaves had with the rebels near Chapmansville, Va.

Doc. 60.
CAPTURE OF OSCEOLA, MO.

A CORRESPONDENT of the Neosha Register gives the following account of the capture:

WEST POINT, Sept. 27. I have the painful task of informing you of another death in our ranks. Thomas Stanfield departed this life on the night of the 26th inst., receiving his death wound on the night of the 25th. Thomas is missed very much both on the field and in the camp; always cheerful and ready to obey every call, in fact he was the pet of the company. He was buried to-day.

We left West Point on the 23d Sept. for Osceola, with four hundred cavalry, under Col. Montgomery, assisted by Col. Ritchie, the infantry under Col. Weer numbering one hundred and sixty. We passed through Papinsville, arriving there on the afternoon of the 23d, at two o'clock. On the morning of the 24th we left Papinsville, and took up the line of march for Osceola. We crossed the Osage within four miles of Osceola at ten o'clock on the night of the 25th. The enemy, hearing of our approach, attempted to dispute the crossing of the river, but were not in time, their pickets coming up just as we got over. They were driven back and five of them taken prisoners. Here a consultation was held, which resulted in the determination to march on and attack the town.

The road from this point being through aed early the next morning, and arrived at Butdense thicket of underbrush, and over a hilly, ler about eight o'clock in the evening. Here broken country, being a strong position for an we learned that the notorious Capt. Lock (the enemy, we having learned that the enemy were same that lay in the Butler jail last summer for in ambush in a strong position, the night being murder, and was released on the condition that very dark, it was considered a post of great he would kill Montgomery and Jennison) was danger to lead the advance. After a brief con- five miles from Butler, sick. Capt. Hunt was sultation the post of honor and danger was detailed to go and arrest him, taking a guide. given to Capt. Hunt's company, supported by The company was dismounted when within a the infantry under Col. Weer, to be followed by half mile of the house, the horses concealed in the artillery under Capt. Moonlight, and the the brush: we then moved on quietly to the cavalry under Capts. Williams, Veal, Stuart, house, and after surrounding it, Lock was called Seamen, Clark, and Gibson. These companies for. The lady came out and remonstrated, dewere to bring up the rear. claring there was no man within.

Col. Ritchie then ordered the house to be set on fire. After the house had been burning about five minutes, the lady-I have lied, she was not a lady, but a mere thing, bearing the semblance of a woman-asked permission to take from the burning pile of logs some valuable clothing. Here Thomas Stanfield met his fate. He volunteered, with two or three others, to bring out those things, and when he stepped in the door Lock fired from within. Thomas

We lost one killed, one missing, and four wounded, but not dangerously. We could not ascertain the rebels' entire loss. We found ten dead bodies on the field the morning after the battle. J. M. L.

Doc. 61.

EVACUATION OF MUNSON'S HILL, VA.

A CORRESPONDENT of the New York Tribune,

The programme being settled, Capt. Hunt's company took the advance, and moved forward, formed as skirmishers, or in single file, with orders to fall back on the infantry as soon as the enemy opened fire. We marched on in perfect silence, broken only by the tramping of the horses and the rumbling of the wheels of the artillery, until within a short distance of the town, when the enemy opened a tremendous fire upon Capt. Hunt's company from the brush on the right of the road, which was promptly cried out he was shot, walked to the door and returned. Capt. Hunt, instead of falling back fell, the ball entering his abdomen and lodging upon the infantry as ordered, formed his men against the spine. It is not known whether on the left of the road, and maintained his posi-Lock perished in the flames or not. tion until the artillery under Capt. Moonlight came up, and opened a heavy fire, that soon drove the enemy back in the bushes. They soon formed again, and marched within fifteen or twenty feet of the road, and opened fire the second time, but were repulsed by the infantry after a hot fire on both sides for ten or fifteen minutes, when the enemy stopped firing. Capt. Quig's company was then sent out to scour the timber, and finding the secesh retreating through a cornfield to the north, he fired a volley or two at the retreating devils, killing two or three, and wounding as many more. Captain Quig re-writes, September 29th, the following account turned, the column moved forward, taking their of the appearance of the rebel lines after the position on the east of the town, where they remained until daylight. Captain Moonlight then opened fire on the court house, (a very fine edifice,) after which they moved forward into the town, the cavalry in the advance, followed by the artillery, and the infantry in the rear. Finding the rebels had fled, we took quarters in the different hotels. Our friend Capt. Hunt, having maintained the post of honor, being in advance, took quarters in the best hotel, finding a sumptuous breakfast already laid out, all of which the Neosho Rangers devoured, you had better think. After breakfast was over, Colonel Montgomery, finding the boys filling their canteens with wildfire, ordered the same to be spilled. After spilling some five or six hundred barrels of different kinds of liquors, and loading all the wagons we had and could press, with such articles as the army was in want of, then burning the accursed place, we took up our line of march, meeting Gen. Lane about eight miles from Osceola, bringing up reinforcements. Here we camped. The pickets being fired on here during the night, we inarch

evacuation:

I rode over this morning directly to Munson's Hill, from the recent post of observation, Bailey's Cross Roads. The appearance of the surrounding country had vastly changed since my last previous visit, only twenty-four hours earlier. Then the fields were, to all appearance, clear of human presence, and the only tokens of life were given by the sharp ringing of the rifle-bullets here and there-oftener tokens of death. The pickets held their lines, and our two little companies of infantry were grouped about the sheltered portions of the Cross Roads. There was not a sign of any sudden change. Toward afternoon, I am informed, the rebel pickets were seen retiring. Their flag tumbled from the perch, and even the slight activity which the Virginia regiments had been accustomed to show was totally suspended. It was evident that the place was deserted. Soon after it was taken possession of by our troops. I am embarrassed as to the particular regiment which achieved the somewhat empty honor of

first planting itself within the earthwork, but I | exception of a few trees, it contained nothing believe it must have been the Fifth Michigan, else. Behind it, on the slope of the hill, were which, I am sure, would have been even more a group of irregular shanties, thrown together eager than it was, had the honors been more for the protection of troops. Their number hazardous to attain and more noble to enjoy. was sufficient for the accommodation of about But I have heard it loudly claimed by members one regiment, certainly not more. A considerof about ten different regiments, always with a able quantity of straw, and a few forgotten racircumstantial positiveness that does credit to tions lay about. The usual offensive odors of a their inventive heads, rather than their elastic rebel Virginia camp were heightened in this veracity. Certainly, the Fifth Michigan, Colo- case by the stench from a dead and decaying nel Terry, hold the Hill now, and I make no horse, which the rebels apparently had not endoubt that they first seized it. They, together ergy enough to remove, but left to rot among with the New York Thirty-fifth, have been kept them. alert since the occupation, lest some adroit effort at resumption should be attempted by the

enemy.

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Some six hundred yards to the rear of Munson's Hill, on the other side of the Leesburg turnpike, there is another elevation, undistinAt the time I passed up the hill, the roadguished by a name, upon which the Virginians was filled with troops passing and repassing, had erected another characteristic work. In and with curious visitors, seeking for stray appearance it was somewhat more imposing tokens of the absent, but not forgotten, Virgin- than the mud-mound on Munson's, having emians. The little valley which separated the brasures, and something like a ditch. A nearer lines of the pickets was undergoing rigid explo- approach, however, reduced its air of conseration for bullets. The line of the rebel pickets quence. It was undoubtedly erected as a place appeared to be less attractive, but it was assur- of refuge, in case Munson's Hill should be edly interesting to observe with what a cau- stormed, to be held with artillery. It stands tious instinct of self-preservation those fellows upon nearly a level with the other work, and is, had constructed their little huts of shelter. consequently, not visible from any of our old The number of logs that any bullet would have positions. It is not an enclosure, although its had to pierce, not to speak of the number of present incompleteness may mislead one as to corners it must have turned before reaching what its ultimate aspect might have been. them, ought to have made them perfectly at Three sides are finished. They are composed their ease while on duty. There was no peril of barrels and hogsheads filled with loose sand in their picketing. Each of their posts was a and thinly overspread with sacred soil. The sort of rough fort in itself, compared with which everlasting helpless and toil-evading Virginia our slight breastworks were utterly insignifi- spirit is prominent at every angle and embracant. I discovered what was never apparent sure. I am astonished that the rebels were not from our own lines, that their picket position ashamed to leave so slip-shod and contemptible a commanded ours absolutely, and that every work behind them. They might, at least, have movement made by our guards must have been spared themselves ridicule by destroying itperfectly apparent to them. Hence, undoubt-only that, too, would have compelled a certain edly, their perpetual attempts to pick off our amount of labor. There is a ditch outside the inen. The temptation was too strong for them. "fortification," which is positively comic-a The scene at the top of the hill, in the earth- ditch which, apart from its generally droll apwork itself, was, I think, one of the most in-pearance, is calculated above all things to help spiring to be imagined. Everybody was laugh- an attacking party over the ramparts. There ing. The utter absurdity of the works as are a dozen or more embrasures, which are so means of defence, their smallness, meanness, in-cut that they afford less protection than if the significance, touched everybody's sense of the guns were used en barbette. There is nothing ludicrous. The enclosure comprises about four like the incompetency of this "fort." The rear acres, around which earth is roughly thrown is entirely open, although there are indications up to a height of perhaps four feet. Of course of an intention to close it at some time, which there is no ditch, no glacis-nothing, in fact, to was never carried out. A rifle-pit, eighteen give it the character of a fortification of any inches high, straggles down for some distance kind. It is not even regular in form, but coils at one side, and growing less at every yard, loosely and waveringly about the ground, as a finally mingles with the ordinary dirt of the huge snake might enfold it. In every respect road. The only agreeable object connected with it looks a squirmy piece of work. There are the affair is the newly-raised flag of the Union, no embrasures for guns, but upon two of its which flaps salutations to its neighbor over upon projections are mounted-what! guns? No, Munson's Hill all the day long. indeed, but old logs, with a black circle painted in the centre of the sawed part to represent a formidable armament. At such a distance as that of Bailey's Roads, the deception might very easily have remained undetected. In the middle of this wretched "fort," the remains of a hastily-constructed hut still stood; but, with the

A short distance beyond this second intrenchment (I use the word intrenchment, fortification, &c., in a merely technical sense, and not because the rebel defences merit any such serious designation) are the cross-roads where the Connecticut regiments under General Tyler were formerly encamped. It is pleasant to re