were thrown in different parts of the town, fortunately without doing any injury to a single individual.

After firing a couple of rounds at the more advanced position of the rebels, the cavalry made a charge and advanced to within three hundred yards of a corral behind which a company under Captain Hardeman were stationed. From forty to sixty shots were fired by this company, killing four and wounding four of the Federals, throwing them into confusion, and finally into retreat, their officers vainly trying to rally them. Captain Coopwood's company had been continually deploying among the houses and corrals, first appearing mounted and then on foot, and in many different directions. This and other movements, and the appearance of men both far and near, at so many points, succeeded in deceiving the Unionists, as to the real force of the enemy. The order to charge was given four times, but to no purpose; they were disheartened by their ill success, and as night was falling they withdrew in good order in the direction of Fort Fillmore, carrying with them the dead and wounded.

At one o'clock on the following morning, Major Lynde evacuated Fort Fillmore, with all his command, previously destroying much valuable property and munitions of war. The soldiers destroyed much of their company property, muskets, clothing, a blacksmith's shop, bakery, and one of the quartermaster's store-rooms. The hospital stores, medicine, and furniture were most. completely broke up, and nearly all the arms and a large quantity of ammunition were destroyed. A great deal of valuable commissary stores and other property were unharmed, to the amount of several thousand dollars.

The United States troops retreated in the direction of Fort Staunton, and were seen by the rebel scouts immediately after daylight, eight or ten miles east of Los Cruces, in the mountains. The whole command of Confederate troops were ordered in pursuit, and crowded on

in full chase after the fugitives. The road lay over the table-lands and mountains to a pass in the Organos chain, by the way of San Augustine Springs, over a route where there was no water, and the day was excessively warm.

The six miles to the Springs was a succession of charges; men were taken prisoners, and disarmed in squads; the artillery was captured, and the greater portion of the infantry were taken before the main command was reached.

Major Lynde was encamped near the San Augustine Springs, and had still some four hundred men with him, who formed in battle array on the appearance of the Confederate troops. Advance was made to charge on them by the Confederates, and they had reached within three hundred yards, with eager spirits for the fray, when a flag of truce was raised by the United States column, desiring to know on what conditions their commander would receive a surrender. The reply was, an unconditional surrender, the same terms they had endeav ored to dictate to the Confederate forces. This was sought to be modified by the United States commander, which request was refused, further than that they would be allowed two hours to remove their women and children to a place of safety. The United States commander finally agreed to an unconditional surrender.

In brief, during this day, eleven companies of United States regular troops, mounted and foot, mustering seven hundred effective men, surrendered to two hundred and eighty Confederates, four pieces of cannon, arms, equipments, two hundred cavalry horses, mules and wagons, and two hundred and seventy head of beef cattle. August 5. Galveston bombarded, done.

Skirmish at Athens, Missouri.

not much damage

A band of one thousand Confederates, led by a brother of ex-Senator Green, attacked a camp of Union men at

Athens, a small town in the extreme northeast of Missouri, on the Des Moines river, about thirty miles from Keokuk, about five o'clock in the morning. There was a considerable amount of arms and ammunition stored in the camp, which comprised three hundred and fifty men, under Captain Moore. The fighting lasted about an hour, when the rebels retreated, leaving six dead on the field. Captain Moore was reinforced by a hundred and fifty men, and pursued them a mile and a half, killing one, taking eighteen prisoners, thirty horses, and two flags. Three Union men were killed and eight wounded. August 7. The village of Hampton, Va., burned.

On the 2d of August, General Magruder left Yorktown with a force of seven thousand men, including two hundred cavalry and eight pieces of artillery, namely, three Parrott guns, four howitzers, and one rifled cannon, and proceeded to Great Bethel — which place had been completely deserted—where they encamped for the night, and the next day advanced toward Hampton, and took a position on Back River, some three miles from the town. Undoubtedly the object of the expedition was to draw out the Federal forces, attack Camp Hamilton or Newport News if practicable, and at least to destroy Hampton, so as to prevent its being used by the Federals for winterquarters.

A deserter from the Confederates arrived at Fortress Monroe, and gave information of the approach of Magruder, when General Butler at once repaired to Hampton Bridge, where he remained until eleven o'clock. Colonel Weber erected a barricade near the Hampton end of the bridge, and placed a strong guard at various points.

A few minutes past midnight, General Magruder, with about five hundred Confederates- some of them belonging in Hampton-entered the town, and immediately fired the buildings with torches. A greater part of the five hundred houses were built of wood, and no rain having

fallen lately, the strong south wind soon produced a terrible conflagration. There were perhaps twenty white people, and double that number of negroes, remaining in the town from inability to move. Several of the whites, and also of the negroes, were hurried away to be pressed into the Confederate service. Two negroes were drowned while attempting to cross the creek. A company of rebels attempted to force the passage of the bridge, but were repulsed with a loss of three killed and six wounded.

The fire raged all night. The greater part of the Confederates withdrew toward morning, and at noon but seven or eight buildings were left standing.

August 10. Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri.

After General Lyon's successful engagement at Dug Spring, he returned to Springfield to prepare for an effective defence of that city, apprehending an immediate attack by the Confederates. On the 7th of August, the Confederate Generals Price, McCulloch, and Pierce, decided to march upon Springfield, and attack the Federals where they had taken position in force. General McCulloch had received a general order from General Polk, commander of the southwestern division of the Confederate army, to advance into Missouri. He immediately held a consultation with the officers of the two divisions, and offered to march at once upon Springfield, upon condition that he should have the chief command of the army. General Price replied that he was not fighting for distinction, and that it mattered but little what position he occupied; that he was ready to surrender not only the command, but his life as a sacrifice to the cause. He accordingly did not hesitate, but turned over the command to General McCulloch, and took a subordinate position. On taking command, General McCulloch issued a general order, that all the unarmed men should remain in camp, and all those furnished with arms should get their guns in condition for service, pro

vide themselves with fifty rounds of ammunition, and get in readiness to take up the line of march by twelve o'clock at night. The army was divided into three columns, the first commanded by General McCulloch, the second by General Pierce, and the third by General Price. They took up the line of march at the hour named, leaving the baggage-train behind, and proceeded in the direction of Springfield. They encamped on the night of the 8th at Big Spring, one mile and a half from Wilson's Creek, and ten miles and a half south of Springfield. Their baggage-trains having been left behind, and their beef cattle also, the troops had not eaten any thing for twenty-four hours, and had been supplied with only half rations for ten days previous. In this exigency, they satisfied the cravings of hunger by eating green corn, without a particle of salt or a mouthful of meat. The wardrobe of the soldiers on that night was thus humorously described by one of the number: "We had not a blanket, not a tent, nor any clothes except the few we had on our backs, and four-fifths of us were barefooted. Billy Barlow's dress at a circus would be decent in comparison to that of almost any one of us, from the major-general down to the humblest private."

On the next day they moved on to Wilson's Creek, and there took up camp, in the vicinity of several large cornfields, from which they could supply themselves with green corn, which for two days had constituted their only repast.

Orders were issued by General McCulloch to the troops to get ready to take up the line of march to Springfield by nine o'clock P. M., with a view of attacking the Union forces at four different points, at daybreak the next morning. His effective force, as stated by himself, was five thousand three hundred infantry, fifteen pieces of artillery, and six thousand horsemen, armed with flintlock muskets, rifles and shot-guns.