or throwing them out of the cars through the broken sides. Some were mangled by the machinery tearing through the timbers, several were caught between planks pressing together like a vice. Others were struck by parts of the roof as it came down with mighty force. Still others were cut with pieces of glass, while wounds, and blood, and agony prevailed all over the frightful scene, and shrieks of pain were mingled with cries of terror. In this the last two cars of the train went down, pitching the passengers into the wreck, or throwing them. into the water, which at this point is about a foot and a half in depth. Only three persons were able to afford assistance to the suffering, the remainder of those who were not killed outright being so disabled as to be helpless. Seventeen persons were killed. Two hundred yards west of the bridge a heavy oak railroad tie was strongly strapped across the track, and two miles further on, the trestle work over a small stream was on fire, which, however, had not become so badly burned that trains could not pass over, or that it could not be extinguished; and fifteen miles east of the Platte River, another bridge over Smith's Branch was almost entirely burned, and still burning, having been fired after the train passed west, to prevent assistance being sent from the east. Probably the perpetrators of this diabolical act expected soldiers would be passing over the road by that train, and resorted to this method to despatch them. September 6. Occupation of Paducah, Ky. General Grant, with two regiments of infantry, one company of light artillery, and two gunboats took possession of Paducah, Ky. He found secession flags flying in different parts of the city, in expectation of greeting the arrival of the Southern army, which was reported three thousand eight hundred strong, sixteen miles distant. The loyal citizens tore down the secession flags on the arrival of our troops. General Grant took possession of the telegraph office, railroad depot, and the marine hospital. He found large quantities of complete rations and leather for the Southern army. He then issued the following proclamation to the people of Paducah: "I have come among you not as an enemy, but as your fellow-citizen. Not to maltreat or annoy you, but to respect and enforce the rights of all loyal citizens. "An enemy in rebellion against our common government has taken possession of and planted its guns on the soil of Kentucky, and fired upon you. Columbus and Hickman are in his hands. He is moving upon your city. I am here to defend you against this enemy, to assist the authority and sovereignty of your Government. "I have nothing to do with opinions, and shall deal only with armed rebellion and its aiders and abettors. You can pursue your usual avocations without fear. The strong arm of the Government is here to protect its friends and punish its enemies. “Whenever it is manifest that you are able to defend yourselves, and maintain the authority of the Government, and protect the rights of loyal citizens, I shall withdraw the forces under my command. "U. S. GRANT, "Brigadier-General Commanding." September 7. General McClellan's Order for the observance of the Sabbath was read throughout the entire line of his command, and was everywhere received with gladness. The Rev. Dr. Thompson gives an account of an interview between himself and General McClellan a short time before leaving for the seat of war. As it shows, somewhat, the character of the man who had been called to take command of the Army of the Potomac, perhaps it will not be out of place here. "General McClellan had attended Dr. Thompson's Church for six months or more, and had become greatly interested in the subject of religion. Just previous to his departure for the seat of war, he called upon Dr. Thompson for religious conversation and instruction. During the interview, by request of Dr. Thompson, they kneeled together in prayer. Dr. Thompson prayed, and at the conclusion he noticed that the general still remained kneeling.. 'Pray for yourself,' said the pastor, placing his hand on the general's shoulder. General McClellan then, in an earnest and simple manner, prayed for his country, for the success of soldiers who were about to go forth to pour out their blood for its salvation, and for wisdom from on high to lead his men to the victory, that the cause of good government might prevail." September 8. Private William Scott, the sleeping sentinel, under sentence of death, was pardoned and returned to duty by the following order: HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, } Private William Scott, of Company K, of the Third Regiment of Vermont Volunteers, having been found guilty by court-martial of sleeping on his post while a sentinel on picket guard, has been sentenced to be shot, and the sentence has been approved and ordered to be executed. The commanding officers of the brigade, the regiment and the company of the condemned, together with many other officers and privates of his regiment, have earnestly appealed to the major-general commanding to spare the life of the offender, and the Presdent of the United States has expressed a wish that as this is the first condemnation to death in this army for this crime, mercy may be extended to the criminal. This fact, viewed in connection with the inexperience of the condemned as a soldier, his previous good conduct and general good character, and the urgent entreaties made in his behalf, have determined the Major-General Commanding to grant the pardon so earnestly prayed for. This act of clemency must not be understood as affording a precedent for any future case. The duty of a sentinel is of such a nature that its neglect by sleeping upon or deserting his post may endanger the safety of a command, or even of the whole army, and all nations affix to the offence the penalty of death. Private William Scott, of Company K, of the Third Regiment of Vermont Volunteers, will be released from confinement and returned to duty. By command of Major-General MCCLELLAN. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. The pardon was read to the regiment, which heartily expressed their appreciation of this act of Executive clemency. September 10. Battle of Carnifex Ferry, Va. It will be remembered that we left General John B. Floyd in possession of the Federal camp at Summerville, after having surprised Colonel Tyler with the Seventh Ohio regiment while at breakfast; now we find him intrenched in a powerful position on the top of a mountain at Carnifex Ferry, on the west side of Gauley River, only a short distance from Summerville. General Rosecrans, after making a reconnoisance, ascertained Floyd's army to be five thousand strong, with sixteen fieldpieces; the front masked with heavy forests and a close jungle, and the rear and extreme of both flanks inaccessible, a most formidable natural position, strengthened by pallisades and intrenchments. . The Union army, under General Rosecrans, in their march from Clarksburgh (his head-quarters) to Big Burch River, after passing over hills and through hol lows, glens, gorges, and ruggedness, encamped on the fifth on the bluffs above the lifeless village of Sutton for a temporary rest. On the seventh, at six o'clock in the morning, they were to resume the march. The tents were struck promptly, and the column was ready to move, but in consequence of some unforeseen events they were delayed six hours, until mid-day, when the column and its ponderous baggage train twisted themselves around the swelling form of Kreitz's Mountain-a bifurcated elevation, with twin summits, divided by a gorge of profound depth and obscurity. From that time until late at night they swept steadily onward, with now and then a brief halt to afford men and beasts opportunity to recruit strength for continued effort. After a severe march, the last four or five miles through darkness over a painful road, wading creeks and splashing through mud, mingled with gravel, they halted on the southeast bank of Big Burch River, in Nicholas county, nineteen miles from Sutton, and about sixteen from Summerville, plunged into the wet grass, and bivouacked without satisfying their hunger. The baggage train was compelled to halt in the middle of the road, and did not arrive until nearly noon the next day. It had been intended to bivouac at the foot of the mountain, but they could find no camping ground, not even the side of a hill upon which a soldier could recline with the hope of remaining stationary till he could go to sleep, until finally, the harassed and wearied troops plunged headlong into friendly meadows in Big Burch flats. Here, on the banks of the dark and turbulent stream, they were permitted to rest their weary bones over the Sabbath, with the exception of scouting parties who scoured the mountains and glens, in pursuit of rebels who had fled from the valley where the Union troops were encamped, as the vanguard of the Union army |