boden's camp, eighteen miles south of Moorefield,
Hardy County, Virginia, routing him completely,
killing and wounding many, and capturing his
camps, fifty prisoners, a quantity of arms, and a
large number of horses, cattle, hogs, wagons, etc.
The enemy was entirely dispersed, and fled to
the mountains.
H. G. WRIGHT,
Major-General Commanding.

DESPATCH FROM GENERAL KELLEY.

MOOREFIELD, HARDY COUNTY, Nov. 10, 1862.

To Governor Pierpont:

enemy;

to be taken care of and secured, and the unem-
ployed laborers to be set at work and provision
made for payment for their labor:
To order, as follows:

1. That all the property within the district to be known as the "District of Lafourche," be and hereby is sequestered, and all sales or transfers thereof are forbidden, and will be held invalid.

2. The district of Lafourche will comprise all the territory in the State of Louisiana lying west of the Mississippi River, except the parishes of Plaquemines and Jefferson.

3. That

Major Jos. M. Bell, Provost-Judge, President,
Lieut.-Col. J. B. Kinsman, A.D.C.,

I left New-Creek on Saturday morning, the eighth instant, and after a continuous march of twenty-four hours, a distance of about sixty miles, reached Imboden's camp on the South-Fork, eighteen miles south of this place, at half-past six Capt. Fuller, (Seventy-fifth New-York voluno'clock yesterday morning. teers,) Provost-Marshal of the district, We attacked him at once and routed him com- be a commission to take possession of the proppletely, killing and wounding many of the erty in said district, to make an accurate invenalso capturing his camp, fifty prisoners, a quan- tory of the same, and to gather up and collect all tity of arms, three hundred and fifty fat hogs, a such personal property, and to turn over to the large number of horses, cattle, wagons, etc. The proper officers, upon their receipts, such of said infantry were routed and entirely dispirited, flee- property as may be required for the use of the ing to the mountains. Their cavalry were, un- United States army, to collect together all the fortunately for us, away on an expedition, or our other personal property, and to bring the same success would have been complete. We burnt to New-Orleans, and cause it to be sold at public their camp and returned to this place this even- auction to the highest bidders, and after deducting. ing the necessary expenses of care, collection, and I had with me a detachment of the First New- transportation, to hold the proceeds thereof subYork cavalry, under the command of Colonel Mc-ject to the just claims of loyal citizens and those Reynolds, the Ringgold cavalry, under the com- neutral foreigners who, in good faith, shall appear mand of Captain Keys, the Washington cavalry, to be the owners of the same. commanded by Captain Greenfield, Rourk's battery, and three companies of the Twenty-third Illinois infantry, under the command of Major

Moore.

The infantry companies were carried in wagons. My troops cannot be surpassed for patient endurance on the march or for gallant bearing when in action. Our attack was so unexpected and impetuous that our loss is trifling, three or four men slightly and one severely wounded; none

killed.

Doc. 41.

B. F. KELLEY,
Brigadier-General.

GENERAL BUTLER'S ORDER,

ENFORCING THE CONFISCATION ACT.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
NEW-ORLEANS, November 9, 1862.

GENERAL ORDER No. 91.

4. Every loyal citizen or neutral foreigner who shall be found in actual possession and ownership of any property in said district, not having acquired the same by any title since the eighteenth day of September last, may have his property returned or delivered to him without sale, upon establishing his condition to the judgment of the commission.

5. All sales made by any person not a loyal citizen or foreign neutral, since the eighteenth day of September, shall be held void, and all sales whatever, made with the intent to deprive the Government of its rights of confiscation, will be held void, at what time soever made.

6. The commission is authorized to employ in working the plantation of any person who has remained quietly at his home, whether he be loyal or disloyal, the negroes who may be found in said district, or who have, or may hereafter claim the protection of the United States, upon the terms set forth in a memorandum of a contract heretofore offered to the planters of the parishes of Plaquemines and St. Bernard, or white labor may be employed at the election of the commission.

THE Commanding General being informed, and believing, that the district west of the Mississippi River, lately taken possession of by the United States troops, is most largely occupied by persons disloyal to the United States, and 7. The commissioners will cause to be purwhose property has become liable to confiscation chased such supplies as may be necessary, and under the acts of Congress and the proclamation convey them to such convenient dépôts as to supof the President, and that sales and transfers of ply the planters in the making of the crop, which said property are being made for the purpose of supplies will be charged against the crop manudepriving the Government of the same, has deter-factured, and shall constitute a lien thereon. mined, in order to secure the rights of all per- 8. The commissioners are authorized to work sons as well as those of the Government, and for for the account of the United States such plantathe purpose of enabling the crops now growing tions as are deserted by their owners, or are held

reconstructed a bridge over the creek, three miles outside the town, for the transportation of their artillery to the opposite bank. I also learned, from information gathered on the spot, that an immediate attack was to have been made on the place; but upon hearing of my advance from Washington, and seeing the danger of their capture, they beat a precipitate and hasty retreat.

teenth Massachusetts regiments, the Third NewYork cavalry and twenty-three pieces of artillery, had already left by land for Washington, N. Č. and two gunboats and seven transports were waiting to take the balance of the expedition to the same place. The troops taken by the fleet were the Fifth Massachusetts, five companies of the Twenty-third Massachusetts, eight of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts, six of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, eight of the Twenty-seventh Mas

The navy under command of Com. Davenport, senior officer, coöperated heartily with me during the whole time, by sending five gunboats to Ham-sachusetts, Fifth Rhode Island, eight companies ilton, and their placing four boat-howitzers, with of the Twenty-fifth New-Jersey, and the Tenth their crews, at my disposal.

I desire to mention particularly the efficient conduct of Colonel Stevenson, commanding the Second brigade, and Colonel Potter, of the First North-Carolina Union volunteers.

Connecticut.

The fleet sailed at nine o'clock on the morning of the thirtieth October, and passing down the river Neuse into Pamlico Sound, arrived at Washington, at the entrance of Tar River, on the afternoon of the thirty-first, after a pleasant passage. Here a marine battery of four pieces were added to the artillery force.

I recommend that Colonel Stevenson, for his efficient services on this march, and in the affair at Little Creek and Rawls's Mills, as well as previous services at the battles of Roanoke and New- The departure of the army from Washington bern, be promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, to date from November third, 1862. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient J. G. FOSTER, Major-General Commanding.

servant.

The Fifth Massachusetts regiment, since it left Boston on the twenty second of October, has endured a greater share of the hardships of war than usually falls to the lot of new regiments. During the brief time which it has been absent from Massachusetts, it has sailed over one thousand miles in crowded transports, marched one hundred and seven miles over wretched roads and in all varieties of weather, from burning heat to extreme cold and snow, camping without tents for more than a week; has five times taken three days' rations in their haversacks, and has smelt the smoke of battle, though not brought immediately under the enemy's fire.

was delayed twenty-four hours by the non-arrival of the force marching overland, and it was not until the morning of November second that the whole expedition set out for the interior, in three brigades, under Colonels Amory, Stevenson and Lee. The Fifth Massachusetts was in Col. Lee's brigade, the Forty-fourth was in that of Colonel Stevenson. The Twenty-third Massachusetts was commanded by Major Chambers. Major-General Foster commanded the expedition in person.

The column took up the march toward Williamston, twenty-five miles distant, Gen. Stevenson's brigade at the head, and the New-York cavalry thrown out in advance. Skirmishers were sent out to the right and left, as the army proceeded. When nine miles from Washington a small rebel camp was found, from which the enemy had hastily fled, after burning such of their equipments as they could not conveniently take with them.

Our route lay through a level country, the soil sandy, intermixed with a light loam, extremely difficult to march on. An unbroken forest of pines, seeming almost interminable, lay on either side. In some places the road was covered with water a foot deep, for a great distance. The day was extremely warm, and our progress was neces sarily slow, many of the troops, both of the old and new regiments, falling out of the ranks from exhaustion.

The regiment had been but two days in camp here, and was still subsisting on the rations served out on board the steamer Mississippi, when orders were received from Major-General Foster to prepare to depart immediately upon an important expedition. Many of the necessary equipments had not yet been distributed to the men, nor had the arrangements for cooking been At four P.M., when within six miles of Wilperfected; but within twelve hours from the time liamston, cannonading and musket-firing was of receiving the order, guns, ammunition, and heard in the advance, and it was soon ascertained three days' rations had been supplied to the that a body of seven hundred rebels, with two troops, and they were ready to leave camp at artillery pieces, had made a stand in a very comfour o'clock on the morning of Thursday, Octo-manding position on the opposite bank of a small ber thirtieth. Twenty-five men of each company creek, at a place called Old Ford. The marine were detailed to remain at Newbern as a campguard.

On reaching the wharf where we were to embark, it became evident that the expedition was one of considerable magnitude, and that about six thousand troops of all arms were to take part in it, the greater part of whom were of Massachusetts regiments. The Forty-fourth and Seven

battery and the New-York battery opened upon them, and the Forty-fourth Massachusetts, supported by the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts, charged across the stream, and the rebel position was speedily carried, the marine battery losing one man killed, James King, of Chicago; and the Forty-fourth Massachusetts two men, Charles Morse and Rollins. The rebel loss could

DOCUMENTS.

not be ascertained, as they removed all the bodies of their dead except one. The rebels retreated to rifle-pits at Rawls's Mills, one mile distant, from which they were our troops losing but one speedily driven out man, Thomas Peterson, of the Twenty-fourthwhen the main body of our army crossed the stream on a foot-bridge, constructed for the purpose, and encamped for the night in a corn-field, near the deserted rifle-pits, without tents (having brought none with them) at two o'clock on the morning of the third, after a march of twenty miles and a tedious service of twenty-two hours. The army resumed its march after five hours' rest, the weather being extremely hot and trying to the troops. The country through which we passed was more undulating and diversified than on the first day, and large fields of cotton, corn, and sweet potatoes were seen along the route. Our brigade, composed of the Fifth and Twentyseventh Massachusetts and the Ninth New-Jersey, led the advance. A fight was expected at Williamston, but when the army approached the town it was found to be evacuated by the rebel forces and deserted by most of its inhabitants. Five Federal gunboats were lying in front of the town, ready to cooperate with the army in the reduction of a strong rebel fort at Rainbow Bluff, on the Roanoke River, near Hamilton, twelve Guards were stationed at the miles farther on. tenanted houses, and our troops were quartered in the deserted dwellings for rest and refreshment. Resuming its march in the afternoon, our army encamped for the night in a field five miles beyond Williamston, and on moving again on the morning of the fourth, proceeded without opposition to within two miles of Hamilton, when it was obliged to halt two hours to repair a bridge destroyed by the retreating foe. This being done, the army entered Hamilton, finding the town almost entirely deserted, the rebels having evacuated it and removed their cannon from the fort at Rainbow Bluff. Our army camped in the rear of the town, and foragers were sent into the place to procure supplies. Some of the troops, in violation of the orders of General Foster, wantonly destroyed property which they could not use or carry away, and many of the deserted houses were set on fire and destroyed, presenting a sad spectacle of the ravages of war, as our army marched out of the town during the evening, its way lighted by the glare of the conflagration. This destruction of property would not have occurred had the inhabitants remained, for no occupied houses were damaged; but the fears of the citizens were aroused by the retreating rebels, who, as they passed through the town, reported that our army would shell it, and thus induced the unfortunate people to leave it, taking their valuable movable goods, and leaving their dwellings exposed to the torches of soldiers who treat as rebels all those who will not remain in their homes and accept Federal protection.

Three miles beyond Hamilton our army encamped on a large plantation owned by a rebel, where an abundance of pigs, poultry, corn and VOL. VI.-Doc. 13

Here the whole encamp-
sweet potatoes was found for the subsistence of
the troops and horses.

ment could be taken in at one view, and the
scene at night, when more than one hundred
camp-fires were lighted, over an area of several
hundred acres, was brilliantly grand.

The next day, November fifth, our advanced
guard came up with the enemy's cavalry, when
within seven miles of Tarboro, and a small force
of cavalry and infantry were stationed for the
purpose of deceiving the enemy, while the main
body of our troops, taking another and more cir-
cuitous route, marched within four miles of Tar-
boro, with the view of capturing three rebel regi-
ments known to have been stationed there, and
of cutting the important railroad connections, at
that place. But our delay at Washington had
given the enemy time to concentrate his troops,
and the whistles of reenforcing rebel trains were
heard through the night, while our scouts came
in on the morning of the sixth and reported the
confederates fifteen thousand to twenty thousand
strong at Tarboro. They had skirmished with
the enemy's advanced guard during the night, and
Under these circumstances, and in view of the
lost one man of the New-York cavalry.
effect of an impending rain-storm on the roads,
our army commenced retiring toward Hamilton,
which we reached at five P.M. on the sixth, after
a laborious march of fifteen miles, through al-
most constant rain, and over roads in a condition
utterly inconceivable to those unacquainted with
the wretchedness of Southern thoroughfares in
rainy weather. For a great part of the distance
the road had the appearance of an immense mor-
tar-bed, through which our troops waded, some-
times knee-deep, and the artillery and cavalry
horses wallowed and floundered as in a sea. Some-
times the mud had the adhesiveness of wax, and
After a night's rest and abundant meals from
acted on our boots with the effect of a bootjack.
the supplies brought in by our foragers, we re-
sumed our march on the morning of the seventh,
amid snow and sleet, over roads yet unsettled,
toward Williamston, thirteen miles distant, which
While
we reached at four P.M., quartering as before in
the deserted houses, and remaining till the morn-
ing of the ninth for much needed rest.
remaining at Williamston our troops cut down
the whipping-post, and burned the jail, in which
over thirty Union prisoners had been confined
until the arrival of our troops, when they were
tied to the rear of baggage-wagons, and compel-
led to follow the retreating rebels.

On the ninth we marched eighteen miles from Williamston to within four miles of Plymouth, on the Roanoke River, at the head of Albemarle Sound. On the tenth our camp was moved to within one mile of Plymouth, and on the eleventh the troops commenced embarking for Newbern, via Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds and the river The results of the expedition are the opening Neuse, arriving at this place late last evening. of the Roanoke River for gunboats beyond Hamilton; an important diversion in favor of other Federal projects, by compelling the enemy to

Brigadier-General Crook, Commanding Kana-maining there, and taking every thing they could