"Head-waters of the Rappahannock "-now we are within a short distance of its mouth. What a transition-from the Blue Ridge mountains almost to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, and in so short a time. with one hundred and sixty of the First SouthCarolina volunteers, (colored regiment,) in quest of lumber and other articles needed for the department. The steamer Ben Deford, ordered by you to report to me at Doboy Sound, did not, owThe two trains of cars that were observed leaving to heavy fogs and adverse winds, reach that ing Fredericksburgh last evening carried away point until the seventeenth instant. On the with them, no doubt, many a guilty head whose eighteenth, accompanied by the United States cowardly consciences feared to let them meet the gunboat Madgie, I proceeded to the mills located Union forces. Each discharge of our battery at on Doboy River, Georgia. On reaching the mill, I them, as they hurried away, must have caused found it necessary to reconnoitre the land adjacent their cheeks to blanch at the prospect of receiv- thereto. To do this it was needful to cross a narrow ing a shell in the trains. causeway leading from the mill through a swamp to the main land-a distance of about four hundred and fifty yards. This high land was heavily wooded, except on the summit, which was cleared and occupied with houses. My men-thirty-four in number-had no sooner passed across the causeway, and through the woods to the clearing beyond, than they were fired on by the enemy, who were posted in the thicket in front and on both sides. On the first fire one man was dangerously wounded, and a momentary panic seized the men, but it was only momentary. They speedily rallied and opened a brisk fire on the places occupied by the concealed enemy. This fire they kept up with great regularity and coolness until ordered by me to retire to the end of the causeway. They retired, firing as they went, with a slowness and deliberateness that could not have been surpassed by veteran troops. Three others were severely wounded while they were retiring. When my men reached the end of the causeway, I had the bow-gun of the Darlington directed on the woods, after which the fire of the enemy ceased, though numbers of them were seen through the days and nights we remained. I succeeded in loading the steamers Ben Deford and Darlington with from two hundred thousand to three hundred thousand feet of superior boards and planks, besides securing a number of circular and other saws, belting, corn-mills, and other property, which I was directed by you to obtain for the use of your department. The enemy succeeded, last night, in getting their battery away. About dusk they brought a limber over a bridge that spans a branch stream, and our battery gave them a parting shot just as night came on. The Harris Light cavalry arrived in town this morning, and it is presumed, they will cross over the river and examine the country. The First New-Jersey cavalry is also on the scout in this neighborhood. No sign of an enemy is visible on the opposite shore. Gen. Lee telegraphed to the citizens of Fredericksburgh, yesterday, that we were coming in two columns. He was mistaken, as we came in three, with the artillery on the road, making the fourth. Doc. 48. EXPEDITION TO DOBOY RIVER, S. C. REPORT OF GENERAL SAXTON. BEAUFORT, S. C., November 25, 1862. Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War: SIR: I have the honor to inclose for your information the report of the expedition to Doboy River, Ga. The expedition was composed of three companies First South-Carolina volunteers, (colored,) under command of Lieut.-Col. Oliver T. Beard, Forty-eighth New-York volunteers, and was in every respect a success. It gives me pleasure to bear witness to the good conduct of the neWhen it is remembered that these men never gro troops. They fought with most determined had arms in their hands until four days before bravery. Although scarcely one month since the they started for the expedition, I think you canorganization of this regiment was commenced, in not fail to give them great praise for standing a this short period these untrained, lowly soldiers galling fire from a concealed enemy so bravely; have captured from the enemy an amount of pro- for holding the causeways referred to during the perty equal in value to the cost of the regiment two days and nights required for loading two for a year. They have driven back equal num-large steamers, with valuable property, in the bers of rebel troops, and have destroyed the salt- face of an enemy. To do this, my men worked works along the whole line of this coast. Great day and night without intermission; and though credit is due to Lieut.-Col. Beard for his energy and skill in the management of this expedition. I am, Sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, RUFUS SAXTON, Brigadier-General and Military Governor. short of provisions, I heard not a murmur. On the last expedition the fact was developed that colored men would fight behind barricades; this time they have proved by their heroism that they will fight in the open field. Captain Trowbridge aided me greatly. Captain Crandell, of the Darlington, I found a trifling, childish pest. Capt. BEAUFORT, S. C., November 22, 1862. Meriam, of the Madgie, rendered me valuable asGENERAL: I have the honor to report that, assistance. I cannot forbear to make honorable directed by you, I proceeded, on the thirteenth mention of Capt. Hallet, of the steamer Ben Deinstant, on the United States lington, ford. With a man of less nerve and less capacity DOCUMENTS. I would not have dared to take so large a steam- I have the honor to be, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, OLIVER T. BEARD, Lieut.-Colonel Forty-eighth New-York State Volunteers. been in service fifteen months, and were located U. S. Volunteers, Military Governor Department of the South. twenty-sixth for Summerville, where we arrived Doc. 49. EXPEDITION TO COLD KNOB, VA. COLONEL PAXTON'S REPORT. } HEADQUARTERS SECOND VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY, CAMP PIATT, December 2, 1862. Captain R. P. Kennedy, Asst. Adjt.-Gen., First Division Kanawha, George Cook, Brig.-General Commanding: on the twenty-seventh, at noon, making one hun- I have the honor to be your obedient servant, Doc. 50. GENERAL STAHEL'S RECONNOISSANCE. GENERAL SIGEL'S DESPATCH. SIR: In obedience to your orders, I marched I cannot close this report without deservedly my command, consisting of companies G, I, F, A, K, D, E, and H, Second Virginia volunteer cavalry, in all four hundred and seventy-five men rank complimenting officers and men; but where all and file, in good order, on the morning of the twen- behaved so gallantly it is impossible to particuty-fourth of November, for Summerville, arriving larize. But all honor is due Major Powell, who there at ten P.M. the same day; distance fifty-led the charge, and company G, Capt. McMahon, Left Summerville next morning at who led the column. three miles. seven o'clock, and arrived at the "Hinkle Farm" at four P.M.-thirty-five miles-and being able to obtain some hay there, remained until four o'clock A.M., twenty-sixth, when we took up the line of march, in a blinding snow-storm, for Greenbrier, via Cold Knob Mountain, where we arrived at ten o'clock A.M., same day-distance twenty miles. Met Col. Lane's Eleventh O. V. I., who was to assist us in breaking up a camp of rebels at the foot of the mountain, but on account of the severity of the weather and hard marching, he wished to return to his camp at Summerville. I asked him to take the advance until we met the enemy's pickets, which he did, and in about one mile exchanged shots with the enemy's scouts, Colonel Lane at once opened his wounding one. ranks and gave us the road. We pushed rapidly into the enemy's camp, a distance of some miles, effecting a complete surprise at twelve o'clock M., the enemy scattering in all directions. We killed two, wounded two, paroled one, captured two commissioned officers, (one captain and one second lieutenant,) one hundred and eleven noncommissioned officers and privates, one hundred and six horses, five mules, burned and destroyed by fire about two hundred Enfield and Mississippi rifles, fifty sabres, with other accoutrements, five wagons, also, blankets, clothing, harness, saddles, bridles, and other stores and supplies, and their camp-tents, etc. I had two horses killed in the attack on the enemy's camp, and lost ten on the march, from fatigue and exhaustion. The enemy was found three miles from the foot of Cold Knob Mountain, on Sinking Creek, Greenbrier County, Va., at Levis's Mill, and consisted of a part of five companies of cavalry, namely, Rockbridge cavalry, Braxton dragoons, Churchville cavalry, and Nighthawk Rangers. They were men who had CHANTILLY, VA., November 30, 7 o'clock P.M. BRIGADIER-GENERAL STAHEL has just returned. He attacked the enemy at Snicker's Ferry, and followed them, with three hundred cavalry, into their camps on the other side of the river, and near to Berryville. Our men charged splendidly whenever they met the enemy. White's cavalry was driven in all directions. White himself fled and hid himNearly all their officers were captured and their colors taken. The Third, Seventh, and Twelfth Virginia cavself at a house in Berryville. alry were also attacked and routed. Forty of their men, with horses, were taken prisoners, fifty killed and wounded, and two colors taken. One wagon-load of pistols and carbines was picked up on the road, having been thrown away by the were also brought in. Our loss in killed and flying enemy. Eighty cattle and eighty horses wounded is about fifteen. He also re Gen. Stahel reports that his officers and men behaved excellently, and used only their swords, no fire-arms being brought into use. ports that there is a brigade, under Gen. Jones, F. SIGEL, at Winchester; but that Jackson's main force Major-General Commanding. was at New-Market last Wednesday, as reported previously. OFFICIAL REPORT OF COLONEL CESNOLA. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Brig.-Gen. Stahel, Commanding First Division: The first day my brigade was in advance with one hundred and fifty men as advance-guard, under command of Major Knox, Ninth New-York cavalry, who proceeded to Upperville, rather as a scouting than a reconnoitring party, and performed his duty well. The second day my brigade was in the order of march in the rear, and such it remained until we reached Snicker's Ferry. During that march small camps found in the woods, and fires whose ashes were still warm, cautioned me that the enemy was perhaps not very far distant, so I redoubled my vigilance, sending out on my rear scouts to the right and left, and arrested several civilians, whom I questioned. By threatening to send them under escort to Fairfax Court-House, I obtained some useful information as to the whereabouts of the enemy, their strength, and where last seen. Some had seen them that very morning. Being in the rear, I did not consider it necessary to communicate these facts, as Col. Wyndham in the advance had doubtless possessed himself of the same information. In crossing the Shenandoah River, I took the main road and continued to advance carefully, leaving at short distances small pickets, whose duty it was to keep communications open with the strong picket I had left at Snicker's Ferry, to be informed immediately if the enemy were to make his appearance at any point between the ferry and my command. Thinking that my chance for this time was not that of fighting, but only to act as a support, I detailed several small detachments, mostly taken from the First Virginia and the balance of the Sixth Ohio, to act as flankers, and other small ones to scour the road and search all the houses within a mile on both flanks. Then escorts arrived bringing me orders from you to take charge of prisoners and send them to the rear. I then detailed Lieut. Wight, of the Fourth New-York cavalry, my acting Assistant Adjutant-General, and ordered him at once to take charge of the prisoners, to take from them their papers, arms and horses, if any, and gave him sufficient force to keep in check the prisoners, who were becoming every moment more numerous. Lieut. Wight acted very wisely in making his headquarters on the other side of the Shenandoah River, and I have been quite satisfied with the manner in which he carried out and even anticipated my orders. With my command, which by detachments was decimated so much as to represent scarcely one hundred men, I met you, who ordered me to take the town of Berryville by assault, and with yourself at our head we charged through the main street of Berryville, scattering in every direction whatever we met with. When arrived at the outskirts of the town I formed line of battle, and then yourself took the command of a portion of the Ninth New-York cavalry and charged to ward the right side of the wood, and I, with the balance of my command, charged to the left, on the road which leads to Winchester. I met three squadrons of the enemy drawn up in line of battle, covering a large building containing commissary stores, as if awaiting my arrival. I did not give them time to see the difference in numbers, but charged upon them. They broke and ran, not liking our sabres. I pursued the enemy to within five miles of Winchester, but the horses gave way, and I was obliged to leave them behind; so when I returned to Berryville I had with me but one officer and nine men. When I charged on the left I passed through a small camp and discovered a large building containing commissary stores. I succeeded in captur ing it; but the small force I had did not permit me to detail any more men from it; so I continued to charge on the flying squadrons. Seeing that the enemy did not want to have a hand-to-hand fight with us, and, having better horses than ours, I would not be able to capture them, I contented myself with firing at them, dismounting about a dozen of them, wounding some, and the balance keeping the open field. Halting my command, I immediately detached a squad of men, under Capt. B. F. Coffin, to take possession of the commissary stores. During the halt, to give my horses a short rest, orders came from yourself to re-form at once, as my rear was menaced. I beg leave to state that all the officers and men of the different regiments under my command have proved themselves zealous in the discharge of their duty, and I have no word of reproach to address to any body. The Ninth New-York cavalry fought with bravery, and if they had more drill and discipline the men would have certainly been worthy of the name of veteran soldiers. I recommend Captain F. Coffin, of the Ninth New-York cavalry, as a good and brave officer, and also Lieut. Herrick for his bravery. More knowledge of the art of war would make him a splendid officer. I have a word of praise, also, for Major Knox, who commanded the Ninth New-York cavalry. He has done as much as could be done by a citi zen-soldier. On the third day of the expedition, by the strategical march through Leesburgh, instead of Aldie, my command arrived safely in camp at Chantilly. L. P. DI CESNOLA, Colonel Fourth New-York Cavalry, commanding First Cavalry Brigade, Gen. Stahel's Division, Eleventh Corps of the Army of the Potomac. NEW-YORK "TIMES" ACCOUNT. GENERAL STAHEL'S HEADQUARTERS, CHANTILLY, Dec. 1, 1862. A brief account of the recent reconnoissance by General Stahel, who returned to this place last evening, I have already telegraphed you. As this was one of the most important movements of the kind that has recently been made-both DOCUMENTS. in regard to its influence upon our own men and the enemy-a detailed statement of the affair, by an eye-witness, cannot be otherwise than interesting. The expedition was planned with the utmost secrecy and carried out with despatch, - reflecting and in the most successful mannercredit alike upon those who planned it, the general who commanded, and the officers and men under him. The force placed at the disposal of Gen. Stahel was well under way by four o'clock A.M., Friday, November twenty-eighth. Though there was a cold, drizzling rain falling, and the roads were not in the most desirable condition, the troops moved on with alacrity and were in good spirits at the prospect of having a brush with the enemy. was reached soon after Aldie sixteen miles sunrise, where a short halt was made. Leaving the command of Colonel Von Gilsa at this place, General Stahel moved on through Middlebury to Rector's Four Corners - ten miles where the column again came to a halt. From this point two detachments were sent one commanded by Major out to reconnoitre Knox, of the Ninth New-York cavalry, proceeded to Upperville, where the pickets of White's rebel battalion were encountered and driven through Paris and Ashby's Gap to the Shenandoah River, notwithstanding they had a force far outnumbering the one commanded by Major Knox. The resistance offered was trifling, and as a consequence but little damage was done on either side. Capt. Dahlgren, of Gen. Sigel's staff, who had volunteered for the expedition, was sent with a detachment to Salem-ten miles- but found no enemy. Returning in advance of his command with two men, one of our own pickets mistaking them for the enemy, fell back upon the main command. The man finally discovered his mistake and rushed back to his post. On the road to Salem a farmer was overtaken Our horses were in need of with a load of corn. rations, and the men were directed each to take a few ears; the owner protested, and finding such a course would not save his corn, finally declared that several of his horses had the black tongue, and had been eating from the corn. "Oh!" says Dahlgren, "all of our animals have so there is no risk to run." Mr. that diseaseSecesh then became alarmed, and begged to be let off because he feared his horses might catch He was a But it was of no use. the distemper. rank secessionist, our horses were hungry, there was the corn, and a reasonable quantity of the cereal was appropriated. The movement in this direction was undoubt- The whole command took a retrograde move to a point one and a half miles east of Middle- Saturday morning early, the whole command a Descending the mountain, the road, within one hundred rods of the river, inclines to the right. village on the opposite bank-one hundred yards As the advance-guard turned this bend, the little It was distant-known as Snicker's Ferry, was brought into full view, and with it a patrolling picket of White's cavalry, numbering fifty men. quite evident they did not expect Union troops to appear to them just at that moment. They did not seem to be surprised, for only about -so had many of the rebels. twenty-five of our men were in sight; they had on blue overcoats as some of the Not expecting to see Union troops there, and at the river naturally concluded that early hour in the morning, the rebels across prisoners subsequently stated-that it was a part of their own battalion; it was not until after a random series of questions had been asked and answered across the river that they discovered their grave mistake, and then it was done by an The query was instantly injudicious new-comer, who called out: "How are you, Secesh?" made: "Who are you, Yanks ?" The truth of The advance upon arriving near the ferry, was commanded by Col. Wyndham, of the First NewJersey cavalry. Gen. Stahel directed a detail of dismounted carbineers to advance to the bank of river. Lieut. Sutherland, of the Second Pennsylvania cavalry, with a mixed detachment, numfire. The enemy, concealed behind houses, fences, bering fifty, went forward and delivered the first and trees, fired a few shots, but upon seeing a body of horsemen under Captain Duggan, of the First Michigan, fording the river and not heeding their fire, mounted their horses and fled precipi⚫tately. that just as he got the alarm, a private, having no respect for rank, mounted his horse and dashed off. Not a few had the shakes very bad, and begged for mercy-they had begun to think the Yanks In the movement across the river, Capt. Heintz, were terrible fellows. Gray-backs" could be of Gen. Stahel's staff, had an opportunity of dis- seen skedaddling in every direction, at a rate of playing a quality that characterizes all good and speed which would have been creditable to proexperienced soldiers, that is, doing the right thing fessional runners. One tent, containing three at the right time and in the right place. None men, was prostrated by each of the inmates atof the men with the advance knew any thing tempting to get out first. The tent fell so that about the ford, and nearly all had horses new to the men were caught under it, when a Union solthe service. The horses for a moment hesitated dier, seeing their position, ran up and slapped about going into the water. Capt. Heintz, who them with the flat of his sword. They cried out in was close at hand, seeing apparent hesitation from great trepidation: “We surrender, we surrender!" some cause or other, and realizing that time just Lieut. Penn Gaskell, Adjutant of Col. Wyndham, then was all-important, dashed forward into the unearthed a man who had rolled himself into a river. The movement thus inaugurated was blanket, mummy fashion, and had managed to speedily executed, and had it not been for an un- cover his head and body with leaves; unfortunfortunate accident, Capt. Heintz would have been ately for himself, his legs were too long for the the first on the opposite shore. Just as he had occasion. He acted in his fright upon the instinct nearly reached the opposite bank his horse fell, of the ostrich, by concealing his head, supposing and horse and rider went under. The water and that if he could not see, the enemy could not atmosphere were both frosty, and the mishap see him. When unrolled and brought to light, caused only a temporary delay, but Capt. Heintz he shook like an aspen-leaf in a thunder-storm. that night and the following day suffered severely | He denied being an officer, and when the discovfrom his mishap. Gen. Stahel, Capt. Theilkuhl, ery was made that he was a no less important of his staff, Col. Wyndham, Capt. Middleton, of personage than a captain, he was suddenly seized the Second Pennsylvania cavalry, Capts. Duggan, with the small-pox, and warned those around him Crumb, Lieutenant Sutherland and other officers, of the danger of exposing themselves to such a diswhose names I do not know, shared the dangers gusting disease. Lieut. Penn Gaskell finally told encountered by the first detachment that crossed him that dissembling would be of no avail; he the river. The balance of the command followed must go along with him. The man then acknow. as speedily as possible. ledged that he was Capt. Grubb, of White's cavalry, but that he had the "rheumatics," and could not walk. Two men carried him to the rear a short distance, when the officer in charge concluded that he would waste no more time upon so worthless a fellow, and paroled him on the spot. Tents, arms, provisions, ammunition, horses, cattle, personal property and three flags were abandoned in the panic. Our men hastily picked up revolvers and other articles that struck their fancy, exchanged poor horses for good ones, and for once, at least, the Union soldiers experienced the pleasure of sacking an enemy's camp. The advance force, under Colonel Wyndham, as soon as the river had been forded, dashed forward in pursuit of the retreating enemy; flankers were thrown out, and at about three miles from the ford the advance came suddenly upon the camp of White's battalion. The men, pretty well excited by what they had already experienced, now pressed on the harder, and dashed into the camp, yelling like so many demons. The commander of the camp had just received information that there were twenty-five Yanks across the ford; he supposed that was all the force there, and he was concocting a plan to capture it, as the balance of his guard at the Ferry those who had not been captured or escaped by disappearing at the roadside-came in upon the run with the Yanks at their heels. The camp was well supplied with every thing, for this regiment, although now receiving regular pay from the confederate government, is an independent command, and authorized to appropriate any thing they seize to their own use, I have heard of scenes of confusion that "beg-without any red-tapeism intervening, or responsi gars all description," but never had the pleasure of witnessing such a perfect bedlam of excitement before. The rebels ran from their tents in utter dismay, and each acted upon the impulse of the moment. Some mounted the nearest horse at hand, and dashed off without regard to direction or order; the command was, if they received any, "to stand not upon the order of going, but go at once," and they obeyed it to the letter; two or three, who were so fortunate as to secure horses, leaped a fence that seemed to be too high for any animal to clear; one poor horse lodged upon the fence, his rider falling head foremost over it, and the animal falling the other side. Lieut. Barrett, who was on duty, owes his capture to the fact bility whatever. They have recently robbed two stores in Poolesville, and supplied themselves with boots, shoes, and clothing, and many other similar articles, such as could not be obtained at farm-houses. It seems that the battalion was about moving its camp, and just before our troops entered it, had sent off several wagon-loads of clothing and camp equipage otherwise, the whole of the property lately taken by White from Poolesville would have been recaptured. At this point the bulk of Col. Wyndham's com mand was sent off by Gen. Stahel, on picket and scouting duties—particularly for the purpose of sweeping in the retreating and scattered rebels. Beside some twenty odd prisoners, twenty head |