on the Federal outpost at Bachelor's Creek, eight miles from Newbern, and captured it with seventy-five prisoners. They then advanced toward Newbern, where an attack was greatly feared. Before daylight on the next morning a party in barges captured the gunboat Underwriter, with her officers and a portion of her crew. The steamer was aground, but so lay as to cover a portion of the fortifications between Fort Anderson and Fort Stevens, at Newbern. Gen. Picket thus reported his expedition:

To Gen. S. Cooper:

KINSTON, February 3, 1864.

I made a reconnoissance within a mile and a half

of Newbern, with Hoke's brigade, and a part of Corse's and Clingman's, and some artillery; met the enemy in force at Batchelor's Creek, killed and wounded about one hundred in all, captured thirteen officers and two hundred and eighty prisoners, fourteen negroes, two rifled pieces and caissons, three hundred stand of small arms, four ambulances, three wagons, fifty-five animals, a quantity of clothing, camp, and garrison equipage, and two flags. Commander Wood, Confederate States navy, captured and destroyed the United States gunboat Underwriter. Our loss thirty-five killed and wounded. G. E. PICKET,

A

Major-General Commanding. The next movement of importance made by the enemy was the capture of Plymouth. This town is on the south bank of the Roanoke River, about eight miles from its mouth. The river flows in an easterly direction into Albemarle Sound. The town originally contained about one thousand inhabitants, but was burned by the Union fleet two years previously. It had been held for some time as a key to the river, and had been strongly fortified. breastwork with strong forts at different points along the line, had been constructed. Another strong work, called Fort Gray, had also been constructed about a mile further up the river, opposite which a triple row of piles had been driven, to which torpedoes were attached, to serve as a protection to the fleet below. The enemy had a powerful iron-clad ram in the river above. Still further up there was another row of piles with torpedoes, near which a picket boat was stationed to watch the iron-clad. The Federal gunboats Southfield and Miami were anchored in the river opposite the town. The garrison of the town was about twentyfour hundred men, under command of Gen. Wessels. They composed the 85th New York infantry regiment, 101st Pennsylvania infantry regiment, 103d Pennsylvania infantry regiment, 16th Connecticut infantry regiment, two companies of the Massachusetts heavy artillery, two companies of the 2d North Carolina volunteers, two companies of the 12th New York cavalry.

The approach of the enemy was unknown, until they began to appear about 3 P. M., April 17th, in the rear of the town, driving in the Union pickets. A brisk artillery fire was soon opened upon Fort Gray, which continued with some vigor until near midnight. About daylight on the next morning the contest was renewed,

and two charges were made during the forenoon, which were repulsed. In the afternoon, two guns of the enemy were captured by a sortie from the fort. The gunboats then took a position, one above and the other below the town, and the contest continued fiercely until night, when it ceased without any advantage to the enemy. Early the next morning the picket boat up the river reported that the ironclad had passed down. The gunboats were immediately lashed together, to make a joint resistance to the iron-clad. This had scarcely been done when she appeared within a hundred yards. As they approached each other, the gunboats fired without effect. The ram first struck the Miami, and gliding off struck the Southfield on her left side, crushing in six or eight feet square. The Miami now fired a shell at the iron-clad, which rebounded and killed her captain, Flusser, and wounded eight persons. Becoming separated from the Southfield, the Miami was swung round by the current, and unable for a time to render further assistance. The Southfield was now rapidly sinking, and her crew took to the boats and fled. The Miami, after her loss, withdrew. The iron-clad, called the Albemarle, under command of J. W. Coke, came down to the mouth of the river, outside of which were four gunboats. Her position in the river cut off all hopes of sending reënforcements to Gen. Wessels, and he surrendered to Brig.-Gen. Hoke on the next day. This surrender was thus announced by Gen. Peck, in command of the department:

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY AND DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, NEWBERN, N. C., April 21, 1864. General Orders No. 66:

With feelings of the deepest sorrow the commanding general announces the fall of Plymouth, N.C., H. W. Wessels, and his command. This result, howand the capture of its gallant commander, Brig.-Gen. ever, did not obtain until after the most gallant and determined resistance had been made. Five times the enemy stormed the lines of the general, and as and but for the powerful assistance of the rebel ironmany times were they repulsed with great slaughter; clad ram, and the floating sharpshooter battery, the Cotton Plant, Plymouth would still have been in our hands. For their noble defence the gallant Gen. Wessels and his brave band have, and deserve the warmest thinks of the whole country, while all will sympathize with them in their misfortune.

To the officers and men of the navy the commanding general tenders his thanks for their hearty cooperation with the army, and the bravery, determination, and courage that marked their part of the unequal contest. With sorrow he records the death of the noble sailor and gallant patriot, Lieut.-Com. C. W. Flusser, U. S. Navy, who in the heat of battle fell dead on the deck of his ship, with the lanyard of his gun in his hand.

The commanding general believes that these misfortunes will tend, not to discourage, but to nerve the army of North Carolina to equal deeds of bravery and gallantry hereafter.

Until further orders, the headquarters of the subdistrict of the Albemarle will be at Roanoke Island.

The command devolves upon Col. D. W. Wardrop, of the 99th New York infantry.

By command of Maj.-Gen. JOHN G. PECK.
J. A. JUDSON, Ass't Adj't-Gen.

Gen. Hoke thus reported his capture of the position:

PLYMOUTH, N. C., April 20, 1864

To Gen. Braxton Bragg : I have stormed and carried this place, capturing one brigadier, sixteen hundred men, stores, and twenty-five pieces of artillery. R. F. HOKE, Brig.-Gen.

Only two places on the main land were now held by the Federal forces. These were Washington, on the Tar River, and Newbern, at the mouth of the Neuse. Washington was evacuated in the latter part of April, and burned. The following order of Gen. Palmer was issued for the purpose of detecting the incendiaries: HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF N. C., NEWBERN, N. C., May 8, 1864.

General Orders No. 5. While the troops of this command may exult and take just pride in their many victories over the enemy, yet a portion of them have, within a few days, been guilty of an outrage against humanity which brings the blush of shame to the cheek of every true man and soldier.

It is well known that, during the late evacuation of Washington, North Carolina, that town was fired, and nearly, if not entirely, consumed, thus wantonly rendering houseless and homeless hundreds of poor women and children (many of them the families of soldiers in our own army), and destroying the last vestige of the once happy homes of those men who have now given up all to serve their country in the hour of peril. And this was done by men in the military service of the United States.

It is also well known that the army vandals did not even respect the charitable institutions, but, bursting open the doors of the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges, pillaged them both, and hawked about the streets the regalia and jewels. And this, 00, by United States troops. It is well known, too, that both public and private stores were entered and plundered, and that devastation and destruction ruled the hour.

The commanding general had, until this time, believed it impossible that any troops in his command could have committed so disgraceful an act as this, which now blackens the fame of the army of North Carolina. He finds, however, that he was sadly mistaken; and that the ranks are disgraced by men who are not soldiers, but thieves and scoundrels, dead to all sense of honor and humanity, for whom no punishment can be too severe.

The commanding general is well aware what troops were in the town of Washington when the flames first appeared. He knows what troops last left the place. He knows that in the ranks of only two of the regiments in the district of North Carolina the culprits now stand. To save the reputation of the command, it is hoped that the guilty parties may be ferreted out by the officers who were in Washington

at the time of these occurrences.

This order will be read at the head of every regiment and detachment in this command, at dress parade, on the day succeeding its receipt, and at the head of the 17th Massachusetts volunteers, and the 15th Connecticut volunteers, at dress parade, every day for ten consecutive days, or until the guilty par

ties are found.

By command of Brig. Gen. I. N. PALMER. J. A. JUDSON, Ass't Adj't-Gen.

Subsequently the iron-clad Albemarle was destroyed by Lieut. Cushing, of the navy (see NAVAL OPERATIONS), and Plymouth recaptured. Some military expeditions from Newbern into the State, were made during the year. (See NORTH CAROLINA.)

VOL. IV.-5 A

In Virginia, a few desultory operations took place previous to the commencement of the great campaign of the year. On the 3d of January a supply train, consisting of two hundred animals, was captured by the enemy on its return from Petersburg, in West Virginia, to New Creek. A few of the men and animals escaped. The enemy, being in considerable force, now made several demonstrations for the purpose of reaching the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, but were unsuccessful. On January 28th, a train from New Creek to Petersburg, laden with commissary stores for the garrison at the latter place, was attacked three miles south of Williamsport, and, after a sharp contest, captured by the enemy. The losses in this region in horses, wagons, stores, &c., to February 1st, was estimated at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

The headquarters of Gen. Meade, in command of the Army of the Potomac, was near Culpepper Court House. This position was occupied by that army, from December, 1863, until May, 1864. The army of Gen. Lee, on the south side of the Rapidan, confronted it. A few reconnoissances were made, but without important results. A cavalry expedition into the neighborhood of Richmond was the most active movement at this period of the year. It commenced with the advance of the 8th corps, under Gen. Sedgwick, from Madison Court House, on February 27th. A division under Gen. Birney followed on the next day. Madison Court House was occupied by a brigade of infantry, with a small force of cavalry, but the main force was encamped along the heights of Robertson's River. From this position pickets were sent out to the right and left. Gen. Birney's force occupied James City, a small village west of Culpepper. Meanwhile a cavalry force under Gen. Custer pushed forward by way of Madison Court House, in the direction of Charlottesville, the junction of the Alexandria with the Lynchburg railroad. About the same time, in the afternoon of the 28th, Gen. Kilpatrick, with his division of cavalry, and a portion of Gens. Merritt's and Gregg's divisions, with a light battery of six guns, being nearly eight thousand men, left Stevensburg for the lower fords of the Rapidan, intending to make a dash upon Richmond. This force crossed at Germania and Ely's Fords, distant about sixty miles from Richmond. The command encamped on that night eight miles south of the Rapidan.

The headquarters of Gen. Lee were at Orange Court House, and the movements of the infantry with the command of Gen. Custer, toward Charlottesville, threatened to turn his left, and thus serve as a diversion in favor of the advance of Gen. Kilpatrick. Early on the morning of the 28th (Monday), Gen. Custer pushed forward across the Rapidan, and passing through Stannardsville arrived within four miles of Charlottesville. Here a body of cavalry under Col. Caskie were encountered. Six caissons, some camp equipage, and a few

and in case of danger, some of the scouts must swim the river and bring us information. As we approach the city the party must take great care that they do not get ahead of the other party on the south side, and must conceal themselves and watch our movements. We will try and secure the bridge to the city, one mile below Belle Isle, and release the prisoners at the same time. If we don't succeed they must then dash down, and we will try to carry the bridge by storm. When necessary the men must be filed through the woods and along the river bank. The bridge once secured and the prisoners loose and over the river, the bridges will be burned and the city destroyed.

The men must be kept together and well in hand, and once in the city, it must be destroyed and Jeff. Davis and his Cabinet killed. Pioneers will go along with combustible material. The officer must use his discretion about the time of assisting us. Horses and cattle which we do not need immediately must be shot, rather than left.

Every thing on the canal and elsewhere, of service to the rebels, must be destroyed.

As Gen. Custer may follow me, be careful not to give a false alarm. The signal officer must be prepared to communicate at night by rockets, and in other things pertaining to his department. The Quartermasters and Commissaries must be on the lookout for their departments, and see that there are no delays on their account. The engineer officer will follow and survey the road as we pass over it, &c. The pioneers must be prepared to construct a bridge or destroy one. They must have plenty of oakum and turpentine for burning, which will be soaked and rolled into balls and be given to the men to burn when we get into the city. Torpedoes will only be used by the pioneers for burning the main bridges, &c. They must be prepared to destroy the railroads. Men will branch off to the right with a few pioneers and destroy the bridges and railroads south of Richmond, and then join us at the city. They must be well prepared with torpedoes, &c.

The line of Falling Creek is probably the best to march along, or, as they approach the city, Good's Creek, so that no reenforcements can come up on any

cars.

On the approach of Gen. Kilpatrick Richmond was in a defenceless condition. The Departments of the Government were closed and the clerks armed for defence. Men were collected from every quarter to oppose him. At the same time great consternation prevailed.

On

the House of Representatives, and others, the President rose and said:

you have done, and its reliance upon you for what GEN. GRANT: The nation's appreciation of what remains to do, in the existing great struggle, are now presented with this commission, constituting you Lieutenant-General in the Army of the United States. With this high honor devolves upon you, also, a corresponding responsibility. As the country herein trusts you, so, under God, it will sustain you. I scarcely need to add that with what I here speak for the nation, goes my own hearty personal concurrence. To which Gen. Grant replied:

MR. PRESIDENT: I accept this commission with gratitude for the high honor conferred.

With the aid of the noble armies that have fought on so many fields for our common country, it will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint your expectations.

I feel the full weight of the responsibilities now devolving on me, and I know that if they are met, it will be due to those armies, and, above, all to the favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men.

On the 11th of March Gen. Grant returned to Nashville, Tennessee. On the 12th, the following order was issued at Washington:

WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, General Orders No. 98. WASHINGTON, March 12.

The President of the United States orders as follows: 1. Maj-Gen. Halleck is, at his own request, relieved from duty as General-in-Chief of the Army, and Lieut.-Gen. U. S. Grant assigned to the command of the Armies of the United States. The headquar ters of the army will be in Washington and also with Lieut.-Gen. Grant in the field.

2. Maj.-Gen. Halleck is assigned to duty in Washington as Chief-of-Staff of the Army, under the direction of the Secretary of War and the LieutenantGeneral commanding. His orders will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

command of the military division of the Mississippi, 3. Maj.-Gen. W. T. Sherman is assigned to the composed of the Department of the Ohio, the Cumberland, the Tennessee, and the Arkansas.

command of the Department and Army of the Ten4. Maj.-Gen. J. B. McPherson is assigned to_the

nessee.

5. In relieving Maj.-Gen. Halleck from duty as General-in-Chief, the President desires to express his approbation and thanks for the zealous manner in which the arduous and responsible duties of that position have been performed.

By order of the Secretary of War.

E. D. TOWNSEND, Ass't Adj't Gen. On the 17th, Gen. Grant issued the following order: HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF UNITED STATES,

General Orders No. 1. NASHVILLE, March 17, 1864.5

In pursuance of the following order of the President

I assume command of the Armies of the United States. My headquarters will be in the field, and until further orders will be with the Army of the Potomac. There will be an officers' headquarters in Washington, to which all official communications