-half-way to Portland, when I saw them passing
arms out of the hold for inspection, and it was
while I so supposed that they were fishermen
that they asked me about the steamboats, the
cutter, and other things I have before mentioned
as being inquired about. ALBERT P. BIBBER.

LETTER FROM LIEUT. READ, OF THE PRIVATEER
FLORIDA.

FORT PREBLE, PORTLAND, ME.,
July 1, 1863.

usual, was in a deplorable condition and we were
unable to do as much as we otherwise would
have done. The cutter had one thirty-two pound-
er amidships and one twenty-four pounder how-
itzer forward. There was but one cartridge for
the thirty-two, and but five rusty round shot
and a few stand of grape. The attacking steam-
ers were filled with armed men, and their ma-
chinery protected by bales of rags and cotton.
We fired away all our ammunition, set fire to
the cutter, and surrendered in our small boats.
It was my intention, when I came into Port-
land, to cut out a sea-going steamer, but, strange
say, at the decisive moment, Mr. Brown (whom
you will remember in connection with the break-
ing down of the Arkansas engine) declared him-
self incompetent to work the engines of the
steamer, unless he had another engineer to co-
operate with him. All my plans were then crush-
ed, and I was compelled to take the cutter out
as a dernier ressort. If there had been a breeze,
we would have been far out to sea before day-
light, having committed considerable destruction
in the harbor of Portland.

MY DEAR BARBOT: As I have just noticed your arrival at Fort Lafayette, in company with the officers and crew of the late ram Atlanta, I have concluded to drop you a few lines, inform-to ing you of my being bagged, and nicely closeted, in a well-built fort in "Old Abe's" dominions.

As you have, perhaps, heard nothing definite of the Florida since she left Mobile Bay, I will give you a brief account of her exploits, and of my cruise since leaving her.

She left Mobile Bay on a clear, starlight night, a stiff breeze blowing from the north-west. We dashed by the blockaders at full speed, and although blue and flash Drummond lights turned night into day, we were not fired at. Next morning the Oneida, Brooklyn, and Cuyler, were in chase, but they soon dropped far astern. The breeze was strong, and we carried all the canvas the Florida could bear. The main-topsail yard was carried away, and the fore-topsail yard sprung. I never saw any vessel make better speed. The Florida is a splendid sea-boat. She will outsail any clipper, and steams thirteen knots. She can fight three heavy rifles directly aft; and as it is in her power always to bring on a stern chase, she can never be captured. With English oak and Southern hearts, she has no superior.

We have been kindly treated by our captors.
I expect we will be sent either to New-York or
Boston in a few days. As they have commenced
exchanging again, I hope we all may be sent into
Dixie before long. My kindest regards to Trav-
ers and Williamson. Write to me.
Sincerely, etc., your friend,
Lieut. A. BARBOT,
C. W. READ.
Confederate States Navy, Fort Lafayette, N. Y.

:

Doc. 22.

THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

THE CHANGE OF COMMANDERS. GENERAL HOOKER was relieved of the command of the army at his own request. In taking leave of his soldiers, he issued the following address: HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, FREDERICK, MD., June 28, 1863.

GENERAL ORDER No. 65.

In conformity with the orders of the War department, dated June twenty-seventh, 1863, I relinquish the command of the army of the Poto

mac.

The Florida proceeded to Havana, thence to Nassau and Barbadoes. On the sixth of May she was off Cape St. Roque, and had captured fourteen sail, all valuable vessels. On the sixth of May we captured the brig Clarence, from Rio to Baltimore. I proposed to take her and make a raid on the United States coast. My proposition was acceded to, and I was given twenty-two men and one twelve-pound howitzer. We captured three transports off Cape Henry, and a fine clipper bark called the Tacony. As the latter It is transferred to Major-General George vessel was a much better sailer than the Clar- G. Meade, a brave and accomplished officer, who ence, we burned the Clarence and took the bark. has nobly earned the confidence and esteem of With the Tacony we destroyed fifteen sail. On the army on many a well-fought field. Impressed the twenty-third of June we burned the Tacony; mander of the army of the Potomac is impaired, with the belief that my usefulness as the comand took a small fore-and-aft: schooner of seventy tons, with the view of cutting out a better vessel. I part from it, yet not without the deepest emoOn the morning of the twenty-sixth we made tion. The sorrow of parting with the comrades Portland light; at sunset we entered the harbor; of so many battles is relieved by the conviction at half-past one we boarded the revenue cutter that the courage and devotion of this army will Cushing, and took her with but little difficulty. The wind was very light, and it was seven o'clock in the morning before we got out of range of the forts. At ten A.M. we were about fifteen miles from the city, when the wind died and left us becalmed. At eleven, three steamers were discovered approaching us; we cleared for action, but the ordnance department of the cutter, as

never cease nor fail; that it will yield to my suc-
cessor, as it has to me, a willing and hearty sup-
port. With the earnest prayer that the triumph
of its arms may bring successes worthy of it and
the nation, I bid it farewell.
JOSEPH HOOKER,

S. F. BARSTOW,
Acting Adjutant-General.

Major-General.

GENERAL MEADE'S ADDRESS ON TAKING COMMAND.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

28,

The

GENERAL ORDER No. 66.
By direction of the President of the United
States, I hereby assume command of the army
of the Potomac. As a soldier, in obeying this
order, an order totally unexpected and unsolicit-
ed, I have no promises or pledges to make.
country looks to this army to relieve it from the
devastation and disgrace of a hostile invasion.
Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be called
upon to undergo, let us have in view constantly
the magnitude of the interests involved, and let
each man determine to do his duty, leaving to an
all-controlling Providence the decision of the con-
test. It is with just diffidence that I relieve in
the command of this army an eminent and ac-
complished soldier, whose name must ever ap-
pear conspicuous in the history of its achieve-
ments; but I rely upon the hearty support of my
companions in arms to assist me in the discharge
of the duties of the important trust which has

been confided to me.

S. F. BARSTOW,

GEORGE G. MEADE,
Major-General Commanding.

Assistant Adjutant-General.

Doc. 23.

THE MISSION OF A. H. STEPHENS.

THE following is the correspondence relating to the mission of Alexander H. Stephens and Robert Ould at Fortress Monroe:

FORTRESS MONROE, July 4, 1863,
U. S. STEAMER MINNESOTA, two P.M.

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy:
The following communication is just received
from Alexander H. Stephens, who is in the flag
of truce boat, anchored above. I shall inform
Mr. Stephens that I await your instructions be-
fore giving him an answer. S. H. LEE,

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
MEMPHIS, TENN., July 5.

Major-Gen. H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief:
GENERAL Prentiss was attacked in force by the
rebels, under Holmes and Price, at Helena yes-
terday. He estimated the force at fifteen thou-
sand. I think nine thousand will cover their
strength. General Prentiss sustained their at-
tack until three P.M., from daylight, when the
rebels were repulsed at all points, leaving one
thousand two hundred prisoners.

Their loss in killed and wounded is about from
five to six hundred. General Prentiss lost about
fifty. He has already sent me eight hundred
and sixty prisoners, which I send to Alton to-
day, (Sunday noon.)
S. A. HURLBUT,
Major-General Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT EAST-ARKANSAS,
HELENA, July 4, three A.M.

To Major-General S. A. Hurlbut, Commanding
Fifteenth Army Corps:

GENERAL: We have been hard pressed since
daylight by the combined forces of Price, Holmes,
Marmaduke, Parsons, Carter, Dobbins, and oth-
Thus far we have held our own, and have
ers.
captured several hundred prisoners, whom I send
to you by Major Wright, of the Twenty-fourth
Iowa, on board the steamer Tycoon.

The enemy are now evidently preparing for a Admiral, etc. renewed attack in force.

CONFEDERATE STATES STEAMER TORPEDO, JAMES RIVER, July 4, 1863. SIR: As a military commissioner, I am the bearer of a communication in writing from Jeff Davis, Commander-in-Chief of the land and naval forces of the confederate States, to Abraham Lincoln, Commander-in-Chief of the land and naval forces of the United States. Hon. Robert Ould, confederate States Agent of Exchange, accompanies me as secretary for the purpose of delivering the communication in person and conferring upon the subject to which it relates. I desire to proceed directly to Washington in the steamer Torpedo, commanded by Lieutenant Hunter Davidson of the confederate States navy; no person being on board but the Hon. Mr. Ould, myself, the boat's officers and crew.

To S. H. LEE,

Admiral, etc.

Yours most respectfully,

ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.

Send another gunboat if possible. The Tyler has done good service to-day.

In great haste, your obedient servant,
B. M. PRENTISS,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT PAST-ARKANSAS, }

HELENA, July 4, three P.M.

Major-General S. A. Hurlbut, Commanding Sixteenth Army Corps:

GENERAL: We have repulsed the enemy at every point, and our soldiers are now collecting their wounded.

We have taken in all one thousand two hundred prisoners, and their loss in killed and wounded will reach five hundred or six hundred; but although the rebels are badly whipped, there is no doubt whatever they will renew the attack at an early moment, and that they are now massing their troops for that purpose. My force is inferior to the rebels. With the aid I expect from you and the gunboats, the rebel army may be severely

beaten. The Tyler has been to-day a valuable Captains Bower, of company E, and Davis, of auxiliary. I remain, General,

Your obedient servant,

B. M. PRENTISS,
Major-General.

COLONEL BENTON'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
HELENA, ARKANSAS, July 6, 1863.

Editor Nonpareil :*

I send you herewith, for publication a copy of my official report of the part taken by the Twentyninth Iowa infantry, in their engagement of the fourth instant, at this place. I would also request that all the papers in our portion of the State, copy for the information of our friends.

company D, were absent on sick leave. Captains Huggins, of company G, and Nash, of company F, were sick and unable to leave their quarters. Time has shown that my selection of Adjutant was a happy one. In the office or in the field he is every inch a soldier, recognizing no deviation from the stern laws that govern a military organization.

Assistant-Surgeons Nicholson and Eakin were on the field, and were active and vigilant in their

attentions to the wounded.

A section of the Third Iowa battery (from Dubuque) commanded by Lieutenant Wright, was rendered the position of the enemy very uncomposted on our right, and did good service, and fortable.

I feel proud of the conduct of the Twenty-ninth. They came up to the work promptly and coolly, and stuck to it with unyielding fidelity. The I would like to give you the details of the genenemy came upon us with a rush and a shout, fol- eral engagement, but have not time, and you will lowed by repeated volleys of small arms and oc- doubtless see them elsewhere. Suffice it to say casionally a little grape, by which several of our that the battle was hotly contested on both sides. men were killed and wounded. It was a critical The rebels fought well, and yielded only to the moment. Had they faltered, serious disaster was superior force of our arms. Our entire effective inevitable. They stood firm and gave the enemy force, according to the official reports of the day more than they bargained for, and soon had a portion of his dead and wounded within our lines. That of the enemy, according to their own stateprevious, was three thousand eight hundred. The sight of the wounded and dying seemed to in- ment, was between fifteen and twenty thousand, spire them with fresh courage. I advanced sev- which corroborates the estimates made from our eral times to the brow of the hills, where I could own observation. Our entire loss in killed, woundget a better view of the contending forces. Ied, and missing is less than two hundred and fifty. found our boys in various attitudes--standing, That of the enemy not less than two thousand kneeling, half bent, and flat on the ground-load-five hundred. In estimating their loss we have ing and firing, and occasionally advancing as de- the facts to govern us. We took over one thouliberately and systematically as a mountaineer sand prisoners during the action and a good many after an antelope. Our fire was well aimed. The stragglers since. We buried some two hundred obstructions behind which the enemy were con- and seventy-five of their dead on the field, and cealed, after they fell back, were thoroughly pep- found the graves of over one hundred buried by pered with our Enfield balls. By making a sud-themselves. We have had possession of about den dash, we could have taken one of their guns, but prudence dictated that we should not risk an ambuscade for the sake of getting possession of a gun which was no longer doing us any harm.

The respective companies were disposed of as follows: Deployed as skirmishers, A, B, C, E, F, G, H, and K. Held as a reserve, D and I.. The following officers were in the engagement: Lieutenant-Colonel Patterson, Major Shoemaker, and Adjutant Lyman; Captain Gardner and Second Lieutenant Kirkpatrick, of company A; Captain Andrews and Second Lieutenant Sheldon, of company B; Captain Bacon, First Lieutenant Hedge, and Second Lieutenant Stocker, of company C

First Lieutenant Stewart and Second Lieutenant

four hundred of their wounded, some of whom

were left at farm-houses a few miles west of the

town on their retreat. From the nature of the wounds our surgeons assure us that their dead will not fall short of six hundred. It is fair to presume that they had the usual proportion of The rebels were under the leadership of Holmes, slightly wounded, who were taken with them. Price, and Marmaduke, the former in command. Our forces were commanded by Brigadier-General F. Salomon, brother of Governor Salomon, of

Wisconsin.

The limited number of our killed and wounded

in a contest against such fearful odds, seems almost incredible. The secret is, that we were not surMunn, of company D; First Lieutenant Mitchell prised. For the last six weeks we had been vigand Second Lieutenant Ellifritz, of company Eilant day and night, patrolling the country with First Lieutenant Turner, of company F; First Lieutenant Johnston and Second Lieutenant Mc- scouts, constructing fortifications and digging intrenchments. The hills in the vicinity of our Farland, of company G; Captain Myers and Se- batteries were literally covered with rifle-pits, and cond Lieutenant Elliott, of company H; First the principal roads blockaded with fallen timber. Lieutenant Lenon and Second Lieutenant Mux- General Salomon deserves great credit for these ley, of company I; and First Lieutenant Dale precautionary steps. The enemy had doubtless and Second Lieutenant Chantry, of company K. ascertained with considerable accuracy our nuWere I to attempt a eulogy on their conduct, Imerical strength, but he was badly deceived as to could not say more than that embraced in the truthful assertion, they did their whole duty.

* Council Bluffs (Iowa) Nonpareil, August 1, 1868.

the extent of our preparations one of the most important items in modern warfare. They doubtless expected to find us engrossed with a Fourth

of July celebration, and totally unprepared for In the mean time the enemy had placed a battheir approach; but for once they were caught in tery of two guns in position, with which they a trap, and did not realize their mistake until the opened a brisk fire of shell and grape, and moved deadly volleys from our rifle-pits began to mow rapidly upon us, cheering and exulting as they them down. Our little army was drawn up in line advanced, being partially shielded from view by of battle at daylight in the respective camps, an a fog which covered the hills at that moment. hour before the enemy attacked our pickets, await- Our skirmishers met them with a galling and ining orders from the General Commanding, and in cessant fire, under which they gradually fell a few minutes after the signal gun was fired, each back, resolutely contesting every inch of ground detachment was in the position assigned it, and a as they retired. Our skirmishers advanced steadgeneral fire was opened upon the invading foe.ily and cautiously, and having gained the crest Our pickets behaved gallantly. They fell back steadily, loading and firing until they reached our intrenchments. The gunboat Tyler, the lucky boat of the war, was at anchor in front of the town and joined in the action.

The battle, though overshadowed by the brilliant achievements at Vicksburgh, is nevertheless an important one. I think it has given a final quietus to "Price's army," about which we have heard so much during the war. It is to be regretted that our force was too limited to admit of pursuit. We could have wiped out the whole concern. The rebel wounded were treated with the greatest kindness. They were brought into our hospitals during the engagement, and every facility was afforded by our surgeons, assisted by their own, to make them comfortable. We started six hundred and fifty prisoners up the river on the steamer Tycoon before the engagement closed. They left the landing amid the incessant roar of artillery and small arms, laughing, cheering, and swearing. The enemy were well armed, and provided with ammunition of an excellent quality.

Our brigade was commanded by Colonel Rice, of the Thirty-third Iowa. He acquitted himself, well. Most of our wounded have been sent North, and it is painful to add that some of them cannot recover, even with the most favorable treatment. Yours truly,

THOMAS H. BENTON, Jr.

OFFICIAL REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT
IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,

HELENA, ARK., July 6, 1863.

of the hill previously occupied by the enemy, compelled him to abandon his guns, which, after several ineffectual attempts, he subsequently recovered and withdrew, leaving one caisson on the field.

My men were under a severe fire for more than five hours, and it affords me the greatest pleasure to speak of both officers and men in terms of the highest commendation for their coolness and bravery during the entire action. I saw no flinching or wavering during the day. It is proper to add that several of my officers and quite a number of my men, who were excused from duty in consequence of physical debility, left their quarters and joined their respective companies when the signal gun was fired.

Any invidious distinctions among the members of my command would not be admissible in this report, but I would not do justice to an accomplished officer should I fail to acknowledge the efficient services of Lieut.-Col. R. F. Patterson during the action, and the special obligations I am under for the thorough instruction previously given by him to both officers and men in the responsible duties and obligations of the soldier, the importance of which was so forcibly illustrated on the fourth instant.

My regiment was promptly supported by the Thirty-sixth Iowa infantry, commanded by Col. C. W. Kittridge, and was relieved by him a short time before the enemy left the field. The enemy's force in front of our line, so far as I have been able to ascertain, from the most reliable information within my reach, was one brigade of five regiments of infantry, one battery and two regiments of cavalry in reserve, under command of Colonel McCrea.

COLONEL: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken in the engagement of the fourth instant, by my regiment. My I regret to have to report that during the enmen were drawn up in line of battle at daylight,gagement the loss in my regiment was seven in obedience to a standing order of Brig.-Gen. F. killed and twenty-four wounded-some of them Salomon, commanding forces in the field, and at mortally (two of whom have since died) and half-past four o'clock A.M., in pursuance of orders many of them severely-among the number some from Col. Samuel A. Rice, of the Thirty-third Iowa of my best and bravest men. The enemy's loss infantry, commanding Second brigade, we march- it is not possible to state definitely, as he suced westward across the bottom at double-quick, ceeded in removing many of them from the field. to a position on the Sterling road. Upon reach- We buried fourteen of his dead and found the ing the point designated, I found that the ene-graves of seventeen more buried by himself, and my occupied the crests of the hills with their brought one of his wounded from the field. skirmishers north of "battery A," commanding I have the honor to be, Colonel, my position. I immediately sent forward two Very respectfully, your obedient servant, companies of skirmishers to dislodge and drive THOMAS H. BENTON, Jr., them back; but finding them too strongly postColonel Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry. ed, and being directed by Col. Rice to hold the position at all hazards, I continued to reënforce the line until eight companies were deployed.

To Colonel SAMUEL A. RICE,

Commanding Second Brigade, Thirteenth Division of Thir teenth Army Corps.