spent a full week in the county, and leisurely special reporters took his dimensions and autobihunted out horses and cattle without molestation. ography with general accuracy. He was born The citizens were unable to protect themselves, of his mother at a very early age, and is supand owing to the want of promptness of our citi-posed to be the son of his father. He was flogged zens elsewhere to respond to the call for troops, through school in his boyhood years much as aid could not be had. We have not sufficient other children; and may have startling traditions data to estimate the loss sustained by this coun- touching his early character, such as the hatchet ty, but it cannot fall short of a quarter of a mil- and cherry-tree which proved that Washington lion of dollars. It is a fearful blow to our peo- could not lie; but it is for the present regarded ple, coming as it does in the throngest season of as doubtful. He subsequently graduated at Jefthe year, and many croppers, who had little else ferson College in this State, in the same class, we than their stock, have been rendered almost if believe, with J. McDowell Sharpe, Esq., and gave not entirely bankrupt by the raid. If the people promise of future usefulness and greatness. His of Pennsylvania will not fight to protect the downward career commenced some five years State from invasion, the sufferers have a right to ago, when in an evil hour he became a member claim compensation from the common treasury of Congress from Western Virginia, and from of the State. The State professes to protect its thence may be dated his decline and fall. From citizens in the enjoyment of all their rights, and Congress he naturally enough turned fire-eater, there is no justice in withholding the common secessionist, and guerrilla. He is of medium tribute from individual sufferers. Among the size, has a flat but good head, light brown hair, many unfortunate, perhaps the greatest sufferer blue eyes, immense flowing beard of a sandy hue, is ex-Sheriff Taylor, from whom the rebels cap- and rather a pleasant face. He professes to chertured a drove of fat cattle in Fulton County. ish the utmost regard for the humanity of war, His loss is some seven thousand dollars. and seemed sensitive on the subject of his reputation as a humane military leader. He pointed. to the raids of the Union troops, who left in many instances widespread and total desolation on their tracks, and expressed the hope that henceforth the Union raids would do no more damage to citizens than he does. He takes horses, cattle, and articles necessary for the army, as both sides treat them as contraband of war, and help themselves on every occasion offered. He pointed with bitter triumph at the raid of Montgomery in South-Carolina, and at the destruction of Jacksonville, Fla., and Jackson, Miss., by our troops, and reminded us that his actions were in accordance with civilized warfare, while those referred to of our troops were barbarous.

The route of Jenkins was through the most densely populated and wealthiest portion of the county. From this point he fell back to Greencastle and south of it, thence he proceeded to Mercersburgh, from where a detachment crossed the Cove Mountain to McConnellsburgh and struck down the valley from there. The main body, however, was divided into plundering parties, and scoured the whole southern portion of the county, spending several days in and about Greencastle and Waynesboro, and giving Welsh Run a pretty intimate visitation.

The rebels seemed omnipresent according to reports. They were on several occasions since their departure from this place just about to reenter it, and the panic-stricken made a corresponding exit at the other side. On Thursday, the eighteenth, they were reported within two miles of here, in large force, and a general skedaddle took place. And again on Sunday, the twenty-first, they were reported coming with reenforcements. A few ran off, but most of our people, knowing that there was a military force to fall back upon between this and Scotland, shouldered their guns and fell into ranks to give battle. Prominent among these we noticed Rev. Mr. Niccoll, whose people missed a sermon in his determination to pop a few rebels.

One of the first acts done by the rebels here was to march down to the railroad bridge at Scotland and burn it. The warehouse of Mr. Criswell and several cars were spared upon satisfactory assurance that they were private property. As soon as the rebels fell back the railroad company commenced to rebuild the bridge, and on Sunday evening, the twenty-first, trains passed over it again. The only other instance of firing property that has reached us was the warehouse of Oaks and Linn. It was fired just as they left the town, but the citizens extinguished it.

We had not the felicity of a personal interview with the distinguished guerrilla chief, but our!

We do not learn of any one who was able to count Jenkins's forces accurately, but from the best information we can gather he had about two thousand men. They were clad, as rebel soldiers usually are, in the Southern butternut cloth, and without any regard to uniformity. They carried pistols, rifles, and sabres, and are classed as mounted infantry, or independent guerrillas, although they are recognized as part of the rebel army. We believe that the plunder became their own private property, instead of the property of the rebel authorities, as is the case with their regular troops. They have thus a double incentive to plunder.

We have heard much complaint of our people for not rushing to arms and driving the invaders away. It must be remembered that the entire southern half of our county, embracing two thirds of our population, was occupied by the rebels, who had heavy supporting columns at Williamsport. Every man of ours was threatened hourly at his own door, and concentration was impossible.

Our people generally did their duty, but they were required in their respective neighborhoods to picket and protect, in some degree, their stock. A concentration of our men at Chambersburgh,

or Greencastle, or Mercersburgh would have left twenty-five thousand people with their property entirely defenceless. In the valley the citizens were under arms, and had the roads barricaded for defence, but the southern portion of the county is open and unsuited to defence by small parties.

even were I, at this moment, well enough to attempt it.

My whole process is, in one word, to place this war on the footing of such as are waged by civilized people in modern times, and to divest it of the savage character which has been impressed on it by our enemies, in spite of all our efforts On Sunday, the twenty-eighth, the Eighth and protests. War is full enough of unavoidable New-York militia arrived here, having marched horrors, under all its aspects, to justify, and even from Shippensburgh, and they were received to demand, of any Christian ruler who may be with the wildest enthusiasm. Considering that unhappily engaged in carrying it on, to seek to they are on our border in advance of any Penn-restrict its calamities, and to divest it of all unsylvania regiments, they merit, as they will receive, the lasting gratitude of every man in the border.

The old men of the town organized a company, headed by Hon. George Chambers, for the defence of the town. None were admitted under forty-five. On Monday every man capable of bearing arms had his gun, and was in some organization to resist the rebels.

Doc. 34.

THE MISSION OF A. H. STEPHENS.

OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.*

necessary severities. You will endeavor to establish the cartel for the exchange of prisoners on such a basis as to avoid the constant difficulties and complaints which arise, and to prevent, for the future, what we deem the unfair conduct of our enemies in evading the delivery of the prisoners who fall into their hands; in retarding it by sending them on circuitous routes, and by detaining them, sometimes for months, in camps and prisons, and in persisting in taking captive non-combatants..

Your attention is also called to the unheard of conduct of Federal officers in driving from their homes entire communities of women and children, as well as of men, whom they find in districts occupied by their troops, for no other reason than because these unfortunates are faithful to the al-. legiance due to their States, and refuse to take an oath of fidelity to their enemies.

RICHMOND, 2 July, 1863. Hon. A. H. Stephens, Richmond, Va.: SIR: Having accepted your patriotic offer to proceed as a Military Commissioner, under a flag been a ground of just complaint in more than one The putting to death of unarmed prisoners has of truce, to Washington, you will receive here-instance, and the recent execution of officers of with your letter of authority to the Commanderin-Chief of the army and navy of the United

States.

they were engaged in recruiting service in a State our army in Kentucky, for the sole cause that which is claimed as still one of the United States, This letter is signed by me, as Commander-in- but is also claimed by us as one of the confederChief of the confederate land and naval forces. ate States, must be repressed by retaliation if not You will perceive, from the terms of the letter, unconditionally abandoned, because it would justhat it is so worded as to avoid any political diffi-tify the like execution in every other State of the culties in its reception. Intended exclusively as Confederacy, and the practice is barbarous, useone of those communications between belligerents lessly cruel, and can only lead to the slaughter which public law recognizes as necessary and of prisoners on both sides, a result too horrible proper between hostile forces, care has been taken to contemplate without making every effort to to give no pretext for refusing to receive it on the ground that it would involve a tacit recognition of the independence of the Confederacy.

Your mission is simply one of humanity, and has no political aspect.

avoid it.

On these and all kindred subjects you will consider your authority full and ample to make such arrangements as will temper the present cruel character of the contest, and full confidence is If objection is made to receiving your letter, on placed in your judgment, patriotism, and discrethe ground that it is not addressed to Abraham tion, that, while carrying out the objects of your Lincoln, as President, instead of Commander-in- mission, you will take care that the equal rights Chief, etc., then you will present the duplicate of the Confederacy be always preserved. letter, which is addressed to him as President, and signed by me as President. To this letter objection may be made on the ground that I am not recognized to be President of the Confederacy. In this event, you will decline any further ८ attempt to confer on the subject of your mission, as such conference is admissible only on the footing of perfect equality.

My recent interviews with you have put you so fully in possession of my views that it is scarcely necessary to give you any detailed instructions,

*See Doc., 23, page 135 ante.

Very respectfully,

JEFFERSON DAvis.

RICHMOND, July 8, 1863.

His Excellency Jefferson Davis:

SIR: Under the authority and instructions of your letter to me on the second instant, I proceeded on the mission therein assigned without delay. The steamer Torpedo, commanded by Lieutenant Hunter Davidson, of the navy, was put in readiness as soon as possible, by order of the Secretary of the Navy, and tendered for the

tinctly at issue on several important points. The existing cartel, owing to these disagreements, is virtually suspended, so far as the exchange of officers on either side are concerned. Notices of retaliation have been given on both sides.

şervice. At noon, on the third, she started down | me,) are now, and have been for some time, disJames River, hoisting and bearing a flag of truce after passing City Point. The next day, (the fourth,) at about one o'clock P.M., when within a few miles of Newport News, we were met by a small boat of the enemy, carrying two guns, which also raised a white flag before approaching us.

The effort, therefore, for the very many and cogent reasons set forth in your letter of instructions to me, to see if these differences could not be removed, and if a clearer understanding between the parties as to the general conduct of the war could not be arrived at before this extreme measure should be resorted to by either party, was no less in accordance with the dictates of humanity than in strict conformity with the usages of belligerents in modern times. Deeply impressed as I was with these views and feelings, ference, I can but express my profound regret at the result of the effort made to obtain it, and I can but entertain the belief that if the conference sought had been granted, mutual good could have been effected by it; and if this war, so unnatural, so unjust, so unchristian, and so inconsistent with every fundamental principle of American constitutional liberty, "must needs" continue to be We remained at or about this point in the river waged against us, that at least some of its seuntil the sixth instant, when, having heard noth-verer horrors, which now so eminently threaten, ing further from the Admiral, at twelve o'clock M. on that day I directed Lieutenant Davidson again to speak the gunboat on guard, and to hand to the officer in command another note to the Admiral. This was done; a copy of the note is appended, marked C. At half-past two o'clock P.M. two boats approached us from below, one bearing an answer from the Admiral to my note to him of the fourth. This answer is annexed, marked D.

The officer in command informed Lieutenant Davidson that he had orders from Admiral Lee, on board the United States flag-ship Minnesota, lying below, and then in view, not to allow any boat or vessel to pass the point near which he was stationed, without his permission. By this officer I sent to Admiral Lee a note stating my objects and wishes, a copy of which is hereunto annexed, marked A. I also sent to the Admiral, to be forwarded, another in the same language, in undertaking the mission, and asking the conaddressed to the officer in command of the United States forces at Fortress Monroe. The gunboat proceeded immediately to the Minnesota with these despatches, while the Torpedo remained at anchor. Between three and four o'clock P.M., another boat came up to us, bearing the Admiral's answer, which is hereunto annexed, marked B.

might have been avoided.
Very respectfully,

ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.

Doc. 35.

COLONEL SPEAR'S EXPEDITION.
IN THE

Sunday Night, June 28, 1863. The other boat bore the answer of Lieutenant- THIS (Sunday) morning Colonel Spear returnColonel W. H. Ludlow to my note of the fourth, ed to White House after a most brilliant, dashaddressed to the officer in command at Fort Mon-ing, and successful cavalry exploit. roe. A copy of this is annexed, marked E. Lieutenant-Colonel Ludlow also came up in person in the boat that brought his answer to me, and conferred with Colonel Ould, on board the Torpedo, upon some matters he desired to see him about in connection with the exchange of prisoners. From the papers appended, embracing the correspondence referred to, it will be seen that the mission failed from the refusal of the enemy to receive or entertain it, holding the proposition for such a conference "inadmissible."

On Thursday last, the twenty-fifth instant, Colonel Spear, commanding the Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry, accompanied by a detachment of two companies of the Second Massachusetts, and two companies of the Twelfth Illinois, left White House, on the Pamunkey River-the whole comprising a force one thousand strong. The undertaking had for its object spoliation, destruction of property, and the discomfiture of all rebels whom they might meet in the direction of Richmond, added to the obtaining of all the informaThe influences and views that led to this de- tion of the number of the forces at present in termination after so long a consideration of the and around the so-called confederate capital. subject, must be left to conjecture. The reason At about ten o'clock Thursday A.M., the twentyassigned for the refusal by the United States Sec- fifth, the expedition took up its line of march in retary of War, to wit, that "the customary agents the direction of Tunstall Station, a squad of the and channels" are considered adequate for all Second Massachusetts cavalry acting as the adneedful. military "communications and confer-vance-guard. As there was nothing to be acenees," to one acquainted with the facts, seems complished at Tunstall Station, a movement on not only unsatisfactory, but very singular and Barrett, a point ten miles from Richmond, was unaccountable; for it is certainly known to him made, where the forces encamped for the night. that these very agents, to whom he evidently al-At daylight the next morning the expedition ludes, heretofore agreed upon in a former conference in reference to the exchange of prisoners, (one of the subjects embraced in your letter to

moved with the utmost celerity to Hanover CourtHouse, a distance of twenty-four miles from White House, and a point directly north of Rich

mond, reaching there at nine o'clock in the morn-crowned our side. In this attack First Sergeant ing. Just here "the plot thickened" in an ad- McFarlane, of company B, Eleventh Pennsylvania mirable and spirited charge made by a squad of cavalry, fell while gallantly fighting, pierced the Second Massachusetts and company A of the through the heart by a hostile bayonet. SerEleventh Pennsylvania, under command of Cap-geant McFarlane was ever brave, ever dutiful, tain Ringland, Lieutenants Barkely and Blake, and ever ready to die for his country. His name with Lieutenant Titus in the somewhat anoma- must be added to the long list of the Union lous, though useful capacity of acting aid. The heroes who have nobly sacrificed their lives for charge was made upon the adjacent station and their country. The conflict lasted about ten was successful, resulting in its capture, together minutes, and in it several lives were lost. The with a train of one hundred wagons and the de-enemy lost nine killed and twenty wounded. I struction of the telegraph line. From this point may not omit to mention that Captain Ringland's a movement having in view the destruction of an company made a charge in support of Skelly, and important bridge on the Pamunkey, and in which that during the fight a charge was made upon company A, Spear's cavalry, (Eleventh Penn-a line of skirmishers in rear of the Union line of sylvania,) held the advance, was made. When battle, who were commanded by Lieutenant Blake, within a mile of the bridge, Lieutenant F. A. by the enemy's cavalry, who were most successBlake, with his extreme advance, charged upon fully repulsed. The result of this feature of the and captured the advance picket of the enemy, reconnoissance was the undisputed possession of consisting of a lieutenant, whose name is not the bridge, and the capture of a lieutenant-colknown, and six men. On moving further down onel, six officers, and one hundred and thirty the river, the rebels showing themselves in con- prisoners of war, who were sent down the river siderable force, Colonel Spear ordered the Second to-day. The bridge and block-house were burnMassachusetts riflemen to dismount, and com-ed, the track torn up, and several culverts depanies A and G of his regiment to move forward stroyed. After this our forces fell back to Hanin support of a couple of Eleventh Pennsylvania over Court-House, where Major Wetherell, of howitzers. Sharp and decisive firing caused the Colonel Spear's command, had been left to deenemy, who appeared to be about three hundred stroy the trains and culverts at the station, which strong, to retreat in "skedaddling" confusion. he accomplished. It was here that BrigadierAs they did so, our troops occupied a block- General William H. Lee, (not General Fitz-Hugh house and several lines of earthworks running Lee,) a nephew of the rebel Lee, Commander-inclose to the bridge, and on both sides of the rail- Chief of the traitors, and who was wounded at road track. At this time the carabineers of the Beverly Ford, was found recruiting at the farmSecond Massachusetts, and a few men of Colonel house of a widow. He was, however, in a conSpear's command, with howitzers, moved down dition admitting of removal, and was taken by to the edge of the river, and engaged the enemy order of Colonel Spear. Our forces continued with great sharpness. Lieutenant Blake, with his moving down the river, crossing about six miles advanced-guard, proceeding further down the below Hanover Court-House, encamping for the river, discovered a ford about half a mile below night on a rebel farm. On the morning of the the bridge. On reporting this fact to Colonel twenty-eighth the troops reached White House Spear, he immediately ordered companies A and by way of King William Court-House. In addiG of his command to cross and attack the ene- tion to the results already stated, the troops capmy in the rear, which they did. Upon charging tured forty good army wagons, and upward of the earthworks, these companies were temporarily four hundred mules and horses. Throughout repulsed and driven back a short distance, where- the expedition our scouting parties were freon Colonel Spear instantly ordered companies Equently fired on by the enemy hanging on our and M to move up in reënforcement. Under flanks, doing no other damage, however, than the command of Major Stratton, who ordered line capturing of one private. of battle to be formed on two sides of the enemy's works, at the same time directing Lieutenant Hope, of company E, to take a few dismounted carabineers, and moving along the river bank, attack the enemy on the river flank. So soon as these preliminary arrangements were completed, Major Stratton ordered Captain Skelly to charge the enemy's works with his command. This feature of the reconnoissance was one of the most creditable of any similar one since the inauguration of hostilities. It was, indeed, gallantly done. The carabineers at the same time charged the block-house from the river side, under the auspices of Colonel Spear. Lieutenant Roper, Adjutant Menzies, Captain Roberts, and several other officers were with the carabineers. The struggle here was intense in its character, being a terrific hand-to-hand conflict. Victory

Doc. 36.

THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURGH. MCPHERSON'S ATTACK, JUNE TWENTY-FIFTH. HEADQUARTERS LOGAN'S DIVISION, CENTRE CORPS ARMY BESIEGING VICKSBURGH, Friday, June 26.

I APPEND below a few of the particulars of the most important operation of the siege since the mournful result of the twenty-second-the attempt of the central division to effect a lodgment in one of the enemy's most conspicuous forts. You are informed that the method of reducing the stronghold in front of us is, first, a complete investment of the garrison, cutting off all supplies and intercourse; second, a system of earth

works protecting batteries, by which the guns of the enemy are silenced, and a curtain of riflepits and galleries, by which he is intimidated from strengthening his position.

In the selection of the site for this chain of works, the rebels have of course seized all the advantages which the very remarkable ground afforded. The highest hills and steepest hollows have all been duly taken into their account, and whenever the finale shall permit, the few square miles between us and the river will show some of the most remarkable fortifications the engineering world has ever seen.

ward, touching at points, the last mentioned line. Further out still is a line of abandoned rifle-pits, with their branching saps, and an irregular line of forts on every considerable crest of the series. Thus the lines present two sets of lines for each party; an interior double line for which we are contending, and which is at places blended and interplexed; on each side of it a line of batteries.

Our superiority in artillery has aided to force the rebels back from their original line. While we have more than a hundred guns of every desirable calibre and pattern along our line, the enemy is not supposed to have more than fifty movable pieces, and the same number of heavy pieces on the river-bank, where they silently grin at the equally silent navy's long-range cannon.

On yesterday afternoon, about three o'clock, the troops all along the line might have been seen in order of battle, the guns keeping up their usual din and the sharp-shooters more than usually brisk with their fire.

Several prominent officers might have been seen, glasses in hand, and their eyes turned in two directions; mainly, however, on the hump of land in the centre. Presently a movement might have been seen of the earth; upward it rose, as if some slumbering man of the mountain were shaking off the superfluous covering; in a mo

Running in a slanting line from the north side of the city of Vicksburgh, backward toward the railroad, runs a prominent ridge with a system of spurs or branches. Along the north side of this rests the rebel left, crossing the main ridge at the centre in the position assigned at present to the division of General Logan. On the crest of this backbone they have constructed, in the system of intrenchments, a salient fort, originally designed for a number of guns. The guns originally in this work have for three weeks been silent, and more recently been removed. Here as elsewhere our sappers have been at work crawling up to the side of the fort. On the outer side the fort overlooked a steep chasm. Here the ingenuity of sapping was at fault. On Saturday last we had a general bombardment more, through a gaping crater, a shaft of ment, and advantage was taken of it to send a couple of adventurous diggers across the ravine, who commenced an earnest excavation under the very walls of the fort, hewn as they are, in part, out of the natural sedimentary cliff. Since then the miners have been faithfully at work, the rebels have been kept silent by our ever-watch-length. ful sharp-shooters, and perhaps ignorant of the operations going on under their very feet. Indeed, nothing is more striking in this whole siege than the fact that the two lines are so close together that at points the muzzles of the rifles are not more than twenty feet apart, and those of the cannon not more than two hundred and fifty yards.

white smoke rushed through, and then a cloud of dust. An instant clatter of fire-arms then commenced, and raged with painful intensity for an hour, when, out of the confusion of smokesomething might have been seen of two sets of combatants, almost, as you may say, at arm's

All this while, before and after the explosion, there was a terrific cannonade. Previously every gun along the line was in play, and the intervals of a few seconds not filled with the burst of shells, the crack of guns of all calibres, were closed up by the more awful crackle of the infantry along the whole line. It is true that no assault was being made along the line, but the Here have we seen for days the forts blazing whole circuit of muskets was firing, firing into the in lightning flashes and storming thunder crashes aimless air; nobody was to be seen; there were at less than half the usual distance, although all the bleak ridges as ever; there the silent forts; the protection is a rude wall of earth thrown up but the bullets were whizzing into their intrenchin front of gabions, which latter are planted un-ments in myraids of radial lines. We have come der fire of the concealed riflemen of the enemy. to learn and to realize how fatal all this shower In fact, the lines described by the works of both of leaden hail may have been, if it had no ulteparties may be indicated in outlines by conceiv-rior purpose, though not a soul was to be seen. ing two thirds of a circle. On the chord rests Its real purpose was, however, to prevent any Vicksburgh; on the same side are heavy guns and rifle-pits, with which we have no present concern. On the circle commencing from the supposed centre is, first a line of heavy batteries of the enemy; at a distance of perhaps a mile to those quarters is a second line of abandoned forts from which the enemy has been driven by successive bombardment; between these is one ground chain of rifle-pits.

concentration on the critical points, by feigning an attack at all. Besides the one on the centre, another was selected on Blair's front, which, as we learned afterward, proved abortive, there being an insufficiency of powder, or it being placed too loosely in the mine.

The way in which the fort on McPherson's front was exploded is, as we learn from some of the participants, as follows: After the diggers Beyond and still further from the centre, had cut across the middle of the fort, which was about two hundred yards, is a line of national a prominent fort, and, by reason of our flankrifle-pits with crooked branches extending to-ling it, has been so pierced as to be almost of the