an unexampled cannonade with singular impuni- of May that the condition of the roads permitted ty. Not one life was lost on board of a Monitor. a renewal of offensive operations. The General The defects disclosed have been remedied, and crossed the Rappahannock and accepted a batan attack is now in progress, with good pros- tle, which proved equally sanguinary to both pects of ultimate success, having for its object parties, and unsuccessful to the army of the the reduction of the forts in the harbor by com- Potomac. The heights of Fredericksburgh were bined sea and land forces. We occupy more captured by General Sedgwick's corps, but the than one half of Morris Island with land forces, whole army was compelled to return to the north which, aided by batteries afloat and batteries bank of the river. After this battle, Lee, in the ashore, are pushing siege-works up to Fort Wag- latter part of May and in June, withdrew his ner, a strong earthwork which has been twice as- army from General Hooker's front, and ascendsaulted with great gallantry, but without suc- ing the south bank of the Rapidan, toward the cess. On the seventeenth of June, the Atlanta, sources of the Rappahannock, entered the Shenwhich was regarded by the insurgents as their andoah Valley, and once more tempted the formost formidable iron-clad vessel, left Savannah, tunes of war by invading the loyal States. A and came down the Wilmington River. The na- severe cavalry engagement at Beverly Ford untional iron-clads Weehawken, Captain John masked this movement. The army of the PoRogers, and Nahant, Commander John Downs, tomac broke up its camps and marched to the were in readiness to meet her. At four o'clock encounter. The militia of Maryland, Pennsylfifty-four minutes the Atlanta fired a rifle-shot vania, and New-York flew to arms, and occupied across the stern of the Weehawken, which Baltimore, Harrisburgh, and the line of the Susstruck near the Nahant. At quarter-past five quehanna. The two armies met at Gettysburgh, the Weehawken, at a range of three hundred in Pennsylvania, and after a fierce contest of yards, opened upon the Atlanta, which had then three days' duration, and terrible slaughter on grounded. The Weehawken fired five shots, four both sides, the insurgents recoiled from the poof which took effect on the Atlanta. She sur-sition held by General Meade, who had been rendered at half-past five. then only four days in command of the army of Our lines have not changed in North-Carolina. the Potomac. On the fourth of July, the day of All attempts of the insurgents to recapture the surrender of Vicksburgh, Lee retreated, the towns from which they had been expelled passing through Chambersburgh and Hagerstown have been repulsed. Much damage has been in- to Williamsport, where the proper disposition to flicted upon their communications, and valuable attack him was made by General Meade. Demilitary stores have been destroyed by expedi-ceived concerning the state of the river, supposed tions into the interior. North-Carolina shows to be unfordable, General Meade, hourly expectsome symptoms of disaffection toward the in- ing reënforcements, delayed the attack a day too surgent league. Similar indications are exhib- long, and the insurgents, partly by fording and ited in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and

Texas.

The situation on the York and James Rivers has remained unchanged since the withdrawal of the army of General McClellan from the Peninsula a year ago. Attempts by the insurgents to retake Williamsburgh and Suffolk have been defeated, but the garrison at the latter place has been withdrawn for purely military reasons to a more defensible line.

partly by floating bridges, succeeded in withdrawing across the river by night, with their artillery and a great part of their baggage. Much of this baggage, as well as of the plunder which Lee had collected, was destroyed by cavalry, or thrown out of the wagons to make room for the wounded whom Lee carried off from the battlefield. He had buried most of his dead of the first day's conflict at Gettysburgh. The remainder, together with those who fell on the second I now return to the army of the Potomac, and third days of the battle, in all four thousand which was left resting and refitting after putting five hundred, were buried by the victorious. an end to the first insurgent invasion of Mary- army. Many thousand insurgents, wounded land. General McClellan recrossed the Potomac and captives, fell into the hands of General and entered Virginia in November, and obliged Meade. It is not doubted that this second unthe invading forces under Lee to fall backward successful invasion cost the insurgents forty to Gordonsville, south of the Rappahannock. When the army of the Potomac reached Warrenton it was placed under command of General Burnside. He marched to Falmouth, hoping to cross the Rappahannock at Fredericksburgh, and to move at once upon Richmond. Delays, resulting from various causes, without fault of the General, permitted the insurgents to occupy the heights of Fredericksburgh, and when, at length, in December, General Burnside crossed the Rappahannock, his assault upon Lee's well-fortified position failed. He skilfully recrossed the river without loss. General Hooker succeeded to the command, and it was not until the beginning

thousand men. Our own loss was severe, for the strife was obstinate and deadly. General Meade crossed the Potomac. Lee retired again to Gordonsville, where he is now understood to be in front of our forces.

While the stirring events which have been related were occurring in the East and in the West, General Rosecrans advanced upon Bragg, who, with little fighting, hastily abandoned his fortified positions of Shelbyville and Tullahoma, in Southern Tennessee. General Rosecrans took, and he yet holds them, while Bragg, with severe loss in a hurried retreat, has fallen back to Chattanooga. It is understood that his army had

been already much weakened by detachments West, however, the results have been more gratsent from it to reënforce Johnston, with a view ifying. Fifty thousand square miles have been to a raising of the siege of Vicksburgh.

reclaimed from the possession of the insurgents. On referring to the annexed map it will be seen that since the breaking out of the insurrection, the Government has extended its former sway over and through a region of two hundred thousand square miles, an area as large as Austria or France, or the Peninsula of Spain and Portusiege operations of the month of July which I have described, one third of their whole forces.

I must not overlook the operations of cavalry. General Stoneman, in connection with the movement upon Chancellorsville, made a rapid and effective passage through the insurgent country, from the Rappahannock to the York River, which will be remembered among the striking achievements of the war. While our forces were oper-gal. The insurgents lost in the various field and ating against Vicksburgh and Port Hudson, Colonel Grierson, with a force of one thousand five hundred men, left Corinth, on the northern border of the State of Mississippi, and made an expedition, in which he broke military communications, destroyed stores, and effected captures through the length and breadth of the State, and, finally, without serious loss, joined the army of General Banks, then engaged in the siege of Port

Hudson.

Jefferson Davis, the leader of the sedition, has since proclaimed a levy of all the able-bodied men within his military lines. This, if carried into effect, will exhaust the whole material of which soldiers can be made. The insurgents estimate the total number of conscripts thus to be gained at from seventy thousand to ninety-five thousand. Our armies now confront the insurJohn Morgan, hitherto the most successful of gents at all points with superior numbers. A the insurgent partisans, recently passed around draft for three hundred thousand more is in progthe lines of General Burnside, crossed the States ress to replace those whose terms of service of Tennessee and Kentucky, moving northward, have expired, and to fill up the wasted ranks of and avoiding all large bodies of our troops, he our veteran regiments, and the people, just so reached the Ohio River at Brandenburgh, below fast as .the evidence of the necessity for that Louisville, and seized two steamboats, with which measure is received and digested, submit with he crossed into Indiana. Thence proceeding rap- cheerfulness to the ascertained demands. Our idly westward, subsisting on the country and armies everywhere are well equipped, abundantimpressing horses as his own gave out, he trav-ly fed, and supplied with all the means of transersed a portion of Indiana and nearly the whole portation. The soldiers of two years' service breadth of Ohio, destroying railroad stations and bridges, and plundering the defenceless villages. The people rallied to arms under the calls of their Governors. Some of them occupied the most important points, while others barricaded the roads or hung upon the rear of the intruders. Morgan found no disaffected citizens to recruit his wasted ranks, and when he reached the Ohio his force was prevented from crossing by the gunboats and driven backward with great slaughter. His force was between two thousand five hundred and four thousand horse, with several pieces of artillery. Only some three hundred succeeded in recrossing the Ohio and escaping into the wilds of Western Virginia. Many perished in battles and skirmishes, and the remainder, including Morgan himself, his principal officers, and all his artillery, were finally captured by the national forces. An attempt has just been made by the insurgents to invade Eastern Kentucky, which probably was begun with a view to make a diversion in favor of Morgan's escape, but the forces, after penetrating as far as Lexington, have been routed by detachments from General Burnside's army, and pursued, with the capture of many prisoners and of all their artillery.

This review of the campaign shows that no great progress has been made by our arms in the East. The opposing forces there have been too equally matched to allow great advantages to accrue to either party, while the necessity of covering the national capital in all contingencies has constantly restrained our generals and forbidden such bold and dangerous movements as usually conduct to brilliant military success. In the

bear themselves as veterans, and show greater steadiness in every conflict. The men, accustomed to the camp, and hardened by exercise and experience, make marches which would have been impossible in the beginning of the contest. The nation is becoming familiar with arms, and easily takes on the habits of war. Large voluntary enlistments continually augment our military force. All supplies are abundantly and cheaply purchased within our lines. The country shows no signs of exhaustion of money, material, or men. A requisition for six thousand two hundred remount horses was filled and the animals despatched from Washington all in four days. Our loan is purchased at par by our own citizens, at the average rate of one million two hundred thousand dollars daily. Gold sells in our market at one hundred twenty-three to one hundred eighteen, while in the insurrectionary region it commands one thousand two hundred per cent premium.

Every insurgent port is either blockaded, besieged, or occupied by the national forces. The field of the projected Confederacy is divided by the Mississippi. All the fortifications on its banks are in our hands, and its flood is patrolled by the national fleet.

Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland-all slave States-support the Federal Government. Missouri has already in convention ordained the gradual abolition of slavery, to take effect at the expiration of seven years. Four fifths of Tennessee, two thirds of Virginia, the coasts and sounds of North-Carolina, half of Mississippi and half of Louisiana, with all their large cities,

part of Alabama, and the whole sea-coast of sleeping to see that all was right, and I soon Georgia and South-Carolina, and no inconsidera- heard distinctly the sound of horses' feet apble part of the coast of Florida, are held by the proaching us, which seemed to be about seven United States. The insurgents, with the slaves hundred yards distant, though coming rapidly. whom they yet hold in defiance of the Presi- I returned to arouse the boys, and did so with dent's proclamation, are now crowded into the considerable difficulty. Every man soon had his central and southern portions of Virginia, North- gun, and was ready for any emergency. We Carolina, South-Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, went to where our horses were tied, and succeedwhile the pioneer slaveholding insurgents beyond ed in moving them all to the rear of the house the Mississippi are cut off from the main force. save two. The rebels were then upon us. The On the other hand, although it is less than six night was dark, but they numbered between two months since the laws or customs of the United hundred and fifty and three hundred. The adStates would allow a man of African descent to vanced-guard, consisting of about seventy-five bear arms in defence of his country, there are men, passed the house far enough so as to let the now in the field twenty-two thousand regularly centre of the column rest opposite the house. enlisted, armed, and equipped soldiers of that Seeing our two horses, they halted their column, class, while fifty regiments of two thousand each and commenced an examination of the horses. are in process of organization, and sixty-two The information they received was from our thousand eight hundred persons of the same class twelve carbines, which told them that Yankees are employed as teamsters, laborers, and camp were about. The sudden fire confused the rebels, followers. These facts show that, as the insur- though they returned our fire; but their column rection continues, the unfortunate servile popu- was cut in the centre, both ends falling back on lation, which was at the beginning an element of the road to our right and left. its strength, is being transferred to the support of the Union.

We were soon ready for another exchange of shots, and bouncing over the fence into the road

You will use the facts presented in this paper-changing our base of operations right and left, in such a way as may be most effective to convince those who seek a renewal of commercial prosperity through the restoration of peace in America, that the quickest and shortest way to gain that desirable end is to withdraw support and favor from the insurgents, and to leave the adjustment of our domestic controversies exclusively with the people of the United States. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Doc. 131.

facing six each way-we let them have twelve more shots, which were returned by about seventy-five rounds from the enemy, who were still falling back. Seizing this favorable opportunity, we took off on double-quick to a grove of timber about two hundred yards off. We had hardly reached the timber before the house we had left was surrounded by the whole of the rebel command, hallooing out: "Where are these d-n Yankees?" They were soon informed by the reply of our twelve carbines, which told the rebels well of our whereabouts. We then fell further back into the woods to avoid pursuit,

EXPEDITION TO MONROE COUNTY, KY. knowing we were fighting twenty times our

CAPTAIN STONE'S OFFICIAL REPORT.

GLASGOW, KENTUCKY, September 7, 1863.

Major Samuel Martin:

SIR: I have the honor of reporting to you the result of my expedition into Monroe County, Kentucky, having received orders from yourself, on the third instant, to take all the men who had serviceable horses, of your battalion, and proceed to Monroe County, Kentucky, for the purpose of bringing into Glasgow for safety some Government property, said to be deposited on Peters Creek, in Monroe County, Kentucky. I started on the evening of the third instant from Glasgow, Kentucky, with eleven men beside myself. We travelled fourteen miles that evening and camped for the night. On the morning of the fourth instant we rode into Tompkinsville, where we had some horses shod; then riding out of town two miles, we camped for the night.

On the morning of the fifth instant we went to Bethlehem meeting-house; then went to the Widow Lane's, and stopped to rest and feed our horsesthis in Monroe County, Kentucky. The boys be ing very tired, lay down to sleep awhile and rest. I stepped out of the house when the boys were

number. We were now dismounted, our horses all having broke loose on the first round of firing. We lay in the woods until sun-up, hoping to recover our horses; but to our regret, when the sun rose it showed the enemy in possession of our battle-field, and they were picking up our horses. We were at this time almost helpless, and observing the old adage, "that small boats should keep near the shore," we struck up our march for Glasgow, which place was reached on the morning of the seventh instant. Our losses were twelve horses and twelve equipments, and one gun. The boys had several holes shot through their clothes, but no flesh wounds. The rebels report their loss as follows: Four men killed, one horse killed and three wounded. Yours respectfully,

GEORGE P. STONE,

Captain Commanding Squad Thirty-seventh Kentucky M. I.

Doc. 132.

THE WYTHEVILLE EXPEDITION. GENERAL SCAMMON'S DESPATCH. CHARLESTOWN, July 24. GENERAL KELLY: Colonel Toland, with the Second Virginia cavalry and the Thirty-fourth

thirteen prisoners; they made good their escape. Upon the approach of daylight on Sunday, the nineteenth, the question was what was best to be done. Lieutenant-Colonel Franklin, of the Thirty-fourth Ohio, assumed command. It appears that the orders given Colonel Toland were in cipher, and understood by no others than the General and himself. To return by the road we

Jeffersonville to our right, and struck Clinch Riv- Charging on the buildings, they soon began to er. The country is beautiful; good farms, poorly dislodge the rebels; the town was ordered to be attended. We then crossed Rich Mountain. burned, to drive them from their fortified places. From this mountain the scenery is grand, and Colonel Toland rode from the rear, and took his nothing can be traced to lead one to believe that position in the centre of the street; sharp-shootdesolating war has ever paid them his visits. The ers immediately began to play destruction among people had heard much and seen little of Yankee the officers, and ere he had been there ten minsoldiers; none, save prisoners, had ever passed utes a fatal shot struck him in the breast, prothrough this part of Dixie, and the white popu- ducing instant death. Colonel Powell, who had lation looked upon us with fear, ready to give all just received a wound in the right shoulder, was when asked. On the other hand, the negroes carried from the field; thus in an instant both assembled in groups, threw themselves in every commands lost their leaders, and all deeply felt conceivable form; jumping, singing, dancing, the loss. Reënforcements were sent to the rebels yelling, and giving signs that "the year of jubilee from Dullin's Depot and other places, and the had come." The white men fled, as we approached, town of Wytheville, from this moment, was erasleaving their homes at our mercy, which were not ed from existence; the small bridge near the molested, except used in some way to benefit the town, was burned, and we fell back, not being rebel army; in such cases, they were always de- able to procure our dead for burial. All our stroyed. We now struck Beartown Mountain, wounded having been left in the enemy's hands, and then entered Buck Garden, a place of resort, we fell back about two miles, and awaited the owned principally by Erl Perry, a man of con- approach of day. At this time we learned our siderable influence among the ignorant. At this rear-guards were attacked; they having all prisplace a store was owned by the rebel Colonel oners captured up to this time in their possession, Callahan, and in his charge the brother of the thief were compelled to divide their force, but the rebel J. B. Floyd had placed a splendid medical libra-numbers being four to one, soon captured the ry; the buildings were destroyed, as well as a prisoners, killing two of their own, and two of flour-mill in the same vicinity. Passing through the Thirty-fourth Ohio regiment, and taking this rich strip to Garden Mountain, Bland County, Virginia, which is well worth a visit in peaceable times, and crossing this, we enter Rich Valley and continue to Walker's Mountain; crossing this, we strike Strong Fork road toward Wytheville, Wythe County, Virginia, (a place of one thousand eight hundred inhabitants, on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad;) after proceeding a few miles, we came in sight of the enemy's pick-came all knew would be attended with difficulty, ets; skirmishing immediately commenced, and and loss of life and property; however, the course when we were within four miles from the town was adopted, and we began the backward movethe charge was sounded and the cavalry put in ment. A few miles from this place we found two motion. The charge was led by Captain Delany, dead Zouaves lying on the road; one had been of the First Virginia cavalry. About four o'clock stripped of his boots and pants by his murderer, P.M., we came in sight of the town of Wytheville. and left thus to be devoured by the starving The charge began in earnest. The cavalry, un- swine, or lie thus exposed to the scorching sun, der command of Colonel Powell, all expected to an idea too horrible to dwell upon. I thought, find the enemy in line of battle; but, instead of certainly, we would have taken time to perform this, they assembled in various buildings com- the last and sacred rite, but through no appremanding the principal streets, and opened a dead-hension and fear of further trouble in front and ly volley upon our advancing column. The town rear, they were left to be disposed of as kind was entered, and scarce had the first company Providence should dictate. On we journeyed, passed ere the citizens and soldiers opened from until we reached East River mountain, and learnevery house a terrible fire; one volley killed Cap-ed that the road had been blockaded to prevent tain Delany and his First Lieutenant, and severely wounded his Second Lieutenant; but three companies entered the town on the charge, two companies, the First Virginia cavalry, and company I, Second Virginia cavalry, the remainder having been thrown in disorder by the dead horses and men that strewed the narrow street. These three companies now in town began to We at once drew up in line of battle, awaiting work in earnest, dashing from one end of the their approach. After a skirmish of three quartown to the other; they discovered two pieces of ters of an hour, they withdrew. We at once asartillery being placed in position; one grand dash scended Blue Stone Mountain by file. The road and the pieces changed hands, with the command- was very steep, and ere we reached the top twener and four men. Word was now sent to Colonel ty-three horses lay stretched across the road, Toland for reënforcements; the Thirty-fourth dis- having fallen from exhaustion; we now had to mounted and came double-quick to our relief.go afoot, one hundred and eighty miles from

our escape, and trouble us, till a sufficient force could be had to capture us. We had already been forty-eight hours without food for ourselves and horses. The latter began to show signs of exhaustion. Proceeding on, toward evening, the column was halted, and the rebel cavalry announced in front.