I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. W. AVERILL, under my command, yet circumstances some- three Lieutenants; also a large number of cattle, times placed it there. I am gratified to acknow- horses, etc. Your Aid-de-Camp, Lieutenant J. ledge the cheerful obedience to orders, and the R. Meigs, who accompanied me, is safe. fearless conduct of the officers in charge; especially in the case of Lieutenant Clarkson, whose battery was in the advance during the day. The earnest but honorable competition between the three regiments of my brigade resulted, as it is likely to do in the future, in the complete rout and defeat of the foe. I must express my admiration for the coolness, bravery, and efficiency of my staff officers. Cap⚫tains Freeman, Snelling, Lieutenants Haine and Johnson, who were exposed to the hottest of the fire and thickest of the danger, have my sincere thanks for their cordial support. Casualties, forty-three killed and wounded in my brigade proper. I have the honor to be, Respectfully your ob't servant, J. M. GLOVER, Colonel Commanding Second Brigade, Cavalry Division. ROBERT L. FREEMAN, Captain and A. A. A. Gen. Second Brigade, Cavalry Division. Doc. 157. Brigadier-General. WHEELING INTELLIGENCER ACCOUNT. August 26, 1863. Expect to visit the White Sulphur Springs, and camp near Lewisburgh at night. The writer pushed on to the front of the regiment for time to view the celebrated place; but to our great discomfiture, at eleven o'clock A.M., two miles this side of the Springs, on Antee Creek, the enemy opened their artillery upon us, calling us to a sudden halt. Our forces moved up in great haste, and planted their artillery. The fight soon became general and terrific-balls, shells, grape, and shot flying with fearful havoc in all directions, doing their work of death. The whole atmosphere resounds with the roar of artillery and musketry. Surgeons soon establish a hospital at two private houses. The dead and wounded are brought in as fast as men and horses can bring them. For four or five hours I believe there was not an intermission of firing of more BATTLE AT WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, than two minutes at any one time-almost an incessant fire. VIRGINIA. REPORT OF GENERAL AVERILL. HUTTONSVILLE, Va., Aug. 30, 1863. As near as we can learn, the rebel force consisted of the Twenty-second, Forty-fifth, Fiftyfourth, and Sixty-second Virginia regiments; EdGENERAL: I have the honor to report the safe gar's battalion of cavalry, and Chapman's battery, return of my command to this place, after an ex- of four guns-all commanded by Colonel Patten, pedition through the counties of Hardy, Pendle- in the absence of General Eckle. As to position, ton, Highland, Bath, Greenbrier, and Pocahontas. the enemy had the decided advantage. They We drove General Jackson out of Pocahontas selected a position where the road passed through and over the Warm Spring Mountain, in a series a deep gorge of rocks, with mountains on either of skirmishes, destroyed their saltpetre works, side and fearful precipices. The enemy was conburned Camp Northwest and a large amount of cealed behind rocks, trees, logs, and fences, a arms, equipments, and stores. We fought a se- great part of the time lying on their faces. Their vere engagement with a superior force, under artillery was planted in front some four hundred command of Major-General Sam Jones and Colo- yards from ours. The Third and Eighth Virginia nel Patten, at Rocky Gap, near the White Sul- M. I. occupied the left wing. The Second Virphur Springs. The battle lasted during two ginia and Fourteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, Gibdays. We drove the enemy from his first posi- son's battalion, with three companies of the tion, but want of ammunition, and the arrival, on Third Virginia, on the right. Our artillery, well the second day, of three regiments to reënforce drilled and of good pluck, held a favorable position the enemy, from the direction whence the coöpe- on the main road. General Averill remained ration of General Scammon had been promised, near the batteries during the battle, directing the decided me to withdraw. My command was movement of the troops. Thus formed, the Fedewithdrawn in good order, with the loss of only ral soldiers sent the messengers of death among two men during the operation. Our loss in the the rebels like hailstones and fire. At one time, battle is probably over one hundred officers and the rebels made their appearance in open ground, men killed and wounded, among whom are Cap- when our guns mowed them down at a fearful tain Paul and Baron Von Koenig, Aid-de-Camp, rate. Under the heavy fire they fell back, until killed while leading an assault upon the enemy's our guns were planted on the ground before ocright; and Major McNally, of the Second Virgi-cupied by the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel Thompnia, and Captain Ewing, of the artillery, danger- son, commanding the Third Virginia regiment, ously wounded. I have reason to believe the stood in the hottest of the fire, leading his brave enemy's loss greater than our own. One Parrott men not less than seven times on a desperate gun burst the first day, and becoming useless charge upon the enemy. They lying in ambush, was abandoned. Great efforts, up to noon, to- our men would move upon them under every disday, have been made by the combined forces of advantage, though thus to move was almost cerImboden and Jackson to prevent our return, but tain destruction. Yet, as one order would come without success. We have brought in over thir-after another from the General, to charge on the ty prisoners, including a Major and two or enemy, the Colonel, cool and brave, would again Doc. 158. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL HARDEE'S OR DER. THE following official order was issued by Lieutenant-General Hardee upon assuming command of the troops which had been defending Vicksburgh: ENTERPRISE, MISS., August 28. and again renew the charge. Here more men were killed among the different regiments than anywhere else on the field. It is generally conceded that all the regiments fought desperately; officers and soldiers showed an unyielding purpose to fight until the enemy was routed. The night passed. Oh! how solemn silence reigns! We waited for the order. Morning came, but not to all our fellow-soldiers. Some we had laid in the grave, others were on the field, sleeping By direction of the President of the Confedethe sleep of death. The fight is renewed, and con-rate States, I assume command of the paroled tinued until all the ammunition was about spent. prisoners of Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, At ten o'clock a despatch comes from Lieutenant- Texas, and Louisiana, recently forming part of Colonel Polsley, stating that the enemy was mov- the garrisons of Vicksburgh and Port Hudson. ing to flank our rear. The order came to fall I could desire no greater honor than the comback. This was done in good order, and well mand of troops whose sufferings and achieveconducted. We removed all that were in a con-ments have added to the renown of their country, dition to be removed of the wounded. Others and compelled the admiration even of their enewere left in the care of Assistant-Surgeon Worth-mies. The place of rendezvous of all paroled ington, of the Fourteenth Pennsylvania cavalry prisoners from the above-named States is changed We marched day and night until we reached this from Demopolis, Ala., to Enterprise, Miss. In place. The enemy pursued us for some time. anticipation of an early exchange, the work of We were not whipped, but held our ground until reörganization will proceed with energy. The a lack of shooting material compelled us to re- troops must be organized and prepared to take treat. If we had been supplied with ammuni- the field when the exchange is effected. All offition, the victory would surely have been ours. cers and men must be at their posts. They The fault lies at some man's door, not with the should be there now. To those present at the brave soldiers who were in the fight. I am much roll-calls no word is needed. Their daily answers gratified to say that every officer of our regiment are uttered in the manly tones of duty and honor. remained duly sober during the entire battle. Many are absent. They must repair at once to We speak this to their praise. No soldier wants the post of duty. The appeals that meet us on to risk his life under a drunken officer. The Sec- every side are the strongest that in any age have ond Virginia lost in killed, wounded, and miss- stirred the human heart. ing, thirty-one; Third Virginia, forty-three; Eighth Virginia, twenty; Fourteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, ninety-five; batteries, twenty-one. In all, over two hundred. Our men say this was the severest and hottest battle they have been in during the war. REBEL OFFICIAL DESPATCH. WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, Aug. 27, To General S. Cooper: SAMUEL JONES, Soldiers look at your country- the earth ravaged-property carried away, or disappearing in flame and ashes-the people murdered--the negroes arrayed in arms against the whitescruel indignities inflicted upon women and child ren. ers. Destruction marks the path of our invadTheir motto is: "Woe to the conquered." He who falters in this hour of his country's peril is a wretch who would compound for the mere boon of life, robbed of all that makes life tolerable. Fellow-soldiers! there is but one path to follow. It leads to the camp. Come to your colors and stand beside your comrades, who, with heroic constancy, are confronting the enemy. Choose, now, between the glory of successfully defending all that entitles you to the name of men and the infamy of creeping abjectly to the feet of a foe, who will spurn your submission and despise your cowardice.. W. J. HARDEE, Lieutenant-General, Doc. 159. GENERAL ONDERDONK'S EXPEDITION. GLOUCESTER POINT, VA., Sept. 3, 1863. ACTING Brigadier-General B. F. Onderdonk has just returned to this point from an extended and most successful raid up to the very gates of Richmond. The start of this expedition was made at one o'clock P.M., on the twenty-sixth of August, from Williamsburgh. After a quiet march, of little interest to the general reader, we halted and encamped at Twelve Mile Ordinary. On the morning of the twenty-seventh we moved forward without molestation; but at Slatersville we met a strong picket, whose insolent and defiant action would lead one to suppose that the enemy was in their rear in large supporting force. Colonel Onderdonk accordingly ordered a charge to be made on the force in our front, whatever it might be, and the result was, that they were chased in the most gallant style by our men a distance of two miles. One man of the rebels was killed, and two more captured, the rest escaping by reason of their fresh horses, which of course could distance our jaded animals. Proceeding further, when we arrived at New-Kent CourtHouse we were opposed by another picket. Two of these were captured, but we failed, for the former reason, to come up with the rest, although the most strenuous efforts were made to that effect by our forces, which consisted of the First New-York Mounted rifles and the Fifth Pennsylvania cavalry, the whole under command of Colonel Onderdonk, of the rifles, who, in his capacity of acting Brigadier, had full powers delegated him to act in the premises as he pleased, although the orders were explicit in writing not to go further than New-Kent Court-House. Verbal orders were, however, obtained, at the solicitation of Colonel Onderdonk, to the effect that we might move forward in the enemy's country as far as might be deemed prudent and safe in the mind of the commanding officer. Accordingly, with his customary dash, the Colonel commanding placed his own gallant regiment in the advance, and moved on to Baltimore Store, where one rebel picket was captured, and the rest retired in accelerated time. There was no delay; so on we dashed without a pause to Crump's Cross-Roads, where we met the enemy in force of about some thirty well mounted troopers. Of course a charge was in order, and our men, inflated with success, went plunging after the rebels, who quickly fled in the direction of Bottom's Bridge, up to which point we pursued them, making in all a continued chase of three miles. The rifle-pits and earthworks of the enemy on the other side of the bridge were found to be quite formidable, and opened heavily on us the moment we appeared. In this furious affair the impetuosity of our troops was highly praised by all observers. Indeed the scene was splendid. Imagine a thousand troopers, brave, bold, and well trained, with staring eyes, determined looks, and flashing sabres, dashing down, with screams and yells, upon the foe. This was indeed one worthy of the pen and brain of Longfellow. The loss of the enemy in this affair, we learned from authentic sources, was thirty killed and wounded. The Mounted rifles, who took the most active part in this fight, by their conduct exemplified to me what I never in my experience in the army could understand before-namely, a total unconsciousness of danger, and an apparent contempt for death. McClellan's earthworks on the Richmond side of Bottom's Bridge had, it seems, been so altered by the rebels that they could most effectually resist our advance. These works are upward of six feet high, very strong, and defended by five hundred infantry and a squadron of cavalry. General Wise, with a force of four thousand men, was reported by contrabands to be lying in wait for us two miles further on toward Richmond, beyond the bridge; so Colonel Onderdonk thought it prudent, considering his explicit written orders, to retire, having done much more than was required of him by his commanding officer. The return was at once made to Baltimore Store, where we encamped. Our position here was very strong indeed, and was selected with the view of repulsing any movement the enemy might make against us in the night. General Wise, it was ascertained, did actually cross to attack us, but, finding us in strong position, re crossed again before morning. A pursuit was begun on the twenty-eighth by the enemy, who attempted to cut us off at NewKent Court-House or Slatersville, but all in vain. At noon on this day we halted at Slatersville to feed our horses and refresh ourselves. There the enemy charged suddenly on the Fifth Pennsylvania cavalry, creating quite a panic on our surprised men; but the Mounted rifles came to the rescue in most gallant style, and charging with irresistible fury upon the presumptuous foe, drove him in confusion a distance of four miles, inflicting severe punishment on him meantime. The enemy's force was, in all, five hundred effective men, consisting of Holcomb's Legion of South-Carolina troops, and the Fifth Virginia. In this splendid counter-charge of our troops we killed a major, an orderly sergeant, and two privates, and wounded fifteen men. On the twentyninth we returned to Williamsburgh, and were sent immediately to this point. The national loss was very slight, we having only one killed and two wounded, whose names are as follows: Killed.-John Noetting, Fifth Pennsylvania cavalry, troop A. Wounded. Riley, Fifth cavalry, troop I; Corporal Fitzpatrick, Fifth cavalry, troop I. The captures were not immense, but important. At New-Kent Court-House a civilian named O. M. Chandler was taken into custody by Colonel Onderdonk, and sent to Fortress Monroe. When the rebel pickets fled before us this man misled our officers, by wilfully stating that they took the road to the left, when he knew that they were on that to the right. By this means the greater portion escaped, and for this falsehood Chandler lost his liberty. Another arrest of a citizen was made by the Colonel at Baltimore Store, where Mr. Elmore, an employé of the rebel government, was seized and carried off. The plunder in the shape of horses, equipments, etc., was not as large as usual; but the poverty of the country accounts for this. We captured a set of telegraph instruments, however, and a good quantity of horses, besides de GENERAL ORDERS No. 66. 1. The trade of the city of New-Orleans with Cairo, St. Louis, and the cities and towns of the Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio Rivers, is hereby declared free from any military restrictions whatever. The trade of the Mississippi at intermediate points within the Department of the Gulf is held subject only to such limitations as may be necessary to prevent a supply of provisions and munitions of war reaching the enemies of the country. 2. The products of the country intended for general market may be brought into military posts on the line of the Mississippi within the Department of the Gulf, without restraint, namely, at New-Orleans, Carrolton, Donaldsonville, Baton Rouge, and Port Hudson. 3. Officers or soldiers of the army are hereby directed to transfer to Hon. B. B. Sanders, Agent of the Treasury Department, or his deputies, taking receipts therefor, all captured, abandoned, or sequestrated property not required for military purposes, in accordance with General Orders No. 88. 4. The Military Court of this Department is hereby invested with exclusive jurisdiction in all cases of extortion, excessive or unreasonable charges, or unjust treatment of officers and soldiers of the United States, by proprietors or agents of steamboats, or other vessels in the navigation of the Mississippi or Gulf, and upon conviction of any offences herein described, offenders shall be liable to fine, imprisonment, or confiscation of property. By command of Major-General BANKS. G. N. LIEBER, A. A. G. Doc. 161. BATTLE OF WHITE STONE HILL, D. T. GENERAL SULLY'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS INDIAN EXPEDITION, CAMP AT MAJOR: The last report I had the honor to send you was from the mouth of this Little Sheyenne River, bearing date August sixteenth, 1863; since which time my movements have been too rapid and the danger of sending any communication such that it has been impossible for me to do so. I therefore have the honor to report my movements from last report up to date. On the morning of the nineteenth the steamer I was waiting for with supplies finally arrived. She was immediately unloaded, and all the baggage of the officers and men of the command was sent down by her to the depot at Fort Pierre, together with every man who was in the least sick or not well mounted. By this I reduced my force considerably, and was enabled to transport with the wretched mules that had been furnished me about twenty-three days' rations and forage enough to keep these transportation animals alive, depending on grass I might find to feed the cavalry and artillery horses. Luckily for me, I found the grazing north much better than I had dared to hope for. most terrific rain and hail storms I have seen. On the twentieth were visited by one of the This stampeded some of my animals and a few it also destroyed a quantity of my rations in the were lost-they swam across the Missouri-and but I succeeded in getting off the afternoon of the wagons, thereby causing some delay in the march; twenty-first, and marched up the Little Sheyenne about eleven miles, the road being very heavy. The next day we marched only seven miles, campThe next day we marched in a north-westerly diing on a slough on the prairie without wood. rection to the outlet of Swan Lake. On the miles, and encamped on a small creek called Bois twenty-fourth we marched due north eighteen and I formed a hunting party for the command, Cache. Here we came into the buffalo country, which I had soon to disband, as they disabled more horses than, buffalo. We continued our march north about twenty-two miles, and reached a small stream called Bird Arche Creek. This day the hunters succeeded in killing many buffalo, and reported that they saw Indians near the. Missouri. Early on the morning of the twenty-sixth, I sent out a small scouting party, who captured two Squaws and some children, and brought them into me. These Indians reported that General Lake, and that they were on their way to the Sibley had had a fight near the head of Long agency at Crow Creek, but were lost, and were alone; but the scouts found tracks of lodges going up the Missouri. I therefore immediately detailed companies F and K of the Second Nebraska cavalry, under command of Captain La Boo, ordering them to go to the Missouri, and follow up the trail, with orders to capture some Indians if possible, and bring them in, so that I might get information; if they could not do that, to kill them and destroy the camps. I continued the march with the rest of the command that day, passing through large herds of buffalo, and was obliged to inake a march of thirty-five miles before I could reach water. The weather was very hot, and it was night before we reached camp on the Beaver River. allow. I felt serious alarm for the safety of Captain La Boo, who had but fifty men with him, and who had already been out over two days without rations. I encamped here for the next day, and sent out four companies of the Second Nebraska and of the Sixth Iowa, under command of Major Pearman, Second Nebraska, to hunt him up, and see if there were any Indians on the Missouri. The next day, however, Captain La Boo's company returned, having made a march of one hundred and eighty-seven miles, living upon what buffalo and game they could kill, scouring the country to my left, overtaking the camp of ten lodges he was sent after, destroying them, but seeing no Indians. On the twenty-seventh, I started late, having rapidly, and go as far as my rations would had some difficulty in crossing the river, making a march of five miles still in a northerly direction, and encamped on another branch of the same river. Company K of the Second Nebraska joined me this day, having been separated from the other company. The next day we had to make some deviations to the west on account of hills and sloughs, and made the outlet of Long Lake, a march of about twenty miles. On the way we saw numerous signs of Indians in large numbers having been recently there, and found an old lame Indian concealed in the bushes, who was well known by many of the men of the command as having for some years resided near Sioux City. He had the reputation of being what is called a "good Indian." He stated that "his horse had been taken away from him and that he had been left there." He looked almost starved to death. He gave me the following details, which have since mostly turned out to be correct; he stated "General Sibley had fought the Indians at the head of Long Lake, fifty miles north-east from me, some weeks ago; that he followed them down to the mouth of Apple Creek; that the Indians attacked him on the way, and that there was some skirmishing. "At Apple Creek, Sibley had another fight, and that in all the fights about fifty-eight Indians were killed; that General Sibley fortified his camp at Apple Creek, and after a while returned to James River; that a few days after General Sibley left, the Indians, who had their scouts out watching, recrossed the Missouri, and while doing so, discovered a Mackinaw boat on its way down. They attacked the boat, fought the entire day until sundown, sunk her, and killed all on board-twenty-one men, three women, and some children; that before she was sunk the fire from the boat killed ninety-one Indians and wounded many more; that a small war party followed Sibley some days, returned with the report that he had crossed the James River; then some of the Indians went north; the larger portion, however, went toward the head of Long Lake; and that he thought a portion of them were encamped on the Missouri River west of me." The report was so much in keeping with the Indian mode of warfare, that, though it came from an Indian, I was led to give it some consideration, particularly the part that stated the Indians, after watching Sibley's return, recrossed when all danger was over, and went back to their old hunting-grounds. Besides, the guides who were acquainted with the country, stated that "a large body of Indians could not live on the other side long, without going a great distance west; that always at this season of the year the Indians camped on the Ooteau, near the tributaries of the James, where the numerous lakes or springs kept the grass fresh; here the buffalo were plenty, and the lakes and streams full of fish; and that here they prepared their meat for the winter, moving to the Missouri where the fuel was plenty to winter." I therefore determined to change my course toward the east, to move This same day (twenty-ninth) I sent two companics of the Sixth Iowa to the mouth of Apple Creek. They reported on their return that they found the fortified camp of General Sibley, his trail, and his return trail toward the east; that they could see no signs of there having been any fight there, nor could they see the Mackinaw boat reported by the old Indian. This detachment was under command of Captain Cram, Sixth Iowa. The battalion of Major Pearman joined me before starting, having seen nothing, and, after a march of above ninety miles, through a country with no wood whatever, but with good grass and plenty of lakes of the most abominable water, on the third of September we reached a lake, where, on the plains near by, were the remains of a very large number of buffalo killed, some quite recently. Here I encamped to wait the reports of the commands I had out during the march, who every day discovered fresh signs of Indians, their lodge trails spread over the country, but all moving toward a point known to be a favorite haunt of the Indians. I had this day detailed one battalion of the Sixth Iowa, Major House commanding, and Mr. F. La Framboise as guide, to keep ahead of me five miles, and in case they saw a small band of Indians, to attack them, or take them prisoners. If they should find a large band, too large to successfully cope with, to watch the camp at a distance, and send back word to me, my intention being to leave my train under charge of a heavy guard, move up in the night-time so as to surround them, and attack them at daybreak. But, for some reason satisfactory to the guide, he bore off much to my left, and came upon the Indians in an encampment of over four hundred lodges, some say six hundred, in ravines, where they felt perfectly secure, being full persuaded that I was still on my way up the Missouri. This is what the Indian prisoners say. They also state that a war party followed me on my way up in hopes of stampeding me; but this they could not do. I marched with great care, with an advance-guard and flankers; the train in two lines sixty paces apart; the troops on each side; in front and centre myself, with one company and the battery; all the loose stock was kept between the lines of wagons. In this way I lost no animals on the campaign, except some |