enemy, which was ascertained to be one of the divisions of Granger's corps, approaching from Chattanooga, and was moving toward the centre, where Cleburn had made his attack.

tery of ten guns to a position from which he could enfilade the reënforcing column as it advanced. The battery opened just as it was about wheeling into position, and, at the same time, Stewart's division, posted on the extreme right, was thrown forward on its flank.

wounded, prisoners, artillery, small-arms, and colors, after a desperate struggle, by the brigades of Kershaw and Humphries, under the command of Brigadier-General Kershaw, in the The whole line was then revised and posted, absence of Major-General McLaws, reënforced and a forward movement in all its length or by Gracise's, Kelley's, and Trigg's brigades, of dered. The right swung round with an ex- Major-General Preston's division, Major-General tended sweep, with its firm supports, and the Hindman completing the general work of the left rallied once more to the charge of the line on the left, by driving the enemy on his works, before which it had suffered so severely front before him, along with those driven from in the morning. Never did troops move up to the ridge by Preston and Kershaw. Rosecrans, their work with more resolution; the daring perceiving what was taking place on his right, Breckinridge with his Kentuckians and Louisian- ordered up reënforcements from his left, to supians, and Cleburn with his Arkansians and Ala-port his retiring, or, rather, frightened battalions, bamians, and Walker with his South-Carolinians, which, finding a good position, waited for their Mississippians, and Georgians, and Cheatham arrival, turning upon their pursuers with the with his Tennesseeans, all moved forward in one fierceness of a temporary and desperate energy mighty tide, amidst the thunders of some twenty Brigadier-General Law, commanding Hood's dibatteries and the roar of thousands of muskets vision, perceiving this movement, ordered a bat and rifles. The scene was one of surpassing sublimity and grandeur. Sweeping forward as the flood of a mighty river, it carried every thing before it, nothing being able to stand before it in the resistless line of its path. The enemy's works, which opposed such a stubborn resistance in the morning, succumbed before the onmoving torrent, and the brave men of Cleburn's division, which had been repulsed in the morning, had, by their extraordinary gallantry in the evening, the opportunity of avenging the experiences of the earlier part of the day. The whole field was carried triumphantly, and the enemy driven as chaff before the wind. He withstood as long as human powers of endurance could bear up against such a pressure, then yielded and fell back partly upon and into the hands of the right wing, where several hundred were captured, the residue crossing the Chattanooga road, and retreating in the direction of Mission Ridge. Night interposed, and though it brought with it a magnificent moon, no orders were received to pursue, and the troops were halted, giving expression to their sense of the glorious victory won, and unconquerable desire to pursue it to an absolute success in the enemy's utter annihilation, in such long, loud, and triumphant cheering, as would almost seem to rend the heavens. Such cheering has never been heard at the close of any battle, since the war began.

These movements, made contemporaneously with the movements of Polk's wing, as mentioned above, led to the almost simultaneous rout of the whole Federal army, and ensued in the glorious victory described, one of the most absolute and decisive of the war. From this moment, panic, confusion, disorder became the condition of an army which had never before acknowledged defeat, and which for two days had been contesting every inch of ground with valor the most obstinate. And what did the confederate commander do? Did he pursue an enemy thus demoralized, and furnished, by his not forming his line of battle at right angles with his actual line, with opportunity of retreat upon Chattanooga, whose possession was the object of the campaign-an enemy not only demoralized, but encumbered with heavy trains, and no mode of exit save through two gaps of Mission Ridge, a mountain? No. Night had set in, and he deemed it prudent to halt, notwithstanding his men were eager for pursuit, and a brilliant moon furnished almost the light of day. Three hours were lost in the morning by Polk's failure to atSuch were the operations on the right wing. tack at daylight; and, therefore, the condition The battle beginning on the right, its tide ran of the troops was such as to forbid the possibilfrom right to left, and reached Longstreet's ex-ity of pursuit. But granting that reasons, subtreme left about eleven o'clock, and was availed stantive reasons, existed for not pursuing on Sunof and directed by that eminent chief who day night, what hindered the Commander-invery much resembles the Duke of Wellington in the aspects, moral and intellectual, of his character, as he has resembled him in the fortune of a uniform success - in a manner as prompt and energetic as it was wise and skilful. While Hood and others were ordered by him to make a vigorous assault in front, Buckner was made to execute a successful flank movement, the joint effect of which was to force the Federals to abandon that part of the field, and to seek a position on a high ridge. From this position they were driven, with heavy loss in killed, VOL. VII.-Doc. 38.

Chief from pursuing on Monday morning at daylight? Chattanooga was only ten miles from the battle-field, and, unfortified, our pursuing cavalry could see the head of their column, and urged General Bragg by repeated messages to pursue, that every hour's delay would be equal to the loss of a thousand men. Citizens along the road reported that many of their commands passed their dwellings in the utmost disorder, without arms or accoutrements, and many without hats, as a confused and routed mob, not as troops in column, every thing in Chattanooga and on the

road inviting rather than forbidding attack. Even STEWARD'S HOSPITAL, Sept. 20, 1863.-At nine if they had good defensive works, with the con- A.M. this morning I was wounded and captured dition as reported above, by a prompt pursuit by the rebels. I was hurried to the rear as fast our army would have gone into Chattanooga as possible, with quite a number of our woundwith theirs, and thus broken the effect of their ed. We were taken to Steward's Hospital, which fire; and if such would have been the result of is situated some three miles from the battle-field. good defensive works, what might not the result We were put out upon the ground, with no shelhave been without them, and the enemy panic-ter whatever, and a great many of us had no stricken because of the knowledge that none such blankets. There were some eighty of our woundexisted? What hindered him from pursuing is not ed at this place. Dr. Hamilton (rebel) came known, but it is known that while pursuit seems round and examined our wounds; some of the to have been invited, he did not pursue, and not worst cases were washed and partially dressed. 'pursuing, what did he do on Monday morning? Toward evening, all that were able were marched He first sent out detachments to the battle-field off. Captain McWilliams and Lieutenant Cole, to gather up the fruits of victory, in arms, large of the Fifty-first Illinois infantry, were among and small, to be secured and sent to the rear, and them. About sundown we were forced to becaused the captured banners to be collected to be lieve our troops were falling back. The rebels sent to Richmond, and prisoners to be counted are jubilant. They say they have captured half and sent to the rear. He then ordered the troops of Rosecrans's army. under arms, and marched them down the Chattanooga road until they came near to Rossville, where Forrest and Pegram were thundering away with their batteries at the retreating enemy, there had them filed to the right, and thrown down the Chickamauga Creek, that they might rest from their fatigues and be in good position to move upon Burnside or flank Rosecrans, as future contingencies might dictate.

There the troops halted from Monday until Wednesday morning; the enemy, in the mean time, working like beavers, and fortifying night and day with all their might. On Tuesday night an order was issued for the whole army to move upon Chattanooga at six o'clock the next morning, Wednesday, twenty-third September.

The army moved up to and over Mission Ridge, where it was halted, and where it remains halted to this day, the twenty-eighth October!

That the campaign, so far, is a failure, and the battle of Chickamauga, though a victory, is not a success, are propositions too plain for denial. We have not recovered Chattanooga as yet, much less Tennessee, and it may be well for the country to inquire whether the fault lies with a subordinate officer, or is to be traced to the inefficiency and incompetency of one higher in rank, one who is presumed intellectually to direct the operations of the army of Tennessee.

Doc. 213.

HISTORICUS.

PRISON-LIFE IN RICHMOND.

JOURNAL OF A UNION SOLDIER.

Sept. 21.-To-day the rebels have been so jubilant on what they term the "Yankee rout," that they have taken no notice of us whatever; the men are lying weltering in their blood, suffering beyond description.

Sept. 22.-To-day we had a man die. Dr. Story (rebel) has been put in charge of all the Yankee wounded. He appears to be a gentleman, but as yet there has been nothing done for the wounded, who are suffering intensely.

Sept. 23.-To-day the Doctor dressed most of the wounds. Many of the men have shattered limbs, and are suffering beyond description. We have had nothing to eat since we came here.

Sept. 24.-Two of our men died to-day. They had shattered limbs, and the worms had got into their wounds; had they had proper attention, they probably could have been saved.

Sept. 25.-The rebels say they have driven Rosecrans over the river, also Burnside out of East-Tennessee. The doctors are having a spree over it. No attention has been paid to us to-day. There are two or three hundred rebel wounded here that have to be attended to first. One man died today.

Sept. 26.-To-day we drew the first rations we have had since we came here. A ration consists of half a pint of corn-meal and two ounces of beef, a miserable pittance for a hungry man. No doctor has been near to-day. Some of the men are suffering intensely. The rebels don't seem to care how many of us die. Heavy firing in the direction of Chattanooga.

Sept. 27.-We lost one man by death to-day. Two of the boys have had limbs amputated; both will probably die. The boys are suffering a great deal from their wounds; mortification has taken place in many instances, while some have worms in their wounds. Many are very sick; no medicine to be had.

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, November 6, 1863. You doubtless have heard a great deal about the way our prisoners are treated during their captivity in the land of Dixie, yet I feel sure you will do a soldier the kindness to give the follow- Sept. 28.-We lost two by death to-day; arteing notes a space in your columns. These notes ries burst; surgeon absent; bled to death. We were taken while I was a prisoner, and are strict-have had nothing to eat to-day. I believe they ly correct. I desire the public to know how the mean to starve us to death. It is a pitiful sight boys that were wounded and captured in the to see the haggard countenances of the men. Tobattle of Chickamauga were treated by the chiv-day they have sent two hundred rebel wounded alry: to the hospitals.

Oct. 9.-Last night they put one hundred and eighty of us into box-cars and brought us to Dalton, where we stopped for the night. We had to sleep in the cars, and they gave us no supper. The night was very cold. It was heartrending to witness the suffering among the sick and wounded. This morning we left for Dalton without breakfast, and arrived at Atlanta, Ga., at six A.M. We were then taken to a military prison, where we now lie upon the ground with no shelter and no fires. Our wounds have not been dressed for three days; the stench is awful. Oct. 10.-We are under the charge of our own Oct. 25.-We are much more comfortably sitdoctors here, but the rebels won't furnish band-uated than we were at Libby. We have a very

north of the camp, where I heard firing, and sup posed they had attacked my cavalry, which was then out; but on looking around, I discovered Major Henning, of our regiment, who had gallantly cut his way through the enemy and rescued three of my men who had been taken prisoners, and brought them safely to camp. The Major informed me that General Blunt was close by, and that the enemy were driving him, and called for cavalry to go to the General's relief. This I could not furnish him, as every effective man had been sent out in the morning, and all I had was twenty-five of my own company, C, and twenty of company D, Third Wisconsin cavalry, and fifty negroes, none of whom had serviceable horses. The Major thought that, under the circumstances, I could do no better than to hold my camp, while he went out in hopes to find General Blunt, and inform him that my camp was still in our possession. Shortly afterward I dis

Oct. 28. We are now on the flag of truce boat New-York. The Stars and Stripes float proudly above us, yet it is a sorrowful sight to see the poor boys, they look like skeletons. I venture not more than ten of our number will weigh one hundred pounds. I fear quite a number of the boys will die, they are beyond medical skill. Oct. 29.-I feel like a white man now, the first time since I was captured. We are now in St. John's College Hospital. Each one of us had to take a good scrub, and was put into a clean shirt, after which, the most welcome of all things, came a beautiful roast. I trust our troubles are covered that General Blunt's escort and band ended for a season.

Doc. 214.

BAXTER'S SPRINGS MASSACRE.

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT POND.

BAXTER'S SPRINGS, CHEROKEE NATION, Oct. 7, 1864.

COLONEL: I was attacked by Quantrell to-day with about six hundred and fifty men, and after one hour's hard fighting I am able to report to you that I still hold the camp, and the old flag floats over us as proudly as ever.

At

had been massacred, their wagons burned, and the bodies of the dead stripped of clothing and left upon the ground, and that the enemy had formed in line of battle on the prairie. two o'clock a flag of truce approached; the bearer (George Todd) demanded the surrender of the camp, which being refused, he stated that he demanded, in the name of Colonel Quantrell, of the First regiment, First brigade, army of the South, an exchange of prisoners. I answered that I had taken no prisoners, as I had not been outside the intrenchments, and had no opportunity of taking any; that I had wounded some of his The attack was unexpected, as I had sent my men, whom I had seen fall from their saddles, cavalry out not more than an hour previous, to and would see that they were cared for, providreconnoitre on the same road the enemy came in ed he would do the same by our men. He said on. My men were at dinner when the attack he had twelve privates and the Adjutant-General was made, and most of them were obliged to (Major Curtis) prisoners, and that I had killed break through the enemy's lines in order to get and wounded about fifty of his men, and if I their arms, which were in camp: In doing this, would promise to take care of his wounded, and four of my men were shot down. I was in my see that they were paroled after they were able tent, about two hundred yards west of the camp, to leave, he would promise me that no harm when I heard the first firing, (the reason of my should befall Major Curtis or our men. This, I tent being here was, that I had just arrived with think, was intended as a blind, to find out what reënforcements, and the camp was not large I had done, as they had already murdered Major enough to accommodate the whole of my com- Curtis and our prisoners. This evening, General mand, and I had just had the men at work ex- Blunt came in accompanied by Mr. Tough, who, tending the defences up to my quarters,) when I with six or eight men, had been following Quanlooked out and saw my camp surrounded by trell on his retreat all the afternoon, and report mounted men two ranks deep. I called what that he crossed the Neosha at the Fort Gibson men were near me to get inside the fortifications road, and went south. Is there a braver man if possible, at the same time I ran through the living than the General? My loss is nine killed enemy's ranks myself, and got safely inside, and sixteen wounded, (six of company C, Third where I found the enemy as numerous as my Wisconsin cavalry,) Lieutenant Cook, of the Secown men. In a moment every man was rallied, ond colored, and John Fry, the express-rider, and we soon succeeded in driving the enemy out- and one negro. As near as I can learn, the casuside the camp. This done, I called for men to alties of General Blunt are about eighty killed get the howitzer, which stood just over the in- and six or seven wounded. Most of the killed trenchments, on the north side. Whether the are shot through the head, showing that they men heard me or not I am unable to say, as the were taken prisoners and then murdered. Lieu volleys of musketry and yells of the enemy near-tenant Farr, Judge-Advocate, is among the mur ly drowned every other noise. I got the howit-dered; also Henry Polloque, and the entire brigade zer at work myself, and after three shots into band. Here allow me to make mention of som their ranks succeeded in repulsing their main of the noble acts of some of my men. Sergean force, which retreated in good order over the hill McKenzie, of my company, exchanged elever

shots with a rebel officer, and succeeded in kill-
ing his horse. The man then dismounted and
took to the timber; McKenzie followed him, and
with but one shot in his revolver killed his man
while his adversary was firing at him. Sergeant
Smith, I think, was the coolest man on the
ground, and did not fail to see that every order
was obeyed to the letter. Sergeant Chestnut,
company D, Third Wisconsin cavalry, command-
ed his company, and did nobly. The darkeys
fought like devils; thirteen of them were wound-
ed at the first round, and not one but that fought
throughout the engagement. The number of the
enemy killed, as far as I can learn, are eleven,
and I know we wounded more than twice that
number, which they carried off the field.
There are several other interesting items, which
I will furnish you in a future report.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES B. POND,

First Lieut. Co. C, Third Wis. Cav., Com'd'g Post, Fort Blair.
To Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. BLAIR,

Commanding Post, Fort Scott.

MAJOR HENNING'S REPORT.

BAXTER'S SPRINGS, CHEROKEE NATION, Oct. 7, 1863.

COLONEL I have the honor to report the following facts in regard to the fight at Baxter's Springs, Cherokee Nation, October 6, 1863.

On Sunday, the fourth, General Blunt, with the following members of his staff, namely, Major H. Z. Curtis, Assistant Adjutant-General, Major B. S. Henning, Provost-Marshal of District, Lieutenant Tappin, Second colored volunteers A. D. C., 'Lieutenant A. W. Farr, JudgeAdvocate, together with the brigade band and all clerks in the different departments of district headquarters, and also an escort, consisting of forty men of company I, Third Wisconsin cavalry, under Lieutenant H. D. Banister, forty-five men of company A, Fourteenth Kansas cavalry, under Lieuteuant Pierce, and the whole escort, under the command of Lieutenant J. G. Cavart, Third Wisconsin cavalry, and a train of eight wagons, transporting the effects of district headquarters, company effects, etc., left Fort Scott, for Fort Smith, Ark., and on that day marched six miles and camped. On the succeeding day marched thirty-four miles and camped on Cow Creek, and on Tuesday, the sixth instant, marched from Cow Creek to within a distance of eighty rods of a camp at Baxter's Springs, Cherokee Nation, and halted at twelve M., for the train to close up, as it had become somewhat scattered. The halt continued about fifteen minutes, and the command had just been given for the column to move, when horsemen were seen coming out of the woods, a distance of about eighty rods to the left, and forming in line. As we were so near Baxter's Springs, (although not in sight of it, by reason of an intervening ridge,) many supposed them to be our own troops drilling or returning from a scout. The General immediately ordered the two companies into line of battle, and the train to close up in rear of the line, which was done under the immediate direction

of Major Curtis, Assistant Adjutant-General. At the same time a reconnoitre was made by Mr. Tough, a scout of the General's, who reported that the force were enemies, and that an engagement was going on at the Springs. I had ridden forward myself, and discovered that the force was large, and reported the same to the General, who then rode to reconnoitre for him- . self. At this time I discovered that the enemy were being reënforced from the south-west, on a line between us and the camp at Baxter's Springs, (the main body of the enemy being east of us,) and wishing to ascertain the condition of things in that quarter, I rode forward to the crest of the hill, where I saw that the camp was nearly surrounded by the enemy, and the fighting very brisk. While there, the stragglers of the enemy continued to pass from the south-west to their main body. Although within range of the camp, and receiving a straggling fire therefrom, I immediately commenced to fire upon these stragglers, and received their fire in return, and was seconded in this by Captain Tough and Stephen Wheeler, of company F, Third Wisconsin cavalry, both of whom acted with great bravery, and was just on the point of returning to our line, when I saw five mounted men (rebels) with three Federal soldiers prisoners, trying to pass as the others had done. I immediately recognized one of the prisoners as a private of company C, Third Wisconsin cavalry, one of the companies stationed at the Springs, (and belonging to my own regiment.) I determined to rescue them, and called to Tough and Wheeler to advance with me, but the former had just shot one rebel and was in close pursuit of another, in a direction taking him away from me. Wheeler advanced with me, and by pressing hard on the rebels and firing fast, we drove them, killing one, wounding another, and rescuing the prisoners, who all belonged to company C, Third Wisconsin cavalry. As the rebels escaped, they attempted to shoot their prisoners, and wounded one in the shoulder. As this was right under the fire of the camp, two of the prisoners made for the camp without stopping to say thank you; the other, and the one personally known to me, named Heaton, seemed so bewildered that I had to ride up to him, and force him to go in the right direction. All this had taken me over the brow of the hill, so that when I turned to go back, our forces were partially out of sight, but a few jumps of my horse brought them in sight again, and I saw them still in line of battle, while the enemy to the number of about four hundred and fifty were advancing upon them in line of battle, and firing very rapidly. I will here state that of the eighty-five men of our escort, twenty acted as rear-guard to the train, and did not form in line at all, leaving only sixty-five men in line, of which forty were of company A, Fourteenth Kansas cavalry, on the right; twenty-five, of company I, Third Wisconsin cavalry, on the left. At this time the distance between the two lines was not two hundred yards, and the enemy advancing at a walk firing, I had just time to notice