devoted exclusively to the production of corn, oats, beans, peas, potatoes, and other food for man and beast. Let corn be sowed broadcast, for fodder, in immediate proximity to railroads, rivers, and canals; and let all your efforts be directed to the prompt supply of these articles in the districts where our armies are operating. You will thus add greatly to their efficiency, and furnish the means without which it is impracticable to make those prompt and active movements which have hitherto stricken terror into our enemies, and secured our most brilliant triumphs. PLAN SUGGESTED BY THE REBEL SECRETARY OF ward, select at a public meeting, as early as con- certain from each citizen in the county or parish 2. Let it be the duty of this committee to aswhat amount of surplus corn and meat, whether bacon, pork, or beef, he can spare for the use of the army, after reserving a supply for his family and those dependent on him for food. Let this committee fix a price which is deemed by them a just compensation for the articles furnished, and inform the citizens what this price is, so that each may know, before delivery, what price is to be paid for the articles furnished. transportation of the supplies to some convenient depot, after consultation with the officer who is to receive them. Let this committee make arrangements for the Having thus placed before you, my countrymen, the reasons for the call made on you for aid in supplying the wants of the coming year, I add a few words of appeal in behalf of the brave soldiers now confronting your enemies, and to whom your government is unable to furnish all the comforts they so richly merit. The supply of meal for the army is deficient. This deficiency is only temporary, for measures have been adopt ed which will, it is believed, soon enable us to restore the full rations; but that ration is now reduced at times to one half the usual quantity in some of our armies. It is known that the sup-who have furnished the supplies. ply of meat throughout the country is sufficient for the support of all; but the distances are so great, the condition of the roads has been so bad during the five months of winter weather through which we have just passed, and the attempt of grovelling speculators to forestall the market and make money out of the lifeblood of our defenders, have so much influenced the withdrawal from sale of the surplus in the hands of the producers, that the government has been unable to gather full supplies. Let the committee make delivery of the supplies on receiving payment of the price, and assume the duty of paying it over to the citizens 3. Where the duty of the committee is performed in any town or city at which there may be a quartermaster or commissary, no further duty need be required of them than to deliver to the officer a list of the names of the citizens and of the supplies which each is ready to furnish, and the price fixed; whereupon the officer will himself gather the supplies and make payment. 4. Where the supplies are furnished in the country, the cost of transportation to the depot the price fixed by the committee. will be paid by the government, in addition to The Secretary of War has prepared a plan, which is appended to this address, by the aid of which, or some similar means to be adopted by benefit of our brave defenders now in the army, 5. As this appeal is made to the people for the yourselves, you can assist the officers of the the department relies with confidence on the pa government in the purchase of the corn, the triotism of the people, that no more than just bacon, the pork, and the beef known to exist in compensation would be fixed by the committees, large quantities in different parts of the country; nor accepted by those whose chief motive will be Even if the surplus be less than believed, is it to aid their country, and not to make undue not a bitter and humiliating reflection that those who remain at home, secure from hardship, and protected from danger, should be in the enjoyment of abundance, and that their slaves also should have a full supply of food, while their sons, brothers, husbands and fathers, are stinted in the rations on which their health and efficiency depend? Entertaining no fear that you will either misconstrue the motives of this address, or fail to respond to the call of patriotism, I have placed the facts fully and frankly before you. Let us all unite in the performance of our duty, each in his sphere, and with concerted, persistent, and well-directed effort, there seems little reason to doubt that, under the blessings of Him to whom we look for guidance, and who has been to us our shield and strength, we shall maintain the sovereignty and independence of the confederate States, and trensmit to our posterity the heritage bequeathed to us by our fathers. JEFFERSON DAVIS. gains out of the needs of our noble soldiers. JAMES A. SEDDON, Doc. 160. THE FIGHT AT FRANKLIN, TENN. MURFREESBORO, TENN., April 11, 1863. Van Dorn made his promised attack to-day, at one o'clock directly in front and on the town. The infantry regiments on guard in town, with the cavalry pickets, held him at bay until their ammunition was exhausted. The dense smoke and atmosphere favored their operations, enabling them to approach very near without our being able to observe them. Our siege-guns and our light batteries opened upon them with murderous effect, literally strewing the ground with men and (company G, Second Lieut. J. A. Fisher comhorses. I had halted Stanley four miles out on manding,) ordering them to reënforce my left by the Murfreesboro road. He at once crossed his way of the Lewisburgh pike with all their force, forces over at Heights's Mills, vigorously attack-excepting one relief of the prison-guards. This ing Forrest's divisions, moving down on the Lew-order was not obeyed. My messenger in a few isburgh pike, capturing six pieces of artillery and minutes informed me that Lieut. Fisher and the some two hundred prisoners; but, owing to the Provost-Marshal, Capt. Avery, of Gen. Granger's unfavorable nature of the country, was unable to staff, refused to send me the company. Comhold them, being attacked by greatly superior pany G, therefore, was not sent out of the town. numbers, outflanked and nearly surrounded. Our With this disposition of my force, and with only loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners is less than seven companies of infantry-less than three hunone hundred, while the enemy's cannot be less dred men-we maintained our lines, of more than than three times that number. They were re- one fourth of a mile in extent, for more than two pulsed on all sides, and driven until darkness hours against vastly superior numbers. Twice prevented the pursuit. Captain McIntyre, of the did they attempt to rout us with their cavalry, Fourth regulars, took the battery and prisoners, and as often were they repulsed with loss. bringing off thirty odd of the latter. W. S. ROSECRANS, Major-General. G. GRANGER, CAPTAIN MATCHETT'S REPORT. CAMP OF THE FORTIETH O. V.I., NEAR FRANKLIN, TENN., April 11, 1863. ( Colonel S. D. Atkins, Commanding Second Brigade, Third Division, Army of Kentucky : COLONEL: I have the honor of submitting to you the following report of the engagement had by the Fortieth O. V. I. under my command with the combined rebel forces of Van Dorn, Cosby, and Brig.-General Jackson, on yesterday, (April tenth, 1863,) while on picket-duty. The Colonel and Major of the regiment being sick, and I being the ranking Captain of the regiment reported for duty, the command of the regiment for that day was assigned to me. At twenty minutes past twelve o'clock M. the enemy commenced the engagement by attacking the outpost guards on, and adjacent to, the Columbia pike, with a large advance-guard. Companies E and K (First Lieutenants James Allen and David Roop, respectively) were in charge of that section of our line, with First Lieutenant David Roop commanding. The guards of that section were rallied on their reserve, where they gallantly repulsed two attacks of the enemy's advance before reenforcements reached them. Before the attack began I ordered company H, Capt. Meagher, and First Lieut. John W. Smith, company I, forward to strengthen Lieut. Roop's reserve. Seeing the strength of the enemy's advance-guard greatly outnumbered Lieut. Roop's reserve, I immediately sent company B, Captain Charles Ent, forward also to take position on the left of Lieut. Roop's reserve. A moment's glance at the enemy's force convinced me that the limited force under my command could maintain their lines but a short time against the numbers of the enemy in front. I therefore ordered my last company of reserves, (company A, under command of Second Lieut. Hart of company B,) to take position in the wood at the left of the railroad in order to strengthen company C, Second Lieut. J. C. Peck, who had been posted on our extreme left section of the guard, on the Lewisburgh pike. At the same time I sent for the provost-guards of Franklin, They next advanced several mounted companies as skirmishers, deployed in sections and platoons, and at the same time began to form a consolidated line on rear of his skirmishers for a charge. We held our lines thus long, momentarily expecting reëenforcements. None, however, arrived, and I was informed that none were on their way. From the length of time that we were engaged, it was reasonable to suppose that we were not to be reënforced, but rather that it was the wish of the Commanding General for us to fall back. No order or intimation to that effect, however, reached me. Our lines up to this time had been maintained in the skirts of a wood. To the rear of us for a distance of more than a half a mile, lay an open cotton-field without an obstacle or a shelter on it. A formidable line of cavalry, composed of three regiments, of from one thousand five hundred to two thousand five hundred men, as we learned from prisoners afterward taken by us, were just beyond the range of our guns to the front of us. The fences and houses of the town were our nearest shelter in rear. A force sufficiently strong to flank us were menacing our right and left. The woods must soon be yielded up to overwhelming numbers. From this critical position the men were relieved by the most noble daring and bravery that ever graced any arms. I gave the order to fall back on double-quick. His mounted skirmishers followed us. When they had advanced into the open field we halted, came to an "about," and gave them a fire which soon sent them reeling on their main line. Taking advantage of their retreat, we fell back. His skirmishers soon recovered, and again charged us as before, and we again "faced about" and repulsed them. We again fell back as they fell back. This manoeuvre was repeated with equal success on our side until we gained about two thirds of the distance from our outpost line to the village, when the main line of the enemy's cavalry charged us. When within range of our arms, we kept up a continuous fire on him, which caused him to move toward us at a slow and cautious pace. At this time I caused the men to retire from front to the rear by the company. This order was executed in admirable style, the front company retiring on double-quick to the rear of the other companies, where they came to an "about," and deliberately delivered their fire, until they again became the front company, when they again retired as before. In this manner, though exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, we kept them on a pace less than double-quick, until we gained the town, where we took advantage of houses, yard-fences, hedges, etc., which we converted into rifle-pits, from whence we poured into the enemy's ranks a murderous fire. The right and left regiments of his line were repulsed, and they retreated to his main reserve; his centre only passing into the town. For this they were severely punished by our continuous fire and soon retreated in the utmost confusion. We saluted their retreating and confused ranks as we had welcomed their approaching line of battle, with a murderous fire. After they had fallen back, several pieces of his artillery, which he had placed in battery near our picket post on the Columbia road, opened on us with grape and shell. Our batteries and siege-guns at the fortifications then opened on them and drove them from the field. At five o'clock P.M., our regiment was again formed near the pontoon-bridge, from whence in a few minutes we moved forward and again took our former position at our guard-lines. NASHVILLE "UNION" ACCOUNT. FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE, April 11, 1863. We have been so much accustomed of late to skirmishing, that any serious thought of an attack on this place was not entertained, and even when, on yesterday, about one P.M., the firing became continuous, no excitement was manifest either in the citizens or soldiers. Not until the loud yells of the advancing rebels, and the furious flight of some of our cavalry through town, accompanied by numbers of riderless horses, were we aroused to the belief that any thing more than a demonstration was intended on our front, and ere we had time to take a calm glance at the subject, the matter was decided by seeing our own and the rebel cavalry coming down our main street pell-mell, ours slightly in advance, but the rebels "gaining on 'em every jump. They dashed through town, and some of them reached the pontoon-bridge, under the very muzzles of our guns. So sudden and impetuous was the charge, that every one was taken by surprise, and no doubt its very boldness saved them to some extent. Dearly, however, they paid for it, as a very small proportion of them escaped either death or capDuring the action every officer and man did his ture. Van Dorn advanced on the Columbia pike duty nobly. My commands were promptly obey-with a battery of artillery. Cosby came by the ed and executed under a heavy fire of the enemy, with a promptness that would do credit to the ordinary drill on the parade-ground. Capts. Meagher and Ent, First Lieuts. Roop, Allen, and Smith, and Second Lieuts. Peck and Harp, each com-pation of this move on their part, Gen. Granger manding a company, and the only companies engaged, deserve particular mention. Lewisburgh pike, while Starnes and Forrest were essaying to make the rear of our works by a road crossing the Harpeth three miles east of town, and known as the Nichol Mill Road. In antici had sent a large body of cavalry, under Gen. Stanley, to guard that crossing and check their adOur loss was, killed, three; wounded four; vance. Meantime Cosby's force advanced on and missing ten. Their names accompany this our pickets, (Fortieth Ohio,) who fought them report. The enemy's loss was: killed, two cap-most handsomely for an hour or more, but finally tains and fifteen men; wounded, one major and thirteen men, and thirteen prisoners, beside over one hundred horses, riderless, escaped within our lines and were taken. In reporting their loss, I only mention those who fell in our (Fortieth Ohio's) hands, except the horses. He took with him the greater part of his killed and wounded. His total loss may be safely estimated at one hundred and fifty in killed and wounded. servant, fell back under cover of our guns. The rebels formed and advanced until within range of our siege-pieces in the fort, planting their battery west of the Columbia pike and firing into the town. Our battery fired shell into their lines, and succeeded in forcing them back and breaking them. We had some fine artillery practice, indicating great skill on the part of our gunners. I have the honor to be, Colonel, your obedientley. CHAS. G. MATCHETT, April 10, 1863. Captain Commanding Fortieth Ohio. Official list of killed, wounded, and missing of the Fortieth Ohio volunteer infantry, in the engagement at Franklin, Tenn., April tenth, 1863: KILLED-Orderly Sergeant Wilson Burrows, company A; privates Washington Link and Thomas Huntington, company C. WOUNDED-Privates Alpheus Babb, company B; Martin Woolether, company C; Samuel I. Morrow, company B; and James Bradley, company C. MISSING Sergeant Jesse Norain, Elwood Hale, and John Fleming, company B; Albert Williams, Wilson Olney, Oscar Duvall, and Samuel Hubbard, company A; Adam Suverly, Wallace Bennett, and Michael Madigan, company C. When they had fallen back from our front we heard continuous firing from the forces of StanHere the Fourth regulars distinguished themselves by one of the finest charges of the war, capturing the rebel artillery and two hundred prisoners, but which unfortunately we could not hold, and all the artillery, with most of the prisoners, were retaken. Our loss on this part of the field was slight, not amounting to more than twenty, that of the rebels unknown, as they carried off their dead. Infantry reenforcements were sent out from here, but the rebels fell back toward Spring Hill. The fight near town resulted in the loss to the rebels of fifteen killed, including two captains and one lieutenant, six wounded, and taken, including a major, and twelve prisoners. The total number of prisoners taken here and by Stanley is about seventy; among them several officers. Captain Freeman, of Freeman's battery, (rebel,) is among the killed. THE ATTACK ON THE "SAM GATY." LEAVENWORTH "TIMES" ACCOUNT. LEAVENWORTH, March 81. THE steamer Sam Gaty, which arrived at our levee on Sunday evening, reports that she was stopped at Sibley, on Saturday morning last, by a band of from forty to sixty bushwhackers, supposed to be a portion of the gang under Todd or Quantrell, though at the time of the outrage in question in command of a man named Clifford. As the boat was passing Sibley the pilot was hailed and ordered to run ashore, under penalty of shooting, and being within a few yards of the landing he had no alternative but to obey. As the boat touched the shore she was almost immediately boarded and taken possession of by the guerrillas, who roused the Captain from his berth, it being then about two o'clock in the morning, and informed him that he was, for the time being, a prisoner. About eighty contrabands being on the boat, they were ordered ashore, the bushwhackers being surprised to find so small a number, as they had been informed that there were three hundred; and they expected to find with them "Parson Fisher,' and threatened to burn the boat within fifteen minutes unless he was produced; but, being apparently satisfied with the Captain's assurance that the Parson was not on board, they did not execute the threat. The Captain informed them that the contrabands were in charge of a private soldier, who could not be found. When the negroes were marched ashore, the Captain asked the guerrilla leader what he intended to do with them. He replied: "Blow their brains out!" The Captain remonstrated with him, and finally he concluded to kill only the "bucks," and forthwith eight or ten were murdered, the rest scattering and hiding in the darkness. There were on board eight of the Missouri militia, two of McFarren's regiment, and six of Penick's. The guerrillas paroled the former, and killed two and wounded one of the latter, three escaping. The bushwhackers kill all of Penick's men that fall into their hands. They then proceeded to throw overboard some forty-eight wagon-beds, and from forty to seventy-five sacks of flour and rice that belonged to the Government. They robbed every man on board, and the safe, which contained about six hundred dollars. One gentleman had some six or eight hundred dollars taken from him. The boat had a very large cargo, but it was not disturbed. Mr. Wilson, who had charge of the negroes, had a narrow escape. Before they came aboard a man told him to throw overboard his coat, lie down, and be covered up with a lot of castings, which he did. He is a resident of Kansas. One of Penick's men was taken for him and killed. The action of Captain McCloy is warmly commended by passengers, and all are satisfied that he did the best he could under the trying circumstances in which he was placed. The guerrilla leader said he had followed him from Napoleon; he expected the boat would land there, but it did not; he had a sure thing on him at Sibley. The guerrillas compelled the Captain to leave before daylight, being afraid he would take the negroes on board again. On reaching Independence the Captain made the fact known, and Colonel Penick immediately gave his attention to the matter, and so successfully, that nearly all the contrabands will escape, as is telegraphed from that port to Captain Killen, and published elsewhere this morning. The St. Joseph Herald learns the following additional particulars from an eye-witness: The steamboat had arrived at Sibley's Landing where the channel was close to shore, and was hailed by some men on the bank, followed by the cracking of a dozen or more guns. The pilot put her in shore, and George Todd and about twenty-five of his gang of guerrillas came aboard. It was almost morning, and there was no moon. The Rebels were dressed in butternut, having a pair of Colt's navy revolvers each, (and some as many as three and four,) and shot-guns and rifles. Todd wore a large cloth coat, with an ample cape and flowing sleeves, and had also a slouched hat, which he soon exchanged with a passenger for a new light-colored beaver. He gave the command, and the work of murder commenced. The passengers were mostly ladies, and the few gentlemen were unarmed. They first killed George Meyer, by shooting him in the back. Meyer was formerly in this city, and when Colonel Peabody was here after the siege of Lexington, he was in Major Berry's cavalry command, acting as Quartermaster. For a time he was Sergeant-Major of the Fifth cavalry, Colonel Penick. During the last winter he was frequently engaged, with Assistant Secreretary Rodman, in the Senate at Jefferson City, in writing up the journal. He was a young man of the most generous impulses, and will be mourned by a large number of men, who will avenge his death. The cowardly butchers next blew out the brains of William Henry, a member of Captain Wakerlin's company. He, too, was a St. Joseph boy, and was formerly engaged in a stall in our city market, and at one time, we think, labored for John P. Hax, a meat-dealer. He leaves a wife and four children in our city wholly unprovided for. They next led out to slaughter young Schuttner, of this town, whom they first robbed of two hundred dollars, then shot. He revived the next morning, and will probably recover. The most revolting act in the bloody drama was the ordering ashore of twenty negroes, draw-General Ransom attempted to find the enemy, ing them up in line, one man holding a lantern up but they were not discoverable. On the nineby the side of their faces, while the murderers shot them, one by one, through the head. This inhuman butchery was within three yards of the boat. One negro alone of all that were shot is alive. Christ. Habacher, who lives near Hamilton's Mill, in this city, was aboard, but managed to hide his money, and got off scot free. Charley, formerly bar-keeper for Christian Wagner, in Jefferson City, was robbed of every dollar he had, some four hundred and fifty dollars. Geo. Schriver, of this city, was led out to be shot, and a watchman on the boat halloed, "Hold on there; he is one of my deck-hands," and they led him back, taking seventy-two dollars from him, being all he had except twenty dollars, which he had secreted on the boat. George Morenstecker, a grocer, on the corner of Tenth street and Frederick avenue, in this city, and a Captain in the Thirty-third Missouri, was robbed of one thousand and sixty dollars and his gold watch. The affair ended by the gang going aboard the boat, and compelling the passengers to throw overboard fifty wagon-beds, one hundred sacks of flour, and a large amount of other stores, including sugar, coffee, etc. Wearing apparel of ladies and gentlemen was indiscriminately plundered. There were about eighty contrabands aboard, sent on their way to Kansas by General Curtis. Sixty jumped off and ran away, and are now under Colonel Penick, whose men are scouring the country for these murderers. When the guerrillas drew their revolvers on the negroes as they stood in line, the women on the boat screamed and cried, and begged them not to kill them; but the work of death went on. Doc. 162. CAPTAIN OSBAND'S EXPEDITION. YOUNG'S POINT, March 30, 1863. Lieutenant-Colonel Rawlins: teenth instant, I proceeded with the Fanny Bullitt for more teams. I obtained at Lake Providence, from the Seventeenth army corps, twelve teams, and the steamer Von Phul, from the Thirteenth army corps, fifty-one teams and the Empress, and arrived with all at American Bend on the morning of the nineteenth, and, in the mean time, transported from Milliken's Bend to Eagle Bend thirty thousand rations, for General Stuart's command. On the twentieth, at eight P.M., the Von Phul left, with one hundred and seventy-one bales of cotton, three hundred and fifty head of beef cat tle, and one hundred mules, and proceeded to Lake Providence and discharged her freight there, returning on the twenty-second at eight A.M., and again left on the twenty-fifth, with two hundred and eighty-six head of cattle, landing them half at Milliken's Bend and half at Young's Point. On the twenty-seventh, the David Tatum arrived, and on the twenty-eighth, the expedition left, arriving here and disembarking the troops, without accident or trouble, on the thirtieth. The David Tatum, being nearly wrecked by the storm, only obtained seventy-five cattle, which were delivered to General Logan's division on the thirtieth. The summary of the trip of sixteen days is as follows: Two thousand three hundred and eighty bales of cotton-2209 to Captain Reno; 171 to Captain Kluick. Seven hundred and five beef cattle-350 to Chief Commandant of the Seventeenth army corps; 140 to Captain Baker, Thirteenth army corps; 140 to Captain Strickle, Fifteenth army corps; 75 to Commissary of General Logan's division. One hundred mules-Captain Kluick, Seventeenth army corps. I have to thank all concerned for energy and good conduct. The cotton obtained was principally "C. S. A.” cotton, so branded, and was pledged in London for confederate bonds. During our stay the confederates burned about five thousand bales in our vicinity. There still remain two thousand bales "C. S. A." cotton, easy of approach, and at a good landing, unburned. If you should desire to send me again, I think I can obtain it, as well as all the beef cattle you may need, besides mules untold. Respectfully, Doc. 163. E. D. OSBAND, BREAD RIOTS IN RICHMOND, VA. NEW-YORK "HERALD" ACCOUNT. A REFUGEE from Richmond, who left that city on Tuesday, gives an interesting account of the riot of the second instant. Considerable excitement had prevailed for some time in consequence |