Doc. 23. I will not believe that there was a want of sincerity in your professions of liberality and patriotism, when many of you threatened resistance | EXPEDITION TO PITTMAN'S FERRY, MO, to impressment upon principle, and not because you were unwilling to aid the cause with your HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DEPARTMENT OF Georgia, To the Planters of Georgia: I have received from several counties of the State of Georgia, and from individual slavehold ers, requests and demands that I should return their negroes, now working upon the fortifications of Savannah. It is my sincere and earnest desire to do so. I think it an injustice to those who have sent their negroes at my first call, that they should be compelled to bear the whole burden and heat of the day, while others, who are among the wealthiest in the land, look calmly on the danger of the city and the State, without contributing a single laborer from their hundreds or their thousands to their defence. Fellow-citizens, with whom ought the blame to rest? Not with those who have contributed their labor, for they have nobly done their duty. Not with me, for I am simply doing that which is absolutely necessary to the protection of the State from invasion, and from the designs of the abo litionists. Let the blame fall where it is justly due; on those who have refused to send labor to the defence of Savannah, and who still refuse to take their turn in the work; who, after enjoying immunity for so long a time, still refuse to relieve those who have been laboring for them. Let those citizens whose vital interests are at stake, and who have done their share toward the common weal, rise up and compel those backsliders, and especially the rich among them, to do their part. From the thousands of slaves who have thus been withheld from the defence of the country, enough, and more than enough, might easily be contributed to enable me to send back to their masters all those who have already worked here for three (3) months, and at the same time would give me a sufficient force to complete the defence of our chief city and coast. COLONEL DEWEY'S OFFICIAL REPORT. HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEERS, CAMP PATTERSON, Mo., Nov. 2, 1862. COLONEL In accordance with your order of the twenty-fourth ult., I left Camp Patterson at six o'clock on the evening of Saturday, the twenty-fifth, with three companies of my regiment, (Thirty-second Iowa volunteers,) under command of Lieut.-Colonel Kinsman, five companies of the Twenty-fifth Missouri volunteers, under Capt. O. P. Newbury, two companies of the First Missouri State militia, and a section of Strang's battery, under Major Jainsch, and eighteen men of the Twelfth Missouri volunteer cavalry, under Capt. Leper. At Morrison's, twelve miles from this place, I was joined by three companies of the Twenty-fourth Missouri volunteers, under Capt. Vaughn. My instructions were to march for Pittman's Ferry, on Current River, which place I was to reach by three o'clock P.M. on Sunday, twenty-sixth, and form a junction with Lieut.-Col. Lazare, and attack any rebel force at that point. You informed me that Col. Lazare had orders to meet me there at that time, and cooperate with me. The first day I marched twenty-six miles to Black River, which I reached at four o'clock P.M. and deep, and the crossing difficult, but I was determined to get the infantry and baggage-train over that night. I placed the transportation of the troops in charge of Capt. O. P. Newbury, of the Twenty-fifth Missouri, with orders to cross at all hazards. After an immense amount of labor, the untiring energy of the Captain was successful, and at eleven o'clock at night he reported all safely over, except the artillery and one company of the First Missouri State militia, left to guard it. The next morning at daylight, Capt. Newbury commenced crossing the artillery. The ammunition was shifted from the caissons, and transported in wagons, and the whole train crossed safely. I commenced the march from Black River at eight o'clock A.M., Sunday, twentysixth, and reached Vandever's after a march of twenty miles. One mile this side of Vandever's my advanced guard of cavalry, under Captain Leper, drove in the enemy's pickets, all of whom unfortunately escaped, and thus betrayed my vance. I found the stream wide ad I now was seventeen miles from Pittman's Ferry, and it was important to make a rapid march, and gain possession of the boat. I ac cordingly detailed Lieut. Buzzard, of the Twenty Patriots! will you allow the selfish and the unpatriotic to reap all the benefits of our war of independence, without sharing with you its bur-fifth Missouri, with forty picked men, to move dens, its sacrifices, and privations? As soon as those who have not hitherto contributed send me a sufficient number to fill their places, I pledge myself to send back to their masters the negroes who are now at work. Until this is done, necessity compels me to retain them. HUGH W. MERCER, Brigadier-General Commanding. rapidly forward with the cavalry and gain pos session of the ferry. They started at ten o'clock in the morning of the twenty-seventh, and at two I followed with the reserve body. The men marched without breakfast. Ten miles this side the ferry the advance-guard surprised a scouting. party of the enemy, and captured a captain and thirteen men. Leaving these prisoners under men. guard, they pushed rapidly forward, and succeeded in surprising the guard at the ferry, which they dispersed by a volley from Lieut. Buzzard's Private Richard Lloyd, company F, of the Twenty-fifth Missouri, swam the river, and brought the boat over to this side. When about two miles from the river, at eight o'clock in the morning, I received information that the great object of my anxiety, the ferry-boat, was safe in our possession. When a mile from the river, a messenger brought me word that the enemy was forming line of battle on the other side. I immediately ordered the artillery forward at a gallop; the infantry, regardless of their long and fatiguing march, following at a double-quick. I halted the column about one hundred yards from the river-bank, and formed line of battle on each side of the river. The right wing, consisting of the Twenty-third Iowa, under Lieut.-Col. Kinsman; the centre, consisting of the artillery and two companies of the First Missouri State militia, under Major Jainsch; and the left, consisting of the five companies of the Twenty-fifth Missouri volunteers, under Capt. Newbury. The two companies of the Twenty-fourth Missouri acted as a reserve and guard to the prisoners, under Capt. Vaughn. Riding forward to the front, Lieut. Posar, commanding the artillery, informed me that the enemy were planting a battery on the other side. I ordered him to open upon them immediately, which he promptly did, and after a few rounds the enemy scattered and disappeared. The next morning, twenty-eighth October, I sent Captain Houston, with his company, up the river, and Captain Rosenstein with his company down, both on this side, to explore the country and ascertain the position and practicability of the various fords. I also sent Capt. Leper, with such infantry as I could mount, over the river to explore the different roads leading to the ferry, with instructions to find Lazare, if possible. About eleven o'clock I received a despatch from Colonel Lazare directed to you, of which the following is a copy: OCTOBER 26, 4 o'clock A.M. COLONEL BOYD: Yours of the seven and ten o'clock, twenty-fourth, reached me at ten last night. I cannot reach Pittman's Ferry and find out what is at Thomasville before twenty-ninth. Will be there. We scattered Boone's men in every direction yesterday, killing six or eight, eighteen prisoners, twenty-five guns and twelve horses. They are all come up but Crow's company, who has gone east of Current River. B. LAZARE, Lieut.-Colonel Commanding. I immediately recalled the scouting-parties, and crossed my command, with the exception of the artillery and Capt. Vaughn's men, over the river. Late in the evening, I received another despatch from Lazare, by Lieut. Going, informing me verbally, that he was marching from the direction of Thomasville, on the Pocahontas road, and would be ready to cooperate with me at any time after midnight. This road leads directly across the road to Yellville, by which the enemy retreated, and they had already passed the point of intersection at least thirty-six hours before. Of course, pursuit was now useless, and I directed Lieut. Going to rejoin Col. Lazare with orders to join me, as soon as possible, on the Pocahontas road. On the morning of the twenty-ninth, I crossed the artillery over the river, and leaving Captain Vaughn to guard the ferry and the prisoners, I marched toward Pocahontas and formed a junction with Col. Lazare, at Bolingers's Mill, fifteen miles from the ferry. I immediately ordered a detachment of fifty cavalry, under Major Lippert, to march to Pocahontas and search for horses and contraband goods. I then ordered Lieut. Miller, of the Twentyfifth Missouri, to cross the river with his company and deploy as skirmishers and follow the enemy as far as practicable, and to guard his retreat I ordered Captain Houston, of company A, Twenty-third Iowa, to form his company on the river bank, near the ferry, leaving the rest of the command in line of battle. At twelve o'clock Lieut. Miller returned and reported the enemy retreating. I had been for several hours anxious to learn the whereabouts of Col. Lazare and his command. Every thing depended upon his cooperating with me. I knew that with my small force of infantry, exhausted by a long and fatiguing march, and without food since the previous night, it was folly for me to attempt a pursuit. Lazare's route to join me led him directly across the road by which the enemy had retreated, and I waited in deep suspense for some intelligence from him or for some evidence of his presence. At noon I sent Leper over the river with his The next morning, October thirtieth, I comeighteen men to scour the country and try to gain menced my march back to Patterson, which point intelligence of Lazare. After a fruitless search | I reached at six o'clock P.M., November second. he returned without any tidings, and I reluctantly ordered the men to camp. They had performed a forced march of sixty-five miles, and had been twenty hours without food without murmuring. They were still ready to go forward if there was any prospect of overtaking the enemy, but without Lazare's cavalry pursuit would be useless. I had hoped that the sound of the cannonading would reach him and convey to him tidings of my presence, but it did not. Major Jainsch accompanied the detachment. They dispersed a small scouting-party, taking eight or ten horses, and found a number of rebel sick in a hospital, whom Major Jainsch paroled, and a list of whom accompanies this report. Too much praise cannot be awarded to the officers and men under my command in this expedition. They performed a march of sixty-five miles to Pittman's Ferry - the first day, through a severe storm-in less than two days and a half, crossing a wide and deep stream. The last twenty hours, they were on the march or in line of battle without food. On their return they per formed a march of eighty miles in four days, crossing two wide and deep streams. I have no hesitation in saying that, had the from Elkhorn, of his progress. The Second and forces under Lieut.-Col. Lazare been able to co- Third brigades of the First division, with my operate with me by reaching the road to Yell-headquarters, were at Cane Hill; the First briville, by which the enemy retreated, at the time gade at Rhea's Mills, eight miles north, where a I reached Pittman's Ferry, on the morning of the large supply-train, just arrived from Fort Scott, twenty-seventh, we would have routed the entire was halted. rebel force and captured the baggage-train and My pickets were advanced six miles beyond artillery. This force I estimate, from reliable in- Cane Hill, on the road leading to Van Buren, formation, at one thousand cavalry, five hundred and a strong outpost of the Kansas Second esinfantry and four pieces of artillery, under com- tablished where that road intersects the Cove mand of Colonels Burbage, Green, and Mitchell. | Creek road, running from Fayetteville to Van It retreated toward Yellville, at which point I Buren, and which road passes about six miles understood the enemy is concentrating a large east of Cane Hill. On the morning of the fifth force, and where they have a powder-mill in instant, this outpost was attacked by a large operation. force of rebel cavalry, but they were repulsed My thanks are especially due to the following and driven back some six miles through the officers, detailed on special duty. To Capt. New-mountains. Expecting that the same demonstrabury, Twenty-fifth Missouri, for his efficiency in crossing the command over Black River. To Lieut. Waterbury, Twenty-third Iowa, Acting Adjutant; to Lieut. Brown, Twenty-third Iowa, Acting Quartermaster and Lieut. Buzzard, Twenty-fifth Missouri cavalry, commanding advanced-order not being promptly carried out, and the guard of infantry. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. S. H. BOYD. Doc. 24. WM. DEWEY, tion would be repeated on the next morning, I directed Col. Cloud, commanding the Third brigade, to strengthen this post by the addition of one hundred cavalry and two howitzers, to be at the outpost at daybreak. In consequence of this support not arriving at the time directed, the pickets, on being attacked about daylight by a superior force, were compelled to retire some three miles, when support having reached them, they held the ground during the day, with continued skirmishing, in which several of my men were wounded and a number of the enemy killed. The enemy now got possession of Cove Creek and Fayetteville road, and I learned about eight THE BATTLE OF PRAIRIE GROVE, ARK. o'clock P.M. that a force of about ten thousand OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL BLUNT. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE FRONTIER, Major-General S. R. Curtis, Commanding De- GENERAL: I have the honor to report that, on the second instant, and four days subsequent to the battle of Cane Hill, or Boston Mountain, of November twenty-eighth, I obtained reliable information that the entire force of infantry and artillery of Gen. Hindman's army had crossed the Arkansas River, and joined Gen. Marmaduke at Lee's Creek, fifteen miles north of Van Buren, to which point the latter had retreated after the battle of the twenty-eighth ultimo. I further learned that the united forces under Gen. Hind man's command numbered between twenty-five and thirty thousand men, and that he designed advancing upon me in case I did not attack him south of the mountains. Determined to hold my position at Cane Hill, unless driven from it by a superior force, I immediately telegraphed to the Second and Third divisions to come to my support by forced marches. had advanced beyond the junction of Cove Creek road with the Crane Hill and Van Buren road, and were massed upon the mountain in front of my outpost, while the remainder of the rebel army were below the junction of the roads just named, about three miles in rear of their advance. The Third brigade, under Colonel Cloud, was ordered to bivouac for the night on their arms, upon the ground south of the town, that I had selected to make a stand upon, in case I was attacked in front. It was now evident that a general engagement must take place next day, and my apprehensions were, that with their superior numbers, they would make a feint in front, while with their main force they would make a flank movement on my left, by the Cove Creek road, to intercept Gen. Herron, before he could reach me from Fayetteville, which point he was expected to reach by daylight on the morning of the seventh. At about ten P.M. the Sixth, Col. Wickersham, with about one thousand six hundred cavalry, of the Second Wisconsin, First Iowa, Tenth Illinois, and Eighth Missouri regiments, who, at my re I may here mention that I had had no know-quest, had been sent forward by General Herron, ledge of the whereabouts of these two divisions, except from rumor, and had not been apprised of their movements or locality for a period of over two weeks. My telegraphic despatches reached Gen. Herron, commanding the Second and Third divisions, on the third, who promptly responded to my order, keeping me advised, by telegraph arrived at Cane Hill. I had, as I have before remarked, considerable apprehensions that a flank movement would be attempted on my left during the night. I therefore determined to send a cavalry force across on a road called the hog-eye road, running from the north part of Cane Hill east to the telegraph road, and crossing the Cove Creek and Fayetteville road about four miles north of the junction of the latter with that running from Cane Hill to Van Buren, already referred to, and from which my outpost had been driven in the morning. On learning that Hindman's forces had passed north, I ordered Col. Judson, with his regiment (cavalry) and two twelve-pound mountain howitzers, to proceed rapidly on the same road by which I had sent Col. Richardson the previous night, and to attack and harass them in the rear, which order he executed with promptness and gallantry, attacking them in the rear with his howitzers, and following them two or three miles, until they made a stand in such force as to compel him to withdraw his command. At daylight on Sunday morning I had the transportation of the Second and Third brigade of the First division hitched up, ready to move to Rhea's Mills, should circumstances render it necessary; and the Second brigade was ordered to the front, south of town, where the Third brigade had bivouacked during the night, the First bri- Moving with my staff in advance of the First gade and Col. Wickersham's brigade of cavalry division, on reaching a point some three miles being stationed about a mile and a half in the north of Cane Hill, where a road to the left leads rear, on the north side of the town, where the to Rhea's Mills, I learned that Col. Wickersham, hog-eye road intersects that between Cane Hill who was in the advance with the cavalry, and and Fayetteville, and where it was possible the had been instructed to proceed directly on the enemy might attempt to come in upon my rear. Fayetteville road, and furnished with a guide, About five o'clock, with my staff, I proceeded instead of doing so, had taken the left-hand road to the front. On arriving there I learned the to the mills. Not deeming it prudent, under all enemy were still in considerable force upon the the circumstances, to separate my command, I mountain; and so soon as it became sufficiently was compelled to follow the same road in order light they threw several shots from their artil- to get my forces concentrated. On coming up lery at my advance outpost, which was replied to with Col. Wickersham, I ordered him to proceed by two of my twelve-pound mountain howitzers, in the direction of Fayetteville with all of his without any damage to either party. I directed cavalry, and endeavor to open communication Col. Cloud to withdraw his troops on the out- with Gen. Herron. I also set forward Major Calposts, with a view of drawing them out and as-kins, with the Third Wisconsin cavalry, for the certaining their force and design. Upon my ad- same purpose. vance falling back, the rebels came forward a short distance and formed in line of battle, their right resting on the mountain, their left extending down the valley, and presenting a front of half a mile. It now became evident that their demonstration in front was only a feint, and that their main force had gone by the Cove Creek road, for the purpose of intercepting communication between Gen. Herron and myself; and, notwithstanding that I had received no intelligence from Col. Richardson-upon whom I had relied to watch this movement-I determined to act accordingly. I immediately ordered the transportation to Rhea's Mills, by a road leading directly north over the mountain, guarded by the Third Indiana regiment, Col. Phillips, keeping the bottom road on the right, leading to the same point, and also the Fayetteville road, open for the movement of troops. I ordered Col. Wickersham, with his cavalry, to move rapidly in the direction of Fayetteville, and form a junction with Gen. Herron. He was followed by Gen. Salomon's brigade, and the Second and Third brigades were withdrawn from the front, and directed to move rapidly on the Fay etteville road. As soon as I determined on this disposition of the forces under me, I sent two messenger parties with despatches to Gen. Herron, apprising him of my movements, and, what I believed to be those of the enemy, and urged him to press forward as rapidly as possible, that we might form a junction of our forces before Hindman could get between us, and also directing him to send his trains to Rhea's Mills. Neither of these despatches reached him, the messenger being cut off by Marmaduke's advance. But a few minutes elapsed after Colonel Wickersham had started with his command, when I heard the discharge of artillery in a north-east direction, and immediately moved rapidly with the Second and Third brigades in the direction of the firing, leaving the First brigade (Gen. Salomon's) to guard the trains at Rhea's Mills. It was now between twelve and one o'clock. The distance to where the firing was heard was about five miles, by an obscure road leading through a valley with strips of brush and prairie alternating across it. The firing between General Herron's command and the rebel forces was confined to the artillery, which, as I approached the field, became more rapid. At forty-five minutes past one o'clock I came upon the field, in advance of the First division, when a hasty reconnoissance discovered the enemy in superior force, strongly posted upon elevated ground behind timber, with the Fayetteville road, on which he had advanced, running through it north-east and south-west. On the north, and in front of the enemy's lines, was an open valley, divided into large fields, a portion of them cultivated in corn. At the east end of this valley Gen. Herron, with the Second and Third divisions, was engaged with the enemy, having met their advance early in the day and driven them back to that position. For the details of the engagement between the rebels and the Second and Third divisions, under Gen. Herron, up to the time when I came upon the field, I refer you to the report of that gallant officer. The road on which my column was advancing entered the valley at its western extremity and in front of the left wing of the enemy. They had no intimation of my approach on that road until a large force of their infantry, which, for the pur pose of flanking General Herron's division, and fro, each alternately advancing and retiring. overwhelming it by superior number, had been massed upon their left, was suddenly confronted by the troops of the First division, when the engagement soon became general along their entire line. At about two o'clock, the fire from the artillery of the First division was commenced by Rabb's battery, which opened a cross-fire upon two rebel batteries and a heavy body of infantry, that was fronting and engaged with Gen. Herron's division. A few moments later, and Tenny's battery of Parrott guns came into position on the right, and Hopkins's battery on the left of Captain Rabb's. The fire of all three of these batteries was first directed to the enemy's right, where two batteries of the rebels and a heavy body of their infantry were engaged with the Second and Third divisions. Shell and case-shot from these eighteen pieces were hurled upon the enemy's right with terrible effect. Some rebel sharp-shooters firing from the windows of a house, situated in the edge of the woods and a little to my left, were evidently directing their compliments specially to myself and staff. I directed Captain Rabb to open upon it with shell, and in a few moments the house was in flames. While the infantry was vigorously contesting every inch of ground, I directed Lieut. Stover, with two twelve-pound mountain howitzers to advance into the woods, which he promptly did, taking position on a little knoll on the right of the Eleventh Kansas, and directing his guns across a small field where a heavy force of rebels were massed. He poured into them his canister and shell, until his ammunition was exhausted and his horses shot down, being compelled to bring away his guns by hand. I then directed Lieut. Tenny to advance his battery to the edge of the woods, on the left of the Kansas Eleventh, taking position about two hundred yards in front of the rebel ranks. From his six ten-pound Parrott guns he opened on them with terrible effect, driving them back with great slaughter. The rebel artillery and infantry being driven from this position under cover of the woods, the three batteries above named ceased firing, when the infantry of the Second and Third divisions advanced upon the enemy's right, and the fire of musketry was opened on both sides with great Learning that a heavy force was massing on vigor. The Twentieth Wisconsin and Nineteenth my right, with a view of turning my flank, I imIowa gallantly charged the rebel batteries and mediately withdrew Tenny's battery, and prodrove the enemy from their guns, but were un-ceeded with it to an open field on the right, at able to hold them in consequence of being over-the same time directing the infantry to withdraw whelmed by a superior force. The Twenty-sixth from the woods, in order to draw the enemy from Indiana and Thirty-seventh Illinois subsequently charged the same batteries with the same result. Observing that the enemy had now thrown a large force upon my centre and right, I directed the infantry of the First division to enter the woods and engage them, which order was executed with promptness, Colonel Weer leading the Tenth and Thirteenth Kansas regiments of his brigade upon the right, a portion of the Kansas Second, (dismounted,) under command of Capt. S. J. Crawford; the right wing of the Kansas Eleventh, under Col. Ewing, and the First Indian, under Col. Wattles, upon the left, the Twentieth Iowa regiment advancing upon the left of the Indians; the left wing of the Kansas Eleventh, under Lieut.-Col. Moonlight, supporting Rabb's and Hopkins's batteries. The First Iowa, Tenth Illinois, Eighth Missouri, and the first battalion of the Second Wisconsin cavalry, under Colonel Wickersham, and the Third Wisconsin cavalry, under Major Calkins, were directed to proceed on my extreme right, to watch any flank movement of the enemy that might be attempted in that direction, and also to guard the road leading to Rhea's Mills, and prevent communication being cut off with the First brigade, Gen. Salomon's. under cover and within range of my artillery. On reaching the open field on their right, just alluded to, I discovered the entire division of Gen. Frost advanced to the edge of the timber, and about two hundred yards distant. They opened on us a fierce fire from Enfield rifles, and were in the act of throwing down the fence to make an assault on the battery, which had no support except my own staff and body-guard; but Lieut. Tenny, with commendable promptness, wheeled his guns into position, when their destructive fire of canister and shell soon sent the rebel hordes back under cover of the woods. At the same time, a fire from the two mountain howitzers attached to the Third Wisconsin cavalry, was directed upon them further on my right, with good effect. It was here that the rebel General Stein fell. A few minutes after this last repulse of the enemy by Lieut. Tenny, a rebel battery of ten guns, supported by a heavy body of infantry, opened from their extreme left, when bringing his guns to bear in that direction, he in less than ten minutes silenced their battery, dismounting two of their guns and driving them from their position with severe loss. While this attempt was being made to charge my artillery on the right, the same demonstration was made upon Rabb's and Hopkins's batteries; the enemy following up my infantry as they retired from the woods, and with a shout rushed out from under cover of the trees, when the two batteries, supported by the infantry of the Eleventh regiment, belched forth a perfect storm of canister, producing immense slaughter |