which were of a most complete character, extended across from the gulf to a bayou connecting with the back-bay. On the night after our arrival, a fierce norther sprung up, causing my men to suffer greatly, and rendering the prosecution of operations exceedingly disagreeable. The norther continued for two days, rendering it impossible for the gunboats to render us any

REDUCTION OF FORT ESPERANZA, TEX. assistance. I applied for launches, with which

REPORT OF MAJOR-GENERAL WASHBURN,

HEADQUARTERS, PASS CAVALLO EXPEDITION,
FORT ESPERANZA, TEXAS, December 4, 1863.

Major G. Norman Leiber Assistant Adjutant-
General:

MAJOR: I herewith inclose reports of Brigadier-General T. E. G. Ransom, commanding brigade Second division, and Colonel H. D. Washburn, commanding First brigade First division Thirteenth army corps, detailing the action of their respective brigades in the reduction of this Fort.

I intended to land troops on Bayucos Island, and cut off their communications with the main, but the gale prevented their being furnished until too late. The force within the fort was from seven to eight hundred, all of whom escaped under cover of night, except six belonging to their rear-guard. The rebels left one man on the ground killed. If they had any wounded, they took them away. We lost one killed and ́ two wounded. Lieutenant Fifer, a gallant young officer of the Thirty-third Illinois, was severely wounded in the breast. We captured ten guns, ranging from twenty-four to one hundred and twenty-eight pounders. The fort was bombproof and cased with railroad iron, and surrounded with a wide and deep moat, filled with water. Five magazines were blown up, containing fortytwo thousand pounds of powder.

I refer to these reports, as containing most of the details pertaining to the expedition, and for the names of such persons as deserve specially to be honorably mentioned. On the twenty-first ultimo, I arrived at Aransas Pass with the Thirty-third Illinois, and part of the Eighteenth Indiana, on board steamer Clinton. On the twentysecond ultimo, I received the order of MajorGeneral Banks to take command of an expedition up the coast, for the purpose of capturing this fort. On the same day, I proceeded to St. Joseph's Island, and landed the troops and stores on board the Clinton by twelve M., on the twenty-third ultimo. I pushed forward, same day, to head of St. Joseph's Island, eighteen miles distant, having previously sent General Ransom in the advance, with instructions to bridge, if possible, the Pass between St. Joseph's and Matagorda Island. On arriving at this Pass, (called Cedar Bayou,) I discovered that to bridge would be impossible. With a width of nearly three hundred yards, a strong current, and exposed to the terrible winds that here prevail, I saw that our only chance to get over was to ferry. Fearing that such would prove the case, I brought along, on my wagons, four yawl-boats. By lashing together, I was able to take over my troops, wagons, and artillery. My horses and mules were swum across. On the twenty-fourth, a terrific norther sprung up, rendering it impossible to cross the Pass; but on the following morning, the gale having subsided, the force commenced to cross, and by midnight were all over, and the rear went into camp about eight miles up the coast, at three A.M. On the twentysixth, marched over twenty miles, and encamped ten miles from the fort; and on the twentyseventh, at eleven A.M., came within range of the guns of the fort. Spent the rest of the day re-manded by Brigadier-General Ransom. connoitring the position, the gunboats, which were to cooperate, not having come up. I soon discovered that the fort was a large and complete work, mounting heavy guns, and that all approaches were well guarded. The country around was a level plain, and their outworks,

For a more particular description of the fort, and the captures therein, I refer to the report of Captain Baker, Engineer. We also captured a small fort on Bayucos Island, with one twentyfour pounder field-gun. I cannot express, in too strong language, my admiration of the conduct of the officers and men engaged in this expedi tion. We left the foot of St. Joseph's Island without transportation of any kind, except twelve wagons, which were used for transporting supplies. With this small train, I had to supply two thousand eight hundred men, together with animals belonging to the train, and horses for two batteries, nearly sixty miles from my base of supply. The weather, much of the time, was very inclement, water very bad, and fuel scarce; but I never heard a complaint or murmur of any kind. The troops accompanying me were as follows, namely: Eighth Indiana infantry, commanded by Major Kinney; Eighteenth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles; Thirty-third Illinois, Colonel C. E. Lippincott; Ninety-ninth Illinois, Colonel Bailey; and Seventh Michigan battery, Lieutenant Stillman, composing First brigade; Twenty-third Iowa, Colonel Glasgow, of the Second brigade, First division, Thirteenth army corps-all commanded by Colonel H. D. Washburn: and the Thirty-fourth Iowa, LieutenantColonel Dungan; Thirteenth Maine, Colonel Dyer; Fifteenth Maine, Colonel Hazeltine; and Foust's Missouri battery, of the Second brigade, Second division, Thirteenth army corps, com

It affords me great pleasure to state that the conduct of Brigadier-General Ransom and Colonel H. D. Washburn, commanding brigades, was most prompt, gallant, and efficient, and deserves the highest praise. The navy has shown every disposition to cooperate in the most prompt

manner; and to Captain Strong, of the Monon- under cover of the sand-hills on the beach, and gahela, commanding the fleet, and Captain Lam-opened upon the fort from the right of our line. son, of the Granite City, I am under many ob- No casualties occurred in my command. ligations. Their failure to take part in the attack on the fort was attributable solely to the gale which at the time prevailed.

Hull, of the Ninety-ninth Illinois, both of whom had had considerable experience in that line in the rear of Vicksburgh, with a fatigue-party from each of the regiments in the brigade, under cover of the darkness, dug a rifle-pit from the sand-hills on the beach, (occupied by us on the first day,) and running parallel with the enemy's works, two hundred and ten yards in length, sufficient to cover a regiment.

placed them in a fine position. I also ordered a portion of the Eighteenth Indiana, under Captain Loues, to reënforce Captain McAllister, as I believed that to be an important point.

The Ninety-ninth Illinois and Twenty-third Iowa, who were held in reserve, were to move at daylight to our position, while a general advance of the whole brigade was to take place. These arrangements were hardly completed, when, about half-past twelve o'clock, an explosion of gunpowder in the fort warned us that the enemy were on the move. I immediately ordered an advance of the skirmishers, and found that the enemy had fled, leaving behind him his stores and ammunition, and the personal baggage of the officers. They had, however, piled a large quantity of cotton around the different magazines, after having scattered gunpowder around in dif ferent places.

ment to the support of the Eighth and Thirtythird, in doing which he passed under a heavy fire of the fort, but, fortunately for him, the enemy threw nothing but solid shot, which, from their size, were easily avoided, and he gained his position with the loss of but one man. Night coming on, found four companies of the Eighth Indiana, five companies of the Thirty-third, in the sand-hills near the fort, (seven hundred and Sergeant Goodlander, of company F, Eighth twenty-five yards, as shown by measurement ;) Indiana, with a small detail from the different two companies of the Eighth Indiana held the regiments, was ordered to move at early dawn in old work to our front; the balance of three regiadvance of our rifle-pit and endeavor to gain a ments held the outside of the new work. The position on the outer edge of the enemy's works. men, although the night was raw and cold, reThe Eighth Indiana was also moved out and or-mained upon the field and in their position. A dered to lie down in the open prairie, in order fatigue party was detailed from the reserve regito take advantage of any lodgment our advancements, and proceeded to move the four pieces of might make. Captain Hull, of the Ninety-ninth, the Seventh Michigan battery to the work occuvolunteered and accompanied the advance. The pied by our troops, and, by filling the ditch, morning was bitterly cold, and our men suffered severely. Our advance moved up slowly, and cautiously took position on the outside of the work; the inside being controlled by the enemy in the sand-hills between the work and the main fort. Driving in a small picket force on the inside, (the force for protection of the works having been driven by the weather to the sandhills,) they endeavored to rally and drive our men back, but in vain. The Eighth Indiana was immediately sent forward in small detachments, to avoid the fire of the heavy guns of the fort, and gained a safe footing in our rifle-pit and on the enemy's work. Finding ourselves more successful than I had dared to hope, I returned to the main portion of my brigade, and immediately sent forward Colonel Lippincott, with his regiment, to the front, with instructions to take command of the force in front, and to advance as fast as prudence would allow, and to get, if possible, a position where our artillery might be made effective. Colonel Lippincott moved promptly with his command, and I soon had the pleasure of hearing from him, that he had secured a good position for our artillery. Adjutant W. W. Zener, of the Eighteenth Indiana, now on my staff, was ordered to bring up two pieces of the First Michigan battery, under command of Lieutenant Stillman, which he accomplished with despatch. The pieces were brought up, and placed in battery under a heavy fire from the fort, for tunately not very accurate, and we soon had the pleasure of seeing our shells dropping in the enemy's stronghold and driving them from their guns. Colonel Lippincott had very judiciously disposed of the two regiments, and had, previously to the arrival of the artillery, advanced several companies into the sand-hills in our front, driving back the enemy nearer to his main work. I also ordered possession to be taken of an old work several hundred yards in our front, and to the left and rear of the fort, which was gallantly done by Captain McAllister, Eighth Indiana, with his company. This enabled us to move our advance on the right nearer the fort. In the mean time, I had ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Charles, Eighteenth Indiana, to move his regi

The advance pushed on to the ferry, but were too late; the enemy had cut the rope, allowing the floating bridge to swing around upon the shore. They had also attempted to destroy it by piling cotton upon it and firing it, but our men were too close, and put out the fire. Six of the eight men left by the enemy to fire the trains were captured. At daylight I moved a small force across to McHenry Island, and took possession of a small earthwork, containing one twentyfour pounder gun, considerable ammunition, and some garrison equipage. In Fort Esperanza we found one one hundred and twenty-eight pounder columbiad, and seven twenty-four pounder siege guns. Two of the magazines were saved, and considerable camp and garrison equipage was in the fort, but, owing to the danger from explosion, we failed to save it. My total loss was one man killed and ten wounded; among the latter, Lieutenant George N. Fifer, Acting Aid-de-Camp, a gallant and brave officer, who fell severely wounded during our first reconnoissance. My officers and men behaved gallantly, showing that they had lost none of that coolness and bravery evinced by them upon the battle-fields of Pea Ridge, Fredericktown, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, Vicksburgh, and Jackson.

Colonel Lippincott, of the Thirty-third Illinois, rendered me great assistance in the advance upon the enemy's works, and diplayed both courage and judgment.

Major Kinney, of the Eighth Indiana, though but lately promoted to the position, proved by his courage and coolness that he was well worthy of the same.

Lieutenant-Colonel Charles, of the Eighteenth Indiana volunteers, brought his regiment, in fine style and good order, through a heavy fire from the fort, to the support of the two advance regi

ments.

tles, culminating in grandest success, fought and won, and the part taken by the troops of this division in the engagements by which it has been marked, having reflected so much honor upon themselves as individuals, and upon the command to which they are attached, the General commanding cannot refrain from alluding to these services in terms which shall convey, in some measure, his warm appreciation of their valor, their patriotism, and their noble endurance of severe hardships, while engaged in the arduous campaign.

With heartfelt pride he reverts to their prowess in the assaults which made them the heroes of Lookout Mountain on the twenty-fourth ult., and to their gallant conduct upon Missionary Ridge on the twenty-fifth, Pea Vine Creek on the twenty-sixth, and at Ringgold, upon Taylor's Ridge, on the twenty-seventh.

Colonel Bailey, of the Ninety-ninth Illinois, and Colonel Glasgow, of the Twenty-third Iowa, who were held in reserve, were both anxious to be moved to the front, and more by accident than any thing else were thrown into the reserve. Both regiments had already established their reputation as veterans, in the well-fought fields The conquest of Lookout Mountain will, assoof Mississippi. I was greatly indebted to Cap-ciated with the emblematic "White Star" of the tain McAllister, Eighth Indiana, and Captain conquerors, stand out as prominently in history Hull, Ninety-ninth Illinois, for their assistance as do the beetling cliffs of that Titanic eminence in the digging and laying out of their rifle-pit and upon the horizon. placing of the battery.

For these services he tenders them his heartfelt thanks; for their endurance, his sympathy; for their bereavement in the loss of so many gallant officers, and so many brave and noble men, his condolence. In all the division death could not have selected braver spirits, nobler hearts, than those who have laid their lives a sacrifice upon their country's altar in the recent engagements with the rebel forces.

He assures them that their gallant conduct has gained for them the high esteem and appreciation of the commanding generals.

Lieutenant Stillman, commanding Seventh Michigan battery, rendered very efficient aid in discomfiting the enemy; two guns of his battery were worked right under the fire of the guns of the fort. My own staff discharged their duties with fidelity, courage, and ability. They are as follows: Major J. H. Elliott, Thirty-third Illinois, Inspector and Chief of Staff; Captain S. H. Dunbar, Eighth Indiana, A. A. A. General; Captain John Reuss, Eighth Indiana, A. A. C. S.; Lieutenant and Adjutant W. W. Zener, Eighteenth Indiana, A. D. C. and P. M.; Lieutenant G. H. Fifer, Thirty-third Illinois, A. D. C.; Lieutenant J. G. Seaver, Ninety-ninth Illinois, Ord. Officer; Major Lillie, Ninety-ninth Illinois, Senior Surgeon, was detailed on Operating Board. I would, also, make especial mention of Sergeant John Goodlander, of company F, Eighth Indiana, and private Addison Hollenbeck, company K, Eigh-enly throne. teenth Indiana, who were the first to mount By command of the enemy's works the morning of the twentyninth.

In mentioning the above, I would not have it understood that any of my officers or men failed to do their duty, and their whole duty.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. D. WASHBURN,

Col. Com'g First Brigade, First Div., Thirteenth Army Corps.
Official Copy.

CHAS. P. STONE,

B. G. Chief of Staff.

Doc. 18.

It behooves us to remember prayerfully that the hand of the Omnipotent Architect of the Universe is visible in our great victories, and that He who holds in his hands the destinies of nations has, in his goodness, answered the humble petitions, for success to crown our arms, which ascended from anxious hearts to his heav

Brigadier-General JNO. W. GEARY. THOS. H. ELLIOTT,

Captain and A. A. General.

Doc. 19.

THE SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE, TENN. KNOXVILLE, Monday, Nov. 16. THE excitement consequent on the desperate dash of Forrest and Wheeler's cavalry upon General Sanders, on Saturday, and their approach to within two miles of Knoxville, together with the news of Longstreet's advance upon Burnside

THE CAPTURE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. below, has somewhat subsided. The panic last

GENERAL GEARY'S CONGRATULATORY ORDER.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, TWELFTH ARMY CORPS,

WAUHATCHIE, TENN., Dec. 3, 1868.

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 79.

A MOST important era in the present contest for national existence has just been passed; bat

night among the citizens can only be compared the gathering of Major McDowell's corps of pay to the celebrated siege of Cincinnati, and, in fact, masters, the hurried packing of ambulances and wagons, and preparations for burning a few maiden millions of greenbacks, and the presence

of the doughty Major, were all somewhat suggestive of that eventful period in the history of your usually bustling, business city, when some two or three thousand ragged rebels frightened the entire commonwealth of Ohio nearly out of all propriety. The comparison, however, ceases with the suggestion, since our fears were not altogether groundless.

and mounted infantry. Yesterday afternoon they were in line of battle, and skirmishing with Sanders till dark. Colonel Adams, with the First Kentucky and Forty-fifth Ohio, distinguished himself by the most gallant and daring conduct throughout, and to-day followed the retreating rebels five miles.

The punishment and flight of the First KenWith the exaggerated relations of stragglers tucky on Saturday was caused by a mean artifice and runaways, growing from bad to worse, as on the part of the rebels. They had captured passed around among the hosts of anxious and the Eleventh Kentucky in the morning, and terror-stricken gossips, was joined the sullen stripping them completely, were arrayed in their boom of artillery, hour after hour, even into the uniform. Seeing them at the edge of a wood, night, ringing in our ears. The consciousness and mistaking them for the Eleventh, Adams that a desperate foe was in fierce contest with pushed a charge quite into the body of the rebel our gallant boys within two miles of us; rumors forces, and just as the First Kentucky had raised of disaster below, toward Loudon, where our their caps to cheer their friends, as they supchief, with his veterans of the Ninth army corps, posed, the miscreants opened a terrific fire upon alone interposed between us and the malignant them. Indignant, surprised, and surrounded, foe, resolved upon our destruction; and the hour- there was nothing left but speed, and the wonder ly arrival of dead and wounded, were all circum- is how so many escaped. Adams, who, by the stances but ill calculated to allay the fears of the way, has always been the brains and right hand timid or encourage the bold. The danger is still of Woolford's cavalry, declares that he will never imminent, but the first nervous excitement hav-believe another rebel, will take no more prisoners, ing abated, we are beginning to look at the con- and intends to fight against treason in this war ditions and their results, probable and possible. and the next, and the one after that indefinitely. Our situation having at no time since "the He rallied his boys, made a speech to them, and occupation" been a bed of roses, we have been upon their return to the field nearly monopolized gradually attaining a state to look very calmly at the fighting. Twenty-five men of the First Kenthe ugliest position which the fates and furies tucky were killed and wounded. Among the may have assigned us. While thus taking a number are Captain G. W. Drye, wounded; physiognomical view of the facts, nothing is more Lieutenant Phil. Roberts, wounded; Captain apparent than the intention of the rebels to crowd Kelly, killed; Lieutenant Cann, missing; Lieuus out of a situation which we have been at a tenant Peyton, missing. Of the Forty-fifth Ohio, vast trouble and expense to get into, or the alter- ninety-one were killed, wounded, and missing, native of an indefinite residence in some Dixie among whom are Captain Jennings, wounded; prison. To accomplish this, the rebels are strain- Captain Ayler, wounded; Lieutenant Macbeth, ing every nerve and exhausting every available wounded; Lieutenant Wiltshire, wounded; Lieumeans for one last, mighty, decisive effort. If tenant Mears, wounded. they succeed, they gain vast resources in time and supplies for recuperation. If they fail, they are lost for any other campaign in middle Dixie. The exhaustion and demoralization of the rebellion in this region will be irretrievable. Their plans are excellent, and thus far well executed, but it is the belief of well-informed military people that their means will prove insufficient. Still, our chief reliance is upon Grant. Burnside can probably take care of himself, but Bragg is an insurmountable rock ahead of the profitable occupation of East-Tennessee, and the destinies of Bragg remain with Grant. Our situation just now, though perilous and gloomy enough, is by no means hopeless. Almost surrounded by enemies active and vigilant, if we cannot extricate ourselves in a very few days, our animals will perish of starvation. In this aspect of affairs, it is not the cue of the rebels to precipitate matters, but on the other hand the time required to starve us will bring an issue between Grant and Bragg, which, if favorable to us, will terminate in the utter demolition of the rebels in our front.

The conduct of the rebels was barbarous in the extreme. All prisoners, dead, and wounded were stripped. Four dead bodies of the Fortyfifth were found quite naked. One wounded officer, while unconscious, was aroused by efforts to cut off his finger, to obtain a gold ring. He was stripped to his shirt and drawers. Such is the venomous malignity of these desperadoes, who term themselves Southern chivalry, that bodies are mutilated, prisoners are outraged, and all are robbed.

In Burnside's front, Longstreet is pressing, and skirmishing has been constant for the last three days. The train of White's division was burned, by order of General Burnside, to-day, and a section of Benjamin's battery was captured, making the third we have lost in the last ten days, namely, Laws's, Phillips's, and Benjamin's. The two armies are seventeen miles from Knoxville, Burnside slowly falling back. If he can hold the rebels without severe loss or decisive action for a few days longer, our reënforcements from Grant will reach Longstreet's rear, and that The forces which crossed the Little Tennessee active rebel leader will take to the mountains, or on Friday night and attacked our advance at Mays- to Camp Chase. Forrest and Wheeler have ville on Saturday, were the brigades of Wheeler fallen back, it is supposed, to make an attempt and Forrest, estimated at five thousand cavalry to cross the river elsewhere, and get in our rear.