tains, where, far above carbine range, the dis- Proclamation had given considerable satisfaction comfited guerrillas, perched among the rocks and to poor, oppressed and helpless people, many of caverns, waved their hats and shouted in defi- whom have been mercilessly conscripted to fill ance to our cavalrymen. On leaving Sperryville, up the decimated ranks of the rebel army. The you reach the ascending turnpike leading to wealthy spurn the Proclamation, and in RichThornton's Gap. As you ascend mounted, a fine mond the strictest surveillance is maintained view can be had from the saddle. Thornton's over those persons suspected of sympathy with Gap is immediately beneath the highest peak of the North. the Blue Ridge, and it is no exaggeration to say At Luray, Colonel Smith learned that Rosser's that the vicinity of this mountain-pass affords brigade had encamped there Sunday night, and one of the grandest views to be found in this had left on Monday, taking the "grade" up country. There is one portion of the serpentine the Page valley, on the east side of the river, turnpike, where a carbine-shot would cross the in the direction of Madison, and, as Rosser had pike six times in a direct line, so zig-zag is its succeeded in getting forty-eight hours' start of our course. One hundred sharp-shooters, stationed fatigued forces, Colonel Smith concluded, very at this point, could retard the progress of a large wisely, to run no further risks, inasmuch as the army,, rendering the ascent an almost impossible objects of the expedition were accomplished, and one. Such a picturesque panorama of natural no infantry or artillery were at hand to lend asbeauties one seldom witnesses as were revealed sistance in case of an attack by superior numon the morning of our ascent. The frost-king bers. Colonel Smith sent several officers to exhad touched the leaves of the forest trees with amine the post-office, jail, court-house, and other his magic wand of silver, and placed his glisten- public buildings. A number of conscripts were ing crown upon the mountain-tops, while the rays taken from the jail upon hearing the news of our of the sun danced upon the frozen dew, coloring approach. A large three-story building, filled the valley with gaudy lines, and the crests of the with harnesses and artillery and cavalry equipmountains, till the dazzling scene reminded one ments, and which was used as an extensive manof a mammoth kaleidoscope. It was a vivid and ufactory for the supply of rebel outfits, was deromantic picture to witness five thousand horse-stroyed, together with a large quantity of raw men climbing the steep mountain sides, their sa- material, rings, buckles, and a valuable lot of bres flashing in the sunlight as their warlike tools. Adjoining this manufactory was a large steeds pranced along the pass. The mountains tannery, with numerous vats filled with stock in were finally crossed, and our forces encamped for a half-finished state. Several wooden buildings the night within four miles of Luray. Our pick- were stored with thousands of dollars' worth of ets were attacked an hour after dark by a party hides and finished leather; these were destroyed of Gillmore's guerrillas, but, after a brief skir- by fire. On the return march, five new and wellmish with our vigilant cavaliers, they deemed furnished tanneries, stocked with a large amount "prudence the better part of valor," and they of leather, were completely gutted, and their conretired, carrying off their wounded. The march tents destroyed, on the road between Luray and was resumed at daylight on the twenty-third in- Sperryville. stant, our advance driving the weak picket force on our front before them with little difficulty. As we arrived within sight of Luray, quite a large rebel force were observed drawn up in line of battle to check our advance, and with the apparent intention of making a sufficiently strong stand to contest our entrance to the town. The order was given for one of those resistless "Yankee" cavalry charges which only " greasy mechanics" and "Northern mudsills" can execute, when lo! the F. F. V.s and the Second F. V.s fled in the greatest disorder, utterly dismayed and thrown into the greatest confusion by the temerity of Colonel Smith, who dared thus in vade their limits of the sacred soil. Owing to the fleetness of the chivalry, but few prisoners were captured, and, their horses being in a much better condition than ours, it was fruitless to attempt further pursuit. At this point, two deserters entered our lines, and, after being relieved of their arms, they were sent to our rear-guard. Those deserters reiterated the same doleful story of the terrible condition of the "poor white trash" of the South, many of whom they represent as being on the verge of starvation. They report great disaffection throughout the ranks of the rebel army, and said the President's Amnesty

Near Sperryville, our advance-guard surprised and captured a two-horse wagon belonging to a rebel sutler. An examination of the wagon by the inquisitive "Yankees" revealed a secret bottom, in which were found a rebel mail and a quantity of medicines and dry goods en route for the rebel lines. This wagon was on its way from the Upper Potomac, a strong argument in favor of increased vigilance in that department.

At Little Washington, our advance-guard surprised a small party of Mosby's guerrillas, killing one and capturing another. Here the expedition halted and encamped for the night to rest their horses, which were, if possible, more jaded than their gallant riders. At daylight the march was continued, and on Christmas Eve the wearied soldiers reached their comfortable winter quarters in a high state of glee, every man having provided himself with an abundant supply of poultry, in order to properly celebrate Christmas in the army. The expedition marched one hundred and twenty-five miles in four days, inflicting a serious blow to the enemy in the most vital part of their prosperity. I regret to announce that these perambulating "Yankee cavaliers" were allowed to help themselves to sev. eral dressed hogs, which were in readiness for

ship and our lives.

This is the severest fight we have had since Our proportion of the taking of Port Royal. killed and wounded is one in twelve.

and so vamosed. We gave three cheers, and passed through the lockers of the other two enwere then relieved from "quarters," after an engineers, and then smashed Mr. S.'s berth all to gagement of two hours. All hands were called pieces, ripping open his mattress and cutting the to muster on the quarter-deck, and officers and ends off from all the slats. We found the shot men, begrimed with powder, assembled around on the floor. It was more than a foot long, conithe binnacle to hear the roll called. It was found cal, and weighed thirty pounds. It was a wicked that six did not answer to their names, and the shot, and was evidently aimed at the engine, and corpses on the deck and wounded men on stretch- if it had struck, as intended, a few feet further forward, it would probably have killed all in the ers told the story. At this moment the Pawnee came up, closely engine-room and disabled the engine, when the followed by the mortar-schooner C. P. Williams, boat would probably have been lost. Nothing which, though a sailing vessel, had come down but the mercy of the Almighty turned that trefrom Folly River, some six miles, to our assist-mendous missile from its course and saved the ance, and showed the most praiseworthy promptness, although too late to participate in the engagement. The Pawnee never fired a gun or received a shot. The men "faced the music" with the most unflinching heroism, and did themselves credit. The Captain complimented them highly, and said that the victory was all due to their efforts. Two of the crew of the eleven-inch gun were almost instantly killed by shells, and the captain (a seaman) of the aft-howitzers was also killed by a rifle-shot, which took off the top of his head. One of the coal-heavers was badly wounded by the fragment of the anchor-bit, which was knocked to atoms by a shot, and two other men were quite badly injured, be sides several others scratched by splinters. The enemy fled precipitately, leaving two large rifleguns and carriages, and many knapsacks and muskets, and one dead body.

We landed, but could not carry off the guns on account of the marsh, and so spiked them and threw them into the river. If we had not stood our ground so well, the "rebs" would have captured Legreeville and all our troops there, and would then have erected a battery so

as to command the whole of the river.

Our cap

tain acted nobly, and we are all proud of him.

All honor was shown to the brave fellows who

fell in the action while in the performance of
their duty. Their corpses were laid upon the
starboard side of the quarter-deck, and carefully
covered with the finest American ensign on the
ship. Coffins were made for them on board the
Pawnee, in which they were laid, and are now
awaiting burial.
A boat has just left the ship
for the purpose of digging the graves, and most
of us are expecting to be present at the burial,
and are only too willing to do the heroes honor.
The guns used by the rebels were very heavy
rifled pieces, and were worked with great ra-
pidity.

We were struck twenty times, every shot pass-
ing through the ship or masts, and the deck was
A rifle-shot
covered with splinters and blood.
struck the ship at the steerage, and, passing
through, made a perfect lumber-room of it. The
hole through the ship was as large as a hat, and
much broken, and the shot passing through,
broke up two of the berths on the starboard side
and tore down the curtains, and, going on, struck
the solid floor, making a long hole in it a foot
wide. The shot then passed over to the en-
gineer's side, breaking to atoms the glass, and

Doc. 30.

H. W. R.

BATTLE AT CHARLESTOWN, TENN.
GENERAL THOMAS'S REPORT.

CHATTANOOGA, December 28, 1863.

To Major-General Halleck:

COLONEL LONG, of the Fourth Ohio cavalry, commanding the Second division of cavalry, reports from Cahoun, Tennessee, December twenty-eighth :

The rebel General Wheeler, with one thousand two hundred or one thousand five hundred cavalry and mounted infantry, attacked Colonel Siebert, and captured a supply-train from Chattanooga, for Knoxville, about ten o'clock this morning, at Charlestown, on the south bank of the Hiawassee.

The train escort had reached the encampment at Charlestown last night, and Colonel Siebert's skirmishers hotly engaged with the enemy this morning before Colonel Long was apprised of their approach.

He immediately moved the small force for duty in his camp at the time-one hundred and fifty men--crossed to Colonel Siebert's support. The rebels shortly after gave way, Colonel Long pursu ing them closely, discovering a portion of their force cut off on the right. He charged them with sabres, completely demolishing and scattering them in great confusion and in every direction.

Several of the enemy, number not known, were killed and wounded. One hundred and twentyone prisoners were captured, including five commissioned officers.

The main rebel column fled, and were pursued five miles on the Dalton road, and, when last seen, were flying precipitately.

Colonel Long's loss was one man slightly wounded. The officer in command of the courier station at Cleveland, also reports that he was attacked early this morning, December twentyeighth, by a force of one hundred rebels. He drove them off, however. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General Commanding.

COLONEL LAIBOLD'S REPORT.

CAMP NEAR CALHOUN, December 28, 1863. SIR: It affords me great pleasure to report to

deem it so no longer, to state that the divisions of Sheridan and Wood were left at or near Knoxville, when Sherman withdrew from that point, and they will probably remain there during the winter; and, of course, it is necessary that their supply-trains, left behind at the first march, should be forwarded to them. Accordingly, a few days since, the quartermasters received orders to move their vehicles to their respective commands, and, in a brief space, the trains were on the way, guarded by the cavalry brigade comThey met with no traces of the enemy for several days-only hearing of small guerrilla parties, at different points, which were by no means formidable-and finally arrived at the very natural conclusion that the route was unobstructed, and that the train was not threatened.

you that I have given the rebel General Wheeler a sound thrashing this morning. I had succeeded, in spite of the most abominable roads, to reach Charlestown on the night of the twentyseventh, and this morning, shortly after daylight, I was moving my train across the Hiawassee River bridge, when Wheeler's cavalry-reported one thousand five hundred men strong, with four pieces of artillery, which, however, they had no time to bring into action-appeared on my rear. I placed my infantry in line of battle, then got my train over the bridge safely, and asked Col-manded by Colonel Long, of the Fourth Ohio. onel Long to place a regiment of cavalry at my disposal. These arrangements made, I charged with my infantry, on the double-quick, on the astonished rebels, and routed them completely, when I ordered a cavalry charge, to give them the finishing touch. The charge was made in good style, but the number of our cavalry was insufficient for an effective pursuit, and so the enemy got away, and was even able to take his guns along, which, with numerous prisoners, must have fallen into my hands, could I have made a pursuit.

I have now with me, as prisoners, five commissioned officers, among whom is the InspectorGeneral of General Kelly's division, a surgeon, and one hundred and twenty-six men of different regiments.

Wheeler commanded in person, and it was reported to him, as the prisoners state, that I had six hundred wagons in my train, which he expected to take without much trouble.

The casualties on my side are as follows: Third division-Two commissioned officers wounded, two men killed, eight wounded, and one missing.

Second division-Four men wounded.

The rebels lost, beside the number stated, several severely wounded, which I am obliged to leave behind, and probably several killed. The number of small arms thrown away by them is rather large, and they will, undoubtedly, be gathered by Colonel Long.

I shall pursue my march at daybreak to-mor

CHATTANOOGA, Monday, December 28. An important victory has just been added to the list which has crowned the army of the Cumberland with glory. True, the fight was upon a comparatively small scale; but victories are not always to be valued by the numbers engaged, nor the list of the slain. The importance of an achievement must be estimated by results; and, in this instance, it would be impossible to compute the magnitude of the interests at stake, and the advantages gained by the defeat of our adversary.

Although it has hitherto been contraband, I

Night before last (twenty-seventh) the wagons were all thrown across the Hiawassee, and parked, with but a small guard, under Colonel Siebert, in the front, the main force, one thousand two hundred in number, remaining on the south side of the stream. During the night no alarms occurred, and in the morning the mules were hitched up, as usual, to proceed on the journey, when the small guard was suddenly attacked by Wheeler, at the head of one thousand five hundred men. The charge was sudden and unexpected, and resulted in a hasty retreat on Colonel Siebert's part, leaving the train in the hands of the rebels. He had but about one hundred men with him, and it would have been impossible to have resisted the progress of the enemy; but he had scarcely reached the river-bank, when reënforcements, to the number of one hundred and fifty, crossed to his aid, when a counter-charge was made, resulting in the recapture of the wagons, mules, and horses, which had not been injured, so brief was the rebel possession of the prize.

After retaking the train, Colonel Siebert, with his handful of men, was unable to continue the pursuit, but, keeping his force in line, he so far terrified his adversary that no effort was made to repossess the lost plunder, until Colonel Long, with the whole force, reached the north bank, and wheeled into line, ready for work.

But a moment is required to prepare for an onset; sabres were drawn, and the soldiers stood waiting for the command; it was given, and in a moment, without even making a show of resistance, the rebels broke and ran, pell-mell, down the Dalton road, up every trail, and over hills so steep that hoof had never before trodden them. Many jumped from their animals and sought safety among the rocks; others, in dismay, leaped fences, while yet more surrendered themselves prisoners of war.

The loss to the rebels in this engagement was forty-seven killed and wounded, and one hundred and twenty-three prisoners. But this was not the most important result of the achievement. The wagon route from here to Knoxville has been rendered secure, and the courier lines saved from further annoyance.

The old cavalry corps of this department of the rebel army, once the terror of Kentucky and Tennessee, has dwindled down to almost nothing. It can no longer effect any thing. It has been defeated so often of late, that it and its commanders have fallen into disrepute, and are no longer looked upon as of importance to the army.

Our loss in the engagement is variously estimated at from one to ten wounded, all agreeing that none of our gallant men were killed, though one was taken prisoner. To the Fourth Ohio cavalry and Twentieth Missouri mounted infantry belong the honor of this last important achievement, which resulted in securing a connection of the highest importance to the country.

COLONEL LAIBOLD'S LETTER.

As it

My movements were quick enough to prevent Wheeler from bringing four cannon he had with him into action, and the stampede of the renowned rebel cavalry was such that, with any thing like an adequate number of cavalry, I could have easily captured the whole command. was, I captured five commissioned officers and one hundred and twenty-six men, killed (as far as I was able to learn during my brief stay) eleven rebels, wounded over thirty, amongst them General Kelly and Colonel Wade; and the number of small arms thrown away by the valiant warriors must amount to between three and four hundred.

Being obliged to proceed upon my march, I had to leave it to the cavalry to bring in the small arms thrown away, and, I have no doubt, they LOUDON, TENN., January 1, 1864. captured a good many more prisoners, as large SIR: Being well aware of the flattering interest numbers of the enemy scattered in different diyou take in my movements, I take pleasure in rections to hide in the woods. Wheeler moved informing you that I have had an engagement post haste into Georgia, with a couple of hundred with the rebel General Wheeler, on the twenty-men of his command, bare-headed, and without eighth of December, giving him the soundest arms. I started next day, according to orders, thrashing he ever received. and arrived at this place on the thirty-first December, all safe.

On the twenty-third of December, I was given command of a detachment of the Fourth army corps, consisting principally of convalescents of the two last battles, camp retainers, etc., and a train of about one hundred and fifty wagons, with orders to join the army corps at Knoxville. On the twenty-fourth, I started from Chattanooga, and proceeded about eight miles, to a place near Chickamauga River, being necessitated to halt on account of the slow progress of the train. In the evening of that day, a flag of truce came into my lines, with despatches to Generals Grant and Thomas, and a mail, and I have no doubt that the bearer of that flag gave information which induced Wheeler to follow my track.

The miserable state of the weather and worse condition of the roads, prevented me from moving fast, and it was the twenty-seventh before I reached Charlestown on the Hiawassee River. On the morning of the twenty-eighth, I commenced moving my train across a temporary bridge on the ties of the railroad structure, but had only a few wagons over when it was found necessary to dig a new road in the railroad dyke. Whilst this was being done, Wheeler, with two divisions of cavalry, (Generals Kelly's and Preston's,) made a rush at the train. I immediately advanced my skirmishers, and silently formed my command in line of battle, covering completely, at the same time, all avenues of approach.

I then saw the whole of my train safely over the river, and ordered a small cavalry force to be stationed at that post under my immediate command, stationing them in a convenient position for a charge. I had, up to that time, strictly forbidden all firing from the lines; but now, being in readiness, I charged with the infantry in doublequick, and completely routed the enemy, under Wheeler's personal command; and when they were in utter confusion, I charged again with the cavalry, who cut down many of the terrified enemy, and made scores of prisoners.

The casualties in my command, in the engagement, were two officers wounded, two men killed, and twelve wounded; amongst them none of the few Missouri troops with me.

Your obedient servant, BERNARD LAIBOLD,
Colonel Second Infantry, Missouri Volunteers.
Adjutant-General State of Missouri.

JOHN B. GRAY,

Doc. 31.

THE FIGHT AT MOSSY CREEK, TENN.

KNOXVILLE, January 31, 1864.

THE following account of this fight is given by one who participated in it:

We reached Mossy Creek on the twenty-eighth of December, and for the next two days our pickets were constantly skirmishing. On the twentyninth, the rebels attacked us, coming down rapidly with eight thousand cavalry and fifteen pieces of artillery. They were opposed by our brigade of infantry-First brigade, Second division, Twentythird army corps-numbering about one thousand five hundred, with four regiments of cavalry, two batteries, with nine guns. We had the advantage in position, and the enemy in numbers.

The guns were placed in position, and commenced firing at eleven o'clock A.M. At the same time, skirmishing commenced all along the line. The One Hundred and Eighteenth was still quietly in camp; but soon an aid dashed up with the order to "fall in, without knapsacks or blankets," and in five minutes we were rapidly moving into our position, which was a mile from our camp. We went, double-quick, down the hill, across the Mossy Creek, up the steep ascent on the other side, and had accomplished the distance in less than fifteen minutes. When on the brow of the hill, we were under a terrific fire of shell, round shot, and shrapnel, thrown by the rebel batteries,