My own observation, confirmed by the testi- twenty-seven buildings, twenty-two boilers, and mony of all the engineer officers who had the some two hundred kettles, averaging two hunimmediate superintendence of the work, proves dred gallons each, all of which were destroyed, that the blacks, as a rule, did a greater amount together with five thousand bushels of salt and of work than the same number of whites; but some storehouses containing some three months' the whites were more skilful, and had to be em- provisions-the whole estimated at half a million ployed on the more difficult part of the work, of dollars. From this point the expedition procomprising about one fifth of the whole. ceeded down the bay, destroying private saltworks, which lined each side for a distance of seven miles, to the number of one hundred and ninety-eight different establishments, averaging two boilers and two kettles each, together with a large quantity of salt; five hundred and seven kettles were dug up and rendered useless, and over two hundred buildings were destroyed, together with twenty-seven wagons and five large flat-boats. We found the black soldier more timorous than the white, but in a corresponding degree more docile and obedient, doing just what he was told to the best of his ability, but seldom with enthusiasm. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major, A. D. C., and Assistant Engineer. Major-General Q. A. GILLMORE, Commanding Department of the South. Doc. 23. NAVAL OPERATIONS IN FLORIDA. REAR-ADMIRAL BAILEY'S REPORTS. UNITED STATES FLAG-SHIP SAN JACINTO, Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy: away. On the first of December, Acting Ensign Edwin Cressy arrived at St. Andrew's Sound, from the East Pass of Santa Rosa Sound, with the sternwheel steamer Bloomer, and her tender, the sloop Carolina, having heard of the expedition to Lake Ocala, and placed his command at the disposal of Acting Master Browne for more extensive operations near St. Andrew's; and accordingly three officers and forty-eight men were sent from the Restless to the Bloomer, and she proceeded to West Bay, where the rebel government's saltworks were first destroyed, which produced four hundred bushels daily. At this place there were The entire damage to the enemy is estimated by Acting Master Browne at three million dollars. Thirty-one contrabands employed at those works gladly availed themselves of this opportunity to escape, and were of great service in pointing out the places where the kettles were buried for concealment. In the mean time, while these operations were going on, Acting Master Browne got under way in the bark Restless, and ran up to within one hundred yards of the town of St. Andrew's, which had been reported by deserters to him as being occupied by a military force for the last ten months, and commenced shelling the place and some soldiers, who made a speedy retreat to the woods. Selecting the weathermost houses for a target, the town was fired by the third shell, and thirtytwo houses were soon reduced to ashes. No resistance was offered to our people throughout the affair. Acting Master Browne speaks in high terms of Acting Ensigns James J. Russell and Charles N. Hicks, and the forty-eight men from the Restless, as also of Acting Ensign Edwin Cressy and the six men belonging to the Bloomer, for the prompt manner in which they carried out his orders. Respectfully, THEODORUS BAILEY, Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy: On the twentieth of December, a steamer was discovered in the mouth of the Suwanee River, apparently at anchor or aground. The Fox immediately beat up toward her until, when within about three quarters of a mile of the steamer, she grounded in eight and a half feet of water, and opened upon her with the howitzer, at the same time sending an armed boat in to capture the steamer. An attempt was made to intimidate our people by mounting a piece of stove-pipe on a chair, to represent a forecastle gun, and a log of II. If such commander is satisfied that the deserters desire to quit the confederate service, he may permit them to go to their homes, if within our lines, on taking the following oath : THE OATH. wood on a camp-stool for a stern gun, but this device of the enemy failed in its object; and Acting Ensign Marcellus Jackson boarded the steamer, from which every body had made their escape to the shore. She proved to be a side-wheel steamer, painted lead-color, with black smoke-stack, two masts, and a walking-beam engine. Neither "I do solemnly swear in the presence of Alcargo, personal effects, papers, nor any thing to mighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully indicate her name was found on board, but from support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the description, she is supposed to have been the the United States and the Union of States thereLittle Lila, formerly the Nau Nau, and before under, and that I will, in like manner, abide by that the Flushing. The water was found running and faithfully support all acts of Congress passed rapidly into the engine-room. None of our peo- during the existing rebellion with reference to ple were competent to stop the leak or work the slaves, so long and so far as not yet repealed, engine. The channel was exceedingly intricate modified, or held void by Congress or by decision and narrow, and night was rapidly coming on. of the Supreme Court, and that I will, in like Under these circumstances, Acting Ensign Jack-manner, abide by and faithfully support all procson set fire to the vessel, agreeably to orders lamations of the President made during the exfrom Acting Master Ashbury, and in returning isting rebellion having reference to slaves, so long to the Fox, pulled up all the stakes by which and so far as not modified or declared void by dethe channel was marked out, for about a mile and cision of the Supreme Court; so help me God. a half. Sworn and subscribed to before me, this day of, 186 ." Again, on December twenty-fourth, a vessel was discovered by the Fox standing in for the Suwanee River, and after a chase of two hours, and the firing of several shells, she hove to. Being ordered by Mr. Ashbury to send a boat on board, the stranger put his helm up with the intention of running the Fox down, and came down upon the starboard quarter, carrying away the boat-davits, but doing little damage, as the Fox was immediately kept away. While his vessel was passing off, Mr. Ashbury directed a rifle-shot to be fired for the purpose of intimidation; but a heavy sea was running at the time, and the bullet took effect upon the captain of the strange vessel, who was at the wheel, passing through his leg, but without touching an artery. The vessel was then boarded and found to be the British schooner Edwin from Havana, bound to the Suwanee River, with a cargo of lead and salt, and was accordingly seized as a prize. In addition to these achievements, I would remind the department that the Fox was one of the three tenders that assisted the Honduras in the capture of the British steamer Mail. Respectfully, THEODORUS BAILEY, Acting Rear-Admiral Commanding E. G. B. Squadron. Doc. 24. GEN. GRANT AND REBEL DESERTERS. HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF GENERAL ORDERS, No. 10. To obtain uniformity in the disposition of deserters from the confederate armies coming within this military division, the following order is published: I. All deserters from the enemy coming within our lines will be conducted to the commander of division or detached brigade who shall be nearest the place of surrender. III. Deserters from the enemy will at once be disarmed, and their arms turned over to the nearest ordnance officer, who will account for them. IV. Passes and rations may be given to deserters to carry them to their homes, and free passes over military railroads and on steamboats in government employ. V. Employment at fair wages will, when practicable, be given to deserters by officers of the quartermaster and engineer departments. VI. To avoid the danger of recapture of such deserters by the enemy, they will be exempt from the military service in the armies of the United States. By order of Major-General U. S. Grant. T. S. BOWERS, A.A.G. Doc. 25. GENERAL AVERILL'S EXPEDITION. OFFICIAL REPORT. EDRAY, POCAHONTAS Co., W. VA., Dec. 21, To Major-General Halleck, General-in-Chief: Three dépôts were destroyed, containing two thousand barrels of flour, ten thousand bushels of wheat, one hundred thousand bushels shelled corn, fifty thousand bushels oats, two thousand barrels meat, several cords of leather, one thousand sacks of salt, thirty-one boxes clothing, twenty bales of cotton, a large amount of harness, shoes, and saddles, equipments, tools, oil, tar, and various other stores, and one hundred wagons. The telegraph wire was cut, coiled, and burned for half a mile. The water-station, turn-table, and three cars were burned, and the track torn up and rails heated and destroyed as much as possible in six hours. Five bridges and several culverts were destroyed over an extent of fifteen miles. A large quantity of bridge-timber and repairing materials were also destroyed. My march was retarded occasionally by the tempest in the mountains and the icy roads. I was obliged to swim my command, and drag my artillery with ropes across Craig's Creek seven times in twenty-four hours. On my return, I found six separate commands under Generals Early, Jones, Fitz Lee, Imboden, Jackson, Echols, and McCouslin, arranged in a line extending from Staunton to Newport, upon all the available roads, to prevent my return. I captured a despatch from General Jones to General Early, giving me the position and that of Jackson at Clifton Forge, and Covington was selected to carry. I marched from the front of Jones to that of Jackson at night. His outposts were pressed in at a gallop by the Eighth Virginia mounted infantry, and the two bridges across Jackson's River were saved, although fagots had been piled ready to ignite. My column, about four miles along, hastened across, regardless of the enemy, until all but my ambulances, a few wagons, and one regiment had passed, when a strong effort was made to retake the first bridge, in which they did not succeed. The ambulances and some sick men were lost, and, by the darkness and difficulties, the last regiment was detained upon the opposite side until morning. When it was ascertained that the enemy seemed determined to maintain his position up the cliffs which overlooked the bridges, I caused the bridges, which were long and high, to be destroyed, and the enemy immediately changed his position to the flank and rear of the detachment which was cut off. I sent orders to the remnants to destroy our wagons and come to me across the river, or over the mountains. They swam the river with the loss of only four men, who were drowned, and joined me. In the mean time, forces of the enemy were concentrating upon me at Callaghan's over every available road but one, which was deemed impracticable, but by which I crossed over the top of the Alleghanies, with my command, with the exception of four caissons, which were destroyed in order to increase the teams of the pieces. My loss is six men drowned, one officer and four men wounded, and four officers and ninety men missing. We captured about two hundred prisoners, but have retained but forty officers and eighty men, on account of their inability to walk; we took also about one hundred and fifty horses. My horses have subsisted entirely upon a very poor country, and the officers and men have suffered cold, hunger, and fatigue with remarkable fortitude. My command has marched, climbed, slid, and swam three hundred and fifty-five miles since the eighth instant. W. W. AVERILL, Brigadier-General. A NATIONAL ACCOUNT. WEBSTER, WEST-VIRGINIA, January 8. The Second, Third, and Eighth Virginia mounted infantry, Fourteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, Gibson's battalion and battery G, First Virginia artillery, composing the "Mountain Brigade" of General Averill, left New-Creek, West-Virginia, on the morning of the eighth of December, and a march of two days brought us to Petersburgh. On the morning of the tenth, resumed the march, after being joined by detachments from the First Virginia, Fourteenth and Twenty-third Illinois infantry, a section of Rook's Illinois battery, and the Ringgold cavalry, under command of Colonel Thoburn, of the First Virginia infantry. We passed through Franklin, and camped for the night on the South-Branch. During this day's march we again destroyed the saltpetre works that the rebels had begun to repair. Met a party of refugees, who were endeavoring to get into our lines, and at night had a fight with bushwhackers. The weather thus far had been cold, but after night it began to rain, and next morning we started on the march, Colonel Thoburn in the advance. When we arrived at the cross-roads, Thoburn's brigade taking the road to Monterey and Staunton, whilst our brigade took the road leading to Hightown and the Buck Creek valley. It rained very hard, and we were enveloped in the clouds of the mountain tops. This day captured a rebel mail-carrier, and at night camped near Burdtown. Next morning resumed the march down the Buck Creek valley, finding the streams very much swollen from the rains. During the day a party of refugees, who were armed, came to us; they had been lying in the "brush" ever since the Droop Mountain fight, to keep out of the way of the rebel conscript officers. About dark we arrived at Gatewood's, where we intercepted Mudwall Jackson's train, that was on its way from Huntersville to Warm Springs, to get out of reach of Colonel Moore. The train was guarded by two companies of Jackson's ragged chivalry, and loaded with clothing, shoes, and ammunition. We captured in addition to the train twenty-nine prisoners, while the balance escaped to the mountain, and bushwhacked us at long-range, but hurt none. The rebels, not expecting another raid, had rebuilt their camp and saltpetre works. These we again burnt, together with the potash factory. Started next morning for Callaghan's; during the morning captured one hundred and fifty cattle, that the farmers were driving out of the valley, and a contraband directed us to an extensive saltpetre works, which we destroyed. We arrived at Callaghan's at four o'clock, where we heard of the operations of General Duffie and Colonel Moore, and the retreat of Echols. We marched out on the Sweet Springs road, and encamped for the night on Dunlap's Creek. destroyed, and fifteen miles of the road torn up, and the rails heated, water-station and turn-table burned, together with the materials that were on the ground for repairs. This was a heavy blow to the rebels, considering their facilities for repairing a damaged road, and the absolute necessity for keeping open communications with Longstreet. According to their own accounts, it has taken twelve days to put the road in running order again. We did that work in six hours; while Lee, with his army of seventy-five thousand men, had the control of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for fourteen days, and, after all the damage that was inflicted, the Company repaired the road in four weeks. In addition to the destruction of the railroad, was the immense amount of stores destroyed in the three dépôts, mill, and warehouse; two thousand barrels flour, ten thousand bushels wheat, one hundred thousand bushels shelled corn, fifty thousand bushels oats, two thousand barrels meat, several cords leather, one thousand sacks salt, thirty-one boxes clothing, twenty bales cotton, a large amount of harness, shoes, saddles, and equipments, tools, oil, tar, and various other stores, and one hundred wagons, and, in addition, three hundred boxes tobacco. The amount of property destroyed was immense, and we can form some idea of its value from the prices of the above articles in Dixie. The citizens stated to us that the value was five millions of dollars. This, including the damage to the railroad, is not far from the mark. It must be borne in mind that Salem is the dépôt for Western Virginia, as well as for Longstreet's corps, and that the stores had been removed from other points to Salem, for safety. After we had performed this work, we began the retreat, and fell back six miles to the foot of Poverty Mountain, where we camped for the night. We had two good days in succession; but after night it began to rain, and toward morning began to freeze, and a high, blinding wind with it. Our blankets and cloth Hitherto our marches had been by easy stages, twenty miles per day, and had taken special care of our horses; but now we were in the enemy's country and the great object of the expedition before us, and our movements must of necessity be rapid. At two o'clock A.M., started for Sweet Springs, in Monroe, where we arrived at ten o'clock, and halted for two hours for refreshment and to groom our horses. At the Springs captured a large quantity of manufactured tobacco, that was divided amongst the men, furnishing an abundant supply for a long time. Began the ascent of the mountain at noon, and in the gap captured a wagon-load of salt. The day was fine, and from the top of the mountain had a grand view of the mountains far off in Dixie, as well as the Alleghanies in our rear. These mountains correspond with the North-Shenandoah range. After crossing this mountain and the valley, we ascended the Eleven Mile or Peter's Mountain; and in the gap an amusing incident occurred. Our advance captured, not a rebel picket, but a wedding party, bride, groom, preacher, and guests. They, together with the whole country through which we had passed, were taken by surprise; but the scamp of a preacher made his escape in the confusion caused by the tears and distress of the women, who had so unexpectedly become acquainted with the Yankees. We descended the mountain and halted for two hours at Mrs. Scott's tavern, on Barbour's Creek. We started up the valley, and the advance captured a company of Georgia troops, with ninety horses. We then crossed Patt's Mountain, and dashed into New-Castle, the county-seat of Craig. Here we captured a portion of the home guard, with their arms, and without halting kept on for Roanoke. Our march was up the Craig Creek valley, and during the morning captured a rebel patrol party, and a rebel Colonel Chapman, who attempted to escape, and was killed. We also burned another saltpetre works, and after crossing two mountains, at about half-past ten o'clock reached Salem. After we entered, a train cortaining a rebel bri-ing became saturated with water, and at daylight gade came up the track from Lynchburgh, but we began the retrograde movement. The march three shots from one of our Parrotts caused the over the mountain was very fatiguing, and the engineer to reverse his engine, and, with a snort road so icy, that we had to dismount and lead from the whistle, the train took the back track. our horses. We found the Catawba very much swollen, and across the mountain, and after we reached the Craig Creek valley, the rain poured down in torrents, and it was a work of great labor for the artillery and the trains to move. Every small stream had become a foaming torrent, carrying rocks and drift before it; the pine-trees forming a crystal forest, with beautiful festoons and arches bending over the road. The citizens had been apprised that we were in the country, but had not expected us so soon, and to our utter surprise, both along the road and in the town, we were received with a kind and cordial greeting, and the waving of white handkerchiefs. Now that we had arrived, we were invited to their houses, and treated with kindness and hospitality; and our healthy appearance, our clothing, and especially our boots, as well as our gentlemanly deportment, were all subjects of wonder and admiration. The destruction on the railroad and dépôts began immediately; the government buildings and dépôts were fired, and the Third Virginia and the Fourteenth Pennsylvania were sent out each way to tear up and destroy; and most effectually they did the work; fine bridges were When we came to Craig's Creek, the water was so deep, and the current so strong, and besides, the drift was running, it was supposed that our way was completely blockaded; but our General was equal to the emergency, and we were ordered to attempt the ford-the General directing and encouraging in person-the men riding into the cold icy water cheerfully, and by using caution, and obeying the directions this road we met a party of Jackson's cavalry, and skirmished with them, pressing them close. When we reached the river, they turned to the right, in the direction of Jackson River dépôt, while we turned to the left, toward Covington. Here we captured a messenger from Jones to Early, with a despatch to be forwarded to Early by Jackson, by telegraph. (Early was supposed to be at Warm Springs.) This proved of im of the General and the officers, the first, second, and third fords were crossed. This consumed nearly the whole day, with the train, the artillery, and the rear-guard still to cross. We were now on the New-Castle side, and, by the road, several more fords to cross; but as it was but a few miles to town, it was determined to cut a road through the woods, which was done, and at eleven o'clock at night, the Eighth entered the town. Here we took possession of the govern-portance to the General, for it disclosed the rement corn-cribs, where the corn-tithe, or tenth, was deposited. This we fed to our horses, and afterward made demonstrations on the different roads, while the balance of the brigade were endeavoring to extricate themselves from the watery blockade that had so suddenly stopped our progress; but it was not until the next evening that the artillery and train reached the town. The efforts of the quartermasters, officers, and men were very fatiguing and laborious, in dragging the artillery and wagons through the water by means of ropes, and the whole work superintended by the General, who had made it a point of honor to save the artillery and transportation; but the provisions were lost, except the soldier's great reliance, coffee. This was preserved, and when the brigade reached the town, it was issued to the men. We now found that the rebels held the gap, to dispute our march, and heard that Fitz-Hugh Lee was in our rear. We did not fear the rebel force in our front, for they had not sufficient time to unite their scattered forces. A squadron of the Eighth was sent to force them back, and a brisk skirmish ensued, when reënforcements from the Second and Eighth were sent to assist in driving back the enemy. The rebels retired, and at midnight the brigade reached Mrs. Scott's, at the foot of the Eleven Mile Mountain. But here a new danger arose, for Jones held the Sweet Springs Mountain in force, and that was our only apparent outlet, and besides, our limited supply of ammunition had become partially damaged from the wet. Here our young chief performed a master-stroke of generalship, completely deceiving, as well as mystifying Jones. He sent a force to the top of the Eleven Mile Mountain, to make a bold demonstration, drive in the rebel pickets, and make the rebels believe that our whole force was advancing. In the mean time, the column was ordered to move up a creek and by-road, in the direction of the Covington and Fincastle turnpike. The General had got the information of this road from a citizen, with the statement that no vehicle had passed over the road in two years, and Jones's scouts told him that the road was totally impracticable, but we passed through in safety, Jones waiting the whole day, and expecting an attack every hour. In the afternoon, we struck the Fincastle pike, and distant from Covington ten miles. We had now eluded two rebel armies, but still we knew that they were on both flanks, and perhaps in our front; but we were ordered to move rapidly, and the advance to dash to the Jackson River bridge, to prevent its being burnt. On bel plans, and the movements of Jones, Echols, and McCauslin. The advance hastened at a trot toward the bridge, and when they came to it, the rebel guard opened fire upon them, but we charged through with a cheer and at a gallop, the rebs retreating at their highest speed. We found piles of combustibles on the bridge ready for the torch, and fire burning and torch ready; but the advance, by its gallantry, saved the bridge. As the brigade moved so rapidly, it left the artillery, trains, and rear-guard far in the rear, with perhaps a gap of two miles open. This was taken advantage of by Jackson, who marched in his force, and ambushed themselves in the cliffs with the cavalry, ready to make a charge on the trains. They made a dash to take the bridge, but were repulsed by the guard that we had left there; and next morning, Jackson's force, with artillery, infantry, and cavalry, made an attack on the rear-guard and the train, but were repulsed, while we succeeded in destroying the train, to prevent its falling into their hands, and the loss that we met with, was in having a portion of the men, who were cut off, captured. Our loss was sixty men captured. These were mostly dismounted men. We also lost three officers captured. The brigade moved rapidly to Covington, where the advance captured several of the home guard and a number of fine horses, and pushed on toward Callaghan's. The advance crossed the second bridge and surprised a rebel picket of sixteen men. These, with their horses, arms, and equipments, were captured except one of the party, the captain, who escaped. When we reached Callaghan's, strong pickets were sent out on all the roads. We began to breathe more freely, but our privations began to tell from hunger and cold. Our clothing was frozen stiff, a large proportion of the men had their feet and fingers frozen, but the greatest suffering was from want of sleep. The pickets were forbidden to make fires. After the videttes had been placed, the balance of the men lay down in the road, and the night was intensely cold, but the officers aroused the men and would not permit them to sleep; and a short time before day they were permitted to make fires in the pine-thickets, and with the comfortable bed, and a cup of strong coffee, they soon regained their accustomed spirits. crackers were now exhausted, and nothing to eat but fresh pork and coffee. Our Here the General sent out scouting-parties to ascertain the movements of the enemy. We here learned that Early held the Back Creek valley, and that there was a force at Gatewood's, cover |