he did not understand the task he had proposed venture to assert that the material composing to himself. With an unfaltering courage she met him, wrested his gun from him, knocked him down, and came into the city with the musket as a trophy, and a dislocated forefinger as an evidence of the contest. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. 66 WASHINGTON, N. C., Feb. 10, 1864. In one of my letters written last summer, I made the remark that this department was in a shaky condition." Strictly speaking, I cannot say that it is otherwise to-day, and it is somewhat surprising that the few troops in possession of the "old North State" department have not been long ago "gobbled up," and confined in the prisons of Dixie. Here we are to-day, with a strong force of the enemy operating in front of Newbern for the last ten days, and no reënforcements up to yesterday. Already you are aware of the attack made upon Newbern early last week, and the subsequent details of the affair must, ere this, have been read by the people of the North; but allow me to say that, if it had not been for the great valor displayed by a handful of Union troops, the affair would have been a very unpleasant thing. Well and nobly fought the One Hundred and Thirty-second New-York infantry, assisted by their cavalry comrades from the same State, keeping in check for several long hours an overwhelming force that came rushing upon them on all sides, like a storm. Three times did the bold, and I must say, courageous confederates charge to cross a bridge in front of the One Hundred and Thirty-second, and as often were they repulsed by the defenders of the old flag, leaving their ranks somewhat thinned in every fresh attempt. The Twelfth cavalry-or rather eight companies of it-under Colonel Savage, maintained their post for a considerable time, being compelled at last to burn their camp and forage, and retire toward Newbern. Within two miles of the city, and exactly where the regiment was quartered last fall, a brigade of rebels formed a line of battle between them and Fort Totten. The brigade did but little to prevent the cavalry charging at them and through them, finally getting under cover of the guns of the fort. The enemy remained but a short time in this position, for the guns of Fort Totten and the howitzers of the Twelfth sent terror all around them. The bravery, coolness, and courage displayed by Colonel Savage on the occasion, is the subject of much praise among the men. The Seventeenth Massachusetts infantry and the Second North-Carolina volunteers also took part in the skirmishing, and lost a good many ren in prisoners; but the Green Mountain boys from Vermont-the Ninth- -are on their way the second time to Richmond. This regiment has been in the State but a few weeks, having been just released from Dixie, and were doing duty on the military railway between Newbern and Beaufort. I cannot explain the cause of so much evil to the Vermonters, and therefore will not said regiment is not of the soundest metal. Two companies of Mix's cavalry doing duty with the Vermont regiment, were also made prisoners of war. A few of the latter have since made their escape. It is rumored that the gunboat captured by the rebels, and subsequently burned, was captured Isolely on account of the captain's high esteem and regard for secessionism. The name of the boat was the Underwriter, that of her captain, Westerfelt, or something like it. It is no matter, for if all is true about his conduct, his name will be without fame in the annals of the war. He is in prison now, I believe. By the arrival of the Patuxent at this port last night, the information is obtained that the rebels are concentrated about nine miles west of Newbern. Up to the hour when the Patuxent left Newbern, no reënforcements had arrived in the department, notwithstanding that a despatch was sent to Fortress Monroe ten days ago. Where is General Butler? I saw it in the papers a short time since that he was in Washington, D. C., at Willard's, I presume, taking a "brandy smash," with the political wire-pullers of the White House. The good he has done since he took command of affairs here, is so insignificant, that few see it. He has done one thing, namely, prevented the poor soldier from taking his accustomed government ration of liquor. He cannot have luck for doing so, at least he will not secure the soldiers' suffrage, should some broken-down party be foolish enough to nominate him for next President. But, seriously speaking, it is a shame that no reenforcements are sent to the relief of just enough troops to do the provost duty in the department. This is an important point in the State, and how many troops do you think are stationed here?— about one thousand five hundred. With the towns of Greenville and Tarboro a day's march from us, strongly occupied by rebels, and all along our front the enemy raiding in strong force, it does seem strange that nothing more has been done on the part of our generals in the way of being ready for any emergency. Fif I have been long of the opinion, based on personal observation, that this State might long ago have been redeemned from the misery into which its people have been thrown by the lack of energy on the part of the military authorities. The famine that has long stared the citizens in the face, long since bade them seek for mercy, and that mercy can only be obtained through the victorious advances of our army in the State. teen or twenty thousand men thrown into this department could open the State from the Atlantie to Raleigh, thus strengthening the hopes of the people and cementing their confidence in the stability of the Union. The mass of the people are heartily sick of secessionism, and are hoping against hope for the day of peace. But the question arises: Does the Federal Government wish the day of peace to come too suddenly? I leave this question to be answered. The loss on our side during last week's opera tions before Newbern, is about one thousand five hundred prisoners; but few were killed or wounded. The rebels suffered severely in killed. The figures stated in my last, are near the mark. We took a number of prisoners, but not sufficient to cover our loss in this respect. I have been unable to learn the intentions of the enemy for the past few days. It is likely that reënforcements from Longstreet will be sent to the vicinity of Newbern, and then another attempt will be made to enter that or this town. We are ready here; but what can fifteen hundred men do against four times that number? In the last extremity we may look for reënforcements, and no sooner, from present appearances. In the mean time, however, the enemy may retreat toward Kingston or Raleigh, foraging the country as they move along. The roads are in the best order; the weather delightful; the spirits of the Union troops excellent and buoyant; they are more willing to fight at any time than to think of surrendering. You will hear from me soon again. W. C. H. A REBEL ACCOUNT. RICHMOND, February 6, 1864. met the enemy in force at Bachelor's Creek; killed and wounded about one hundred in all; captured thirteen officers and two hundred and eighty prisoners, fourteen negroes, two rifled pieces and caissons, three hundred stand of smallarms, four ambulances, three wagons, fifty-five animals, a quantity of clothing, camp and garrison equipage, and two flags. Commander Wood, confederate States Navy, captured and destroyed the United States gunboat Underwriter. Our loss thirty-five killed and wounded. Doc. 70. OPERATIONS IN WEST-VIRGINIA. A NATIONAL ACCOUNT. IN THE FIELD, WEST VIRGINIA, THE operations of the last seven days, although at times extremely varied in their character, have at last terminated in a series of successes that at once dispel the darksome clouds of temporary rebel prosperity, and open a bright vista to our interests. The operations on both sides have been conducted with great rapidity, considering the mountainous condition of the country, the bad state of the roads, the time it requires to concentrate and move columns of troops, and the usual necessary features attendant upon a raiding and the repelling of a raid campaign. Advices received yesterday from North-Carolina were very sanguine of the capture of New-true bern, and represented that it had been completely invested by our forces. The report yesterday was that our troops had obtained possession of the outer line of fortifications. Newbern is the key to a large and productive country, in which, even now, vast amounts of provisions are contain ed. It is also reported to be the rendezvous of a large number of fugitive slaves, and the most important dépôt of supplies which the enemy has in eastern North-Carolina. We are sorry to dash the reports which were so freely circulated yesterday of a success at Newbern. There is no doubt that a despatch was received yesterday by the Government that General Pickett had found it necessary to fall back to Kinston, and was then performing that movement. Whatever may have been the result of the affair, we are left to conclude that General Pickett found the enemy's works at Newbern too strong to carry by assault, and has retired; his six brigades of infantry, with artillery and cavalry to match, have turned out to be a successful foraging expedition. The defences of Newbern are certainly of the most formidable description, and, from what we can learn, are well calculated to withstand the perils of any assault. The town is situated between two rivers, and the strip of land, not more than a mile wide, is said to be traversed by a deep ditch, twenty feet wide, with a gunboat sta tioned at each of its extremities. OFFICIAL DESPATCH FROM GENERAL PICKETT. To General S. Cooper: I made a reconnoissance within a mile and a half of Newbern, with Hoke's brigade and a part of Corse's and Clingman's, and some artillery; For some time past we had been in possession of information to the effect that General Early was concentrating troops and being reënforced in the neighborhood of Harrisonburgh, with a view to again attempting the capture of the garrison at Petersburgh, and then making another raid on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. To meet a movement of this kind, General Kelly made all possible preparation. Yet as time wore away, and the weather continued fair, and the enemy gave no signs of an intention to advance, a large number of men (including nearly the whole of a regiment of cavalry) who had reenlisted for the war were furloughed and allowed to go home, in accordance with the War Department order on that subject. Hardly had this been done when we got news of Early having moved on Friday, January twenty-ninth. Of course it was too late and a matter of impossibility to recall the furloughed troops. At the earliest possible moment cavalry, in small detachments, was sent out from Harper's Ferry, Martinsburgh, and Cumberland to gain information of the enemy's whereabouts. The scouting-parties did not bring us in any particu larly reliable information, and hence many were inclined to believe the "grand movement" to be nothing more than Rosser's or Gillmore's forces out on a big foraging expedition, and a kind of half-way reconnoissance. The next reliable information we had of the enemy's movements was when Rosser suddenly attacked one of our trains while on its way from New-Creek to Petersburgh. It is now known to be a fact that the eight hundred men sent as a guard with the train were disgracefully remiss in the discharge of their duty. The officer in command of the train-guard officially reported that he had eighty killed and wounded, while neither fact nor report has, up to this time, confirmed his statement. The truth of the matter is that some one is to blame for allowing the enemy to get what portion of the train he did secure, and for permitting either himself or his men to be misled or frightened away by the mere opening of the enemy's artillery. What if the rebel force were two thousand strong? Eight hundred brave, well-handled men could have made a strong defence. The capture of a few wagons does us little injury; yet when we take into consideration how the rebels catch at straws, and build bright, hopeful, airy structures on very small foundations, we must ever deprecate the conduct of all officers and men who fail in ever so small a degree to discharge their whole duty and nothing less. The most of the train-guard has returned, coming in at different points along the railroad. The enemy took but a few of the guard prisoners. Our loss in the attack on the train turns out to be astonishingly small. It is reported that official inquiry will be made into the conduct of the whole affair at an early date. On learning that this train had been attacked, and that the garrison at Petersburgh was again threatened, General Kelly ordered movements to be made in the most expeditious manner from Harper's Ferry and Martinsburgh. Of Sullivan's troops, a force was sent to Winchester, under the command of Colonel Fitzsimmons. Of Averill's command, (and I must take occasion to mention at this point that another unfortunate thing for us, added to the absence of the furloughed regiments, was that General Averill had just gone home on a thirty days' leave of absence, thus depriving us of his active services,) another column, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, moved from Martinsburgh to Winchester, and there made a junction with Fitzsimmons. These united columns then moved across the country toward Romney, going by way of Wardensville. Their march was a rough and rapid one, and, although conducted in the best possible manner, failed by several hours to communicate with or get in supporting distance of Colonel Mulligan. While Fitzsimmons's and Thompson's troops were marching toward Romney, a cavalry force was despatched to look after rebel movements in the neighborhood of Leesburgh and in the Loudon County district, it having been rumored that a rebel force was moving and operating in that neighborhood. gan's troops, and afterward moved with Mulligan to attack Early, near Moorfield. How Thoburn outwitted the enemy, who thought he had Thoburn penned in, has been partially explained in a previous despatch to the Herald. Let it suffice that I now say he got away with better success than we anticipated, and that his strategic movement over the mountains and "far away" is looked upon in the light of a very commendable feat. Having got Thoburn all right, our forces moving on Romney, another small force out watching from the neighborhood of Cumberland, we slowly fell back in the New-Creek valley, with a view to drawing the enemy sufficiently close to the railroad to enable Fitzsimmons and Thompson to get in his rear. As we desired, the enemy followed up. During this time a number of small fights occurred, in which we lost a few killed and wounded. On Sunday and Monday our cavalry took some prisoners, but the number of these latter was far exceeded by the deserters who hastened to come into our lines. From these deserters we learned that Early had been reënforced heavily, and that it was true he had been making extensive preparations to carry out this raid. On Tuesday between four and five hundred of Rosser's men slipped in between Mulligan's and Fitzsimmons's columns, and broke our railroad communication, by partially destroying one bridge and slightly injuring another one. How soon the damage was repaired and how trivial it was, you have already learned. The enemy succeeded in reaching the railroad and in partially safely getting away, only in consequence of the columns from Martinsburgh and Harper's Ferry having defeated General Kelly's calculation by failing to reach Romney at six P.M. on the evening of the second. It was calculated that this column would be at Romney as stated, and that any rebel force which moved in by way of Springfield or Frankfort would be cut off by Fitzsimmons's, Thompson's, or Mulligan's forces, and kept from doing any great injury to the railroad by the troops stationed at Cumberland and elsewhere within easy supporting distances. This was not all the plan of operation, but that portion which the enemy knew about, as well as ourselves; and hence I can see no indiscretion in now publishing it. Yet while all did their duty in the best possible manner, (and here I feel constrained to assure the reader that, no matter how beautifully the philosophical professor explains the mountains to be nothing more than as "little asperities on the rind of the orange," these self-same "little asperities" are not unfrequently the cause of uncontrollable delays in military movements, and tend to defeat the wisest and best-considered calculations,) still the enemy's success in reaching the railroad was due to the failure of our cavalry from Martinsburgh, etc., to reach the Romney region at the expected time. On Saturday night, the thirtieth, Colonel Thoburn, finding the enemy about to attack him in force at Petersburgh, Hardy County, evacuated As soon as it was known the railroad had been his position there, and escaped to Ridgeville, cut, Colonel Mulligan's forces moved forward where he joined a detachment of Colonel Mulli- from the New-Creek region and attacked the enemy. We were successful in making the enemy fall back. Our movements toward the enemy's rear of course hastened his departure from a position that was getting to be more dangerous than either interesting or profitable. At the time when the enemy was known to be within six to eight miles of the Cumberland, the troops there stationed formed for action. Scenes of lively interest ensued. In the streets of Cumberland the ladies-that is, a great many of them-promenaded up and down, of course waiting for the "ball" to open. Instead of seeming excited, they appeared to be rather remarkably cool and desirous of hearing the "Where are you? where are you?" shells go whizzing over the devote 1 city of Cumberland, and to see the coal-dust flying in all directions. I will not stop to detail all the minor movements we made and the skirmishes we had, but, passing over these, will state that as soon as Colonels Fitzsimmons's and Thompson's forces opened communication with Colonel Mulligan, we vigorously pursued the enemy, driving him on all the roads and out of all the gaps in which he attempted to maintain a position. Our forces continued to press the enemy hard, until the latter made a stand a short distance this side of Moorefield. The Moorefield valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in the United States. It is about fifteen miles long by, upon an average, three miles wide, and contains river bottom land of unlimited richness. It is surrounded by mountains of picturesque formation about two thousand feet in height, and forms altogether one of the most beautiful scenic displays to be met with in any portion of this country. Moorefield, situated about two or three miles from the ford, is a town of four hundred inhabitants. The town is well built, contains brick residences with tin roofs, and displays evidences of progress and refinement not observable in other portions of this region of country. About three miles from the town of Moorefield, following the Moorefield and Romney turnpike road, you cross the south branch of the Potomac River at what is known as McNeil's Ford. It was here that Colonel Mulligan on Thursday, in pursuing the enemy, had a fight. Rosser's command disputed the passage of the river. The lands of this neighborhood are almost of a dead level, but the river bank upon which Colonel Mulligan took position is higher than the one on the other side. Thus we had the advantage of position. Our artillery opened on the enemy about eight A.M., and rapid firing was kept up for some considerable time afterward. The enemy replied vigorously, and for a long time kept us warmly at work. After a good deal of rapid sharp-shooting our shot and shell drove the enemy off to a sufficient distance to enable us to obtain command of the ford. A crossing was then effected. We found the country, as I have previously stated, a dead level from here all the way to Moorefield. This level served our purpose very well. After leaving the ford, the enemy slowly fell back toward Moorefield, all the way keeping up a scattering, skirmishing fire-a regular "fire and fall back" engagement. At the time when Mulligan first engaged Rosser at the ford-Early was at Moorefield (behind Rosser) with a heavy force of infantry and two or more batteries of artillery. Fighting was kept up until the enemy got near the town, when he made another stand. More fighting ensued, and in the course of three hours we drove him from his last position to and through the town and beyond it. Early's forces then fell back toward the south fork of the south branch of the Potomac River, Mulligan all the time keeping close upon the enemy's rear, by aid of his cavalry force. The enemy took the south fork road, which runs through a branch valley of the great Moorefield valley. This South-Branch valley is quite a narrow one, hemmed in on either side by very high mountains and traversed by a considerable stream of water known as the SouthFork of the South-Branch. Rosser undertook to protect Early's rear. The narrowness of the valley alone prevented us from driving him along with more than agreeable rapidity. As it was, we compelled the enemy to fall back with much haste. The South-Fork road leads directly to Brock's Gap and Harrisonburgh-the original position from which the rebels moved. Colonel Mulligan continued to pursue the enemy until the latter reached the last river road, and was compelled to retire over into the Shenandoah valley again. Colonel Mulligan has been highly complimented for the alacrity with which he obeyed and carried out General Kelly's orders and the manner in which he personally conducted the pursuit. The other commanding officers have also been complimented for their gallantry. Our losses have not been large. Even in the six hours' hard fighting our losses proved to be less than at first reported. Looking back at the operations of the last seven days, it must be said that we have been successful, and that it is beyond doubt we have again defeated Early's designs, which were to seriously injure the line of the railroad and capture the garrison at Petersburgh. He has been defeated in getting into New-Creek or Cumberland, failed to interrupt the running of the railroad trains beyond a few hours, and failed to get off with any large portion of his prisoners or plunder. Besides, he has lost many by desertion, and quite a number as prisoners and picked-up stragglers. On the whole, he has been made to discover that raids are adventures that cost much time and material, and do not pay rebels or generals where the result is "diamond cut diamond." Our cavalry have driven the rebels out of Petersburgh. The enemy burned the government buildings. Captain Gleason, of the Twenty-third Illinois, who was taken prisoner, has been recaptured. Doc. 71. THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA. LOUISVILLE, KY., February 18, 1864. On the twenty-eighth of September last, an order was issued consolidating with another the Twentieth army corps, which had been my highest honor to command. The order was announced to the army on the eighth of October; I was relieved from command, and have been ever since awaiting the pleasure of the President for the investigation which has just closed. Conscious that my troops had been subjected to unjust reproach, and that my reputation as their commander had been reviled, I was glad to have this opportunity of vindication, the only means open to me; for on every principle binding the soldier silence was imposed upon me, when the same order which relieved me from command directed me to await a Court of Inquiry upon my conduct. But I need not delay the Court with any resumé of the operations of the nineteenth. My fieldorders are before the Court, and it is enough to say they were obeyed. "I was with General McCook the entire day, and feel certain they were explicitly obeyed."[Major Bates's reexamination.] At dark on the nineteenth I went to the council at Widow Glenn's House. At midnight the orders were resolved upon, and I left to rouse my troops and move them to their position for the struggle of the twentieth. Before daylight I reported at Glenn's House that they were moving. The positions selected were seen by General Morton, the Chief of Engineers, who testifies they were "eminently judicious." General Davis testifies that "he is confident they could have been held against any attack in front." General Rosecrans "made several observations in approval of the positions."-[Morton's testiinony.] Now, admitting the General-in-Chief debated some of the positions with me; that he suggested a change in one place; that he answered my objections to his suggestions, and gave replies to the reasons urged for the positions chosen-it is enough to say that he rode the lines; that he saw the positions-it was his to order and mine to obey. I am conscious, too, that the testimony which has been introduced, while it may enable the Court to respond to the questions which are vital to myself, has fallen far short of enabling it fully to pass upon the battle of Chickamauga; and whatever you may think of the conduct of its commander, surely you must conclude that it was a hurried and a hard sentence, which blotted out of existence the Twentieth army corps, while Nor is it quite accurate to say that General others not nearly so large nor so tried in battle McCook was not expected "to cover any particu have been allowed to retain their organization | lar position of the ground unless he could do so, and recruit their ranks. and at the same time maintain his connection with General Thomas.” The Court will bear me witness, except when absolutely necessary for a proper understanding of my own conduct, I have abstained from any questions as to the conduct of others, and the same rule shall govern me in the remarks I make upon the testimony. Indeed, if it were not a departure from the custom in such cases, I feel that I might refrain from this, and submit my cause without a word. If the Court shall be as impartial in judgment as it has been patient and fair in the hearing, I shall be content. On the seventeenth day of September, 1863, the Twentieth army corps, wearied by its marches over mountain roads, returned and effected its junction with General Thomas by Winston Gap, which the latter advised to be the only practicable road. It went into camp at Pond Spring, seven miles from the slope of Mission Ridge, at Widow Glenn's house, and only fifteen miles from Chattanooga, the objective point of the recent army movements. It remained there all the day of the eighteenth, waiting to close up "when General Thomas is out of the way." His troops marched that night, and before daylight the Twentieth corps started, Johnson's division leading, and when it reached headquarters it was immediately ordered to Thomas. Johnson's and Davis's divisions and one brigade of Sheridan's were heavily engaged on the nineteenth, Davis losing one brigade commander, (killed,) and Sheridan one, (wounded.) The order to General Crittenden most clearly indicates what McCook was expected to do. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, WIDOW GLENN'S HOUSE, September 19, 1863-11.20 P.M. GENERAL: The General Commanding directs me to inform you that General McCook has been ordered to hold this gap to-morrow, commanding the Dry Valley Road, his right resting near this place, his left connecting with General Thomas's right. The General places your corps in reserve tomorrow, and directs you to post it on the eastern slope of Mission Ridge to support McCook or Thomas. Leave the grand guards of your command out with instructions to hold their ground until driven in; then to retire slowly, contesting the ground stubbornly. Very respectfully your obedient servant, But whatever may be the merits or demerits of the position selected, it is idle to discuss them, for they were proved in battle, but were changed in respects most vital to their security. Let us inquire how the plan of battle changed. My proper command was the Twentieth corps, consisting of Johnson's, Sheridan's, and Davis's |