lowed by General Geary's division. Delayed at Chickamauga to rebuild bridge, we reached Peavine Valley about sunset, and the forces advanced cautiously through its mud and dense underbrush, until the advance reached the La Fayette road, where it found a battery and train of the enemy moving. One volley captured all, scattering the men therewith in every direction. General Palmer's forces there took the Grayville road to the left. Our division moved forward out of the valley, ascended the hill, gathering up many scattering prisoners, and rested for the night, four miles from Ringgold. At early day on the morning of the twentyseventh, General Osterhaus, taking the advance, followed by our division, we moved forward. At about eight o'clock we approached the town and found the enemy in force on White Oak Ridge and in the gorge through which Middle Chickamauga flows beyond the town. A severe engagement soon commenced, our forces endeavoring to carry the position by a front assault. The action lasted about four hours, with heavy loss to us; at last the place was carried and the enemy driven. My brigade had been placed in position in the town, took no part, but was under fire, where I lost one man killed. Shortly after the enemy had been driven from their position, I received orders to move, with my command, in pursuit, and was soon under way. Skirmishing with their rear-guard soon commenced, and destroyed bridges made the pursuit difficult and slow. We followed them until night, a distance of three miles, and found what appeared to be a division in a well-selected position, and in accordance with orders, I returned to Ringgold. We recaptured two of our wounded men, took two more prisoners, found broken caissons, wagons, ambulances, dead and dying men of the enemy strewn along the way to a horrible extent. We remained at Ringgold until the evening of the thirtieth November, when I received orders to return to Whiteside via the Chickamauga battle-field. We marched to Reed's farm, on west Chickamauga, six miles, and camped for the night. On the first day of December, we crossed the creek, proceeded two miles to the memorable battle-field of the nineteenth and twentieth of September, 1863. We buried the remains of about four hundred of our brave fallen comrades that had been the prey of animals for two and a half months. On the left of our line, the dead of the enemy over a portion of the ground had been well buried, and ours tolerably well covered, but toward the centre and right but few of ours were attempted to be buried or covered at all. The heads and feet of those on that part of the field that had been slightly covered, were mostly uncovered, and frequently found separated and some distance from the bodies. On the west of the road from Gordon and Lee's Mills to Rossville, and on our centre and right, and as far as I went to the south, but few burials had been attempted of either party. We had not time to explore the entire field, and no doubt many of our soldiers remain un buried yet. All good clothing had been stripped from the bodies. Such a sight of inhumanity I hope never to witness again. On the second of December, we marched to our old quarters at this post, and thus ended our part of a fruitful campaign. My command took prisoners as follows, the evidence of which is herewith forwarded: List of names and rank taken by my provostmarshal, two hundred and forty-five; wounded on Mission Ridge and prisoners, twenty-one; voucher of Lieutenant Jaquis, Provost-Marshal of division, one hundred and eleven; with officers, four; vouchers of Captain Woodbury, of Twenty-ninth Ohio, one hundred and fifty-nine; vouchers of Captain Tolby, Twenty-seventh Missouri, thirtyseven; captured by Colonel Suman on Missionary Ridge, and turned over to the regiment on his right, as he states, which was one of General Wood's regiments, two hundred. Total, seven hundred and seventy-seven. The conduct of the officers and men of my command was highly commendable, and I thank them for a prompt obedience and execution of all orders, without regard to danger or fatigue. I am under obligations to my staff-officers for their kind and willing assistance rendered me during the campaign. The following is a table of casualties in the brigade during the campaign, namely: Major G. Trusler, Thirty-sixth Indiana volunteer infantry: killed, one enlisted man; wounded, ten enlisted men; total, eleven enlisted men ; aggregate, eleven. Colonel J. C. B. Suman, Ninth Indiana volunteer infantry: killed, two enlisted men; wounded, one commissioned officer, twenty-two enlisted men; total, one commissioned officer, twentyfour enlisted men; aggregate, twenty-five. Major C. Hale, Fifty-ninth Illinois volunteer infantry: killed, one enlisted man; wounded, four commissioned officers, thirteen enlisted men; total, four commissioned officers, fourteen enlisted men; aggregate, eighteen. Colonel J. E. Bennett, Seventy-fifth Illinois volunteer infantry: wounded, two enlisted men; total, two enlisted men; aggregate, two. Colonel L. H. Waters, Eighty-fourth Illinois volunteer infantry: wounded, four enlisted men ; total, four enlisted men; aggregate, four. Captain G. M. Bacon, Twenty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry: wounded, four enlisted men; total, four enlisted men; aggregate, four. Killed, four enlisted men; wounded, five commissioned officers, fifty-five enlisted men; total, five commissioned officers, fifty-nine enlisted men; aggregate, sixty-four. Knowing that I filled every post of danger required of me, I rejoice that so few of my men have fallen, compared with former battles. Lists of the casualties accompanying the reports of the regimental commanders respectively, which for further particulars are herewith forwarded. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, W. GROSE, Colonel Commanding. Doc. 142. MESSAGE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS. DELIVERED MAY 2, 1864. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States of America: Third Congress of the Confederate States of America. The provisional government was formed, its congress held four sessions, lived its appointed term, and passed away. The permanent government was then organized, its different departments established, a Congress elected, which also held four sessions, served its full conYou are assembled under circumstances of deep stitutional term, and expired. You, the second interest to your country; and it is fortunate that, Congress under the permanent government, are coming as you do, newly elected by the people, now assembled at the time and place appointed and familiar with the condition of the various by law for commencing your session. All these localities, you will be better able to devise mea- events have passed into history, notwithstandsures adapted to meet the wants of the public ing the threat of our prompt subjugation, made service without imposing unnecessary burdens three years ago, by a people that presume to on the citizen. The brief period which has assert a title to govern States whose separate and elapsed since the last adjournment of Congress independent sovereignty was recognized by treaty has not afforded sufficient opportunity to test with France and Great Britain in the last century, the efficacy of the most important laws then en- and remained unquestioned for nearly three genacted, nor have the events occurring in the inter-erations. Yet these very governments, in disval been such as materially to change the state regard of duty and treaty obligations, which bind of the country. them to recognize as independent Virginia and other confederate States, persist in countenancing, by moral influence, if not in aiding by unfair and partial action, the claim set up by the executive of a foreign government to exercise despotic sway over the States thus recognized, and treat the invasion of them by their former limited and special agent as though it were the attempt of a sovereign to suppress a rebellion against lawful authority. Ungenerous advantage has been taken of our present condition, and our rights have been violated, our vessels of war detained in ports in which they had been invited by proclamations of neutrality, and in one instance our flag also insulted where the sacred right of asylum was supposed to be secure; while one of these governments has contented itself with simply deprecating, by deferential representations, the conduct of our enemy in the constantly recurring instances of his contemptuous disregard of neutral rights and flagrant violations of public law. It may be that foreign governments, like our enemies, have mistaken our desire of peace, unreservedly expressed, for evidence of exhaustion, and have thence inferred the probability of success in the efforts to subjugate or exterminate the millions of human beings who, in these States, prefer any fate to submission to their savage assailants. The unjust war commenced against us, in violation of the rights of the States, and in usurpation of power not delegated to the government of the United States, is still characterized by the barbarism with which it has heretofore been conducted by the enemy. Aged men, helpless women and children, appeal in vain to the humanity which should be inspired by their condition, for immunity from arrest, incarceration, or banishment from their homes. Plunder and devastation of the property of non-combatants, destruction of private dwellings, and even of edifices devoted to the worship of God, expeditions organized for the sole purpose of sacking cities, consigning them to the flames, killing the unarmed inhabitants, and inflicting horrible outrages on women and children, are some of the constantly recurring atrocities of the invader. It cannot reasonably be pretended that such acts conduce to any end which their authors dare avow before the civilized world, and sooner or later Christendom must mete out to them the condemnation which such brutality deserves. The sufferings thus ruthlessly inflicted upon the people of the invaded districts have served but to illustrate their patriotism. Entire unanimity and zeal for their country's cause have been preeminently conspicuous among those whose sacrifices have been greatest. So the army which has borne the trials and dangers of the war, which has been subjected to privations and disappointments, (tests of manly fortitude far more severe than the brief fatigues and perils of actual combat,) has been the centre of cheerfulness and hope. From the camp comes the voice of the soldier-patriot, invoking each who is at home, in the sphere he best may fill, to devote his whole energies to the support of a cause, in the success of which their confidence has never faltered. They, the veterans of many a hard-fought field, tender to their country, without limit of time, a service of priceless value to us, one which posterity will hold in grateful remembrance. In considering the state of the country, the reflection is naturally suggested that this is the I see no prospect of an early change in the course heretofore pursued by these governments; but when this delusion shall have been dispelled, and when our independence, by the valor and fortitude of our people, shall have been won against all the hostile influences combined against us, and can no longer be ignored by open foes or professed neutrals, this war will have left, with its proud memories, a record of many wrongs, which it may not misbecome us to forgive-some for which we may not properly forbear from demanding redress. In the mean time, it is enough for us to know that every avenue of negotiation is closed against us; that our enemy is making renewed and strenuous efforts for our destruction, and that the sole resource for us, as a people secure in the justice of our cause, and hold ing our liberties to be more precious than all other earthly possessions, is to combine and apply every available element of power for their defence and preservation. vast resources, the circulation, if restricted to its present volume, would be easily manageable, and by gradual absorption in payment of public dues would give place to the precious metals, the only On the subject of the exchange of prisoners, I basis of a currency adapted to commerce with greatly regret to be unable to give you satisfac- foreign countries. In our present circumstances tory information. The Government of the United I know of no mode of providing for the public States, while persisting in failure to execute the wants which would entail sacrifices so great as a terms of the cartel, make occasional deliveries of fresh issue of Treasury notes, and I trust that prisoners, and then suspend action without ap- you will concur in the propriety of absolutely parent cause. I confess my inability to compre- forbidding any increase of those now in circuhend their policy or purpose. The prisoners lation. held by us, in spite of human care, are perishing from the inevitable effects of imprisonment and the home-sickness produced by the hopelessness of release from confinement. The spectacle of their suffering augments our longing desire to relieve from similar trials our own brave men, who have spent so many weary months in a cruel and useless imprisonment, endured with heroic constancy. The delivery, after a suspension of some weeks, has just been resumed by the enemy; but as they give no assurance of intent to carry out the cartel, an interruption of the exchange may recur at any moment. The reports of the departments, herewith submitted, are referred to for full information in relation to the matters appertaining to each. There are two of them on which I deem it necessary to make special remark. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury states facts justifying the conclusion that the law passed at the last session for the purpose of withdrawing from circulation the large excess of Treasury notes heretofore issued, has had the desired effect, and that by the first of July the amount in circulation will have been reduced to a sum not exceeding two hundred and thirty million dollars. It is believed to be of primary importance that no further issue of notes should take place, and that the use of the credit of the government should be restricted to the two other modes provided by Congress, namely, the sale of bonds and the issue of certificates bearing interest, for the price of supplies purchased within our limits. The law, as it now stands, authorizes the issue by the Treasury of new notes to the extent of two thirds of the amount received under its provisions. The estimate of the amount funded under this law is shown to be three hundred million dollars, and if two thirds of this sum be reissued, we shall have an addition of two hundred million dollars to our circulation, believed to already ample for the business of the country. The addition of this large sum to the volume of the currency would be attended by disastrous effects, and would produce the speedy recurrence of the evils from which the funding law has rescued the country. If our arms are crowned with the success which we have so much reason to hope, we may well expect that this war cannot be prolonged beyond the current year, and nothing would so much retard the beneficent influence of peace on all the interests of our country, as the existence of a great mass of currency not redeemable in coin. With our Officers have been appointed and despatched to the trans-Mississippi States, and the necessary measures taken for the execution of the laws, enacted to obviate delays in administering the treasury and other executive departments in those States; but sufficient time has not elapsed to ascertain the results. In relation to the most important of all subjects at the present time-the efficiency of our armies in the field-it is gratifying to assure you that the discipline and instruction of the troops have kept pace with the improvement in material and equipment. We have reason to congratulate ourselves on the results of the legislation on this subject, and on the increased administrative energy in the different bureaux of the War Department, and may not unreasonably indulge anticipations of commensurate success in the ensuing campaign. The organization of reserves is in progress, and it is hoped they will be valuable in affording local protection without requiring details and detachments from active forces. Among the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary of War, your attention is specially invited to those on which legislation is suggested on the following subjects, namely: The tenure of office of the general officers in the provisional army, and a proper discrimination in the compensation of the different grades. The provision required in aid of invalid offi cers who have resigned in consequence of wounds or sickness contracted while in the service. The amendment of the law which deprives officers in the field of the privilege of purchasing rations, and thus adds to their embarrassment, instead of conferring the benefit intended. The organization of the general staff of the army, in relation to which a special message will shortly be addressed to you, containing the reasons which compelled me to withhold my approval of a bill passed by your predecessors at too late a period of the session to allow time for returning it for their reconsideration. The necessity for an increase in the allowance now made for the transportation of officers travelling under orders. The mode of providing officers for the execution of the conscript laws. The means of securing greater despatch and more regular administration of justice in examining and disposing of the records of cases reported from the courts-martial and military courts in the army. The recent events of the war are highly cred- monuments to the skill and fortitude of its defend itable to our troops, exhibiting energy and vigil-ers. The armies in Northern Georgia and in ance combined with the habitual gallantry which | Northern Virginia still oppose, with unshaken they have taught us to expect on all occasions. front, a formidable barrier to the progress of the We have been cheered by important and valu- invader; and our generals, armies, and people are able successes in Florida, Northern Mississippi, animated by cheerful confidence. Western Tennessee and Kentucky, Western Louisiana, and Eastern North-Carolina, reflecting the highest honor on the skill and conduct of our commanders, and on the incomparable soldiers whom it is their privilege to lead. A naval attack on Mobile was so successfully repulsed at the outer works that the attempt was abandoned, and the nine months' siege of Charleston has been practically suspended, leaving that noble city and its fortresses imperishable Let us, then, while resolute in devoting all our energies to securing the realization of the bright auspices which encourage us, not forget that our humble and most grateful thanks are due to Him, without whose guidance and protecting care all human efforts are of no avail, and to whose interposition are due the manifold successes with which we have been cheered. JEFFERSON DAVIS. RICHMOND, May 2, 1864. POETRY AND INCIDENTS. THE STORMING OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. | Then our bay'nets madly plying, the enemy ever flying each for bravest deeds vying, On battlements, in deep ravines-our work in earnest had begun. Behind works of art and strongest Nature-a wall of flame at each embrasure Under the weird finger of the mountain, which reached into the skies, Where the grizzly warrior "graybacks" of the rebel Manny, who, like Ajax, Defied a power above him, and to oppose it hard he tries. Over works, upon their flanks, hand to hand amidst their ranks, The pressing force of Geary forth the foemen drove ; Over bastions, breastworks, fled they from the carnival of death sped they But deadly volleys and "White Stars" a cordon round them wove. Deadly trial of the dastard's flight, with the sweeping whirlwind's might, Toward the Star of Bethlehem, Geary turned the mountain curve; O'er the crimson paths before them, on the vanquished To host they bore them, The daring Second and Third brigades, and the gallant First in reserve. the ambitious eagle's eyrie, were borne the strifetorn flags of Geary, As like angry storm-spirits, his boys fought far above the clouds; Their courage was their ægis as they carved for hist'ry brightest pages; In their path of glory many "blue-coats," more of "gray-coats"-martial shrouds. Grenades, grape, and screaming shell, with noise like strife of fiends in hell, Our victors sent up loud cheers for Union, Geary," "Uncle Joe." Unheeded came from the Titan rocks into this Gheber's bloody glen; Sweep every rebel from it," from base to Lookout summit, Was the fiat of the bold Hooker, and the duty of his men. the "last ditch," torn and shattered, massed the rebel hordes so scattered, |