off. I think the Cotten is casemated, as our shell glanced off. She was on fire once. We could plainly see our shot strike her, but she fights bows on. Doc. 28. BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, TENN. REPORT OF GENERAL NEGLEY. HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES, CAMP NASHVILLE, TENN., November 5, 1862. ( SIR: This morning at two o'clock Forrest's rebel cavalry, numbering about three thousand, with artillery, made an attack on our picket-line on the south, between the Franklin and Lebanon pikes. The picket-line on the Murfreesboro road gradually withdrew, with the purpose of bringing the enemy under the guns of Fort Negley, two of which were opened upon the enemy, and speedily drove him beyond the range: Almost simultaneously with the attack on the south, John Morgan's forces, twenty-five hundred strong, with a piece of artillery, made a dash on Col. Smith's command on the north side of the river, with the evident intention of destroying the railroad and pontoon-bridges. After a sharp contest, in which several companies of Illinois troops behaved with great gallantry, Morgan was repulsed, leaving a stand of regimental colors in our hands, five killed, and nineteen wounded. He then burnt an old railroad building in Edgefield, and retreated to Gallatin. Finding the enemy on the south taking a position beyond our picket-lines, Col. Roberts, with two regiments of infantry and one section of artillery, was ordered to advance on the Murfreesboro road, while I took the Sixty-ninth Ohio infantry, with parts of the Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania, Fourteenth Michigan, Colonel Stokes's and Wynkoop's cavalry, and two sections of artillery, numbering in all about one thousand four hundred, and pursued that portion of the enemy on the Franklin pike. They were speedily driven from every position by our artillery, until we reached a distance of seven miles from the city. Col. Stokes's cavalry was here ordered to charge upon the enemy's rear, and then retreat with the view of bringing him to a stand. But the main body of the enemy, with their artillery, had suddenly turned into a lane to the left; while our cavalry, in the excitement of the chase, pursued a small portion of the enemy within five miles of Franklin, capturing some prisoners, killing several, and taking a drove of cattle. Previous to the return of Stokes's cavalry the enemy appeared in considerable force upon our left, in front, and rear, with the evident intention of cutting off the cavalry and our retreat. The infantry and artillery were immediately moved forward a mile to the support of our cavalry, which was ordered to rejoin the column immediately. Upon receiving intelligence from my videttes that the enemy were in force a mile to our rear, masking a battery close to the road, the head of our column was immediately faced to the rear and hastened forward to the position occupied by the enemy, fortunately getting our artillery into position and action, forcing the enemy to retire, which he did in great confusion and with considerable loss; after which he succeeded in getting his artillery into position, and a brisk firing ensued for about half an hour, during which time our forces had to be frequently shifted to avoid their range. Ascertaining that the enemy greatly outnumbered our forces, and were aiming to make a charge on both our flanks, the troops were slowly retired upon favorable grounds toward the city; at the same time the cavalry were so disposed as to divert the coming charge of the enemy on our rear, and lead them upon the Fourteenth Michigan infantry. The object succeeded admirably, an entire regiment of cavalry making the charge, receiving a fire so destructive as to drive them back in great disorder. The enemy then planted several guns on the turnpike, which were driven off before they could load their pieces. Our forces were retired in good order toward the city, the enemy making one more attempt to get in our rear nearer the city, but were immediately driven off by a regiment of infantry and a section of artillery which had been ordered forward as a reserve. The concerted plans of the enemy, who had Hanson's brigade of four Kentucky regiments and two Tennessee regiments of infantry and five batteries of artillery, were defeated, and our troops enabled to give additional proof of their efficiency and valor. As we did not reoccupy the field of action, the enemy's total loss is unknown, but is represented by prisoners to have been large. Twenty-three prisoners were captured, including two captains of Morgan's artillery. Our casualties of the day were —— killed, twenty-six wounded, and nineteen missing. I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. S. NEGLEY, Brigadier-General Commanding. To Lieut.-Col. DUCAT, Chief of Staff, PHILADELPHIA "PRESS" ACCOUNT. NASHVILLE, TENN., Nov. 6, 1862. The rebels have at last made a demonstration upon this city. For the past three or four days the secessionists here have been exceedingly hilarious, and some of the more bold of that class have made bets that Nashville would fall before the arrival of Rosecrans. I heard a man say, on Sunday night last, that the immense railroad bridge which spans the Cumberland would suffer the same fate that the same structure did in February, before another Sabbath came around. We are so used to rebel bombast, however, that as far as I am concerned no serious attention was paid to the stereotyped rumors. But, notwithstanding, a bona-fide attack was made upon us yesterday morning. About two o'clock A.M., our pickets were driven in upon the Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Nolinsville pikes, and more or less skirmishing ensued, until our men arrived under cover of our forts. Hardly had they effected their escape, when the enemy brought out two twelve-pounders upon the Murfreesboro pike, in full view of our gunners upon St. Cloud Hill, and commenced firing away, the first shot striking at a distance of a quarter of a mile from the base of the elevation. At the same time, two guns, which were not visible, opened upon us from the Franklin pike. The guns upon the Murfreesboro road, after the first two shots, directed their fire toward General Palmer's camp, occasionally kicking up quite a dust within musket-shot of the General's headquarters. Finding that they could accomplish nothing in that location, and fearing to advance closer, the rebels directed their fire toward Mr. John Trimble's residence; and, after several shots, succeeded in unroofing the smoke-house upon his grounds, and producing quite a commotion among his stock and negroes. being taken to the woods. The guns were then turned in the direction of the Franklin pike, and quite a brisk cannonading took place between the rebels at that and the guns of Fort Negley. By this time General Palmer advanced about a mile upon the Murfreesboro pike, with two regiments of infantry and two pieces of artillery, and after forming his column into line of battle, commenced shelling the woods upon both sides of the road, and advanced slowly up the pike, marching a regiment upon each side of the road, Col. Wood taking the left and advance. This was the last I saw of the doings in that direction, as General Negley ordered three regiments of infantry the Sixty-ninth Ohio, Colonel Cassilly; Fourteenth Michigan, Col. Wood, and the Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania, Col. Sirwell - Stokes's cavalry, Seventh Pennsylvania cavalry, Colonel Wynkoop, and portions of two batteries of artillery, under Capts. Houghtaling and Marshall, the General taking command in person. The whole force moved with alacrity upon the pike toward Franklin; the batteries shelling the woods upon both sides of the line of march, Col. Wynkoop's battalion acting as skirmishers. After proceeding about two miles the General ordered two pieces of artillery to be placed upon a hill of fine command, and masked. As no enemy was seen, they were subsequently removed, and shortly afterward arrived with the column. About five miles from the city is the residence of Mr. John Overton, a wealthy rebel, who, in a speech delivered in this city a year ago last June, said he was worth five millions of dollars, all of which should be sacrificed in the establishment of a Southern Confederacy. As the column approached the house of this rebel a large body of the enemy's cavalry were seen resting upon a hill a short distance off, who were charged by Stokes's cavalry. Col. Stokes was absent about an hour, during which time the main body moved slowly and rested at intervals, making a final halt about eight miles from the city, when they were soon joined by Stokes, who had captured eleven prisoners and ninety head of cattle. Simultaneously with these demonstrations of the rebels upon the pike leading from SouthNashville, Morgan, at the head of about two thousand five hundred cavalry, came dashing down the Gallatin pike, and through Edgefield, capturing all of our pickets across the river, consisting of companies D, F, and G of the Fifty-first Illinois regiment, and sending them to the rear. It was the intention of Morgan, no doubt, to destroy the railroad bridge, at least, thinking that our attention was wholly absorbed by the events which were transpiring in South-Nashville. But, before the rebels arrived within gunshot, Colonel Smith's regiment, which is encamped in Edgefield, was in line of battle, most of his men having but little clothing on. Morgan, however, persisted in his attempt to obtain possession of the bridge. Seeing this, Col. Smith ordered his men to fire, an act which was quickly returned by the rebels, a portion of whom dismounted, and assisted in placing a howitzer in position, which had just arrived. At this juncture, Colonel Wood, with his regiment, arrived, and formed in line of battle, and Lieut. Beech, who has charge of the guns near the bridge upon this side of the river, brought his pieces to bear upon Morgan, who, perceiving it, beat a retreat, leaving six killed and nineteen We had proceeded but a short distance when wounded. Our loss was one killed and eleven an orderly dashed among the General's staff-offiwounded-two severely. Lieut. Frazer, of com-cers, informing Negley that a large force of the pany F, Fifty-first Illinois, lost his right arm. enemy were about a mile distant, on our right Morgan destroyed an old building near the Edge- and front, resting in a ravine. field dépôt, and several broken-down cars which were standing upon the track, as an evidence, I suppose, that he had been around. During all this time, the rebels upon the Southern pikes were still firing at our forts, but as yet had been unanswered. Gen. Negley hoping that the artillery, with adequate support, might be induced to advance. After a reasonable time, however, he gave Capt. White orders to discharge a few shells in that direction from his thirty-twopounders, and almost immediately three of the Rodman guns opened, and at the fourth fire dismounted one of the enemy's pieces, the other Gen. Negley immediately gave orders to return, Stokes's cavalry taking the right, and Col. Cassilly the rear. The whole body moved at double-quick,,and in a moment the entire fence upon the right, for a quarter of a mile, came down with a crash, by the Fourteenth Michigan. Marshall's battery got a position first, but as the view was obstructed by a dense clump of trees, it was limbered up and moved to a better location. In the mean time Col. Sirwell skirmished to the right, and received a volley from the enemy, but not until Houghtaling's battery had thrown four shells, the first piece being discharged exactly seven minutes after the General received the news of the rebel situation. But a few moments elapsed before the Wiard guns, which did such good service at Shiloh, under Captain Marshall, got to work, and both batteries threw at least forty shells before the enemy made any artillery demonstration; but when they got at it they worked lively, throwing solid shot, which fell fast among our men, causing many a head to dodge as they went whirling, whizzing, cracking, and humming through the air. They threw solid shot mostly, their design being to dismount our guns, knowing that our defences in the city would be injured by the loss of even one gun. The cannonading was very brisk for about an hour. At the expiration of that time the rebels threw a few shells, one of which burst over a tree in front of where the General and his staff were standing, fragments of which dropped among the party, one piece tearing a hole in the General's pants, and another piece actually taking off a shoulder-strap from the coat of one of his staff officers. During the firing Col. Wynkoop's men acted as skirmishers upon the left, their experience all Over the State making them proficient in that critical duty. wounded, none missing, and took upwards of a hundred prisoners, among whom seven officers. B. C. T. Doc. 29. FIGHT AT BARBEES CROSS ROADS, VA. A CORRESPONDENT writing from the Barbees Cross-Roads, near Chester Gap, under date of November fifth, says: At Linden Stuart was joined by three thousand fresh cavalry, which came through from Edgeville, and by Hampton's brigade, which fell back after engaging Averill. This morning Gen. Pleasanton led the advance again, Averill following in the rear. He pushed on from Piedmont, passed Markham, and on here to Barbees Cross-Roads, near Chester Gap, where he had a very exciting skirmish with the enemy. Stuart's command bivouacked in this vicinity last night, and from the preparations visible in the fields as, for instance, the fact of fences Col. Stokes's whole force occupied a position having been carefully pulled down, and from the across a field, about a sixth of a mile in the rear statements of some of the residents-it is evident of our batteries; Colonel Sirwell's regiment skir- that this place was selected by him for a fight tomished upon the right, while the Sixty-ninth day. Stuart and Hampton both slept last night Ohio supported Capt. Marshall's guns, and the in the house in which Pleasanton has his headFourteenth Michigan the battery of Capt. Hough-quarters this evening. Stuart had made his artaling. Although the enemy's shots were rather rangements and awaited our advance. The posidistasteful, as far as I saw, every body behaved well. I saw General Negley, and conversed with him several times during the fight, and he expressed his delight and satisfaction at the behavior of his troops, speaking very highly of the captains of the two batteries, upon the manner in which they changed positions. The veteran Colonel Wynkoop has got used to the roaring of gunpowder, and exhibited the coolness which is his second nature. I saw a ball strike about five yards in front of him, ricochet, and pass over his head, leaving dust on his cap. Col. Cassilly, of the Sixty-ninth Ohio, and his adjutant, (Boynton,) formerly an actor attached to the Boston theatre, behaved excellently. At least a dozen balls struck in front of Stokes's cavalry, some bounding over them, and others rolling under the legs of their horses, but no man left his position or exhibited perceptible uneasiness. The movements of the enemy and the progress of the battle showed conclusively that the rebels were in large force, and had at least twice the number of guns we had. The general shifted his position, after an hour's fighting, every five minutes, fighting his way till under cover of our fortifications, when the enemy retired. All of our first half-dozen shells exploded in the midst of the enemy, and their loss must have been at least two hundred killed and wounded. Our prisoners say twenty-five or thirty were killed and wounded at our first fire, which took them unawares. We lost three killed, eleven VOL. VI.-Doc. 12 tion is a magnificent one for a fight. The Blue Ridge, varied at this point with peaks and notches and the rich autumnal foliage, runs along close to the right. Approaching the position, a little hollow intervenes between the base of the mountain and a smooth cleared hill which rises from the right, and forms part of the high ground, interspersed with fields and woods that stretch away on the left towards Warrenton, while in front a small belt of wood is seen, and the hill slopes down into a basin, with the bottom of rolling land, where the road leading to Chester Gap runs off to the right. It was on this cleared hill the rebel guns were planted. As our cavalry came in sight the enemy opened on them. General Pleasanton, at the head of the column, speedily made his dispositions for the fight. Colonel Gregg, with the Eighth Pennsylvania, and the Sixth regulars, Captain Sanders commanding, were sent away to the left. Colonel Davis, of the Eighth New-York, went to the right, and Colonel Farnsworth, with the Third Illinois, and the Third Indiana, Major Chapman commanding, operated on the centre. Pennington's battery was placed in position by sections, and, after the rebel guns had been driven from the hill, Lieut. Pennington himself commanded the section in a field to the right, Lieut. Chapin the one on the hill, in the centre, and Lieutenant Hamilton that on the high ground to the left. This was the position of the brigade when one of the most magnificent cavalry engagements of the whole war took place. Mounted and dismounted men were deployed in front as skir mishers on the right, left, and centre. General awaited the assault for a moment. At the same Pleasanton, with his aids, and a number of other instant the dismounted men from behind the wall, officers, including Captain Custer, of McClellan's and the rallied skirmishers on the left, opened staff, were on the hill, close by Lieut. Chapin's fire as the. North-Carolinians came near. Then section. At that moment columns of rebel caval- Colonel Davis, with his two squadrons, dashed ry came sweeping down the roads to the right at them. Sabres glistened, carbines cracked, our and left, and formed in the fields, while other men rent the air with cheers. The rebel regiforces were already formed, hidden from our view ment, in a solid body still, but more scattered behind a number of knolls. "General, they are than at first, wheeled about and fled away as fast making preparations to charge upon us." "Very as their horses could carry them, and screaming well," he said, "let them come on; we are pre- like a troop of wild Indians, Colonel Davis, with pared to meet them on any ground they choose." his squadrons, chasing them, and shouting and The interest of every one was instantly awakened cheering as they went. It was the most exciting to the highest point, and the blood coursed quick-scene that has been witnessed since the com ly through all our veins. mencement of the war. From the hill in the A rebel regiment was soon seen rising from a centre we distinctly saw the movements of every hollow. Up it rose, and in a moment appeared man. Several horses and men were soon seen in full view to the right, on the knoll behind falling on the field, the rebels still flying off and which it had been concealed; instantly, as if in our men still closely pursuing them. "Away obedience to the flourish of a magician's wand, they go. They're off. They're off. Now give thousands of swords and sabres flashed in the it to them again, boys, as they go," and the artilsunlight as they were unsheathed. "Ah! oh!lery poured a fresh fire into them as they fled. there they are at close artillery range-now give it to them, boys!" and officers dashed about the hill, flourishing their swords and cheering to the utmost limits of their voices. General Pleasanton himself, who naturally displays an enthusiastic temperament when it is aroused, flourished his sword and inspired increased enthusiasm in every one around. "Ah! there they are, the rascals; now give it to them with your guns.' The artillerists appreciated the inspiring scene, pointed their pieces at the rebel regiment, and out flew case-shot and shell. The fire of the six pieces was concentrated on them, while at the same time the rebel artillery, at short-range, was pouring shot and shell at us, and deadly missiles of different descriptions were flying and falling in all directions about the hill. Under our artillery-fire the North-Carolinians halted in the field, and paused a moment to form the regiment in solid column previous to the grand assault. Colonel Davis had taken his regiment on the right, and placing two squadrons in a hollow, concealed from sight, had dismounted one squadron and placed the men behind a stone wall, where there was a small detachment of the Sixth regulars, which had worked round from left to right, while he deployed the other squadron as skirmishers near a piece of woods. Captain Houston led the charge of the NorthCarolina regiment. It appears from his own statement, for he is our prisoner, that he obeyed his orders, but charged against his judgment. But when he halted to form his regiment, seeing the squadron deployed, he shouted, "Only one squadron," and then gave the command to charge. With a fearful yell the rebels in a solid column, with sabres flourishing, and pistols and carbines cocked, dashed at the squadron of Col. Davis's regiment, expecting its speedy annihilation. The squadron rallied in a moment. Colonel Davis, who was watching the operations of the rebels from the knoll, behind which his two squadrons were formed, dashed into the hollow, and, bringing them around to the right, first Colonel Davis pursued them across the field, until he came within sight of another rebel regiment which had been ordered to support them, when, his command being so small, he prudently gave up the chase and retired to his original position. He re-formed his squadron behind the belt of woods, and the Third Indiana was immediately sent down to his support, in case the other rebel regiment should dash out, as was for a time anticipated. He took sixteen prisoners, including the leader of the charge. A large number of the enemy were killed and wounded, most of whom are in our hands. Our loss in the charge was about half a dozen wounded; one has since died from the effects of a fearful sabre-cut in the head. Colonel Davis had his own horse shot. While this brilliant cavalry encounter was taking place on the right, Colonel Gregg, with the Eighth Pennsylvania, and Captain Sanders, with the Sixth regulars, were briskly engaged with the enemy on the left, and Colonel Farnsworth, with the Eighth Illinois, charged down the Warrenton road on a body of rebel cavalry beyond; but when he had proceeded a few hundred yards his command was brought to a halt by the road being barricaded. The rebels stationed behind opened fire, and a skirmish ensued, during which a few of his men were wounded. The Third Indiana then went down the road to the right, under a sharp artillery-fire, while Colonel Davis worked around on the other side of the belt of woods. A rebel force, drawn up at the base of a pictur esque elevation, called Oventop Mountain, then moved off, and after a little more slight skirmishing the enemy fled in hot haste toward Chester Gap, in the mountain. Among the prisoners taken by Colonel Gregg on the left was Lieut. Taliaferro, Adjutant of the Ninth Virginia regiment, a personal friend of the Colonel, and several other officers. He was severely wounded in both legs, one of which has been amputated. Immediately after these brilliant encounters, General Pleasanton pushed a body of cavalry down to Sandy Hook near the mouth of the gap, and ascertained that Stuart passed down to either Flint Hill or Warrenton. Four guns, supported by infantry, were found in position in the gap. It was also ascertained that Longstreet, with his corps, passed Flint Hill on Thursday last on his way to Culpeper, and that one of the Hills, with his command, was to have passed to-day from Front Royal. Doc. 30. GENERAL MCCLELLAN'S FAREWELL. THE following farewell address was read to the forces composing the army of the Potomac : HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Poto mac: favorable. At Fredericksburgh I found the river too high to ford at the regular fording-places, and not wishing to expose my men by crossing them in small detachments in a ferry-boat, I sent your scout, to find some place where we could cross, which he soon discovered above the bridge among the rocks, to all appearances impassable, but at which place we managed to cross-one man at a time. My intention was to send the first Indiana cavalry through the town, while the Sixth Ohio would guard the crossing-place and secure the retreat. After crossing with the Indiana cavalry, under Capt. Sharra, I could plainly see the rebels gathering together in great haste to meet us, and not wishing to give them time to collect, started after them before the Sixth Ohio were over, leaving directions for them, and supposing that they would be over by the time I would fall back, if necessary. We found the city full of soldiers, who were almost entirely surAn order of the President devolves upon Major-prised, and made many prisoners, whom we sent General Burnside the command of this army. In to the ford, where I supposed the Sixth Ohio to be. parting from you I cannot express the love and It being nearly a mile from Falmouth through gratitude I bear you. As an army you have Fredericksburgh, and not wishing to run my grown up under my care. In you I have never horses so far, I sent Lieut. Carr, with a detachfound doubt or coldness. The battles you have ment ahead, to dash through the town and see Lieut. Carr fought under my command will proudly live in our where the enemy were concentrated. nation's history. The glory you have achieved, gallantly drove several detachments before him our mutual perils and fatigues, the graves of our until they reached the main body. Having now comrades fallen in battle and by disease, the found where the enemy were posted, I ordered broken forms of those whom wounds and sick- Capt. Sharra to drive them away, which he did ness have disabled-the strongest associations in the most effectual and gallant manner, chargwhich can exist among men-unite us still by an ing a much larger force, and driving them wherindissoluble tie. We shall ever be comrades in ever they stood. The fighting was of the most supporting the constitution of our country and desperate nature, our men using their sabres, and the nationality of its people. the enemy in several instances clubbing our men with their carbines. While the fight was going on, it was reported to me that the enemy had possession of the ford, the Sixth Ohio not having crossed to hold it. On hearing this, I ordered our men to fall back, and after a few moments' consultation with Capt. Sharra, decided to force a passage, but upon reaching the ford I found they had also left, not wishing to stand another charge. After seeing the command all over and on the road home, I started with twelve men for Acquia Creek to examine the railroad to that point, which we found in tolerable condition, exGENERAL: Agreeably to your orders, I started cepting the bridge over the Potomac and Occahe from Gainesville on the morning of the eighth Creeks, which we burned. At Occahe Creek we instant, to Fredericksburgh, to ascertain the force captured the enemy's pickets of four men, our of the enemy at that place, and then to examine surprise having been so effectually accomplished the Acquia Creek and Fredericksburgh Railroad that not one of the pickets was aware of our enon the return. I left Gainesville with sixty men tering Fredericksburgh. The enemy's loss was of the First Indiana cavalry-Gen. Sigel's body-considerable; but it is impossible to state the guard-and went to Bristow Station to obtain exact number. I know of three being killed, sevan additional force of one hundred men from the eral wounded, and thirty-nine prisoners. Our Sixth Ohio cavalry; but, finding they had moved loss, one killed and four missing. We also capto Catlett's Station, I went to that point, where tured two wagon-loads of gray cloth about to be we found them. After a slight delay in prepar- sent South. The enemy's forces consisted of five ing, we moved and travelled all night, stopping companies of the Fifteenth Virginia, and three once, an hour or so, to feed and water our horses. companies of the Ninth Virginia. We arrived at Fredericksburgh at half-past seven AM. Although our object was to be there before daylight, it was impossible to do so, the distance being too great, and the roads and weather un GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Doc. 31. DAHLGREN'S RECONNOISSANCE Major-General F. Sigel, commanding Eleventh I have the honor to be, with great respect, General, your most obedient servant, ULRIC DAHLGREN, |