tol, and immediately left. You readily imagine the scene all transpiring in the room where were a sister, a wife, and two children. The villains next went one and a half miles to the house of David Kilgore, who went with them as a pilot. Thence they went two miles to Henry Martin's, took one gun; thence half a mile to the house of a widow, whose name is Skaggs; there they gathered blankets, quilts, one revolver, one gun, and one horse; thence four miles to Henry Bager's, where they took one gun. One mile further they came up to the house of Captain S. Mason, and attempted to rush in; the door being fastened, they ordered it opened, and cursed the Captain and bade him surrender. The Captain retreated to a dark part of the house with a preparation of eight loaded barrels, including guns and pistols. He caused his children to make a light in the room and open the door, bidding them to "walk in." Barnes ordered his men to charge," but it was no go. They all soon left without getting in range of the light. They continued in a southern direction, without committing other depredations worthy of mention. The negroes that were with them say that the militia could not get together and be ready to pursue them before ten o'clock of the following day, but they were mistaken; the citizens commenced collecting immediately after the shooting of Sanders, and started on the track, volunteers gathering and joining us on the way, until we numbered about thirty. We followed the trail in pursuit until about two P.M., when we came up within sight, upon the "dividing" ridge between the Current and Huzza Rivers, in Iron County.

66

the information of the Commanding General the result of a scout commanded by me in Marion County, Arkansas.

By permission from Captain Flagg, commanding this post, I took command of forty men composed of detachments from companies D, F, G, and H, Second battalion, Fourteenth regiment cavalry Missouri State militia, and on the morning of the ninth instant marched for Lawrence's Mill, a distance of thirty-five miles. I arrived at the mill early in the night, and remained there till noon of the tenth, waiting for forage. During this time I held a consultation with the officers of my command and those of the enrolled militia stationed at the mill, in regard to the direction we should take. It had been my intention to make an expedition into the White River country below Dubuque, where it is said a band of marauders have a considerable number of horses.

These marauders I wished to destroy or drive out, and to capture their horses; but having received information that a rebel captain by the name of Mooney, with seventy-five men, were encamped on Tolbert's Ferry on White River, sixty miles from us, I resolved, with the advice of the other officers, to go and capture them. I received a reenforcement of sixty men from the enrolled militia at the mill, and marched twenty miles in the direction of Tolbert's Ferry. The march was continued on the morning of the eleventh, but instead of keeping the road, I bore to, the eastward and marched through the woods under the guidance of an excellent woodsman, by the name of Willoughby Hall. I arrived within eight miles of the Ferry by dusk, and stopped to feed and rest in the dense forest near an out of the way corn-field. During the time of our stay at this place I sent Lieut. John R. Kelso with eight men to capture some rebel pickets that I supposed would be at the house of a rebel by the name of Brixy. Lieut. Kelso soon returned, having found and captured two rebels with their guns and one horse; from the prisoners I learned that Captain Mooney's men had temporarily disbanded, and were not to assemble again for two days. I felt a little disappointed upon the reception of this intelligence, but I determined to proceed and make a dash upon a band of armed rebels that, I learned, were at the Saltpetre Cave, on the other side of White River, seven miles from Captain Mooney's house. At midnight my little band emerged from the dark woods where we had been resting, and silently wound among the hills in the direction of Captain Mooney's. Lieut. Kelso led the advance, and by the most excellent management succeeded in capturing seven or eight rebels who lived near the road, without giving any alarm to the country around. Just before day we captured a rebel recruiting officer by the name of Mings, formerly a Lieutenant-Colonel. At the break of day we reached Capt. Mooney's residence; we took him with one other man, together with fifteen stand of small arms, most of which we destroyed, not being able to carry them. We also recaptured eight horses which had been SIR: I have the honor of reporting to you for taken from the enrolled militia, stationed at Law

When they saw us, they immediately threw down baggage, consisting of guns, blankets, etc. They soon also left the negroes and horses that they were leading. They scattered into the woods in several directions. . Our company divided also in quick pursuit, firing upon them as they ran. Being upon fresh horses, three of them made their escape with a horse each. Another that was wounded in the shoulder, made his escape into a thicket by leaving his horse. We captured five horses, one holster-pistol, many guns, blankets, saddles, and saddle-bags, and succeeded in killing two of the band, one of whom was in Mr. Brickey's pants that they had taken the night previous. We take no pleasure in putting to death any one in human shape, but know of no other way of ridding our country of midnight assassins that have been our greatest annoyance connected with this inexcusable rebellion, but to hunt them down and kill them.

NATHANIEL B. REEVES,
Captain Company D, Crawford M.E.M.

Doc. 70.

CAPTAIN BIRCH'S EXPEDITION
INTO MARION COUNTY, ARK., Dec. 12.

OZARK, Mo., Dec. 18, 1862.

Major James H. Steger, A. A. General.

pany F, also deserves favorable notice. As to Lieut. Kelso, his reputation as an intrepid soldier and skilful officer is too well known to require any comment at this time.

These, Major, I think, are all the facts worthy of notice. I am, very respectfully, your ob't servMILTON BIRCH, ant, Captain Commanding Expedition.

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 25, 1862. The conduct of the officers and soldiers who conducted and bore the privations of this expedition deserve my special commendation. This report will be entered fully on my "battle-book," and furnished the press for publicity, with this indorsement. S. R. CURTIS,

Doc. 71.

FIGHT AT ZUNI, VA.

Major-General.

rence's Mill. I remained here to feed and to await the arrival of a party that I had sent out with orders to meet me at this point; they soon caine in bringing several prisoners. I then sent Captain Green of the enrolled militia back with the prisoners, seventeen in number, and twentyfive men as an escort. I then divided the rest of my command into two divisions, sending one under command of Captain Salee, accompanied by Lieut. Bates, formerly of the Sixty-fourth Illinois, to march up the river on this side, and to await in concealment till I began the attack with the other division, which was to cross and approach from the other side. It was just noon when we arrived at the cave. The rebels were at their dinner, all unconscious of our approach. When at last they discovered us, they mistook us for a company of their own men, whom they were expecting, and they did not discover their error until we were in half-pistol shot of them. I ordered them to surrender, which they did withSUFFOLK, VA., December 13, 1862. out firing a gun. They numbered twenty-three, ON Thursday noon last, a column under the of whom three were left, being unable to travel. command of Brigadier-General Ferry, left here for Their guns were mostly shot-guns and rifles, the purpose of engaging the attention of the enewhich I ordered to be destroyed. We also cap-my at the Blackwater. The column consisted tured four mules and two wagons; the wagons, of cavalry, artillery, and eight regiments of inhowever, we could not bring away. Also, three fantry. A pontoon-train, made of old canal-boats, horses were taken. I then ordered the saltpetre taken from the canal which runs through the works to be destroyed, which was effectually Dismal Swamp, was also attached to the expedidone. These are gigantic works, having cost the tion. rebel government thirty thousand dollars. Capt. McNamar, who was in command, stated that in three days they could have had six thousand dollars' worth of saltpetre ready for use. These works, though reported as destroyed at the time of the burning of Yellville, had been unmolested since early last spring when they were slightly injured by a detachment from General Curtis's army. The works being destroyed, and learning that a party of Burris's command were hourly expected, I thought better to retire, as I was already encumbered with prisoners. I marched nearly all night through the dark woods, the rain pouring down upon us in torrents. On the next day we advanced as far as Little North Fork, which is not fordable. Here we remained till the morning of the thirteenth, when we crossed and reached Lawrence Mill. On the fifteenth we reached this place, having been absent seven days, travelled two hundred and twenty-five miles, captured forty-two prisoners, destroyed forty stand of small arms, also captured twelve horses and four mules, and destroyed thirty thousand dollars' worth of machinery, etc., and all without any loss whatever on my side.

In conclusion, I must say a word in praise of the brave men under my command. Often without any food except parched corn, and no shelter from the chilling rains, deprived of sleep, and weary from long night-marches, not a murmur was heard; every hardship was borne with cheerfulness, and every danger met with the utmost coolness. The enrolled militia officers, Captains Salec, Green, and Huffman, all did their duty well. Lieut. Bates, of the Sixty-fourth Illinois, showed himself a brave soldier. Lieut. Warren, of com

The column proceeded on the South-Quay road, and halted for supper about six o'clock, having then advanced about ten miles. They next moved on toward the Blackwater, which they expected to reach about two o'clock next morning; but the wagons were laden so heavily with the pontoon-boats that a detention of several hours was caused by their sinking deep into the muddy cypress swamp, through which a portion of the road lay. It was deemed important that the column should reach the Blackwater before daylight, and the pontoon-train would have been left behind to enable it to do so; but the road being exceedingly narrow, with deep ditches on each side, it was found impossible for the cavalry and infantry, which were behind them, to pass, and in some cases a delay of two hours would ensue. Daylight, therefore, revealed the advancing force to the enemy, it not arriving at the Blackwater before six o'clock yesterday morning.

This afterward proved to be of little account, as the rebels must have had timely warning of our approach at least two days previously. The passage of the river had been perfectly free of obstructions, while now piles of timber and chevaux de frise lay in it, and on the opposite side a heavy block-house and a large number of rifle. pits had been constructed to assist in repelling an invading enemy. To add to the difficulty of fording the river, the water, which two days previously had not been more than from two to three feet deep, had now risen to twice that depth, so that the cavalry, instead of walking across, were compelled to swim over to the opposite side in the face of a prepared enemy.

But for these difficulties a plan, first suggested

by Gen. Ferry, and afterward ordered by General Peck, must have succeeded admirably. It was this to mount two or three companies of infantry behind the cavalry, ford the river, dismount the infantry, drive the enemy from the heavy underbrush, and hold him in check until the pontoonbridge was laid across. By this plan a crossing of the Blackwater would have been effected without the aid of artillery, as it was believed the heavy guns would warn the enemy at Wakefield and Franklin, and a much superior force being at both these places, a rapid reënforcement could have been sent by railroad, and the fresh troops being thus precipitated in overwhelming numbers upon our force, would compel them to fall back. This afterward proved correct.

us.

force of the enemy, who had doubtless been attracted by the firing, and had arrived to reenforce their comrades, having, as was supposed, reached the place in the cars from Wakefield.

As the expedition was partially a diversion in favor of other and more important military movements by our forces, and as General Ferry had received orders to be particularly cautious not to bring on an engagement, our men were recalled from the opposite side, and returned with a captain and twelve men whom they had captured. The whole now made preparations to retrace their steps, and at half-past ten o'clock this morning the last of the column passed through Suffolk on their way to the camps.

The rebel captain was wounded so seriously that it was necessary to bring him in an ambulance.

Our loss is three killed and eleven wounded. The enemy's was much greater, the prisoners reporting as many as thirty killed and wounded by our artillery-fire at the crossing.

Before the head of the returning column had reached here, and I believe even before they started homeward, secession reports of a disastrous defeat, of a captured pontoon-train, a bloody repulse while crossing the river, and a hasty retreat, spread like lightning, both last night and this morning; and as our gallant fellows marched through the village they were greeted with jeering smiles from the male secessionists and a more demonstrative evidence of satisfaction from the females. One, an old woman, waved her hands as our soldiers passed her dwelling, and said: "I prayed to God all last night that you might never live to cross the Blackwater, and now my prayers have been answered, for you were driven back when you tried to cross, and you have come back faster than you went." Another, seeing some men who had been manning the battery walking behind the artillery, and supposing that because they had no muskets they had been thrown away to aid them in their flight, cried out, "Where's your guns? The next time you hear them they will be turned against you," etc.

Two companies of the Thirteenth Indiana were now mounted behind the cavalry, and the whole attempted to cross, but were met with such severe volleys of musketry and artillery from the opposite bank, which, added to the unexpected depth of the water, rendered the crossing impossible without serious loss of life. The whole We were compelled to leave and destroy one were therefore recalled. Three pieces of artil-old wagon which stuck so deeply in the mud lery, under the command of Capt. Howard, were that it was found impossible to extricate it. now ordered up, and choosing a favorable posi- The contents were taken out before setting it on tion for the guns, a heavy fire of shell and canis- fire. ter was opened upon the rebels, which soon drove them from the bank, and, the firing still continuing, they retreated and fell back out of range to the thick woods and undergrowth beyond. While the firing was going on, our pickets opposite Zuni, about a mile and a half up the river, reported that the enemy were attempting to cross at the railroad bridge, and that the Union pickets had been fired upon by both infantry and artillery, who were assembling at that point in large numbers, evidently with the intention of outflanking General Ferry at once ordered his AdjutantGeneral, Capt. Ives, with a regiment of infantry and a section of artillery, to this point for the purpose of dispersing them. Arriving there, Captain Ives found the enemy in plain sight, not more than an eighth of a mile distant, their battery in full view, and the infantry showing themselves on the outside of the works with apparent impunity. The section under the command of Lieutenant Beecher, of the Fourth United States artillery, now commenced a galling fire, under the cover of which a company of the Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania deployed as skirmishers to the banks of the river for the purpose of picking off the enemy's artillery-men on the opposite side. Three shots silenced the rebel battery, and a dozen more destroyed the fortifications and Killed — Lieut. John Robinson, Sixth Massadrove the enemy away, they taking with them achusetts; Lieut. Barr, company I, Sixth Massalarge gun which had been mounted on a truck chusetts; one of the Eleventh Pennsylvania cavand run from place to place upon the railroad alry. track, and which they fired very rapidly, doing, however, but little execution. The party under Captain Ives now returned to the main body, where the firing had been going on for three or four hours, driving the enemy back so effectually that three companies of the Thirteenth Indiana crossed the Blackwater in the pontoon-boats. Col onel Dodge also crossed over in the face of a large

The following is a list of our loss as far as I could collect it up to the time for the train to leave for Norfolk:

Wounded-A sergeant of the Mounted Rifles; private McFarland, Thirteenth Indiana, leg shot off, mortally; private Hinton, company F, Thir teenth Indiana; private Brady, company C, Fiftyeighth Pennsylvania, in the leg, by a shell; private Cox, company C, Fifty-eighth Pennsyvania, in the leg, by a shell.

-N. Y. Herald.

I bivouacked for the night, and had the obstructions removed during the night by the pioneers. I pushed on the next morning at daylight. My cavalry advance encountered the enemy when about four miles from the bivouac of the previous night, and after a sharp but brief skirmish, the enemy were routed with some loss.

On arriving at the Vine Swamp road, I ordered Captain Hall, with three companies of cavalry, to push on up the main Kinston road as a demonstration, while the main column proceeded by the Vine Swamp road to the left, thereby avoiding the obstructions and the enemy on the main road. Capt. Hall encountered the enemy in some force; but, after a severe fight, whipped them, taking eighteen prisoners, and killing a number. The march of the main column was somewhat delayed by the bridge over Beaver Creek being destroyed. This was rebuilt, and I pushed on, leaving a regiment (Fifty-first Massachusetts) and a section of artillery (Twenty-third New-York) at the bridge to hold it, and to protect the intersection of the main road and the road I was on, to support Capt. Hall, and to prevent any force driving him back and occupying the cross-roads in our rear.

The main column pushed on about four miles, and bivouacked for the night. There was some cavalry skirmishing during the day.

On Saturday the thirteenth, we again started, leaving the second main road (the one I was on) to the right, and leaving at this intersection the Forty-sixth Massachusetts and one section of artillery (the Twenty fourth New York) to hold the position and feint on the second main road.

enemy, but drove him, and camped for the night. From the south side of the creek I sent a company of cavalry to strike, and proceed up the Kinston road No. 2. I was on No. 3. The company proceeded up the road toward Kinston, and found the enemy posted by a bridge, which was prepared to be destroyed. The company charged them, and they retired with some loss, destroying the bridge. The enemy's force at this place was estimated at one regiment and four pieces of artillery. Major Garrard, with three companies of cavalry and one section of artillery, proceeded on a reconnoissance on a road leading to Whitehall. After following this road about ten miles, and having met with no opposition, they rejoined the main column.

Sunday, the fourteenth instant, I advanced the column, and when about one mile from Kinston encountered the enemy in strong force. They were posted in strong position in the woods, taking advantage of the ground, which formed a natural breastwork; their position was secured on their right by a deep swamp, and their left was partially protected by the river.

setts were ordered forward, the two former on the left of the road and the latter on the right, to support the regiments there in pushing the enemy and turning that flank.

The Ninth New-Jersey were deployed as skir mishers, and Gen. Wessells's brigade, with Morrison's battery, Third New-York artillery, were ordered to advance to the right and left of the road, the battery being sent to our extreme right, supported by one of General Wessells's regiments. Colonel Amory's brigade was then advanced, the Seventeenth Massachusetts being sent to support Colonel Heckman on the right, and two regiments (Twenty-third and Forty-fifth Massachusetts) adWe reached South-west Creek, the bridge over vanced up the road. My artillery (three batterwhich was destroyed, and the enemy posted on ies) I posted in a large field on the right of the the opposite bank, some four hundred strong, with road, and about three fourths of a mile in rear of three pieces of artillery. The creek was not ford- line of attack, (the only position they could be able, and ran at the foot of a deep ravine, making placed in.) I then ordered Colonel Stevenson's a very bad position for us. I ordered a battery brigade, with Belger's Rhode Island battery, forin as good a position as could be obtained, and ward. The Twenty-fourth Massachusetts supunder their fire the Ninth New-Jersey, which had ported this battery, and the Fifth Rhode Island, the advance, pushed gallantly across the creek-Tenth Connecticut, and Forty-fourth Massachuby swimming, by fragments of the bridge and by a mill-dam-and formed on the opposite bank; at the same time the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania, of Gen. Wessells's brigade, forced a passage, by the felling of trees and fording, about half a mile below the bridge, and engaged the enemy's left, who thereupon retired and deserted his breastworks. I had ordered the Twenty-third Massachusetts, of Col. Amory's brigade, to cross at the mill to support the Ninth New-Jersey, and also crossed the remainder of Gen. Wessells's brigade. Col. Heckman, with the Ninth New-Jersey, advanced, and was fired upon when about one mile from the creek with canister and musketry. The regiment charged at double-quick, drove the enemy, took some prisoners, and captured a six-pounder gun, caisson, etc., complete. Gen. Wesselis bivouacked on the further side of the creek, with the Ninth in advance. The balance of the command, with the artillery, remained on this side of the creek. The Ninth New-Jersey; company K, Third New- The Ninth New-Jersey, Seventeenth Massachu York cavalry, and Morrison's battery, Third New-setts, and Gen. Wessells's brigade were at once York artillery, had quite a skirmish with the crossed, pushed into the town and halted. I or

The Tenth Connecticut advanced steadily to the extreme front, relieving two of Wessells's brigade who were short of ammunition, and, after re ceiving a horrible fire for some twenty minutes, made a most gallant charge, in conjunction with the Ninety-sixth New-York volunteers, of General Wessells's brigade, which, with the advance already made (slowly but surely) of the whole line, forced the enemy to retreat precipitately for the bridge over the Neuse, which they crossed, firing the bridge, which had been prepared for that pur pose. Several regiments were so close, however, that about four hundred prisoners were taken from the enemy. A line was formed to the river, and the fire extinguished before great damage was done.