Doc. 17.

rapidity, and then with enthusiasm went at the work in hand. The river was crossed, skirmish

THE FIGHT AT CROSS HOLLOWS, ARK.* ers thrown out, and at one time his entire party,

MISSOURI "DEMOCRAT" NARRATIVE.

CROSS HOLLOWS, ARK., October 29.

I TAKE this, the earliest opportunity, of sending you intelligence and further detail relative to another victory which has been gained in Northwestern Arkansas. Telegraphic despatches regarding the fight doubtless have already reached you and been presented to your readers.

The facts of the case are these: The army of the frontier had been vainly pursuing the main body of the rebels for several weeks without hope of bringing on a collision, until news came that a considerable force had collected near Fayetteville. On Monday, Gen. Totten's entire division started from Osage Spring, a point five or six miles west of Cross Hollows, and equidistant with the latter to Fayetteville. His force moved at three o'clock in the afternoon, some six or seven thousand strong, going directly toward Fayetteville, which

was seventeen miles distant.

In the evening Gen. Herron received directions to take a body of cavalry and approach the enemy from the south-east and overwhelm them. He took nine hundred men, consisting of a portion of the First Iowa cavalry, the Seventh Missouri State militia, and the first battalion of the First Missouri cavalry, a portion of which formed his body-guard, and set out at eleven o'clock on Monday night, eight hours after the other division had taken its departure. He went south some six miles upon the direct road to Fayetteville, and then, turning to the left or east, made a wide detour through a blind, unfrequented path without a guide and under the cover of a night of tartarean darkness. This little party crossed the White River several times, and forced their way through tangled thickets, and by three or half-past three o'clock in the morning had made twenty-five miles and encountered the first pickets of the enemy. These were followed in with difficulty, the road apparently becoming more obscure.

with the exception of less than one hundred men, were engaged in the fight. No less than an hour and a half was consumed in crossing the river, the rebels having the advantage in long-range Minié muskets, while our boys had only their revolving pistols and rifles and a few carbines.

After a severe contest, their advance was pushed across the river, and then they made a new line of battle, running through their camp, when they made a bold stand, and held our forces for another hour and a half. Finally, signs of yielding were detected, and then our boys charged upon them with a wild shout that sent terror to the hearts of the rebels, and added wings to their flying feet. In a moment their camp was deserted, and our gallant boys were in possession. There were many wooden barracks there, the place having been used last season, as winter quarters. These were burned to the ground, and all their cooking utensils, and a large amount of other camp equipage, were destroyed. A portion of their train was captured, and the entire rebel force, consisting of six regiments, were driven four miles into the Boston Mountains. A few prisoners were taken, not exceeding a dozen in number, and fifteen dead bodies were picked up on the field. The road by which the rebels retreated was thickly spattered with blood, showing that they took away many wounded, and upon several occasions they were seen taking We did away dead bodies upon their horses. not lose a man, and only five were wounded, which, of itself, is a remarkable piece of good

fortune.

This brilliant affair occurred twelve miles south

of Fayetteville, on the Ozark road. Intelligence
was brought that a large rebel force was between
the scene of conflict and Fayetteville. General
Herron, not relishing the idea of being entirely
surrounded by a largely superior force, fell back
toward Fayetteville, after resting for an hour
Whatever rebel force
upon the well-won field.
there was upon this road disappeared over the
band came upon the advance of Gen. Totten's di
mountains, and within an hour the gallant little
vision. Last night, at nine o'clock, the General
returned to this place, having travelled fifty-four
miles in less than twenty-three hours, whipped a
force of rebels four times as large as his, taking
them completely by surprise in a hostile country,
the loss of a single life.
and bringing his whole force safely home without

Just as the dawn was breaking they came upon a heavier picket, consisting, apparently, of one hundred and fifty men. A portion of the State militia was dismounted, and this party driven across the White River, which there intervened between Gen. Herron's forces and the rebel camp. It appeared, from a straggler and a boy that had been caught, that Col. Craven was at this camp with four thousand Texan Rangers and two pieces of artillery. This would have been discouraging to some men, but Gen. Herron had not marched his men all the way down there, through bramble and brake, for the purpose of marching them Quite a brilliant affair in the way of a night back again. Although he had expected to mere- raid took place in this vicinity yesterday, and ly assist a larger force in subduing the enemy, is perhaps well worth a passing mention. The he found himself with a new and very serious battle on his hands. Taking a hasty survey of the position, he disposed his willing forces with

*This battle is also known as the battle of Fayetteville.

ANOTHER NATIONAL ACCOUNT.
CROSS HOLLOWS, ARK., October 29, 1862

different divisions of the army of the frontier have been gallivanting about the country seeking for a muss with the rebels with very poor success for some weeks. Like the Irishman's flea, every time we thought we had them at any particular

With a

place, they were not there. We are in a hostile of Col. Craven. The case looked desperate, but country, where every living thing appears to act Gen. Herron is every inch a soldier, and a coolthe spy against us, apprising the secesh of our headed fighting man. He had made a weary approach whenever we make an important move-night-march, and he was determined not to go ment toward them. Intelligence came a few days back without giving the enemy a tussle. ago that a considerable body of the enemy had congregated in the vicinity of Fayetteville, and would there give us fight. General Totten was ordered to move his division immediately upon the latter place. He responded to this order by starting at three o'clock P.M. Gen. Herron was encamped with his division at Cross Hollows, and General Totten's camp was at Osage Springs, six miles west of the former camp, and equidistant with it from Fayetteville. On the evening of the same day (twenty-seventh instant) Gen. Herron received orders to take a portion of the cavalry belonging to his command, and to approach the enemy from the south-east simultaneously if possible with Totten, who would move on them from the north-west. Fayetteville is seventeen miles nearly south of the starting-point of both of these parties, so that while Totten approached them directly and by the shortest route, Gen. Herron, who started eight hours afterward, would be obliged to make a wide detour, and attack the enemy in the rear. At eleven o'clock at night, the latter General, supported by less than one thousand half-armed cavalry, left Cross Hollows upon a very indefinite sort of errand. He did not know exactly where the enemy were encamped, nor by what road to reach them. He had not an idea what their force amounted to; and he knew not where Totten would commence his attack. This little party proceeded rapidly on the Fayetteville road for some six or seven miles, then they turned off to the left, on the cast, into a blind bridle-path. The night was pitchy dark, and the air sharp with frost. Without compass or guide, the General led his men through bramble and brake, tangled brushwood and thick forests, over mountains, through rivers and rock-ribbed ravines, coming upon a rebel vidette at about halfpast three o'clock in the morning, some twentyfive miles from Cross Hollows. This was unexpected, but the facts of the case proved that the rebels were twelve miles below Fayetteville, on the Huntsville road. General Herron advanced his men, cautiously feeling his way by flankers and scouts, until daylight, when he came upon a strong picket-guard of two hundred cavalry. A portion of the Missouri State militia were dis- FIGHT ON THE RIDGEVILLE ROAD, VA.

rapid glance he took in the whole situation, comprehending the advantages and disadvantages of the position immediately. His men consisted of portions of the brave Iowa First cavalry, the Seventeenth Missouri State militia-the same, by the way, who were forced across the State line at the point of the bayonet-and a part of the First battalion of the First Missouri volunteer cavalry, and in all numbered about nine hundred men. They were poorly armed, some with carbines, others with only sabres and revolving pistols, and the remainder with short-range revolving rifles; all else depended upon their dashing bravery and invincible spirits. It was impossible to decide who was entitled to the most praise in this most unequal conflict. No single company had ever been beaten in a previous battle, so they knew not what it was to be whipped. Disparity of numbers was forgotten; the victory to them was a foregone conclusion, and it only remained to win it by fair hard knocks. At it they went, doing their work manfully, and performing deeds of valor that smacked of the marvels of ancient chivalry. Another hour and a half was spent in making an impression upon the serried front of the rebels. At last word was conveyed along the lines that the enemy was in retreat, and in a moment our forces were charging into their camp with an inspiriting huzza that incited with new terror the flying feet of the foe. They were driven some four miles, and after a hard-fought affair lasting about four hours in all, the field and a complete victory was ours. The rebel camp equipage and barracks were destroyed, and a portion of their baggage-train captured. Several prisoners were taken, and fifteen or twenty bodies found dead upon the field. Doubtless many dead were carried away, and all the wounded. Our loss was almost nothing. Five poor fellows were wounded, one of whom has since died. With that exception, it was almost a bloodless victory, as far as Gen. Herron's forces were concerned.

Doc. 18.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL QUIRK'S REPORT.

HEADQUARTERS IRISH BRIGADE, CAMP JESSIE,
NEW-CREEK, VA., October 30, 1862.

mounted and deployed as skirmishers. They worked beautifully, advancing bravely to the contest, and drove the secesh steadily toward their camp, which was in an open space on the opposite side of White River. Other pickets were To Capt. Melvin, Assistant Adjutant General: encountered, who fell back to the edge of the stream, and there made a determined stand of an hour and a half. They were finally dislodged, and sent helter-skelter through the water to the opposite shore. Our troops immediately followed, and there met, drawn up in a line of battle, the whole rebel force, consisting of two pieces of artillery and five regiments of Texan Rangers, numbering nearly five thousand men, under the command I arrived with my command at Greenland Gap

CAPTAIN: One hour after the reception, and in pursuance of orders from brigade headquarters, I left this camp at half-past five o'clock P.M., in command of company A, Lieut. Hart; company C, Capt. Young; company D, Capt. Wort; Ringgold Pennsylvania cavalry, numbering one hundred and fifty men, and one section of Rourke's battery, commanded by Capt. John Rourke.

(twenty-one miles) at eleven o'clock P.M., where I was informed that the enemy (Stuart's cavalry) four hundred strong, with about two hundred head of cattle, crossed the mountain near Greenland at two o'clock that afternoon.

We then immediately advanced in pursuit, through the Gap, along the Ridgeville road, determined, if possible, to intercept them before they reached the crossing of that road, five miles from Petersburgh.

When we arrived within three miles of the crossing, I halted the detachment, and sent forward Lieut. Hart and ten of his men to ascertain whether the enemy had passed the crossing, and he ascertained from a reliable source that the enemy, consisting of from three hundred to five hundred of Stuart's cavalry, Lee's brigade, were encamped within two miles back of the other road. At daylight we advanced upon the enemy, and when within seven hundred yards, I ordered Capt. Rourke to the front with his guns, when a few well-directed shell and shot, fired by Capt. Rourke in person, threw the enemy into confusion, and caused them to fly into the woods.

I then ordered the cavalry to charge, which order was promptly and gallantly executed, particularly by company A, Lieut. Hart. After sixteen of the enemy were captured, being unable to find any more of the enemy, I ordered the cattle to be collected and driven with the greatest possible despatch toward our own camp, especially as I was apprehensive of an attack by Imboden, who was reported with a force of seven hundred men at Petersburgh, only five miles distant.

I am glad to inform you our loss was none, while that of the enemy is known to have been at least three killed, sixteen were taken prisoners, nineteen horses captured, and one hundred and sixty head of cattle.

I have been informed by one of the prisoners that the enemy's force consisted of two picked men from each company of Lee's brigade, Stuart's cavalry.

The success of the expedition is owing to the rapidity of our movements, having advanced some thirty-five miles during the night, and to the cheerful and active coöperation of the officers and men composing the detachment.

Licut. John A. Ayres, of my regiment, Acting Adjutant of the detachment, rendered me valuable and efficient aid.

The report is respectfully submitted.
I am, Captain, very respectfully yours,

JAMES QUIRK,
Lieut.-Colonel Commanding.

Doc. 19.

THE FIGHT ON THE OSAGE RIVER.

A NEGRO REGIMENT IN ACTION. LEAVENWORTH, Saturday, November 8. THE First regiment Kansas colored volunteers, or a portion of it, have been in a fight, shed their

own and rebel blood, and come off victorious, when the odds were as five to one against them.

For the last few weeks the recruits composing this regiment have been in camp "Wm. A. Phillips," at Fort Lincoln, perfecting themselves in drill. On the twenty-sixth of October, Captain Seamen received an order from Major Henning, commanding at Fort Scott, to take such a force as he could raise and proceed to a point on the Osage, Bates County, Mo., and there break up a gang of bushwhackers. We marched from Fort Lincoln with seventy men of the battalion raised by himself, under Capt. Pierson, (formerly of the First Iowa,) and Lieut. Thrasher, (formerly of the Third Kansas,) and one hundred and seventy men from Col. Williams's battalion, under the command of Capt. R. G. Ward, company B; Adjutant R. J. Hinton, Capt. A. G. Crew, company A, and J. Armstrong, company H, (the latter was formerly in company B, Third Kansas,) and Lieuts. Dickerson, company C, Huddleton, company E, Gardner, company F, and Minor, company D. This made in all two hundred and forty men, with the addition of half a dozen white scouts.

The men were armed with the Prussian

and Austrian rifled muskets, the former of which is an excellent weapon, and the latter a poor one, from constant liability to get out of order.

On the twenty-sixth the command marched twenty miles, and on the twenty-seventh reached Dickies Ford, on the Osage, at about two P.M. Our destination was the house of a notorious rebel, named Toothman's, three miles from this ford. As we came in sight of it, we discovered at the same time a number of horsemen on the Osage bottoms, a mile to the south-east. The scouts and mounted officers galloped forward to reconnoitre, and soon discovered them to be rebel guerrillas. A citizen with a load of wood, on inquiry, stated that they were reported as Cockerell's, Hancock's, and Truman's gangs, moving south in the direction of Arkansas. Returning to the detachment, it encamped for the night, at Toothman's. We erected a rail barricade around the door-yard fence. The reports of scouts, as well as the women in the house, warranted the assumption that the rebel forces were several hundred strong.

Our camp was within two miles of the famous Osage Island, an extensive tract of land, so called because the Osage had cut for itself two channels around it. That night we sent back messengers to Kansas for reenforcements. Being greatly in need of mounted men, we sent to the organized militia companies, also to Colonel Adams, commanding the Twelfth regi ment, to camp at Fort Lincoln, and to Major Henning, at Fort Scott. We requested the latter to send what reënforcements he could along the south side of the Osage River, to Burnett's Ferry, Our intention was to skirmish with them until these reënforcements arrived, and when Major Henning's force arrived to make an attack on the Island from each side. All day we skirmished with the rebel pickets, at the same time sending out foraging and other parties. On the twentyninth the rebel pickets, which had occupied the

highest mounds to the south-east of us, seemed mean while, alarmed at camp at the lengthy abto have been considerably reënforced. A detach-sence of the party, we had sent out a detachment of about sixty men was sent out, under ment of fifty as a reserve, under Capt. Armstrong. command of Capt. Armstrong and Adjt. Hinton, with directions to skirmish with the enemy, holding them in play while a foraging party proceeded in search of salt and corn-meal. The rebels were evidently well handled. They designed to draw on some detachment far enough from camp to overwhelm it before assistance could arrive. The skirmishing grew brisk, and shots were rapidly exchanged, though always at long-range and individual objects. The guerrillas would shout from the hill on which they were posted, in the most derisive manner, cursing the white officers for "d-d nigger-stealers, etc., etc.

When the cavalry came in sight, Capt. Pierson, who occupied a position from which the movements could be observed, signaled for the reserve to advance, which they were directed to do by the Adjutant, who then galloped to camp and hastened the moving forward of two detachments which Captain Seamen was hurrying out. Lieut. Thrasher, in command of the first, went on the double-quick down the ravine to the west, followed closely by that under Lieuts. Dickerson and Minor.

In the mean while, the detachment under Gardner was attacked by the foe, who swept down like a whirlwind upon it. One volley was fired in concert which emptied several saddles, and then this devoted body was separated by the force of that sweeping charge. The fight thus became a hand-to-hand encounter of one man to six. The rebels were mostly armed with shot-guns, revolvers and sabres, our men with the Austrian rifle and sabre-bayonet. The latter is a fearful weapon, and did terrible execution in the hands of the muscular blacks. Six-Killer, the leader of the Cherokee negroes, fell with six wounds, after shooting two men, bayoneting a third, and laying a fourth hors du combat with the butt of his gun. Another one, badly wounded, Sergeant Ed. Lowrey, was attacked by three men; he had discharged his rifle, and had no time to load again, when they fell upon him with revolver and sabre. He was then badly hurt with a shot-gun wound. One man demanded his surrender, to which the reply was a stunning blow from the butt of the rifle, knocking him off his horse. The negro, when approached, had his sabre-bayonet in hand, about to fix it on his gun. The prostrate man got a crashing blow from it on the skull as he fell, and then, as the other charged, the bayonet was used with effect on the nearest horse, and the butt of the gun on the next man. The sergeant received three wounds in the mêlée, but managed to get back to camp. I could give similar instances of nearly every man and boy of the party. There were several of the latter in the fight. One of them, Manuel Dobson, a lad of fourteen, received a ball through both arms. He afterward told Colonel Williams "that he couldn't kill but one of 'em," but adding, with commendable pride, "I brought my gun back."

In fact they paid particular attention to the two or three white men on the field. The balls from long-range rifles came unpleasantly near. Soon after the commencement of the skirmishing, a shot from one of our men brought down a rebel. Soon another fell, evidently hit in the side, and then deploying the right wing of the skirmishers through a small ravine, and advancing up the slope beyond on the double-quick, we managed to give them a raking volley, which sent off several riderless horses. Passing over the ground, we discovered blood where one man had fallen. By the mouth of a prisoner whom Cockerell released that afternoon, we afterward learned that the rebels acknowledged seven killed and mortally wounded in the morning skirmish. Returning to camp under orders, the rebels fired the prairie behind us, and advanced their pickets under cover of the smoke. The wind was blowing almost a gale, and we were compelled to set a counter fire around camp, in order to prevent ourselves being completely overwhelmed by the smoke. Under its cover our scouts were driven in. Capt. Seamen then sent out a party of eight Cherokee negroes, who soon managed to get to the windward of the fire. They were directed to keep within sight of camp, but their eagerness for the prey soon led to a disobedience of orders. Sixteen men were then sent out under Lieut. Gardner to reenforce and bring them in. The Cherokees being somewhat unmanageable except by their own officers, Capt. Pierson accompanied Gardner to aid this purpose. Captain Crew and Lieut. Huddleston both left camp without orders and joined the squad. They advanced to the edge of the mounds, united with the first party, and in place of returning to camp, started to visit But to return to the field. As the enemy a log house half a mile distant, on the bottom charged, Armstrong's detachment was seen comland. There was the opportunity sought by the ing up the hill on the double-quick. The boys rebels, and they improved it, or sought to. The broke for their lines. Lieut. Gardner, being a house was visited, and the party was returning large and heavy man, had early endeavored to esacross the prairie toward the mounds, in sight of cape to them, but fell in the first and thickest of camp, when from behind them to the south-east, the fight with two wounds in his hip. One of on which the rebels had been posted in the morn- the rebels dismounted as he fell forward, prone ing skirmish, appeared about one hundred and on his face, and placing his revolver to his head, thirty mounted men, advancing on the doublequick toward Gardner's party. In place of returning to the log-cabin, where a successful resistance could be made till reënforced, our detachment headed steadily for the mound. In the

fired. Fortunately the ball glanced, inflicting only a severe scalp wound. Lieut. Gardner lay there till the prairie fire overtook him, when he made an effort and got upon burnt ground, where we found him after the engagement. Lieut. Hud

dleton was early separated from the men, and though the mark of many bullets, escaped unscathed. Captain Crew, retaining his position at the head of the few men who kept together, retreated with his face to the enemy, firing his revolver as he did so. He fell with a terrible wound in the groin, but again rose and retreated. Sur rounded by half a dozen of the foe, he was ordered to surrender. "Never!" he shouted, at the same time calling to the half-dozen negroes around him to die rather than give up. He then fell dead with a bullet in his heart. His body was instantly rifled of revolver and watch, though his purse was not found. Five minutes afterward the rebel who took the watch was killed by one of the negroes, who again took the watch from him and brought it into camp.

While these incidents were occurring, Captain Armstrong brought his men through the prairiefire on to the brow of the hill, within short-range of the enemy, who, as they discovered his ap proach, galloped round the hill in two files, opening in the form of a V, with the intention of charging upon him. A steady volley checked this movement, and a raking fire on their flank from the companies under Lieutenants Thrasher, Dickerson, and Minor, changed their advance into disorderly rout, in which a number of saddles were emptied. Captain Seamen, observing large reenforcements moving by the east, apparently toward our camp, ordered Captain Armstrong and the other officers to fall back to the camp. This was done, except by Lieut. Thrasher, who held the field from which the rebels had fled long enough to bring off our wounded, and all the dead but three. While engaged in this task, the enemy's scouts fired the prairie in three different places, and advanced under cover of the smoke, endeavoring to pick off the men engaged in removing the wounded. Their killed and wounded had been removed as fast as they fell. They could be seen to dismount as fast as one fell, and, putting the body on a horse, remove it from the field. So ended the battle of Island Mounds, which, though commenced through the rash and impetuous daring of the officers, yet under most unfavorable circumstances, resulted in a complete victory to the negro regiment.

all of Seamen's battalion; corporal Jacob Edwards, Co. E, head and side.

After the fight the guerrillas retreated to a point south-east, known as Red Dirk and Pleasant Gap, where they have since been joined by Quantrel and Harrison. Our advent broke up their plans. They evidently had at first a most contemptible idea of the negroes' courage, which their engagement speedily changed.

Bill Truman told in Butler on the Friday following the fight, that the black devils fought like tigers, and that the white officers had got them so trained that not one would surrender, though they tried to take a prisoner.

-New-York Times.

KANSAS "JOURNAL" ACCOUNT.

MOUND CITY, LINN COUNTY, November 1, 1862. During the past few weeks reports were occa sionally reaching this place that a rebel force were or had gathered on an island in the Marias des Cygnes River, about twenty miles east of us, and some eight miles from the State line in Missouri. Rumors were reaching us that our town was in danger, unless they were dislodged or driven away, and that Mound City would soon share the same fate of Olathe and Shawneetown. Picket-guards were kept out every night by our citizens, and thefts, robberies, and murders were almost nightly taking place along the line, the horses of Union men taken, and the provisions, clothing, and bedding taken from their families.

Several urgent requests were made to the mili tary authorities at Fort Scott for aid, and on Sunday last Major Henning ordered Captain Seamen, with a force of four or five companies of blacks, (infantry,) consisting of some two hundred and twenty men, who, on Sunday evening last, marched from this place, and on Monday arrived at the farm of one old Toothman, a noted secesh, living on the north side of the river and directly north and opposite the island, about two miles. Here the Captain threw up some fortifications, the rebels showing themselves almost continually around him, and their picket-guards approaching to within a quarter of a mile of his camp. On Wednesday, October twenty-ninth, at about two o'clock P.M., Captain Seamen ordered Captain Armstrong, with about twenty men, to reconnoitre along a ravine and on the brow of a ridge about half a mile from camp, to try and draw out the rebels from their hiding-place, for the purpose of giving them battle. Captain Armstrong proceeded according to orders, but failing to draw out the enemy, proceeded on beyond, where designated. It was ob served from camp that the secesh were gathering, Wounded-Lieutenant Joseph Gardner, Co. F, and from observation, it was feared that their inhead, hip and knee; private Thos. Knight, both tention was to make a charge between the camp legs; Geo. Dudley, both legs; Manuel Dobson, and Capt. Armstrong's band, and endeavor to cut both arms; Lazarus Johnson, arm, all of Co. F; him off. Capt. Seamen ordered Lieut. Gardner, Sergeant Edward Lowrey, Seamen's battalion, with some twenty men, to his relief, and to call shoulder and arm; Sergeant Shelley Banning, Capt. Armstrong back as quick as possible. Capt. Seamen's battalion, right breast and hip; corporal Crews, of Leavenworth, volunteered to accompany Andy Hytower, left shoulder; Anderson Riley, Lieut. Gardner. This band had not proceeded left shoulder; private Ed. Curtis, back and mouth, | but a short distance when the rebels, about sixty

What I narrate I saw myself, and having witnessed several engagements since this rebellion commenced, I know what fighting amounts to. The following is a list of our casualties:

Killed-Captain Crew, Co. A; corporal Joseph Talbot. Privates, Samuel Davis, Thomas Lane, Marion Barber, Allen Rhodes, Henry Gash, all of Co. F; John Six-Killer, Seamen's battalion.