and energetic attention to all my orders, and their ready cooperation with the army corps commanders at all times, which enabled them to carry out their plans successfully. made on the navy, and facilitating the operations of the army in every way that lay in his power. In every instance where it was at all possible to bring the Black Hawk into action against the enemy's batteries he has not hesitated to do so, though she is not fortified exactly for such a purpose. His long-range guns have done most excellent service at different times. The Benton, Lieutenant Commander Greer, Mound City, Lieutenant Commander Byron Wilson, Tuscumbia, Lieutenant Commander Shirk, Carondelet, Acting Lieutenant Murphy, and the Sterling Price, Commander Woodworth, have been almost constantly under fire of the batter-ers of the light-draughts, who have carried out my ies at Vicksburgh since the forty-five days' siege commenced. The attack of the twenty-second of May by the Benton, Mound City, Carondelet, and Tuscumbia on all the water batteries, in which three were silenced, and four guns injured or dismounted, was one of the best contested engagements of the kind during the war. On the next attack of the same gunboats, when General Grant opened all his batteries for six hours, the river batteries were all deserted, and the gunboats moved up and down without having a shot fired at them, showing the moral effect the first attack had. The attack of the Cincinnati, Lieutenant Commander Bache, on the water-battery will long be ranked among the most gallant events of this war; and though Lieutenant Bache had the misfortune to have his vessel sunk under him, he well deserves the handsome commendations bestowed upon him by the Department. To Lieutenant Commander Ramsay, of the Choctaw, was assigned the management of three heavy guns placed on scows, and anchored in a position that commanded the town and waterbatteries. Every gun the enemy could bring to bear on these boats was fired incessantly at them, but without one moment's cessation of fire on the part of our seamen, though the enemy's shot and shell fell like hail among them. This battery completely enfiladed the batteries and rifle pits in front of General Sherman, and made them untenable. The mortar-boats were under charge of Gunner Eugene Mack, who for thirty days stood at his post, the firing continuing night and day. He performed his duty well and merits approval. The labor was extremely hard, and every man at the mortars was laid up with sickness, owing to excessive labor. After Mr. Mack was taken ill, Ensign Miller took charge and conducted the firing with marked ability. We know that nothing conduced more to the end of the siege than the mortar-firing, which demoralized the rebels, killed and wounded a number of persons, killed the cattle, destroyed property of all kinds, and set the city on fire. On the last two days we were enabled to reach the outer works of the enemy by firing heavy charges of twenty-six pounds of powder; the distance was three miles, and the falling of shells was very annoying to the rebelsto use the words of a rebel officer, "our shells intruded everywhere." Lieutenant Commander Breese has been very efficient in relieving me of a vast amount of duty, superintending personally all the requirements I beg leave to mention the different command orders promptly, aided in keeping guerrillas from the river, convoyed transports safely, and kept their vessels in good condition for service, namely, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant George W. Brown, commanding Forest Rose; Acting Volunteer Lieutenant C. Downing, commanding Signal; Acting Volunteer Lieutenant J. S. Hurd, commanding Covington; Ensign Wm. C. Handford, commanding Robb; Acting Master J. C. Bunner, commanding New Era; Acting Volunteer Lieutenant J. V. Johnstone, commanding Romeo; Acting Volunteer Lieutenant John Pierce, commanding Petrel; Acting Master W. E. Fentress, commanding Rattler; Acting Volunteer Lieutenant T. E. Smith, commanding Linden; Acting Volunteer Lieutenant E. C. Brennand, commanding Prairie Bird; Acting Volunteer Lieutenant J. Gandy, commanding Queen City. There are others who deserve commendation, but these seem to me the most prominent. The action of the fourth of July, at Helena, wherein the Tyler participated so largely, has already been reported to the Department. There is no doubt left in the minds of any but that the Tyler saved Helena, for though General Prentiss fought with a skill and daring not excelled in this war, his little force of three thousand five hundred men were fast being overpowered by the enemy with eighteen thousand men, when the Tyler took a position and changed the fortunes of the day. I must not omit to mention Acting Volunteer Lieutenants Hamilton and Richardson, of the powder vessels Great Western and Judge Torrence. They were unremitting in their attention to their duties during the siege, supplying without delay every requisition made on them by army and navy, and volunteering for any service. When the army called on the navy for siegeguns, I detailed what officers and men I could spare to man and work the batteries. Lieutenant Commander Selfridge had command of the naval battery on the right wing, General Sherman's corps. This battery was worked with marked ability, and elicited the warmest praises from the Commanding General. One thousand shells were fired into the enemy's works from Lieutenant Commander Selfridge's guns. services being required up the river, I relieved him a few days before the surrender, and Licutenant Commander Walker supplied his place, and conducted the firing with the same ability. His Acting Master Charles B. Dahlgren was ordered to report to General McPherson for duty, and was assigned the management of two nine-inch guns, which were admirably served. Acting Master Reed, of the Benton, had charge of the batteries at Fort Benton, so named by General Herron in honor of the occasion. General Herron generously acknowledged the services of those I sent him, which communication I inclose with this report. I have endeavored to do justice to all who were immediately engaged in the struggle for the mastery of the Mississippi. To the army do we owe immediate thanks for the capture of Vicksburgh; but the army was much facilitated by the navy, which was ready at all times to cooperate. This has been no small undertaking. The late investment and capture of Vicksburgh will be characterized as one of the greatest military achievements ever known. The conception of the idea originated solely with General Grant, who adopted a course in which great labor was performed, great battles were fought, and great risks were run. A single mistake would have involved us in difficulty; but so well were all the plans matured, so well were all the movements timed, and so rapid were the evolutions performed, that not a mistake has occurred from the passage of the fleet by Vicksburgh and the passage of the army across the river, up to the present time. So confident was I of the ability of General Grant to carry out his plans when he explained them to me, that I never hesitated to change my position from above to below Vicksburgh. The work was hard, the fighting severe, but the blows struck were constant. In forty-five days after our army was landed, a rebel army of sixty thousand men had been captured, killed, and wounded, or scattered to their homes, perfectly demoralized, while our loss has been only about five thousand killed, wounded, and prisoners, and the temporary loss of one gunboat. The fortifications and defences of the city exceed any thing that has been built in modern times, and are doubly unassailable from their immense height above the bed of the river. The fall of Vicksburgh insured the fall of Port Hudson and the opening of the Mississippi River, which I am happy to say can be traversed from its source to its mouth without apparent impediment, the first time during the war. I take this opportunity to give to Mr. Fendal and Mr. Strausz, assistants in the coast survey, the full credit they deserve for their indefati gable industry. Since they have been attached to the squadron they have been connected with almost every expedition that has been undertaken; they have kept both army and navy supplied with charts when they could not otherwise be obtained; they were found ready at all times to go anywhere or do any thing required of them, whether it was on a gunboat expedition or in the trenches before Vicksburgh engineering, when the General Commanding called for volunteers from the navy. They have added to our collection of maps many geographical corrections which are valuable, and they have proved to me that no squadron can operate effectively without a good corps of surveyors. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, DAVID D. PORTER, Acting Rear-Admiral Com'g Miss. Squadron. Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. } HEADQUARTERS LEFT DIVISION INVESTING FORCES, VICKSBURGH, July 5, 1963. ADMIRAL: While congratulating you on the success of the army and navy in reducing this Sebastopol of rebeldom, I must at the same time thank you for the aid my division has had from yourself and your ships. The guns received from the Benton, under charge of Acting Master Reed, a gallant and efficient officer, have formed the most effective battery I had, and I am glad to say that the officer in charge has well sustained the reputation of your squadron. For the efforts you have made to cooperate with me in my position on the left I am under many obligations. Very respectfully your obedient servant, F. J. HERRON, Admiral D. D. PORTER, Commanding Mississippi Squadron. Major-General. HEADQUARTERS LEFT DIVISION INVESTING FORCES, the first of our siege operations on the left of the CAPTAIN: Having had from your ship, since investing line, four of your heavy guns, under charge of Acting Master J. Frank Reed, I must before their return to the ship, express to you my thanks for the good service they have rendered, and the admirable and officer-like manner Reed. His battery (which I have named after in which they were handled by Acting Master your ship, Battery Benton) has been our main support in advancing, and I learn has been a terror to the rebels in our immediate front. ter Reed and his subordinates, Wm. Moore and The management and conduct of Acting Masw. P. Brownell, cannot be too highly spoken of, and I can assure you they have nobly sustained the reputation of your ship and the Mississippi Squadron. Acting Master Reed is well worthy of pro UNITED STATES STEAMER CONESTOGA, SIR: I have the honor to present the following report of the naval battery, consisting of two eight-inch columbiads, whilst under my command. Acting under your orders of June first, I reported to General Sherman, who located the battery nearly on the extreme right, not far from the river. After many delays I succeeded in getting one gun in position the night of June fourth. Fire was opened from it the next morn ing, and the next night the other was got in position. Opposed to us was an eight-inch columbiad, six hundred yards distant, and a thirtytwo pounder, one thousand yards distant. The columbiad was disabled by our fire the second day, and no further use made of it; the thirty-two pounder was also effectually silenced. There was nothing left at which to direct our fire, but rifle-pits. Upon these I kept up a slow and steady fire at different intervals during the day. Operating upon earth-works, it was impossible to know the damage inflicted. Deserters report, however, that our fire was so accurate as to cause the battery to be greatly feared, and that it had done them much harm. On June twenty-fifth, agreeably to your orders, I turned my command over to Captain Walker. It gives me pleasure to bear testimony to the good conduct of my officers and men. The labor imposed upon them was very arduous-working their guns under a hot sun, and frequently employed half the night repairing the damage inflicted during the day. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Acting Rear-Admiral DAVID D. PORTER, Commanding Mississippi Squadron. Porter will ever accord to me the exhibition of a pure and unselfish zeal in the service of our country. It does seem to me that Port Hudson, without facilities for supplies or interior communication, must soon follow the fate of Vicksburgh and leave the river free, and to you the task of preventing any more Vicksburghs or Port Hudsons on the bank of the great inland sea. Though farther apart, the navy and army will still act in concert, and I assure you I shall never reach the banks of the river or see a gunboat but I will think of Admiral Porter, Captain Breese, and the many elegant and accomplished gentlemen it has been my good fortune to meet on armed or unarmed decks of the Mississippi Squadron. Congratulating you and the officers and men of your command at the great result in which you have borne so conspicuous a part, I remain, as ever, your friend and servant, W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. Doc. 95. THE ESCAPE OF LEE'S ARMY. FREDERICK, Thursday, July 16, 1862. THE campaign north of the Potomac is ended. The enemy has made an inglorious and hazardous escape across a river which we had fondly hoped was the great barrier to his retreat. The particulars of the retreat you have had in full. There remains, however, a brief history of the movements of both armies for the past ten days yet untold. The material portions of it I will give, as nearly as possible, and the public may draw its own conclusions. My role is fact, not comment. The rebel army under General Lee, repulsed with sanguinary loss, but not literally defeated, began its retirement from the field of Gettysburgh on Friday night, July third. His left wing, which had fiercely assailed our right on that day, and had, in addition, occupied the village of Gettysburgh, was found to be withdrawn early on Saturday morning, when our forces, under General Howard, advanced and occupied the place. His right wing and centre fell back a short distance on Saturday night, and on Sunday morning the rebel rear was found by a small reconnoissance to rest in the vicinity of Fairfield, eight miles from our frout. I can appreciate the intense satisfaction you must feel at lying before the very monster that has defied us with such deep and malignant hate, and seeing your once disunited fleet again a unit, and better still, the chain that made an inclosed sea of a link in the great river broken for ever. In so magnificent a result I stop not to count who did it. It is done, and the day of our nation's birth is consecrated and baptized anew in a victory won by the united Navy and Ariny of our country. God grant that the harmony and mutual respect that exists between our respective Commanders and shared by all the true men of the joint service may continue for ever and serve to elevate our national character, threatened with shipwreck. Thus I muse as I sit in my solitary camp out in the wood far from the point for which we have justly striven so long and so well, and though personal curiosity General Howard reconnoitred the enemy's would tempt me to go and see the frowning bat-rear in person, and came suddenly upon their teries and sunken pits that have defied us so long, and sent to their silent graves so many of our early comrades in the enterprise, I feel that other tasks lie before me, and time must not be lost. Without casting anchor, and despite the heat and the dust and the drought, I must again into the bowels of the land to make the conquest of Vicksburgh fulfil all the conditions it should in the progress of this war. Whether success attend my efforts or not, I know that Admiral skirmishers, who fired, wounding severely his valuable Aid, Captain James J. Griffiths, who, I regret to learn, died in Philadelphia on the fourteenth instant. On Sunday morning the Sixth corps, under General Sedgwick, was ordered to make a reconnoissance in force, ascertain the position of the enemy, and, as nearly as possible, his line of retreat. At some time during the day General Sedgwick brought up with the enemy in force, near Fairfield. A severe skirmish followed, but General Sedgwick refrained from bringing on a general engagement. mountain, well in hand for attack or defencemore so by far than when the enemy made the attack at Gettysburgh, for the corps were then During Sunday, between the hours of ten twenty miles away. Thursday night, the Sixth o'clock A.M. and six P.M., after the details for corps, which was in advance, had pushed out burying the dead had been made, all the corps four miles beyond Boonsboro, or within three were ordered to move in three columns, as nearly miles of Funkstown, Buford's cavalry having as possible upon the heels of the enemy. Head-gallantly cleared the road after two days' severe quarters, itself, was ordered to move to Creagers- fighting with Stuart. town that evening, twenty-two miles distant. This, I think, was before the result of General Sedgwick's reconnoissance had become known. Subsequently all the orders for moving were countermanded, and the various corps halted from Sunday night until Tuesday morning. Headquarters remained at a point ten miles south-east of Gettysburgh until that time. On Friday, the headquarters of General Meade were established near Antietam Bridge, on the Williamsport road, three miles west of Boonsboro, and seven miles south of Hagerstown, they remaining there until Tuesday night. From Friday until Tuesday morning, our average advance against the enemy was about three miles. During this time our line was formed on In the mean time our cavalry were rapidly de- the west side of the Antietam, and we approachveloping the line of the enemy's retreat. Instead ed the enemy to within a distance ranging from of moving toward Chambersburgh, which is al-half a mile to a mile and a half. Here we fell to most south-west of Gettysburgh, Lee took a throwing up works of defence. shorter line of retreat, and at once seized the two upper gaps in the South-Mountain, namely, the gap leading from Fairfield through Jack's Mountain to Waynesboro, known as Fountaindale Gap, and the gap through which passes the road from Emmittsburgh to Waynesboro and Greencastle, known as Monterey Gap. Then by the country roads, in a south-westerly direction, toward Hagerstown. The lines of the two armies were from six to eight miles long, that of the enemy being the longest. Of course, thus extended, both were very weak, and the advantage rested with the party who made a vigorous and sudden attack. I believe I am correct in saying that we never fully compelled the enemy to develop his line. We knew he had one, but its exact location, character, and strength was not, as far as I am able to learn, fully ascertained. There is good evidence, however, for the belief that the chief portion of the enemy's works were thrown up sire to do the same thing. There were then left to General Meade two routes to pursue-one to follow directly on the heels of the enemy, and fight him in these gaps, or march at once for Harmon's, Braddock's, Tur-between Thursday and Monday. What little inher's, and Crampton's Gaps, in South-Mountain formation we got of their doings tended to show range-all below those occupied by the enemy. this. In addition, they kept up an exceedingly The latter route was adopted, involving an stubborn front, with their pickets and skirmishaverage of march of from fifteen to twenty miles ers, and acted in every way just as we know they further than the enemy had to go, and on Tues- always do, when they wish to conceal soine imday morning, two days after Lee had fully aban-portant movement-just as we do when we dedoned his position, the army was put upon forced marches for the western slope of the South- On Sunday evening a council of the corps Mountain. The general rendezvous of the corps commanders, also attended by the Chief Engiwas Middletown, in the valley, between the neer, the Chief of Cavalry, and the Chief of Catoctin and South-Mountain ranges. Four or Staff, was held. The question of attacking the five of the army corps entered this valley by a enemy was discussed. Of the seven infantry road six or eight miles north of Frederick, while corps commanders, five opposed an attack and two or three of them moved around by the angle two favored it-Generals Howard and Wad-of Frederick, and thence west into the Middle- worth. In addition, General Warren, Chief Entown Valley. gineer, and General Pleasanton, commanding the The concentration of the different corps at Cavalry corps, carnestly favored a forward moveMiddletown was made substantially on Wednes-ment, as they had not failed to do from the first. day night-some being in advance, some at, and | A council was said to be necessary, because it some just in the rear of Middletown. Head-was the only way, in view of the active nature quarters, which made a single leap of thirty-five of the campaign thus far, by which a correct miles from Gettysburgh to Frederick on Tuesday, moved to Middletown on Wednesday. idea of the efficiency of each corps could be as certained. It is worthy of note that Generals Howard and Wadsworth, who advised an attack, were the weakest in numbers. On Thursday, July ninth, the march was resumed, the Second and Twelfth corps passing down the Middletown Valley to Crampton's Gap, What General Meade's own inclination was I eight miles below Turner's Gap, through which am not positively informed, but I think he dethe balance of the army passed. Thursday sired to push ahead, but finally deferred to the night's headquarters were moved to the Mount-opinion of the majority of his subordinates. A ain House in the Gap, four miles west of Mid-consideration which, doubtless, had some infludletown. ence in delaying a movement, was the fact that On Friday, the army was all well over the reenforcements were slowly arriving, and we were growing stronger. Another idea prevailed very strongly with some of the corps commanders, namely, that Lee would be compelled to attack us, because of the continued high stage of the Potomac, and that he could not, so long as it lasted, obtain any reliable means of crossing; and the belief also existed that, as a matter of pride, he would not retreat, but would arbitrate again on the bloody field of another battle. I may add here that our information concerning the condition of the river and the operations of the enemy in its vicinity was exceeding scanty, and generally considered unreliable. One or two reports of scouts, however, which were at first. discredited, afterward proved to have been well founded, namely, that Lee had obtained a number of pontoons from Winchester, and that he was building flat-boats at Williamsport. On Sunday night, July twelfth, some of the corps commanders began, on their own responsibility, to throw up earthworks for a line of defence. This was continued through Monday and Monday night, even up to the very moment of the departure of the enemy's rear-guard. It is due to General Warren, Chief Engineer, to say that this was entirely without his orders, and he strongly disapproved the proceeding, as well as condemned the position of much of the line. The escape of Lee was reported at daylight on Tuesday morning, by a negro who came in from Williamsport. His statement was not credited, General Meade believing that the enemy was merely concentrating his forces at some point on his long line to resist an attack. But by nine A.M. every body was convinced. The manner and means by which he escaped you have already had in full. THE BATTLE OF WAUHATCHEE. OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL THOMAS. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMPERLAND, CHATTANOOGA, Nov. 7, 1863. GENERAL: I have the honor to forward herewith the official reports of Major-General Hooker, (commanding the Eleventh and Twelfth corps) and of Brigadier-General W. F. Smith, Chief Engineer Department of the Cumberland, (commanding the expedition, composed of Turchin's brigade, Baird's division, Fourteenth army corps, and of Hazen's brigade, Wood's division, Fourth army corps, and detachments of the Eighteenth Ohio infantry, under command of Colonel T. R. Stanley, and of the First Michigan engineers, under command of Captain B. 1). Fox,) of the operations of their respective commands between the twenty-sixth and twentyeighth ultimo, to gain possession of the south bank of the Tennessee River, and to open the road for a dépôt of supplies at Bridgeport. Preliminary steps had already been taken to execute this vitally important movement before the command of the department devolved on me. The bridge, which it was necessary to throw Three or four facts grouped together tell the across the river at Brown's Ferry, to gain poswhole story. The national army took up its line session of the northern end of Lookout Valley, on Friday and remained nearly in the same po- and open communication with Bridgeport by sition until Tuesday; the troops were in superb road and river, was nearly complete. On the spirits, and their confidence that they could whip twenty-third, orders were sent to General Hooker the rebels was stronger than I have ever yet seen to concentrate the Eleventh corps and one diviit, and was fully exemplified in the few sharp sion of the Twelfth corps at Bridgeport, informaskirmishes that took place-all, both cavalry and ing him at the same time what his force was exInfantry, resulting uniformly in our favor. The pected to accomplish, and that a force from this enemy had a strong line, but not one third so place would cooperate with his, by establishing formidable as ours at Gettysburgh-dangerously a bridge across the river at Brown's Ferry, and weak because of its length, and weaker by far on seize the heights on the south or Lookout ValFriday, July tenth, than on Monday, July thir- ley side, thus giving him an open road to Chatteenth. The enemy's means of crossing on Fri- tanooga, when his forces should arrive in Lookday were incomplete, on Monday they were com-out Valley. The force to throw the bridge was plete enough to carry him away; and yet on organized by Saturday, the twenty-fourth, and Monday his army was divided by the river, and the bridge completed, giving General Smith two in a state of trepidation for fear their hazardous days to examine the ground with the two brimovement should be discovered. We were grow-gade commanders, and to give all the necessary ing stronger, by additions of troops, while we lay still, and the enemy was improving the same time in recovering from the disheartenment of his defeat, and the aggregation of supplies and ammunition from Winchester. In short, delay proved of far more advantage to the enemy than to us. Add to this the fact, of which I am personally cognizant, that the soldiers received the news of Lee's escape with feelings of bitter disappointment, and that they would rather have detailed instructions to insure success. General Hooker reported on the twenty-sixth that he would be ready to move on the twentyseventh at daylight. He was instructed to move at the appointed time with full directions how to provide for the defence of his flank, and to cover the approaches to the road from the direction of Trenton. The bridge was successfully thrown across the rivers on the night of the twentysixth, and General Hooker reached Lookout |