James Dye went to hospital sick; three wounded rolls were ordered to be made out to-day; no in the regiment. We continue to get news of Johnston's approach.

June 27.-Firing moderate to-day. We were relieved at twelve o'clock, for six hours only, by FRIDAY morning last the courier from below the Fifth Missouri; at six o'clock in the evening brought cheering and important news. The we returned to the ditches; were relieved at effect on our good people was palpable, and at twelve o'clock at night. Elisha Viers, of our com- once every one was impatient for our extra, givpany, died to-day, from wounds received on the ing to the public the account of the glorious victwenty-fifth. Lee's victory confirmed. Five kill-tory won by the prowess of our arms in the ed and three wounded in regiment to-day. David Sigman, of our company, killed; James Parker

June 29.-Firing very moderate; we are dig-time determined him to make the movement ging to meet the undermining foe. The Second, Fifth, and Sixth Missouri are guarding the threatened point. We relieve each other every six hours. Weather pleasant; no loss to-day.

seemed to treat it as a holiday frolic as they were rowing away, waving their hats to General Taylor and General Mouton, who were on the bank watching their departure.

The boat expedition having left, Generals Tay

horses, overtook Colonel Majors, commanding a brigade of cavalry, on the Atchafalaya, and instantly unfolded to him his plan of campaign, in which that gallant young officer was to play such a conspicuous part. Majors was to push boldly through the Grosse Tete, Marangoin, and La-lor and Mouton proceeded below Pattersonville, to fourche country, to Donaldsonville, thence to Thibodeaux. cut off the railroad and telegraph communication, then push rapidly to the Boeuf River, in the rear of Brashear City, and at the first sound of Mouton's and Green's guns, attack them at that place.

After seeing Colonel Majors well on his way, General Taylor returned via Washington and Opelousas, and pushed on rapidly to General Mouton and Green's headquarters, to superintend in person the attack on Brashear City and its forts. Orders had been already given them to make this attack. Advice of Majors's movements, and directions to open communication with him via the lakes, so that they could make a combined movement.

Two of General Taylor's staff had been urging on preparations for crossing the troops over the bay. Lieutenant Avery particularly had used every exertion, under direction of Brigadier-General Green, in the construction of skiffs and flats. Major-General Taylor arrived at General Mouton's headquarters on the morning of the twenty-first. Generals Mouton and Green had not been idle in carrying out their orders..

arrange for the other movements. Mouton, with the Seventh Texas, Fourth Texas, and Second Arizona regiments, stood post at Gibbons Point, on the island of the name, and immediately opposite Fort Buchanan. From this place his sharp-shooters could sweep the gunners from their positions at the heavy guns in the Fort. General Green with his old regiment, (Fifth Texas,) Walker's battalion, Second Louisiana cavalry, Valverde and Nichols's batteries, took position just before day in Berwick City, ready to open on all their camp, (which extended up and down the opposite bank for two miles,) also to keep in check their gunboats. Every matter of importance being now ready, Major-General Taylor waited with confidence for the boom of Green's artillery, which was to be the signal of attack.

Immediately after daylight General Green fired the first gun from the Valverde battery at a gunboat of the enemy which was standing up the bay in the direction of the upper fort, (Buchanan.) Instantly the whole bay was in a blaze; all of our guns first played upon the immense line of tents of the enemy, which were occupied by about one thousand Yankees. They were completely For a few days previous they had organized surprised--they had not imagined an enemy in the different corps and their positions in the im- twenty miles of them on this side of the bay, pending attack. Shortly after General Taylor's (their prisoners admit this.) Their heavy guns from arrival at Mouton's headquarters, one of his staff the three forts now opened on Green, at the same brought up from General Green's headquarters a moment the sharp crack of Mouton's thousand despatch of twelve м. the previous day, from Col- Enfield rifles is heard continually from Gibbons onel Majors; that daring commander had already Point, sweeping their gunners from their places arrived at Thibodeaux, after a triumphant cam- like a whirlwind would dash the sand of the despaign throughout the whole Lafourche-had cap-ert; all are anxious to hear the roar of Majors's tured Plaquemine, with one hundred and fifty guns. The worthy pupil of old Stonewall strains prisoners, destroyed three large sea-going vessels his ear for the signal. If Majors has arrived at loaded with valuable stores-had taken Donaldsonville with its garrison-had attacked that same day the enemy at Thibodeaux, driven him with Pyron's Texan infantry, at the point of the bayonet, from his strong position-had charged and routed his cavalry by charging him with Lane's, Stone's, and Phillips's Texan cavalry, and was now ready to cooperate with us in our movement of to-morrow.

At six PM. on the evening of the twenty-first, a "forlorn hope," composed of volunteers from the different regiments, embarked in the skiffs and sugar-coolers prepared for them. Theirs was the proud privilege of storming the almost impregnable fort on the opposite side of the bay at dawn the following morning, while Generals Green and Mouton occupied them at different points in their front.

It was a hazardous mission to cross that Lake (twelve miles) in these frail barks-to land at midnight on the enemy's side, in an almost impenetrable swamp, and await the dawn of day to make the desperate attempt which would insure them victory or a soldier's death; but they

the Boeuf crossing, we have bagged them all; still we do not hear them, although the cannonade has been going on without intermission for one and a half hours. What has become of the storming party? They have not yet attacked; there is no sign of them; presently we hear one, two, and then the long, distant sound of artillery from. the Boeuf. Majors is there! Their communication is cut off completely. Just at this moment, to add to the enemy's confusion and disaster, the long looked-for "forlorn hope made its appearance in the edge of the woods; with a real Texas yell they dashed at once, with bayonets fixed and pistols drawn, full at the threatening walls of the proud forts. In twenty minutes they had climbed its walls, dispersed its garrison, torn down the stars and stripes, and hoisted the "bonnie blue flag" over its ramparts. Leaving a small band to take care of the Fort, the gallant Hunter rushed on to the camps below, the affrighted enemy throwing down their arms and surrendering indiscriminately, until he had swept the whole place. Green, in the mean time, had engaged their gunboat with the Valverde and

Nichols batteries, and after a hotly contested duel of half an hour, drove it shamefully away.

In half an hour Generals Taylor, Mouton, and Green, with their respective staffs, had their headquarters in the city of Brashear.

opposition, but anticipating the enemy in strong force, retired slowly toward the bend.

When about half-way back a squad of our cavalry came dashing up in his rear, hotly pursued by the enemy. Colonel Leib immediately formed his regiment across an open field, and with one volley dispersed the approaching enemy. Expecting the enemy would contest the

nel Leib fell back over the bridge, and from thence to Milliken's Bend, from whence he met a messenger informing me of the success of the expedition, and reported the enemy to be advancing.

Captured 1800 prisoners and thirty-three commissioned officers; $3,000,000 commissary stores; $1,500,000 quartermaster's stores; $250,000 ordnance stores; $100,000 medical stores; twenty-passage of the bridge over Walnut Bayou, Colothree garrison and regimental flags; 1000 tents; 2000 horses and mules; between 6000 and 7000 negroes; sixteen guns; 7000 stand of small arms, and a position of as much importance to this country (trans-Mississippi,) as Port Hudson and Vicksburgh; in fact, the key to Louisiana and I immediately started the Twenty-third Iowa Texas. This brilliant campaign of General Tay- volunteer infantry to their assistance, and Adlor had another great object in view and one of miral Porter ordered the gunboat Choctaw to vast importance, namely: A diversion to force that point. At three o'clock the following mornthe enemy to raise the siege of Port Hudson.ing the enemy made their appearance in strong He now has his choice, to lose New-Orleans or to force on the main Richmond road, driving the abandon his operations against Port Hudson, pickets before them. The enemy advanced upon and retire with his beaten and demoralized army the left of our line, throwing out no skirmishers, into that city. marching in close column by division, with a strong cavalry force on his right flank.

Doc. 27.

DENNIS.

BATTLE AT MILLIKEN'S BEND.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, NEAR
VICKSBURGH, June 16, 1863.

Our forces, consisting of the Twenty-third Iowa volunteer infantry and the African brigade, in all one thousand and sixty-one men, opened upon the enemy when within musket-shot range, which made them waver and recoil, a number running in confusion to the rear. The balance pushing on with intrepidity, soon reached the levee, when they were ordered to charge with the cries of "No quarter!"

GENERAL: Herewith I have the honor of inclosing Brigadier-General E. S. Dennis's report of the battle of Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, The African regiments being inexperienced in fought on the seventh day of June, 1863, together the use of arms, some of them having been with the list of casualties. In this battle most of drilled but a few days, and the guns being very the troops engaged were Africans, who had but inferior, the enemy succeeded in getting upon our little experience in the use of fire-arms. Their works before more than one or two volleys were conduct is said, however, to have been most gal-fired at them. Here ensued a most terrible handlant, and I doubt not, with good officers, they to-hand.conflict of several minutes' duration. will make good troops.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT,
Major-General.

To Brig.-General THOMAS,

Adjutant-General of the Army.

HEADQUARTERS N. E. DISTRICT LOUISIANA,
YOUNG'S POINT, LA., June 12, 1563.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report that, in
accordance with instructions received from me,
Colonel Leib, commanding Ninth Louisiana
A. D., made a reconnoissance in the direction of
Richmond on June sixth, starting from Milliken's
Bend at two o'clock A. M.

Our men using the bayonet freely, and clubbing their guns with fierce obstinacy, contesting every inch of ground until the enemy succeeded in flanking them, and poured a murderous enfilading fire along our lines, directing their fire chiefly to the officers, who fell in numbers.

Not till they were overpowered and forced by superior numbers, did our men fall back behind the bank of the river, at the same time pouring volley after volley into the ranks of the advancing enemy. The gunboat now moved into position, and fired a broadside into the enemy, who immediately disappeared behind the levee, but all the time keeping up a fire upon our men.

The enemy at this time appeared to be extend

He was preceded by two companies of the Tenth Illinois cavalry, commanded by Captaining his line to the extreme right, but was held in Anderson, whom he overtook three miles from the Bend.

It was agreed between them that the Captain should take the left side of Walnut Bayou, and pursue it as far as Mrs. Ames's plantation, while Colonel Leib proceeded along the main Richmond road to the railroad dépôt, three miles from Richmond, where he encountered the enemy's pickets and advance, which he drove in with but little

check by two companies of the Eleventh Louisiana infantry A. D., which had been posted behind cotton-bales, and part of the old levee. In this position the fight continued until near noon, when the enemy suddenly withdrew.

Our men, seeing this movement, advanced upon the retreating column, firing volley after volley at them while they remained within gunshot. The gunboat Lexington then paid her com

pliments to the flying foe, in several well-directed shots, scattering them in all directions.

I here desire to express my thanks to the officers and men of the gunboats Choctaw and Lexington, for their efficient services in the time of need. Their services will long be remembered by the officers and men of the African brigade, for their valuable assistance on that dark and bloody field.

The officers and men deserve the highest praise for their gallant conduct, and especially Colonel Glasgow, of the Twenty-third Iowa, and his brave men, and also to Colonel Leib, of the Ninth Louisiana A. D., who, by his gallantry and daring, inspired his men to deeds of valor, until he fell, seriously though not dangerously wounded.

I regret to state that Colonel Chamberlain, of the Eleventh Louisiana A. D., conducted himself in a very unsoldier-like manner. The enemy consisted of one brigade, numbering about two thousand five hundred, in command of General McCulloch, and two hundred cavalry. The enemy's loss is estimated at about one hundred and fifty killed, and three hundred wounded.

and engaged a three-gun field-battery there stationed. After three shots they ceased firing, and, landing with Lieutenant West and thirty men, I took possession of the bluff, where the clothing, equipments, and breakfast-fires left behind betrayed a very hasty departure. This bluff affords the key to the river, and we held it all day until sunset, though with constant skirmishing between my pickets and those of the enemy.

We found, as we expected, a row of spiles across the river at Wiltown, and a prisoner whom we had taken affected great terror of torpedoes. None, however, appeared, and the able engineering of Captain Trowbridge, in three hours effected a passage for the two small vessels. This was too late for the tide, and we were obliged to wait till noon before ascending farther.

At the first attempt to ascend with the floodtide the Governor Milton went aground, and the Dean going about a mile further, had another engagement with the same battery, and again drove it back. She also running aground, we were compelled to wait an hour longer for the tide, when the two small vessels ascended together. We It is impossible to get any thing near the loss met with no further interruption (the rice-fields of the enemy, as they carried killed and wounded on each side being indefensible) till within two off in ambulances. Among their killed is Colo- miles of the railroad bridge, Here the Dean unnel Allen, Sixteenth Texas. Inclosed please find luckily grounded again, and all efforts to get her tabular statements of killed, wounded, and miss-off being fruitless, I signalled Major Strong, on ing, in all six hundred and fifty-two. Nearly all the missing blacks will probably be returned, as they were badly scattered.

board the tug, to proceed upward to the bridge. He soon found himself under the fire, at two hundred and fifty yards, of a six-gun field-battery planted that morning on the shore, and, after a severe engagement, in which my vessel could render but little aid, our little consort was com

The enemy, under General Hawes, advanced upon Young's Point, whilst the battle was going on at Milliken's Bend, but several well-directed shots from the gunboats compelled them to re-pelled to withdraw; and when at last the Dean was tire.*

Submitting the foregoing, I remain yours re-
spectfully,
ELIAS S. DENNIS,
Brigadier-General Commanding District N. E. Louisiana.
JOHN A. RAWLINS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

Doc. 28.

got off, the tide rendered it necessary to abandon the attempt. We were at this time more than thirty miles from the mouth of the river, and about twenty miles from Charleston.

Descending the river, the Dean had another fight with her old enemies, apparently reenforced, who shelled us very severely from a point near Wiltown. We passed the spiles successfully, but regretted to find the Milton aground upon them. The John Adams tried in vain to pull her off, and

EXPEDITION UP THE SOUTH-EDISTO, S. C. the officers on board were reluctantly compelled

OFFICIAL REPORT OF COLONEL HIGGINSON.

ON BOARD STEAMER JOHN ADAMS,
July 11, 1863.

Brigadier-General Saxton:

to abandon her, as the tide was rapidly falling. I was drawing in the pickets and taking them on board the Dean when this decision was made and acted upon, and it was then too late for me to do GENERAL: I have the honor to submit a report fire, which was accordingly done, the few men on any thing but order the little vessel to be set on of an expedition up the South-Edisto River, un-board having been safely removed. dertaken with your consent and that of General Gillmore, commanding department.

I left Beaufort on the afternoon of the ninth, with the armed steamer John Adams, the transport Enoch Dean, and the small tug Governor Milton. I had with me two hundred and fifty of ficers and men of my regiment, and a section of the First Connecticut battery, under command of

Lieutenant Clinton.

By four o'clock the next morning we anchored before Wiltown, twenty-one miles up the river,

* See page 12, Docs. ante.

After this we met with no further incident, except making five in all. I am happy to say that in all one more artillery fight on the way down the river, these engagements the artillerists, both white and black, did themselves much credit, as indeed did all my command. companies K (Captain Whitney) and G (LieutenI must especially mention ant Sampson) upon whom very exposed duty devolved, in the way of skirmishing.

We brought away about two hundred contrabands, six bales of cotton of the best quality, and two prisoners, F. Hall (Sixth cavalry) and G.

Henry Barnwell, of the Rebel Troop, one of the - well-known family of that name. Both were captured by my skirmishers, with their horses and full equipments. For want of transportation, we left behind a number of fine horses. We de-in removing some spiling that extended across stroyed large quantities of rice, by burning the rice-houses, and cut the dams of the rice-fields. No private property not amenable to military rules was burned or pillaged, though there was abundant opportunity for so doing.

succeeded in driving the rebel cavalry and infantry, capturing one lieutenant and one private belonging to the Sixth S. C. While the skirmishing was going on, the John Adams was employed the river. The work was done under the supervision and engineering of Captain Trowbridge, First S. C. V., and was done with despatch, opening a breach wide enough for the boats to pass up the river. The little Milton and the Dean My command reports two killed, private July passed through the breach and proceeded up the Green, company A, and Wm. S. Verdier, company river for about a mile and a half, and encountered C, and one wounded, myself not severely, in the a battery of two guns. The Dean exchanged a side, from the concussion of a shell. Beside these few shots with the battery, when the battery rethe engineer of the Milton was killed, (Mr. Mills,) tired. The Milton meanwhile got aground, when and one contraband, name unknown. One sailor the rebels posted a battery of two guns on the was slightly wounded in the foot, and one contra-opposite bank and commenced a brisk fire on the band lost a leg. Considering the number of shells Milton. A few well-directed shots from Lieutenthat exploded in and near the vessels-fifteen ant Clinton's guns on board the Milton caused having passed through the Enoch Dean alone-I am surprised that the list is no larger. The loss of the enemy is unknown, but the prisoners stated that one of our first shots dismounted a gun and killed three men.

I have the honor to be, General, very respectfully your obedient servant,

T. W. HIGGINSON,

Colonel Commanding.

A NATIONAL ACCOUNT.

CAMP FIRST REGIMENT S. C. VOLUNTEERS,
BEAUFORT, S. C., July 16, 1863.

Thinking perhaps that you would like to hear of an expedition made by a detachment of the First S. C. volunteers, I will proceed to give you a few items.

The expe

them to retire. The Dean went on about a mile further and encountered two more rebel guns, one on each side of the river. A few shots drove them back. Owing to the draft of the Dean she was obliged to return to the spiling. I almost forgot to mention a detachment of Captain Rogers's company, (F,) who accompanied the expedition and were landed below the bluff, and proceeded about a mile to some extensive rice-mills containing about fifteen thousand bushels of rice, and burned them all. We were detained about two hours for the tide to rise, so that we could fulfil the object of our mission. We then weighed anchor, and the Milton and the Dean proceeded up the river to burn the bridge about fifteen miles from the spiling. When about six miles from the spiling the Dean got aground, and ColoThe expedition left Beaufort on the ninth of nel Higginson ordered the Milton to proceed up July, at four P.M., and arrived at Wiltown the river, but when about twenty rods from the Bluff next morning about three A.M. Dean the Milton was fired at from the shore by a dition was composed of four companies of the three-gun battery. One shell hit the Milton First regiment S. C. volunteers-companies A, B, about midships, and exploded, injuring her ma G, and K-with a detachment of twenty men from chinery and killing her engineer. The Milton company C, who nobly and fearlessly worked the was obliged to turn back, leaving the Dean guns on board the gunboat Enoch Dean. The aground and exposed to two batteries—one on little steamer Governor Milton, commanded by each side of the river. The Dean was hit with Major Strong, First S. C. V., was armed with two eleven shots from the rebels while aground. One brass twelve-pounder Armstrongs from the Con- shell burst quite near Colonel Higginson, injurnecticut battery, commanded by Lieutenant Clin-ing him severely by the concussion. Another ton, First Connecticut battery. The John Adams had on board two twenty-four pounder rifles and two twenty-four pounder howitzers, commanded by Mr. Edward Herron and Lieutenant Walker, First S. C. V. The Enoch Dean had two guns, one ten-pounder Parrott and one six-pounder howitzer, commanded by Captain George Dally, First S. C. V. On arriving near the bluff a contraband was seen on shore and a boat sent for him. He reported a battery of three guns on the bluff. The John Adams fired one gun and was answered by one gun from the bluff, when the rebels retired. Companios K, Captain Whitney, and G, Lieutenant Simpson, landed at the bluff and deployed their companies as skirmishers. After marching about one mile they encountered about one company of cavalry and a company of sharpshooters, when they had a brisk skirmish and VOL. VII.-Doc. 12

shell passed through the bows of the Dean, killing one gunner and injuring three deck-hands severely. Captain Dolly expended all his ammunition for his ten-pounder rifle, and had only his six-pounder howitzer to fight with. The Dean managed to get afloat by using tar to get up steam, and proceeded down the river and en countered a battery of five guns about four miles from the piles, which riddled the Dean completely with shot and canister. The Milton had meanwhile run down the river, and, by mistake, run headlong on the spiles. Being unable to get her off, she was abandoned and burned. The machinery of the Dean was now disabled, and she was taken in tow by the John Adams.

We then proceeded down the river; but it would be well to mention another brisk skirmish which occurred before embarking, between the rebels