Ordered First. That all United States Mar
shals, and Superintendents or Chiefs of Police of
any town, city, or district, be and they are hereby
authorized and directed to arrest and imprison
any person or persons who may be engaged, by
act, speech, or writing, in discouraging volunteer
enlistments, or in any way giving aid and comfort
to the enemy, or in any other disloyal practice
against the United States.
Second. That an immediate report be made to
Major L. C. Turner, Judge Advocate, in order
that such person may be tried before a military
commission.
Third. The expenses of such arrest and im
prisonment will be certified to the chief clerk of
the War Department for settlement and payment.
EDVS IN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT, j
WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., August 8, 1S62. j
An order to prevent the evasion of military
duty, and for the suppression of disloyal prac
tices :
^First. By direction of the President of the
United States it is hereby ordered that until fur
ther orders no citizen liable to be drafted into the
militia shall be allowed to go to a foreign country,
and all marshals, deputy-marshals, and military
officers of the United States are directed, and all
police authorities, especially at the ports of the
United States on the seaboard and on the frontier,
are requested to see that this order is faithfully
carried into effect. And they are hereby author
ized and directed to arrest and detain any person
or persons about to depart from the United States
in violation of this order, and to report to Major
L. C. Turner, Judge Advocate at Washington
City, for further instructions respecting the per
sons so arrested and detained.
Second. Any person liable to draft, who shall
absent himself from his county or State before
such draft is made, will be arrested by any Pro
vost-Marshal or other United States or State
officer wherever he may be found within the jur
isdiction of the United States, and conveyed to
the nearest military post or depot, and placed on
military duty for the term of the draft ; and the
expenses of his own arrest and conveyance to
H U r Cl 7 St Or ^ d also the sum of five do?
larsas a reward to the officer who .hall nrAe
such arrest shall be deducted from his pa v
Ihird. Ihe writ of habeas corpus is hereby
suspended in respect to all persons so arrested
and detained for disloyal practices.
EDWIN M. STANTOX,
Secretary of War,
Doc. 176.
SELF-MUTILATION L\ CONNECTICUT.
TUB following note from the surgeon of the
Eleventh Senatorial district of Connecticut, gives
an account of the measures resorted to to avoid
the draft :
To the Editors of the Evening Post :
I see by an article in your paper, (August 13 )
that three individuals from Danbury had cut off
each a fore-finger, to evade the draft. There is a
mistake in one particular. These persons were
not from Danbury, but from New-Fairfieid, an ad
joining town. Instead of three there were five, be
sides some have had all their teeth extracted for
the same purpose. There is no trick or dishonest
device to which they have not resorted to escape
helping to maintain the best Government un-k-r
heaven. I find men can be loyal yes, very
loyal, vociferously loyal when it costs nothing ;
but when the hour of trial conies they show the
white feather, and like miserable cowards as they
are, resort to the meanest acts possible to escape.
EZRA P. BENNETT,
Examining Surgeon for the Eleventh Senatorial District,
Connecticut.
DANBURY, CT., August 16, 1S62.
Doc. 177.
BOMBARDMENT OF DONALDSONVILLE
FLAG-OFFICER FARRAGUT 3 DESPATCH.
UXITKD STATES FLAG-SHIP HARTFORD, \
NEW-ORLEANS, August 10, 1662. J
SIR: I regret to inform the Department that
at the town of Donaldsonvillc, on the Mississippi,
they have pursued a uniform practice of firing
upon our steamers passing up and down the river.
1 sent a message to the inhabitants that if they
did not discontinue this practice I would destroy
their town. The last time I passed up to Katon
Rouge to the support of the army, I anchored
about six miles above Donaldsonville, and hrrml
them firing upon the vessels coming up ; first
upon the Sallie Robinson and next upon the
Brooklyn. In the latter case they made a mis
take, and it was so quickly returned that they ran
away. The next night they fired again upon
the St. Charles. I therefore ordered them to si-nd
their women and children out of town, as I cer
tainly intended to destroy it on my way down
the river; and I fulfilled my promise to a certain
extent
576
REBELLION RECORD, 1862.
I burnt down the hotels and wharf buildings ;
also the dwelling-house and other buildings of a
Mr. Philippe Landry, who is said to be a captain
of guerrillas. He fired upon our men, but they
chased him off. We also brought off some ten or
twelve of his negroes, and supplied ourselves with
Battle and sheep from his place.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. G. FARRAGUT,
Flag-Officer Commanding W. Gr. Blockading Squadron.
Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Nary.
Doc. ITS.
FIGHT AT INDEPENDENCE, MO.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BUELL S REPORT.
ST. Louis, Mo., August 17, 1362.
LIEUTENANT : I have the honor to report that
the military post of Independence, Mo., was at
tacked on the morning of August eleventh, at
daybreak, by the rebel forces under command of
Col. J. H. Hughes, numbering from seven hundred
to eight hundred men. These forces entered the
town at two points, namely, by the Big Spring
road and the Harrisonville road. The party en
tering by the Big Spring road divided into two
parties, one of which attacked the provost-guard,
of twenty-four men, stationed at the jail ; the
other attacked the bank building, which was oc
cupied as headquarters, also the armory of the
volunteer militia, situated on the opposite side
of the street, guarded by a detachment of twenty-
one men, sixteen of this number being volunteer
militia.
The main body, entering by the Harrisonville
road, proceeded along the two streets leading to
the camp, which was situated nearly eighty rods
west from the bank building, attacking the camp
on the east and north sides, and thus cutting me
off from all communication with the camp. The
first attack was made on that part of the camp
held by the company of Captain Thomas, second
battalion Missouri State militia. This company,
not being able to maintain its ground, being hard
pressed, fell back to the cover of a stone wall
running parallel with the south side of the camp.
The remaining companies, which were posted to
the right and rear of this company, fell back to
the same position, where, being enfiladed by a
destructive flank-fire, they retired along the stone
wall, thus avoiding a galling fire from the enemy
posted in a corn-field. At this critical moment
Lieut. Hetherington, of the second battalion Mis
souri State militia, was detached with sixty-five
men to open, if possible, a communication with
headquarters. Advancing northward, he was at
tacked by a superior force, which compelled him
to seek the cover of a brick house, which he de
fended in a most gallant manner, until he was
apprised that further defence was useless, when
he withdrew his command to Kansas City.
The number killed, and who have since died
of their wounds, amount to twenty-six. The
wounded number thirty, comprising First Lieut.
Yance and Second Lieut. Pence, both of the Sev
enth Missouri volunteer cavalry, who conducted
themselves in a gallant manner. Second Lieut.
Young and Second Lieut. Swan also behaved gal
lantly. The loss of the enemy could not be as
certained, as early in the action they commenced
carrying off their dead into the country.
From authentic sources, I learn that Colonel
Hughes, Captain Clark, and the notorious Kit
Childs, and a number of others were buried at
Independence. Among the wounded of the ene
my were Col. Thompson, Lieut. -Col. Boyd, and,
fatally, Major Hart, etc. J. T. BUELL,
Lieut.-Col. Seventh Missouri Volunteer Cavalry.
To Lieut. J. L. CHANDLER, *-
Adjutant Sub. District, Lexington, Mo.
THE "BORDER STATE" NARRATIVE.
An extra of TTie Border State, dated Indepen
dence, Mo., August twelfth, contains the follow
ing details of the capture of the military post at
that place :
Just before daylight on Monday morning tho
eleventh inst., our people were aroused by a vol
ley of musketry from the vicinity of the Federal
encampment, followed by rapid firing from the
Colonel s residence and headquarters, and from
the direction of the jail, where a strong guard is
always posted.
It seems that the recent military orders, fol
lowed as they were by stringent though necessa
ry steps on the part of the local military authori
ties, have greatly excited and exasperated the
people of this county, and for a week past men
have been flocking to the standard of Hays and
Quantrcl. During the past week their force has
been augmented by recruits from other counties,
and some days since they were joined by Gen.
Hughes, Colonel Boyd, Col. Thompson and other
confederate officers, by whom they were sworn
into the confederate service. Needing additional
arms and ammunition, they determined to attack
the post at Independence, which was weak in
point of force. The Federal forces here did not
number over four hundred and fifty, all told, in
cluding sick and wounded.
The enemy entered the town by two roads.
On one of these roads the Federal pickets either
concealed themselves or retreated without giving
the necessary alarm; on the other the pickets
were killed. The confederates were in town and
n almost every part of it before there was any
notice of their approach. They divided their
forces, a portion surrounding the Colonel s head
quarters, and thus cutting him off from commu-
lication with his men, another portion drew up
n front of the jail, while the larger portion took
possession of gardens, orchards, corn-fields and
Buildings commanding the camp. The Federals,
though thus surprised and taken at disadvantage,
fought with daring courage.
Col. Buell gathered his little force together, arid
;o every volley poured into him from the adjacent
louses and streets, he sent back an answer of the
same kind. He directed Orderly Haskell to hoist
DOCUMENTS.
577
the Stirs and Stripes upon the roof of the hons
to show his men at camp that he was holdin
out to the last. In doing this the gallant youn
man was shot, and died a few hours after. H
sent up another man, who succeeded in elcvatin
the flag and concealing himself. About this tim
a white flag was displayed from the camp, thei
withdrawn, displayed again, and again withdrawn
The firing had ceased in the direction of the jai
and the provost s office.
Captain Breckinridge was in command of th
camp, being senior captain. At the beginning o
the fight he detailed a squad of fifteen or twenty
men to proceed to the intersection of the street
in front of Mr. U. Turner s, and prevent acces
from that quarter. The men did not stop in fron
of Mr. Turner s, but pushed on from point to point
taking shelter wherever they could, and firim
wherever they saw a foe, until they at last tool
shelter in the large brick house of Mr, Willian
McCoy. From here they kept up a brisk fire upor
such confederates as strayed that way, but finallj
made good their escape to parts unknown.
During this time the camp was evacuated, th<
soldiers being pressed back into Woodson s pas
ture, and had formed back of the rock fence. In
this retreat the losses on both sides were pretty
serious here General Hughes fell, while leading
his men to a desperate charge. By this time th
Colonel s headquarters were surrounded on al
sides, the building completely riddled with balls,
every pane of glass demolished, the walls and floors
covered with bullets and an adjoining buildin
set on fire in order to communicate flames to the
house,
Looking toward the camp, the Colonel saw it
evacuated from other points where resistance to
the enemy might have been expected, no sound
of musketry was heard and as the only alterna
tive to save the lives of his men and the property
of the citizens, he consented to hang out a white
flag and surrender the post. So soon as this was
done the confederates ceased firing, messengers
under flags of truce were sent to and fro, and the
post surrendered.
The surrender was to the Southern Confederacy
not to bushwhackers and the prisoners were
most kindly treated as prisoners of war and pa
roled.
In the hour of victory a moderation and mag
nanimity were exercised that was far from what
was expected. No private house entered, no pri
vate property taken, except wagons for transpor
tation, and no Union family molested.
The confederates returned to their camp in the
country, taking with them all the arms, muni
tions of war, cavalry -horses, etc. Camp equipage,
and such articles as were not needed, were piled up
and burned. Many horses were killed during the
engagement, and others so crippled that they had
to be shot to put them out of their misery.
At last accounts from the confederate encamp
ment they had been reenforced, and now number
some twelve hundred.
At present we have no promise of any new
Federal force immediately. News from other
VOL. V. Doc. 37
points leads us to believe there has been a simul
taneous uprising of rebeldom throughout the
State.
Doc. 179.
THE FIGHT AT COMPTON S FERRY, MO.
CINCINNATI GAZETTE ACCOUNT.
HEADQUARTERS FFRST BATTALION MERRILL S HORSE )
CAMP DEFIAJJCK, GLASGOW, Mo., August 19. f
Tnis post, garrisoned by about one hundred
effective men of Merrill s Horse, had been threat
ened for ten days by a guerrilla band, number
ing from seven to eight hundred men, commanded
by the notorious Poindexter. On the seventh
instant, the monotony was broken by the appear
ance of two steamers coming up the river with
reinforcements, consisting of about four hundred
of the Ninth Missouri State militia ; companies A
and D, Seventh Missouri State militia; about
seventy men, commanded by Capt. Turley; a
section of Missouri State militia battery, com
manded by Capt. Washburne all under Colonel
Guitar, Ninth Missouri State militia. When they
came in sight of our camp, it was greeted with
cheers, as fears were entertained for our safety.
To this force was added company A, Merrill s
Horse, twenty-four men, Lieut. Lovejoy ; compa-
nyB, Merrill s Horse, forty men, Lieut. Bennett;
company D, Merrill s Horse, fifty men, Lieut. Ro-
icr, under the command of Major C. B. Hunt, and
on morning of the eighth we started to look for the
enemy, who was supposed to be encamped near Sil-
er Creek, some thirty miles distant. We marched
miles, learned that Poindexter occupied a
strong camp in the Persia Bottom, seven miles
listant, and that he was perfecting his organiza-
ion and preparations for service, and that he had
welve hundred men. We were compelled to go
nto camp on account of rain and the near ap
proach of night; left camp early on morning of
he ninth ; expecting a fight, approached the camp
:autiously. When we reached it, learned that
le had left during the night in great haste. Fol-
owing his trail, we drove him away from a din-
icr which was prepared for him by the citizens ;
vent into camp after dark, having marched thir-
y-five miles ; on morning of the tenth left camp
arly, and continued pursuit vigorously during
lie forenoon ; took a number of his rear-guard
irisoners ; drove him away from his dinner again,
nd finally came up with his rear-gunrd at Swis-
er s Mill, on the east branch of Chariton River.
{ portion of his men were drawn up in line on
ic opposite bank, having torn up the planking
f the bridge. Capt. Turley, who was in the
dvance, fired on them, killing five. They rc-
urned the fire and fled without giving time for
ic artillery to open fire. No injury was sus-
lined by us from his fire. We repaired the
ridge, crossed and camped for the night, having
larched thirty miles ; continued the pursuit on
ic morning of the eleventh ; learned that Poin-
exter was making a forced march to gain time
cross Grand River at Compton Ferry, thirty
REBELLION RECORD, 1862.
five miles distant. He obstructed our progress
by tearing the plank from bridges, etc. On near-
ing the river at sunset we saw their pickets and
other signs that the whole body had not crossed.
Our advance, commanded by Capt. Turley, felt
their way cautiously through the thickly-timbered
bottom, and on reaching the ferry landing, were
greeted by a volley of rifle-balls and buckshot
from the opposite bank, which was received and
returned in a gallant manner, firing three rounds,
one of which was directed at a boat-load of men
in the act of crossing, all but one of whom jumped
overboard, making their way to the bottom or to
the other shore. At this time the guns were in po
sition, and opened with canister and shell. Eight
rounds were fired, when, as it was no longer an
swered, the firing was stopped. Although the ene
my fired three hundred or more shots at us in easy
range, but two men on our side were hit by his
shot, and those not hard enough to break the
skin. It was different with them losing ^one
hundred in killed and wounded, two hundred
prisoners, six (all) wagons, about one hundred
horses and saddles, one hundred and fifty guns,
all his ammunition, provisions, etc. Many of his
men succeeded in making their escape, leaving
boots, hats, etc. On crossing the river near one
hundred guns were found. On the ground that
he had occupied when firing, it would seem that
when the artillery opened on them they dropped
every thing and run. In some instances these
guns were found loaded, and even capped and
cocked. The pursuit was continued by Major
Hunt, with Merrill s Horse, Capt. Turley s com
pany, and company D, Ninth Missouri State mili
tia, to Utica, twenty-six miles further, when it
was found that a large force of militia men wore
on the trail ahead of him, returned to Compton
Ferry. Col. Guitar remained at the ferry, col
lected the captured property, and then went to
Leclede, on the H. and St. J. R. R, for provi
sions, of which the command was short. On his
return he again encountered Poindcxter, who had
made a turn, and seemed to be making for the
point from which he started ; had a running fight
with him for several miles, killing five of his men
and taking a number of prisoners, horses, etc.,
having one man of his command shot through
the thigh, which was the only wound received on
our side during the three days. Our whole com
mand got together at Kcitsville, and, from infor
mation received, believed Poindexter had dis
banded the remnant of his force. We returned
to Glasgow, having been absent ten days. H.
Doc. 180.
FIGHT NEAR KINDERIIOOK, TENN.
GENERAL NEGLEY S REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, I
COLUMBIA, TESN., August 11, 18623 P.M. f
MY movement against the guerrillas who hav
committed the late outrage has been completely
luccessful. Major McGowan, in command of thr
Ihird Kentucky cavalry and First Tennessee cav
ilry, numbering one hundred and eight men, en*
2jaged one hundred and seventy-five of the enemy,
lear Kinderhook, at five A.M., continuing the con-
est fiercely for four hours. Seven were found
dlled, and a large number were wounded. Twen-
y-seven prisoners were captured, among which
ire a number of officers. Our loss was three
tilled. The woody and broken character of the
ountry, and the combatants being scattered, pre
sents an actual estimate of the enemy s loss.
I have received news from Major S. H. Kenne
dy, of my staff, commanding another portion of
,he expedition. He is driving the enemy in every
direction. JAS. S. NEGLEY,
Brigadier-General Commanding.
Doc. 181.
RECONNOISSANCE TO SWANSBORO, N. 0.
NEWBERN "PROGRESS" NARRATIVE.
NEWBJSRX, N. C., August 21, 1S62.
A RECONXOISSANCE in force to the town of
Swansboro set out from Newbern on Wednesday,
hirteenth August, under the command of Col.
Stevenson, commanding Second brigade, First di
vision. It consisted of a portion of the Twenty -
burth regiment Massachusetts volunteers, under
Lieut. -Col. Osborn, a detachment of the marine
artillery, under Lieut. -Colonel Manchester, and a
company of the Third New-York artillery.
On that day the transports Pilot Boy, Ocean
Queen, Massasoit, Wilson, and Union carrying
a portion of the troops proceeded through Core
Sound to Beaufort, where they were joined by the
others, who had come down by rail. Thursday
was passed in providing the vessels with coal and
water, and on Friday the expedition proceeded on
its route.
The Union, together with the Wilson and the
launches of the marine artillery, went by way of
Bogue Sound, while the other transports, accom
panied by the gunboat Ellis, Lieutenant Porter,
pushed out past Fort Macon into the ocean, and
followed the coast to Bogue Inlet. The wind,
which was light at daybreak, blew hard by after
noon, and it was with some difficulty that the
vessels passed through the narrow, winding inlet,
among the breakers. Within was still water, and
a broad creek with meadow-lands on either side.
The boats anchored at its mouth, and waited
for the arrival of the Union and the Wilson.
Swansboro was seen in the distance, and very
soon after their arrival a large white fiag was seen
to wave from a high brick building. A launch
of the artillery was at once sent forward, and its
men landed. At nightfall the Wilson arrived,
bearing Col. Stevenson and staff, and proceeded
immediately to the town. By this time it was
quite dark, and all the vessels lay quietly at .an
chor during the night. In the morning the Union
arrived. She had gone aground several times.
The vessels then proceeded up to Swansboro.
It is a small village, built on a slope of land rising
slightly from the marshes around. 3ut few in-
DOCUMENTS.
570
habitants came out of the score of poorly-built,
tumbled-down old houses. Many, doubtless, had
left the town. Some time ago it was the head
quarters of the rebel cavalry in this vicinity, and
up to the time of the arrival of our troops some
force had always been kept there. None, how
ever, were to be seen then. A small portion of
the troops landed and went a short distance be
yond the town, but no enemy was discovered. A
private of the cavalry a small young fellow
who by some chance was just returning on fur
lough, was captured, with the usual double-bar
reled shot-gun and old-fashioned sword. The
rebels had evidently determined to make no re
sistance whatever.
On the seventeenth a body of troops were land
ed, and after marching about four miles, arrived
at several large salt works, belonging to rebels of
the names of Hawkins, Burnam, and Saunders.
These were destroyed. In a clump of trees on
the marsh, facing the creek, were a deserted bat
tery and wooden barracks, once furnished with
four guns. These had been taken for the defence
of Newbern, and were captured by our troops
here. The battery, together with the barracks,
was destroyed. Several other reconnoissances
were made in other directions, but the enemy
kept themselves at safe distances, and could not
be found.
On Tuesday the expedition, having accom
plished its object, returned to Beaufort.
Goodhart was shot through the head and through
the heart, and died instantly. Private Stone was
shot in the head, M:U! killed instantly. The reb
els were most severely punished ; twenty were
left dead on the field, and nine were taken pris
oners. Five were taken prisoners and one killed
the next da}^ who were making their way back
to Kentucky. Sixty horses and mules, and souio
forty guns, fell into our hands. Capt. Fullerton
is in full pursuit of the enemy.
Killed Calvin Terry, First Lieutenant, shot
through the body; John Goodhart, Second
Lieutenant, shot through the heart and head-
Jacob F. Stone, private, shot through the head.
Wounded John C. Philbrick, First Sergeant,
shot in right arm, arm since amputated ; R. S.
Easkin, Second Sergeant, in left arm, slightly ; A.
Galespie, flesh-wound in thigh; \Ym. Bcfunan,
severely in knee ; Peter Sharp, hip and thigh, se
riously ; Win. Warner, slightly in knee.
J. R. LOCKE,
Chaplain Second Illinois Cavalry.
Doc. 183.
CAPTURE OF THE STEAMER FAIR PLAY.
CHICAGO "EVENING JOURNAL" ACCOUNT.
UNITED STATES STEAM RAM FLEET, )
ABOVE VICKSBUKGH, Miss., August 21, 1S62. f
THE rams Switzerland, Monarch, Sampson, and
Lioness, of Col. Alfred W. Ellet s Mississippi rarn
3eet, in connection with the gunboats Ben ton,
Mound City, and Gen. Bragg, under command of