soners. But, notwithstanding this check, they
dashed across the ravine and up the hill, and a
portion of them up Main street, north of our
position, which brought them in range of our
musketry, when a terrible fire was opened on
them by our boys, unhorsing a number, killing
and wounding a number of horses and men. It
was during this heavy musketry that Col. Wood
ward s horse fell dead under him, struck by three
bullets. The chivalrous Colonel did some fine
crawling for about twenty feet to escape the shots
directed toward him. A bullet broke the skin
slightly on the side of his head. Notwithstand
ing their leader was down, on dashed those of the
charging column yet in their saddles till they
reached Spring street, when they wheeled to the
left at right angles, still coming at a furious speed
and receiving our fire at every opening between
the houses till they reached College street, down
which they essayed to make a charge directly
upon our earthworks, but the second platoon of
company B, Capt. McConnell s, poured into them
such a galling fire that they were again repulsed
and scattered in the wildest confusion. I saw
more than a score of riderless horses careering
over the hills and through the ravines.

Just as the attack was made a number of
buildings were fired to prevent the rebels from
sheltering themselves in them and behind them.
In the height of the engagement thick volumes of
smoke were ascending from the houses and the
red tongues of flame were leaping from the win
dows and darting through the roofs. The sharp
crack of rifled muskets, the heavy booming of
our nine-inch* howitzer and six-pounder, the
wild shouts of the combatants, and the roar of
the consuming flames, made a scene of terrific
sublimity. Seventeen houses were burned, and
among them the court-house. Every commis
sioned officer did his whole duty truly and nobly.
I ask leave to mention their names : Company A,
Capt. Carlin and Lieuts. Williams and Simmons ;
company B, Capt. McConnell and Lieuts. Toms
and Brandon ; company G, Capt. Moody and
Lieut. Nichols ; company H, Captain Le Blond,
(Lieut. Gable, being very sick at the time, was
not in the engagement.) What I have said of
the commissioned officers is equally true of all
the non-commissioned officers, and all the pri
vates except four. Captain Moody, Lieuts. Toms,
Branden, and Nichols, took guns and fought like
soldiers in the ranks. Major Hart, commanding



* The six-pounder we used in the fight was left by the rebels
at the surrender of Fort Donelson in March last. Its trunnions
were broken off, and it was supposed to be useless. But our
boys had it and the howitzer, which had also been demolished,
hauled fully a mile and a half. They hollowed a log, put the
six-pounder into it, fastened it there, mounted it on trucks and
placed it in position ; the howitzer they remounted on it s own
wheels, and manufactured ammunition for both out of musket
cartridges, except a few canister shots, minus the powder for the
small gun, which the boys picked up. And this was our artil
lery. The men who worked the guns managed admirably for
Inexperienced hands. A. L. M.



the forces, behaved with coolness and gallantry,
Capt. McConnell handled his men excellently,
and behaved himself with marked bravery. Capts.
Carlin and Le Blond were at their posts and boi 6
themselves like true soldiers as they are. Sergt.-
Major McConnell, acting Adjutant, seized a mus
ket and fought nobly. The sutler, George Steel e,
fired nine rounds. Mr. Pelton, his clerk, was in
manfully. W. G. Nichols, Quartermaster s Ser
geant, and William S. Wilson, Quartermaster s
Clerk, with Enfield rifles in hand, did excellent
service. And so did Geo. B. Frye, regimental
post-master, and Ben. Hamilton, Adjutant s
Clerk, using their Enfields with steadiness and
accuracy. I name these gentlemen because they
are regarded in the army as non-combatants, and
yet in the hour of need were not found wanting.
Our entire number in ranks during the engage
ment was one hundred and fifty-five, against
seven hundred and eighty-five, according to Col.
Woodward s own statement. From the time the
enemy made the attack till he was repulsed and
entirely driven off, was about one hour, though
the sharp firing did not continue more than thirty
minutes. The rebel loss, from all that we can
gather, as information is constantly coming in,
will not fall short of thirty killed and wounded.
We took no prisoners, as it was imprudent for
any of our troops to leave the earth-works, as our
force was too small. Not a man among us was
hurt. This is accounted for in the security of
our intrenchment. The rebel bullets at one time
fell uncomfortably thick in our camp, some of
them grazing the top of our breast-works, and
others striking very close to some of the officers.
As soon as the rebels were known to be in force
in our immediate vicinity, a telegram was sent to
Col. W. W. Lowe, commanding the post at Fort
Henry and Hindman, and to whose command we
are temporarily attached, informing him of the
danger, and asking reinforcements. Ho promptly
responded to our call by immediately marching
at the head of six companies of cavahy and one
field-piece. They arrived here at about half-past
six o clock P.M. The enemy had been routed and
were retreating up the river. At daylight next
morning (twenty-sixth) Col. Lowe, at the head
of four companies being less than one hundred
and thirty men of Fifth Iowa cavalry, started
in pursuit of the enemy, overtaking them at Cum
berland Iron Works, about seven miles from here.
A sharp engagement followed. The rebels, about
five hundred or six hundred strong, were posted
in a deep ravine bordering on the road, along a
cornfield-fence and behind houses. Their posi
tion was one of great natural strength. The ene
my s battery became annoying, and Col. Lowe
ordered Lieut. Summers, with his company (B)
to charge it. The order was obeyed in gallant
style. He, at the head of his company, charged
through a terrible fire of the concealed foe, scat
tering the rebel cavalry, upsetting and breaking
the cannon, so as to render it useless. The
charge of the cavalry was most daring and heroic.
At least a score of horses went down with it.
From fifteen to twenty of our men were kill 3d



DOCUMENTS.



593



and wounded ; among them was the gallant Lieut.
Summers, who was mortally wounded. The loss
of the enemy is not known. Col. Lowe s forces,
both men and horses, being jaded and suffering
for food, returned to this post, after having waited
more than an hour for the enemy to make an
attack. The bearing of Col. Lowe s cavalry was
without fault brave. Col. Lowe commanded in
person, and was cool and firm ; and so was Lieut.
Col. Patrick.

I have been somewhat lengthy in my account
of the engagement of Monday last at this post
yet I hope you will publish it entire. You arc
fully aware of the odium that has been attached
we think unjustly to the Seventy-first regi
ment Ohio volunteer infantry, in consequence o:
its reported conduct at the battle of Shiloh. I
thank God that this detachment, at least, has
flung that foul disgrace from its shoulders wash
ed the stain of imputed cowardice from its skirts
in the blood of the enemy.

I cannot close this letter without mcntionin
the name of J. L. Davis, of company B. The
enemy claimed to have cut the telegraph-wire be
tween this and Fort Henry, and he feared they
had intercepted our telegram for help. The ques
tion was : " "Who will run the gauntlet of the
enemy s lines," (as they had us quite surrounded,)
" and carry a despatch to Colonel Lowe ?" Mr.
Davis, though unable to walk without a crutch,
from a sprained ankle, promptly volunteered, and
mounted and was off. It was heroic. He met
Colonel Lowe s forces about three miles on their
way.

"We captured a number of guns, and among
them some of those the rebels took from our boys
at Clarksville. Respectfully yours,

A. L. McKlNNEY,

Chaplain Seventy-first Regiment O.V.I.



Doc. 192.
BATTLE OF NEW-ULM, MINN.

OFFICIAL REPORT OF CAPTAIN FLAXDRAU.

ST. PETER, Aug. 27, 1862.

His Excellency, Gov. Alexander Ramsey :

SIR : Events have transpired so rapidly, and
my time has been so taken up since my last com
munication, that I cannot with certainty recall
the condition of things existing at its date, but
believe I wrote you almost immediately preced
ing the second attack upon New-Ulm, which oc
curred on Saturday last.

During the morning, we discovered a succes
sion of fires on the Nicollet county side of the
river, very near the bluffs, approaching us from
the direction of Fort Ridgcly. Our supposition
was, that the Fort had fallen, and the Indians
were moving down upon the town, on that side of
the river, to unite with another party on the side
we were occupying.

As they increased in numbers very rapidly, I
thought it best to send a detachment over, to as
certain the design of the enemy, and if possible,

VOL. V. Doc. 38



give him a check on that side of the river. Lieut.
Huey, of Traverse des Sioux, volunteering to
perform the service, I detailed seventy-five men
with him, and they crossed at the ferry opposite
the town, at about nine o clock A. jr. Very short
ly after their departure, the Indians were dis
covered issuing from the woods above the town in
large numbers, and assembling upon the prairie.

I at once posted all my available force upon
the open prairie, outside the town, about a half a
mile at some points, and at a greater distance to
ward the point at which I conceived the attack
would be made, determining to give them battle
in the open field, where, I conceived, would be to
our greatest advantage.

At nearly ten A.M. the body began to move to
ward us, first slowly, and then with considerable
rapidity. The men were encouraged by their of
ficers to stand firm and meet the attack, and all
promised well. We had in all, about two hun
dred and fifty guns, while the Indians were va
riously estimated at from four hundred to fivo
hundred. I fixed the number at not over three
hundred and fifty.

Their advance upon the sloping prairie, in tlu
bright sunlight, was a ver} r fine spectacle, and to
such inexperienced soldiers as we all were, in
tensely exciting. When within about one milt
and a half of us, the mass began to expand like
a fan, and increase in the velocity of its approach,
and continued this movement until within about
double rifle-shot, when it had covered our entire
front. Then the savages uttered a terrific yell,
and came down upon us like the wind. I had
stationed myself at a point in the rear, whert
communication could be had with me easily, and
awaited the first discharge with great anxiety, as
it seemed to me that to yield was certain destruc
tion, as the enemy would rush into the town and
drive all before them. The yell unsettled the
men a little ; and just before the rifles began to
crack, they fell back along the whole line, and
committed the error of passing the outer houses
without taking possession of them a mistake
which the Indians immediately took advantage
of, by themselves occupying them in squads ol
two, three, and up to ten. They poured into us
a sharp and rapid fire, as we fell back, and open
ed from the houses in every direction. Several
of us rode up the hill, endeavoring to rally the
men, and with good effect, as they gave three
cheers, and sallied out of various houses they
had retreated to, and checked the advance effect
ually. The firing from both sides then became
general, sharp, and rapid, and it got to be a regu-
ar Indian skirmish, in which every man did his
own work after his own fashion.

The Indians had spread out until they had got
nto our rear, and on all sides, having the very
lecided advantage of the houses on the bluff,
,vhich commanded the interior of the town, with
;he exception of the wind-mill, which was occu-
>icd by about twenty of the Le Sucur Tigers, and .
icld them at long-range. The wind was from
:he lower part of the town, and this fact directed
;he larger part of the enemy to that point, where



594



REBELLION RECORD, 1862.



they promptly commenced firing the houses, and
advancing behind the smoke. The conflagration
became general in the lower part of the town, on
both sides of the street, and the bullets flew very
thickly both from the bluff and up the street. I
thought it prudent to dismount, and direct the
defence on foot. Just at this point Capt. Dodd,
of St. Peter, and some one else, whose name I
do not know, charged down the street, to ascer
tain (I have since learned) whether some horse
men, seen in the extreme lower town, were not
our friends coming in, and were met, about three
blocks down, with a heavy volley from behind a
house, five bullets passing through Capt. Dodd,
and several through his horse. They both turn
ed, and the Captain got in sufficiently near to be
received by his friends before he fell. He died
about five hours after being hit. Too much can
not be said of his personal bravery and general
desire to perform his duty manfully.

Capt. Saunders, of the Le Sueur company, was
shot through a part of his body shortly after, and
retired, placing his rifle in effective hands, and
encouraging the men. The fight was going on all
around the town during the whole forenoon and
part of the afternoon, sometimes with slight ad
vantage to us, and again to the Indians, but the
difficulty that stared us in the face, was the grad
ual but certain approach, up the main street, be
hind the burning buildings, which promised our
destruction. We frequently sallied out and took
buildings in advance, but the risk of being picked
off from the bluff was unequal to the advantage
gained, and the duty was performed with some
reluctance by the men. In the lower part of the
town I had some of the best men in the State,
both as shots and for coolness and determination.
It will be sufficient to name two as types of a
class of the best fighting men Asa White and
Newell Houghton known to all old settlers.
They did very effective service in checking the
advance, both by their unerring rifles and the
good examples their steadiness placed before the
younger men.

We discovered a concentration of Indians on
the side of the street toward the river, and at the
rear of the buildings, and expected a rush upon
the town from that position, the result of which I
feared more than any thing else, as the bo} r s had
proved unequal to it in the morning, and we were
not disappointed, for in a few moments they came
on ponies and on foot, furiously, about sixty in
number, charging round a point of a little grove
of oaks. This was the critical point of the day,
but four or five hours under fire had brought the
boys up to the fighting temperature, and they
stood firmly and advanced with a cheer, routing
the rascals like sheep. They received us with a
very hot fire, killing Houghton, and an elderly
gentleman, whose name I did not know. As they
fled in a crowd at very short range, we gave them
a volley that was very effectual, and settled the
fortunes of the day in our favor, for they did not
dare to try it over. I think, after once repulsing
them in a fair fight, we could have successfully



resisted them, had they returned a second time,
as the necessary confidence had been gained.

White men fight under a great disadvantage
the first time they engage Indians. There is
something so fiendish in their yells, and terrify
ing in their appearance when in battle, that "it
takes a good dea*l of time to overcome the un
pleasant sensation it inspires. Then there is a
snake-like stealth in all their movements that ex
cites distrust and uncertainty which unsteadies
the nerves at first.

After this repulse the battle raged until dark
without sufficient advantage on one side or the
other to merit mention in detail, when i^he savages
drew off, firing only an occasional shot from under
close cover.

After dark we decreased the extent of our lines
of barricades, and I deemed it prudent to order all
the buildings outside to be burned, in order to
prevent their having come from behind which to
annoy us. We were compelled to consume about
forty valuable buildings, but as it was a military
necessity, the inhabitants did not demur, but
themselves applied the torch cheerfully. In a
short time we had a fair field before us of open
prairie, with the exception of a large square brick
building, which we held, and had loop-holed in all
the stories, on all sides, which commanded a long
portion of our front toward the bluff. We also
dug a system of rifle-pits on that front, outside
the barricades, about four rods apart, which com
pleted our defences.

That night we slept very little, every man be
ing at the barricades all night, each third man
being allowed to sleep at intervals.

In the morning the attack was renewed, but
not with much vigor, and subsided about noon.

During the day a body of men appeared in the
lower town, and turned out to be a detachment
of one hundred and fifty volunteers, from Nicollet
and Sit>ley counties, under Capt. E. St. Julien Cox,
which had been forwarded to our relief by Col.
Sibley. They had about fifty Austrian rifles, and
the balance were armed with shot-guns and hunt
ing-rifles. Their appearance inspired us with
gladness, as things were becoming doubtful.

I held a council of the officers, and we deter
mined to attempt an evacuation of the town, car
rying off all the inhabitants, women, children,
sick and wounded, to the number of about two
thousand. This movement was a very perilous
one to undertake with the force at our command,
but the confined state of the town was rapidly
producing disease among the women and child
ren, who were huddled in cellars and close rooms,
like sheep in a cattle-car, and we were fast be
coming short of ammunition and provisions. I
feared the result of another attack by a larger
force, and all the people decided that they would
abandon the town the first opportunity, as resi
dence there was impossible under the circum
stances.

At daylight next morning the barricades were
broken, and the wagons taken out and put in
motion. The scene was one of indescribable con-



DOCUMENTS.



595



fusion and destruction. The poor people, natm
ally desirous of carrying off all they could, fillei
their wagons with boxes and baggage, to the ex
elusion (as we found before the train was com
plete; of many of the women and wounded.
was, therefore, compelled to or^er all articles of
bulky nature to be tumbled out, and their place
supplied by more valuable freight. It was hard
but necessary, and the inhabitants yielded witl
less reluctance than I had anticipated.

About nine A.M. we moved with one hundrcc
and fifty-three wagon-loads of women, children
sick, and wounded, and a large company on foot
Lieut. Cox took the general disposition of th<
escort, and the various commands were posted s<
as best to protect the whole in case of attack. I
\vas a melancholy spectacle to see two thousanc
people, who, a few days before, had been pros
porous and happy, reduced to utter beggary
starting upon a journey of thirty miles, through
a hostile country, every inch of which we expect
ed to be called upon to defend from an attack
the issue of which was life or horrid butchery,
Beggaiy, starvation, and probable destruction
were -at one end of the road ; a doubtful escape
from the latter at the other. We took the lattei
alternative, and, under Providence, got through.

During the battle we lost, as near as I can as
certain, about ten killed and fifty wounded. ]
can give you no accurate detail of either, as the
casualties occurred among citizens, soldiers, and
strangers. The physicians, of whom, fortunately,
\ve had a good supply, may have kept some hos
pital lists, but I have been too much occupied to
ascertain. I was satisfied to know the wounded
were well cared for, without knowing who they
were.

I was seconded ably and bravely by all the
officers and most of the men of the companies,
and many citizens from different parts of the
State, and strangers who were present, so uni
form was their good conduct and valuable their
services that one could not be mentioned without
naming all. There were several cases of aban
donment immediately preceding the attack, which,
if designed to evade the struggle, were disgrace
ful in the extreme, and unworthy of Americans.
But as they may have arisen from other causes,
I will not report the names of the parties.

Many narrow escapes occurred during the pro
tracted fight. Several persons were shot through
the hat. One young man received three bullets
through the pantaloons in rapid succession, with
out being hurt in the least.

We did not burn the town on leaving, thinking
possibly that the Indians might not return and
destroy it, and not deeming it much of a defence
for them should they occupy it on our return.

It was my design that the country between
New-Ulm and Mankato should be immediately
reoccupied by our troops, and the ground, tem
porarily lost by our withdrawal, regained at once
by fresh troops, well equipped, and capable of
remaining on the field ; and I looked for material
of that sort for the business, on my arrival, but
not a soldier from the regular service, except



Capt. Dane with one hundred horses, has yet
reached that part of the country, which is at this
moment utterly defenceless; except so far as he is
capable of holding it. The citizen volunteers that
went to the assistance of New-Ulm, disbanded
pretty generally on their return, being barefooted,
overworked, and required at their homes.

I wish your Excellency would turn the tide of
soldiers flowing into the valley to the Blue Earth
region, from which the whole southern part of
the State can be protected, and efficient coopera
tion afforded the column advancing upon the
north side of the Minnesota.

Hoping my operations may meet your approval,
I am truly your obedient servant,

CHARLES E. FLAXDRAU,

Commanding West of the Minnesota.



Doc. 193.
THE FIGHT NEAR DANVILLE, KY.

CINCINNATI "COMMERCIAL" ACCOUNT.

DASVILLB, KY., August 26, 1 362.

OUR usually quiet village has been to-day all
ablaze with excitement. Last evening, about six
o clock, intelligence was received that a large
party of recruits for the confederate arm} , gath
ered from adjacent counties, principally from Nel
son, was within ten miles of our town, on their
way towards Somerset, to join the rebel forces
now invading Kentucky. The party was variously
estimated at from three hundred to six hundred.
Later in the evening more definite word was
brought as to their position and probable route,
though their numbers could not be ascertained.

About nine o clock P.M. a bod} of home guards
rorn Danville, about fifty in number, partly on
lorseback and partly in wagons, proceeded, un-
ier the command of Capt. Chiles, some six miles
out on the Hustonville road, and came upon the
ebels, who had taken violent possession of the
louse and premises of John Shelby, Esq. It was
i complete surprise. The small force under his
command was skilfully handled by Capt. Chiles ;
ind though comparatively an undisciplined body,
nit recently organized, his men conducted them
;elves admirably. It was a necessary result of
he time, the place, and the circumstances, that
he fighting on both sides should be somewhat
>romiscuous, and a good deal of it from under
over of trees, fences, etc.

Soon after the engagement was commenced, a
)ody of men were heard advancing upon the rear
f our forces. This was generally believed to be

party of rebels, endeavoring to surround us,
nd our guards withdrew to a safer position,
he advancing body proved to be some fifty home
uards from Harrodsburgh, who had gallantly
ushcd forward to take part in the fray. They
oon engaged the enemy, but finding themselves
utnumbcred greatly, were compelled gradually
o retire.

It was impossible, in the darkness, to effect a
, unction of the Union forces, and therefore all
as not accomplished that might have been ol>



593



REBELLION RECORD, 1862.



tained under more favorable circumstances. Still
the skirmish was a decided success. The results
foot up as follows : On the side of the rebels,
killed, three ; wounded, twelve, of whom five are
believed to be mortally wounded ; prisoners,
thirty-six ; in all, fifty-one. The number of horses
taken is variously stated from twenty to forty.

On the Union side, one man was killed, and
two slightly wounded. The Union man was shot