Captain Charles Wright Wills: May 3, 1864

Twelve miles east of Bridgeport, May 3, 1864.

Have made about 15 miles to-day. This is the fourth time I have been over the same ground, have ridden over it five times. This is the first time I ever started on a march where real judgment was used in breaking the men in. We always before made from 15 to 25 miles the first day and broke down about one-fourth of our men. This time you see, our first two day's marches were short and the 15 miles to-day seemed to affect no one. I hear from good authority here that Thomas is in Dalton, after some heavy skirmishing. Everything is moving to the front here. A portion of the 12th, or 20th Corps now, is just ahead of us. Morgan L. Smith and Osterhaus are just behind us, but Logan will not be along until relieved by some other troops.

I expect Dodge, with some 6,000 of the 16th Army Corps, is behind us. The 17th Army Corps was coming into Huntsville as we left.

Camp is in an orchard, and apples are as large as hazel nuts and we make sauce of them.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 233

Captain Charles Wright Wills: December 29, 1863

Near Larkinsville, Ala., December 29, 1863.

We have had some busy times since my last. Foraging for horses, looking for something to eat, and trying to obey a host of contradictory orders, has kept us in the saddle almost constantly. I believe I wrote you about Dorrance's going over to Elk river, Tenn. for horses and getting captured. When the next scout was ordered out, I was at Bridgeport on business, and Lieutenant Smith went in charge. They were absent a week and when I heard from them, and that they had but seven extras, I started after them and found them 25 miles from camp. That night I got permission from the officer in command to take 20 men and be absent two days. I went over the mountain into Madison county near Huntsville, got 34 good horses and was back on time. I also captured a guerrilla with his horse and traps, and found a lot of clothing which had been taken from Federal soldiers and officers captured by Rebels and concealed in a hovel on the mountain. In the round trip of the last six days, about 150 miles, the boys have destroyed at least 50 shotguns and rifles. To-day, an officer of Ewing's staff is here selecting our best horses, for the use of Sherman, Logan, etc. We think it confoundedly mean, but guess we'll stand it. We have enough horses to mount the brigade, but there is some doubt about that little event taking place. They can't beat me out of being satisfied whatever they do. Would rather remain mounted, but Sherman's will be done. I have turned into the corral fully my proportion of horses, haven't lost a man, and none of my command have been guilty of robbing, plundering, or stealing. That's what the officer of no other detachment here can say, truthfully. I do think I have the best lot of men that ever soldiered together, and there are now 41 for duty. The rest of the brigade is at Scottsboro, only six miles from here, and they will probably go into winter quarters there. Possibly, at Belle Fountain. I am in splendid health and enjoying myself excellently. My wrist is improving slowly, but there is something broken about it. It will, however, answer my purpose if it gets no worse. One ought occasionally to have something of that kind in order to a better appreciation of our many blessings. What wonderful luck I have soldiering, don't I? Now, in our two month's foraging, I haven't lost a man. Only one wounded a little, and one man and Dorrance captured and let go again. In the same time the 15th Michigan have lost about 20. The 46th Ohio have had two killed, the 6th Iowa two killed, and the 40th Illinois two hung and two missing. We have been over all the country they have, and done just as much work, without losing a man. I am hopeful of obtaining some recruits from the Fairview country, but can get along without them.. Have as good as been out of the world for two months. I haven't worn socks since I left Memphis. Too much trouble. Has rained steadily for the four last days. I have ridden from daylight until dark each day. Got dried off to-day for the first time. Swam our horses over three bad creeks. Lieutenant Smith and three men came very near drowning. My mare swam splendidly.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 207-8

Captain Charles Wright Wills: December 19, 1863

Greasy Cove, Jackson Co., Ala., December 19, 1863.

On examination of my pockets this morning, I find a letter I wrote you a week since. Will mail it this morning and tell you the late news in another dispatch. You notice we have again changed our camp, and you'll probably admire the classic names they have given these beautiful valleys. I was at Stephenson and Bridgeport a few days since for our camp and garrison equipage, and was just starting back with it when I heard that our detachment was ordered to report to the rest of the brigade at their camp at Athens, Tenn., 40 miles beyond Chattanooga. So I left my traps and came back to move. We will start as soon as our parties get in from scouting. The last party that went out and returned was some 200 strong. Dorrance had 20 men from our detachment. They brought in a splendid lot of horses, but had to go 75 miles for them. The guerrillas killed one man of the party, (46th Ohio) and captured a number, maybe 15. Picked them up one, two or three at a time. Dorrance was captured and paroled by some of Forrest's men. He was pretty well treated, but the parole amounts to nothing. They took nearly all of his money, his arms, spurs, horse, etc. He was the only one of my men captured. It is confounded cold lately and I haven't been real dry for three days. We have to swim creeks to go anywhere, and there is so much brush and drift in these streams that a horse will always get tangled and souse a fellow. I swam a horse across a creek yesterday, and he went over on his hind legs standing straight up. I never saw such a brute. Rumor says we will be dismounted and go with the corps to Mobile. But the most probable story is that we are going into camp at Athens for the winter. Would much rather go to Mobile but think that we can't be spared from here.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 206-7

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: January 23, 1864

At 5 filled box cars. Rode outside. Cold and frosty. Very crooked road winding among the mountains south of Tenn. River. 7th on at Bridgeport, Alabama. Saw Oberlin boys. Three months more only. Lay at Stevenson till dark. Read, ate, lounged and napped. Made the most of a crowded car for sleep. Would have liked to pass Murfreesboro and Tullahoma in the daytime.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 106

Major Charles A. Dana to Edwin M. Stanton, September 23, 1863 – 11:30 a.m.

CHATTANOOGA, September 23, 1863 — 11.30 a.m.

The net result of the campaign thus far is that we hold Chattanooga and the line of Tennessee River. It is true this result has been attended by a great battle with heavy losses, but it is certain that the enemy has suffered quite as severely as we have.

The first great object of the campaign, the possession of Chattanooga and the Tennessee line, still remains in our hands, and can be held by this army for from fifteen to twenty days against all efforts of the enemy, unless he should receive re-enforcements of overwhelming strength. But to render our hold here perfectly safe no time should be lost in pushing 20,000 to 25,000 efficient troops to Bridgeport. If such re-enforcements can be got there in season, everything is safe, and this place — indispensable alike to the defense of Tennessee and as the base of future operations in Georgia — will remain ours.

[C. A. DANA.]

[Hon. E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.]

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 30, Part 1 (Serial No. 50), p. 197-8

Brigadier-General John A. Garfield to Salmon P. Chase, September 23, 1863 – 10:30 a.m.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,            

September 23, 1863 — 10.30 a.m.     

(Received War Department 10 p.m.)

Hon. S. P. CHASE,

Secretary of the Treasury:

I answered you last night that Stanton is wounded and a prisoner. We have inflicted heavy injury on enemy, equal to what we have suffered. He no doubt outnumbers us two to one, but we can stand here ten days if help will then arrive. If we hold this point we shall save the campaign, which will be great gain even if we lose this army. Twenty-five thousand men should be sent to Bridgeport to secure Middle Tennessee in case of disaster to us. Never been such fighting in West. Thomas and Granger stood in their tracks eight hours against whole rebel army. We took about 2,000. Battle not yet recommenced; but expected soon. Where are Sherman and Hurlbut?

 J. A. GARFIELD.

SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 30, Part 3 (Serial No. 52), p. 792

Major-General Joseph Hooker to Edwin M. Stanton, October 11, 1863

STEVENSON, ALA., October 11, 1863.     

(Received 2.20 a.m., 12th.)

Hon. E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

If you projected the late movement of the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps you may justly claim the merit of having saved Chattanooga to us. As soon as the rebels found that it was not prudent to attack that position they determined to throw a heavy force upon the communications, and destroy them and the depots, and thus starve out the army. They hoped to do this before my force came up, and undoubtedly would have succeeded but for a prompt movement on our part. As it was the rebel raiders made sad havoc on our wagon trains, and when they struck the railroad point after point was abandoned, oftentimes without the discharge of a shot in their defense. They cut off the Second Division of the Twelfth Corps, and the balance were under such headway they could not be stopped until brought up by the Tennessee River at Bridgeport. They were soon in their right places, but most of them without artillery, baggage, transportation, or horses for field officers — very much as I found myself when I embarked in Pope's campaign. The enemy captured some small parties, destroyed bridges at Duck and Stone's Rivers, and interrupted all communication for four days, but it is now restored. Our cavalry is in full pursuit of the raiders, and we have gained decided advantage over them. Last accounts they were making for Columbia.

JOSEPH HOOKER,

Major-General.

SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 30, Part 3 (Serial No. 52), p. 291

Charles A. Dana to Edwin M. Stanton, October 16, 1863 – 12 p.m.

CHATTANOOGA, October 16, 1863—12 m.

For fifteen hours little rain has fallen, but the skies remain threatening and the barometer still points to rain. The river has risen some 4 feet, and old boatmen predict a rise of 6 feet more. Our bridge was broken by drift-wood at 10 p.m. yesterday, but all the pontoons and chess planks were saved. The rebels sent down two or three rafts to break it, but they came after it was broken. The steamer Paint Rock and a flat-boat were employed during the night in gathering these masses of floating timber, much of which may prove useful. The bridge is not yet replaced, it being thought more prudent to wait till to-morrow when the rise will be complete and the drift will have mainly passed down.

Our couriers report that from Bridgeport to the foot of the mountain the mud is up to their horses' bellies. The mortality among animals here rapidly increases, and those remaining must soon perish. Day before yesterday the mules attached to the empty train returning to Bridgeport were too weak to haul the wagons up the mountain without doubling the teams, though they went on the easiest of all our roads, which had just been put in thorough order. General Brannan tells me he could not possibly haul away the artillery with the horses that are left.

I think I reported some time ago that all the artillery horses, except four per gun, had been sent to Stevenson to be fed, but those that are there are so far reduced that it will require a month's feeding to make them effective.

Nothing can prevent the retreat of the army from this place within a fortnight, and with a vast loss of public property and possibly of life, except the opening of the river. General Hooker has been ordered to prepare for this, but Rosecrans thinks he cannot move till his transportation arrives from Nashville, from which place it marched on the 8th. It should have been in Bridgeport on the 14th, but is not yet reported. The telegraph between there and here is broken, however, and it now requires ten to twelve hours for couriers to make the distance.

In the midst of all these difficulties General Rosecrans seems to be insensible to the impending danger, and dawdles with trifles in a manner which can scarcely be imagined. Having completed his report, which he sent off for Washington by General Garfield yesterday, he is now much occupied with the map of the battle-field and with the topography of the country between here and Burnside's lower posts. Most probably the enemy contemplates crossing in that region, but we are no longer able to pursue him, hardly to strike a sudden blow at his flank before he shall have crushed Burnside. Meanwhile, with plenty of zealous and energetic officers ready to do whatever can be done, all this precious time is lost because our dazed and mazy commander cannot perceive the catastrophe that is close upon us, nor fix his mind upon the means of preventing it. I never saw anything which seemed so lamentable and hopeless.

A rebel officer last evening shouted to one of our pickets that Bragg had been relieved and either Johnston or Longstreet put in his place.

Reports from our cavalry, which Rosecrans will forward to-day, make the rebel loss in the recent raid 2,000 men and five guns. Thirty-eight men captured in our uniform were summarily executed. Nothing heard from forces of Sherman.

[C. A. DANA.]

Hon. E. M. STANTON,

[Secretary of War.]

SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 30, Part 1 (Serial No. 50), p. 218-9

Major Charles Fessenden Morse: October 28, 1863

Wartrace, Tenn., October 28,1863.

When I wrote you last, I thought we were off immediately for the front, but the following day brought a great many changes of orders, the final ones being that General Slocum, with one division, should remain on the railroad, and that the other division should concentrate at Bridgeport, to march from there to Chattanooga.

Although we are very pleasantly situated here and are living very comfortably, I should very much prefer to be with the main army at the front. Rumor says that Buell is to be Grant's chief of staff. I hope this may be so; I don't think that he has ever been justly appreciated. Old officers of the regular army say that Buell is the abler man of the two. Of course, now that Rosecrans is down, every cur has to have his snarl and bite at him. The Washington Chronicle has indulged in one of its characteristic articles about him. In some degree, I think he has brought it upon himself; he was before the public a great deal in the newspapers while he was in command of the Army of the Cumberland, and very often made public speeches and wrote public letters.

There is no use for a general to try and get popularity by anything except his acts; newspaper talk does very well for a time, but it does not last or produce any impression on sensible men. Every one knows, nowadays, that he can get a puff by entertaining a correspondent well, and that the latter will natter his vanity by praising his military ability. The men who stand best to-day with the army have hardly ever had their names in print except in public documents, like Sedgwick, Sykes, Hancock and their class.

SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 151-2

Major Charles Fessenden Morse: October 23, 1863

Wartrace, Tenn., October 23, 1863.

We had just got comfortably settled down at this place when, yesterday, orders came to General Slocum to concentrate his corps as soon as possible at Bridgeport. The movement has commenced, and we shall probably break camp to-morrow. The change in commanders has, of course, been an important topic with us for the last few days. A man takes a great responsibility on his shoulders now, when he accepts the command of an army. We are fortunate in having as good a man as Thomas for the successor of Rosecrans. There is a great chance to speculate on the coming campaign.

We have rumors that two corps are moving east on the Memphis and Charleston R. R. This force, with the Twelfth and Eleventh Corps and Burnside's army, if concentrated at Chattanooga, would undoubtedly be large enough to give battle to Bragg, with a more than even chance of success. But the risk of having communication cut off is very great if our corps is entirely removed from the railroad; it leaves about one hundred and twenty miles of road almost without a guard, and there is a succession of high trestle-work bridges all the way from Nashville to Bridgeport. At this present moment there is a band of some eight hundred guerrilla cavalry within twenty-five miles of this place, lying in wait for any opportunities they may have to destroy property. A strong force of cavalry could, within three days of our departure, stop this road from running for weeks. Still, I suppose that we have the chance of fighting Bragg before he can take advantage of this. Our worst enemy now is the weather. It has rained almost every day for the last ten days, and is very cold and disagreeable; the roads, of course, are fearfully muddy; they are quite equal to Virginia roads. I have great confidence in General Thomas. General Slocum knew him well before the war, and has the highest kind of opinion of him; he says he is as high-minded, noble, and kind-hearted a man as ever lived; that he has always opposed all kinds of humbug, and has never allowed any newspaper reporters about his corps, for which reason he hasn't enjoyed the brilliant reputation of a certain stripe of officers. He has really fine qualities, and I hope will be allowed to keep command.

SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 150-1

First Lieutenant Andrew G. Henderson to his Family, December 22, 1863

Stevenson, Alabama

December 22, 1863

My Dear Ones,

Our regiment reached here yesterday evening having started from our camp at Bridgeport yesterday morning. The distance is only 12 miles and the regiment got into camp by 2 P.M., but some of our teams did not get in until 2 this morning on account of the bad roads. The team that my blankets were in, however, did get in by 10½ so that I had a pretty good night's sleep. We all slept in the open air, of course, without any tents, and this morning the ground was frozen so that it would carry heavily loaded teams. In Iowa, you would think such usage would kill one, but here we do not think anything of it. I slept very comfortable.

We are now on our road back to Larkinsville, Jackson County, Alabama, where I presume we shall winter. It is 25 miles from here and is quite a pleasant place. We will start again, I presume, tomorrow morning.

My health is first rate and my appetite such as I would be ashamed of if I was at home. We have plenty to eat and little to do, and I am afraid I shall be very lazy when I get home. Some days ago, Lt. Amos started for Maquoketa, and he will give you particulars of our situation &c. I want to get another letter from you very much. I do not want you to play another trick on me by not writing for two weeks. Don't you do it again!

I write this letter in Capt. W. A. Warren's office in this town. He is Post Quartermaster here and Frank Bettis is his head clerk. They are both old acquaintances from Bellevue. Col. Jenkins is in the office with me at the present time. His health is first rate.

I hope you will have a pleasant Christmas and New Year's. God bless you, my dear ones. May God watch over and protect you. Let me know whether Santa Claus visits the children on Christmas Eve or not.

My respects to all enquiring friends. Who is dead or married lately? Write as often as you possibly can.

Your affectionate husband and father,

A. G. Henderson

P.S. Have you sold any of them gold pens and pencil holders yet?

A. G. H.

SOURCE: This letter was up for auction on Ebay, accessed August 9, 2014.

Southern News

BEFORE CORINTH, May 18.

The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph condemns in severe language the conduct of the rebel troops at Bridgeport, “by which the most important gateway to our State was opened to the enemy, and possession of all our rich mines and deposits of coal, iron and saltpetre placed in imminent danger.”

Martial law has been proclaimed over Charleston and ten miles surrounding.

The Memphis Appeal says that the Government wants and must have all tin roofs on cotton sheds in that city.

The Vicksburg Citizen of the 9th says nothing was heard of the Federal fleet at [Tunica], yesterday.

A large frigate supposed to be the Brooklyn passed Bayou Sara at 9 o’clock, A. M. on the 8th, going down.

The Baton Rouge Advocate has closed doors and suspended publication, on account of the approach of the Federal gunboats.

Col. Posser, commanding the post at Memphis, publishes a special order, by order of Beauregard, requiring all banks, persons, and corporations to take Confederate money at par, and all persons will distinctly understand that nothing in the least degree calculated to discredit the operations of the Government will be tolerated, as anything but disloyalty.

One Richmond correspondent of the Appeal mentions with great pain, the large amount of sick confined in the hospitals at Richmond and vicinity.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 20, 1862, p. 1

From Gen. Mitchell’s Division

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., May 4th.

Hon. E. M. Stanton;– Your dispatch is received.  A soldier’s highest reward for service is to merit and received the approbation of his superior officers

An expedition from Bridgeport crossed the river, May 1st, advanced towards Chattanooga, 12 miles, and captured stores and a southern mail from some railroad hands.

A panic prevailed at Chattanooga.  The enemy is moving all his property in the direction of Atlanta.  Gen. Leadbeater had been chastised for cowardice at Bridgeport.  There were not more than 20,000 troops at Chattanooga.  They destroyed a slatpetre manufactory in a cave, and returned safely with the captured property.

Another expedition penetrated to Jasper and found a strong Union feeling.  On the same day they had a skirmish with the enemy’s cavalry at Athens.  Our outposts were driven back, but on being reinforced the enemy retreated in the direction of Florence.  There are straggling bands of mounted citizens along my entire line, threatening the bridges, one of which they succeeded in destroying.

Signed,

O. M. MITCHELL,

Maj. Gen.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 1

Bridge over the Cumberland River Destroyed

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 19. – A Union scout who has been operating up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers reached here this morning and reports one span of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad bridge crossing the Tennessee at Decatur, Alabama was destroyed on Saturday last by the Union men in that vicinity.

It was reported the bridge at Bridgeport, some seventy miles above had been disabled but this is not confirmed.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 3

From Gen. Mitchell’s Column

HUNTSVILLE, ALA., May 4.

Hon E. M. Stanton –

Your dispatch is received.  A soldiers highest reward for his service is to merit and receive the approbation of his superior officers.

An expedition from Bridgeport crossed the river on the 1^st of May, advanced towards Chattanooga 12 miles and captured stores and a Southern mail from some railroad hands.  A panic prevailed at Chattanooga and the enemy is moving all his property in the direction of Atlanta.

Gen. Leadbeater has been cashiered for cowardice at Bridgeport.

There were not more than 20,000 troops at Chattanooga.

The expedition destroyed a saltpetre manufactory in a cave and returned safely with the captured property.

Another expedition penetrated to [Jasper] on the same day and found a strong Union feeling.  They had a skirmish with the enemy’s cavalry at Athens.  Our outposts were driven back but on being reinforced the enemy retreated in the direction of Florence.

There are bands of mounted citizens scattered along my entire line threatening the bridges, on of which they succeeded in destroying.

(Signed.)

O. M. MITCHELL

Major General

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 4

Operations in Northern Alabama

BRIDGEPORT, Ala., April 30, 1862

Gen. Mitchell has finished his campaign, by the complete victory which he gained over the forces of Gen. E. Kirby Smith, at this place yesterday afternoon, and which you have doubtless had by telegraph. I left the force of Gen. Turchin evacuating Decatur, and came to Stevenson, knowing that important movements were in contemplation in these quarters.

I found that Col. Sill had on Sunday managed to cross Widow Creek, and was marching on Bridgeport on Monday. On the latter day his brigade was joined by the 3d Ohio, Col. Beatty, and it was understood that Col. Lyttle’s brigade was in the rear, acting as a reserve. On Tuesday, the march began, under command of Gen. Mitchell, who had come up, and we pushed eastward along the line of the railroad, dragging two pieces of artillery by hand for a distance of 20 miles, at the least.

It was about 4 o’clock in the afternoon of yesterday – Sunday – that we came upon the enemy’s pickets, three miles from Bridgeport. They were stationed on the side of a small stream, the bridge across it having been burned, and we soon found they were supported by an infantry and two cavalry regiments, the former of which came up and engaged our advance, the 33d Ohio. This regiment was the only one which appeared to the sight of the rebels, and after half an hour’s work they fell back unpursued, as no means were had by the rebels for crossing the stream.

General Mitchell in the meantime made a detour to the left with his whole force, and after marching a mile came upon a road which led to Bridgeport. He immediately started for this point, and after an hour’s weary march approached the rebel fortifications on the bank of the Tennessee. This march was one of incredible difficulty and danger. Gen. Mitchell was placing himself with five regiments of infantry, two companies of cavalry and two pieces of artillery, between two divisions of an enemy much stronger combined than himself. Had he been defeated he could not have managed to retreat – it would have been an utter impossibility.

We halted at 6 o’clock at the foot of a hill, and the column deployed right and left and formed into line of battle where they stood hidden from the enemy by the hill. The artillery stood in the centre, the 33d and 2nd Ohio on the right, with the 10th Wisconsin and 21st Ohio on the left. As soon as formed in line, the whole column advanced, and reaching the crest of the hill, looked down upon the enemy. Again they came to a halt. Peering above the top of the hill, I saw the whole of the rebel force below the hill, in their entrenchments. The setting sun glistened on thousands of stacked guns, and two pieces of brass cannon. The men had evidently been drawn up in line of battle at the first alarm, but when it had ceased they stacked arms and were now engaged in eating supper. Captain Loomis, when the force halted, stepped forward, saw the enemy, calculated the distance and stepped back undiscovered. In a moment he had given his orders, the cannon were charged with canister and moved to a position in which they were brought to bear on the main body. This evidently consisted of four full or parts of regiments of infantry. The first warning which the rebels had of their danger, or of our near approach, was the discharge of our artillery and the launching of the terrible death-dealing missiles in their very midst. They spring instantly to their guns, hundreds, however, flying in every direction. The main body evidently intended standing, but a second discharge added to the panic, and the whole force fled as our columns in line marched to the top and began the descend of the hill on a charge bayonets. – They frightened, without a single general discharge, broke for the river and quickly crossed the bridge. When we reached the works of the rebels they were deserted, a few dead and wounded alone remaining. The rebels fired with precipitancy, their speed increasing as they went, followed by the shells of Capt. Loomis. – They managed to fire the bridge and a good portion of it was destroyed, but the half west of the island was saved by Gen. Mitchell’s personal exertions. Having reached the other shore the rebels abandoned their camp and stores on that side, and by the whistling of a locomotive, I imagine went off at railroad speed. Capt. Loomis continued to throw shells after them for several rounds, when by order of Gen. Mitchell he ran his two pieces down the hill and placed them in position to receive the body on the railroad, whom it was anticipated would come to the aid of their friends now already and completely defeated. A second line of battle was formed in the works of the rebels, and we awaited for the rest of the rebels to attack us.

We had not long to wait. In a short time we saw the infantry on a double-quick, coming through the woods, along the line of the railroad, and the cavalry right and left. They came into the open fields and forward in splendid line of battle. The cavalry looked Magnificent and came dashing along in splendid style. They got within 300 years of us before they discovered their mistake, and then the artillery told them of it. The canister was poured into them and away they went in every imaginable direction – infantry and cavalry mixed in one conglomerated mass of frightened and flying humanity. The cavalry was sent in pursuit when they had got out of artillery range, and the prisoners were being sent in every hour until I laid down to try to sleep.

This morning I find we have killed and wounded 72 and taken 350 prisoners and two pieces of artillery.

General Mitchell has entire possession of the railroads from Bridgeport, ten miles east of Stevenson, west to Huntsville, thence south to Decatur, north to Athens, and in a month will have the railroad lines running to Nashville via Columbia from Decatur and via Murfreesboro from Stevenson.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 2

Special to Tribune.

An officer from Corinth, according to the Atlanta Confederacy, reports that the Confederate lines extend over the recent battle ground, and that the Unionists are nine miles beyond there. Active preparations are being made by both armies for the grand decisive struggle at hand.

Beauregard is being heavily reinforced, and skirmishes daily occur between the advance guards.

Mobile papers assert that Nashville has been evacuated, and 4,000 Union prisoners taken.

Gen. Kirby Smith, with a large force is, according to the Atlanta Commonwealth, at Bridgeport, within 17 miles of Huntsville. The evacuation of the latter place by the Yankees is predicted.

Refugees from Norfolk state that the rebels are building another Merrimac of smaller tonnage, and that four more are now building at Norfolk.

The rebel Congress adjourned on Monday last to the 2d Monday in August.

The bill organizing a battalion of sharpshooters was passed on the last day.

The flag and seal report was indefinitely postponed. R. M. T. Hunter was elected President of the Senate pro tem.

The rebel Senate passed the House bill appropriating $150,000 for the construction of a railroad between Galveston and New Orleans.

The President to-day nominated Colonel Tuttle, of the Iowa 2d Regiment, to be Brigadier General of Volunteers.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 26, 1862, p. 1