DOCUMENTS. so many perils, and carried you onward to successive victories, be the praise for his continued goodness to our country, and especially for this last great success of our arms. Let the congratulations to yourself and your command be also extended to the officers and soldiers who coöperated with you. GIDEON WELLES, Doc. 121. OCCUPATION OF MONTEREY, VA. firing on our pickets. A regiment of infantry, two companies of cavalry, and two pieces canten miles out on the Staunton pike. They got non had remained at a village called McDowell, word that there were but few troops here, and repossess the town. Monterey is the county-seat the General ordered them back to capture us and of Highland County, and is located in a beautiful valley between two spurs of the Allegheny Mountains. The attack was made on what is called "Jack Mountain," and our whole force was drawn out in line of battle. Several companies were sent out as skirmishers, and the firing was briskly kept up for about three hours. About this time another company of the First Virginia cavalA CORRESPONDENT of the Pittsburgh Dispatch ry arrived, and the Thirty-second Ohio also came lumbia." Capt. Hineman took one of his cannon writes from the headquarters of the Second Vir- in, their excellent brass band playing "Hail CoMajor ginia (Union) regiment at Monterey on the four-over on the pike, when he finished up the job by throwing a few shells among the rebels. teenth of April: Krepps, with one company of cavalry, followed After the fight, we ascertained that them some four miles, but they fled at quarterSix or eight of them horse speed. their force amounted to about fourteen hundred, with two pieces of cannon. were killed, and quite a number wounded. Only two Union troops were injured, both of the Seventy-fifth Ohio. The past eight days have been the most eventful of our campaign in Virginia. The rebels having evacuated Allegheny Mountains precipitately, we were ordered to march on Saturday, April fifth. We accordingly left that mountain at noon, and encamped at Greenbrier, accompanied by the Thirty-second Ohio. Having no tents, we took the open heavens for shelter, and a stiff breeze kept up till morning. Your correspondent was out on picket with twenty good men, and got no rest; but we remembered that we were "out a soldiering." Sunday morning opened up clear and beautiful, and we resumed our march at eight o'clock. About two P.M. we reached the deserted rebel fortifications on Allegheny Mountains, and had no difficulty in finding quarters, for all the cabins erected for five or six regiments still remain standing. Since we fought them on the thirteenth of December last, they had made vast improvements, so much so that I could scarcely recognise the place. It was made strong on all sides, and nothing but extreme necessity could have induced them to abandon it. Sunday morning Capt. McNally, with one hundred and fifty infantry, and a small detachment of cavalry, in command of a Lieutenant, started out to visit McDowell; and shortly after noon a courier arrived from "Crab Bottom," with the Such exnews that the rebels, nearly two thousand strong, were flanking us, and would be in directly. The long roll beat, and we sprung to arms. pedition in donning equipments I never saw before. Our regiment marched off down the valley, to command a road crossing to Crab Bottom; and as I was along, I cannot tell what disposition was made of the other regiments. After marching out that the alarm was false; and we said "Bully through mud for more than two miles, we found Such is soldiering in Virginia; but onward we for Cox," and came back. Refugees and contrabands come in daily. "cullored population" is getting up and dustNo use for any more underground railroads. ing. We had just got settled down in our new quar- The Seventy-fifth Ohio came in on Friday. The GEN. Doc. 122. SHERMAN'S RECONNOISSANCE ON OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL SHERMAN, to examine both roads, and found the enemy's cavalry. Colonel Dickey, of the Illinois cavalry, asked for reënforcements. I ordered Gen. Wood to advance the head of his column cautiously on the left-hand road, whilst I conducted the head of the Third brigade of the Fifth division up the righthand road. About half a mile from the forks was a clear field, through which the road passed, and immediately beyond it a space of two hundred yards of fallen timber, and beyond that an extensive camp of the enemy's cavalry could be seen. After a reconnoissance, I ordered the two advance companies of the Ohio Seventy-seventh, Col. Hildebrand, to deploy as skirmishers, and the regiment itself to move forward into line within intervals of one hundred yards. In this order I advanced cautiously until the skirmishers were engaged. Taking it for granted that this disposition would clear the camp, I held Col. Dickey's Fortieth Illinois cavalry ready to charge. The enemy's cavalry came down boldly to the charge, breaking through the line of skirmishers, when the regiment of infantry, without cause, broke, threw away their guns and fled. The ground was admirably adapted to a defence of infantry against cavalry, it being miry and covered with fallen timber. As the regiment of infantry broke, Col. Dickey's cavalry began to charge with their carbines, and fell into disorder. I instantly sent orders to the rear for the brigade to form in line of battle, which was promptly executed. The broken infantry and cavalry rallied on this line, and as the enemy's cavalry came up to it, our cavalry in turn charged and shoved them from the fire. I then advanced the entire brigade upon the same ground, and sent Col. Dickey's cavalry a mile further on the road. On examining the ground which had been occupied by the Seventyseventh Ohio, we found fifteen dead and twentyfive wounded. I sent for wagons and had all the wounded carried back to the camp, and the dead buried. I also ordered the whole camp to be destroyed. Here we found much ammunition for field-pieces, which was destroyed, also two caissons and a general hospital, with about two hundred and eighty confederates wounded, and about fifty of our own troops. Not having the means of bringing them off, Col. Dickey, by my order, took a surrender signed by the medical director, Lyle, and all the attending surgeons, and a pledge to report themselves to you as prisoners of war, and also another pledge that our wounded would be carefully attended to and surrendered to us to-morrow, as soon as ambulances could go out, I enclose the within document, and request you to cause to be sent out wagons or ambulances for the wounded of ours to-morrow; also that wagons be sent out to bring in the many tents belonging to us, which are pitched all along the road for miles. I did not destroy them, as I knew the enemy wouldn't move them. The roads are very bad, and are strewn with abandoned wagons, ambulances, and limber-boxes. The enemy has succeeded in carrying off the guns, but has crippled his batteries by abandoning the hind limber-boxes of at least twenty guns. I am satisfied that the enemy's infantry and cavalry passed Lick Creek this morning, travelling all last night, and that he left behind all his cavalry, which has protected his retreat. But the signs of confusion and dis order mark the whole road. The check sustained by us at the fallen timbers delayed our advance, so that night came upon us before the wounded were provided for and the dead buried; and our troops being fagged out by their three days' hard fighting, exposure, and privation, I ordered them back to camp, where all now are. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, Brigadier-General W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Division. Doc. 123. REBEL CONSCRIPTION BILL. JEFF. DAVIS'S MESSAGE. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States: THE operation of the various laws now in force for raising armies, has exhibited the necessity for reform. The frequent changes and amendments which have been made, have rendered the system so complicated as to make it often quite difficult to determine what the law really is, and to what extent prior amendments are modified by more recent legislation. There is also embarrassment from conflict between State and confederate legislation. I am happy to assure you of the entire harmony of purpose and cordiality of feeling, which has continued to exist between myself and the executives of the several States; and it is to this cause that our success in keeping adequate forces in the field is to be attributed. These reasons would suffice for inviting your earnest attention to the necessity of some simple and general system for exercising the power of raising armies, which is vested in Congress by the Constitution. But there is another and more important consideration. The vast preparations made by the enemy for a combined assault at numerous points on our frontier and seaboard, have produced results that might have been expected. They have animated the people with a spirit of resistance so general, so resolute, and so self-sacrificing, that it requires rather to be regu lated than to be stimulated. The right of the State to demand, and the duty of each citizen to render military service, need only to be stated to be admitted. It is not, however, wise or judicious policy to place in active service that por tion of the force of a people which experience has shown to be necessary as a reserve. Youths under the age of eighteen years require further instruction; men of matured experience are needed for maintaining order and good government at home, and in supervising preparations for rendering efficient the armies in the field. These two classes constitute the proper reserve for home defence, ready to be called out in case of any emergency, and to be kept in the field only while the emergency exists. But in order to maintain this reserve intact, it is necessary that, in a great war like that in which we are now engaged, all persons of intermediate ages, not legally exempt for good cause, should pay their debt of military service to the country, that the burdens should not fall exclusively on the most ardent and patriotic. I therefore recommend the passage of a law declaring that all persons residing within the confederate States, between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five years, and rightfully subject to military duty, shall be held to be in the military service of the confederate States, and that some plain and simple method be adopted for their prompt enrolment and organization, repealing all of the legislation heretofore enacted which would conflict with the system proposed. Doc. 124. JEFFERSON DAVIS. cause, and who had abetted us too much to risk the ire of the rebels, were engaged seeking means of transportation for themselves and families, willing to relinquish all their property in preference to remaining. Every facility and kind attention was extended to those desiring to leave; accommodations were provided in the transport steamers and schooners for as many as possible, and the remainder taken aboard the men-of-war. In this way some twenty or thirty families and a number of individuals managed to escape. Among those known to us are Colonel Sammis and family, Messrs. Robinson, Fairchilds, Mather, Stevens, Fairbanks, Clark, Burritt, Frazer, and families; also Messrs. Paris, Prateau, Remington, Dr. Mitchell, and others. None of these had more than ten hours in which to make preparations for leaving homes they had occupied for years. It was sad to see them hurrying down to the wharves, this morning, one after another, each carrying some article too precious to forsake. Books, boxes, valises, portraits, pictures, pack EVACUATION OF JACKSONVILLE, FLA. ages of clothing, pet canaries and mocking-birds PHILADELPHIA "PRESS" ACCOUNT. JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, April 8, 1862. Ir was with feelings of the most extreme astonishment and intense indignation that the people of Jacksonville and military and naval forces here stationed were first apprized of the intention to evacuate the town. The displeasure of the troops and consternation of the loyal inhabitants could scarcely be imagined. Citizens who had already commenced to reënjoy blessings of civilisation, of which they had long been deprived, and to feel that their lives were again their own, and not the property of any wandering, vagabond Guerrilla or Regulator that might see fit to take it, were terror-stricken when they learned that they were to be deserted and left to the tender mercies of the bloodthirsty villains. The soldiers indulging in the hope of a proonged rest, and opportunity to recruit after six months of constant changes and frequent confinements on shipboard, were much chagrined to hear that they were to make another move; but it was a military order, and as such had to be obeyed. The orders to give up the city were received from Hilton Head on Sunday, the sixth instant, by the United States transport Cosmopolitan, but were not generally known until the afternoon prior to the day of evacuation. The object of secrecy was chiefly to prevent a "hubbub" among the female portion of the population, but it was rather poorly accomplished, as the tears and prayers to be removed, of a score of women, fully proved. On Monday orders were issued by Gen. Wright for the troops to prepare two days' rations, and be in readiness to embark at daylight next morning. The officers and men of the gunboats were also notified to have everything on board ready for a sudden start. Monday was principally occupied in cooking, packing up, bidding adieu," and other preliminaries to a departure. Many of the male inhabitants, especially those most favorable to our were most frequently seen. Stout-hearted and stylish officers, relieving overloaded Dinahs of their little charges, and leading little two, three, and four-year olds along the docks, added a humane and praiseworthy ludicrousness to the melancholy scene. The negroes, with their small carts and stunted ponies, were busily engaged bringing down trunks, carpet - bags, and the lighter, portable, and more valuable articles of furniture, and putting them on the respective vessels, pell-mell, to be stowed for sea at some more convenient season. Haste and bustle were everywhere prevalent, the most strenuous efforts being made to secure to the fugitives satisfactory portions of their personal property. Of course, much, very much was abandoned, yet by the noble exertions of our soldiers and sailors, a great deal was secured. In the name of the people, we thank them for their manly conduct on that trying occasion. During the morning, the outer pickets were withdrawn, and the em barkation of troops began. This continued quiet ly for several hours, and by two P.M. all the ves sels had received their cargoes and passengers, and were ready to haul out into the stream. The wind, which had been quite fresh during the forenoon, grew stronger, and eventually increased so much that it was with the greatest difficulty the steamers Belvidere and Pembina succeeded in towing the sailing-vessels into the channel, and a safe distance from the shore. At length all were clear and securely anchored, but, owing to the gale and the lateness of the hour, it was determined to remain until morning. At this hour, ten P.M., the rebels are already in the town, and within musket - shot of our anchorage, another proof of the intimate knowledge they possess of all our movements. Gen. Wright sent his compliments to Gen. Trapier this evening, informing him officially of what he had done, inviting him to come and reoccupy the town, and requesting him to take care of the women and children remaining. This message was courteous'y replied to by Gen. Trapier or Col. Davis, I cannot say which. Doc. 125. THE OCCUPATION OF BRUNSWICK. SIR: I had the honor to inform the Department, in my communication of the thirteenth inst., that I had despatched a division of my force to Brunswick, under Commander S. W. Godon, consisting of the Mohican, the Pocahontas, and the Potomska. MAYPORT, Wednesday, P.M., April 9. At six o'clock this morning, the evacuating fleet, in all eleven sail, got under way in regular order, and started down the St. John's River, a part bound to St. Augustine, and a portion to Fernandina. The vessels formed a long line, the United States steamer Ottawa, Senior Lieutenant Commanding T. H. Stevens, leading off, with the army transports Cosmopolitan and Belvidere in her wake. These steamers towed the schooners Chas. M. Neal, James G. Stille, Rachel S. Miller, and Magnum Bonum. Then followed the gun-eight inst., and anchored at sundown within two boat Pembina, Lieutenant Commanding J. P. miles of the forts commanding the channel. Bankhead, with the schooner Anna C. Leav- On the following morning, Commander Godon, erett; and last, least, but not most unimportant, | with his division, moved past the batteries, which came the useful little Ellen, Acting Master Budd, with the champion prize yacht America in tow. The United States steamer Seneca, Lieutenant Commanding Ammen, with several families aboard, left Jacksonville twenty-two hours in advance of the fleet, and had gone to sea, bound to Port Royal, when we got here. The Ottawa brought down the families of Mr. Frazer, a law yer, formerly from Montrose, Susquehannah County, Pennsylvania, and Judge Burritt, an old and influential resident of Florida. Last night the rebel officers went to the Judge's house, and invited him to remain, but he "didn't see it." His kind entertainment of Captains Stevens, Ammen, Bankhead, and Budd, together with the military officers during their stay, made his chances of protection from the rebels very doubtful. These vessels crossed St. Simon's bar on the he soon discovered had been abandoned, and immediately sent Lieut. Commanding Balch, with three armed boats, to take possession of the battery on St. Simon's Island, and Lieut. Henry Miller, of the Mohican, with a suitable force, to take possession of the works on Jekyl Island. On St. Simon's Island were two batteries, consisting of strong earthworks, and so arranged as to command the approach to St. Simon's Sound. There were twelve embrasures, and numerous well-constructed magazines. No arms were mounted, but a ten-inch solid shot was found near, to indicate the calibre of some of them. On Jekyl Island were also two batteries, of much greater strength however. The one furthest seaward and commanding the main channel, was a bomb-proof work, constructed of palmetto The Cosmopolitan bore, in addition to the logs, sand-bags and railroad iron, well supported Ninety-seventh Pennsylvania regiment, several and braced from the interior with massive timcompanies of the Fourth New-Hampshire regi-bers. It had mounted three casemated guns, ment, all the regimental equipage, and a large though these, their carriages and all the ammuninumber of the refugees with their baggage. The tion, had been removed. Belvidere had a section of Sherman's celebrated The other battery, five hundred yards landbattery, under Capt. Ransom, portion of the ward, consisted of two casemates and an earthFourth New-Hampshire regiment, and several fam-work capable of mounting four guns, en barbette, ilies aboard. The Pembina carried Gen. Wright and part of staff, while the Ellen was freighted with the valuable law and literary libraries of Judge Burritt. We ascertained this morning that a company of rebel cavalry, acting as escort to the "secesh" commander, had been in the city all night, and as we passed the lower path of the place, saw their saddled horses hitched within two hundred and fifty yards of us, and several uniformed officers and privates came on the wharf to see the "Yankees" off. Truly, this is at times a very แ "civil war!" Our passage down the Walaka (the Indian name of the river) was several times interrupted by trifling causes. After experiencing several squalls, however, and shelling the woods and yellow bluff, where the Seneca was attacked a few days since, we reached Mayport. Here we found the stone schooner David Faust, and the despatch yacht Azalea, the latter from St. Augustine. At half-past one the entire fleet anchored to await calmer weather for crossing the bar. CHESTER. A magazine and a hot-shot furnace were attached. Both St. Simon's and Jekyl Islands had been deserted. After examining the batteries, the vessels passed up the sound to Brunswick and anchored off the town. A fire was discovered near the wharf, which proved to be the railroad-depot and wharf, the work of the retiring soldiers. Lieut. Commanding Balch, with a large force, covered by the guns of the Potomska, landed at Brunswick without any show of opposition, and hoisted the American flag on the Oglethorpe House. The town was entirely deserted, and nearly all the property which could be removed, had been taken away. The lenses belonging to the light-house at St. Andrew's and the lighthouse at St. Simon's, the latter building having been destroyed by the rebels, could not, after cereful search, be discovered. The channelbuoys for the river are still there, but out of place. Proclamations were posted on some of the public buildings, urging the inhabitants to return to their homes, and promising protection to the property of all good citizens, and the landing party then returned to their vessels. Nothing was removed from any of the houses, the men under Lieut. Balch Commanding, carefully abstaining from injuring or taking away the private effects of the inhabitants. I enclose a copy of Commander Godon's interesting report. Very respectfully, etc., S. F. DU PONT, Flag-Officer. Hon. GIDEON WELLES. FLAG-SHIP WABASH, OFF ST. JOHN'S, FLA., March 21, 1862. SIR: Since my last despatch of the nineteenth inst., I have received another interesting report from Commander Godon, giving the details of a reconnoissance by the inland passage from Brunswick to Darien, a copy of which I enclose. Com. Godon, with the Pocahontas, Lieutenant Commanding Balch, and the Potomska, Acting Lieutenant Commanding Watmough, with the launch and howitzer of the Mohican, in charge of Lieut. Miller, proceeded to open the interior communication between St. Simon's Sound and COMMANDER GODON'S REPORTS. U. S. S. MOHICAN, OFF BRUNSWICK, GA., SIR: I have the honor to report that in obedience to your order of March fifth, I left Fer nandina on the morning of the eighth, accompanied by the Pocahontas, Lieutenant Commanding Balch, and the Potomska, Acting Lieut. Commanding Watmough, and crossed Fernandina bar, with just water enough to comfortably float this ship made the best of my way to St. Simon's bar, and reached it at dead low-water, passing it, and getting into Simon's Channel, through which I carthe forts, which we could plainly see commandried about seventeen feet, to within two miles of Here, at sundown, I ing St. Simon's entrance. anchored for the night. After dark I shifted the anchorage of the ship, to alter the range of any light I made preparations to pass the batteries, guns that might be left in the batteries. At dayand at sunrise weighed anchor and stood in. Í soon discovered that the batteries were evidently abandoned, and anchored my little force inside, and beyond range of the guns, and made signal to land from the vessels. the Altamaha River. He soon encountered an obstruction, consisting of a double row of heavy piles, with their tops just above water at low with three boats, took possession of the fort on Lieut. Commanding Balch, of the Pocahontas, tide. In a few hours a sufficient number were St. Simon's Island, consisting of strong earthremoved, and the Pocahontas and Potomska pass-works of considerable extent, and having had ed through, but had advanced only five miles eleven guns mounted. Some solid ten-inch shot, further, when another obstruction of the same found in the fort, would indicate the calibre of kind was met with. After an unavoidable delay, owing to the rising of the tide, this also was resome of the guns there. I enclose a detailed removed, and both vessels entered the Altamaha, port of the taking of that battery by Lieut. Comand as they turned into the river, two rebel manding Balch. steamers were seen moving off from the wharf at Darien, with full head of steam, rendering pursuit useless, particularly as the brasses of the Potomska's shaft-bearing had broken, in a measure disabling that vessel. Com. Godon learned from some contrabands, who came off from shore, that Darien, like Brunswick, was deserted, a company of horsemen only remaining in the town, with the intention of firing the place should the steamers approach. Owing to the crippled condition of the Potomska, Com. Godon did not deem it advisable to push his reconnoissance further, and accordingly returned through the passage he had cleared to the anchorage at Brunswick. He visited a number of plantations on St. Simon's Island, but, with one exception, all were deserted, though some time previously one thousand five hundred troops were quartered there. Commander Godon speaks in warm terms of Lieutenant Commanding Balch, and Acting Lieutenant Commanding Watmough, as well as the officers and crews of all the vessels under his command, in which I heartily concur, desiring, however, to add my commendation of the zeal and ability of Com. Godon himself, in carrying out my views in reference to our occupation of this important section of the coast of Georgia. Very respectfully, etc., S. F. Du PONT, Secretary of Navy. cupied the fort on Jekyl Island, which was, it As soon as the boats returned, I went on the Both The cars had returned, but again started at our approach. The Pocahontas anchored opposite |