on former occasions have been sent to Bayou Latenache and have their habitations moved to the woods in the rear of the plantations. I obtained such information as leads me to believe colored regiments are being organized at Alexandria. I desire to express my approval of the spirit and courage of my troops, and whenever there was any indication of meeting the enemy their conduct pleased me. They will fight and sell their lives dearly, and their worth I believe is in proportion to the courage, discipline, and efficiency of the officers. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. N. FRISBIE, Colonel of Ninety-second Infantry, Commanding Expedition. Lieut. O. A. RICE, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 2. Report of Maj. Francis A. Sears, Sixty-seventh Indiana Infantry. HDQRS. SIXTY-SEVENTH REGT. IND. INFTY. VOLS., Morganza, La., December 19, 1864. SIR: Agreeable to instructions from Colonel Spicely, commanding brigade, I have the honor to submit the following report of the Sixtyseventh Indiana Infantry Volunteers in the late expedition up Old River: On the morning of the 16th instant I took my regiment on board the steamer Starlight at 4 a. m.; proceeding up the Mississippi River to Hog Point, La., I put one company on shore to cover the landing of troops from the steamer Ada May. I then proceeded with my regiment to the mouth of Old River; went up the same to a point near Port Williams, at which place I debarked. We marched down on the right bank of said river about six miles, where we camped for the night. My command here foraged off the country, collecting such things as were needed by the troops. On the morning of the 17th instant I sent a detail of one commissioned officer and thirty men to Raskasee Island; said detail collected 15 head of beef-cattle, 7 horses, and 30 head of sheep. About 2 o'clock of the 17th my regiment, excepting the aforesaid detail, which returned on the steamer Starlight, marched back to this point, reaching here about 6 p. m. of the 17th instant. The surplus stock captured on the expedition was turned over to the post quartermaster, all of which is respectfully submitted. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, F. A. SEARS, Major, Commanding Sixty-seventh Indiana Volunteers. Lieut. OSCAR A. RICE, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 3. Report of Capt. Benjamin J. Summers, Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry. HDQRS. TWENTY-FOURTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFTY., Morganza, La., December 19, 1864. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to herewith transmit to you my report of the part taken by the Twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry on the late expedition from this point. It moved on the morning of the 15th instant in connection with the Sixty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry on board transport steamer Starlight, and arrived at Williamsport on Old River at 2 p. m.; disembarked and moved down Old River five miles, and went into camp for the night. On the morning of the 16th I sent out a detail of thirty men, in charge of a captain, for the purpose of collecting forage. The foraging party returned at 1 p. m. At 4 p. m. I received orders from Colonel Spicely, commanding the expedition, to proceed to Morganza. Arrived at Morganza at 9 p. m. The con duct of the officers and men of my command was soldierly throughout the entire expedition. Respectfully submitted. B. J. SUMMERS, Capt., Comdg. Twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Capt. J. G. DUNLAP, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Brig., Reserve Corps. No. 4. Report of Lieut. William H. Posey, Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry. OFFICE R. Q. M. TWENTY-FOURTH IND. INFTY. VOLS., Morganza, La., December 19, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report the following disposition made of the property captured by the U. S. forces on Old River, December 16, 1864, and placed in my charge. I turned in to Capt. D. A. Ward, acting assistant quartermaster, 9 horses and 6 mules, and to Captain Whit tlesey, commissary of subsistence, 27 head of beef cattle and 9 barrels of molasses. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, W. H. POSEY, First Lieut, and R. Q. M. Twenty-fourth Ind. Vol. Infantry. Capt. J. G. DUNLAP, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Brig., Reserve Corps. No. 5. Report of Lieut. Thomas Ledwick, Second New York Veteran Cavalry. CAMP SECOND NEW YORK VETERAN CAVALRY, Morganza, La., December 20, 1864. COLONEL: In compliance with your orders on the morning of the 17th instant, I proceeded down the Old River road, taking all the horses and mules that in my opinion was serviceable. Near the line of march captured 19 horses and 7 mules. Turned them in to D. A. Ward, post quartermaster. Arrived in camp 5 o'clock same day. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS LEDWICK, Lieut., Comdg. Detach. Second New York Vet. Cavalry. Colonel SPICELY. DECEMBER 18, 1864.-Skirmish on Little River, in New Madrid County, Mo. Report of Col. John B. Rogers, Second Missouri State Militia Cavalry. CAPE GIRARDEAU, December 20, 1864. GENERAL: A band of guerrillas made their appearance near Benton on the 18th instant stealing horses. Captain Tanner, of Commerce, Enrolled Missouri Militia, with twenty men, pursued to Little River, thirty-five miles, and killed 1, and recaptured 2 of the stolen horses. The balance scattered and escaped. General EWING, Commanding. J. B. ROGERS, Colonel, Commanding. DECEMBER 20, 1864–JANUARY 4, 1865.-Expeditions from Cape Girardeau and Dallas, Mo., to Cherokee Bay, Ark., and the Saint Francis River, with skirmishes. Report of Col. John B. Rogers, Second Missouri State Militia Cavalry. HDQRS. SECOND SUB-DISTRICT, SAINT LOUIS DISTRICT, Cape Girardeau, Mo., January 4, 1865. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that on the 20th ultimo I ordered Maj. Josephus Robbins, Second Cavalry Missouri State Militia, with a detachment of thirty men of the Second Cavalry Missouri State Militia, and Lieutenant Rinne, with a detachment of Battery C, Second Missouri Artillery, to move from this post to Bloomfield with fifteen days' small rations, with instructions to search for the enemy in the direction of Cherokee Bay, Ark., where he was reported in force. The expedition arrived at Bloomfield on the evening of the 22d, when they ascertained that by reason of late heavy rains the Saint Francis River was impassable, and they were compelled to remain at Bloomfield some two or three days. Information having been received from the commanding officer of the Saint Louis District that a quantity of arms were secreted on Horse Island near the Arkansas line, I ordered Major Robbins to proceed there at once with his command and fifty men from the post of Bloomfield, being detachments of Second Cavalry Missouri State Militia, and sixth months' volunteers, Enrolled Missouri Militia, making the whole strength of the command 100 men. The expedition met with but little resistance, and having thoroughly searched Horse Island and scoured the country thereabout, finding neither arms nor ammunition, returned to Bloomfield, having killed 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, and 6 men, capturing 1 prisoner and 20 horses, with no casualty on our side. In the meantime, agreeable to my orders, Captain Cochran, commanding company six months' volunteers, Enrolled Missouri Militia, marched from Dallas with fifty men of his company to Poplar Bluff, with instructions to report to Major Robbins at that place. Captain Cochran on his arrival at the bluff communicated with Major Robbins at Indian Ford on the Saint Francis River. Finding Major Robbins unable to cross his command, I ordered Captain Cochran to return to Dallas at his leisure, thoroughly scouting the country as he went. He then marched to the Ash Mills, finding six guerrillas, killing 4 of the number, 2 escaping. He captured their horses and arms. He took prisoner one conscript, who, attempting to escape, was shot by the guard. He also routed other bands of guerrillas, killing 2 and capturing their horses; thence returned to Dallas, having killed in all 7 guerrillas, captured 12 horses, 2 Enfield rifles and 8 common rifles. The whole expedition thus resulting in the killing of 15 guerrillas, capturing 1, and 32 horses, several stand of arms, and routing several bands of robbers. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. THOMAS EWING, Jr., J. B. ROGERS, Colonel, Commanding. Commanding Saint Louis District, Saint Louis, Mo. DECEMBER 21, 1864-JANUARY 5, 1865.-Expedition from Memphis, Tenn., to destroy the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, with engagements at Verona, Miss. (25th), and at Egypt, Miss. (28th). REPORTS. No. 1.-Maj. Gen. Edward R. S. Canby, U. S. Army, commanding Military Division of West Mississippi. No. 2.-Maj. Gen. Napoleon J. T. Dana, U. S. Army, commanding Department of Mississippi. No. 3.—Maj. Gen. Cadwallader C. Washburn, U. S. Army, commanding District of Vicksburg. No. 4.-Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Division, Department of Mississippi. No. 1. Report of Maj. Gen. Edward R. S. Canby, U. S. Army, commanding Military Division of West Mississippi. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI, New Orleans, La., January 8, 1865. GENERAL: General Grierson arrived with his command to a place within a few miles from Vicksburg on the evening of the 4th. The expedition has been perfectly successful. The following are the particulars received: About 100 miles of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad have been destroyed, together with nine locomotives, &c. Eight hundred prisoners captured, with nearly horses enough to mount them all. E. R. S. CANBY, Major-General, Commanding. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, D. C. No. 2. Reports of Maj. Gen. Napoleon J. T. Dana, U. S. Army, commanding Department of Mississippi. MEMPHIS, TENN., January 3, 1865. GENERAL: I have information from the expedition sent by me against the Mobile and Ohio Railroad as late as December 27. On that day it was four miles below Okolona, having destroyed the road from Boonville to that point. The camp of Forrest's dismounted men at Verona was surprised on Christmas night and dispersed. Six commissioned officers and 20 men were captured. Three hundred army wagons, 4,000 new carbines, two trains of 32 cars, and very large amounts of ammunition, commissary and quartermaster stores destroyed. Twenty-nine bridges, large quantities of trestle-work, and many miles of track thoroughly destroyed. Not a man lost up to that time, and the expedi tion progressing in fine spirits. The enemy reported concentrating in their front. N. J. T. DANA, Major-General, Commanding. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Memphis, Tenn., January 8, 1865. I have the gratifying opportunity of reporting the result of another very successful expedition to the major-general commanding. The cavalry expedition sent by me from this point against the Mobile and Ohio Railroad has reached Vicksburg in safety and in good condition, with about 550 prisoners, 1,000 negroes, and 800 horses and mules. General Grierson has just arrived here and his force will follow as fast as transportation can be procured. When his brigade commanders arrive and I receive his report I will forward it to you. Meanwhile I give you the following outline of the work done: The expedition left here on the 21st December in wretched weather, about 3,300 strong, and moved directly east, threatening Corinth. Detachments were sent out which cut the telegraph from Grand Junction to Corinth, and also cut it and destroyed four bridges between Booneville and Guntown on the Mobile and Ohio road. The main column then moved rapidly on Tupelo, and on Christmas night surprised, captured, and dispersed Forrest's dismounted camp at Verona. Here they captured 6 officers and 20 men, destroyed two trains of sixteen cars, each loaded with new wagons, pontoons, supplies, &c., for Hood; burned 300 army wagons, most of which had been captured from Sturgis; destroyed 4,000 new English carbines, which were for Forrest's command, and large amounts of ordnance stores and ammunition, with quartermaster stores, and commissary stores for Hood's army. From Verona the command moved south along the line of the road, destroying it thoroughly to a point between Egypt and Prairie. Stations. At Okolona telegrams were taken from the wires from LieutenantGeneral Taylor and Major-General Gardner, ordering Egypt to be held at all hazards, and promising re-enforcements from Mobile and other points. On the morning of the 28th the enemy was attacked at Egypt. General Grierson reports them about 1,200 strong with infantry, cayalry, and four guns on platform cars. Two trains, loaded with infantry, under Gardner, were in sight when the attack was made. A force was thrown between them and the garrison, and Gardner had the mortification to see his friends dispersed after a fight of two hours and the stockade carried by assault, and its defenders, to the number of about 500, captured. The rebel Brigadier Gholson was among the killed. Another train of 14 cars was destroyed here. The command was now |