general, as a mark of his approval of your conduct, and your nomination will accordingly be this day sent in to the Congress, and take date from the day of the battle.

I am, your obedient servant,

J. P. BENJAMIN,

Brig. Gen. EDWARD JOHNSON, Camp Alleghany.

Secretary of War.

Report of Lieut. Col. Z. T. Conner, Twelfth Georgia Infantry.

CAMP ALLEGHANY, December 17, 1861. SIR: I have the honor of submitting this brief and hastily-drawn-up report of the battle of 13th instant:

About 4.30 o'clock in the morning, in obedience to your orders, I proceeded with seven companies of the Twelfth Georgia Regiment to occupy the rude and hastily-drawn-up intrenchments. At 6.30 the enemy were reported in strength upon our right flank, and about sunrise the firing commenced, and was continued without intermission for over two hours, the enemy from their greatly-superior force disputing most obsti nately every inch of ground. The contest was so closely waged for some time that I was induced to dispatch two companies from Twelfth Georgia Regiment, Company B, Captain Hardeman, and Company I, the lamented Lieutenant Moore commanding, to re-enforce our little band and aid in driving the enemy back.

About this time the attack was commenced upon our left, the enemy having covered himself by the heavily fallen timber until within 50 paces of our temporary earthworks. The firing had little effect except in exposed positions, which resulted in some deeply-to-be-deplored casualties. The death of those gallant officers, Captain Anderson and Lieutenant Reger, and badly wounding that most efficient, indefatigable, and brave officer Captain Deshler, who, though shot down, utterly refused to be sent from the field until the enemy were repulsed with great loss.

The conduct of the officers and men of the entire left wing was exceedingly creditable. For list of casualties I beg leave to refer you to accompanying tabular statement of Lieutenant Whitesides, acting adjutant Twelfth Georgia Regiment.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Z. T. CONNER, Lieutenant-Colonel Twelfth Georgia Regiment.

Col. EDWARD JOHNSON, Commanding Alleghany Line.

No. 7.

Report of Lieut. Col. G. W. Hansbrough, C. S. Army.

CAMP ALLEGHANY, December 16, 1861. COLONEL: After the alarm about 4.30 a. m. on the 13th instant, pursuant to your orders my battalion was stationed in the woods on the hill above and to the right of our encampment. Scouts were sent out by me to the turnpike road below us and towards Varner's on the right. The Thirty-first Virginia, under command of Major Boykin, ordered to

30 RR-VOL V

co-operate with us, did not come up, owing, I believe, to the impassableness of the blockade in the dark, and were several hundred yards to our left.

Soon after the dawn of day the scouts reported the approach of the enemy in strong force on the extreme right. Determining to feel the enemy with a view to test his strength and temper, I immediately advanced the battalion to meet him, and approached within 150 yards of where he was forming in line of battle a force at least ten times as numerous as mine. I sent a messenger to hurry up the Thirty-first, which was then not in sight, and then ordered the battalion to fire and fall back to meet the Thirty-first. The fire was delivered with coolness, and it is thought with considerable effect. Upon us falling back the enemy poured a volley of Minie balls, which, however, flew harmlessly over our heads.

Meeting the gallant Thirty-first advancing in fine spirits, my men rallied and returned vigorously to the charge. Their advance was retarded, not hindered, by the logs and brush of the blockade. The fight here was almost hand to hand, the roar of musketry was incessant and deafening, but above the roar rang the shouts of officers and men. It must be admitted that not much order was observed. The men fought on their own hook, each loading and firing as fast as possible. The Thirty-first and my battalion were mingled almost indiscriminately. No praise applied to the conduct of officers or men here engaged in battle can be justly deemed excessive. Where all behaved so well it may appear invidious to name any, but I cannot forbear to mention that the calm, the ardent courage and soldierly demeanor of Adjt. C. S. Morgan and the dauntless conduct of the noble Capt. William H. Mollohan commanded the applause of every beholder. Lieutenants Robinson and Haymond, Sergeants Jarvis and Roder, and Privates Collins, Musgrave, Green, and scores of others deserve honorable mention.

Of my own personal knowledge I can say but little more, for here in this first charge, whilst descending from a log on which I had been standing for a moment urging the men forward to the charge, I was prostrated by a pistol ball, which entered my right thigh. In this condition I was borne off the field. The enemy was then recoiling before our fire. Their final discomfiture and retreat, after various vicissitudes, are known to you. Victory has once more been awarded to the de fenders of the right, but we have to mourn many casualties. That gallant patriot and soldier Captain Mollohan sealed his devotion to the cause with his life's blood. Lieutenant Haymond was severely wounded. Our entire loss was 4 killed, 13 wounded (1 mortally and several severely), and 5 missing.,

Respectfully,

G. W. HANSBROUGH, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Battalion.

Col. EDWARD JOHNSON, Commanding, &c.

No. 8.

Report of Maj. A. G. Reger, Twenty-fifth Virginia Infantry.

HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIFTH VIRGINIA REGIMENT,
Camp Alleghany, December 16, 1861.

SIR: I have the honor to report to you that on the morning of the 13th instant orders came to me that the enemy were approaching in

force on the Greenbrier road, and to report the men under my command at once to you at the blacksmith shop, near the forks of the road, which was done in the shortest possible time, and after remaining there some time we were ordered to proceed down the Greenbrier road, which was done in good order in double-quick time. When some 200 yards down the road we were ordered up the hill by the right flank through a thick blockade. The hill being very steep and difficult to ascend, the men became very much scattered. When near the top of the hill I received directions as coming from you to occupy the point of the hill on the south side of the turnpike road, as the enemy were reported advancing up the turnpike, which I did with a portion of the men, whilst a portion of the Augusta Lee Rifles, under command of Capt. R. D. Lilley; a portion of the Rockbridge Guards, under command of Lieut. J. J. Whitmore; a portion of the Franklin Guards, under command of Sergt. E. W. Boggs, and a portion of the Upshur Greys, numbering in all about 60 men, went to the support of our forces on the right flank, out of which number 1 was killed and 11 wounded-none supposed to be very dangerous.

The officers and men who went to the right flank are reported to have acted bravely. Dr. Thomas Opie, assistant surgeon of my regiment, has been unremitting in his care and attention to our wounded soldiers, not only of this regiment, but in Colonel Hansbrough's battalion and others.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. G. REGER,

Major, Comdg. Twenty-fifth Regiment Virginia Volunteers. Col. EDWARD JOHNSON,

Commanding Forces on the Summit of Alleghany.

No. 9.

Report of Lieut. C. E. Dabney, C. S. Cavalry.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CAMP, Alleghany Summit, December 15, 1861. SIR: I beg leave to report that on the morning of the 13th instant I caused my command to turn out immediately I received intelligence of the enemy's having driven in our pickets and held it in readiness for orders.

After remaining in this position for nearly two hours the enemy suddenly appeared on the crest of the hill on which the Thirty-first Virginia Regiment was encamped, and commenced a rapid fire of mus ketry. My position was in full range and my men very much exposed to the fire. I immediately rode to headquarters to get orders, but found Colonel Johnson absent, and was unable to ascertain in what part of the field he was. Under these circumstances I considered it my duty to carry my command where it could render some service, and would not be compelled to stand exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy without a chance of returning it. I accordingly marched it up to the intrenchments on the hill to the left of the turnpike, and made the men dismount and stand to their horses.

After the lapse of some time the enemy appeared in force on our left flank and commenced a heavy fire, which raked the hill. Not being

able to find who was in command on the hill, and finding my men very much exposed and in a position in which they could render no service, I took the responsibility of ordering them to secure their horses behind the cabins and to go into the ditches. Directly I met with Colonel Johnson. I informed him of the steps which I had taken and my rea son therefor. He approved of them.

The trenches were so much crowded on the left flank that I was not able to get more than 12 or 15 of my carbineers in a position where they could shoot at the enemy with any effect. This detachment, however, kept up a regular and effective fire until the close of the engagement.

I take pleasure in stating that all of my men, and especially those posted where they could fire on the enemy, behaved with coolness and bravery and obeyed my orders promptly.

None of my command sustained any injury except Private John Nuckols, who was slightly wounded in both hands and in the left arm by a musket ball. Only two of my horses were wounded. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Second Lieutenant, Commanding Pittsylvania Cavalry. Lieutenant WILLIS, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 10.

Return of casualties in Colonel Edward Johnson's command in the engagement at Camp Alleghany, December 13, 1861.*

DECEMBER 15, 1861.-Affair in Roane County, West Virginia.

Extract from "Record of Events," return of Department of Western Vir ginia, for the month of December, 1861.

December 15, Captain Baggs, with a company of scouts, pursued the bushwhackers into Roane County, on the Little Kanawha, attacked and routed them, killing 5, wounding several, and taking 9 prisoners, 6 horses, a yoke of oxen, and burned down the houses in which they were quartered. Lowerburn, a noted guerrilla, was killed.

*

Compiled from nominal list made by Lieutenant Willis, acting assistant adjutantgeneral.

DECEMBER 15, 1861.-Capture of the sloop Victory.

Report of Brig. Gen. Joseph Hooker, U. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS HOOKER'S DIVISION,

Camp Baker, Lower Potomac, Maryland, December 17, 1861. GENERAL: I have this moment received a communication from Maj. George H. Chapman, Third Indiana Cavalry, dated Millstone Landing, December 15, 1861, informing me that his pickets had captured a sloop engaged in the rebel trade, and is now awaiting instructions concerning her. She is now at the mouth of the Patuxent. His letter relating to this subject is as follows:

A party of my men captured a sloop, the Victory, of Baltimore, of about 40 tons burden, with a small lot of contraband goods on board. Those on board deserted her on the appearance of my men, and succeeded in making their escape. She was taken near Spencer's Landing, about 7 miles above here. I found on board 86,250 percussion caps, 43 pounds flax thread, 87 dozen fancy brass buttons, 2 boxes of needles, 1 sack of gum shellac, a box of carpenter's tools, 1 carpet-sack and contents, consisting of wearing apparel and some silver forks, spoons, &c., marked J. C. M. and McC., a trunk and its contents, mainly clothing, and $25,328.17 in promissory notes, payable to Hamilton Easter & Co., of Baltimore, on parties throughout the Southern States, directed to Mr. James H. Weedon, 9 Pearl street, Richmond, Va., care Messrs. J. B. Ferguson & Co., with letters of instruction accompanying. I have brought the sloop to this landing. I very much regret that my men did not catch those on board. I will make such disposition of the sloop and things on board as you may direct. The caps are suitable for Colt's revolvers, I believe. I regret that my men are not so armed.

In my opinion the best disposition to be made of her will be to have her, with the property, brought up the Potomac to Liverpool Point with her freight, and shall request the officer in command of the lower flotilla to have a crew placed on board for that purpose. On her arrival the freight can be forwarded directly to Washington, and the sloop, if found suitable; I should like to have retained here for service in the quartermaster's department. This disposition will be made of this prize unless I should be otherwise instructed.

I have now three companies of cavalry operating between Port Tobacco and the mouth of the Patuxent, and it will be much more convenient for them to draw their forage and subsistence from Baltimore than from this point. They should be landed at Millstone Landing, which is in direct steamboat communication with Baltimore. This arrangement will save 60 miles land transportation over horrible roads. I have given directions for Major Chapman to make his requisitions on the heads of those departments in Baltimore, and request that those officers may be directed to honor them.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOSEPH HOOKER, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, Adjt. Gen., Army of the Potomac.

DECEMBER 15-17, 1861.-Operations on the Lower Potomac.

Report of Brig. Gen. S. G. French, C. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS,

Evansport, December 17, 1861.

SIR: I have not deemed it necessary to report to you the actions of the enemy in front of us. For the last three weeks they have daily