REBEL OFFICIAL REPORT. DRURY'S BLUFF, May 15, 1862. Hon. S. R. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy: SIR: The enemy came up the river at half-past six A.M., the Galena ahead, the Monitor and a small iron steamer, a side-wheel and a smaller gunboat following in succession. When about four hundred yards from our obstructions our batteries opened fire upon the Monitor and Galena. They did not reply until the Galena had placed herself directly athwart the channel. After which she and the Monitor opened a brisk fire, the other vessels keeping under way, and at about from a quarter to a mile lower down, and so close under the opposite shore that only four of our guns could bear upon them. Our fire was mostly directed upon the Galena, only occasionally paying a compliment to the others. Several of our shots at long range passed through and through them, and they soon dropped out of range. The small iron-clad and the side-wheel gunboats were badly crippled. We turned our attention to the Galena, nearly every one of our shots telling upon her iron surface. At eleven o'clock A.M., one of the Patrick Henry's eight-inch solid shot passed into her bow port; immediately the smoke rushed out of her own ports, showing, evidently, that she was on fire. We gave her three hearty cheers as she slipped her cables and moved down the river. Our pickets heard her captain say to one of the other gunboats that she was "in a sinking condition." Our sharp-shooters did good service, picking off every man who showed himself. There is no doubt we struck them a hard blow. The last that was seen of them they were steaming down the river. Every officer and man performed their duties with coolness and determination, and it would be doing injustice to many if I should mention or particularize any. Capt. Drury and his company fought their guns with great effect. CASUALTIES.-Seven killed, among them Midshipman Carroll, and eight wounded. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, EBEN FARRAND, C.S.N., Commanding Post. Doc. 38. GENERAL BUTLER'S ORDER NO. 28. As officers and soldiers of the United States have been subject to repeated insults from women calling themselves ladies, of New-Orleans, in return for the most scrupulous non-interference and courtesy on our part, it is ordered hereafter, when any female shall by mere gesture or movement insult, or show contempt for any officers or soldiers of the United States, she shall be regarded and held liable to be treated as a woman about town plying her avocation. By command of Major-Gen. BUTLER. This order fell into the hands of Gen. Beauregard, who issued the following: No. Twenty-eight of the Federal officer, MajorFor the information of the army, general order Gen. Butler commanding at New-Orleans, will be read on dress-parade. Men of the South, shall our mothers, wives, daughters and sisters be thus outraged by the ruffianly soldiers of the North, to whom is given the right to treat at their pleasure the ladies of the South as common harlots? Arouse, friends, vaders of our homes and disturbers of our family and drive back from our soil these infamous inG. T. BEAUREGARD, General Commanding. ties. Recent disaster has spread gloom over the land, and sorrow sits at the hearthstones of our countrymen; but a people conscious of rectitude and faithfully relying on their Father in heaven, may be cast down, but cannot be dismayed. They may mourn the loss of the martyrs whose lives have been sacrificed in their defence, but they receive this dispensation of Divine Providence with humble submission and reverent faith. And now that our hosts are again going forth to battle, and loving hearts at home are filled with anxious solicitude for their safety, it is meet that the whole people should turn imploringly to their Almighty Father and beseech his all-powerful protection. To this end, therefore, I, Jefferson Davis, President of the confederate States of America, do issue my proclamation, inviting all the people to unite at their several places of worship, on Friday, the sixteenth day of the present month of May, in humble supplication to Almighty God that he will vouchsafe his blessings on our beloved country; that he will strengthen and protect our armies; that he will watch over and protect our people from the machinations of their enemies; and that he will, in his own good time, restore to us the blessing of peace and security under his sheltering care. Given under my hand and the seal of the confederate States, at Richmond, on the third day of May, A.D. 1862 JEFFERSON DAVIS. Doc. 40. THE DESTRUCTION OF COTTON. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, RICHMOND, VA., May 16, 1862. gave him a guide so to conduct. his march as to arrive on the left of the enemy's position by the time he was engaged in front; and I ordered Gen. Morgan L. Smith's brigade, with Bouton's battery, to follow the main road, drive back a brigade of the enemy's forces that held the posiSIR: In answer to your communication of this tion at Russell's, with their skirmishers and morning, I have the honor to state that the gov-pickets, down to the causeway and bridge across ernment has no desire to destroy any cotton be- a small stream about eight hundred yards this longing to neutrals; but, on the contrary, is will- side of Russell's house, supposed to be a branch ing to extend to it full protection while in its of Bridge Creek. power, provided the like protection can be made All these forces were put in motion at three effective when the cotton may fall into the pos- P.M., Gen. Denver's forces taking the right-hand session of the enemy. The past conduct of the road, and Gen. Smith's the direct main road. On Government of the United States, and passive at-reaching the causeway, Gen. Smith deployed his titude of neutral nations whose rights have been violated by the United States, have satisfied us that, if cotton belonging to neutrals be allowed to fall into the hands of the enemy, it will be seized and appropriated by them regardless of neutral rights, and that neutral powers will fail to afford any protection to the rights of their subjects when thus violated. If, however, as you suggest, any official assurance shall be formally communicated by the government of any neutral nation to this nation, of a nature to satisfy us that cotton belonging to the subjects of such neutral nation shall be effectually protected against seizure and appropriation by the enemy, if allowed to fall into his possession, this Government will have no hesitation in issuing instructions to refrain from the destruction of such cotton, even when exposed to seizure by the enemy. I am your obedient servant, BATTLE AT RUSSELL'S HOUSE, Capt. Geo. E. Flynt, Assistant Adjutant-Gen- I requested Gen. Hurlbut to put in motion two regiments and a battery of artillery, at three o'clock P.M., on the road which passes the front of his line and runs to Russell's house. I or dered Gen. Denver to take a right-hand road with two regiments of his brigade and one battery of light artillery, namely, the Seventieth and Seventy-second Ohio, and Barrett's battery, and skirmishers forward, and sent out his advanceguard. The column advanced, and the skirmishers became engaged at once. The firing was very brisk, but the enemy's pickets were driven steadily back till they reached the position of their brigade at Russell's house, where their resistance was obstinate. The ground was unfavorable to artillery till the skirmishers had cleared the hill beyond the causeway, when Major Taylor, Chief of Artillery, advanced first one of Bouton's guns, and very soon after the remaining three guns of the battery. These, upon reaching the hill-top, commenced firing at Russell's house and outhouses, in which the enemy had taken shelter, when their whole force retreated, and full possession was obtained of Russell's house and the ground for three hundred yards in advance, where the roads meet. This was the limit to which I had ordered the brigade to go, and there it was halted. The head of Gen. Denver's column reached its position as the enemy was beginning to retreat. Gen. Morgan L. Smith conducted the advance of his brigade handsomely, and the chief work and loss fell upon his two leading regiments, the Eighth Missouri and Fifty-fifth Illinois. I leave to him the full credit of conducting the advance, and of carrying the position at Russell's. He held the ground till about daylight next morning, when, by my order, he left a strong picket there, and placed his brigade back a short distance in easy support, where it remained until relieved by another brigade. From Russell's we could hear distinctly the drums beating in Corinth. The house is nearly two miles from me, and about one and a quarter miles from the enemy's outer intrenchments, and the position, though important, is too exposed for a single brigade, with our line disposed as at present. Gen. Hurlbut has two companies at Russell's and two regiments along the edge of a field which lies to the east of Russell's house. This house is now the advance picket-station in our front, and I have a chain of sentinels round by the right to a point on the Purdy and Corinth road, where it joins on to the pickets of Gen. McClernand. There was no loss sustained by Gens. Hurlbut or Denver's commands in their flank movements on Russell's; but the loss in Gen. Morgan L. Smith's brigade was pretty heavy-ten killed and thirty-one wounded, a list of whom will accompa- exercise such supposed power, are questions ny this report. The confederates left twelve which, under my responsibility, I reserve to mydead on the ground, whom we buried. They re- | self, and which I cannot feel justified in leaving moved their wounded, of which many traces to the decision of commanders in the field. These were on the ground and in the house. Among are totally different questions from those of police their dead was one captain and two lieutenants. regulations in armies and camps. We took only one prisoner, whom I sent to the Provost-Marshal. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. Commanding Division. Headquarters Department Mississippi, Camp Corinth Roads, Doc. 42. PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S PROCLAMATION. On the sixth day of March last, by a special message, I recommended to Congress the adoption of a joint resolution, to be substantially as follows: "Resolved, That the United States ought to cooperate with any State which may adopt a gradual abolishment of slavery, giving to such State in its discretion to compensate for the inconveniences, public and private, produced by such change of system." The resolution, in the language above quoted, was adopted by large majorities in both branches of Congress, and now stands an authentic, definite and solemn proposal of the nation to the States and people most immediately interested in the subject matter. To the people of these States WHEREAS, There appears in the public prints what purports to be a proclamation of MajorGeneral Hunter, in the words and figures follow-I now earnestly appeal. I do not argue; I being, to wit: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF 7, 102." HILTON HEAD, S. C., May 9, 1862. GENERAL ORDERS NO. 11. The three States of Georgia, Florida, and SouthCarolina, comprising the Military Department of the South, having deliberately declared themselves no longer under the protection of the United States of America, and having taken up arms against the said United States, it becomes a military necessity to declare them under martial law. This was accordingly done on the twenty-fifth day of April, 1862. Slavery and martial law in a free country are altogether incompatible. The persons in these three States, Georgia, Florida, and South-Carolina, heretofore held as slaves, are therefore declared forever free. DAVID HUNTER, Official: ED. W. SMITH, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. seech you to make the arguments for yourselves. May In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington this nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and of the indepenAnd whereas, The same is producing some ex-dence of the United States the eighty-sixth. citement and misunderstanding, WM. H. SEWARD, Therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of By the President: the United States, proclaim and declare that the government of the United States had no knowledge or belief of an intention, on the part of Gen. Hunter, to issue such a proclamation, nor has it yet any authentic information that the document is genuine; and further, that neither Gen. Hunter nor any other commander or person has been authorized by the government of the United States to make proclamation declaring the slaves of any State free, and that the supposed proclamation now in question, whether genuine or false, is altogether void, so far as respects such declaration. I further make known, that whether it be competent for me as commander-in-chief of the army and navy to declare the slaves of any State or States free, and whether at any time, or in any case, it shall have become a necessity indispensable to the maintenance of the government to ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Secretary of State. Doc. 43. THE BATTLE AT FRONT ROYAL, VA.* OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL BANKS. } Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War: *See Banks's Retreat, page 52, ante. to protect the town of Front Royal and the railroad and bridges between that town and Strasburgh. The forces under his command consisted of his own regiment, (seven hundred and seventy-five available men,) two companies from the Twentieth Pennsylvania volunteers, Lieut.-Col. Perham commanding; the Pioneer Corps, Capt. Mapes, engaged in constructing bridges; two companies of the Fifth New-York cavalry, and a section of Knapp's battery, Lieut. Atwell commanding. There were three companies of infantry stationed on the road near Strasburgh; the Second Massachusetts, Capt. Russell, at the bridge; one company of the Third Wisconsin, Capt. Hubbard, and one company of the Twenty-seventh Indiana, about five miles from Strasburgh. This force was intended as a guard for the protection of the town, and partly against local guerrilla parties that infested that locality, and replaced two companies of infantry with cavalry and artillery, which had occupied the town for some weeks, under Major Tyndale, of the Twentyeighth Pennsylvania volunteers, for the same purpose. It had never been contemplated as a defence against the combined forces of the enemy in the Valley of Virginia. Front Royal is in itself an indefensible position. Two mountain valleys debouch suddenly upon the town from the south, commanding it by almost inaccessible hills, and is at the same time exposed to flank movements by other mountain valleys, via Strasburgh on the west and Chester Gap on the east. The only practicable defence of this town would be by a force sufficiently strong to hold these mountain passes some miles in advance. Such forces were not at my disposal, and no such expectations were entertained from the slender command of Col. Kenly. It was a guerrilla force, and not an organized and well-appointed army that he was prepared to meet. On the twenty-third of May, it was discovered that the whole force of the enemy was in movement down the Valley of the Shenandoah, between the Massanutten Mountain and the Blue Ridge, and in close proximity to the town. Their cavalry had captured a considerable number of our pickets before the alarm was given. The little band which was charged with the protection of the railroad and bridges, found itself instantaneously compelled to choose between an immediate retreat or a contest with the enemy, against overwhelming numbers. Col. Kenly was not the man to avoid a contest, at whatever odds, He immediately drew up his troops in the order he had contemplated in case of an attack of less importance. The disposition of his forces had been wisely made to resist a force equal to his own, and the best, perhaps, that could have been devised in his more pressing emergency. About one o'clock P.M. the alarm was given that the enemy was advancing on the town in force. The infantry companies were drawn up in line of battle about one half of a mile in the rear of the town. Five companies were detailed to support the artillery, which was placed on the crest of a hill commanding a meadow of some extent, over which the enemy must pass to reach the bridge-one company guarding the regimental camp, nearer to the river, on the right of the line. The companies, three in number, left to guard the town, were soon compelled to fall back upon the main force. There were then four companies on the right of the battery near the camp, under Lieut.-Col. Dushane, and five companies on the left under Col. Kenly. The battery, Lieut. Atwell commanding, opened fire upon the enemy advancing from the hills on the right and left, well supported by the infantry, doing much damage. A detachment of the Fifth New-York cavalry was ordered to advance upon the road, which was attempted, but did not succeed. They held this position for an hour, when they were compelled to retreat across the river, which was done in good order, their camp and stores having been first destroyed. On the opposite side their lines were again formed, and the battery, in position, opened its fire upon the enemy while fording the river. They were again ordered to move, left in front, on the Winchester road, and had proceeded about two miles when they were overtaken by the enemy's cavalry, and a fearful fight ensued, which ended in the complete destruction of the command. Col. Kenly, at the head of his column, was wounded in this action. The train and one gun were captured. One gun was brought within five miles of Winchester, and abandoned by Lieut. Atwell only when his horses were broken down. The ene my's force is estimated at eight thousand. The fighting was mostly done by the cavalry on the side of the rebels, with active support from the infantry and artillery. Our own force did not exceed nine hundred men. They held their ground manfully, yielding only to the irresistible power of overwhelming numbers. Prisoners captured since the affair represent that our troops fought with great valor, and that the losses of the enemy were large. A prisoner, captured near Martinsburgh, who was in the Front Royal army, states that twentyfive men were killed in the charge on the Buckton station. Six companies of cavalry charged upon our troops at that place. The killed and wounded numbered forty odd. Among the killed were Capt. Sheets and Capt. Fletcher. The name of the prisoner is John Seyer. It is impossible at this time to give a detailed account of our losses. Reports from the officers of the regiment represent that but eight commissioned officers and one hundred and twenty-five men have reported. Of these officers, five were in the engagement, two absent on detached service, and one on furlough. All the regimental officers were captured. Col. Kenly, who was represented to have been killed, is now understood to be held a prisoner. He is severely wounded. Lieut. Atwell reports that of thirty-eight men attached to his battery, but twelve have reported. The cavalry was more fortunate, and suffered comparatively little loss. Undoubtedly large numbers of the command will yet return, but it is impossible to speculate upon the number. I have the honor to ask attention to the reports of the remaining officers of the First Maryland regiment who participated in the engagement, giving their account of the same, and that of Lieut. Atwell, commanding the battery. Other reports will doubtless be made by officers having a more perfect knowledge of the affair and a more exact statement of the losses, but are not at this time available. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, N. P. BANKS, LIEUTENANT THOMPSON'S ACCOUNT. HAGERSTOWN, May 29, 1862. Messrs. Editors of the Baltimore American: According to promise I give you a brief account of the battle of Friday, the twenty-third day of May. Having been relieved from picket duty on the morning of the battle, I was lounging about in my tent, between two and three o'clock P.M., when a negro man came riding into camp much excited, stating that the rebels had taken the town"Front Royal." Our camp was about a mile and a quarter from the town. I went out to see the negro and commenced making fun of him, for he was frightened nearly to death. Thinking it to be only a skirmish with a party of guerrillas, whom we knew to be in the mountain, Lieut.-Col. Dushane and Dr. Mitchell mounted their horses and rode out towards town. They had been gone but a short time when they came dashing back to Colonel Kenly, the "long roll" was beat, and we were immediately drawn up in line prepared for a fight. Our force was small, there being four companies detached from the regiment, one at a town called Linden, about eight miles from camp, two doing picket duty a short distance from Front Royal, and one on provost, duty in the town of Front Royal. A number of our men in this company were killed by the citizens of the town of Front Royal, by shooting from their dwellings. This left us but six companies in camp, five of the six were ordered to support a section of Knapp's battery, on the left of our camp, leaving one company to guard the camp. The three companies in town fell back to camp, when the four companies then in camp were deployed as skirmishers by Lieut.-Col. Dushane, on the right with the battery, and five companies on the left. We had scarcely been placed in position, when the rebels were seen advancing in great force. A brisk fire was opened by our men and the battery, doing great damage to their rank and file, and throwing them into confusion, but they again rallied in such numbers that our Colonel ordered us to fall back, which we did in good order, the men showing a coolness that was truly remarkable. Before we left our camp, we succeeded in burning all our quipments and stores. We continued to retreat until we had crossed the two branches of the Shenandoah river, when we were balted and again thrown in line of battle, after burning the bridge over the north branch. At this time the battery was placed on our right and again commenced throwing shells into the lines of the rebels. The rebel artillery had been placed in position opposite to us on the banks of the south branch and threw a number of shell into our midst. While this was going on, I noticed the rebel infantry coming up the railroad and were fording the north branch. I remarked to Major Wilson who, at this time, had not noticed it, that if we did not look out they would flank us on the left. He rode down the line and we were brought to a right face, with our left in front, and ordered to march up the turnpike, allowing the battery to get in front. We had marched but a short distance when the New-York cavalry, who were covering our retreat, were overpowered and driven into our lines by about two thousand rebel cavalry, on a bold charge, flanking us right and left. They closed in upon us, literally cutting us to pieces, our men fighting desperately. Colonel Kenly, seeing our position, called our men to rally around their colors, which was the last order I heard from him. fighting hand to hand with the rebels, receiving a sabre-wound in the head, which was the last I saw of our beloved Colonel. I then ordered what men I had left to take to the wheat-field, but the men could do nothing with their muskets, as they had become so gummed up as to render it impossible to get a cartridge down to its proper place. Seeing this, we took to the woods near by, I getting off with a slight sabre-cut, which nearly severed the sleeve from my coat. With several of my men I remained in the woods all night, in sight of the battle-ground, and made Winchester in the morning. We lost everything we had, except one wagon and eight horses, which Quartermaster Lyeth succeeded in getting to Winchester, where he found Lieut. Taylor, of company B, who had been on detached service, and was to join his company the next morning. He assisted Quartermaster Lyeth in getting the horses from Winchester. He was Our little band of patriots only numbered a little over seven hundred, while the rebels had near eight thousand. Your obedient servant, GEORGE W. THOMPSON, Second Lieutenant Co. D, First Md. Regt A REBEL ACCOUNT. Our IN CAMP, JACKSON'S DIVISION, VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH, May 27, 1862. We got to Front Royal, where we met the First Maryland regiment, and after a fight and a charge we captured every man of them save fifteen. cavalry then dashed ahead and took two hundred more prisoners, at a little town between Front Royal and Strasburgh, on the railroad. In all we took nine hundred prisoners at Front Royal, including one colonel, one lieut.-colonel, one major, two pieces of cannon; horses, arms, etc., in |