The National tribune. [volume], April 29, 1882, Image 1

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Vfrii If
'TO CARE FOR HIM WHO HAS BORNE THE BATTLE, AND FOR HIS WIDOW AND ORPHANS."
ESTABLISHED 1 877.
TTASHIXGTO, B. CL SATUJRDAY, APIHL 29, 1882.
KEW SEEIES VOL- L, N"- 37.
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CUMBERLAND GAR
"THE GATEWAY TO THE CONFEDER
ACY" THREE TIMES CAPTURED.
Ocrnpled by the Confederates Invested by United
States Troojis Condition or the CariNon.
Tlie Summons to Surrender Treason
in tlie Camp Correspondence.
The Surrender.
g. c. knsffin.
conclusion.
The East Tennessee campaign of August
and September, 1SG3, under the light of the
record, embraces not only tlie movements of
Gen. Rosccrans, but to an equal extent thoe
of Gen. Burnside. Tlie .Army of the Ohio on
duty in Kentucky consisted of the Nnvih
Corps, commanded by Maj.-Gen. J. G. Farke,
and the Twenty-third Corps, under command
of Maj.-Gcn. George L. Hartsuff. The first
of these corps numbered on August 80th.
"present for duty, equipped" infantry,
5,965 ; artillery, 208 ; total, 6.173. Tlie Twenty-third
Corps, composed of three divisions,
numbered, infantry, 14.279; cavalry, 6,073;
artillery, 1,462; total. 21,S14. The' first di
vision of this corps, tinder command of Gen.
Boyle, 6,357 men of all arms, was required
for duty in guarding various military posts
in Kentuck', leaving the remainder, lo,4.77,
for offensive operations. The total effective
strength of both corps was 21,630. The ad
vance into East Tennessee commenced Au
gust 20th. Gen. Hascall's division moved
from Crab Orchard, crossing the Cumberland
at Smith's Ford; General "White's division
crossed at Jamestown, the cavalry and
mounted infantry, Generals Carter and
Shackelford and Colonels Foster and "Wool
ford, moving in advance of each column.
The two columns -were ordered to concen
trate after crossing the Cumberland Moun
tains near Huntsville, and move upon Mont
gomery in East Tennessee. From there the
movements, as Burnside telegraphed Haileck,
Trould be "according to circumstances, but
prdbablj" upon Kingston and Loudon, as
these seem to be the places to which General
Rosccrans desires tis to go in order to co
operate fully "with him. At all events, oar
final destination will be Knoxville. "We
have had very serious difficulty to contend
with in had roads and short forage; in fact,
tlie country is about destitute. "We shall
have still greater difficulties in that -way to
overcome, hut if Bosccrans occupies the enemy
fully and no troops are allowed to come down
the road from Richmond, from the eastern
army, I think we -will he successful' The
army arrived at Montgomery on the 1st of
September, having encountered no opposi
tion. There was nothing there to oppose it.
Gen. Garter's cavalry division moved thence
in three columns, one under Gen. Shackel
ford cm Loudon bridge, one under Col. Ifyrd
on Kingston, and one under Col. Foster on
Knoxville.
Major-General Simon Bolivar Buckner, in
command of the department of East Tennes
see, had, in obedience to orders from the
confederate war department, gathered up all
his available force, with the exception of
2,000 men under command of Brig.-Gen.
John B. Frazer, who was left in defense of
Cumberland Gap, and a few Isolated detach
ments at Knoxville and other places under
command of Brig.-Gcn. Jackson, and formed
a junction with Bmgg's army at Chattanooga.
Previous to leaving Knoxville Gen. Buckner
wrote Maj.-Gcn. Sam Jones, in command of
the department of "Western Virginia, request
ing him to look after his department during
his absence. Jones's headquarters were at
Dublin, Va. He had his hands full taking
care of Generals Averill and Scanuuon, who
had on several occasions pushed their com
mands across the mountains from the north
and the Kanawha Valley, and he was unable
it: ih lroops at his command to do much be
sides look after his own department. In
compliance with Buckner'.s request, however,
he came down the road as far us Abingdon,
when on the 6th of September he wrote Gen.
Frazer, directing him to
HOLD CUMBERLAND GAP
as long as possible, as reinforcements were
then on tlie way from the East. The long
Jine extending from Staunton, Va., to the
Salt Works, over 200 miles, comprised in the
department of "Western Virginia, rendered
it out of the power of Gen. Jones to reinforce
him with his own troops. In compliance,
with the request of Gen. Jones General Lee
returned to him one of his own brigades,
commanded by Brig.-Gen. Wharton, which
had been for several months on duty in the
Army of Northern Virginia, and later another
under command of Brig.-Gen. Corse. Gen.
Jones's messenger reached Gen. Frazer too
late to prevent his surrender, and 2,000 men
were thus subtracted from the little force
left to oppose the occupation of East Tennes
see by the troops under Gen. Burnside.
The following extract fiom the returns of
the army of Western Virginia and East Ten
nessee will show the troops actually on duty
in East Tennessee from the 16th of Septem
ber, at which date the brigade last-mentioned
arrived.
Organization of the command of Maj.-Gen.
Sam Jones in East Tennessee and Western
Virginia in September, 1863:
Infantry Brigades.
Brig.-Gen. Corse (sent by Gen. Lee) 15th,
29th, and 30th Virginia.
Brig.-Gen. Jackson (Buckner's Corps.)
Thomas's Legion, Walkers battalion.
Brig.-Gen. Wharton (at Salt Works.) 51st
Virginia; 30th Va. battalion. ; 45th Va.
Cavalry Brigades.
Brig.-Gcn. W. E. Jones (made up from
fragmentary commands.)-21st Virginia cav
alry; 27th, 31th, 36th, and 37th Virginia
cavalry battalions.
Brig.-Gen. John S. Williams (one-half of
them mounted.) 61th Va. detached cav.:
1st Tenn. cav.; lth Ky. cav.; May's Ky.
env. bat'n; 10th Ky. cav. bat'n: 16th Ga.
eiv. bat'n.
A rlillcry.
J. Floyd King. O toy's Battery: Lowry's
Battery; Ringgold's Battery: Davidson's
Battery.
The effective total of the above command
was, up to the 16th of September, about
1,000. Corses brigade increased it to 5.180,
and Wharton's brigade, l,p52 strong, was
stationed at the Salt Works.
The force with which General Burnside
confronted that of General Jones, above men
tioned, was as follows:
Organization of the Army of the Ohio in
East Tast Tennessee September 10th, 1803,
under Maj.-Gen. Burnside :
Tfcnty-thml Army Corps, SLij.-Gcn. Harisvff.
Second Division, Gen. White Infantry.
1st Brigade, Col. O. II. Moore. 4 reg'ts: 2d
Brigade. Col. M. W. Chapin, -1 reg'ts. Artil
lery, two batteries.
Third Division, Gen. ITascall Infantry.
1st Brigade, Col. S. A. Gilbert, -l reg'ts; 2d
Brigade, Col. D. Cameron, 4 reg'ts. Artil
lery, two batteries.
Fourth Division, Gen. S. P. Carter Cav
alry and mounted infantry. 1st Brigade,
Coi. R. K. Byrd, 4 leg'ls: 2d Brigade, Gen.
Shackelford, 5 reg'ts: 3d Brigade, Col. J. P.
Carter, 4 reg'ts; Independent Brigade, Col.
Frank Woolford, 3 reg'ts. Artillery, five
batteries.
Reserve artillery, four batteries.
Kinth Army Corps, Jfiij.-Gcn. BarJcc.
First Division, Gen. Ferrero. 1st Brigade,
Col. Morrison; 2d Brigade, Col. Christ; 3d
Brigade, Col. Leastire.
Second Division. Gen. Potter. 1st Brigade,
Col. S. G. Griffin ; 2d Brigade, Lieut.-Col.
Shall; 3d Brigade, Col. deCourcey. Artil
lery, two batteries.
Present for duty (equipped) :
Ticcnty-iMrd Army Corps.
Infantry
Mounted Infantry '
Artillery
6,53!)
3J123
3,436
1,311
14,459
Sfinth Army, Coips.
Infahtrv : . . G,222
Artillory -. . Ill
Total IT. S. troops in East Tenn. . 21,792
The Ninth Corps reached Knoxville Sep
tember 25th to 28th.
.The cavalry expeditions from Montgomery
were all successful. Kingston and Knox
ville were taken without opposition, but at
Loudon Bridge Buchncr's rear -guard was
strongly posted. After si brisk skirmish t hey
were driven bark by Shackelford's command.
The railroad bridge over tlie Holston, a fine
structure, had been saturated with turpen
tine, and the guard no sooner retreated
across it than it Aas committed to the flames.
Colonel Byrd ceptured sit Kingston a steam
boat in process of construction, and commu
nicated with Colonel Minty's pickets, who
formed the extreme right flank of General
Rosccrans "s army.
Leaving Byrd's brigade, 3,000 strong, at
Loudon suul Athens, General Burnside pushed
tlie remainder of the Twentv-third Corps on
to Knoxville. Buckner had left Knoxville
the day before Colonel Foster's arrival, leav
ing behind him a small force to guard a con
siderable quantify of quartermaster stores,
the Government work-shops, and a large
quantity of salt, which fell into Foster's
hands. General Burnside reached the city
on the 3d. The East Tennessee 1 roops, sep
arated for many weary months from their
families, were greeted with expressions of
the tenderest affection by the people all
along the line of march. National flags
were brought out from their hiding places
and flung to the breeze from nesirly every
house There was little use for army rations
si feast awaited the troops at every village.
Women stood by the roadside with buckets
of water, fruit, and cakes,' which they gave
freely, refusing all offers of pay. As they
drew near Knoxville, the city was radiant
with flags. Sixty young ladies took their
places by the roadside, waving flags and
shouting "Hurrah for the Union." Ladies
csnic out of their houses to greet Generals
Burnside and Carter. Seizingtheirhands they
wept for joy, crying "Welcome to East Ten
nessee." Hundreds of people of both sexes
-and sill ages collected in a few minutes, and
both General Burnside and General Carter
addressed them, promising thsit they should
not again be deserted to their enemies. The
demonstrations were not boisterous, but the
intense joy imparted l3r these tidings were
exhibited in quiet rejoicing. Men who for
months had been hidden in caves in the
hills and in mountain fastnesses came in
and were overjoyed at their deliverance.
The halt at Knoxville was very brief. On
the 5th General Shackelford with his brigade,
1,431 strong, was sent in the direction of
Cumberland Gap to cut off escape by the
force in occupsition of that stronghold, and
on the 7th General Burnside left Knoxville
with two regiments of cavalry, two of
mounted infantry, and Konkle's battery, and
joined Shackelford on the 9th. Colonel dc
Courcey, who had advanced with his brigade
of the Ninth Corps, two infantry regiments,
two of cavalry, and a battery of artillery via
London, Ky., 1831 strong, had by this time
taken position on the north, and
SUMMONED Till: OAltWSON TO SURRENDER,
which dcmsind was refused. The garrison
was composed of four regiments of infantry
from North Carolina, one from Virginia, and
one fiom Georgia, one regiment of East Ten
nessee carrilry, two field batteries, and three
guns in position. General Buckner stopped
long enough on his way to Chattanooga to
telegraph General Frazer from Loudon on
the 30th of August to evacuate the Gap with
all speed, to burn and destroy everything
that could not bo transported, and to report
to General Sam Jones at Abingdon, Ysi., 125
miles distant. As General Frazer had been
led to believe that East Tennessee was to be
held by the confederates, and knowing the
importance of the Gsip in this event, be
at once construed the telegram of the 30th
to be a trick of the Yankees, and replied to
it in cipher, stating his condition for defense.
He had over 2,000 men and forty days'
rations, and believed he could hold the posi
tion, but asked to be informed if he should
st ill evacuate. The response to this dispatch
came on the following dsiy ordering him to
hold his position. This order was counter
manded by General Bragg at Chatisuiooga,
but as telegraphic communication vuth
Frazer had been cut off in the meantime no
order to evacuate the Gap reached him before
the investment of the place on the 6th of
September. The defenses, about two miles
in extent, required a reliable force of about
7,000 men and npproprhitc artillery to
properly man. Batteries of light guns were
placed in position to command the three
roads converging at the Gap, but owing to
the tortuous course of the roads they had
range of not over four hundred yards, except
on the south, where they had full sweep to
the extent of their range. The guns were 6
pounder smooth-bores and 12-poundcr howit
zers. The First Tennessee confederate cav
alry, under command of Colonel .). B. Carter,
an active and efficient regiment about 600
strong, was sent out to reconnoitre in the
direction of Knoxville, where it encountered
General Shackelford's sidvance and was
driven into Powell's Valley, when by
Frazcr's order it continued up the vsilley on
the Virginia road smd reported to General
Williams. The SixtJ'-secoud smd Sixty
fourth North Carolina were conscripts, smd
were thoroughly imbued with Union senti
ments. The colonel of the Sixty-second was
absent. He soon after resigned smd became
an open advocate of the Union. His men
were accustomed to declare that they had
never fired si gun at a Union man and they
never would. Three hundred of the Sixty
fourth North Carolina had already deserted
in a body, and the regiment was small, but
under better discipline than the Sixty
second. The Fifty-fifth Georgia had about
500 men for duty. It had been on piovost
marshal duty at Knoxville, and was regarded
as tolerably good, although the men, ""
RODE THEIR COLOXEL OX A KAIL
and only allowed him to resume command
on promise of better behavior. He smd the
lieutenant-colonel were both absent and
Major Printup was in command. Colonel
Slemps's Virginia regiment smd Burnes's
battalion joined Frazier from Marshall's
commsmd on the last ol August. For
insubordination and inefficiency this regi
ment had no equal in either army. To add.
if possible, to the difficulties with which
General Frazer hud to contend his prede
cessor in command had allowed the roof of
the powder magazine to go to decay, and on
examination most of it was found to be
saturated with rain water. A requisition
had been made for an additional supply,
which the ordnance office at Knox'.ille hsid
duly pigeon-holed nnd failed to fill. The
only drinking water upon Avhich the gsir
rison had to rely was obtained sit a spring
in the vsilley on the south side of the Gap
near a mill, which latter, when run to its full
capsscity ground wheat sibout as fast as the
men could eat the llour. News of the csip
ture of London and tlie burning of the rail
road bridge was followed by the intelligence
of the capture of Knoxville, and rightly
surmising thai the next move would be upon
Cumberland Gap, the commander at once
made arrangements for defense A device
for conveying water to the top of the hill
by means of telegraph wires wsis designed,
but failed in construction for lack of material.
Oxen were put to hauling it up in barrels,
but broke down on the second trip. It was
then determined that the spring and mill
must be guarded, and'150 men of the Sixty
second North Csirolina were detailed fortius
duty, but were put to flight by 100 of Shack
elford's cavalry, who dashed down upon the
mill smd burned it on the night of their
arrival. The condition of the belesigucred
garrison was now critical in the extreme,
and it was only necessary for the two brigades,
one on the north and the other on the south,
to put on a bold front, concealing their real
strength, to insure the surrender of the
stronghold. On the 6th Colonel Carter had
reported that the force advancing from
Knoxville had steadily driven him, and that
he had reason to believe it to be very strong-
On the 7th General Shackelford .sent the
following communication to General Fra
zier :
"Headquarters U. S. Forces ix Front
ov CrMRERLxVXD Gap,
"September 7th, 1863.
"To Gen. Frazer, commanding confederate
forces, Cumberland Gap :
"You arc surrounded by my forces. In
order to save the effusion of blood and the
unnecessary loss of life, I demand the uncon
ditional surrender of yourself smd command
by 3 o'clock, inst. I am, General,
" Ycry respectfully,
"J. M. Shackelford,
" Brigadier-General Commanding."
To which General Frazer made answer,
sis follows:
'IIeadq'rs Cumberland Gap,
"September 7th, 1803. .
"ToBrigstdier-Gcneral Shackelford, Com-
manding U. S. Forces:
"I have just received your note of to-day
dcmsinding the unconditional surrender of
myself smd forces. In reply, I have simply
to state that I must decline acceding
thereto. 1 sim, General,
"Ycry respectfully, J. W. Frazer.
" B rigad ier-G encral
Similar proposals were mside on th
Hi
Bi
mm
lowing day, both by Shackelford on the
south, and dc Courcey on the north, which
were met by si polite rofunal to comply.
General Burnside arrived at General Shack
elford's headquarters on the night of the 8th,
and on the morning of the 9th sent the fol
lowing r.ote to General Frazer:
"H'dq'rs Ar:.iy of the Ohio,
"September 9lh, 1863.
"Brigadier -General Frazer, Commanding
Confederate Forces, Cumberland Gsip.
"General: As amide time has been given
for negotiation, you will be kind enough to
dismiss at once from your lines our ilags of
truce, from both sides of the Gap, stud cease
communication with any of the United
States forces, excepting through myself, as
none other will bo considered valid. At the
same time, with the view of avoiding the
effusion of blood, I beg to state that I have
a force present with me sufficient, in. sill
human probability, to carry your position,
and should your reply not be satisfactory
shsill commence operations, with the view of
asssiulting your position at such points and
with such forces as I may deem proper, im
mediately on the return of the officer carry
ing this note, who hsis permission to remain
one hour at your pickets. I sun, General,
very respectful lj', your obedient servant,
"A. E. Burnside, Major-General.
" Major Van Burcn, Aide-dc-Camp on my
staff, will be the hearer hereof."
On receipt of this peremptory demand
from the major -general commanding the
department, whose presence at that remote
point indicated that he had nothing to fear
from the confederate forces in Eiist Tennes
see, General Frazer wisely concluded that
all hope of succor was cut off. General
Jones's courier, bearing sin urgent sippeal
from thsit officer to hold tho Gap at all
hazards, sirrived and wsis closely questioned.
In answer to General Frazcr's question, the
courier elated that he had passed Carter's
cavalry in camp at Jonesville, 36 miles east
ward, on the road from Abingdon, Va. In
his letter General Jqucs promised succor if
he could hold out until it reached him, smd
that ' tie could rely upon anything the
courier would communicate. Replying to
the interrogatories of General Frazer, the
man said no troops had arrived at Abingdon
whenvhc left, and that General Jones had
not nien informed of the condition of things
in fast, Tennessee, General Frazer now
pevel that he lind to. rely uponiiis own
rcav-v $. lie might have gsiined.si rcputa
kf Tr' f'.ar.sgi. by hgutin to he
la.? .nd thtt, fearful loss of life in his coni
ratS 1 would be credited to him as an evi
derjKo of his gallsmiry! He says: "I thus
per -eived that my commsmd could effect
norhing by si temporary resistance, and that
could I even hope to 'cut my way out' and
siit :;pl an escape up the vsilley I should be
thwarted in 1113' sittempt without artillery
or -cstvalry, as the enemy had a formidable
foreeof these sinus, smd could cut up and esip
tur my force in detail. I also reflected that
such 'a step, if partially successful, would
draw the enemy towards Abingdon and
prwbly result in extending their operations
to 'that place, v hen a surrender of the Gsip
would probably satisfy his desire for coti
qnaet at that time. " ' I have
since regretted that I did not assemble a
council of war and have the vote of each
oficer taken and iccorded on the question of
sivgrendcr. Every one 1 spoke to at the time
snirt we could do no better. The officers smd
the regiments and batteries had had little
e.pcrieuce in battle or siege, and, added to
al Ah esc causes, the recent reverses at Vicks
burg. Port Hudson, and Gcltj'sburg, as well
sisJfthc character of the letters smd p:ipcr3
received from their homes, had a most de
moralizing effect unc.n the men."
he artillery horses had, like those in the
c-.svsdry, been sent out of the Gap for want of
forage, and the artillery could notbe removed.
rj 4- men in tho regiments could not be relied
u j fon in si fight. There was no rcsison to
bfjieve that Gen. Jones had a sufficient force
idfmsike good his promise of relief. There
was scarcity of drinking water for one day's
light and none for si siege. A retresit up the
vsilley could end only in dissister, and all his
officers julviscd surrender. To Gen. Burn
side's dcmsind for immediate and uncondi
tional surrender ho returned the following
note:
" Head'r's Cumberland Gap,
" September 9, 1S63.
"To General A. E. Burnside,
" Commanding U. S. Forces.
"General: As my communications with
,Gen. Shackelford smd Col. dc Courcey will
,'show. 1 intended contending tho position,
but will surrender on condition that the
'officers and men of my command be released
on parole.
"I am, General, very respectfully,
"J. W. Frazier, Brig.-Gen."
This proposal was refused by General
Rurnsidc, suul tho result was the uncondi
tional surrender of the Gap with all its
Harrison and munitions.
The confederate flsigs were lowered and
nvliito flags were hoisted in their place. Pond
'ing negotiations Col. dc Courcey had wilh
I'lrawn his left flank from a position com
manding the road eastward and about one
'hundred officers smd men escaped. For this
'neglect Col. de Courcey wsu placed in tempo
,rary arrest and Col. Lcmcrt sissunied com
(mand of the brigade, which was stationed at
Lkhc Gap and a detachment made from it to
Hiavd prisoners to the rear. The force sur
rendered consisted of 2,300 officers and men.
About -10 wsigons, 4,000 pounds of bacon, 2,000
I bushels of wheal, 13 pieces of artillery, and
a large qusiuui,) ui uiuiij;l;u & uuiTemiereti
with the command.
The information of tho confederate author
ities at Richmond wsis very meagre upon
, East Tennessee affairs, as would appear from
the following extract from President Davis's
measago to Congress relsiting to tho military
operations in that section.
He says: "By the surrender of Cumber
land Gsip the enemy effected an entrance
into East Tennessee ssiid severed the connec
tion between that State and Virginia, and
profiting by his easy success pushed boldly
on Chattanooga and compelled its evacua
tion." The "president" should have known
that both Chattanooga and Knoxville were
in possession of the Federal forces before
Cumberlsind Gap was ts'ken, and that the
force which captured it had nothing what
ever to do with the evacuation of Chatta
nooga. Gen. Frazer was hold a prisoner for many
months at Johnson's Island, whence he wsis
removed to Fort Warren in Boston Harbor,
where, on the 27th of November, 161, he
wrote the report of his surrender. He was
severely criticised by Mr. Davis for what the
latter termed " the unaccountable surrender
of Cumberland Gap," but is given credit for
his conduct in his book.
Colonel dc Courcey wsis reicsised from ar
rest on the 10th of September, relieved from
duty in the department, and ordered to join
his regiment, the Sixteenth Ohio, ab New
Orleans.
Brigadier-General S. P. Carter, whose
faithful and persistent efforts in behalf of
the Union people of East Tennessee were J
rewarded by -witnessing their joy at their
deliverance from confederate persecution,
was appointed Provost Marshal-General of
East Tennessee, with headquarters sit Knox
ville. General Carterleft the splendid division
which he had organized and led to victory,
with great regret, and at once entered upon
the duties of his office.
Thus was Cumberland Gap, one of the
strongest positions on the continent, the
natural gateway to tlie confederacy, capable
of beimc made impregnsible against any force
that could be sent against it, twice aban
doned sind once surrendered without firing a
gun in its defence.
THE COMirJG GREAT CO??ET.
If the comet that wsis discovered by a
young astronomer in Albany a week ago
fulfils half of the promises made for it, we
may expect to behold, in May or Jftne, a
celestial spectacle such as has not been
equalled since I80S or 1811. This comet,
although some two hundred million miles
from its perihelion, which it will not reach
for three month, shows a bright tail and a
star-like nucleus. Thejlufeience is jhir-lhat
the comet is a very largo one, and that it will
picre t magnificent sippearance. Mrre
over, Prof Chan (ilex's figures snow that the
comet is plunging almost straight at the sun,
which it will probably approach within one
hundred thouraud miles. The only other
comets, in the loncc list of those bodies whoso
orbits have been calculated, which approach
ed anything like as near to the sun as this
are the comet of 370 B. C.,ihe comet of 16S0,
often eilled Newton's comet, the comet of
1813, smd tha comet of?lSS0. The last
named wsis observed only in South America
and Australia and at the Cape of Good Hope.
Concerning the comet of 370 B. C, of which
frightful things are related, and which is
said to have split in two, not much is known,
but the measurements made in the other
cases are generally to be d-nenden upon. In
fact, it wsis the nearness 0 tho approach of
the comet of 1680 which 1 d Newton to sm
ticipate possible peril fotneeadh from the
fall" of a great comet intc the sun. This is
not- tho popular view of the danger from
comets, the fliir usnsilly being that; they may
strike the earth, or produce pestilence by
mingling the substance of their tails with
our atmosphere. Of late, the other view has
been made more conspicuous, especially since
Mr. Proctor's recent article on what he eills
the nieuaciug comet of 1S$0, which he antic
ipates may return in 1S07
AN INCIDENT OF GENERAL KEIFER'S
WAR RECORD,
The following incident is told of General
Keifer, the new Speaker of the National
1 Touse of Representatives : Immediately suc
ceeding the desperate conflict at Sailor's
Creek (General Keifer was the principal
actor in the affair which nearly cost him his
life), while assisting with the reformation of
troops, information reached him that a body
of the enemy was concealed in the woods on
his right. He rode into tho woods to recon
noitre in poison, where, sitter proceeding a
short distance, to his surprise he came sud
denly upon confederate troops lying on the
ground, evidently ignorant of the surrender
that had just taken place. The approaching
night, together with the density of tho woods
and the smoke of battle, paved him from
instant identification. To attempt hatily
to withdraw would have led to his recogni
tion and probable death. The idea of sur
render did not occur to him. He resorted to !
a ni3C. In a loud tone he gsive the command,
"Forward," and waved his sword toward the
recent scene of battle. This command wsis
promptly obeyed. The fsi3ter he moved the
faster the enemy followed, until all resumed
the edge of the woods, where the better light
enabled them to see his uniform. Instantly
a number of muskets were leveled at him,
smd but for the prompt command "Don't
fire,' from the confederate commander, who
rushed forward, striking up the guns, he
must have fallen. General Keifer, amid
the confusion, dashed away at full run to
his own command, smd caused it to charge
forward, and, leading the advance, ho de
manded and received the surrender of tho
whole body of men, who proved to be a
marine brigade, little used to land service,
commanded by Commodore J. R. Tucker,
since chief admiral of the Peruvian navy.
Captain John D. Semmes and about thirty
live other officers silso capitulated. Tucker
:iud Semmes each claimed to have saved his
life. General Keifer afterward, as an sict of
gratitude, us:d his influence to obtain the
parole of these officers, avIio, having deserted
the United States navy, were not entitled
under tho orders to parole.
STEPHEN A. HURLBUT.
HIS MILITARY, CONGRESSIONAL, AND
DIPLOMATIC SERVICES.
Ills Sad Dcatli at the Tost of Dnty The Base
Attempt to Involve IMki in the t'oosict Swln.lle.
A Triumphant Vindication Arrival of KLs
Ui'snains 1:1 the City of Xevr York.
The death of Major-General Stephen A.
Hurlbut, of Hlinois, at Lima, Peru, on tho
27th of March last, recalls four years of faith
ful and efficient service in the field performed
by him during the war of the rolxllion, and
a life of devoted loyalty to tiie highest inter
ests of his native land. Mr. Hurlbut was
appointed brigadier-general on the 17th day
of May, 1861; major-general Septemlwr 17,
186:2, and honorably mustered out of service
in June, I860.
On July 4th, 1861, General nurlbut. then
sit Bclvidcre, Illinois, was, by special orders
from headquarters Department of the Ohio,
assigned to command of troops at Qnincy,
Illinois. Here it became his duty to hold
the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, con
stantly threatened by guerrillas jn Missouri.
General Hurlbut remained in command in
northwestern Missouri, pursuing a vigorous
warfare upon confederate troops and psirtisau
rangers, until Januarj-, 1862, when he was
assigned to command of Benton Barracks, at
St. Louis. Here his excellent administrative
ability attracted the attention of General
Halleck, who, in March, assigned hhn to
command of the Fourth division, Army of
the Tennessee, with which he proceeded to
Pittsburg Landing. On the morning of tho
6th of April, General Albert; Sidney John
ston assaulted the front line, and i:i the
furious attack, extending ail along the line,
drove back the left brigade of General Sher
man's division, gaining access to his rear.
General Prentiss in tiie centre, and General
Sherman, with two brigsules on the right
and one on the extreme left, held theirposi
tions stubbornly, reinforced by troops from
tha divisions of Generals McClernand, Kurl
bnt, and W. H. L. "Wallace, in tiie rear, for
four hours, when they fell back and a new
line was formed with Sherman on the right
and McClernand, Wallace, Prentiss, smd
Hurlbut in succession towards tho left.
The abandoned camps of the divisions in
fronr presented so rnpny aiScACakras tc-Hfc
soldiers of tiie confederate army tlia-lS
became necessary to give them time to
gorge themselves upon the unaccustomed
luxuries of a Union eimp. This delsiy in
following up their success gave time to tlie
Union generals to form their line, and when
finally sit two o'clock General Johnston ad
vanced to the sittack hi troops were repulsed.
Reforming his. lines and bruising forward
the horde of stragglers who still lingered
about the abandoned camps, General John
ston, at four o'clock, ordered si charge along
the whole line, ieading the right centre in
person. The result of this charge wj3 the
death of Johnston himself, and of W. H. L.
Wallace ; the cap! nrc of Prentiss, forcing i.ho
entire line back into the swamps of Snake
Creek, on the right, and back to the bluff
above the landing, upon the left.
General Hurlbut had early in the morn
ing, in response to General Sherman's requi
sition for troops, sent Colonel "Veach's brigade
to report to him for duty. His two remaining
brigades, commanded by Brigadier-General
Lauinan, and Colonel Williams, of the Third
Iowa, were formed in rear of the open space
belAveen Trcntiss's division aud Stewart's
brigade on the left, and successfully repulsed
even assault that was made upon their lines.
Y'hen Prentiss and Stewart at length fell
back, Prentiss formed his shattered command
upon the right of Lanman's brigade, whero
the new line was formed. In the meantime,
Stewart's brigade had fallen back in line on
Hurlbut's left. The final assault fell heavi
est upon Wallace and Trentiss at an angle- in
the line which the confederates called the
Hornet's Nest. Their best brigades were
hurled against the Federals in several succes
sive charges, but were each time repulsed
v ith immense loss. The charge upon Stew
art's brigade was stronger than he could re
sist with his ranks depleted by five hours'
incessant fighting, smd lie sent a message
to General Hurlbut hsit he would be com
pelled to fall back. This would effectually
uncover the road to the landing, besides ex
posing to eapture a battery of heavy guns
formed under the superintendence of Colonel
Webster to protect it. It wsis necessary
for Hurlbut to decide at once whether to
break his connection with Prentiss or per
mit his line to be flanked on the left. It
was a moment of extreme peril. To with
draw Lanman's brigade from Prentiss's sup
port would produce a break in the line that
would be taken immediate advantage of by
the vigilant enemy pressing upon every part
of the line. General Hurlbut chose to protect;
his left flank, and ordered Lauinan quickly
from right to left. lie was not a moment;
too soon, for General Breckinridge, with his
reserves, was pressing forward in accordance
with General Johnston's plan to gsiin posi
tion between the Union army and the river.
The enemy followed closely in occupation of
the ground vacated by Lanman, and Wsil
Isicc's division giving way at the same mo
ment, left Prentiss without support on either
Hank. He was at once surrounded and cap
tured, with 2,000 of h's command. Lauinan
was joined sit the heavy batteries on the-extreme
left by Ammen's brigade of Nelson's
division, smd, after si brisk engagement, tho
confederates withdrew, to renew the light
the next day. There is no doubt that thv i in
mediate action of General Hurlbut in trans
ferring his right brigade to the left in time
to check Breckeuridge's advancing column,
saved the capture of tho landing, suul in
sured the safe arrival of Buell's anny, which
4 I