the enemy he could readily have retired to the intrenchments around Washington and Alexandria. After destroying the railroad from Cub Run southwardly to the Rappahannock, the enemy retreated on the 18th to the line of that river, leaving their cavalry in front of Gen. Meade.

During the next day the cavalry of Gen. Meade advanced, before whom Gen. Stuart retired, until an attack was made on their flank, near Buckland, by Gen. Fitz Lee, who had moved from Auburn. A severe action ensued, and the enemy advanced nearly to Haymarket and Gainesville, where the infantry were encountered, and the former retired.

When the advance of Gen. Lee from the Rapidan commenced, orders were sent to Gen. Imboden to advance down the Shenandoah valley and guard the gaps of the mountains on the Confederate left. Having performed this duty he marched on the 18th upon Charlestown, and, surrounding the place, captured nearly all of the force stationed there, with their stores and transportation. Upon an advance of the force at Harper's Ferry, Gen. Imboden retired with his booty.

Gen. Halleck states the loss in the cavalry corps during these operations to have been 74 by casualties and 895 missing. Gen. Lee states that in the course of these operations 2,436 prisoners were captured, of which 436 were taken by Gen. Imboden. The loss of the enemy is not stated.

On the 7th of November Gens. Sedgwick and French attacked the enemy at Rappahannock Station and Kelly's Ford, and captured several redoubts, four guns, eight battle flags, and about two thousand prisoners. The Federal loss in killed and wounded was three hundred and seventy.

About the 20th of November an advance was made by Gen. Meade from the position held at that time, under the impression that Gen. Lee was either retreating south from the Rapidan, or was preparing for a movement in some other quarter. The intention was to ascertain the position of Gen. Lee's forces, and to bring on a contest with them. Upon this advance the enemy fell back and took up a strong position behind Mine Run, southwest of Chancellorsville. The strength of the position, and the risks attending an assault, were such that the army of Gen. Meade withdrew from the front of the enemy, and resumed its previous camps around Brandy Station, on the Orange and Alexandria railroad.

In West Virginia the force was too small during the year to attempt any important campaign by itself; but it acted mainly on the defensive, in repelling raids of the enemy and breaking up bands of guerillas.

When Gen. Lee's army retreated across the Potomac in July last, Brig.-Gen. Kelly concentrated all his available force on the enemy's flank, near Clear Springs, ready to cooperate

in the proposed attack by Gen. Meade. They also rendered valuable services in the pursuit after Gen. Lee had effected his passage of the river.

On the 24th of July Col. Toland attacked the enemy at Wytheville, on the East Tennessee and Virginia railroad, capturing two pieces of artillery, 700 muskets, and 125 prisoners. Our loss was 17 killed and 61 wounded. The enemy's killed and wounded were reported to be 75.

In August Gen. Averill attacked a force of the enemy under Gen. Sam. Jones, at Rocky Gap, in Greenbrier county, capturing one gun, 150 prisoners, and killing and wounding some 200. The Federal loss in killed, wounded, and missing, was 130.

On the 11th of September Gen. Imboden attacked a small force of Federal troops at Moore field, wounding 15 and capturing about 150.

On the 5th of November Gen. Averill attacked and defeated the enemy near Lewisburg, capturing three pieces of artillery, 100 prisoners, and a large number of small arms, wagons, and camp equipage. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was estimated at 300.

In December, Gen. Averill, with the 2d, 3d, and 8th Virginia mounted infantry, 14th Pennsylvania, Dobson's battalion of cavalry, and Ewing's battery, advanced into Southwestern Virginia, and, on the 16th, destroyed the Virginia and Tennessee railroad at Salem. At the same place three depots were destroyed, containing 2,000 barrels of flour, 10,000 bushels of wheat, 100,000 bushels of shelled corn, 50,000 bushels of oats, 2,000 barrels of meat, several cords of leather, 1,000 sacks of salt, ö1 boxes of clothing, 20 bales of cotton, a large amount of harness, shoes, and saddles, equip ments, tools, oil, tar, and various other stores, and 100 wagons. The telegraph wire was cut, coiled, and burned for a half mile. The water station, turn-table, and three cars were burned, the track torn up, and the rails heated and destroyed as much as possible, in six hours. Five bridges and several culverts were destroyed over an extent of fifteen miles. A large quantity of bridge timber and repairing materials were also destroyed. On returning, Gen. Av erill found six separate commands under Gers, Early, Jones, Fitz Lee, Imboden, Jackson, and Echols, arranged in a line extending from Staunton to Newport, on all the available roads, to intercept him. Having captured a despatch of the enemy, by which their positions were made known, Gen. Averill marched from the front of Jones to that of Jackson during the night, crossed the river and pressed in the latter's outposts, and passed him. In the meantime, forces were concentrating upon Gen. Averill at a place called Calaghan's, over every available road but one, which was deemed impracticable. Over this one he crossed the top of the Alleghanies with his command, and arrived at Beverly on the 21st, with a loss of six drowned, four wounded, and ninety missing,

and having captured about two hundred prisoners and one hundred and fifty horses.

In North Carolina, during the year 1863, no important operations were carried on against the enemy in consequence of the weakness of the Federal force. It acted chiefly on the defensive, and held the important positions which had been previously captured.

In March the Confederate general, Pettigru, with a large force of infantry and artillery, made an unsuccessful demonstration on Newbern. The loss of Gen. Foster, in command of the Federal forces, was two killed and four wounded. In April, Gen. Hill laid siege to Washington, on the Tar river. The town had only a small garrison and was slightly fortified. Gen. Foster, who was there at the time, caused the works to be so strengthened, that they were held until reenforcements arrived from Newbern to raise the siege.

In May an expedition was sent against a camp of the enemy at Gum Swamp, which captured one hundred and sixty-five prisoners and military stores. In July another expedition was sent against Rocky Mount on the Tar river, which destroyed the bridge at that place, and a large amount of property belonging to the enemy. No further operations of importance took place in North Carolina during the year. The Department of North Carolina was united with that of Virginia, under the command of Gen. Dix, until the latter was transferred to the command of the Department of the East, when Gen. Foster assumed the commend. The latter was subsequently transferred to the Department of the Ohio, and Gen. B. F. Batler appointed to the command of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina.

After abandoning the siege of Washington in April, Gen. Hill marched toward Nansemond to reenforce Gen. Longstreet, who was investing Suffolk, in Southeastern Virginia. Upon failing in his direct assault upon the place, Gen. Longstreet began to establish batteries for its reduction. The defence of the place was conducted by Gen. Peck, under the command of Gen. Dix, who made every preparation of which it was capable, and retarded the construction of the enemy's works until the attempt was finally abandoned. The Fedtral loss during these operations was forty-four Ailled, two hundred and one wounded, and fourteen missing. They captured four hundred prisoners.

About the 20th of June, while Gen. Lee was advancing into Pennsylvania, all the available forces under the command of Gen. Dix, being about eighteen thousand men, were moved up the York river and landed at the Whitehouse, for the purpose of threatening Richmond, of destroying the railroad bridges over the South ad North Anna rivers, which were on Gen. Lee's line of communication, and doing as much damage as possible to the enemy, besides occuing the attention of a large body of his force. One of the bridges over the South Anna was

destroyed by an expedition under Col. Spear, and the quartermaster's depot at Hanover Station. On his return he brought back thirtyfive army wagons, seven hundred horses and mules, and Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, the son of Gen. R. E. Lee, as a prisoner. The other bridge over the South Anna was not destroyed, but the railroad track between it and Richmond was torn up for a considerable distance, and the bridge at Ashland Station, on the same road, eleven miles out of Richmond, was completely demolished and burned, as also the depot. After remaining at the Whitehouse three days, Gen. Dix received orders to return with his forces for the purpose of reënforcing Gen. Meade. At that time he had completely cut off Gen. Lee's communications with Richmond by way of the two railroads crossing the South Anna river, and had control of the whole country from the Pamunkey to the Rappahannock.

The small force in the Department of the South caused a suspension of active operations until March, 1863. An attack upon Fort Sumter and Charleston had long been contemplated by the Navy Department, and it was represented that the operation of the ironclads would be greatly aided by a land force prepared to assist the attack, and to occupy any work reduced by the navy.

Gen. Foster was, therefore, sent with a considerable force and a large siege equipage to assist the naval attack. But not proving acceptable to Gen. Hunter, then in command, he returned to North Carolina, leaving his troops and siege equipage. The naval attack on the fort was made upon April 7th (see NAVAL OPER ATIONS), but was rather unsuccessful, and nothing apparently remained to be done by the land forces. It was now represented by the Navy Department that a second attack upon Fort Sumter and Charleston was preparing, and that its success required the military occupation of Morris Island, and the establishment of land batteries on that island to assist in the reduction of the fort. As this was a task requiring engineering skill, it was assigned to Gen. Q. A. Gillmore, who took the command of the department. On the night of the 3d of July he commenced his advance upon Charleston by the movement of troops to Folly Island. There they remained as secret as possible, and erected batteries to cover those of the enemy on the south ends of Morris Island. On the 10th the entire force which was required having arrived, the batteries opened upon the enemy, and when their guns were silenced a charge was made by the infantry, who had crossed to the island in boats, and the works captured. A despatch from Gen. Gillmore thus reports his movements:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH.
IN THE FIELD, MORRIS ISLAND, S. C., July 12th, 1863.

Major-General H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief:

SIR: I have the honor to report that at five o'clock on the morning of the 10th instant I made an attack upon the enemy's fortified position on the south end of Morris Island, and, after an engagement of three

hours and a quarter, captured all his strongholds upon that part of the island, and pushed forward my infantry to within six hundred yards of Fort Wagner. We now hold all the island except about one mile on the north end, which includes Fort Wagner and a battery on Cummings' Point, mounting at the present time fourteen or fifteen heavy guns in the aggregate.

The assaulting column was gallantly led by Brig. Gen. Strong. It landed in small boats under cover of my batteries on Folly Island and four monitors led by Rear-Admiral Dahlgren, which entered the main channel abreast of Morris Island soon after our batteries opened. The monitors continued their fire during the day mostly on Fort Wagner.

On the morning of the 11th instant, at daybreak, an effort was made to carry Fort Wagner by assault. The parapet was gained, but the supports recoiled under the fire to which they were exposed and could not be got up. Our loss in both actions will not vary much from one hundred and fifty in killed, wounded, and prisoners. We have taken eleven pieces of heavy ordnance and a large quantity of camp equipage. The enemy's loss in killed, wounded, and missing,

will not fall short of two hundred.

Q. A. GILLMORE, Brig.-Gen. Commanding. The portion of Morris Island not yet taken by Gen. Gillmore was well fortified. Fort Wagner was a strong work, constructed of immense timbers and rafters covered over with earth and sand some twenty feet thick. Its distance from Fort Sumter in an air line was about a mile and a half, and four and a half miles from Charleston. On the part of the island called Cummings' Point was Battery Gregg, about three-fourths of a mile from Fort

Sumter. Morris Island is about five miles long and some three or four miles wide. Along the sea coast is an irregular ridge made of sand heaps, which is about half a mile wide, the rest of the island is low, level, marshy land, much of which is flooded at high tide. The Confederate forces on the island were under the command of Brig.-Gen. Harrison, of Georgia; Fort Sumter, which stands within the entrance, and nearly in the centre of the harbor, was under the command of Col. Rhett. The walls were protected by tiers of sand bags in the inside, some twenty feet thick, thus making an obstruction of brick and sand some twenty-six feet. Fort Moultrie is nearly opposite Sumter, on the north side of the harbor, and distant about one and one-fourth miles. Up the harbor on the southern side is Fort Johnson, one and one-fourth miles distant. About a mile beyond, in the middle of the harbor, on the "middle ground," is Fort Ripley. Castle Pinkney is in the same line, and on the north side of the harbor at the mouth of the Cooper river. There were, in addition, numerous batteries at various points on all the islands and the front of the city, and also works facing the land attack on James Island. The whole number of guns in position and afloat for the defence of Charleston, was estimated at three hundred and seventy-six.

The naval force under Admiral Dupont, com

posing the South Atlantic blockading squadron, consisted of sixty-one vessels of all classes, mounting three hundred and ninety-six guns. But iron clads, carrying in all about thirtyfour guns, were expected to take the active part in the operations in the harbor.

After the failure of the assault upon Fort Wagner, Gen. Gillmore set to work to bring his heavy guns into position, not only for an attack upon Wagner, but upon all the works of the enemy, and also to throw shells into Charleston. The form of the contest now consisted in pushing forward the siege works and annoying the enemy as much as possible with sharpshooters and shells. The enemy acted in the same manner. Fort Johnson night and day threw shells, which burst above the workmen in the trenches. Wagner was kept quiet by the ship Ironsides and the monitors, while these in turn were attacked by the guns of Gregg and Sumter.

On the 18th of July, about twelve heavy guns were in position, besides eight or ten mortars, within eight hundred yards of Fort Wagner, and Gen. Gillmore determined on making another attack. It was commenced at noon by Gen. Gillmore's batteries and the frigate Ironsides; five monitors, two mortar schooners, and three wooden gunboats soon joined in. The enemy replied briskly from Fort Wagner, Battery Bee, beyond Cummings's Point, and the guns on the southwestern face of Fort Sumter. Their fire was chiefly directed against the vessels, occasionally a shell was thrown at the batteries. Soon after four o'clock the fire of Fort Wagner ceased. It was known that one gun had been dismounted and another was supposed to have exploded. Under the impression that the works were evacuated, another attempt to occupy them was determined upon. For this purpose two brigades consisting of the 7th Connecticut regiment, the 3d New Hampshire, the 9th Maine, the 76th Pennsylvania, and the 48th New York, under Brig.Gen. Strong, and the 7th New Hampshire, 6th Connecticut, 62d Ohio, 100th New York, and 54th Massachusetts (colored), under Col. Putnam, were ordered forward from behind the sand hills. The brigades were formed in line on the beach, with the regiments disposed in columns, the colored regiment being in advance. This movement was observed at Fort Sumter, and a fire was opened on the troops but with out effect. At dark the order was given for both brigades to advance, Gen. Strong's leading and Col. Putnam's within supporting distance. The troops went forward at quick time and in silence, until the 54th Massachusetts, led by Col. Shaw, was within two hundred yards of the work, when the men gave a fierce yell and rushed up the glacis, closely followed by the other regiments of the brigade.

The enemy, hitherto silent, opened upon them furiously with grape, canister, and a continuous fusilade of small arms. The negroes, however, plunged on, and many of them cross

ed the ditch, although it contained four feet of water, gaining the parapet. They were dislodged, however, in a few minutes with hand grenades, and retired, leaving more than onehalf of their number, including their colonel, dead upon the field. The 6th Connecticut regiment, under Lieut.-Com. Rodman, was next in support of the 54th, and they also suffered terribly, being compelled to retire after a stubborn contest. The 9th Maine, which was next in line, was broken up by the passage of the remnant of the repulsed colored regiment through its lines, and retired in confusion, excepting three companies which stood their ground.

It now devolved upon the 3d New Hampshire regiment to push forward, and, led by Gen. Strong and Col. Jackson in person, they dashed up against the fort. Three companies gained the ditch, and wading through the water, found shelter against the embankment. Here was the critical point of the assault, and the second brigade, which should have been up and ready to support their comrades of the first, were unaccountably delayed. Gen. Strong then gave the order to fall back and lie down on the glacis, which was obeyed, without confusion.

While waiting here, exposed to the heavy fire, Gen. Strong was wounded. Finding that the supports did not come, Gen. Strong gave the order for his brigade to retire, and the men left the field in perfect order.

Soon afterward the other brigades came on, and made up for their tardiness by their valor. Rushing impetuously up the glacis, undeterred by the fury of the enemy, whose fire was not intermitted, several of the regiments succeeded in crossing the ditch, scaling the parapet, and descending into the fort. Here a hand-to-hand conflict ensued. The troops fought with desperation, and were able to drive the enemy from one side of the work to seek shelter between the traverses, while they held possession for something more than an hour. This piece of gallantry was unfortunately of no advantage. The enemy rallied, and, having received reënforcements, made a charge upon them and expelled them from their position by the force of numbers. One of the regiments engaged in this brilliant dash was the 48th New York, Col. Barton, and it came out almost decimated. The 48th was among the first to enter the fort, and was fired upon by a regiment that gained the parapet some minutes later, under the supposition that it was the enemy. About midnight the order was given to retire, and the troops fell back to the rifle pits outside of their own works. The loss in killed, wounded, and missing, was fifteen hundred and thirty.

Gen. Gillmore now made his preparations to bombard both Wagner and Sumter, and the city of Charleston.

Meantime a correspondence took place between the opposing commanding officers.

Under date of Headquarters Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, Charleston, S. C., July 4th, 1863, Gen. Beauregard says that it is bis duty, in

the interests of humanity, to address Gen. Gillmore, with a view of effecting some understanding as to the future conduct of the war in this quarter. And then, after alluding to the expedition set on foot by his predecessor, Maj.-Gen. Hunter, to the Combahee river, which seized and carried away negro slaves off plantations on its banks, ravaged the plantations, &c., he says he does not propose to enter upon a discussion touching that species of pillaging, but desires to acquaint Gen. Gillmore formally that more than one plantation was pillaged, buildings burned, and crops destroyed-acts which were not rendered necessary by any military exigency.

Then he takes up the question of the employment of negroes, and quotes Napoleon, to show the "atrocious consequences which ever resulted in the employment of a merciless, servile race as soldiers;" that Napoleon refused to employ the serfs in his campaign against Russia, because he dreaded the results of a civil or intestine war. He characterizes all who call to their aid

such material, in the language of the publicists, as barbarians, &c. In conclusion, he asks whether the acts which resulted in the burning of the villages of Darien, Ga., and Bluffton, and the ravages on the Combahee, are regarded by Gen. Gillmore as legitimate

measures of war, which he will feel authorized to resort to hereafter.

Gen. Gillmore addresses Gen. Beauregard from Morris Island, under date of July 1sth. He states that, while he and his Government will scrupulously endeavor to conduct the war upon principles established by usage among civilized nations, he shall expect from the commanding general opposed to him full compliance with the same rules, in their unrestricted application to all the forces under his command.

Gen. Beauregard, under the date of July 22d, 1863, says he is at a loss to perceive the necessity for the remark that Gen. Gillmore will expect from him "full compliance with the same rules established by usages of civilized nations, &c., in their unrestricted application to all his forces," inasmuch as he is wholly unaware that any departure from the same has ever been alleged on his part, or by any of his troops, from the established laws and usages between civilized peoples; and then he calls for more specific charges.

In reply to Gen. Beauregard's despatch of the 22d ultimo, Gen. Gillmore, on the 5th of August, after noticing the remark of Gen. Beauregard that he was at a loss to perceive the necessity for his statement that he (Gen. G.) should expect a full compliance on his (Gen. B.'s) part with the same rules, &c., in their unrestricted application to all the forces under his command, states that he considered his remarks as pertinent and proper at the time. Events, he adds, since transpired, show them to have been eminently so. In proof he quotes the circumstances of agreement for mutual paroling and returning to their respective commands the wounded prisoners in our hands. "You declined," Gen. Gillmore goes on to say, "to return the wounded officers and men belonging to my colored regiments, and your subordinate in charge of the exchange asserted that the question had been left for after consider ation." He could but regard this transaction as a pal pable breach of faith on Gen. Beauregard's part, and a flagrant violation of Gen. B.'s pledges as an officer.

The first works erected by Gen. Gillmore after taking possession of Morris Island, were the construction of parallels. These extended from the beach on the right to the marsh on the left. The first was distant from Fort Wagner one thousand two hundred yards. The second, and principal one, was so constructed that its left was six hundred and seven yards from Wagner, and its right seven hundred and fifty yards. The third was four hundred and twentyfive yards from Wagner. The parallels were built in an oblong direction with the length of

the island, having the highest points resting on the marsh. tion of the first parallel were thrown up shortly The rifle pits forming the foundaafter the troops gained possession of the lower part of the island. These pits were thrown up in a single night, and used first in the attack on Fort Wagner, on July 18th. The interstices were subsequently filled, and the first parallel constructed. It was two hundred and twentyfive yards. The length of the second parallel was three hundred and twenty-five yards. The siege guns used for the offensive were mounted in the rear of this parallel. Its distance from Fort Sumter was three thousand three hundred and fifty yards. The third parallel was one hundred yards in length. On the left of the parallels earthworks were constructed, containing guns of heavy caliber. Their mean distance from Fort Sumter was four thousand one hundred yards. Still farther to the left, on the marsh, another earthwork was constructed facing Fort Sumter. On this was mounted a gun called "Swamp Angel." The "Marsh" is a vast growth of cane, bordering on Light House Inlet and Morris Island, directly facing James Island, which runs parallel with Morris Island. It is about a mile wide, and borders the island nearly its whole length. about four feet of water over its whole extent. At low tide it is dry, but at high water there is Scows were procured and loaded with bags of sand, and at every tide floated into the marsh, and piled on the selected spot. They sank down in their watery bed and rapidly disap peared, but the process was still continued with each renewing tide, until an immense bank, was visible. Strong traverses were erected, towering six feet above the tops of the canes, and after due time given for it to settle, the gun was placed on one of the scows, and floated through the canes at high tide to the site of the battery, where it was moored and soon mounted, the work having all been done at night, it being in full view of Fort Johnson and James Island batteries.

On the night of August 13th, the Federal works were advanced within four hundred and twenty yards of Wagner, without any suspi cion of the enemy. Soon after daylight, a tire which continued for two hours, and answered was opened from Wagner, Gregg, and Sumter, with great vigor from the Federal batteries. On the 15th all the forts of the enemy from Johnson Island, on the left, to Fort Wagner, on the right, opened fire, and continued it at intervals of fifteen minutes. For the first time fire was opened upon Fort Sumter by the Federal batteries. A 200-pounder Parrott was brought to bear on the fort, for the purpose of testing the powder to be used in these guns, Seven shots were fired, a distance of two and five-eighth miles, the first three fell short, but of the remaining four, two went directly through the gorge wall, a short distance above the sally port, and two struck the parapet, and sent an immense amount of brick and mortar