Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-11-08

the militia, Maj Ferguson, Maj Hart and Maj Clarke are
among the former Col. Sargent my AdJutant uenesb
Lieut. Col Darke, Lieut. Col Gibson, Maj bulier and the
Vlscount Maleie who served me as an aid ee-camP are
among the Inter- ard great number of captains and subai-
terms in 10th.
have now, sir finished my melancholy tae-a tale that
will be felt sensiby by every one that has io
distress for public misfortune have notnng sis 70 lay
TO the charge Of the troops but their want OF discipline which,
from the short time they had been IN service was mPoss-
Bile they should acquired, and which rendered very
difficult, when they were thrown INTO CONFUSION, 70 euuce
them again to order which one reason why the loss has
fallen 30 heavy upon the officers who did every thing their
power TO effect it, Neither were my own exeons wantngi
bot worn down with illness, and suffering under painful
disease unable either TO dismount horse with
assistance they not great they otherwise would
and perhaps ought have BEEN We overpowered BY
numbers bat it is more than justice to observe that
though composed Of many different species OF troops the
utmost harmony prevailed through the whole army during
the campaign.
At Fort jefferson, found the first regiment, which had
returned from the service they had been sent upon, without
either oveakng the deseres or meeting the convoy OF pro-
visions certain, sir, whether ought 10 consider
the absence Of this regiment from the field of action or,u
nate or otherwise incline think it fortunate; for
very much doubt whehe had been in the action the for
tune of the day had been urned and had not the til
umph the enemy would have been more complete and the
country would have been destitute Of every OF defence
Taking view Of the situation Of broken troops at Fort
Jefferson and that there provisions in the fort
called the field officers viz Lieut. Col Dsrke Msj,r
the Aduan General for their advice what would be proper
further be done and their unanimous opinion that
the addition of the first regiment unbroken was, did not
put the army respectable footing 1t was in the
morning. because great part Of II was now unarmed that
had been then found unequal to the enemy and should they
which probable, would be found again that
the troops could not be thrown into the ot both because
too small and that there provisions IN IT that
provisions were known be upon the road the distance of
one, at most two marches; that herefore would be
proper mov without loss Of time, to meet the provisions,
when the might have the opportunity Of some
refrehmen,, and that proper detachment might be sent
back with IT, to have safely deposited in the fort This ad
accepted and the army put in motion again at
o'clock and marched all night and the succeeding day
met with quantity Of -four part Of It was distributed imme-
datey part taken back to supply the army the march to
Fort Hamilton and the remainder about fifty horse-oads,
sent forward Fort Jefferson The ner sy drove OF cat
tie with for the same place and have information
that both got The wounded who bad been left at that
place ordered to be brought here by the return Of the
horses
have sad sir in former part ofths letter that
ovepowered by numbers Of that however, have no evil
dence, but the weight Of the FIRE, which always most
deadly one and generally delivered from the ground few of
the enemy showing themselves aoo except when they
charged, and that in few minutes whole camp, which
extended above three hundred and fifty yards in length,
entirely surrounded and attacked on all quarters.
The loss sir, the public has sustained by the fax Of
many officers particularly Gen. Butler and Maj Ferguson,
be much regretted but it s circumstance that
will alleviate the misfortune in some measure that all of them
lar obligations to many Of hem well TO the survivors
but none than Col Sargent He has discharged
the various duties Of bis Office with ZEAL with exscnes and
with intelligence, and all occasions afforded every
assistance in his power, which have also experienced from
Aid decamp, Lieut. Denny and the Vscoun Maertie,
who served with me in the station a volunteer.
With every sentiment Of respect and regard, have the
~ : = - - 80 ARTHUR sr. CLAIR.
TIE Hon. H. KSox, Sseretaryof Hdr.
P. S-Some orders that had been given Col. Oldham
night and which of much consequence, not
executed and very material intelligence commun
Gated by Capt Slough Gen. Butler in the Of the
night before the action which impaired me,
did hear of it until after my arrival here.
List of the killed and couned officers in the battle Of the
4ih Of Mopember, 1871.
KrILED.-Maj. Gen. Richard Butler; Col. Oldham, Ken
ucky militia Majors Ferguson, Clarke, and Hart; Cap's.
Bradford Phelan Kirkwood, Price, Van Swearingen, Tip
tom Smith, Purdy, Pia, Guthrie, Cribs, and Newman
Lisus Spear, Warren, Boyd, MacMath, Burgess, Keso,
Read, Little, Happer and Lickins Ensigns Cobb, Balch,
Chace Turner, Wilson, Brooks Beatty, and Purdy Quar-
termasters Reynolds and Ward; Adj,. Anderson; DR..
Grasson.
WouSDgD Lieut.. Coils. Gibson, Darke and Sargent
adi,. gen.: Mai Butler Capts icyie, Trueman, Ford
Buchanan, Darke, and Slough Leus Creation, Davidson
De Butts, Price, Morgan McCrae LysIe, and Thompson
Adjts Whistler and Crawford Ensign Bincs the Vscoun
Malerie, volunteer aid decamp to Maj Gen. st. Clair.
d. T.