OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.

Numbers 3. Report of Lieutenant S. L. Phelps, U. S. Navy.

U. S. GUNBOAT CONESTOGA, Paducah, Ky., October 27, 1861.

SIR: On the afternoon of the 25th instant, by order of General Smith I left this place in company with the steamer Lake Erie Numbers 2, on board of which were three companies of the Ninth Illinois Regiment, under command of Major Phillips, and proceeded up the Cumberland River upon an expedition to surprise a rebel camp near Eddyville, Ky., and have the honor to make known to you that the result was in the main successful.

I proceeded, with Major Phillips on board, in advance to Smithland, to procure guides and pilots, expecting that the transport would not approach the wharf boat; but the captain ran hear to it, which rendered a change of plans necessary, and caused the force to reach the rebel camp at a later hour than was designed. The distance from Smithland to Eddyville by land is not half that by water, and the rebels have a complete system of runners established in that section of country. The transport was therefore sent up the Ohio a few miles, and the Conestoga followed an hour later, with two heavy barges in tow. These were cast off on reaching the transport, which was then taken in tow, with all lights out, fires screened, and engines stopped, by which precautions we succeeded in dropping down to Smithland and passing into the Cumberland without it being in the darkness of the night suspected that wee had the steamer in tow. The two boats, after passing up to a safe distance, made all speed up a narrow and crooked stream, but did not reach and disembark the troops at the point selected till 3.30 o'clock a. m. I then had the transport moved to near the town and concealed behind a wooded point, while this boat was quietly anchored off the main street, as had been done several times before in the past few weeks.

As soon as I felt satisfied that Major Phillips had had time to reach the rebel camp, a march of 7 miles over an exceedingly rough country, and in lanes and foot-paths, and that information of the force was reaching the citizens, I threw a force on shore and surrounded the town with picket guards, to prevent the escape of rebel citizens or the entrance and concealment of refugees from the rebel camp.

About 10 o'clock a. m. Major Phillips reached town with a number of prisoners, horses, wagons, arms, &c. He had got to within 400 yards of the enemy after daylight before being discovered, when the rebels formed in line. Our troops were moved at a double-quick to within 100 yards, when they delivered their fire and charged bayonets on the rebels, who broke and fled in every direction, leaving 7 killed on the field. Two of our soldiers were severely wounded and 1 or 2 slightly, among these a captain of a company.

I seized a flat-boat belonging to a noted secessionist of Eddyville, and it was freighted with the prisoners and plunder and towed to this place. The horses and mules were first placed on the wharf boat at the town, also secession property, but it was found to be too leaky and rotten for towing, when the animals were put on board the transport and 100 of the troops transferred to the Conestoga. There were taken in the rebel camp and brought to this place, which we reached last evening, 24 prisoners, 7 negroes, 43 horses, 11 mules, 2 transport wagons, a large num-