strong enough to show my satisfaction for the good conduct and the alacrity with which they obeyed orders.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. B. STOKES,

Colonel, Commanding First Tennessee Cavalry.

ASSISTANT-ADJUTANT GENERAL, Seventh Brigade.

SEPTEMBER 5-10, 1862.-Expedition from Fort Donelson to Clarksville, Tenn., and skirmishes (6th) at New Providence and (7th) at Riggin's Hill.

Report of Colonel William W. Lowe, Fifth Iowa Cavalry.

HEADQUARTERS, Fort Donelson, September 10, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to state that I have just returned from an expedition to Clarksville, and have to report as follows:

On the morning of the 5th instant I started from this post with parts of the Eleventh Illinois, Thirteenth Wisconsin, Seventy-first Ohio Infantry, part of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, one section of Flood's battery, and one section of Stenbeck's battery, numbering in all about 1,030 men. During the day and night I marched to a point called Blue Springs, about 16 miles from Clarksville. About midnight I received a dispatch from the general telling me I need not attempt to take Clarksville at present. I immediately replied that I was not already on the way, and within 16 miles of Clarskville. "Shall I return?" stating also, "Awaiting your reply, I shall menace themJanuary

Acting in accordance with this assertion, and because the point where I had stopped was not well supplied with water, I moved on slowly during the morning of the 6th to a good position, within 10 miles of the town, receiving from time to time during the day positive information that the enemy, about 1,100 strong, were in good position 3 miles from the town, and had determined to give us battle.

During the afternoon a small reconnoitering party, under Lieutenant Moreing, Fifth Iowa Cavalry, came in sight of their pickets, and immediately gave chase, running them more than a mile, when they were fired upon by some 50 or more rebels in ambush. Though within 15 yards of the road, with their guns at a rest, not a man was injured by the volley, and but 1 horse was killed and 3 wounded. I immediately ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick, of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, to move forward with four companies of cavalry, three companies of infantry, and one piece of artillery, with a view to driving in their pickets and creating the belief that we were advancing upon them. Early in the morning of the 7th (having received the necessary permission) I moved on in the direction of the town, driving their pickets before us for more than two hours. about 10.30 a.m. we name in view of the enemy's position and immediately opened upon them a fire of shell and canister, and in thirty-five minutes they were completely routed, both sections of artillery being well served and doing fine execution. Finding that the enemy were rapidly retreating, I immediately formed line (the right commanded by Colonel Ransom and Major Hart, the left by Lieutenant-Colonel Chapman, followed immediately by the sections of artillery and the detachment of cavalry),and pushed on rapidly in pursuit. They fled so rapidly,however, that they could not be overhauled by infantry.