the same thing. The Allen Collyer, although importuned to stay with us, steamed off before the fight and never returned.

Then came a shout from the rebels and they were upon us. From every window our true and trusty boys were firing, and for one-half hour the leaden hail was doing its work of death. Rebel after rebel was made to bite the dust, while our boys thus sheltered were fighting for their homes and firesides.

But what a scene now followed! The houses in which our forces were in were set on fire; the cannon of the enemy was planted in our streets, and, disregarding women or children, they were firing shell into the houses. Yet true to their work, the little band of Union men fought on until it was useless to try to hold out longer.

Colonel Bradford ordered a surrender. So soon as this was done then commenced the pillage and plunder, every rebel acting for himself. Stores were broken open and rifled of what was wanted by the rebels. This, however, was soon over. The rebel bugle was sounded, and the enemy retired from our town in good order, though in haste.

The fighting was desperate, and although our loss is small, yet gallant and brave men have gone from us forever. Our killed and wounded amount to 12 or 15, while that of the enemy number between 75 and 100; among them some 8 or 10 officers. We had no means of ascertaining the names of all the rebels killed and wounded, but among the number wounded mortally is a son of George D. Prentice, of Louisville. Capt. W. Rogers, of Harrison County, was killed, and a Lieutenant Wilson. The rebels left some of their dead and wounded in our hands, all of whom have been properly cared for. They took our horses, buggies, wagons, and all means of transportation to carry off their dead and wounded.

Among the killed on the Union side was Dr. W. Taylor, N. B. Worthington, John B. Story, George Byers, Oliver Stairs, John Gephart, John Perkins, and W. Gregg.

The prisoners were all taken from town as rapidly as they could march. Some have been paroled and returned home.

The conduct of the gunboats seems to us as cowardly in the extreme. Just above our town is a large sand bar, and so soon as the rebels could cross the bottom they ran out on this bar 100 or 150 strong, drew up in line of battle, and fired volley after volley at the Belfast and Florence Miller, and not one shot was fired in return. With one fire of grape the whole horde of rebels could have been mowed down; but the gallant commanders fled, fled! Ay, and when they got to Higginsport actually hauled their cannon ashore and moved off up the river with their boats.

Much of our town is destroyed; the loss will reach $100,000. The principal sufferers are Thomas Myers, J. B. Ryan, W. D. Diltz, W. P. Taylor, Mrs. Hooke, T. F. Marshall, V. Meldin, J. T. McKibben, and Mrs. Barr.

The Confederate forces are a battalion of Morgan's. Colonel Bradford, Colonel Harris, and F. L. Cleaveland, esq., are still in the hands of the enemy.

On yesterday Colonel Wilson and Colonel Wadsworth, commanding the forces from Maysville, Ripley, &c., passed on to Brookville in the effort to overtake the rebels, but were there only in time to fall upon their rear guard, they having retreated in great haste in the direction of Falmouth.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

JOSEPH DONIPHAN.