OCTOBER 4, 1862. - Skirmish near Clay Village, Ky.

Report of Brig. Gen. Joshua W. Sill, U. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, October 5, 1862.

GENERAL: Yesterday, at 11 a.m., the advanced guard of the Fifth Brigade [Colonel Kirk] engaged Scott's cavalry, estimated at 600, 3 miles beyond Clay Village, and took 13 prisoners and killing and wounding 7 or 8. The brigade bivouacked at Clay Village. Information reached me from several sources during this day that the enemy had evacuated Frankfort, but full credit was not attached to these reports, as they came from second-hand sources. I have just conversed, however, with two reliable men direct from Frankfort. On Friday evening and Saturday morning the rebels had massed at Frankfort an army estimated at from 12,000 to 20,000. They inaugurated Richard Hawes as Governor at 12 m. yesterday; at 3 p.m. they began to evacuate, and during the evening burnt the railroad bridge over the Kentucky River, and also tore up the flooring and timbers of the turnpike bridge. The river can be forded.

I have ordered the march at 4 a.m. to-morrow. Bragg, Smith, Marshall, Heth, and Stevenson were there. The retreating troops took the road to Versailles. Stevenson's troops took the road to Lawrenceburg. General Dumont has arrived here with three brigades and two batteries and 500 cavalry.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. W. SILL,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Maj. Gen. D. C. BUELL.

OCTOBER 7, 1862.-Skirmish near La Vergne, Tenn.

Report of Brig. Gen. James S. Negley, U. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES, Nashville, October 9, 1862.

SIR: Maj. Gen. S. R. Anderson, Brigadier-General Forrest, and Governor Harris have been rapidly concentrating a large rebel force at La Vergue, 15 miles east, with the avowed intention of assaulting Nashville. Deeming it a favorable opportunity to check this project by a sudden blow, a concerted movement was made on the night of the 6th instant by a force of 400 infantry and 400 cavalry and four pieces of artillery, under command of General Palmer, sent via Murfreesborough road. At the same time 1,800 infantry, under Colonel [John F.] Miller, marched by a circuitous route to the south of La Vergne. The enemy's pickets and vedettes were in considerable force on the roads and skirmished with our advance 10 miles, enabling the main force, consisting of one regiment [the Thirty-second Alabama Infantry], with one steel rifled cannon and 3,000 cavalry, to assume a position, forming their lines in anticipation of our entire force advancing on the Murfreesborough road, which was part of our object.

The enemy commenced the action by opening fire with three pieces of artillery at a distance of 300 yards. This was soon silenced by a shell from one of our guns exploding their ammunition-chest. At the