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 49TH CONGRESS, \ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, i REPORT 
 2cf Session. j ( No. 4171. 
 
 GOLD MEDAL TO CHARLES DE ARNAUD. 
 
 FEBRUARY '25, 1887. Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered 
 
 to be printed. 
 
 ~rot Library 
 
 Mr. CHARLES O'NEILL, from the Committee on the Library, submitted 
 
 the following 
 
 REPORT: 
 
 [To accompany H. Res. 223.] 
 
 The Committee on the Library, to whom was referred the joint reso- 
 lution granting a gold medal to Capt. Charles De Arnaud, referring to 
 the accompanying statement of the attorney of Capt. Charles De Arnaud, 
 and the letters, recommend the adoption of the joint resolution. 
 
 CHARLES O'NEILL. 
 
 W. G. STAHLNECKEE. 
 
 STATEMENT OF CAPT. CHARLES DE ARNAUD, BY HIS ATTORNEY. 
 
 To the Home of Representatives : 
 
 As appears from records on file in the War Department, documents, telegrams, &c., 
 which have been submitted to the Library Committee, Capt. Charles De Arnaud is 
 fifty-three years old, was born in Russia, educated in the Military School of Engineers, 
 and prior to the war graduated an officer of the Russian army, thoroughly versed in 
 military tactics and sciences; that on his arrival in this country, he was, on the 13th 
 day of May, 1861, commissioned a captain in the Fifth Missouri Volunteers for three 
 months' service; that on or about the 31st day of July, 1861, when General John C. 
 Fremont assumed command of the Western Department, he was recommended to him 
 by General Lovell N. Rousseau and Judge Corwin, of Cincinnati, as a trustworthy 
 officer, thoroughly familiar with military sciences, and posted on the situation at that 
 time of the armies on both sides, and one who could render the country most valuable 
 services. 
 
 The situation in the Western Department of the Union Army at that time was some- 
 what critical, because the department was practically without either men, money, or 
 arms. General Lyon was located at Wilson's Creek with about 8,000 men, far away 
 from the base of operations, while 6,000 men were at Saint Louis, whose time of en- 
 listment had expired, and about 1,500 men were at Cairo and Bird's Point under Gen- 
 eral Prentiss, whose time had also expired, all of whom were dissatisfied in not having 
 been paid, and were clamoring to be mustered out. 
 
 While the situation of the Confederate army was as follows : In the Northwest Gen- 
 erals McCullough and Sterling Price were threaten i us not only Saint Louis but also 
 Kansas and the Northwestern States with a force of about 23,000 men, encouraged by 
 a promise from Governor Jackson, of Missouri, to speedily increase the number to 
 100,000 men, while the governor of Tennessee had already issued a call for 53,000 men, 
 who rapidly responded ; General Jeff Thompson in Southeastern Missouri, with about 
 4,500 nu-n ; General Hardee at Pocahontas, Ark., with between 4,000 and 6,000 men : Gen- 
 eral Pillow at New Madrid and Memphis, with about 14,000 men, were threatening not 
 only an invasion of Southern Illinois, but as well, in connection with Generals Price and 
 McCullough in the Northwest, the capture of Saint Louis. 
 
 A statement of the foregoing facts was made to General Fremont by De Arnaud, and 
 General Fremont instantly conceived and immediately began to put into operation 
 
2 GOLD MEDAL TO CHARLES DE ARNAUD. 
 
 movements which sufficed to check and counteract these most formidable movements 
 of the enemy. General Fr6rnout appealed to his troops for another month's service, 
 pledging his personal responsibility for their pay ; and hiring every steamer that could 
 be secured regardless of price, rapidly transported 6,000 troops from Saint Louiy to 
 Cairo, re-enforcing it, and while making other large movements in order to deceive the 
 enemy as to his real purposes, took possession of other available strategic points ; 
 thus the enemy were not only prevented from crossing into Southern Illinois, but 
 their movements were for a time arrested, and General Fr6mout also gained much 
 needed time in which to reorganize his army. 
 
 On General Fremont's return to Saint Louis from this expedition he sent for De 
 Arnaud and requested him to proceed upon confidential service, the nature of which 
 would bring his military knowledge into requisition in preparing for immediate use a 
 true and correct map of the pikes, roads, forts, batteries, &c., in Kentucky and Ten- 
 nessee, and would require him to ascertain the plans and probable movements of the 
 enemy. De Arnaud at once entered)upon the expedition, necessarily entering and re- 
 maining within the Confederate lines in the execution of his hazardous and laborious 
 undertaking. He speedily prepared the map needed, together with maps of Fort 
 Henry, on the Tennessee River, and FortDonelson, on the Cumberland River, then un- 
 der process of construction, by means thereof pointing out and emphasizing the 
 strategic significance of those two forts, while he also ascertained the plans and prob- 
 able movements of the enemy, and reported, on the 12th day of August, 1861, to Gen- 
 eral Fremont at Saint Louis. 
 
 In respect to this service reference was had by your committee to a letter of E. M. 
 Kern, chief engineer on General Fremont's staff, which reads as follows: 
 
 "HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, August 11, 1861. 
 "Maj. Gen. J. C. FREMONT: 
 
 " SIR: Inclosed please find a rough sketch of the States of Kentucky and Tennes- 
 see, containing the roads, rail and pikes, to and from the principal points in those 
 States, as well as the camps, batteries, masked and otherwise, erected by the enemy. 
 Mr. Charles De Arnaud will see you e^arly in the morning to make more full expla- 
 nations. 
 
 "E. M. KERN." 
 
 De Arnaud had been offered by the then acting governor, T. C. Price, of Missouri, 
 a commission as colonel of the Second Missouri Cavalry, to take effect so soon as his 
 service as captain should expire, but when the time arrived General Fremont sent for 
 him and made him a proposition in the following terms: "I will employ you on such 
 confidential service that through it, with your ability and military education, you 
 will be able to render extraordinary services, gain distinction in the service, and the 
 gratitude of the country." At this time General Lyon, having failed to retreat, as 
 directed by General Fr6mont, in case of his being pressed by General Sterling Price, 
 on Rolla, Mo., where he (Fremont) had two regiments watching the movements of 
 General Hardee, who was then in the neighborhood of Pocahontas, evidently marching 
 to intercept General Lyon and cut off his retreat in order to attack him in the rear, 
 had, instead, attacked General Sterling Price at Wilson's Creek, where he lost his life, 
 his army being defeated, thus creating a military crisis in the Northwest while in the 
 Southeast Generals Polk and Pillow, with large armies, were again threatening the 
 
 preciating the critical condition of affairs, De Arnaud sacrificed the offered commission 
 as a colonel of the Second Missouri Cavalry and accepted the more hazardous position 
 urged upon him by General Fremont. 
 
 Thereupon General Fr6inont instructed him to visit all the strategic points on the 
 Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, because, as soon as he should defeat Sterling Price, 
 he intended to transfer his command in that direction, so as to be able to operate 
 against Memphis, and thus free the Mississippi River. (This plan General Fre"mont 
 substantially disclosed to General W. T. Sherman when on a visit to General Fie"- 
 morit at Saint Louis, whose accuittt of it can be found in his memoirs.) He also 
 instructed De Arnaud to watch the movements of Generals Polk and Pillow. De 
 Arnaud left at once ; visited Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee, and arriving at 
 Humboldt, Tenn., on the 3d day of September, 1861, found General Polk then in com- 
 mand of Department No. 2, in regard to whose plans he informed himself, learning 
 them to be as follows : 
 
 First. That he was about to make a movement on Hickman, Ky., on the Mississippi 
 River, in order to protect his left from any movement the opposing army might make 
 from Southeastern Missouri. 
 
 Second. That he intended to move on Columbus Ky.,in order to blockade the Mis- 
 sissippi River, and secure a base of operations for movements in Southeastern Missouri, 
 
GOLD MEDAL TO CHARLES DE ARNAUD. 6 
 
 where, in connection with Hardee and Jeff. Thompson, he would be able to threaten 
 Saint Louis from that direction, while Sterling Price would be enabled to attack Saint 
 Louis from the northwest and thus capture that city. 
 
 Third. To make at the same time a rapid movement on Paducah, Ky., fortifying 
 the name, in order to blockade the Ohio River, and thus secure the entrance to the 
 Tennessee ard Cumberland Rivers; throw a large force into Southern Illinois and 
 attack Cairo from that place, thus scattering the Union forces and transferring the 
 war to the Union States. 
 
 Having gained this information, De Arnaud reasoned that if th,e Union forces could 
 capture Paducah in advance of the Confederates they could, with the aid of our 
 .gunboats, secure permanent access to the Tennessee* and Cumberland Rivers, and 
 from that place the army could flank Columbus, attack the Confederates in the rear, 
 force them to abandon their positions, and thus frustrate their plan as to the invasion 
 of Southern Illinois. 
 
 De Arnaud during all this time was in constant danger of his life, and, though tak- 
 ing every possible precaution to convey an immediate report to General Fremont, 
 was, nevertheless, captured at Union City, Tenn., and taken before the provost mar- 
 shal, Major Morgan, where he was charged by a man named Little with being a Union 
 spy, who further said, " I know him to be a captain in the Union Army." Without 
 delay or ceremony whatever De Arnaud was condemned to be shot, but on taking an 
 appeal to General Polk, who was to arrive at that place on the same day, his execu- 
 tion was delayed for a few hours. While waiting General Folk's arrival in the office 
 of the provost, Little applied for a pass to cross the Confederate lines, and his request, 
 coupled with the fact that a man of name similar to his own was wanted, gave rise 
 to grave suspicions as to his own genuine character, and Major Morgan, who at once 
 ordered him to be brought again before him. then and there charged that Little was, 
 himself, a spy. Little, as quickly almost as thought itself, drew a large pistol and 
 shot Major Morgan through the eye, killing him instantly, at the same time strik- 
 ing De Aruaud two severe blows with the butt of his pistol, one on the back of his 
 head, fracturing his skull, the other on his left temple, badly injuring his ear. The 
 shot and blows were almost simultaneous and were unexpected. De Arnaud fell to 
 the floor senseless. (From the effect of these wounds De Arnaud, although treated by 
 the most skillful surgeons of Europe, has n<it yet recovered, nor is he likely to. 
 General Morgan, of Memphis, Tenii., upon being promptly notified of the sudden 
 death of his brother, the provost marshal, came on at once, and upon meeting Little, 
 who was then under arrest, shot him, killing him instantly.) 
 
 On regaining consciousness De Arnaud was allowed to leave the room that he might 
 
 fo to a drug store and have his wounds dressed. While there, with the aid of the 
 ruggist, he secured a horse and escaped. Although suffering terribly with his 
 wounds, he rode the whole night until he reached the Ohio River where he was able 
 to hire a boat in which he was conveyed to Cairo, 111. 
 
 Knowing that time was of the utmost importance if the contemplated movements 
 of the Confederate army upon Paducah were to be defeated, and that want of time 
 made it impracticable and inexpedient for him to report personally to General Fr6- 
 nioiit, who was then at Saint Louis, he at once communicated directly with General 
 U. S. Grant, who, but one day before, had assumed command of Southeastern Missouri, 
 with headquarters at Cairo, 111. 
 
 On reaching General Grant he said : " General, do you know that you are in danger 
 of being surrounded by the enemy, and that they are marching on Paducah?" Grant 
 answered : "No ; I arrived here only yesterday." De Arnaud then disclosed the situ- 
 ation to him, impressing upon him the importance of an immediate movement for the 
 purpose of capturi ng Paducah. General Grant at once telegraphed to General Fremont 
 as toDe Arnaud's reliability and authority, and shortly thereafter, having received a 
 satisfactory answer, turned to him and said: " You are right ; I will move at once." 
 De Araaud then promptly telegraphed to General Fremont (as appears by telegrams 
 on file in the War Department) as follows : 
 
 "CAIRO, September 5, 1861. 
 " Major-General J. C. FREMONT, 
 
 " Saint Louis : 
 
 "Just arrived from Memphis and Union City-,- Tenn. The enemy is marching in 
 large force to take Paducah, on the Ohio River, to invade Southern Illinois. Our oc- 
 cupation of Paducah will frustrate the enemy's plans and will secure for us the Ten- 
 nessee River. Have communicated this to General Grant. He will move at once. No 
 time to lose." 
 
 General Grant got ready to move within a few hours, and, arriving in Paducah the 
 next morning, took possession of the town, being only about six hours in advance of 
 the Confederate forces, thereby not only frustrating 'the plans of Generals Polk and 
 Pillow, as De Arnaud had predicted, but also preventing the invasion of Southern 
 Illinois and the transferring of the war into the Union States. 
 
4 GOLD MEDAL TO CHARLES DE ARNAUD. 
 
 The following are copies of some of fcbe original letters and records on this point, 
 to which reference was had by your committee. 
 
 HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, 
 
 (Cairo, November 30, 1861. 
 IHAS. DE ARNAUD : 
 SIR: In reply to your request, and the note from Major-General Halleck presented 
 ae by yourself, I can state that I took possession of Paducah, Ky., solely on informa- 
 Lon given by yourself, and to the effect that the rebels were marching upon that city 
 idth a large force. This information I afterwards had reason to believe was fully 
 erified ; first, because as we approached the city secession flags were flying, and the 
 itizens seemed much disappointed that Southern troops expected by them were not 
 a advance of us. It was understood that they would arrive that day. I also under- 
 tood afterwards that a force of some 4,000 Confederate troops were actually on their 
 ray for Paducah when taken possession of by my order. A point through which 
 lany valuable supplies were obtained for the Southern army was cut off by this move, 
 nd a large quantity of provisions, leather, &c., supposed to be for the use of the 
 outhern army captured. For the value, and the use to which these were put, I re- 
 er you to General Paine, whom I left in command. Only remaining in Paducah a 
 3W hours, and being busily engaged with other matters during that time, I can make 
 o estimate of the cash value of the stores captured. 
 Yours, &c., 
 U. S. GRANT, 
 
 Brig. Gen. 
 
 
 CAIRO, ILL., January 0, 1862, 
 Hon. A. LINCOLN, 
 
 President U. S. A. : 
 
 The bearer, Charles De Arnaud, has to my knowledge rendered important services 
 to the Government. He, at the risk of his life, gave information which led to our 
 capture of Paducah, Ky., in advance! of the rebels ; thereby he saved the country 
 thousands of lives and millions of dollars. I fully indorse his certificate of Maj. Gen, 
 J. C. Fremont. He is entitled to the largest remuneration the Government pays for 
 such services. 
 
 Respectfully, &c., 
 
 A. H. FOOTE, 
 
 Flag Officer. 
 
 In a document dated May 7, 1886, General John B. Turchin, referring to the above 
 letters and war records on this point, says: 
 
 "The above-stated documents establish the fact without a shadow of a doubt that 
 the capture of Paducah in advance of the enemy was made solely on the information 
 given by Charles De Arnaud ; that the information was obtained at the risk of his 
 me ; that Paducah was a point of great importance, and that its occupation, besides 
 bringing large captures of war supplies and material, saved the country thousands of 
 lives and millions of dollars. The above statements of men who were the principal 
 actors on our side of the war drama that was at that time being enacted in Western 
 Kentucky and Tennessee, and who fully comprehended the situation and were able 
 to appreciate the important services rendered by De Arnaud, are of paramount im- 
 portance. Judging from the military standpoint, and by subsequent results obtained 
 on that theater of war, the occupation of Paducah thus early gave us a splendid 
 basis of operation south of the Ohio River, and in conjunction with the occupation of 
 Southland, at the mouth of the Cumberland River, secured us both those rivers, 
 along which our fleet and armies could reach Northern Alabama and Mississippi and 
 the heart of Tennessee. Through possession of Paducah a wedge was driven between 
 Columbus and Forts Henry and Donelson, then occupied by the enemy, and it was 
 the first important step to the capture of those forts, to the evacuation of Bowling 
 Green, Nashville, and Columbus, and the final driving of the enemy beyond Corinth." 
 
 The great importance of the capture of Paducah by the Union forces and the great 
 Talne of De Arnaud's services are also maintained by General Fremont, who says, in 
 a communication dated April 4, 1886 : 
 
 ''His services in connection with the movements upon Paducah were of the first 
 importance, inasmuch as the control of the Mississippi Valley depended upon the pos- 
 session and control of that point and its immediate district." 
 
 It is further shown by an extract taken from a confidential dispatch of General G. 
 T. Beauregard to the governors of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, 
 dated February 21, 1862, and published in the book entitled " Military Operations 
 of General Beauregard," by Alfred Roman, vol. i, in which, at page 241. he says: 
 
 "I shall call on General Van Dorn to unite his forces with mine, and leave suit- 
 able garrison at Columbus with troops to guard and hold my rear at Island No. 10. I 
 
GOLD MEDAL TO CHARLES DE ARNAUD. 5 
 
 would then take the field with at leasf 40,000 men, march on Paducah, seize and close 
 the mouths of the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Aided by gunboats I would 
 also successfully assail Cairo and threaten, if not indeed take, Saint Louis. In this 
 way be assured we may most certainly and speedily recover our losses and insure the 
 defense of the valley of the Mississippi." 
 
 Subsequent to the above occurrences and upon De Arnaud's return to Saint Louis, 
 September 6, after having reported fully to General Fre'mont in person, he received a 
 telegram from Rousseau, fyom Louisville, requesting him to " come at once, on very 
 important business, to this place; General Anderson wants to see you." 
 
 General Fremont, who appreciated the importance of his going there (because it 
 formed the left of operations in the Southwest and, being unprotected, required a rapid 
 movement of Generals Anderson and Rousseau on Bowling Green in order to threaten 
 Nashville and prevent the Confederates concentrated at that point either from moving 
 on Louisville or from making use of their railroad facilities to throw a large force 
 against the Union forces), gave his consent. 
 
 He left the same evening, and on reaching Louisville found great anxiety prevail- 
 ing among the officers in command, who were hourly expecting an attack upon and 
 feared the capture of Louisville by the Confederates. On being introduced by Gen- 
 eral Rousseau to General Anderson, De Arnaud explained to him the military situation 
 of his and General Fremont's departments, but found that he (Anderson) was unwill- 
 ing to move with a less force than from 40,000 to 50,000 men, and stated to De Arnaud 
 that "political complications controlling at that time would not permit" him, if he 
 had the men, to move on Bowling Green, as De Arnaud suggested. 
 
 De Arnaud telegraphed General Fremont of this refusal, whereupon General Fre"- 
 mont telegraphed to President Lincoln to "order Rousseau to move with 5,000 men 
 on to Bowling Green," also informing the President that " it is of the utmost impor- 
 tance for my military movements to give me (Fre'mont) control of that department." 
 This was on the 8th of September, 1861, and Bowling Green could have been taken 
 without the firing of a gun had the suggestions of General Fre'mont and De Arnaud 
 been acted upon. 
 
 On this point General Lovell H. Rousseau, in, his certificate, uses the following lan- 
 guage : 
 
 " He (Charles De Arnaud) gave me full and accurate information of affairs at Camps 
 Boone, Cheatham, and Trousdale, Tennessee, and from this I ascertained that I could 
 easily have destroyed or dispersed the forces at those camps, and asked permission of 
 General Anderson to do so in September, 1861, but was not permitted to do it. Sub- 
 sequent information, perfectly reliable, confirmed the result of De Arnaud's informa- 
 tion." 
 
 Having received reliable information that General Pillow, with 7,000 men and ar- 
 tillery, was about to attempt the recapture of Paducah, also that he had projected a 
 movement on the Nashville and Louisville Railroad in order to plant their flag on the 
 Ohio River (in order to carry out their original plan, which was frustrated by the 
 former capture of Paducah), De Arnaud on the 9th day of September, 1861, afc 2 
 o'clock in the morning, went to General Rousseau and inquired whether the operator 
 at Louisville was reliable, as he intended to telegraph to the commanding general, 
 J. C. Fre'mont, news of the greatest importance. General Rousseau replied, "The 
 only reliable operator I know of is at New Albany, Ind.," where De Arnaud went and 
 sent the following telegram : 
 
 " NEW ALBANY, September 9, 1861. 
 "Maj. Gen. J. C. FREMONT: 
 
 " Pillow is marching upon Paducah with about 7,000 men and artillery, Look out 
 for them. I have this news from a Tennessee officer at Louisville. The Tennessee- 
 ans are going to make a forward movement to-night or to-morrow to Kentucky by 
 the Nashville and Louisville Railroad. This news is reliable. I have asked the sur- 
 veyor of Louisville not to let the freight train pass because the enemy will take pos- 
 session of it on the Tennessee line and use it for transporting. This is all reliable. 
 I do not know whether the surveyor will stop the train. Heard all about the enemy 
 on the other side. So advise me or I shall go to Saint Louis or travel further. An- 
 swer immediately." 
 
 General Fremont on the receipt thereof telegraphed at once to General U. S. Grant 4 
 at Cairo, 111., as follows: 
 
 " HEADQUARTERS, September 9, 1861. 
 " Brig. Gen. U. S. GRANT, Cairo : 
 
 "Has General Smith gone to Paducah I I am credibly informed from Louisville 
 that Pillow, with 7,000 men and artillery , is marching on Paducah, also that Tennes- 
 seeans are going to make a forward movement to-night or to-morrow to Kentucky. 
 Has the re-enforcement from Saint Louis reached Cairo ? Inform General Smith at 
 
6 GOLD MEDAL TO ,CHARLES DE ARNAUD. 
 
 Paducah that I direct him to place a battery at marine hospital immediately and 
 the other on heights near Cross Creek, and prepare for forward movements towards 
 Mayfield as soon as there-enforcements arrive. 
 
 "J. C. FREMONT, Commanding." 
 
 At the same time General Fre'mont ordered General Grant to make a strong demon- 
 stration on Columbus and engage the enemy there, in order to draw their attention 
 from the real purpose, which was to reinforce Paducah, which resulted in the Union 
 fleet's bombarding Lucas Bend, on the Mississippi Riven., on the 10th day of Septem- 
 ber, thus securing a permanent access to the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers and 
 the occupation of Srnithland until the close of the war. 
 
 General John B. Turchin, in the document hereinbefore referred to, speaks of this 
 matter as follows: 
 
 "The above shows that General Fremont believed the reports of De Arnaud to be 
 perfectly trustworthy. Curious enough, that the information given by De Arnaud 
 in regard to 7,000 of the eiiemy moving on Paducah is corroborated by a dispatch 
 found in 'The Life of Albert Sidney Johnston, by his son.' The dispatch is dated 
 Nashville, Tenn., September 16, 1861, and is addressed to his excellency, Jefferson 
 Davis. In it, among other things, this statement occurs: 'I have determined to oc- 
 cupy Bowling Green at once. Information I believe to be reliable has just been re- 
 ceived that General Polk has advanced on Paducah with 7,500 men.' From this can 
 be judged how accurate and reliable information had De Arnaud given in regard to 
 the doings of the enemy to General Fremont,* and how important his services were to 
 the Government. After the dispatch of De Arnaud of September 9, Paducah was 
 largely re-enforced; Smithlaud, at the mouth of the Cumberland River, was occupied 
 and fortified and General C. F. Smith put in command of troops at both places ; and 
 for these reasons the projected attack of the enemy on 'Paducah for its recapture' 
 was abandoned. Thus the timely information of De Arnaud saved Paducah from being 
 'recaptured' by the enemy, a service extremely meritorious and highly important." 
 
 Upon receiving a telegram from General Fre'mont to go further, De Arnaud went to 
 Clarksville, Ky., on the Cumberland River, and on his return to Louisville on or 
 about the 14th day of September (having found that by reason of General Anderson's 
 refusal to move on the 8th day of Se^ e " luer n to Bowling Green, the Confederates 
 had occupied that place and had their advance guard already in Elizabethtown, 
 threatening Louisville), visited the headquarters of General Rousseau, who assured 
 him that General Anderson had changed his opinion and had expressed his entire con- 
 fidence in the value of his (De Arnaud's.) suggestions and asked him to go with him to 
 see him (Anderson). They called upon him together, and found him in a state of 
 great agitation on account of threatening news that he had received, which was 
 causing him to get ready to abandon the place. He showed De Arnaud various tele- 
 grams, one from President Guatreeyf of the Nashville and Louisville Railroad, to the 
 effect that his agent informed him that 38,000 Confederates were marching on Louis- 
 ville and that they had burned the bridge over Noliu Creek. 
 
 He was assured by De Aruaud of the unreliability of his information, and both he 
 and General Rousseau begged De Arnaud to ascertain for them the true situation, and 
 said: " For this service, at this critical period, the country will never forget you." 
 Sick as de Aruaud was at the time, he yet purchased a horse and left at once for Eliza- 
 bethtown, Ky., where he learned that instead of 38,000 men, as reported to General 
 Anderson, there were only a few hundred men at Elizabethtown, only about 4,000 men 
 under General Buckner at Bowling Green, and that General Zollicoffer had entered 
 Kentucky and was at Somerset, evidently marching on Lexington. 
 
 Under the most trying circumstances, laboring under the physical disability inci- 
 dent to his wounds, De Arnaud returned to Louisville and advised General Anderson 
 to move at once with his superior force to engage General Buckner at Bowling Green. 
 He replied that it would be done as soon as he could " get permission from the leg- 
 islature to protect the State." General Rousseau objected to this delay, and finally 
 induced him to move as far as Lebanon Junction. De Aruaud then left for a thorough 
 general reconnaissance of the entire Confederate right, visiting Somerset, Ky., Cumber- 
 land Gap, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, traversing the interior of Tennessee un- 
 til he reached Paducah on the 30th of September, 1861, and Henderson, Ky., on the 2d 
 of October, where he sent the folio vriiig telegram : 
 
 ' c General J. C. FREMONT: 
 
 "Arrived from Tennessee State line this morning. Enemy took Hopkinsville on the 
 31st last mouth with three regiments. Their destination is Smithlaud, Ky., after 
 they get reinforcements from secessionists of neighboring counties. Have ascertained 
 positively the strength of General Albert Sidney Johnston's army and its situation 
 about Columbus. They will not attack for about a week, but be on the lookout for 
 them at Paducah and Owensborough. I will go further to-day. Answer." 
 
 The answer was: "Come to my headquarters at once." On his arrival at the 
 headquarters of General Fre'mont, De Arnaud gave him a statement, in detail, of this 
 
GOLD MEDAL TO CHAELES DE ARNAUD. 7 
 
 expedition, which had occupied him nearly four weeks within the lines of the enemy, 
 informing him as to the movements and probable plans of Albert Sidney Johnston, 
 relating in effect that General Johnston when he assumed the command of the Con- 
 federate army in the West, had expected to find a large, well-organized army, and 
 being assured by General Polk that he (Polk) would " recapture Paducah (thus se- 
 curing for the Confederates the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers) and would have 
 at his disposal at least 120,000 troops well organized and armed to take the field," 
 gave orders, immediately on his arrival, to General Buckner to advance on Bowling 
 Green, and to General Zollicoffer to advance on Somerset and Lexington. But when 
 he found that General Folk's promise of a movement on Paducah was not successful, 
 and finding at his command neither the men nor the arms he had expected, had 
 changed his whole plan of operations from the often si veto the defensive, ordering the 
 advance of General Zollicoffer to retreat from Somerset to Mill Spring in order to 
 cover his right, then threatened both by General George H. Thomas from East Ken- 
 tucky, and by General Anderson along the Nashville and Louisville Railroad, while 
 his center was threatened, by frequent demonstrations up the Cumberland River, and 
 his left, which rested on Columbus, was isolated and kept from co operating with him 
 by the Union forces concentrated at Paducah under General Charles F. Smith. The 
 frequent demonstrations of the Union army on the Tennessee River, threatening the 
 rear of General Polk, at Columbus, made that point not tenable, and had caused him 
 to abandon taking the offensive as he had intended, and had forced him into South- 
 eastern Missouri in order to co-operate with General Sterling Price, then in the 
 northwest. 
 
 De Arnaud also informed General Fremont that Sterling Price, having not more 
 than 11,000 men, badly armed and poorly clad, was in full retreat into Arkansas, fall- 
 ing back in order to form a junction with the forces of General MeCullongh, who, 
 with from 4,000 to 5,000 men, was then on the Arkansas border refusing to enter Mis- 
 souri as requested by General Sterling Price, so that their united forces would not 
 amount to over 15,000 men, poorly armed and olad and almost disorganized. There- 
 upon General Fremont stated that news had reached him from Washington that Gen- 
 erals Sidney Johnston and Hardee had already ^nited forces with Generals Price and 
 McCullough, aggregating an army of 60,000 mei i and asked De Arnaud, "What have 
 you to say to that?" He replied, "Such news must have reached you for a'purpose 
 from the 'sources of the enemy, for if all those generals named were to concentrate 
 all the troops they have in Tennessee and Kentucky, ready to take the field, they can- 
 not gather 60,000' men." General Fremont replied, " I think you are right. I will 
 follow up Price and McCullough, wherever I may find them, until I destroy them." 
 He at the same time gave De Arnaud instructions to keep Generals U. S. Grant and 
 Charles F. Smith and Commodore Foote w r ell informed of all the movements the 
 Confederates might attempt to make in Southeastern Missouri. 
 
 De Arnaud at once left for Cairo, where he had a consultation with General Grant 
 and Commodore Foote, relating to General Fr6mont 7 s determination, during which 
 it was agreed that a gunboat with 500 men should be sent up the Tennessee River, 
 thus making a strong demonstration on Fort Henry, a circumstance which would be 
 interpreted by the enemy to mean a united attack upon that place, and would result 
 in arresting any contemplated movement of General Polk's in Southeastern Missouri. 
 De Arnaud then furnished General Grant and Commodore Foote with complete maps, 
 made by himself, of Forts Henry and Donelson, which gave them a thorough knowl- 
 edge of the situation and surroundings of those places, after which he left for Paducah 
 to induce General Smith to move on Union City., Another gunboat was sent up the 
 Cumberland River as far as Eddyville, engaging the enemy at Saratoga Springs and 
 capturing a large amount of stores. 
 
 While entering upon anotherreconnaissance and approaching Aurora, Tenn., while 
 riding at full gallop, De Arnaud was hailed by some bushwhackers, but, failing to 
 hear them, was fired upon, having his horse killed under him, and received several 
 painful wounds in his left leg. which, in connection with the other wounds received 
 on the 4th day of September at Union City, Tenn., so shattered his health that he was 
 incapacitated for further service. From these wounds he has not yet recovered. On 
 his return to Cairo, shortly thereafter, he was informed by General Grant that Gen- 
 eral John C. Fremont had been superseded by -General Halleck, who was then in 
 con rnand, and thus, unfortunately for him, as abruptly, was terminated De Arnaud's 
 connection with the Western Department and the Army. 
 
 The neglect to give proper attention to his wounds soon made itself severely felt ; 
 and, shattered in mind as broken in health, De Arnaud sailed for Europe, where he 
 underwent prolonged treatment by its most skillful physicians and surgeons, which 
 was continued until his return to this country in June, 1885. 
 
 In view of the services herein set forth, which were conspicuously gallant and mer- 
 itorious, and rendered at a very critical period of the war, the committee is asked to 
 report the resolution favorably and to recommend its adoption. 
 
 WM. G. RAINES, 
 Attorney for Capt. Charles De Arnaud. 
 
8 GOLD MEDAL TO HARLES DE ARNAUD. 
 
 Capt. CHARLES DE ARNAUD : 
 
 CAPTAIN: At your request I have i^ad the statements intended to accompany 
 House joint resolution No. 223. 
 
 I find that the statements therein ma. 3 concerning the confidential duty intrusted 
 to you by me while in command of the Vestern Department are true. 
 
 The manner in which you executed -,'iat duty was entirely satisfactory to me, and 
 the information furnished by you concerning the j>osition and movements of the en- 
 emy was of extraordinary and deciding value to me in the direction of my movements. 
 
 As I have already stated elsewhere, the services rendered by you were of the first 
 importance at a critical period of the .var in the Mississippi Valley, which involved 
 the safetv of the Western States, and perhaps the issue of the war. 
 
 J. C. FRfiMONT, 
 Late Major-General, V. S. A. 
 
 TREASURY DEPARTMENT, REGISTER'S OFFICE, 
 
 Washington, D. C., January 24, 1887. 
 
 SIR: I have read the notes left witlvme by Mr. Raines, giving an account of Capt. 
 Charles De Arnaud's services to the L'Moii in the summer and autumn of 1861. 
 He requested my opinion, as an army commander, of the character of those services. 
 I have no hesitation in saying that Captain De Arnaud's were very special and of 
 extraordinary military value. They ;tre the work of a high engineer officer, of rare 
 perspicacity in judging of the strategic value of points and movements. 
 
 Very few general officers even have rendered services more opportune or more im- 
 portant to our country. Money cannot compensate or measure the value of such serv- 
 ices. 
 
 I have had ample experience in th- -^mployment of secret service men or spies, and 
 paid them all prices, from $5,000 dou awards, for a single work. But Captain De Ar- 
 naud's services have none of the qua 'i ties of a spy or secret service man, save in the 
 perils incurred in his daring search tor the military facts, to be used in guiding the 
 emotion of a commanding geiu'T-.l. 
 
 If he does not deserve a medal, lu '^-dy deserved one. 
 Very truly, yours, 
 
 W. S. ROSECRANS. 
 Hon. WM. G. STAHLNECKER, M. C. 
 
 House of Representatives.