The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-12-28
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
HEADQUARTERS 18th IED. REG,
SHARP.RuRG. Mp.. Dec. IA. 81.

HEADQUARTERS 18th IND. REG, ! -
SHARPsBURe, MD, Dec. IA. 81.
Mr.. EDITOR: On last wednesday morn
ing the report came to- headquarters that
about three hundred Infantry, and one hun
dred cavalry, had made appearance on
the Virginia shore, opposite AsnteetsTE, at
which place Capt. Nelson's company are en-
camped, and conmenced firing upon them;
which, Of course, was promptly returned By
the brave 70 Hoosier boys" Col. Link i'm
mediately dispatched two companies to that
point to re-enforce them. Before we reached
them, the rebels had left in hot haste and
We were compelled to retrace our. steps TO
headquarters without the pleasure. of
having an opportunity offring upon them
eUes once 5G5s
The rebels fred but one or two volleys
upon our pickets, and with but little effect
wounding only one. There were six killed
on their side, aud many wounded. =
After reaching our eueampment, we had
scarcely laid off our war raeooutrements
when messenger came with news that the
large band of guerrilla cut-throat thieves
| were encamped across the river, opposite
| where Major Hubler's force are stationed.
Early IN the morning, the Major sent Cap
tain Reub Williams, formerly editor of the
! Warsaw Northern Indianian, with a squad
/ of seven men, to ascertain, as near as posi-
BILE, the number of rebels in that vicinity.
| The Captain, contrary to the Majors order,
| advanced too close to the enemy's camp,
and himself and all his men were taken
prisoners. .a
Ga either side of the river, for a distance
of twelve miles, extend narrow ranges of
high mountains, or bluffs, aud on reaching
/ the summit, view can be had Of the coun-
try for miles around and it was expected
the Captain would only go to the brow Of
the bluff, but instead of that, be assembled
the mountain and advanced in the direction
of the enemy's camp until he came to q
house in the valley, about one, mile from
the river. Atthis place he could very easily
ascertain the exact number of rebels, ,aad re-
turn safely to camp but the rebels are ever
on the alert-always having bands of ''itin-
Grant" vagabonds, wandering about like
hungry wolves to see all that is going
on, and to take everything they can find
belonging to Union citizens. The Captain
had only reached about half the distance
from the house to the base of the mountain,
when he was intercepted by the viIlainous
scouts, numbering about two hundred, and
after desperate struggle, was oyeFpowered
and taken captive. From high eminence
| on the Maryland shore, full view was had
of all that transpired. Itis said the Cap
tain and his men fought CALAMITY, exhibit.
ing skill and bravery, Characteristic of all
l the boys of the bloody l2th,a tutored by
: our preceptor and brave commander, Col.
. Link
Maj. Hubler's force rallied to the top OF
the mountain, and fred several volleys at
I the rebels, doing great. execution. They
: killed twelve and wounded near forty 0ae
q shot fred By. one of our "boys," distance
of three-quarters of mile, took effect in
the eye Of one OF the rebels who was in The
l act of tying Capt. Williams. 1t -is con-
i siderably doubted BY the incredulous
, | whether he aimed at that particular part OF
the head, but be claims he did. 49,.
We left headquarters at 3 clock, and
: reached Maj. Hubler's camp just at dusk
: travelling twelve miles in little over two
hours. Col Link, in the meantime, had
OF infantry ana some artillery ; shortly aft er
We reached there, one piece Of. artillery
came, and the Colonel set Us to work digging
rife pits and planting our big guns. labor
c ing until about two hours before dawn.
just at break of day, every man was sta
toned in position, hid from the sight OF
the enemy, and where we could have an
opportunity to pour blue pills" into those
; who bad the temerity to make their appear
ance on the bluffs over the river.
. The main object was to destroy the dam
l built across the Potomac FOR the purpose OF
feeding the Chesapeake ana Ohio canal, and
cut off the transportation of the Federal
troops from Washington City to Western
: Virginia. Early in the morning the rebels
were ali astir, and appeared to commence
their operations in tearing down the dam.
Col. Link and Lieut.-Col. Humphrey were
! standing on eminenee where they could
command a view of all that was taxing
place. ra3a
The rebels were perfectly ignorant of he
fact of US having any pieces of artillery.
and they supposed they could accomplish
their object without receiving much damage
from our Minnie muskets; but they had
made great miscalculations in the distance,
and the consequence was, when the COM
mand was given to FIRE, the report of every
gun echoed the death K nell of some traitor.
Our little twelve FOUNDER mo we'd them like
"chaf before the wind" and when the
smoke had cleared away, the side of the
mountain was to be seen literally covered
with the dead and wounded. After the
confusion had subsidized the rebels began to
rally together, acting very much like a
whipped cur, and fred an Intellectual voIley
upon US, only wounding about eight or
nine.
If Col. Leonard had sent re-enforcemonts
to US, as Col. Link desired, we would have
crossed the river and followed the rebels
; until they would have been heartily glad
to give up our men. Our wou aided are
fast recovering.
The weather here is delightful, and the
atmosphere is mild and balmy. We are
having easy times again nothing to do
only company drill once day and evening
dress parade. Yours respectfully,
IN. W. Hour.
S6~ Rev. Henry Ward Beecher has as