Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-11-21

stricken fugitive bite the dust. The
whole of the ground passed over was
scattered with fragments OF she'll ana
torn and mangled corpses.
Some with the head hall torn on
some with entrails spreading for yards
around them, some with mangled legs
and arms, aud with faces distorted
with pain and horror. Some lay prone
on the ground. with backs toward the
enemy, and others struck dead while
in peculiar postures, as if calling and
motioning to others. For two miles
back in The woods dead bodies were
found of those killed by our Shells
All the rebel wounded were taken of,
but the dead remained. In q massive
bomb-proof in Fort Walker was found
the dead body of Surgeon Borst,
formerly of the United States army
He had doubtless retired to this place
for safety, and it indeed seemed secure,
formed as it was Of massive walls and
strengthened by great beams of wood.
huge shell had whizzed into the small
room through the small diagonal aper-
ture, and struck heavy piece OF tim
Der, tearing away the supports and
tunbling down the walls about his
head. A splinter from the fractured
beam struck him upon the head, killing
him instantly. just as he had thrown up
his hands to shelter himself from the
falling walls. His watch was still keep
ing correct time in his pocket, when
Federal soldier pointed out the fearful
tableau of death.
Fort Beauregard. on Bay Point, had
been silenced previously, and with less
severe fighting. 1t had sixteen guns
Of large caliber, garrisoned by 500
men, who were soon convinced that the
damned Yankees" as the negroes re-
ported them to call us, were more than
their match. They ran in confusion.
but one bold fellow returned to the lar
gest gun in the fort and discharged it at
us. The enormous rifle ball flew with
a tremendous scream over the deck OF
the Bienville, and struck the afterport
of the Augusta, without, however,
killing any one. That shot was its last,
for as it left the piece the gun burst,
killing the man who fred it, and scat
tering missiles all around. 1t was a
magnificent gun, and could not have
weighed less than 900 pounds.
REBEL RE-ENFoRCEMEETs.
It was evident that the gsrrisoned
rebels had large re-enforcements close
at hand, awaiting an opportunity to
come to their aid should their services
be required. Those re-enforcements
were kept in the background, to keep
our forces ignorant of their strength.
and draw us, as was believed, to de-
struction. The result showed that they
calculated without their host. Our can
mons produced most devastating effect
upon their crowded columns. who were
hid among the trees, killing them right
and left, and putting them to rapid
fight. All about the woods for two
miles the bodies of the killed soldiers
were 10 be found, and manifold indica-
tions Of hasty retreat. These re-
endorsements were stated at ten tbous.
and men.
THE REBEL MINE AND ITS FAILURE.
I should have stated in former part
of this letter, the attempt Of the rebels
to destroy their forts and the capturing
party BY blowing up their magazines.
At Fort Walker fuse was lighted and
attached TO the magazine, but it was
discovered in time and extinguished.
At Fort Beauregsrd pistol was ar
ranged 10 be fred by the opening Of a
door, and when the Federal party lam
ded it exploded the magazine. killing,
however, only two men, and blowing
up the rickety old house in which it
had been deposited. Their intention
was thwarted as much by their own
haste to get away as by the careful
ness of our men, as the thing was very
bunglingly arrsnged.
THE coNTRABAND ELEMENT.
As soon as the negro slaves observed
US coming on shore they focked along
the banks in great numbers, some bear
ing parcels and bundles as if expecting
us to take them at once to a home of
freedom. Every variety of negro and
slave was represented. I say negro
and slave, for it is melancholy fact
that some slaves are apparently as white
as their masters, and as intelligent
Darkies of genuine Congo physique,
and darkies of the genuine uncle Tom
pattern, darkies young and jubilant.
darkies middle aged, and eager; and
gray-haired. solemn looking fellows
Some appeared mystifed, and some in
telligent. The quadroon and the oc-
toroon, possessing an undistinguisha-
bic tint of negro blood mingled, one
drop with seven ol Southern nativity
and ancient family, formed, to speak
mildly, an interesting scene.
As last as the contraband article came
within reach, it was placed in the
guard house, an old frame building be-
hind Fort Walker. Here quite col
lection was made. They were budding
together, half in fear and half in hope,
when naval officer of the BienviIle
looked iu upon them asking, "Well,
well, what are you all about?"
"Dafs jest what we'd like to find
out. mas'r," was the response.
The officer assured them that they