The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-09-30
a ehort CanapaiEn.

The Matte Cook was crowded with
men when she loosed from the landing at
SpottsvilIe and turned her nose up stream
Besides some $50 belonging to the 3lst
regiment and our little gun squad of Eve
men, there were about 80 of the Rumsey
Home Guards. Every available nook of the
boat was appropriated by the sold iers, and
our force must have appeared much stronger
to people on shore than it really was. Our
departure was cheered by the enthu siastic
shouts Of those on board and at the landing,
she thrilling tones Of the drum and fife, and
the prospect of brush with the rebels
The cheers Of our troops as they pa ssed va
rlous points, attracted the attention of those
living on the river bank, and in most
instances the men, women, and chill dren
responded to the shouts of our SOL
diers with every demonstration Of glad
ness and enthusiasm. There were
exceptions-when we were greeted with
scovling looks---and in one instance by
positive cheers for JEFF. Davis. This was
from an old fellow who had taken a posi-
ton on the river bank underneath an arch
way formed by the branches of willows and
trees. The spot seemed to be a private
landing, whether belonging to the individ-
ual who then occupied it, we did not learn
On the approach of the boat, our boys dis
covered the old fellow and gave three cheers
for the Union. This was more than he
could stand. Jerking of his hat he swung
it in the air and cheered for JEFF. Davis with
power Of voice that could be distinctly
heard above the din on board the boat
The rage of some of the boys at this insult
TO their flag overcame their sense of proprie-
ty and snatching up their guns, three Of
four of them blazed away at the secession
list. The boat, turned point OF land
above the little ,spdips- asaf' mat the man
was seriously wounded.
The scenery On the banks of Green Riy-
er, so far as we went, is not particularly at
tractive. The river is of an unvarying
width, without islands of any description,
the banks Of uniform height, covered with
thick forest of trees and undergro WITH.
with here and there a small log cabin, sur
rounded by little field of corn, scooped
out as it were from the forest The vii
lagos generally presented a diIapidated ap-
pearanee, and some of them could not boast
of more than a dozen houses of auy and all
descriptions. The few fields of tobacco.
that could be seen from the boat presented
thrifty appearance and indicated to our
eye, that the crop wiz prove as good this
year as usual.
We arrived at CurdsvilIe two or three
hours before dark. Here we obtained the
startling intelligence that Gen. D. NJ.
White (the same old White) had that day
crossed the river with 400 troops, and
marched on Rumsey for the purpose of de-
stroying Lock No. 2. Our informants OBJ
tanned the intelligence from sources thew
considered perfectly reliable. This news oc-
casionsd considerable futter among the
troops all of whom, however, announced
their desire to meet the enemy. Shortly
after leaving CurdsvilIe, Col. Cruft made
bis arrangements for the night. The SOL
diers were commanded to lie down in
rows in the cabin and on the lower deck.
and 70 remain perfectly quiet. The gun
squad, with their gun, were stationed on
the fore deck. The cannon was loaded |
with canister, and we were commanded to
keep careful look out aud if we saw the
lash of gun, to rake the woods where
the enemy was supposed to be concealed
Thus stationed, the gloom of night com
menced to thicken around US the trees
threw heightened shadows over the water.
and visions of masked batteries and ambus-
cades fitted uneasily through our minds
Capt. Cochran kept the gun bearing upon
all points where danger vas most suspi-
eloneo, screen was let down in front of
ns furnaces, and We were gliding noiseless
y up the river, when suddenly lamp. sit
1sted In narrow raYine. threw br;,1;.r+
dash OF light across our pathway and far |
Up the stream. No one could be discovered I
aear it. The appearance was altogetbar
unusual and mysterious. An indescribabIe :
ceiling of impending danger ran through S
be troops, and low whispers as to the /
meaning of the phenomenon were unsatis- 1
actorily exchanged. To add to our per- I
'iexity, a brilliant light suddenly burst {
orth about mile above US, and the con- 8
fusion among ali parties was that we
we're 40 LOT Il al last On approaching 4
DO light above us, it was ascertained IN
roceed from large raft Of saw-Iocs ',
hitch was slowly vending its way to some