Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1861-11-14
Letter From Evansville, Ind.
EVANSVILLE, IND, Nov. 3, 1851.
Correspondence Of the Charles City Intelligencer.


Correspondence Of the Charles City Inteligencer.
EVANSVILLE, IND, Nov. 3, 1861.
FRIEND HILDRErH Since last wrote
you we have had no exciting alarms
Of the near approach of the enemy.
He is not in force, at present, nearer
than about seventy-five miles. The
rebel General Buckner gave orders
some weeks since for the destruction
Of all the Locks on Green River, but
we sent forces from this side of the
Ohio river in time to assist the Union
men Of that region to protect them.
We shall not consider ourselves in
imminent danger, unless our forces at
Paducah, or those under Gen. Sher-
man, should be defeated. A regiment
of Indiana troops occupy Henderson,
. Kentucky town ten miles from here.
and we have a we'll organized and
well drilled regiment of Home Guards,
consisting of Infantry, Artillery and
Cavalry, in our City.
The Cavalry regiment engaged at
Fredcricktown, Mo-, few days since,
were recruited and organized here.
Nearly all the field and many of the
company officers belonged in Evans
vile. A portion of the regiment have
had two brilliant and successful en-.
counters with the enemy, under the
lead of the gallant Major Gavi,t who
fell at Fredericktown.
The funeral of Maj Gavitt, and a
private in the command, named Chas.
McLain, took place here last Sunday,
with most imposing ceremonies. Two
regiments of infantry and an artillery
battery. together with nearly the whole
population of the city and county were
in attendance. Long before the pro.
ccssion arrived, the Cemetery was I'll
led with women and children awaiting
its arrival. The remains Of McLain,
wrapped in the American flag, were
taken to the grave prepared for them,
W herefuneral services were conducted
by Rev. Mr.. McCarer.
The remains of Maj. Gavitt were
enclosed in q metallic case, and before
interment the intimate friends of the
deceased took a final look at the loved
one. The scene was distressingly sad.
Around the coffin stood the aged and
enfeebled mother, the orphan children,
and many Of the lifetime friends of
the deceased warrior As the mother
knelt beside the coffin, every eye that
witnessed this last mournful scene was
dimmed with tears. The distinguish
ing excellence in the character Of tho
deceased was love for his mother.
The sobs and cries of the bcreaved
friends broke out anew as the coffin
was lowered to it's last resting place,
and the clods fell mournfnlly upon the
casket containing all that was left Of
the son and father, cut off in the midst
of life. When the pall-bearers com.
menced to fill the grave, the sentinels
we're unable 10 keep back the crowd
who rushed forward to deposit their
sprigs Of evergreen in the open grave.
Major Wood Of the same regiment
with Maj. Gavitt, has returned for the
purpose Of obtaining some clothing
and necessary accOutrcmeDts for the
regiment. Major Wood is a Baptist
of this place. He was first
appointed Chaplain of the regiment,
but was afterwards appointed Junior
Major. lie says that Maj. Gavitt was
to come, and had actually
previous to the fight in which
he lost his life, on the same mission
that he Whitley came to accomplish.
Maj. Gavitt had gone some four miles,
when, hearing the roar Of artillery, he
turned back and joined his men. He
put himself in the front when the
charge was made, and had not been
on the field fifteen minutes before he
"oo uC tIdNCItCu
by the cavalry in making their splen-
did charge, as ascertained the day af-
ter the battle, was five miles /! The
action of our cavalry on that occasion
is regarded by military men as the
most brilliant exploit of the war.
1t has been satisfactorily ascertain.
ed that the rebels lost in that engage.
ment from 400 to 600 killed, while our
loss was but 8 or 10! So far as
recollect, no Indiana force has, as yet,
met with defeat in this war. We
have now i'm the field several thousand
over our quota of $4,000. and shall
soon have 10000 effective men on
duty. j. w. X.
P. S. ! have just learned that a
rumor is in town of battle yesterday
at Hopkinsville, KY, in which our
forces were victorious. J.w.K.