Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-08-07
Army Correspondence.
[For the GallIpolis Journal.l
US. STEAM RAN FLEET,
OFF VIcKsBURG,
July 18th. 1862. |
July 18th, 1862.

July lotn, 1909.
Ed. JoUREAL:-I suppose the tele
graph has ere this announced to yor
the fact, that the great rebel Ram anc
gunboat Arkansas" has run the block.
ade above VicksbGrg. and now lies safe.
ly moored under the rebel Notifications
1t was bold adventure and well done,
even if the rebels did it. On the NOR.
ming Of the 15th the Federal gunboats
"Carondolet" and "Tyier." the former
iron clad the latter wooden, accompa-
MED by the ram "Queen of the West, /"
went up Yazoo river to attack said
rebel boat, and if we do not fear to
speak the truth. found heretofore they
wanted too. Seven miles above the
mouth of Yszoo she attacked the
Tyler" and few moments after
wards the "Carondolet" came into the
engagement, and warm time they had
of it,-mostly running fight, but they
came so close together during the en-
gagement that several times they col
lided. The Federal boats got the worst
of the fight, and had not the rebel boat
left them with impunity, 1 doubt not
she would have destroyed both our
gunboats. The "Tyler" had some
what the advantage, as she could run
faster than the rebel boat. The
"Queen Of the West" skedaddled, and
did not attempt to get into the fght.--
AS she came in sight of the feet, fol-
lowed closely by the "Tyler" fighting
beautifully, then the rebel ram and
afterwards the "Carondolet." Such
an excitement as there was among the
feet here would be hard to describe
The rams looked out for number one,
except the Lancaster, which received
two broadsides from the rebel ram,
cutting away her mud drum and scald-
ing from eight to ten persons, four OF
whom are dead, the rest l think will
get well. Broadside after broadside
was dealt out to this rebel ram without
the least apparent effect, the shot even
Of eleven inch guns bounding off from
her classmates like bailstones from a
stone pavement. She ran by twelve or
fifteen ships and gunboats, mounting
from twelve to thirty guns each, and
seemed TO laugh at the whole fleet. All
kinds Of excuses are made by the diff
ferent vessels Of the feet, but the truth
should be known, that our chief officers
were unprepared for what they were
positively informed would take place,
and l cannot hnt feel that something is
"rotten in Denmark" About sixty
persons were killed and wounded in this
fight, mostly on the "Carondolet" and
"Tyler," both of which were badly cut
up by shot and are now repairing
Com. Farragut has again run by the
rebel batteries with eight ships and
gunboats, and is now below with his
whole fleet. The ram "Samson" was
attacked about seventy-fve miles above
here, near Lake Providence, by band
of rebel cavalry, while lying at shore
during a very severe storm. After
driving the rebels behind the levy with
her sharpshooters, she put out into the
stream, as the force was too large for
her to contend with. But want OF time
will not allow me to write more, as l
am just going out on picket duty to
watch the actions of this rebel ram,
and as my ram IS '.feet of foot" she
,cont catch as without some fun.
Yours, &C.,
"RAM."
CAMP ON JAMES RIVER, VA.,l
July 9Th, 1862.
am as well as could
be expected, after one of the hardest
trips on record. The army has fallen
back some 90 miles to this place. We
have fought the enemy for the last eight
days, and they succeeded in turning
our right flank, and we had to change
front. 1t took us four days to fall back
here. We fought them four hard bat
ties and whipped them each time. Our
regiment lost over 100 men in killed
and wounded. There is something
about this l don't understand-why il
is we had to retreat and still able to
whip them. 1t is all for the best l be-
lieve. The destruction of commissa-
ries and munitions OF war has been
great, and so has the loss of life. Such
carnage l never saw, nor do l ever wish
to again, but you will see it all in the
papers. Both sides fought with despe-
ration. Our colors were shot down
and the color bearer killed, but were
raised Immediately. Secesh and Union
men lay Unfortunately over the field.
Great God, but war has horrors to make
a savage's blood run cold, when it is
seen in calm moments. l was over the
field at White Oak Swamp after the
battle at Savage's Station on the rail-
road. 1 lost one of my best friends.-
He and ] stood side by side. He fell
shot through the breast. He leaves a
wife and two children in Minnesota
l carried him off and received his dy-
ing words to his wife. 1t will be sad
news to her.
We are now some go miles
from Richmond. The enemy have been
largely reinforced on our front lately.
1t is reported that Beauregard and Jack
son are here, and it is generally believ--
ed. 1t is our intention to stay here and
rest for a while. There are several
gun-boats here in the river, and secesh
will not come this far, be he ever so
strong.