Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-07-07
Letter from wheeling Boy In south
JANEs IsLANp. June sd. ISL.

Editors LntekhgeileeF: = r. a-
To-day our regiment has been once more
paid off. The payment is for the monthsof
March and April. The boys are busy set
Ting up and preparing the usual remit
tances for home.
Since Gen. Benham's arrest, the miser-
able mistake OF the attack against the fort
assaulted on the 18th inst, is still more ap-
parent. A flag of truce went over the day
Succeeding, and found our dead buried, and
that forty-five wounded had been captured
by the rebels. A list of these was furnish-
ed, only one of the l0Oth being among
them The enemy were quite protuse IN
compliments to the valor of our troops, an
old but clever manner of self-praise. Dur
ing the conference, a she'll from guuboat
lit and burst near the party, just OUTSIDE
the fort. OF course our representative
were detained as prisoners of var till 1t
was explained that the naval forces were
not aware of the truce.
This shows conclusiVely that the gun
boats have always been within easy range,
and we know the fate of sand forts thus
circumstanced To throw infantry against
it, when only one side could De ussailed,
the flauka aud rear being surrounded by
a swamp, was criminal. Such a course
could only be justified as an extreme re-
sort.
The sand batteries of PARROT guns
have all been abandoned by us, rs ap-
proaches for siege purposes. Though
good for preaching walls, against earth
works these cannon are no more effective
than pop-gnns, so pronounced by Gen. Gill
more, the hero of Pulaski.
Another peace banner took clothing and
money to our boys taken on the Sd icstant,
and tor all since captured. We were as
sured that these would be delivered intact
and in good faith. By this communication
re learned that about so Unionists were
prisoners uuhurt. These must have been
too frightened or rather paralyzed by fear
to retreat with the rest through the rebel
tire. They lay 10 the ditch and were found
after the fight. Not one was Rouudhead.
Two letters were gotten from Capt. Cline,
of the Tooth taken WITH 20 men, from
Company a, on the Sd. He reports them
all together at Columbia, S. O. They are
we'll treated and says the rebels are quite
courteous. Like whipped spaniel they
already begin to cringe and lick the smiter's
hand. III
The character of the conflict on the ram
parts may be inferred from the fact that We
have rebel prisoners sound in wind and
limb. AS no rebels sailed from the fort
our boys pulled these out over the parapet
| By their hair, sooner than nave no prison
ers. Capt. Doyle, of the 9th Michigan,
| jumped on the ramparts and coolly snot
man after man with his revolvers. He had
three in his belt and discharged Is loads,
every one taking effect from mis- close quar-
ters He says he quit, for a moment,
thinking it downright murder, when one of
the rebel crowd, who seemed all the while
petrified with fear, recovered himself and
shot him through the shoulder. During
the skirmish of the Sd, Lieut.. Peutecost of
our Company, picked up secesh rifle
The bore was too small. He kept coolly
whiting down our balls with pen knife
and shooting away in the thickest oft.
General Benham made the boys speech
on the nth. He spoke from his horse, with
General Stevens, on his animal, alongside.
Compliments to bravery were the begin
ming, and were ended with remarks on our
ralIying, under fire for a second charge, and
being reported ready for it by Gen. Stevens,
when he had ordered a retreat himself
he said that he should never again lead his
brave boys against that fort-that he low
ed them to well to try it again in that way.
This assurance was the most satisfactory
thing in the talk. He continued: s'The
fort must be taken. 1t is as strong place
as Moliuos del Rey, were 800 out of 3 ,OOo
felI"-"Stronger, stronger, n id sight
strOngerp interrupted General Stevens ex,
citedly. Since that occasion General S
hns said that this assault was the bloodiest
hour and half of the war. e
Our wounded have been removed to Hill
ton Head, where there is a spacious, COO
and well-regulated hospital. Their spirits
all seemed to be raised by the prospects o.
the change.
The weather set in cool and rainy on the
4 1 r.
some days, a most provIdential occurrence
for the poor sufferers. 1t is very cool
season here, anyhow, and the health of OUT
army gives cause for thankfuIness. I have
heard of no deaths from sickness yet, and
there nre no fears entertained of imme-
date danger from the climatic influence
es. Our wounded in rebel hands, the
Charlestoniaus say, they will treat as brave
men ought to be treated. O.