Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-03-07

we had kalted. The men made beds of branches
and some lay down before their fires to Try and
sleep, expecting to be aroused the next morn
ing for bitter fght. The night was too cold
TO sleep, and our Col. very appropriately NAM
ed it Camp Sleepless. l had not taken my
blanket with me, not having any way of car
ryiEg one conveniently. and moreover expect
ed to be in the battle, and thought if l needed
one at all that night there would not be any
dificnlty in finding one. On the next morn
ing no enemy appeared and no orders came
We began to think a flag OF truce had been
sent TO carry of the wounded and bury the
dead, who were lying thick over the field
Soon We heard shouts down the line aud look
ing out from the Hill saw lines advancing to-
ward the Fort. The afternoon before orders
were given to the goth regiment to charge bay
onets after the first FIRE If practicable and We
heard that on this day, Sunday the whole
force was to move on the enemy's works at d
charge bayonetsp and take them by Storm
We thought they were then making the charge,
though We had received no orders TO move. AT
te ran hours suspense the news came to US that
the '2my had surrendered uncondliCnally.-
We Marched over the field of battle to the
enemyS works, where an opportunity was Civ
en- to the regiment 10 see them. In going over
the ground we fully realized the most vivid
description ever given OF battle field, and
though many had been taken from it, yet the
ground was strcwtd with the dead and diving.
chiefly Of the rebel side, as most of ours had
been removed Dead horses were lying in all
directions. We marched into Dover and ere
ordered to guard the prisoners, over 5000, to
their destination. We were sent by comIra-
MES Company d. was sent aboard the NJ.
Gill, medium SID boat, with eleven hun
dre1l prisoners, including ninety officers. Ours
was Il store boat, and was detained two .lays
after the others unloading stores. The reapoit-
sIbIiTty Was tremendous, the tax on the men
very heavy. and the risk great, as was near
being proved with US. One of our regiments
was the 8th Kentucky, recruited in the neigh
borhOOd OF Eildyville. Their Col lived there
and in going down the river we pass ID in sight
OF the homes OF most of them. We stopped
IN that neighbOrhoed about three hours to take
on wood Tie guards we've placed las few as
they were about 7O) in such a manner as TO
prevent any attempt to escape there. Right
opposite to Eldyville something got wrong
with the boat; she ran ashore. As soon as
heard the engineers bell wiring, the guards
were FASTENED TO the land side, and /. with
one, ran to the Pilot House. to either attend !
to the Pilot, or sec that the Pilot House was
not taken possession Of by the scamps. We |
had pretty good reason for not feeling conf |
dence in the officers Of the boat, or some Of
them. Ii was a St. Louis and New Orleans |
boat. We found that a stick had l,cen put
some way in the T'iller rope so that the rud.lyr |
could not be worked readily We backed out |
into the stream and started again, but went /
with crash into some trees on the shore, break
IlS large branches | thought then the thing |
was about up. The guards remained! at their
posts ready, the ropcs had been put back in
their places, again we blcked out and got un- |
der way, reaching Paducah safely The next
morning we ran down to Mound City and left
our SICK and wounded, of both the rebels aud
oar own troops, in the fine Hospital there
Besides the prisoners VIC had a cabin full Of
'ck and wounded. We reached Cairo about
10 o'clock Friday morning, the men and Off
rcrs almost Worn opt. The rebels acknowl-
'dgedHlter we reached Cairo that they had
intended to escape but for tie vigilance orihr
guard. They had discussed the plan Of over
l1wering the guard, bat were afraid to trv il,
Is had detailed u part Of the guard to keep
moving ovtr tie boat aud prevent con
| reported 10 Gen. Collum, as per
1rd1r. He said our regiment had all gone to
ST. Louis; would be back in Il day or two, that
~ prisoners w1ul be sent by rail to Ca;ca-
81, and that we would be relieved and remain
lere til the rrgim mt returned. We were re-
leved that day and have since been in culneort-
lhle quarters, plenty 10 eat. nothing TO d. and
aking good rest. The battle was pretty
much 4 bu-h fight. The rebels came out of
heir entertainments, and to within fifty wards
'f cur mcn before they fired. They wcra gen
rally clothed in jeans, had flint locks, mimic
ifcs, shot-guns ard 81 ,irrc rifles; bed blank
is, carpets, rugS. and every thing of that sort
he most motley-looking crew you ever saw
many OF them glad TO be taken many ready to
luit; some determined and vicious Some of
be officers were very gep; emenly men. Thry
old me their plan wG6t To attack our right on
sunday morning with large fo , and, if pos
ib.c, cut their way through; that their troops
we're drawn up ready for that purpose when
he word came to them OF the surrender I'ii-
ow and Floyd fled disgracefaIly, and the rrb-
Is curse them from the bottom ofth heir hearts.
saw Buckner. lie is u fine looking, brave
ebel. The rebel officers are dishearienrd al
he loss Of Fort Donclson, and acknowledge
hat the ruAellna is u fill Ire and the war al
most over.
CNR0 February 001 1860
II is currently believed here that Columbus
5 being cvacaatcd, The regiment with the
delaware Brass Band passed here today on
Ecir way TO Camp Commerce. Some of the
'oyS saw them. On reaching here with our
prisoners all of us were about worn out We
Ave been iakiug goodrest, have excellent
quarters, draw plenty Of fratiops. and have re-
ievcd the boys entirely from gurd duty, telling
hem 10 make good use of the privilege and
lot abuse it. We have got along remarkably
veil, and are pretty thoroughly rested.
D 7 3D.