The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-05-09


boats and prevented that. They came in all
directions that night. We were under arms at
sunset, and at sunrise, our piclscts were all in.
At daylight the Col. sent picket of a Lieut..
and 40 men to the burnt bridge. They said
the rebel pickets, or rather their sbirmishers
retired rs they advanced. They had not been
25 yards from us. Thursday night, the pick
ets were driven in again at dark. The 18th
New York had all left us on Monday. They
were about miles from us, on the road towards
cnnp. The Col. kept a chain Of cavalry from
his quarters to all the pickets and the 41th. We
were about used up, constant duty and loss OF
rest had almost killed many too proud to be the
fist to give out. About s o'clock, j. NJ, all
communication between us and the 18th was cut
of. We were surrounded, perhaps by $4,000
men. What was to be done? to attempt to cut
our way through was useless for we had no place
lo fall back on, no reserve. Many poor iel-
low didn't care; he felt that he would obey or
fers if he could. Five nights loss of sleep in
Succession and on duty during the day, with
Nothing but a hard cracker and little fat meat
to cat, had cooled the patriotism of good ma
,iy, but during all this time atere Yts not gu'n-
De. Gen Sherman had sent word to the COM
iaander of the fort. Col. Moore, of New York,
tat he must hold IIdisto Island ut every sacri-
zee. Poor Moore! In the midst of his troubles,
lie either remains at his quarters ON the beach
Or retircs to the gun boat and withdraws his re-
esment to more secluded spot am soldier,
i.at when men are willing to do their duty they
slould not be imposed upon, and be made suffer
s9licn those duties could be made much lighter
1v distributing them equally among all. Our
ssgimcnt would have made Il poor fight that
night 1t was used up, and almost every one
Esit Indifferent. For this reason it would have
made but little difference to them if there had
been one or 5000 rebels around them The
Colonel ordered the whole country to be scoilred
with shell, the first that had been fired. 1t
was the last resort and no doubt threw ter
ior into the rebels. About 2 o'clock in the
morning, the Col. ordered us TO take a patrol
ont, secuted down the burnt bridge and around
without seeing anything. About an hour af-
forwards communication was openedto the 4Ith.
Daylight at last arrived patrols were out i'll ali
directions; they returned; the rebelshad not ex-
pected shell and again went back, The Col. order
ed me to have coffee cooked and at nine O'Clock
X. + and ID marched over and joined the bal
s,stis. Regiment -
We were drawn up in battle array when Col.
w. stepped out and said that as we had endu-
red about az much as mankind is expected to
stand, that we had had the first hand TO hand
fight with the rebels in S. c. and had come out
victorious and after reminding us of our loss,
he proposed after giving three cheers for the lit
tie squad of cavalry that had assisted us, three
cheers for the -i7th and three cheers and La tiger
a., Of lf
55th and take a few glasses of lager. the same
evening we got back to camp, Col. Fellows o
3 n. IL. Vols. arrived with his Regiment o
$50 men and battery belonging to the sc
T. T., and took command Fellows is n gocC
man, was acting Brigadier when we left Hilton
Head He Immediately sent his own Regiment
the 4 7th and the Battery up the Island and tw'
companies of the 55th, to act as skirmshers
We also have to send one company on picke
every evening and | suppose in II few days vii
move the whole regiment back to the seat o
war You no doubt viii ask why we were not re
Enforced before. l cannot account for 1t. W.
received an order to cook days Tations and b
ready to evacuate the Island at q moments warn
ing. Gen Sherman has been superseded by Gen
Hunter (GIai. Gen. of Nolunteers) Sherman
has gone to Washington. Brigadier Gen. ben
ham, q native Of Connecticut and graduate
of West Point, has command Of the Division w
are in Col. Moore has got TO Hilton Head
Our pavmaster is here and we will be paid in
few days. There is nothing now down here tha
know of. Our fight has been the great top
both here and at Hilton Head. Our Chaplain
was at the Head; says tht excitement was ire
mendous The 81 n. II. received twelve order
in one day We can now hold The island. W
had no idea OF evacuatng it, not even in on
greatest danger, for we had no transports +
leave in On last Monday a Captain in tn
47th. was shot in the back of the neck by
Sergeant. The Capt. was drunk. Major Kan
ordered him to GO to his quarters under arrest
he refused and Kane sent Sergeant and file q
men to arrest him dead or alive. The Capt
tried to take gun from one of them sweanngh
would shoot them if he could get it. He eouh
not get the gun, but turned around and trle
to get away, when the sergeant shot him
John Gardner shot the 2d. finger OF his rigll
hand off, on Tuesday, while cleaning his gu
with % load i'll. He is getting long first rat
and will be little injured as the finger below th
middle Joint is yet saved. | lost five pound
in olrr five days fight. 1t is very hothere nov
and fresh fish are plenty.
Your atfectionate Bro,
S. S. NiETZGER.
! AK INcIprNT OF THE Il NTTIE or STTLnH.-