Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-07
Our Army Correspondence-Th 47th
Indiana ON the Mississippi.
CAMP NEAR RIDDLE's POINT, on the Mississippi
47th Indiana Volunteers, Col Slack,
March 9th. 1869.


EDiroR SENTINEL: Sir-Should the 47th man
ifest little pride in coming before the public,
and having few words to say about itself, we
don't think there should be any to fino fault, for
we would not in the least infringe upon the rights,
or in any manner whatever do an act of injustice
to anybody else Our career has not been para
ded in the newspapers with such brilliancy as
some of the other regiments with witch we have
been co mingling since our leave-taking OF Hoos-
erdom, or, ] might say the soil of Kentucky,
but still we have certainly won for ourselves a
reputation no less enviable, of knowing no higher
duty than that Of at all times obeying orders.
During the three months stay in Kentucky it
was deemed necessary that should endure
many long marches through mud and rain, and
that without any inclination to nIgrmur, being
anxious, if possible, to meet the rebels. After
finding the rebels growing beautifully less daily
within the boundaries of Kentucky, we were or
dered to Missouri, where safely landed at
Commerce with our brigade, including the 10th,
AID and 34th Indiana regiments, and were imme-
diately ordered forward to New Madrid, where,
it was understood, the rebels we're lying in wait
for u.s.
The time was short until we were being para
ded back and forth from battery to battery, in
presence of the gunboats of the rebels, at the
above mentioned place, where, by times, the shot
flew thick and fast, we not at this time. having
guns of sufficient caliber to compete with them.
However, we answered as targets, and escaped
without losing many Hooser lives. miraculously.
Soon came 10 hand the desired "a Founders so
anxiously wished for-and then came the tug of
war.
The same evening of the day the guns arrived,
they were planted in a mastery manner, and on
the morning of the 18th opened up, much to the
great surprise of the enemy, with telling effect,
upon their boats, also upon their fort, which was
returned by them in thunder tones, as much as to
say, are with you.
During the day the firing was continued thick
and close, the 10TH and 18th Illinois regiments
occupying the intrenchments, and losing a num-
Der of men-not knowing the fatality produced
upon the enemy, but disabling several of their
gunboats, also having desirable effect upon their
fort
On the same evening, the 47th and 34th Indi-
ana regiments received orders from headquarters
to prepare twenty-four hours rations, and be
ready to march by 10 o'clock A. NJ. for the bat
terry, which order was cheerfully complied with.
Accordingly we set out through mud aud rain
and the darkness of the night for the intrench-
ments, a distance of perhaps two and a-half miles
from camp, where, upon arriving, we, without re-
luctance, took our several places in the intrench-
ments, awaiting the break of day to renew the
conflict OF the day previous, Nth the slight add
u0H OF DeinS pOS>ec>eu WIFI tue knOWleuSe Oh
there being order issued from headquarters
that before the dawn of another day we were to
lead the way of the forces which were this day to
melt before the fire of the rebels, or have the
glory of planting upon the ramparts of Fort
Madrid the glorious old flag, but to our great
prise. as the day opened, what did we behold hut
that which sent forth shout making the welkin
ring informing us of the evacuation of the fort,
which was, in twenty-five minutes afterwards, oc-
cupied by the 47th and 34th Indiana regiments.
On the 10th we received orders to take up the
march at o'clock P. NJ, which we did, during
the whole night, making our way to this point,
bringing by hand our beloved old 24-pounder,
which the boys have chosen to call Betsy" and
by the side of which they have since closely re-
manned, defending it against the united force of
five gunboats, consisting of perhaps forty or fifty
guns, some of which are pieces throwing balls of
immense size-we coming off more than vctori-
Gus. The rebels, after making one grand move
for our single gun in full force, attempted land
ing of forces, but were completely routed after
losing number of men. being picked off by our
rifemen as fast as they made their appearance.
More anon. A HoosIER.