Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-04-23
From Tie Bulnslle Expedition.


April, showing from the date Of the letter
that it was long detained as a conSraband.
We have obtained leave to publish tie let |
ter for its interesting amount Of things;
IS. STEAMER LOUISIANA,
or Newberne City, \. G., March 18Th, 1907
Since | last wrote you, the events Of
time have materially altered the aspects Of
our country's welfare, and prospects Of
bringing to a close the present war You
arein a position where you can read the
events Of the day; the victories and de-
feats, and weigh both in one scale; judge
then for Yourself whether r3hellion must
not be crushed from our midst in one mas 1
sive ruin. Would thatit might be buried in
collision like uUecorded scenes Of the past.
when | last wrote you, | believe was On
the blockade duty on the eastern shores Of
Virginia. We left there for Fortress
Monroe, where we remained but short
time, having been ordered to Baltimore,
Md, for temporary repairs. Ten days
found us back to Fortress Monroe, where
we were put under sailing orders. Burn
sides Expedition was then beng fitted out
ana It sooA became evident that we were
detailed to bis fleet. We put into execu-
ton our sailing orders BY steaming to-
wards Hatteras Inlet, with other vessels
in company, some Of which were obliged
to turn back in consequence Of the heavy
storm which was provailing, throwing the
brn9 waters III toany piles much higher
than our snip, Tie white sprey cast dis
I3al ld0k oyer ibe blue waves, as We rolled
ana stitched ia Che raging sen of oid Ocean
We however reached our destination .
safety; daily the fleet began coucenua-
ting at this point, and soon i large army
of vessels was anchored at the entrance cf
Pamlico Sound a long time necessarily
delayed the moving of the Expedition
On the 9Th of February, however, we hove
anchos, and soon the whole fleet were
headed up the sound, presenting teauti-
FIJI aspect. Roanoke Island was surely our
destination, and on the 7th we commenced
orr bombardment, which continued all
that day and portion Of the 8th. We
gained here a glorious victory which was
followed up by destroying the rebel heet
and battery at Elizabeth City. Here We
had sharp but brief contest, having come
ii hand to hand fighting over our ship
sides with the enemy, which we soon rout-
ca and destroyed their ships. We are
now anchored off this City, having few
DAYS since bombafded her batteries Of pro-
rejection, and attacked by heavy land
force i'll the rear. Again. we are victorious
over a superior enemy. Not only this in
my own immediate vicinity Of observation
has been done to mar the existence Of re-
bellion, 6ut the war in the west has touch
ed the death cord and fatal blow.
Tn this last battle we have experienced
Great loss more than this country's his
tory viii ever recall, as will be the case in
ali our battles. The loss Of the enemy
was very heavy il killed, besides many
wounded and many prisoners, large guam
/ titles Of munitions Of war and camp equip
page, $50 cannon with many small arms
Just before leaving Hatteras, we re-
ceiyed the sad details Of the destruction at
/ Newport News, kof the Congress, and Cum
berland, by the rebel frigate Merriinac from
/ Norfolk. 1t is unnecessary for me to at
tenDot to describe the sensation that this
disaster both in our army and navy; IN
our navy more for the reason Of its being
4 stroke on their arm Of their country pro-
lection. We were all SO overcome with
gloom, that our ship seemed more like a
house Of death, than like a U. S. Maa-of
War. All were now anxiously waiting IN
opportunity to revenge their spite upon
some point of secessiondom, and no battle
was ever entered into with hearts more de-
termined than those which throbbed ON
board our Musket fleet. Victory or death
was the signal from our ships top-mast.
and vel was The signal regarded. Our
shells sent terror to the rebel army, which
caused their retreat. You have not the
SLIGHTEST idea Of the confusion which one Of
these monsters create While hurting
through the air, neither can pen describe
+ IT. when you consider that one Of these
shells cause bold and fearless men like Gen.
i Burnside to finch, Won must surely inquire
what must be the effect on a eowardlv rebel
army. While we were in the advance Of
TIE amy shelling the batteries the army
came too close to our range. Gen. Burn
side was leading his men at the head Of
the force, when one Of our hundred pound
er shells, came buzzing, whizzing and
thundeing through the woods, tearing up
trees ana committing lis intended work
| of destruction, and passed few feet over
] the Generals head, he bounded from bis
frantic steed and with acelalnaiiops Of ter
| ror. inquired wl.at that was. One Oh his
aids who had but short tlqe previous
experienced similar circumstances, e
claimed that il was one Of those ID
shells fion the qua boats. The prisoners
san had ii not been for the gun-boats tht
army weld never have retreated' bN'
hose bomb shelis as they call them stfEef
4 t'ie widest pmic to the whole army VS.
IRE NOW swaiung sailing orders, and anoth
Ell expedition Is nearly ready e start, bu
ID vliat fart Of rebeldom viii be attacked
am uaPfspared p say. a good ac
coaut wi.l 81 AeaFd u Is rest assured.
Irelaain yours - ever,
b. s. Harm.