Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-02-27
WHOLE NO. 277.

as If kissing their mother earth. to whose
kindly embrace they had returned after
life's fitful fever-after their duty TO their
country in its hour of danger. others with
their faces towards heaven, as If looking
up to the Great Father Of us all. Some
were lying upon their sides as il in slum-
Der. There was one with quiet smile up
on his face--a middle aged man. BY his
side there was q horse, its head torn OF BY
a cannon shot. There was the same un-
concern among the living. Men were eat
ing their dinners with as much unconcern
as they would in their own homes, with
nothing around to remind them of the sol
emn and untried realities beyond this life
of ours. / felt the same influence. and
stepped upon the pools Of blood. and trod
the crimson gore almost as unconcerned.
Who can explain the anomaly which
makes ms kind. considerate. tender. moved
at the sight of suffering. in times Of peace.
while in war we are devils?
hear men say all around me that it was
fearful fight. which l can well believe.
but | can hardly accept it as one Of the
bloodiest on record, as some assert Hav-
ing been over the ground and examined
the scene Of conflict. hazard the opinion
that the loss on the Federal side will not
exceed three hundred in killed. l infer
that the rebel loss is about the same
They were behind entrenchments. but the
Federal force had the most effective wesp-
ons.
The gathering Of the prisoners for en-.
tarkations was an interesting sight. Just
before sun-down on Sunday. they began
to form in regimental lines. A half-dozen
/ Federal officers were detailed to escort them
to the boats. stood upon the bank and
saw them pour down the hills and ravines.
1t might have been a ludicrous fancy Of
mine, bat dressed in their snuff colored.
dirty. variegated suits. in the departing day
light, thought they resembled so many
streams Of milk and molasses! Each man
had his private luggagc--their coverlcts,
quilts, horse blankets and carpeting. The
officers had valises. faw Of the soldiers
carpet bags. Six steamers were in readi-
ness for them. Il was no small Job to
embark them. Two officers were detailed
at each boat to search for side arms. /
stood upon the deck Of the uncle Sam in
the deepening twilight and watched the
motley crowd as they fled along the gang
way. The officers. much against their
wills. were obliged to give up their side
arms, and in short time there was bush
el of pistols and an simful Of swords.
The privates were placed on the boiler deck.
but the officers were allowed the liberty of
the cabins. / went in among the crowd
below, and l think that most of them,
when they found themselves in warm quar-
ters. with bread and bacon before them.
with the thought that guard duty. trench
work. poor fare. poor pay, and the proba-
, bilities of being shot, were to be theirs no
longer, most of them felt q sense Of relief.
At any rate they were not much dishesrt-
ened. The officers, especially tho Missis-
sippians. were savage. l conversed with
enc. Almost his first words had reference
to the Abolition Yankees" whom he
said had caused all the trouble.
While this slow process was going on.
the Southern sky was bright with the light
of the conaagration of the Cumberland
|. Iron Works, in which John Bell was .
, Urge owner. They were situated ten miles
!. further up the river. and as the rebels had
used the property for the manufacture Of
ordnance. Commodore Foote deemed il
; best to con6scste it in summary way. 1t
burned long while. and added another
feature to the ztern realities of war;
> The escape of Floyd is deeply regretted.
8 think that most of the rebels wish that
! he was in the same box that they are.--
heard Mississippi Colonel say that If he
could get sight of the ex-Secretary OF
War be would shoot him! He is looked
upon as being coward aud thief. Pill
. low is more highly spoken of but their es-
innate OF him is by no means very high,
, yet he is looked upon as being immessura-
bly, superior to Floyd. In my rsmbles to-
day came across many negroes. One
bright, intelligent fellow--was plodding
through the mud with trunk on his
: shouldcr--the property of an officer. He
! said he was free man but had been inn
pressed. He was glad the fight was over.
a 30" said be, II neber was so scarf be-
!, fore. The bullets came biml Duckl"-
He suited actions to words. and gave an
q example of sound. He said that there
> were many slaves in camp. They were NOT
j allowed to carry arms. except on marches.
and then their masters Vere willing to Be
relieved of their burdens.
: In few days Gen. Grants forces win
be sufficiently recruited for another move.
. but now they are exhausted. Many. worn
down by hard marching. the hard fighting.
scanty fare and the cold weather. will Be
obliged to go into the hospital. but their
] places will be made good by other troops.
/ and then it would not de surprising If ron
:. heard fr ,m the Yankees at Nashville.