The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-04-02
ArmyaC COrre spondence.
New MADRID, NEW MADRID Co., Mo,
- n. N aa,.1e March 18th. 1862 !.

|
New MADRID, NEW MADRID Co., Mo-, !
oG IS 20 aa'13s March 18th, 1862
cp Dear Spirit: From the heading of this
article, you see that the Stars and Stripes
wave on the banks of the great father of
waters at this point, and. more than that,
1--we have here the men and means to sus-
tain them. When We arrived here, on
the 3D. Of this month, the tri-colored
rag, of the fast.dlsappearing humbug
Confederate States, waved over forts and
gunboass. and coxardly traitors beneath
lit, hurled shot and she'll at Us, hut such
things are no more. We met them at
fearful odds, and Conquered. ''S'Fe..!
-. -. The FIGHT. o.ess,a,a a.
Ion the third day of March. we arrived
near this place. and made the first ad-
vance. the 27th Ohio Regiment led the
way. closely followed by the 39th, being
the first brigade of the frst division of the
army of the Mississippi, under the imme-
diate supervision of Gen. Schuyler Ham
ilton, at that time the commander of the
first division About three miles from
the place, six companies, A, F and D, on
the right of the road, aud G. K and B
ION the left, were deployed as eskirmishers.
the other four companies forming the re-
serve Great care was exercised for fear
Of being surprised sand cut off, but not a
single secesh was seen; and we had pro.
eeeded to within less than mile of the
town, unmolested, and we began to fancy
an easy capture, when suddenly the gun
boats, three in number, opened on us, and
having nothing with as to! contend with
snch monsters halt was sounded. and
for six long hours we lay fat on the
ground to avoid instant destruction, as
the shot and she'll were poured at Us 10 a
constant shower. During ahis time all
the observations wanted were taken, and
wa fell back, with one man wounded,
one missing, " taken prisoner, aud sone
killed, and camped for the night, justyout.
side oflthe range of their guns, resting
under the consics ton that secesh were up
and alive Since then Two iaemonstra.
,rous we're made on the place. with the
hope of drawing them out, and take q
fair 6ght, but in vain. as nothing would
eatice them from the protection of the
boats, and another mode to take the
place hadlto be adopted. la .ea9i. 90
| The BoMBARDMENT. a. hi"l
! too ftfw aTI9W -n-I T. 9Il7si1f aaF
- To bombards the place. heavy guns
were requisite, none of which we had
along, and we had to fall back and await
for them to be brought up. The railroad
from Birds .Point to Sykestown had to- be
repaired, as the swamps from here to
Commerce, rendered it an ign possibility
for them to, be transported from thence;
and on the evening of the. l2lh, three
thirty, two FOUNDERS and one ten inch NOR
tar arrived. and active operations were
Immediately begun. Two companies from
our. regiment. two from the ;39th,s and
perhaps. some troops from other, brigades
as | have no means, of knowing the .ope,
rations, Of, any othar than, our own. wers
sent under the command of Lieut.. Col
Kennett. to drive in the, rebel pickets, ant
protect our sappers and miners, while
they threw up, proper fortiicatious te
plant our cannon in The place hat
been selected purposely, on q slightly Gle
vsted piece of ground, within 500 yard
of the rebel fort, and river. and although
their guns completely aud thorough!
covered the; ground, they never fred ,
shot during the night, and when dayligh
! dawned, our men, awoke them from thei
sleep of security by sending q 32,pount
shot crashing in among them. which ~
doubt drove CONSERVATION to their hearts
as. think, they knew nothing Of our I'D
vance until then, :, ,..sen.,.....seo sl
At one O'Clock, on, the morning Of th
L 9Th, the whole command were, silent
awakened aud as silently marched to thei
,proper stations. in the coming combat
Oar brigade were in the advance, an,
!, just. a. dawn our forti6cations wer
reached, and as the rebels had two regi
ments stationed in q piece of timber OF
the right of it, we were ordered to driv
them out. and marching by the .fanj
within fifty yards of their lines, durini
I which they fred voley at us, with IN
!, other result than woundiug an aid
l horse,s we were formed right in their face
aud the, order. to- charge bayonet givel
but no charge was made. as our appear
;, apce frightened them so, that they ae
| without .pausiag to await the help {
t cold Steel During allithls. time our gun
: were playing on the forts aud gunboa,s
/; which they were not slow, ia returning
1 aad the. roar of cannon. and the burstin
I of shells were terrific. The position W
! occupied was q prominent one, and th
t 4fog and smoke which settled over Us, OF
e y saved US from a fearful fire, and orde,
i were given to fall back uuder, cover. an
9 be ready to support our guns, if necesss
b ryr Ia moving, our position was change
e from the right to the left of the breas
e work, and in doing SO, a narrow lane ha
!; tobs passed. directly in range Of tt
|enemy's guns, and the passage was
It dreadful one. One shell burst right ov,