Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-04-10
Correspondence of the Charles City IntcIliscnccr
Letter from the Army.


nearly one day, and had a good opportunity
of viewing the Notifications in and around
that city. The country is very low and
swampy, and the Ohio being very high, the
city was in danger of being submerged II
yon imagine yourself viewing vast triangle,
you will have good idea of the water space
between Birds Point, Cairo and Fort Holt.
Let Fort Holt be at the apex, and Cairo and
Birds Point at the base. Fort Holt is in
Kentucky, Birds Point in Missouri, and Cairo
in Illinos. E.'n
The gunboats and mortar fleet were at
Cairo; the gunboats undergoing repairs from
the damages received at Donelson. The Saint
Louis had received ball which passed nearly
in at portfolio, and which had torn immense
splintcrs from her side
After while we went steaming up the
Ohio. The country was overtlown as far rs
we conld see, and in some places, from the
nearly submerged houses, we could see faces
staring at us. 1t must be bully place fol
raising erops--of Fever and Aguc.
At Paducah, we stopped and left Sergeant
Major Montague, who was very sick with
fever. Here we left the Ohio river and went
up the Tennessee. The first time / have ever
event up SOUTH" Nothing interesting DC,
CURED until we came in sight of Fort Henry
then cheer after cheer went up from our boys,
and the Band played Dixie Soon we were
opposite the Fort. There Gen. Grant sent foi
Col. Williams and ordered him to report to
Gen. Smith.
sought and obtained permission to land
and view the defences. confess j had formed
no accurate idea of the strength of the place
1t was entrenched with sand-bags, logs, and
stone, with deep moats and only one narrow
place to land inside the works from the river
Then the guns, 64-pounders and 12s- pounders
made more able resistance than they did tc
our gunboats. But to view the havoc, even
now visible, caused by our gunboats Here q
large ball had struck 6i-pounder fairly, and
overturned completely, the gun-carriage. Here
was the ritied 2S-pounder which burst as the
rebels were discharging it. They had charged
it with double load to see if they could not
pierce the Flag boat, when it burst 1t killed
and wounded thirty, the rebel flag was then
hauled down to make room for the Stars and
Stripes. Inside the outer works was the log
barracks for the troops, surrounded by en-
trenchments, and strong ones too. Some O
the buildings had been torn to pieces by the
shells from the gunboats. Forts Henry and
h,u y, 4 Al,
guns, &C., taken to st. Louis.
At last we started, and soon came i'm sight
of the grandcst scene l have ever witnessed
fifty-seven Steamboats, loaded with troops,
headed by two gun boats, the Tyler, and Con-
estoga. Here we learned we were destined for
the Tennessee Expedition, bound for Florence.
The Flag was the Leonora, Gen. Smith
then having command. We were placed in
Gen. Hurlbut' Division, as he said he wanted
the honor of leading the Iowa 3D. in Battle
About 40 miles from Fort Henry there was on
the bank of the River a large number of peo
pie who wished to go to Cairo, and who claim
ed our protection, which was given them
for never shall any person claim the protection
of Americas flag and find it not. This wa.
near the Bridge of the Memphis & Nashville
railroad the Bridge was destroyed by gun
boat when Com. Foote went to 1T. Donelson
| to prevent any troops crossing the river. W.
| learned here-or near here, at a small town
called Saranna,-tha there was large rebe
force at PASSPORT, town near Florence
Headquarters were established at Savanna.
Gen. Hurlbut's Division proceeded to this
place. You will recollect that it was at Pitts.
burg that Lieut.. Phelps had his engagement
with the rebels when he went up to Florence
AS we Grew nigh the place, a small party Of
rebels appeared, rifle in hand, waiting for a
shot; suddenly with sound like half
scream, halfhiss, the Tyler sent a half dozen
shells after them, and they speedily disappear.
ed. One of the shells went plumb through q
good sized tree; another went through a
house near by. Our troops were landed, and
everywhere were visible marks of Lieutenant
Phelps engagement. Trees were torn off and
the ground was ploughed up in every direc-
ton. But a more horrible sight was to be
seen, the rebels had not buried their dead,
merely collecting them together and piling
wood over them. They were buried by our
troops.
We are now enoamped, waiting for good
roads-it having rained very hard for few
days, spelling the roads-and for the arrival
of Gen. Buell. with his force, when we will
probably march on Memphis. The Grant en-
broglio being settled, he now is in full COM
mand. Gen. Halleck is daily expected.
Col. Williams has been given command OF
Brigade, making him acting Brigadier Gene
raj. This Brigade is composed of the follow
ing Regiments:
Sd Iowa, Major Stone.
God Illinois, Logan.
2Sth Illinois,--Col. Johnson.
dist Illinois. Col Pugh
l4th Ohio Battery,-Capt. Barnes.
sion. Barnes Battery is composed of six
guns, three 12-pound brass howitzes, and
three steel rifed Parrott guns
The gunboat Conestoga engaged the enemy's
Battery Is miles from here, yesterday She
shellcd them away from their guns, but did
not obtain possession Of them She received
a shot which passed through her smoke stack,
but was not materially damaged The whole
number of troops here is $4,000. The health
of the men is very good, dysentery being the
only complaint. The weather is beautiful,
the trees are leaving out, grass looks quite
green well good deal like May in Iowa
We are 40 miles from Florence
Enclosed send you some cotton which j
gathered from field close by it was left by
a Seeesh in his hasty fight for some other
place. do not see great deal Of the Union
sentiment as yet. Indeed, lie is good chem
ist who can analyze a citizen here and find a
great deal of loyalty. have had no chance
to send letter before. ! shall write you as
often as a boat goes from here to Cairo with
the mail. Adieu, WINFIELD.
Girls beware of the transient young man.
Never suffer the addresses of stranger. Rec
ollect that one good farmer boy, or industri-
Gus mechanic, is worth all the floating fops in
the world. The allurements of dandy Jack,