Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-04-01
Letter from Lieut.. Nfcho,,o,

Lieut. II. F. Nicholson, Of K,llory. .,
Michigan Cavalry. an foruerl, 4 d.
city, writes from New Madrid, No NJ
10Th, as ElIows:
FRIENDS ZAkLEY:-
Having a few leisure unoments ,b,r..
l would let you know that we Az, Vs.
the land Of the living. Our regimen, !,
taken an active part IN all the skiru;,.;,.
around this town, and companies Eutl
led By the gallant Major Graham. vi, /,
the way, commands the regiment MI,
time, recounoitered the ground tia, =,
batteries occupied the day Of The ssE,-
We were ordered out by him at . CDR
and marched down in the rear Of I, b,-,
brick house, situated 10 a corn h,u vb.,.
our picketr had been stationed ara IA.
teen driven out three times dunur d,
night previous. a party of tee men u.
deT tie command Of a Lieutenant IN
ordered to see what could be di,egys,,;
They had hardly got out Of sight Es,,
a brink are commenced. The balsnss Z
the two companies threw themselyes f-s
their h orses, upsiung their Cs!t's rites a.:
formed ~ line, when cur eoupaIJ VA
ordered TO mount again and Co. " march!
10 the relief uf the skirmishers. vborE,
more "skoart" than hurt. They were So,
called In and from accounts u the fer
tbese WAS battery directly between
and she town, Commanding the grgul, ',
wanted b. occupy.
MalDr Graham then ordered me 70 ,sii
as many men a. saw fit and 20 rcundtoas
right and see what discOveries ! sJs
make. with orders not ere unless tr,.
upon ! picked out eight men Of G.. /
every one being enough 10 whIr twice "a
E1InheT. a. we carry IL shots to the II
We went about mile beE,re finding az
piacs thar we could turn o7, fouzi 3 M
leading the right direction and started I'll
speed tc see what we could find. NsN
up'z what we thought vas :bs grouul -:
checked up-an3 just in time, fJr DOT CIs
twenty rods through brush and IinbT >
the right, we could hear persons iAlEIaf
quite lain, but got cut Of their way. ]
dismouDted two VI nv nen and nysefG.
went on by the side If fence ~ abs;
sixty rods. aud to sac left between Bs ~
where we left the evnpary, we sss
house to which we wen; a0d from Vhia'
about eighty rods to the eight Of u: "
could see the rebel fort and ssop. IbssF
oned to the balance Of the boys Wit -
horses. Not far from the house we r'as
see on the fence the eneDy's sentinel
We then rnturned the way We bad an.
and found the balance Of our eOnrs's
near the place where we had turbs.J
into the timber. ready to render The ss.rF
anee the Major raid we would need II g.
ing the road we did, as he knew i so'H
take me 10 sight Of the enemy's fOrnnsr
tions, but as luck would have it,tbsy siiss
did not see us or else took us for Their on
men. being so near their camp; f0f iia
they had evacuated, went to the ~
ground and found that We bad Dol bs',
over forty rods from their main ioIf y
encampment and at least quarter Of
nearer them than ne hsd Any isisoeSs"
going.
/ worked that night after gstns -
camp plotting trains Of timber and ns,aN
for building pErapets and bresstESip
l also piloted the heavy guns that on
work on to the ground. At.tEelEe. 0sD~
l was released from duty. 80,
Everything was ready by four oeie.
the morning to open the ball, and -
as the first streak Of daylight was 's
the fire opened upon the fort and eonns "a
till ten O'Clock. when Gen. Pope orders !.
batteries to turn their attention 70 ~
rebel gunbosts which had 5eea pF's
away at Us all the time.
At the third shot one Of the rebel g.
was disabled, end by plight TIE sO'~
them were silebced and driven Oh. -,
We walked up in the morning eIpe5
to hear the bail open again, but 49,
could be heard. The enemy heo "a,
and New Madrid was oDrL Inc e.,
army was under arms az day Of
and slept on their arms ct nigeL
fighting was all done BY the artiile'''
Yours, o,cny