Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-07-24

as II possibly could bo The men having been
out since g O'Clock A. NJ were perfectly worn
out. ! saw y. s. steamer Herald, and found it.
vacant-took my battalion in for shelter, and
started back 10 report to the commanding Goncr.
al, who ordered me to take my men out again, as
that steamer was intended for the LIT Brigade.
told him it was uion ! o'clock A. NJ, and nv
men worn ont and we're then resting their fuignrd
limbs that | would not undertake 10 remove
them. | must, however, here state that the Gen
cral commanding our brigade, General Ferry,
acted the perfect gentleman with me, but can.
not say that for his Transportation or Quarter
Master, Capt Dcrbin, who being raised from
poor boy and acting Commissary Sergeant, to a
Quarter Master forgcts he ever was poor and
looks with perfect contempt On soldier who
docs otbclong to his staff We left Alexander
on the morning of the 30th, and taking in tow the
barge Delaware, we had splendid ride on the
beautiful waters of the Potomac ard Chesapeake
so delightful was it 10 the boys that they were
perfectly jubilont and forgot they ever had hard
times before. Singing and spcaking-yca, even
dancing were the ruling features of the day.
They did not feel as though there was any danger
ahead. but relying on the old scriptural adage,
"sufcient unto the day is the evil thereof"
The evil came, and in its most terrific form.
About IL O'Clock that night the sea became very
rough, and the Captain of our steamer found it
necessary to change the Barge from larboard to
stern; the shifting Of which was a very hard un.
dertaking, owing to the roughness of the sea and
the utter helplessness of the barge, but finally
il was accomplished, and still it c,ntinucd very
severe, and with crack the cables attaching the
barge to the steamer broke and set her adrirt.
Furiously She dritd from US, managed by the
mving waves onl , and with crack only equal.
ed by the shrieks of the men, her upper deck gave
way, and coming down heavily on the lower deck
and beaming, or rather hanging about half way
over the starboard side, in the act of falling
crushed four men severely, and drowning proba.
bly, as many more, killing five horses and crush.
ing her last hope, the rudder. For an hour and
half did we attempt to come near or aside the
Old rotten tub, but to no purpose; and whenever
we got near enough we could hear the amentinc.
shrcking and praying voices of the poor BOYS.
excIaiming ''savc us, we are sinking" &C., and
we all feared they would have to 20 before we
could save them. The old barge occasionly 60.
ing from stem to stern as if turning back sum.
mcrsauIt and again looking as though she was 20.
ing from larboard to starboard, but on the whole
sure to go to destruction.
! The feelings as depicted upon the face of every
one on the Herald, cannot be described, much
less the horrors of those on the old barge
Finally, our Captain succeeded in running our
steamer along side of the i'll lated vessel, when
as the waves rushed her against our vessel the
boysjumpcd on board of the steamer, in this way
succeeded in getting all of them safely on board
Col. Noris. who was with the boys, in his usually
cool. brave and courageous manner counscng
and consoling them, was the last man to leave
the il-iatcd barge. After tour of six hours we
reached Fortress Monroe
/, Never before did Uncle Sam appear to me to be
SO gigantic as he did when Ibchcid Fortress Mon
roe. The hundreds of steamers and vessels for
war and commerce, foreign men -of-war represent.
Ing all nations, the ordnance stores, qua, ,termas
tcrs supplies, the throng Of the many people, and
the powerful, magnificent and prcgnegable Forts
far exceeded anything | ever expected to see
We stopped at this place four hours to give the
boys chance to cook throo days rations.
We left the Fort about O'Clock 2. Nj. Tho
weather being beautiful we had a pleasant even
ing. We passed the Rip Raps, Sewell's Point,
and the wreck of the Congress, aud also that of
the Cambrdand, which was 50 gallantly defend
cd by her brave Captain, who would not surren-
der even to the late monster Mcrrimac, choosing
rather to go down with the gallant ship while the
glorious old flag was flying at the mast head
We anchored last night near Newport News
t and we are now travelling on the Jane, River
, under protection of the gunboats for City Point
! where We will be attached toMcClcllan's grant
Y ARMY think the left wing.
/ The most of ourboys lost their kuapsacks, liav
=. ersacks, guns and ammunition; many escaping witt
nothing but their pants.
am writing this while sitting on II wa,er bar.
rel and crowded by good many, but hope aud
trust it will soon reach you, as u Mr.. Barklcy
, from Philadelphia volunteered to take it along
If, after reading it you will show it to my trient
Estill and he sees fit to publish it, he may do so
Neither myself nor any OF my boys lost on,
cents worth. They are all well and in goo,
spirits. We left old Henry Eut and Samue
Townsend in the hospital in Alexandria, not be
ing very WE'LL
Give my love to all my friends, and tell then
! feel all right. kiss the children for me, an
t give my love to mother and brother, and res
assured | am all right. God bless YOU and TIN
family, and let us trust that with the kindness o
: Providence, may be permitted after doing m
duty for my country to live in peace with all 0
= you. MARCUS.
Lieut.. Chapman, Authcnrcith, Skclly. Mid
daugh, and Peter Lizer joined us at Fortrcs
u Monroe by the steamer Kent.