The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-04-02

the other two, and their cries were shnd-
dering in the extreme. Reaching shell
tered place, behind bank, our Briga-
dier General, John Groesbeck, Col. Of
the 3sth, ordered us to lie down, and
thus situated, we we're comparatively safe.
A road leading from town to our rear.
was as yet unguarded, and company K,
under the command of our first Lieut.,
John w. w. Brock, as its officers were
sick, was sent to perform that duty, and
soon after. four more companies, A, F,
D and I, were ordered to the same place,
and during the whole day and night, the
position of this half of the regiment re-
manned unchanged, and the rest of the
brigade also did not move, but they dug a
ditch to protect them during the night.
The caunonading was kept up all day,
with unremitted fury on both sides. and
many are the narrow escapes which are
told 'llohs1 - 81 slsl1o
When night set in, the rain came down
|:r torrents, and the artillery of heaven
rivaled the artillery Of man; but soon, ss
if by common consent, the war of cannon
ceased and the storm king held indisput.
able sway. The lightning was awful. as
it came seething from above, and / ex-
Ipected every moment to have my musket
torn from my grasp, and myself hurled in
to eternity by it. The crashing balls and
Kissing shells, I ever shall remember; but
the recollection of that storm will be the
last thing that will fade from my mind.
y When morning came, We expected re.
newal of the attack; and as we had held
perilous position for "a hours, during
which man was not allowed to move
from his place. for fear of drawing the
enemy's fire, or sleep moment, as an at
tack was constantly expected, the General
gave orders to have US relieved, and the
troops necessary to do it were ordered
from the reserve. but it was needless, the
enemy was gone During the night eve.
rythlng available vas brought into requi-
sition, aud cutting loose the willing Mis-
sissippi carried them, know not whittier.
| IS ysA, The FoRTFIeATI ms. eso,s7
AS soon as the rejoieings, consequent
on the evacuation. had somewhat subsi.
ded, l procured pass from Gen. Groes-
beck to visit the town and forts; and if
were to itell the truth concerning them, nc
one would believe me; but risking my We.
racity for that important commodity,
will approximate. Hss sa- ai 40 s1 80
sd The town is perfect desert, as not a
single house in it has escaped injury, and
more than half of them were either torn
down, or burnt up, by the febels, to give
them range for their cannon; and all or
namental trees, and q large grove. were
cot down for the same purpose, and when
I was there not single inhabitant could
be found 5'sa 2ai nc sae hisidS sao
The fort proper, is formidable affair
being an earth work in the form of q
duadecagon, and was defended by twelve
pivot 80 pound guns, aud two smaller
i pieces, and if brave men had occupied it
thousands could have been held at bay
i A ditch extends around il ten feet deep
and about fifteen wide, and the walls ar,
no less than fourteen feet in thickness, ant
at important places they are far more 1
is situated about one mile below town
and close on the river bank. 1as' ~ .t
The works iE town consisted of fOrti
fed camp, having wall and ditch arount
J it, except on the river side, aud it ough
uud doubtedly to be called Fort Corr, as i
is built wholly 'of that article, shellet
and sacked in common gunny sacks, which
are piled on each other aud covered will
!. sand. The wall is full three quarters o
mile long, and Eve feet high. and 81,
J, thick, aud contains vast amount o
grain. This work was also defended b,
twelve pivot 80 pound guns, besides sew
,Ieral smaller ones, the latter of which wer
J thrown into the river before the place wa
4 deserted.
: 4 Arouad both forts at the distance O
q thirty spaces an ont work is constructed
of brush, cut and placed in with ae top
, out, and very difficult to chamber owe.
i proving very conclusively that the rebel
are bush whsckers, for where they have n
q brush naturally growing they cut an
haul it near enough to look at even,
, they dare not crawl into it and hide &
d With. such forti6cations, not takin
the gun boats into consideration, whic
4 were the most we rsaded, itais a myster
/. to me why they "skedaddied,n when "
only had three guns aud one mortar ths
] daredio9 fire at tlthem, as our field piece
I weregof no account to us True our me
. shdsmounted four of their pieces in tt
}, fort proper and disabled two gun boa
!, iand sank transport steamer but the
disabled one of our guns in the forenoo
g. which was as bad on US. Only one col
9 tclusionl can he drawn, and that is, The
: are towards. v.a ten h,S sH aiaag
4@~ CApruRED Property. -'
: No means are at hand to ascertain IL
d amount of captured property. They lie
] - 81, ia .tl~