Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-12
LETTER FROM MIssOURI.
CAMP SEAR NBw MADRID,
.NEw Madrid Co., Mo-, Marchlb.

Alter taking short run down nome on
recruiting business returned to Camp on
the 18th Of February. The morning OF the
21st we received orders to pack up aud
hold ourselves in readiness to move at i've
o'clock P. II. Aud at that hour we left
Camp Andrews for Paducah, KY. We arr
rived at Cincinnati Rtteight o'clock P. NJ,
on the 22ud, and marched aboard the
steamer Telegraph, No. 8. She held our
regiment very comfortably, and our COM
pany was one of the lucky ones, getting
quarters in the Cabin. We left Cincinnati
about noon on Sunday the 23rd, steaming
down the river at the rate OF twenty miles
an hour, making the run to Louisville in
seven hours, and after short stay at that
point we again started. After running
about three hours we encountered very
severe storm, which tossed US about at its
mercy for some time, when the crew sue
ceeded in landing her and We laid by until
daylight, when we started again and ar
rived at Paducah at twelve o'clock that
night. We all supposed we would go no
farther on the Telegraph but we were dis
appointed. Orders were received to report
at Cairo, SO we steamed away for Cairo,
arriving there at daybreAk aud stopped all
day. By hard work and sharp lodging
managed to get ashore, to take a look at
the Notifications, gun boats and other
sights. They have been described so often
that anything could say would be SUPER
fluous.
boarded two boats of wounded men
from Fort Donelson, who were going to
the hospitals at Cincinnati. Among them
met an old acquaintance, Mr.. Robert Hall,
of Bridgeport. He was wounded by a
fragment of shell in the shoulder. then
visited the steamer Florence, loaded with
ell IL
They were from Alabama and Mississippi.
They all said they were opposed to the war
at first, but after 1t was commenced they
WOul6 fight as long as any other Southern
men. None however could tell what they
were fighting for. And all acknowledged
President Lincoln to be a far more con-
sentative man than they supposed.
AT Cairo we received orders to go TO
Commerce, and report TO Gen. Pope. We
left Cairo at sunset Tuesday evening and
steamed up the Mississippi. Arrived at
Commerce at nine o'clock that night !;
stayed about the boat until morning, when
we disembarked and started for camp, three
miles from the town (if these few strag-
ling huts deserve the nancy. We cleared
out camp in the woods and prepared to
take short rest after our long ride.
Thursday evening we was ordered to
cook ratious for three days and be ready
for the march Mt eight O'Clock in the NOR
ming. All was hustle and excitement and
the rnmor that we was bound to New
Madrid to cut off the retreat of the rebels
from Columbus, caused the boys to shout
for joy. At eight o'clock Friday morning
we were out in line rsIly 10: the march.
After getting our train of wagons in order
we got started aud marched fifteen miles,
and camped on the banks of ST. Johns lake
where JEFF. Thompson had three pieces of
artillery planted to sweep the bridge and cor
duroy roads, but a detachment of cavalry
from Birds Point, was coming up in his
rear, aud he getting wind of the same beat
hasty retreat; our cavalry was so close at
his heels that TO save his bacon he aban-
doned his artillery. We took five pris-
oners, killed one aud wounded one. This
is the last we saw or heard of the valiant
JEFF. The next day we marched twelve
miles and camped at the village of Sykes
willie, on the Cairo s Fulton railroad.
The country is very-low aud level, and
in many places swampy. The land APP
peared to be good, however, and produces
well where it is farmed; but thus fur farms
are few and far between. This night we
were visited by violent showers of rain, ac-
companied by thunder and lightning. The
rain flooded our tents, and wet us TO the
miles, and camped in better country than
any have yet seen. The roads were in a
wretched condition from the nights rain,
and the men were ordered to leave their
knapsackS, take one blanket, one pair of
socks, and push forward. In the night it
turned very cold, and froze the roads hard
enough to bear our artillery aud cavalry.
We were only eleven miles from New Mad
rid. We were up bright and early, cooked
one days rations and started, traversing a
beautiful country having but one draw
back-th0 curse of slavery, which makes
farms large and population sparse.
We arrived 10 vicinity of the enemy,
formed in line of battle aud advanced on
the town. When within about mile and
half of the town, the rebels opened the
ball by sending us thirty-two pound
shell from rifed gun. We adcanced a
half mile further and halted. Our artillery
got into position and shelled the town and
vicinity to unmask any batteries, but found
none; but we found something that both
cred us great deal more We found
three gunboats armed with heavy guns,
which dropped tho shot and shell around
us pretty thick. The men of our regiment
kept as cool as if they had been on drill.
All praised our good conduct. We held
our position until near night, when we
!su oack analcamped, having no artillery
heavy enough to cope with their boats
Yesterday We LAID by all day. In the eve-
ming Col. Smith notified Capt. Poorman
that his company was detailed for special
duty. At ten o'clock we formed Co.'S A.
B, o, and D, ofthe 43d Ohio, and one com
pany of the LIST Regulars, Capt. Spoons
battery and two companies of cavairy.-
We marched to within short distance of
the town. The Regulars and Co. A were
thrown forward as skirmishers. We then
formed in line of battle and advanced, the
battery and cavalry in the rear. When
within a short distance of the town their
pickets fred on our skirmishers, which
was promptly returned, and they were
driven in. We halted ON the outskirts.
while our battery got into position and
played on the town for q few minutes,
when the gunboats again opened on us.-
The stiffness of the night was broken, and
the darkness lit, by the burning fuses aud
he IL - II. u n