Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-03-13


that they had TO lay up till morning; but
we reached Dover at 8 O'Clock, A NJ 1t
was clear, and a regular June day to us
from Indiana. On going to headquarters
we found that our regiment was at Padu-
cab and net at Donelson, nor had il been
there. but we could not get started back un-
I'll night. so the most oil rs took walk
over the battle ground. The situation of
the Fort is about mile below the town /;
the river there takes short turn to the east
and the town, fort. and battle field are on
the south side. The north side is level
timber land. but on the south side there is
range after range of steep clay hills. COW
cred with grubs and scrub oaks. The hill
on which the fort stands is steep. and in a
good position to command the river
They had cleared everything out of the
way. and dug pits On the side of the hill,
and placed tier after tier Of guns command
ing the river.
Then they had cleared the first range OF
hills fsom the Fort around the town to the
river. and thrown up rifle pits the whole
length Of the line. making in all. about six
miles of line that our men had to attack
Beyond the trenches the hill sloped down
into deep ravine. then ridges Of hills on
the other side. They had cut the grubs on
the side Of the hill facing our men, about
waist high, and let them lay all over the
ground; so that sith their rifle pits and ar
tillery it is wonder that our men took
them as they did. All over the field were
sights to show that there is reality in
war. The dead anil wounded had been re.
moved IRON the field, but on all sides lay
dead horses. harness. canteens. knapsacks.
clothes. shot, fragments of shells. grape
shot. broken muskets. and crippled cannon
The trees. the graves of the fallen, and oil
went to prove in unmistakable terms that
the conflict had been hard one, and that
the victory was the result Of deeds OF valor
and bravery not often excelled. AS to the
number Of the killed and wounded, I could
find out nothing to any certainty. bnt /
was told by men who were there that they
thought it was greater than reported in the
papers.
On the same boat on which we returned
were some two hundred sick and wounded
being taken to Paducah and Mound City
hospitals. We left Dover about shutdown,
Sunday evening. ran down FIVE miles and
were obliged to lay by till morning. and
reached Paducah q, four o'clock next day,
Feb oath. ~.
The country up the Cumberland is a
good specimen of the 'shiftlessness" and
lack of enterprise engendered by the do
mestic institutions of the South. l dill
not see bat about three farms with good
houses after leaving the Ohio. and only one
barn and four or FIVE orchards; the rest
were cabins on an equality with the poor
est in Masshall County, with small patch
es cleared up to raise little tobacco and
corn on,-and that on the bauks Of nav
igable river where they could ship their
produce, and where northern man would
grow rich emitting cord-wood
l found the boys in tolerably good health.
and good spirits. although the measels have
made bad work since they left. There
have been seven deaths in our Regiment.
three from our Company. Bear and Ken
nedy. from Laporte county. and Makum.
from Marshall; the rest did not know
None oil cur men are sick now, the most
they suffer with are bad colds. AS to my
health. it is 6rst-rate; made the whole
trip without even taking cold to amount
to anything, and We are qnartered t;p-top.
our company and three others are quarter
ed in the fort to guard it; two other COM
panies are quartered in town to guard sup
plies, the rest are in camp. and it is rumor-
ell that they are to be sent to Fort Colum.
bus to hold it. found John Patten here,
and as | told you. D. G. Lsrue is here.
private in Co. A.
The Fort is in a very pleasan. situation
II is large, four story brick building.
built for Marine Hospital. We are
quartered on the third floor; the rooms are
large and airy. The weather is delight
full. such as we usually have in My up in
ibid not want to write until iounl the
boys. 50 yoa will MT get thi, as so,n as
You expected, but hope it is long enough
to make up. Write soon. Direct to Co.
q, Paducah, Ky. 1851
Evacuation of Cockpit Point by the Rep
els, and Occupation by our Troops.
WAsHIxGroN, March 9.-The Stars and