Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-10-24


From the sth Regiment.
corrsspondence 81 tho Bclioss Falls Times.
Nrw ORLEANS, Ia, Sept. 80, 'G2.
FRIEND SWAIN 81 intended to have
written you sonutime ago, but being absent
from my regiment, WAS unable to learn all
the facts relative to the late surrender OF
our forces at Bayou Des Allemans, thirty
two miles from Algeirs. My letter may
be anticipated, howev,r, win write few
lines.
On the 4,h inst. companies f, X and G.,
were stationed at the above named place,
near which it was known that band of
guerrillas were copyrighted. A train OF
cars with provision, Nc, was sent up from
day TO day. On the morning of the 4lh,
Col. Thomas ordered the train which was
always kelt in readiness for any emergen-
cy at the Bayou, topreceed with a detail OF
80 men and one cannon, down the road to
meet and protect The up train. According
" Capt Clark. with the above detail started,
little expecting TO meet an enemy. The
train as usual slackened speed for the pur-
pose of supplying the engine with wood
and water at Bootee Station s miles this
side Of the Bayou.
As the train came in, force Of several
hundred gueIrillas, concealed in the wood
sheds, cane brakes, and behind fences sud-
denly poured deadly volley of musketry
upon our men, exposed on platform cars
The first discharge killed or wounded every
man in charge Of the gun, beside several
others.
A private in Co. X, who was on the for
ward car discovered that the rebels had
turned the SWITCH so that the train would ruf
off on a side track and that the destruction
of the train would beineyitable. With ex
traordinary cooness and presence of mind
be jumped from the car and tuned The
switch to its proper position; receiving sew
SEal StNtlG hOhihs al VIC 90 HO iaAitS' 4 ~
brave soldier has the satisfaction of know
ing that he saved the entire train from fall
ing into the hands Of the suerril!as, and il
all human probabilities the expected "
train, which undoubtedly would have beer
served the same way, had they succeeded
in capturing the down train. Before tn
train got out Of their reach, the guerrilla
succeeded 10 either killing or wounding al
but Is of our men. Capt. Clark met HI
up train a few miles below, and all returne'
to Algi'rs.
The conduct of the enemy after the es
cape OF the train, we gather fiom severa
of our boys who were wounded and fel
| from the cars and were captured by tn
rebels and retaken next day by the Indian
boys. They report that the guerrillas wer
awfully chagrined TO find that the trai
had escaped and that their plan of captnl
ing both trains had failed. Their ne,
move MAS for the Bayou. They reache
the above paC at 4 p. m, and sent ini
our lines under flag of truce, demar
for the unconditional surrender of all Il
, United States forces at The Bayou. Cap
Hall who was IN command, immediate
called the officers together, and it was d
!, cided at once TO fight. But after more III
ture deliberation, knowing that the ira
had been captured for almost certaint
and that the gun would be brought to be-
] upon them, and further, that all commur
e cation was cut oil Norlh--no prospects
relief-very reluctantly consented to So
{ render.
8 Several men, including Lieut.. Mors
concluded not to surrender and accordin
, ly took 10 the swamp, and all arrived sa
4 in camp after enduring many hardship
4 with nothing TO cat. Lieut.. Morse hs
i been sick with fever for some days, al
:. escaped without any coat hat or boots.
f was truly pitful sight 10 see the poor e
4 low after he arrived in camp. His &c
were so bruised and swollen dlat you cou
hardly call Il EN- feet. lie was sixty hou
Y without food CT sleep, and it is astonishil
il how he, a sick man just out of bed, cou
r have accomplished such almost insurmour
e able difficulties. ] wish our army was cor
posed Of sLch men as Lieut., Morse, this r
. beliion would soon be among the things tn
were.
+ The weather is iine, troops healthy, al
) everything quiet Just now. | am, &c,
> +. d. B.
> There are no less than ninety five diff,