Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-09-26

leller lOf puDlcatlOn. 1t may, perhaps,
relieve the anXietics of some interested
friends of the soldiers
BATTLE FIELD NEAR Potomac.
Sep. IL 1862
DEAR FATHER:
Yesterday we were engaged
with the rebel force, within four miles of the
Potomac nearly all our force participated
The First Delaware Regiment went in eight
hundred strong and is almost annihlatcd--
Captains Watson, Richards, and Leonard
were killed. The Colonel had his horse shot
from under him, The Lieutenant Colonel
was wounded. | have been busily engaged
night and day, and feel very much atigued
have had no sleep for three nights. Yes
terday's was terrible battle. we attacked
them with an immense force, and drove them
by night, over one mile. | was on the field
most OF the day attending to our brave Della
ware boys.
0ur coors were charged ON three times
and captured, when Major Smith and Lieut..
Tanner, with one company of men, charged
down the hill and reeapturcd them. Tanner
is safe. Both Of the McCoy boys are wnnnd.
ed, the smallest one is wounded IN both
hands several others from around Red CLAY
Creek, one by the name Of Curry, who lived
with W iliam Martin We have M insult
cency of surgeons. DR. Maui and myself
have hospital berth, with five hundred
wounded men, and no one hut ourselves to
attend to them. Every farm house here is
occupied, aud there ara hundreds lying out
in the open fields and harnyartls, with no
nurses 10 attend To their wants
To-day the engagement will he renewed
Large rrininrcements are constantly coming
mp, and we expect to-day to drive them oyer
the Potomac We occupy Il very impreg-
nable position, with an immense amount Of
artillery.
Send some of our physicians on here far
u short time, for there is plenty Of work be
fore us All our Delaware Regiments were
yesterday engaged we took one whole Br-
gade Of rebels. Ina few days ! will wrilp
yon loug account Of the engagement
Your ullectionate SON
j. W, McC.
FoRT DELAWARE AND ITS OcCupANrs.
Many improvements have recently taken
ilace at this spot, the existence of which
was hardly known before the breaking ont
of the rebellion. Delaware Island, or the
Peapatch, originally Il sand beach, over
which swept the tide to the depth Of six
feet, but now reclaimed by means Of a
dyke, is just iorty-siX miles below Phila-
delphia. Opposite, to the west, is Della.
ware City, Del, the breadth of water one
mile and Il halt. 10 the east is Salem. n
D., one mile and quarter. The form of
the island is oval, its extent one-lourth of
mile and its breadth some 200 wards.
containing an area of $50 acres Some
portion is devoted to Grass, on gardening,
by the resident lahorcrs. Two bitches sur
round the fort at unequal distances. The
use OF one Is to prevent an assault by seal
ing ladders, and the other to facilitate flood
ing the island and the interior of the fort
which may be submerged, in ease OF bonn
bardment, four feet. The fortress is a
pentagon in figure, the length of whose
sides are unequal, A mont tlrawbridge
surrounds the walls, aud bastion strength
ems each angle on the parapct Of which is
mounted u 10 inch colrmbiad But two
sides OF the fort are itsemtcd--only the
tianks of the three others being used for
ordnance. These two, however, command
the ship channel Of the river The width
Of the moat is 80 feet, and its depth six
feet. The wall is Is feet in height and
nine feet thick-that is, four feet of solid
granite drought from the State of Milne. y
and five feet brick, estimating the case
mates at five feet solid Three lines OF
forts are seen, but the upper ones are mock,
making, with the barbette pieces, three
lines of batteries. The parapct guns are
/ til and Is Founders, = and 10 inch old
4 pattern. The eascnglteS, II Founders and
- pound howitlors-thc howitzers in the
flank casematcs. The number of Guns now
in the fort RANGES some l6 its complement
lG5. Three sides Of the interior Of the
fort are beitTg built up with brick quarters,
bnmb-proof roofing, for garrison purposes
and will he finished by Christmas. Tcr
feet of pavement is intended to be laid
around the inside, and when all is compile.
ted every necessary of comfort will bt
found to have been embodied in thes,
quarters. The area Of the ground upon
which stands the fort comprises one acre
and half Outside the walls are wonder
barracks, capable of quartering 1000
troops; 900 men is supposed to be til,
maximum garrison of the fort itself Be
sides the structure advorted 10, there an,
eleven wooden buildings now ussd as resi-.
dences by the officers and laborers at iii,
post suffers store, carpenter, blacksmith
and wagon shop, stables, boat Sheds Sc
Two wharvcs are also constructed one ol
the east and the other on the west side u
the island. Huge piles of rough and hewr
granite are piled around the fort outsid,
the moat, but their use is at present un
known.
The commandant Of the fort is Maio
Burton, 3d u. s Artillery. The place i
now used AS drill station and prison fo
rebels and deserters. There are ut present
five companies of artillery and II small de
tachment of regulars stationed at the fort
Press.
BITTEN BY A DoG.-'rhe Mossenee
says The son of Coulter Hart, RESIDING
near Georgetown, was severely bitten b,
a vicious dog belonging TO A. p. Robin
son, Esq, of that place, ON Thursda,
morning week last, The little fellow wa
passing the house with basket of egg
In his hand when attacked His erie
failed to bring him assistance before tn,
dog had made very severe wound in hi
leg and another on the shoulder Th
dog was killed.
lIoMIcIDE-rhe Georgetown Messen
ger, says We learn that man nameC
Thomas lIoskins, who keeps n disreputa
bic house in Milford, shot John Bennett
commonly called Pier John Bennett ol
Monday night last about 10 O'Clock, kill
d / it,.a