, 1862-04-21

form Of Government, the salvation OF no coun-
try, was sufficient to compensate for such
havoc and such suffering; but as the pa1lid
column moved past q continuous line Of pros-
trate heroes, gashed and torn and SCARED By
every conceivable form Of ghastly wounds,
with firm compressed lip, and an express
sion Of triumph and defiance, modified
by pain, upon their every countenance,
impression gave place to the feeling
that a country and institutions that pro-
duced such heroes Was worth any sacri-
fee to maintain it. The Governor went
through all the wards Of the extensive hospi-
tal, to see that the patients were amply pro-
vided with clean beds, careful nurses and
suitable supplies, and to give to the sick and
wounded inmates a smile Of appreciation,
words Of encouragement and kind assurances
that everything ia his power should be done
to render them as comfortable as their con-
dition would permit His visit Was appreci-
ated by the sufferers, all of whom looked their
gratitude, and many Of whom expressed it by
the most feeling manifestations. Meanwhile,
others Of the party and the surgeons rendered
all the aid in their power to the newly arrived
patients; dressing their wounds and assisting
them to their places in the respective wards.
In the evening most Of the party returned to
Cairo, somewhat saddened by their visit, and
more fully realizing the magnitude and mel
ancholy character Of the duties before them,
The Governor especially seemed thoughtful
and deeply impressed with the weight Of re-
sponsibility resting upon him. EARLY Satur.
doy morning the Black Hawk came to the
wharf, well provieioned and supplied with
hospital stores. Considerable time was, how
ever, occupied in putting on board a large
quantity Of stores that had accumulated at
Cairo consisting Of every conceivable thing
that could be thought of for the comfort and
nourishment Of the sick and wounded, the
prompt and abundant fee-wi1l offerings Of the
noble mothers and daughters Of illinois.
There is nothing that so nerves the arm and
dences Of sympathy and careful remember
;pce BY the people at home. AS the boat was
about to move of, serious eiubarrass-
ment was about to occur; during the
delay, hundreds Of surgeons, fathers, brothers
and friends had arrived, all clamorous to OBJ
was beset with appeals that to his kind heart
were irresistible, snch as, II have son ia
- regiment, and that regiment is cut all to
pieces" II had s son in the fight, and he Is
wounded, and mast go;'' ~ had brother
killed in the battle, and am after his body,''
and so on !; no appeal could be more moving :;
Jet to grant their requests was impossible !;
the party already summoned by the Governor
would fill the boat to its utmost capacity; the
Governor therefore committed the whole nut
ter to Col. Hammond, DR.. McVickar and his
Aids, who By Issuing tickets and placing
the boat out Of port without being over
whe1mcd; though very much crowded,
Nothing Of note occurred on the trip except
meeting two or three boats with canvass
screens upon their guards, and the yellow flag
flying, indicating that they were 1oadcd witt
rived at Fort Henry, when We met boat just
swinging out from the landing, on whose deck
we recognized the honest, cheerful face OF
"unc1e" Jesse E Dubois, on his return from
the battle. field, where he had been to pay a
vieft to his son, Iient. Dubois Of the Regular
Cavalry, who signalized himself in that con
fict. The sight Of IL Uncle Jcsse,n to whom
everybody is q friend, #as the signal for q
roEsIng cheer from our party. WeIaudcd and
made a hasty examination Of the fort. It was
planned With sklll, shows great labor, and is
well protected against assault by stor1ning
party; but is capable Of but little resistance
aguiust heary siege guns. Had Com. Foote
lowed fleet Of bis mortar boats into the
river he might have reduced the fort under
cover Of the island below, without loss OF
enough to permit visit to the hospitals Al
that place, in which were about 1000 wound
ed, who seemed much gladdeued by the visit
and were found in rs good condition as the
| pressing duties Of the present situation would
| permit. Here couple Of Gen. Grants scouts
| adventures, one of which was the taking o'
! s33,0C0 worth Of pork, an account Of which
! was recently in the papers. Monday morning
brought US in sight of the fleet Of boats thai
line the shore at Pittsburg Llnding. As soou
as the boat touched, the writer leaped ashort
and made Immediately for the scene Of ths
late conflict, anxious to hear from the partici
! pants, and to see for bimself what IVES to be
eeen. The camp, which is four miles wide
| ard six miles long, is composed OF regimenta
cam1.s scattered in the woods upon chosel
| POINTS, having reference to drainage and wattl
for use; with regard 10 order or relation tf
nther CAMPS, appearing like succession O
irregular Villages upon the high prints o
sronnd with valleys between. Ishail azte1np
no detailed description If the field or Of TIT
| caft1e-tlls has already been done over aui
oyer-hnt will relate incidents and conmen
ut rancou', as circumstances come to mind.
TnE GENERAL APPEARANCE
| Indicated Il terrible conflict; for miles .Z,:
Trees were kcarred with balls, and u1auy f,o
n diameter, were cut down by cannon shot
| Every thickct sufficiently dense fur Ill am
oash was literally moved down; pitches r
acres had scarce bush uumasked; the mark
| on opposite sides oi the trees showed that tho
| Union troops shot higher than the rebels tht
result was that the rebel killed in 1,repor:lo:
to wounded was much larger taan on our side
TIE GRAVES
OF Union soldiers were casi}y distinguishes
from those Of the rebels, being regular m,
having generally board at the head With th
| nane and humber of regiment and letter q
company thereon; while those of rebels he,
N q and sr17tn tfr1
the earth heaped up much ike hill of cab
baEes in 4 farmers garden. Thus it was cas-
TO see on every part of the field, that the reb
els graves were much the most numerous
l am, however, Of opinion that the wounde'
| arc most NUMEROUS on our side; the rebel
t firing low and using buck-ehot cartridges in
1icted great many ellght wounds; acting uE
on the policy that it Is better to wound q
enemy than to kill him, as dead men need n
attention, whereas 1t takes two OF more t
carry one wounded of the field.
our LOSS.
From the best accounts that I could gathe
from al sources, was say, 1890 Killed, 500
wounded, and :, 500 prisoners; this viii prov
not Ear wrong.
CURIOUS INCIDENTS.
The 61st Illinois was taken comD1ete1y b
surprise, and after forming an imperfect line
and dr1ng one or two rounds, were compelle
to "skedaddlen In hurry, or be taken pris
oners; they had new clothing in camp w1ie
bad not been distributed, which was at one
appropriated, the rebels shedding their bu
teTnut, and donning the blue; and hayin
captured Union fag, went forward, escapio
lire In many instances because Of their colora
, but In the course Of the dag they were O
dered to support a rebel battery, the men
, the battery mistakng them for our men, an
supposing themselves fanked, turned the
guns upon them and nearly annihilated the1
before the error wAs discovered. Thst c1otl
. ing Was we'll sold!
Another incident. One of our ri1ed ba
! teries was suddenly brought into q new pos
tton, when seven rebels fell Into line behind
: tree, one behind the other; the tree II;
, struck by cannon shot which went throue
, the tree and killed all seven Of the men, al
, | they are buried In one pit at the foot Of Il
! tree, and the hole in the trea Ia there to sho
! for itself
! Four soldiers were playing cards IN the
! tents when the attack Waa made aud the fir
shot knocked the cards out Of the fingers
, one of the party, who cursed and said he ",
"cheated out of a d--d good hand"
| MEMENTo HUNTERS
4 we're gathering up what they could find
. take home to make their friends cape vii
Q wonder; canea marked with shot, gun flint
. boH1e.kntvee, balls, cartridges, pelican bu
: tons, &c, sc. By the Way. it Is difficult
!, tel Why the rebels have given up the Ea4
:" and taken the pelican, unless it be that it fl
, sYmboll1e8 their past and future, IN this: til
: the p4icRo has q large sack to earYu Off shot
| stedLs, and q 1Tx&shed 1ack f9 foSrsfado,s 1
= coming jais Of kae rroez zaadesI
II THE GOVERNOR VISITED TIE FIELD,