Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-03-25

in his haversack to the company generally much
to his dissatisfaction.
A gun in the hands Of u member of the 2'th
was struck and bent at right angles. Shell fire.
Iuently burst so near that exploding would |
cover with dirt twenty men. Gems Pope and
stanley rode down and Witnessed Tor u time the
firing, and they remarked that 1t was miracle
hat 50 few were killed or wounded. One round
hot from the enemy struck one Of our large
.uns ON the muaale and knocked piece out oi
It six inches long, uniting it for further service.
At the same time killing two incn mud wound'ng
tW0 ur three more. the boys. tnWHrl evening,
got tired oi lying HAT; aud if the firing ceased
for a moment every fellow would jump np aud
yell as to he heard II mile.
The day was delightful, the warm Spring air,
the first fruits of mother earth in sweet Spring
flowers opening their buds amid the green lrass
blades But as uight approached the sun sank
in the red horizon, aud before midnight there
came on most terrific thunder Storm The
lightning blinded you by ils brightness and left
you bewildered, while lhe thunder put to
blush the puny columbals that had hll day
Jared upon our enf- Amid this storm our men
stood To their pusts, and moved still nearer to
their enemies Amid the same storm, while
Jupiter hurled his lhnnIerbolts with such fury
the evacuation Of fort AMI barracks took place
for 10 AS daylight appeared, not au enemy was
seen upon the works Our flag was soon floating
At both forts, and AS write the sound comes to
from band with "llal Columbia" and
yankee Doodle, while the boys catch the song,
and loud prolonged cheering is taken up camp
by camp.
Geu. Pope and stall road oyr, the ground this
morning, and were astoulsh,d at the great
strength of the works aud lhs plendd prize OF
guns aud ammunition left behind Eighteen -
pound guns were upon the walls spikei-so
hastily was it done that Yankee ingenuity ia a
| lew hours removed sixteen Of the spikts, and
/ turLrl their grinung months 10 look for gun
boats fum Island NJ. 10 There was II large
stock ut ammunition Of every kind .ahres, guns,
4 clothing, cooking ulcnsil4. sIpprrs on the table
not eaten, whole huskes ui champaign aud claret
nnopened-wagons, 800 horses and mule, and
/ tents 10 accommodate G,Uuu men-lpli standing
uue side ii the iuris WAS hllei IN by sacks oi
shelled coli- enough to make mush tor all
Ireland ior one yeur Many hue pieces Of light
/ artillery were tunl'ri over the banks
l'erncks have hsen rifrei ant We will raise
! most oi Them 10 morrow Sc g0t u large mum
Der Of llPs which belonged Ia the various reRi-
nent'. But III the great haste in which am
compelled to write you thi-, oauuot rnter into
detail suffice it iu sny. il is a rich haul They
! have suffered to the tune ol f5OO, ,uuU Al a yery
low estimate. Besides, hy their avn hands the
town, very pretty one has heen laid waste
/ Whenever building mlerletcl with their guns,
! IT WAS ioIlhwlh burned. The shruhheiy and
forest trees were cut Tor like reason
Two men were found asleep ia the fort this
morning, not knowing Their friends had during
the night, lett for Dixie. They, you may Judge,
we're "A couple OF astonlshed individuals A
canoe load likewise came up 10 The wharf and
llnded, teduP their boat, and we're lnmbfouuird
that Of all the gay chyalry they left the evening
before, not knight remained. The dwellings
were all vacated negroes and all, save and *
cept the dogs. The Inst named trisiltd up and
harket, and snorted At you from under ruin OF
porch nnd from kennel where SO lately they had
been petted and fed What ruin and desoia,iou
these men are bring on their loveicst and most
fertile spots. This is one of the wealthiesl
| counties in the State.
The houses in the suburbs are, many of them,
elegant, and spendidly fitted up Their parlors
with fine pianos and rosewood anu mahogany
furniture all lett The lresJc around which so
many toni lerolltctuns cluster, desl,ate An
/ these luxuries aud cJminrts, ami the mnlIlplled
/ blessings that have crowned their lives were
accumulated AMI eijoyed under the old Tag hut
they wished simply 10 wipe ont some Of the stars
anu lew OF the bars. and possible they have got
wiped out instead. Well, they shot nt me several
times, aud am not much IN d mood Ia nit, them
Well, II isa great victory, aud shows ny much
generalship as III any battle yet fought. Gen
Pope cauld have nkeH the ioii the first day Of
his arrival; but he told his officers "it would he
al II socriiice Of 000 Of my men. but, sayr he.
"l will take it and lose but few. My cunso enee
will not permit ne to sacrifice uselessly the lives
oi the men entrusted To me- "
lie sent messenger to Cairo for larger guns,
aud in Ihirty-four hours after they were loaded
at Cairo, they were playing upon the forts at
New Aladrid, behind safe breast-wolks, which
the enemy never dreamed were built under their
very noses, To rash General, desrous Of
glory, this was strong iuiucemen. to go in and
win the laurels The Generals rrply to some Of
the anxious officers; "Gentemen, YOU sbnll
have the fort hut my conscience will bot permit
ine to uselessy sacrifice the lives Of NV men. -
gives an insight into what call true Geueral.
chip, aud really requires more bravery to carry
It out than the man who, for fear Of puhic
opinion, or desiron- to make a name, rushes
headlong al the first sight OF bis adversary. But
what puzzles many was, how lour guns Of a
pounds could take two forts, wIl eighteen -.
Founders. and five or siz guuh,st, in the bargain.
But il hus been done