The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-01-28


river, and thence along the river back to
the fort, enclosing some twenty acres of
ground They had two twelve-pounders
and four six-pounders on their extreme
left, supported by two rows of rifle-pits;
two six-pounders about the center of the
north side, and two twelve-pounders, sup
ported by rife-pits, just on the left of the
fort
In the fort itself, which was star
shaped, with six points, were one eight
inch and one nine-inch Dahlgren guns,
and one ten-inch PARROT gun, in case
mates made of three thicknesses of four
teen-inch white oak timber, plated with
railroad iron, bearing down the river
from two points of the star; and four
twelve Founders, mounted en- bdr6ettc,
occupied the other four points of the
star They had from 4, 800 to 5000 men,
under command of Brig. Gen. Churchill
THE ATTACK
At eight A. NJ. on Saturday morning
we disembarked on the left bank of the
river with the main army. One brigade
and one battery landed on the right
bank, and took position opposite the
fort and across the river from them.
The main army marched up the left
/ bank three miles, and then back from
the river half mile At FIVE PM we
were ordered to take the front and de-
ploy skirmishers to feel where the
enemy were An advance of a quarter
| rebel camps, with one rebel MORALLY
wounded, lying deserted by his friends,
to die alone. Having found the enemy,
we halted for the night, throwing out
one platoon from each company to act
as videttes During the night Co. 4
took fifty prisoners and Co. Z FIVE. We
lay all night in the swamp with our
fires, rebel shot and shell Yhistling about
our ears in a very disagreeable style.
We were soldering, however, and of
se ohhndP ltBBtbaE p5sfdtaoH iqdbrtf
the edge of an open field Immediately
in the rear of the centre of the fort, which
had been the camp of the garrison, but
was now deserted. In half an hour more
we had the rebs completely surrounded.
Our Brigade then advance half mile
! by the left flank, passing Gen. Hovev' 5
/ (of His, Brigade and taking position in
front within 400 yards of the fort a little
scrub underbrush cOncealing US from
view. Shot and shell keeping us well
| livened up, and our skrmishers doing
what they could to worry the enemy, it
was then 10 A NJ, and beautiful dav.
At II NJ, we received orders to be ready
for charge, the artillery having reached
their position opened the ball.
| After three-fourths of an hour of heavy
cannonading the Infantry charge COM
menced on our extreme right: as the
cheers came down the line our bows went
in with will. The first fifty yards was
through the brush which had concealed
US, then came an old field where we sank
over the ankle in mud, l50 yards out in
the field was an old house filled with
sharpshooters, which, together with
heavy cross fire of musketry from right
and left with grape and shell from the II
Founders at the fort Enubarbette
spoken of before) made it too warm for
comfort BY order, we fell back little
and reformed, company Z, going in COM
mand of Corporal and B, under Ser
geant all their officers being disabled.
Lieut. Col. Templeton wounded, Captain
Noble MORALLY wounded and Adiutant
Owen stunned by a she'll for the time be
ing.
Colonel Owen reformed the regiment
in gallant style. and on we went again
within $50 yards of the works, where fall
ling on our faces we lay firing for a short
time then rose again and went forward
for the third time, when 100 yards from
the fort the white flag was run up to the
breeze, the day was ours and cheering
was the order of the day. Our flag was
the second on the works. the 18th Ken
lucky claiming the first though did not
see any other at the time ours was gal
| lantly planted on the peak Of the fort by
Lieut.. Ewing, of company |. When we
reached the fort there was not gun but
was dismounted, two of the seige guns
had the whole muzzle knocked off by shot
from the gunboats, who perfectly rid
died the fort with balls, tearing the case
mates all to pieces. The 10th and 9th
Indiana regiments fought immediately
on our left and alb Y supported US. The
killed and wounded in the 10th is about
60 or 65, ours you will find below, and
will, think, show that we did our duty
| We had only 50O when we went INTO the
charge and reached the fort with Ill.
The 10th had $50 in the first charge
The rebel loss is variously estimated.
l think the total killed will reach $50 and
wounded $50, while ours is about POO
killed and 600 wounded. We captured
all their stores and supplies, camp equip
age, &c Just after they surrendered
the fort, Gen. Coombs, with 1900 or 1000
marched in to reinforce them. They sur
rendered without shot, making our
prisoners number about $500
Where we go next is uncertain and as
speculations are contraband when writ
ten to papers cannot give any opinion.
McClernand is all right, so the boys say,
and when we turn up after another
scrimmage you will hear again. Till