The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-04-23
Letter from Ihe Gunbon1 PIrrshurc

Letter from the GunbOaI PIItsburG
Or BOARD THE US. GuNBoAr PIrrsBuRel
March, 1868.
Messrs Editors:
Since my last, we have
seen some stirring lines We have made
another effort TO get in the rear Of the
rebel batteries at Haynes Bluff. but fail
ed entirely in the accomplishment Of our
object. We started from the Yazoo on
the morning Of the 18Th, with fare winds
aud favorable prospects. the feet consist.
ing Of the following named boats: The
COrondolst, Cincinnati, Mound City,
Piusourg and Louisville. with four NOR.
tar boats aud three tugs. "The Corou-
dolst led the way. the others followed
close 10 the rear. Our object was 10 pass
through Sieel's R4you into Black Water
Bayou; thence iuto Deer Creek: thence
Into Rolling Fork: thence into the Sun
flower, and from there to the Yasoo.-
With some slight obstruclious from trees,
logs, brush, &o., we succeeded in getting
alMoSt to the mouth Of the Black Water
Bayou on the evening Of the 18Th.
On tie morning Of the l6th, We again
moved forward, but not far, when il
was thought necessary as precautionary
movement to throw small body Of men
in front to pick up any slragslers that
might be found stroliOg about. also, to
oaptare and hold the men Of the nearest
plantations, 10 prevent them from carry.
ing information 10 the enemy Conss.
quenlly part Of The men formerly com
posing the 59th R4gim.nt 0. V, but
now acting as marines on the various
gunbua.s belonging to The Mississippi
Flotlla. were detailed to accomplish the
the above state! object. We accordingly
moved forward till We came TO Hilr's
plantation. where we found every thing
dessrtei by tie whites, and all left to the
control of the conlraband raco. After
destroying The bridges across the Bayou
ani gaining what infor m4ion we could
Lieu enant W. IL lIuis with ten of his
men from this toat was ordered forward
to lie mex plantation, object, same as be.
fore stated. | with seven mn was left
at the first plantation to guard and ses
that private property was not disturbed.
The latter Of course was most religiously
lived up 10. Here we lay all day on Mon
day, snxion'ly waiting for the boats 10
come up, but obstrnc,ions in the way
prevented their arrival until the morning
Of the 18th. In tie meantime, we had
u0 IatloGs except some corn meal furnish
ed US By conrahand. and an occasional
chicken we picked up while s'roIIing
about the plantation Nevertheless with
all our scarcity OF Government rations,
there was not much danger Of either hun.
ger or starvation, so long as butter. eggs.
ham, chickens, and such like ren aimed
so abundant. After parlaklng of The va
rious ho1pilalies incident 10 II large plan
la'lou, the boats hoved in sight AMI we
were ordered 10 board, which we did =,
feeling reluctant to leave four fat fowls
of the dunghi species cooking. which
was intended for our dinner Abou, noon
Of the 18th we left Iil's plantation and
moved forward up Der Greek. meeting
with 10 distractions except those nature
had placed in the way, On the l8,h we
had not gone far when it became evident
that the rebels were in our front enlcavor
ing to blockade the Creek. soon VIC dis .
covered frees partly chopped down which
they were compelled 10 leave on account
OF our near arrival to them. On the
morning Of the 10Th we soon came to the
fallen timer, We also found the enemy
were concentrating their troops in our
front, and were at work vigorously to op
pose our entrance into the Sunh Jwer.-
We did not proceed lar until the marines
were again ordered on shore. taking with
them u sufficient number Of sailors 10
man two twelve pound Dshlgren H,wit-
ger, which We intended to uss against the
enemy. We marched forward until we
arrived at mound about forty feet above
the level OF the suria,o, on this We
mounted our How:z'rs. and pracesdcd
to she'll the surrounding country in the
dlreatioa we expected the enemy 10 come
After shelliNg some TIM. AMI elictiug
no resp 'hsr from the enemy, wa changed
position again, moving forward this time
10 Rolling FOX. llrrs we again sheled
the woods, also destroyed two bridges
one across Deer Cree, AID the other ovel
Rolling Fork Arler this was accom-
p'ishtd, we saw a man coming down the
= road waving a white handkerchief as
oxen Of submission, After bo approach
cd within II short distance, AMI SAW we
did not inend TO harm him, he put his
handkerchief in his hat and came up ,c
the officers and men who by this time haC
collected on the bridge to sse him. W.
saw Mr.. VIM Brown, (for that was the
ganleman's pame( aud one or two othe,
individuals viewing our position from II
porlico, and taking them TO hs the enemy
we commenced Smelling his hous., and he
had co ne up to ask for protection, Thi,
Mr. Brown was wealthy planter, an,
sal J 10 be q member, Of tho Mississippi
Legislature.
, The most interesting portion of my
story yet remains to be told. On III,
morning of the Goth. We were again sen,
1 4 /.