The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-01-23

front. II would have done your heart good
to see how calamity the Goth advanced un
der terrible fire OF cannon balls, she'll. can
mister, grape, and bullets. Not q man seem
ed excited and not a word was spoken 10
the ranks; but they advanced with steady,
measured tread, and with look OF deter
mnation 10 each countenance, that made my
heart throb with pride as looked at them
r. From ten until two O'Clock, We
did little else than maneuver on the field
sometimes ordered 20 support one battery
then another; then we took position on the
left Of the Division. in column Of Companies
and laid down. By this time, the rebels
had been driven into their Notifications =
While we lay there, Cos. A. aud F. were
ordered up within about 500 yards OF the
Entertainments, to act as sharpshooters and
do the enemy all the damage possible--they
fought hard for two long hours. They lay
behind logs, and were not much injured by
the enemy. Company F. had one killed.
(Joel Locke. of Union City, Eide. Scott
was acting as 9Th Sergeant in Co. F.. and
distip guished himself by attention 10 duty.
GOODNESS and bravery--he is a perfect lion
Mcdowell, Messick, Macknison, and Scarce
of Co. A., also brought themselves into IA
vorable notice. Darkness closed the battle
we had gained ground; but directly in
/ front of US was a chain of hills, from 100 to
/ goo feet in height, and completely covered
with entertainments. A wide, deep bayou
! lay in front Of us, making it necessary TO
lay pontoons, if We ever expected TO cross.
We retired to the right and rear OF our Dl-
vision and slept soundly until daylight. hen
we were awakened by the booming of the
cannon.
The General determined TO lay pontoons
across the bayou, and storm the rebel
stronghold. Accordingly our regiment was
ordered to the front 10 protect the ponton-
iers while they lay the bridge. Captain
Bonebrake was sent forward with his COM
pany as skirmishers-he remained there
about five hours. fighting the enemy all the
time. and entirely redeemng himself The
rebels allowed US to get the pontoons about
half way across. and then opened a terrible
fire Of shot. she'll, and musketry- killing a
great many of the pontoniers and driving
the balance off. They then proceeded to
shell the woods where we lay. and you may
bet the shells flew around US thick. We
lay close to the ground and-let 'em come.
Shells burst all around us--cannon- balls
glanced from tree to tree--tree tops and
limbs came piling down on US, and, from
the way the bullets buzzed around, you
would have thought humble bees nest had
been stirred up. While this was going on,
Gen. Morgan L. Smith was engaging the
enemy half-a mile to our right, and Gen'l
Frank Blair, and Gen'l Cousey. were pre-
pairing for charge on our left. They did
charge and most fearful scene ensued.--
The ground before them which seemed to
be level and fair, was sandy, marshy place
pits had been dug here and there and
covered with weeds and brush, and into
them our brave fellows tumbled; while the
rebels from their masked batteries aDd rifle
pits, opened terrible and destructive fire. /!
Notwithsi an ding all this. our noble fellows
pressed on until they had reached the third
fertilization, when they were completely
routed and repulsed, and came rushing pell ,
nell to the rear. Gen'l Frank Blair led the I
charge, and, at one time was seen upon the .
third fertilization cheering his men on--he
set splendid example to his men. but it
would not win. Our loss in the charge in
killed. and wounded and missing, was about
1000. The battle ragged until ev ening when
lark and a heavy rain closed tit rain
ed all night and the rebels shelled US until
daylight-between rain and shells we pas
sed a delightful eyening.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
nothing was done, excepting little Skin
mishing between pckets; and Thursday
evening, we received orders TO retreat to the
boats. This movement was successfully &C
and on Friday we sailed down
the Yazoo--turned into the Mississippi, and
are now from whence l date this letter-2O
miles north of Vicksburg. Tonight, the
expedition sails Northwardly --I understand
we are going up White River. Arkansas
what for, can't tell.
II is mystery how our regiment escap-
ID so luckily. The following is list of the
killed and wounded of the 69th at the battle
If Vicksburg, Miss, Dec. 28th and goth:
KILLED-Joel Locke, Co. F.
WouNDED.-Lcvi Huff, James c. Smith,
70. E; Geo. Hardin, Co. f; VIM. F. Price,
20. A; Elna,han Cory, Co. G; j. R. Thomp-
ION, Co. B; Frank Kiln Edwards, Co. d; Da-
lid Hobbick, 18th Sergeant, Co. C.; Roland
Clark. Moses Billings, Co. K.
MISSING VIM. Miller. Co. X.
o. The following officers in the seth Reg't
AVE resigned: Lit Col. Stout Capt. Ross, and
It. jackson, Co. d; Lit. Martin, Co. c. 1t. Brat
an, Co. H; 1t. French. Co. E; Capt. Kerr, Co
<; and 1t. Williams, Co. B.
Chaplain Hobbs has made himself very usefu-
n the hospital. Col. Bennett is regular Els
is every where at once
Secesh Material.