The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-17

was IN keeping the regiment below, ex-
oept the gunners; but this required the
utmost energy Of the officers, as the men
were wild TO come on deck, and oven i'm
psored to be landed on shore and charge
on the enemy. Nobody knows anything
about these men who has not seen them
in battle. find that myself knew
nothing. There is a flery energy about
them beyond anything Of which / have
ever read, unless il be the French ZOuAves
Itrequires the strietsst discipline 10 hold
them in hand, During our first attack
on the river, before got them all PEN
ned below, they crowded at the open
ends of the steamer, loading and firing
with inoonceivable rapidity aud shout
ing 10 each other "Never give it up r.
When collected into the bold they aciu-
ally fought each other for places al tho
few PORTFOLIOS from which they could
fire on the enemy.
rably trained by Lieutsnants StOckdAls
and 0'Nsil (both being accomplished ar
tillerists), aud Mr. Heron, of the gunboat,
did their duty without the slightest pro-
lection and with great GOODNESS, amid =
storm Of shot.
"This river expedition was not UNDER
taken in mere bravado. Captain Sears,
United States Army, the contractor OF
Fort Clinch, had urged upon the War
Department 10 endeavor TO obtain large
supply of valuable brick, said to remain
at the brickyards thirty miles up the st.
Mary's, from which Fort Clinch was
originally supplied. The War Depart
ment had referred the matter 10 Colonel
Hawley, who approved my offer TO un-
dertake the enterprise. Apart from this,
il was the desire Of Lieutenant Hughes.
United States Navy, commanding United
States steamer Mohawk, now lying az
FernandiHs, 10 obtain information re-
garding a rebel steamer, the Berosa, said
TO be ying further up the river, awaiting
opportunity to run the blockade. Both
objects were accomplished | brought
away all the bricks, and ascertained
the Berosa to be worthless. have tho
honor to state that have on board The
Ben Dsford two hundred and fifty bars
Of the best new railroad iron, valued at
$1,000, and much needed in this depart
ment. This was obtained in st, Simon's
aud JehYer islands, Georgia, from
abandoned rebel forts, a portion of il
having been previously blown up and
! collected by Captain Sieedman, of the
Paul Jones. have also five large sticks
of valuable yellow pine timber, said TO
be worth seven hundred dollars, whith
came from st. Mary's, Georgia. There
is also quantity of rice, resin, cordage,
oars and other small matters, suitable for
army purposes. On board the John Ad-
ANS there is flock Of twenty Eve sheep
from Woodstock, Florida. Ibave turned
over TO Captain Sears about forty thons-
and large sized bricks, valued at about
ten thousand dollars, in view of the
present aigh freights; have also turned
over to Judge Satla, Civil Provost Marshal
at Fsrnandins, four horses, four steers,
and quantity of agricultural imple-
ments, suitable for Mr.. Helpers opera
tions in that location.
\ l have seen with my own eyes and
left behind for means of transportation,
and because brick was considered even
more valuable, enough of the choicest
southern lumber TO load five steamers like
the Ben Deriord--sn amount estimated
at more than million feet, and probably
worth at Hilton Head City thousand dol
lars. / also left behind, from choice
valuable funiture by the houseful-pia.
nos, china, &o.-all packed up for trans.
portation, as it Was sent inland for safe.
keeping. Not only we're my officers anC
men forbidden to take any of these thingi
for private use, but nothing was tAkeI
for public use save articles strictly con
trAbsnd Of war. No wanton destruction
was permitted, nor were any buildinEl
burned, unless in retaliation for being
fired upon, according to tho usages o
war. OF course no personal outrage wal
permitted or desired.
"At Woodstock l took six malls pris
oners, whom | brought down the river al
hostages, intending to land part Of then
before reaching FerRandinA and releas,
them on parole. But in view Of the fero
cious attacks made upon US from tn,
banks, this would have seemed an alb
surd stretch Of magnanimity, and by th,
advice Of Colonel Hawley / have brough
them for your disposal.
AT the same place we obtained
cannon and fag, which | respectfully
ask permission for the regiment TO retain
We obtained also some trophies OF a diff
fcrent description from a slave Jail
which ] shall offer for your personal &C
ceptance-th sets Of stocks, of differ,
ent structure-the chains and staple
used for combining prisoners 10 the floor
and the key Of the building. They fur
niah good illustrations Of the inferna
barbarism against which we contend.
"We return At the appointed time
though there are many other objoctl
which | wish 10 effect, and our rationi
are not nearly exhausted But the Bel
Deford is crowded with freight and tn
ammunition Of the John Adams is run
ming low. Captain Hallett has been de
voted 10 our interests, ss was also unit
his lamented death, the brave Captain
Clifton. OF the Planter | have hithert'
said nothing, as her worn out machinery
would have made her perfectly valuelesl
but for the labOrious efforts Of Captain
Eldrdge, and her Engineer, MIR. Baker
aided by the unconquerable energy o
Captain TroWbridge, Of Company A
who had the command on board. Thank
10 this, they were enabled during ou
absence up the st. Mary's river, to pal
attention 10 the salt works along th
coast Finding that the works, at King
Bay, formerly destroyed by this regi
ment, had never been rebuilt they pro
ceeded Eve miles up Crooked river, wher,
salt works were seen. Captain TroW
bridge, with Captain Rogers, Of Co. \
and thirty men, then marched two mile
across a marsh, drawing a boat wit
them. and then sailed uD A creek and de