The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-04-23
uns. Then commenced system Of bush.

guns. Then commenced system Of bush.
whacking which confess ] am unable to
describe. The enemy's sbArpshoOters
were on the alert. They kept their balls
whisteling about our ears. striking the
smOkestscks aud other portions OF the
boats almost continually. Occasional y
the rehel batteries would open upon US,
but few we'll directed shots from the
gunbOats would soon silence Them again.
So it continued until evening OF the 2lst,
when all hands commenced q retrogrsde
movement. During the night Of the 2lsI
we backed down some Two or three miles,
a $50 The mariGes were again cent a shore,
and came down the creek FIVE or six miles
to prev'nt the rebels from blorkadeing
US in the rear. The alarm was several
times sounded during tie hight, and the
men aroused from their sumbers and or.
dered 10 prepare to resist cavalry, vet to
our mouiicsli IN W. were compelled 10
return 10 the boats without having an
opportunity to display our beroIsm. Do
not understand me that our reconnaissance
on the night of tue 2lst was Of no effect.
After We had passed down the creek A OF
fiya miles, we distinctly heard sounds Of
tho axrmen who WIRE husily engaged
chopping timber across the creek in our
rear. But our near appIoarh to them,
(rebel cavalry for that is what they proved
be) they broke and fed as if lher e'ernsl
happiness or woe depended OIL Ih4 swift
Ness Of their retreat. On the morning of
the 20 the rebels again opeued th-ir bat.
leries on the Corondolet and Cincinnati.
the boats replying in the most vigorous
manner. Alter three quarters Of an hour
in"essanI firing, the r, bel arteries were
again silenced, and peaYe and qoietude
was restored Oh the borders DerrCreck
However our peace was Of short dulaton.
The rebel sharpsh from concealed
places. were endeavorug to pick off the
men on deck, or lhos, who in any wise
became expose This continued without
intermission unIil between three aud four
O'Clock P. NJ. when the rebels Agaiu open.
ed their batteries at distance OF about
one thousand yards, their guns being fred
with more precision than usual, one shot
aking effect in The tug morally wounds
ing the engineer. another striking smoks,
stacks of tie Pittsburg, but doing no
oIler injury. We immed ;atcIy repaired
10 quarters and commenced sIeling the
r-be!s, wtei we soon silenced their guns.
The officers Of my company and men and
all the navy officers Of this flert aeled with
determination and courage. Glschsrg ny
heir duties with promptness aud fidelity.
By time The isbel batteries were again
sIonced, Wa rec ived the joyful intcIh
gencr that portion of our land forces
had arrived from Youug's Point, which
grsa ly relieved the anxiety of the weary
sailors and marines belonging to he gun
boat fleet Nevertheless the marines and
\ portion Of the sailors with their howit.
z r were again sent shore to act in on
cert with The soldiers Duriog The night
the alarm Was frequently sounded AMI we
were aroused from our sleeping posture,
and ready to prepare to resist cavalry,
nevertheless The sece.h did MOI attempt
charge for fear the Yankees might give
hem some blue pills, for which purpose
we had COLLECTED a fine lot.
A little after sundovn wa heard some
one calling to Captain Jemison iIom b..
hind n cotton gin to reliave him, consc.
quently some Of the soldiers marched up,
an u who should they find bu. a socesh
Lieutenant ard 2 privates who had been
CONCEALED there as sharpshooters. This
secesh Lieutenant no doubt felt anexiety
70 be relieved. but little did he dream that
he would be relieved 10 the manner he
was. Oar boys marched up as if they
were going TO post some men In his stead
and when they had got fully before them
with pieces ready cooked and prim. d,
they gave the orders to stack arms, switch
WAS reluctantly obey by the secesh gentry
During all this TINA the boats were grad
uaIlY backing down, not being able 10
move with rapidly owing to the ohslruc.
ton in the way After this nothing of
importance occurred during our trip, ex.
cept The arrival Of General Sherman, with
ak or eight regiments of infantry from
Youngs Point. Lat it be said TO the
credit Of all concerned, that the men OF
this expedition displayed a zaal and cool
n ss seldom oQnSlled. and never surpass'
I'd by any body Of meu placed in simi
lar situation. shall couclude this let,
t-r for the preant, promising 10 write
again when any thing Of interest occurs
| am with respect. your obediont servant
LEWIS A McBRO0M.
| ,rhn NNI,nnA nrnr An I.Lin.n