Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-01-29

Pkfh oHoALs.-A correspondent OF the
Cincinnati Commercial has furnished
the following history Of the late dis
graceful affair at Harpeth Shoals. on
the Cumberland river:
No evidence Of danger was seen un-
III approaching Hsrpeih Shoals, we be-
held the smoking hull Of the steamer
Charter. aud several burning houses
on the opposite side OF the river. The
steamer had been burned BY the gueril
las under the notorious Col. Wade, and
the houses by Lieut.. Van Dorm. OF the
1st Ohio. in charge of the national gun
boat Major SideIl. A short distance
below was large feet of Federal
steamers engaged in getting over the
Shoals, under the protection of the gun
boat Sidell. On passing Van Dorn's
fleet l hailed him. and inquired as to
danger below. He replied. "There is
no danger below. have cleaned them
out" We passed on. the Trio mile
or so 10 advance. Near two miles be-
low the gunboat. We caught sight Of
the Trio lying to in a cove opposite the
Shoals. Knowing that she was short
of fuel, we concluded that she was
taking on supply of wood. On near
ing her, we saw several mounted SOL
diers drawn up in line along the shore.
Z As many Of them had on Federal over
coats, we thought them to be our caval-
ry. They hailed us. and ordered us
to land.
! at once discovered them to be guer-
rillas. and ordered Captain Robinson
to land The order was promptly obey
ed. The current being strong, the boat
did not yield readily to the turn OF the
pilot making slow progress in swing
ing around, causing her to draw slowly
down The stream. This caused the
guerrillas to think that we were not
going to land. and they Immediately
fired two heavy volleys Of musketry.
followed by two discharges of six
pound balls, all taking effect on the
steamer.
Your correspondent. in company with
Captain Robinson, and Pilyt Kilburn.
Of Covington. was standing on the hur
ricane deck when the firing took place.
/ hailed them and told them to fire no
more, as we were loaded with wounded,
and would land as soon as possible
They tried to kill the man at the wheel,
who stood bravely at his post. amidst
all the fire. until the boat was tied up
On our near approach to them. | has
tened down TO still the dreadful con-
fusion that the firing had caused. Sew
eral ladies were on board, and, be il
said to their praise, they behaved like
true heroines-Ro fainting or scream
ing-all as quiet as could he desired
under such circumstances. On my re-
turn to The front of the boat, / was met
by Col. Wade, who. with a horrible
oath, ordered DR.. Waterman. the sur
geon in charge Of the wounded. to take
his d-d wounded Yankees ashore, as
be would burn the boat, and US, too,
unless the order was obeyed l in
stantly appealed to him in behalf of
the wounded During this time his
followers had come on board, and took
full possession OF everything.
Here / should like. if | could, to pic
ture out to your readers, and the world
at large, the awful scene OF pillage and
plumber that ensued All but two
or three of them were demoralized
BY the drink obtained previous to
our arrival from the Trio / will not
attempt TO pen picture the scene Ian
guage fails, and words are beggars. in
attempting TO do so. Near one hun
dred Of the thieving, plundering gang,
was engaged in rifing everything from
the clerks Office to the chambermaid' s
room. For few moments the stout
est hearts were appalled,, and eonsier-
nation seized upon all. On passing
around. appealing to them to desist, ]
met their Assistant Adiutant General,
in whom i recognized an old sc9uaint-l
ance, who instantly promised to do all
in his power TO save the boat but alas,
that overshadowing curse OF both ar
mics was there. in full possession Of
human hearts that might have been
more humane had not the demons spirit
of rum hardened their natural svm-
pathies and unclaimed their baser pas
sions. In their maddened thirst for
plunder, they trampled on and over
our poor wounded men, taking their
rations, blankets. overcoats. canteens,
and even money out of their pockets.
Never was there such a scene wit
messed. For time confusion ruled /
supreme. During the time DR.. Water
man and myself had come to terms
with Assistant Adjutant General Bu-
ford in regard to the pa sengers. The
officers, able and disable, were to be
paroled. together with the wounded
men, but he insisted upon burning the
boat. We then asked him TO spare
one boat. and allow us to go on 10
Clarksville. This he consented to do.
uIS my entering into a written agree
ment that the boat should hereafter
carry no other supplies. or do any other
work for the Government. other than
sanitary work.
In addition to this, the writer was to-
burn, or have burned. one hundred and
eleven bales OF cotton that were on the
deck Of the HasIin0a unon har a.