The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-05-15

Ion PLANTATION. La, April IL. '63.
Editors Palladium wonder if the lit
tie band known as the 6ath have any friends
in the old Burnt District or in the Quaker
City II so let them kneel at the holy
sanctuary Of Almighty God and offer up q
ferveut prayer +" to Him who doth all things
| we'll for His safe deliverancs of our brave
boys from perilous situation. We are
again safe. Yesterday and to-day have
been two eventful days il the history of
the 69th. and in fact the last 20 days have
been the same.
In my last letter gave you a few items
! concerning our sitiltion and whereabouts.
We have been sent forward as the pioneers,
the forlorn hope of this mighty movem ant,
considered one of the most important Of
this war. We have been here alone on this
island, surrounded almost entirely by water,
with no earthly chance TO fall back should
we be too hard pressed in front with
force to contend with tsu times our strength
who have been shelling US by the day
Yesterday The rebel genboat Webb came in
sight and hovered near Us for three hours.
for the purpose no doubt Of reconnoitering
our position, AMI in Ali probability. but for
a true Yankee trick on the part of our
Colonel. we would all have been either killed
or gobbled up ia some manner. The Col.
had fearful looking Quaker gun made ont
of q long place Of steam pips and reclined
on some cart wheels TO represent q large
32-pounder. II the Webb had attacked US
and the land forces at the same time it
would have made our nest very warm. We
were told every day that that night there
would be gunboats run the blockade at
Vicksburg and come to our assistance. but
as often night and morning came and brought
no boats. Last night at about l 9 o clock NJ,
the whole heavens were lie up, the crash Of
artillery in deep thunder tones came rolling
down the river. five miles of rebel batteries
were pouring forth their iron hail, respond
ed to by whole fleet Of gunboats; the
shook was grand and terrif: for more than
an hour. then all was as still as death -
With daylight came the floating reck of
steamboat in a thousand pieces; cotton
bales by the dozen. and baled hay by the
acre. barges aud ha,boats loaded with COM
missary stores, tents, camp equipage, am
muntion. sc. The boys went out in small
boats and towed most of them to shore
Three barges loaded with co al could not
be saved. and were carried down with tn
mighty current. Our brave boys worked
and tugged at them till almost within the
rebel lines, then scuttled them aad pulled
for shore. This all looked gloomy to US
What had been the fate OF the boats with
their brave crews? Everything indicated
complete smash-up. The suspense was
swful-every hour seemed an age. If they
were lost. then our last hope was gone but
this was not to be the case. at about eleven
O'Clock A. NJ 1--WE see de smoke way up
de riber whsr de Linkum gunboats lay
Slowly the flagship Benton rounded the
point. and yet another aud ano other came,
until eight powerful iron clads came in sight
and rounded too At our ,ndng Never did
such shouts Of welcome ascent from q he
roic little band as did this day from US
Eight stands of colors ths. had a,ated do wn
with the wreck were d ,ating to the breeze
from the house top. B.ansts, Perry, Roy
ersoc, "Qlilp." and others got upon the
highest point of Ion Palace, and with q will
never before known, struck up the tune
1t nasts nov dat de kinslsn's eouirg.
An year OBJ iusiIoo.'
We fe, as though de day OBJ deliverance
had come a. last The names Of the iron
|clads are as follows: Benton. LAFAYETTE.
Louisville. Tusc Imb;a. Carondalet, Mound
City. Pi,tsburg aud Geo. Price. They all
came throug h safe. noHe being disabled in
any way. Three transports started with
the gunboats, and the Silver Wave came
through without receiving a shot. The
men Who brought her through deserve no.
ties- The men belonging 20 the boa. re-
fused TO try the Observation-Disclosures
were called for. I'd Lieatenan,s a. pilots.
and some four OF five soldiers as firemen
and engineers volunteered The pilots re.
fused TO have either cotton bales or hav
around the pilot house for protection. and
even had al the boards taken of. They
said if the rebels could bit them With artil-
lesy they were willing togo up" and tits
remarkable fact thas not shot struck her.
The Forest Queen was disabled some and
bad taAtop for repsirs, but will be down in
IL few days The Henry Clay Was torn to