The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-07-10
Letter FROM Nckssels. !
of the sixty-Nntl
-. -

matter 10 write of, tof L assure -
has been an over plus, but for the want 81
time. gree, you with a hearty good morn
ing, hoping you have not Jared as Tougn
since nv hast as has the brave boys Of the
6sth. Since leaving Ion Plantations. April
26ih, we have lost more than one hundred
of our best meu in killed and ~ounded--l
That WAS . fearful telling upon our already
thin ranks, and do not say too much when
say We have done harder lighting. and
more of it than any regiment in Grants de-
partment. Other regiments may have lost
more men, but not in proportion TO mum
beers engaged.
One month ago to day We joinedin the
second attempt to storm the works OF the
great American Sevastopol; the result you
know, and we, alas, found it out to our sor-
row. Those rugged hills and deep ravlnes
were that day drenched with the blood OF
some of indana's modest sons. In this
charge Major Finley Tell severely wounded
while directing our boys to silence some
sharpshooters that we're doing fearful work
with our men. He fell with the folds of
our flag resting upon his shoulder. He was
thous bit TO be MORALLY wounded. Colonel
Bennett leaped upon the top Of cliff. ex-
posed to a whitening FIRE from the enemy,
and with his sword brandished in the air,
called upon his men TO avenge the death OF
our gallant Major. Every eye was dimed
with manly tears and solemn response
told that they had sworn revenge thrice
over. A few minutes alter Lieut.. Strattan
fell mortality wounded while nobly doing
his duty. I hus we have been shorn Of some
Of our best men in each and every engage
men: till We have scarcely corporafs
guard left, but woe TO him who dare face
that guard. At Port Gibson We alone
fought the famous 9th Missouri, 18th Ala
bama and part OF another reg imen.-l have
forgotten the name--for an hour aud twenty
minutes across ridge not more than 80
feet apart. Three times during that time
did they bx bay onets and attempt to charge
Us, but as often they met cold steel 10 re-
turn, and were forced back leaving 26 Of
their dead upon the spot
We were in the thickest of the fighting
for days at Vicksburg. and until the work
of taking the Notifications by storm was
abandoned, a thing that should never have
been attempted. and l am told Grant OPP
posed it from the start. He saw at once
seige must ensue and the rear must be pro-
tected, and to do this none was compe-
tent as his :" fighting Datchman." General
Osterhaus,) consequently on the oath We
were withdrawn from Vicksburg and pitch
ed tents upon the banks Of the rolling Big
Black, contemplate and ugly looking
stream as ever steam boat tried to navigate.
Black River. which has held such promi-
nent place in this great movement. name
known throughout the length and breadth
of the land, is not wider than Whitewater
is at Richmond, but very deep and muddy.
III.
bridge at the time the rebs retreated across
the river. May 18TH One. the Paul Jones,
. very large and fine boat. The bridge was
an immense affair, the trestle work was near
a mile long il is now entirely destroyed.
johnson is at Jackson in comm and of
force variously estimated at $4,000 to So,
600. The country on the east side of Black
River is swampy and can only be crossed
at certain. points, and Of course those points
critical as we'll as important positions to
hold. As to our ability to hold these points
and prevent johnson from etfectFng a cross
ing l am not permitted to speak. but would
say this that Gen. Grant is fully equal both
in point OF strength and good generalship
for any emergency. His troops have per-
feet confidence in him. and those outside
the show need not be uneasy in this partic-
uar, and all l have to say ia reference to
our situation is that il the rebs think this a
good place to come back. come back across
the stormy waters,' that before they get
through crossing they will think this to be
the worst place for being taken with .
sudden sickaess that they have ever
found yet. The country here aud for many
miles around is desolate and destitute, not a
vestage of anything to eat remains, where
once teemed all the Injuries Of the sunny
South. 1t will be many day ere the
slumber in this region is awakened by the
Growing of some faithful cid rooster, for,
alas. l am sorry to say, the soldiers have
not respected age or beauty among the ieath'
cred tribe. 81.
This morning. just at daylight, there was
heavy infantry and artillery firing at yicks
burg, what the trouble was have not been
able to learn, but suppose the enemy mus
have made charge on some OF our bate
ries thafere now in some places within SOC
yards o. their works. They ka.e tried thi:
once before; but were sent back with vel
of rage leaving the ground strewed will
their killed aud wounded. ~
Our operations and the rebel works a
| this place have been so often described BY
| correspondents that will not attempt any
thing of the kind, yet [ have seen no dss
criptions Of the rebel stronghold that weult
| give one that has not seen the works an,
| idea of its strength or appearances. In fact
| it would be almost impossible to do So
Natural protection around vicksburg i
equal to that OF Fort Donelson or Islam.
| No. 10. when they we're taken by our forces
/ Our men have dug rifle pits in many pla
| ces within 60 yards Of the esemy's, an.
some amusing conversation takes place be
tween our picksts after nigh: when infantr,
firing generally ceased. A few nights az
one of the rebel picke.s raised up and SAID
| "Helsow Yank-, what in the devil ar
| you fellows trying to do over there-rreco
/ you be trying to make your rifle pits on %
/ Of ours pretty soon. won's you'll
/ Yankee Oh, no. we only want to 3
/ friendly-we'n move ours ,ovsr on the 9th
er side of yours in few days"
/ This was home-thrust and the rebs
yamoosed- Many instances of this kin
occur that help TO amuse the soldier an
make the long. lonely hours Of the night