Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-04-30

ienSs" Va suo ooess II oucc IN Wnlie We
lost sight of the boats in advance. we CO.
soon discover them about three hundred
yards ahead. going in the opposite dirsc-
tion; and sometimes disputes would arise.
as to whether they were the boats in ad.
vance or those in the rear, snd it was not
easy to determine until We could see their
names. One evening we anchored for the
night opposite tho plantation and residence
of Gen. Alcorn. The next day by hard
labor. we got around bend of perhaps q
mile and tied up for night within two hun
dred yards of our position of the night be-
fore. But every vessel of our feet got
through at last. though they are the rag
gedest looking lot of boats that ever was
seen on Western. or any other waters
The rebels will long remember this piece
sf "Yankee" audacity aud enterprise. In
fact we have left our marks behind us.
having "blazed" our way on the trees all
the way down. Navigation improved ma
terially when we reached the Cold water
river. and was still better on the Talla-
hatchie. though on each. there were many
short bends that required the use Of tine
yawl anil line to make them.
On the 2lst we met Ross's Division 60
ing back, finding the rebel works here too
formidable. A consultation was held and
Gen. Quinby determined to go on. And
here we are, few miles above the Yazoo,
working for the reduction of the rebel fort
below us. How long it will take it is i'm
possible to determine. but it will probably
be no easy task. Their guns are booming
away to-day at regular intervals. A por-
tion of our troops are engaged in planting
battery Of heavy gnns. not far from the
Fort, and they do not seem to like the pro-
ceeding. They will like it still less when
our guns open on them. No doubt we
could soon drive them from here, but they
are so situated as to render the approach
Of Infantry well-nigh Impossible They
are fortifying extensively around the river
bends where we would be likely to cross
TO get below them on the Yazoo. My
company got few shots at them one day
when out guarding the Pioneer corps while
they were making q road. Day before
yesterday while on picket. saw them bu-
silly throwing up csrthworks. Our pick
cts extend along tho river. and they are At
work on the other side. We went down
to within l50 yards of them and some of
the boys had quite conversation with their
men. They came up on the wall to look
ut US to the number Of twenty or more
Early in the morning of the day we reach.
cd this place. our boat was fired upon by
guerrillas. One man If the 4Sth was very
severely wounded. Considering that they
fired at us at distance of about one hun
cred yards. from a concealment, with q
good aim, and missed every man that was
in sight, it cannot be said that they are
very good maj aiksmen. The man who was
struck was on the other side of the boat,
and the ball passed entirely through the
cabin. The lst Brigade oil our Division
came on several days in advance of the
other two. They reached here yesterday
and we now feel assured that our strength
is sufficient to clean out this nest. and pro
ceei on our way to Yaz,o City. A con-
summation most devoutly to be wished
for.
A few days ago. while our Regiment
was out on q reconnaissance two men of
Co. g. deserted and went over to the rebels
Desertion is crime that is becoming quite
frequent in the army; and ninc-tenths Of il
is to be attributed to influences at work in
neighborhoods at homo. Soldiers are cor,
tinually advised by letter to desert, and
they are assured they 1ill be protected
that others come home and stay. and they
can do the sane. Only few days ago sol
dier in Co. d. a young boy. whom it was
supposed could be easily influenced, bu,
who is true as steel, received letter from
one of the female "secesh" of Marshall Co
urging him to come home. cursing thi.
"aoolishun" war; that the "abolishuns''
begun it. and ''let them fight it OUT
Another letter to the same person. assured
him that it would take two Regiments t.
keep Marshall Go. down for they sce-e oil
prepared. wonld give you names but
am reserving my FIRE for larger game. and
more Of it. ! saw letter to day writer
to some man in Co. e, but with the
names all torn off. advising him to remain
at the Hospital Is long as possible. to feigr
sickness and get discharged. tell 20,
there are criminals in Marshall Co. who
deserve shooting. more, even, than the de-
serter from the army-traitors as guilty ai
heart ss Arnold or Burr. They cry on,
high taxes. and yet 90 ell they can ia
prolong the war. and thrs bind still great.