Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-06-26
From the seth Regiment.
CAMP NEAR VIcKsBURG I
Miss, June 9Th, 1863.

Miss, June 9Th, 1868.
Mr.. Editor:
Believing that few lines from the old 96th
would not come amiss among the many read
ers of your paper, take the opportunity of
addressing you few lines. We broke camp |
at Perkins Plantation the 29th of last month |
Just in time to save ourselves from a raid OF
rebel cavalry who came 10 a day or two after;
however the Goth Indiana Regiment were left
there to receive them, there being no trans
port to take them at the time. Their pickets
were driven in and the regiment " fell in" to
give as warm reception possible until a
gunboat came to their relief, they went aboard
a transport lying there at the time, burning
some of the wagons and camp equipage they
proceeded up to Carthage where they burned
nearly all the baggage beloning to the 18th
ILL.,, Regiment, consisting of mess boxes, COM
pany desks, with all the company books, mus
ter rolls &c, &c.
Our regiment went aboard the Silver
Wave" on the evening of the 28th ult. TAX
ing with US barge loaded with cotton that
had been raised on the plantation of Judge
Perkins, we started up the river TO join our
Brigade some where in the rear of Vieksburg.
However our progress was impeded somewhat
about midnight by the breaking in Of The
deck of the barge which caused it to sink so
we could not tow it any farther. We crow
ded it to the shore where it rested on the bank
until we could get the cotton on our boat
which took until noon the next day when we
started on up the river again /" rounding to" at
Warrenton short time, We proceeded on up
the river to within three miles Of YouDg's
Point where they had established a Hospital,
but we're removing it to Yeung's Point. We
sent our sick OF there among whom were Lieut..
Seigfried, Corporal Harter and Albert Bur
roughs. After finishing unloading the cotton
the next morning the boat s. canned up aud run
us down to Warrenton again where we land
ed, drew rations and cooked dinners, when af
ter pariaking Of quiet repast we threw aside
our knapsacks and started once more for the
brigade which we learned were some twelve
miles distant AS it was our march was any
thing else bat desireable, having to march
through dust over the hills through deep cut
roads beneath a hot burning sun. We march
ed uuil night fall, being within three miles OF
our Brigade we stacked arms and lay by for
the night. Being much refreshed in the morn
ing from our nights rest we started early and
joined our brigade in the advance about 10 o.
clock a. M, near the right of General Smiths
Division, and not far from the left of LOANS,
where the roar of cannon was almost deafen-
ing, the rebels replying with grape and shell,
the latter bursting in a not very desirable dis
tance from our bvouac. The Anaconda
AS our correspondent of the STANDARD" terms
it) has thrown its coil around this rebel 'sGib-
ralter" and is gradually closing in on its prey
which we doubt not w;ll be in our possession
in short time how long it will be we car
not tell yet, but the rebels can not hold Out
very long as they are getting short of provi
sions which the deserters who come from theil
lines nearly every day, state to be the fact
There has been droves of horses and mules
turned out Of their Notifications and stray
ones come from there every day, to keep then
from starving; our pickets shoot them as
fast as they come out, but once in a while a
chance one happens TO get around them, a
mong which are some of the very best O
horses, our Quartermaster availing himself O
the opportunity of filling up his team will
good mules in the place of poor ones,
The pickets are within speaking distance o
each other and frequently regale themselves il
language like the following:
Union SOldier) How do you like crack
ers2
(6ecesh Soldier.) don't know, we have
none, cant you give US one
Union Soldiir. firing off his gun at him,
Yes, how do you like that?
(Secesh Soldier.) Don't throw it so hard
next time.
The batteries keep up firing an occasional
shot throughout the day and night to keep the
rebs in check. the picket firing is kept up all
the time The boys are all in good heart
ard ready to ego for" the rebs at any time, al
though some of our number have taken sick
since we are in this place from SO much expo
sure to the night air lying in the rife pits and
digging in the intrenchments, the later of which
can only be done after night it being too much
exposed to the rebel sharpshooters from whom
an occasional ball drops in among US where
we are it being deep ravine in the rear o
the rife pit. The cannon are roaring along
the extreme left and right wings this evening
which shows they are still at work. Well a;
the undersigned will have to go on picket il
the morning at half past seven we will bring
this to close for the present. Yours with re
spect, il. <.