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

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Oh the morning Of the 18th we left
Clarisville for Nashville, the Gunboat
st. O lair in the advance; the ferry boat
jams Thompson with six guns in Po-
sitioI, occupied the center, and the
GunDoat Brilliant bringing up the rear.
The following signals were communi-
Gated to each boat by Com. STuReIss:
One whistle land to the right; two to
the hft; three, come ahead; four to land; /;
Eve 10 retreat.
Our position was the last boat in the
feet. Our boat being somewhat faster
than he others, we found ourselves,
three miles below the shoals, ahead OF
the eitire feet. This in all probability
saved us. At this point we landed to
"wool up" An old man dressed in but
ternut informed us that Forests Cav
airy passed there a few days before,
5000 strong, with 8 pieces Of artillery.
We pushed out squad Of armed men
to scou the hills while We took in
wood.
The gunboat st. Clair passed up
and we showed out feeling slightly I'M
easy. We had not gone three miles
when We heard the st. CLAIR whistle,
one, two, three, four times. We
landed on the north bank of the river
The s.. Clair shelled the woods and
finding no rebels, whistled for US tc
come On. We went two miles and laid
up for ihe night. congratulating our
selves tiat the rebels, had skedaddled
We had not fairly landed when the
whistle was blown three times, and We
started. Something UP. The Com
modore reported one Of the rear boats
attacked and two men killed. Now fol
run up the river, against strong
currert and try to get away from thu
devils. Again more news; the Stea
mer Mary Crane captured and burned
the pilot (Mr. Carroll) shot through
the head and instantly killed. Tn,
crew and passengers taken off and car
ried of. The Science (Capt. Perry
Kerr) fred into and a Colonel severely
wounded. The boat was completely
riddled with balls, but through thu
GOODNESS of Capt. Kerr. who stood man
fully at bis post, while bullets whistled
all around him, the boat was saved
The impression gained ground that the
rebels had permitted the feet to pas!
the point where the Mary Crane wa'
captured and now had US between two
fires. Our safety evidently now depen
ded upon pushing through under covel
Of darkness. but heavy fog coming
up we were compelled to land. w
tied up to an Island, water on all sides
OF us. This morning we pushed out no
knowing what was in store for us. bu
we were permitted to reach Nashville
without any further interruption. Yol
may rest assured we all breathed free
when we came in sight of this city
Capt. Sam. Dean actually smiled ant
felt like new man and ten year
younger. The only loss in the flee
was the Mary Crane, loaded will
army stores; she is total loss. Wha
has become of her crew and passenger
no one knows. Probably carried init
the woods, robbed and parolled.
Upon the boat captured last Tuesda,
were about % negroes, all Of whom
were killed. Nine of them had thei
hrOGts cat from ear to ear. On one o
as chambermaid. The rebels asket
her il she was single. She answered
that she had been married but her hus
band was dead. They told her the,
were going to send her after him. an,
with an oath hoped she would fin,
him. and Killed her.
The rebels are a desperate set o
scoundrels, and such fends should b
hunted down like wolves. Any mercl
shown them is an &C. OF cruelty to ou
own men.
This place is almost isolated from tn,
rest Of the world. Railroad to Louis
vile damaged in three places, Cumber
land river nearly blockaded, and rebe
raids between here and Murfreesbor,
Of almost daily occurrence.
It costs something to live here. Po
tatoes FIVE dollars per bushel, butter 81
cents pound. fresh beef Is cents, core
word $50 to $40 per cord, coal at fab
ulous prices-S2 or more busbel, snC
not tobe had at that. / have not seer
paper for eight days. None here
later than Louisville dates OF the 10th
Aching to hear the news from civiliza
ton and no one to satisfy my longings
A Journal would be luxury. Senc
me one. leave here for MurfreesborC
in two days, not very pleasant trip,
assure you. l am averse to being
picked up by rebel cavalry and made tC
walk 40 or so miles and keep up with
horsemen. Will write you again in {
few days if get through safe. Coco
bye. Yours, B.
LETTER FROM THE EIGHTEENTH
OHIO.
MURFREEsBoRo, Tenn.,l
Jan. llth, 1868.
Mr.. JANE, HARPER.-DEAR SIR -
would like to give you and your resderr
description of the battle, which l hav,
lately witnessed. But it is impossible,
for me to go into details, and | will only
attempt to tell you few things which
know, and what l saw. The fghl
opened on the 30th, with lively sharp
shooting allalong our lines, but no gen.