The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-03-14
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
From The LIST Indiana Cavalry.
HELENA, Ark, March 4, 1868.


EDS JoURNAL:-Since this month set
IN, we have had clear, pleasant weather,
which is fast causing the mud to disap-
pear, and l assure you it causes no grief
to the army here. Mud has been our
greatest foe the past winter, and if not
absolutely victorious, it has at least been
very disagreeable and inconvenient But
farewell, old friend, we are in hopes be-
fore another winter rolls around to meet
you where we can more successfully con-
tend against you.
A detachment from our regiment we're
stationed for some time on the Yazoo
Pass, to keep off guerrillas who were in
tertering with our boys in clearing out
the Pass. The Importance of that work
is hardly realized by those who have paid
no particular attention to the results Of
its successful completion. Immense
cottonwood and sycamore trees had been
felled by the rebels, completely filing up
/ the narrow ditch called the Pass. Their
| tops were interlocked and matted to-
| gether, and it really looked like an end
cred with water, it was impossible to cut
them. Finally, immense cables were
procured and fastened to the butts of the
trees, when a regiment of men seized
hold of the other end, and with hearty
cheers drew them out. Thus patiently
toiling day after day, tree by tree, some
times wading in water knee deep, the
gallant boys accomplished what the rebel
traitors fondly hoped was an impossi-
bility Our boats are now in Coldwater,
and for aught know the Yazoo May
they win the laurels their patient, in
! domitable perseverance so well entities
| them to.
The telegraph has already told you of
of the fight the cavalry had, not far from
the Pass. The forces engaged on our
side were about fifty of the Fifth Illinois
and one hundred of the First Indiana,
the whole commanded by Lieut. Colonel
Wood of the lst Indiana. They heard
of rebel camp two hundred strong,
some six or eight miles off, and went to
hunt it, bat had not gone far before they
came to slough some hundred yards
wide. Not to be deferred by trifes, how
ever, they plunged in, and swimming
| across, they had not much farther to 90
before they were rewarded by sight of
the secesh pickets. These were holly
camp where the rebels were laying i'll
wait for our boys. Col Wood, divided
his little band into three squads, dis
mounting part of them to fight on foot,
as the woods were thick and full of fallen
timber making it difficult for horse to
get along. The firing soon commenced,
and for time neither party seemed dis
posed to give way As usual Col Wood
was in front encouraging and directing
the men, After the firing had been 60
ing on for some time, and the con-
tending forces had approached within
40 or so yards of each other, Capt. Pace
of Co. G, raising himself in his saddle,
turned towards the boys and shouted,
charge, boys, charged " and sticking
his spurs deep into his horses sides, he
led the way, closely followed by his COM
mand, yelling at the top of their voices.
With revolvers in hand, through bushes
and briers, and over logs and fallen tim
Der, they went, but the enemy did not
wait to receive them Panic stricken by
the enthusiasm and determined courage
shown by our force, they hastily remount-
ed their horses, in the act of doing which
Capt. Pace burst in upon them. Those
that succeeded in getting mounted scat
tered in all directions, and as they were
mostly provided with splendid horses and
fleet runners, we did not pick up many
of them. On reviewing the whole affair
they found they had killed seven, wound
ed nine, and captured fifteen prisoners,
beside horses, guns, blankets, &c, with
which the woods were literally strewn.
The best of all was, none of our boys
were seriously hurt Several were
scratched, but that was all The fight
took place on the 18th of February.
The detachment remained at the Pass
until March LIST, but nary rebel did they
find afterwards. rhey are all back in
camp again looking fat and hearty.
Rebel pork and beef, Of which they found
plenty, seems to agree with them, as they
did not hesitate to use it, even though
they were on the sacred soil of jeff.
Davis native State.
The LIST Indiana have listened with
great Indignation, and at the same time,
Win SupItIlC COilICu1Ibi W IHO u dilOlOuo
utterances as they fell from traitorous
lips in our Legislative Halls, and through
out our State; and often give vent to
their feelings in such language that it
would afford any thing but comfort to the
traitors at home to hear them. This feel
ing Of Indignation reached a eliminating
point on reading an extract from Gov.
Mortons speech at the big Union demon
stration in Cincinnati, in which he &C
cused the LIST OF being affected by the
1" X. G. C.'s" On consulting the matter
over it was determined to draw up some
resolutions repellng the charge, setting
ourselves, as regiment, right before the
State and our friends at home.
The resolutions were prepared and yes
terday evening were read on dress pa
rade, and vote taken of the whole regi-
ment, as to whether they should be
adopted The hearty, laundering ayes"
with which the boys responded showed
how deeply their hearts were enlisted,
and contrasted pleasantly with the deep
silence when the Nos were called for,
and mary one came forth. Let these
miserable criers of peace when there is
no peace, hide their heads in shame, sit
in sack cloth and ashes, and repent Of
their evil designs and traitorous ways be-
fore the soldiers, who they prefer to be-