The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-04-24
GLORY for the Goth

A correspondent of the Cincinnati Com
mereial, writing from "Ion Plant ation.'
(where the 69th now are,) on the 1l,h.
says that that Reg't left their quarters a,
Milliken's Bend on tho 3lst ult. and march
ed to Richmond, twelve miles, crossing
swamps and bay Gus by means OF skiffs and
temporary bridges; and after . short resist.
ance. took the place-the rebels fleeing for
their lives, leaving their colors and wounded
to the care of the Union troops. This ex-
pediIion consisted Of the 6ath, two compa-
MES of cavalry, with q section of mounted
howitzers, all under the command Of Col.
II. w. Bennett. Two rebel officers and two
soldiers, not knowing the place had chang'd
occupants, reported themselves to Col. Ben.
nett. who gave them quarters in bricx
building with barred windows. These pris-
oners brought in q large mail aud several
bundles of clothing, which they were ia
king to Vicksburg. The letters were filed
with abuse of the Yankees" curses of the
'cowardly conscripts,' tales OF woe and star
walton, and complaints of the insubordina.
ton Of the negroes since tho Union army
CAGE into the State.
Leaving Richmond, the advance moved
toward the the Missississippi River, the in +.
habltants fleeing. leaving everything to the
care Of the Yankees" On reaching q
point 80 miles from Milliken's Bend. it was
found that the rebs had gone through bay.
GU, and passed over to Carthage on the riv-
er. A gunboat was constructed out Of an
old scow. by boarding up it's sides with
thick plank, leaving PORTFOLIOS for small
arms, a mountain bowitxer in front case
mated with cotton. Thus equipped and
manned by company OF the 18th, com.
manded by the Colonel. the rebels al Car
thsge were reached. They made but a fee
BILE resistance, and again fled, on the near
approach Of the gunboa', (which the boys
have christened the "Opossum.")
An attempt was made by the enemy,
who are said to be two thousand strong, TO
drive the 69th from their present position
The writer says. "they came down near our
breast work a. our outpost. with . consid-
cradle .orce and began Smelling our position
We Tried our howitzers on them with con.
siderable effect, killing one horse add wouD
ding several men. As their guns were of
longer range than our own, for . time it
seemed doubtful! whether we could hold our
position. As they could rem.in out Of ride
range and shell US. A rmse was resorted 10
however. w0 pare--ss q the day. The Col
ordered the men to fasten long steam pipe,
that had been blown from the lndiauola.
upon the hind wheels Of an OK wagon. and
ordered it forward to serve the. &Yrpose Of .
Parrot gnn. The boys hastened to the
front with it; turned il around into range,
bearing upon them. and with an old stick
with a piece Of cotton bound around the |
end OF 1t, began TO 's~ab.' pfeparatJry to |
loading the piece. AS soon as the enemy
brought their field glasses to bear upon il,
they concluded it vas monster gun, and .
fed in great confusion. Had they advanced
In full force. our whole regiment nigh, have |
been captured. as the retrea, is entirely cot |
of BY water. The boys had made up their
minds 10 fight TO the bitter end. and, As the
only dry land in this region. At this time, is
the levee, and few rods along its sides.
the fight must have been desperate. Gen.
Osterhaus's whole division is bat . short
distance in our rear. To day. Col Bennett
received the following general order from
Gen. McClernand:
II congratulate you upon your success in
the enemy from Carthage. Selling
hat position. and pushing your Picks,s still
further down the river. You have reached
J point further South than any other land
forces marching from the interior towards
he Gull. Signed JSo. A. AcCLEsxAxD,
Maj Gen Comm Anding i3sh Army Covps /