Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-04-29
LETTER FROM THE 72ND OWL.

HADUCAH, n.y., April 11tn, 1904,
Dear .EouTnut:-I wrote you last from Cairo,
little thinking that my next letter should be da-
ted at this place. On the evening of the 11th
inst, we were preparing to retire to our ounks
when we were ordered to be ready to move at
minutes notice. In a few moments the order
came, but instead of Memphis, our destination
was this place, which was in imminent danger
We Immediately fell in and marched to the le-
wee, where we were obliged to stand until mid
night before we were permitted to go on the boat.
Atlas we got safely with one exception.
Adi't. johnson fell into the river, and with the
loss of his sword received cold bath We
were obliged to lie to some three hours, on ac-
count of dense fog; arrived at Paducah about
noon; landed Immediately formed in line and
filled our 'smagazines" with ammunition.
Gunboats "a, 80, 36 and II of the river fleet
were lying off the town when we arrived. The
steamer Alone came in at l O'Clock, bringing de-
tachments of the SD Ill, SD Ind and 18th
Wisconsin. Col Eaton isin command of the
reinforcements. People were leaving the city
and crossing the river, using every available
means to place distance between themselves
and danger. Everything betokened the great
est alarm among them. | took long stroll
through the city-city no more. War, with its
iron heel, has left its imprint everywhere
Scarcely dwelling in the place, but bears some
token of its havoc; desOlation and ruin are visi-
bic through the whole place.
About noon on the Nth, the S. G. Bdlcer ar
rived bringing the 54th Ill. Our dinner was
ready and we were gathered about in little
groups, discussing the merits of our coffee,
hard tack and soft bacon; some had bought eggs
which were but half cooked The officers were
all at the Continental eating their dinner
men were scattered all through the city, when
cavalryman came rushing through camp with
pistol drawn crying ''they are coming boys, as
fast as they can, and have run all the way from
! the picket post to tell youl' The long roll was
sounded; officers left their meals unfinished;
soldiers rushed to the ranks from all parts of the
town. Then commenced the hustle and prepar-
alton for battle; officers talking to their men,
and men Joking each other. Col. Hicks ordered
us all into the fort, expecting an immediate as
sault The Rebs were seen entering the town
from the south, when the guns of the Fort OPEN
ed upon them. At this time a white flag ap-
peared, borne by rebel officer, Ga Major, I be-
| lieve,) demanding the surrender of our forces
in the name of Gen. Beauford. Upon being
told to come and take the place, by Col Hicks
we were given one hour to remove the non-com-
! batants from the town All this time we could
see the rebs crossing the different streets. Soon
| after the flag retired the I'D were ordered to
advance as skirmishers through the city which
| it did but too late-the enemy having accom-
blished their purpose. Under cover of the flag
| they had stolen all the horses from the stables
and retired. They carried off between two and
| three hundred horses some of them very fine
ones The rebs fell back upon our advance we
were not allowed to follow. but the guns of the
fort were occasionally fired. Col Hicks may
be good fighting man, but certainly he dis
played no military sagacity on this OCCASION
| He had been expecting an attack at any mo-
ment for the last three days. and still there were
no more than thirty men on picket. No enemy
appeared again to molest or make US afraid.
| There was one man slightly injured in the
fort by the premature explosion of shell, and
one man wounded so badly in the hand by his
own gun as to render amputation necessary.
Many incidents of cool bravery are told of
some of the colored troops here during the first
| fight. While bravely working one ofthe guns,
one was shot through the head and fell dead
Another one stepped forward saying ''well
darkey, if you Sc dead, jest step out de way;
dis gun must be mannd.n One deliberately
shot his old master. When we marched into
the fort, the sentinel at the gate was heard to
say, while broad grin illuminated his sable
face, Il guess desc niggahs hab to stan back
now
We have been on picket as a regiment once
since we came here. Expect to go on again to-
morrow. We commenced our soldiers life in this
place, little thinking we should ever be here
again. With the exception of bad colds the
health of the regiment is good. We left most
of our new recruits at Cairo. HARDWOOD.