The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-04-13

der;no the m almost useless Notwthstandina all
efforts . save ALL twenty noble hearts Peshed
meath the abvss of dark waters. Perhaps il would
more fully ast1te the great danger they wers Sub
iect in this terrible disaster, 70 state that thn neck
of winter, where the crossing made, very close
iy connected with the main Bay-very deep and as
least two hundred yards wide The tide was flowing,
the waves running high, and the day cold and
very windy The men nearly all had their knapsacks
and accoutrem.nts and forty rounds of cartridges
in their boxes. With such loads attached to them,
and wthou. tirne them, it was almost i'm
possible contend long agAins: the rushing current
There abou. twenty negro soldiers on a; the
time, who working the ferry; but few Of these
could swim, and than half of them were drown
ed. They acted with no Judgment whatever, and ma
ny Of them cling 70 some Of our men with
the grasp of death, and AL 20 down together. Many
OF our who were known 10 be good sw miners and
would have certainly got out safe, had they not been
thus dragged down. Two of the three horses on
board were drowned: the third belonging to Col.
Perry. am calamity out, bringing i've or six men
clingng the saddle almost Shore when the girh
broke and they were lost.
4 There were many deeds Of galantry that are
surpassed in the annals Of history; but mention
few would be doing injustice to ALL One act however
cannot help but mention. Who the hero was could
not learn but he belongs to the lst Ind. Heavy Ar
tllery. Of thing am sure, he has a heart big
the wide world, and will certainly alwa share the
blessings of those he saved and perhaps those OF
fond mother, wife sister, He down the stream
distance, got small plank and plunged into the
surgng watersswam with this plank to the middle of
the Bay-got two aud returned with them safe TO
Shore This noble act be repeated several times bring
ing more men each time. Many of the rescued
totally exhausted and almost lifeless. Surgeons
and ambuances the ground PROMPTLY, and ev-
cry attention paid them that could possibly be under
the circumstances. Gems. Dana and Net lernand
there making enquiries to the cause Of this fatal
disaster, The matter will be thoroughly investigated,
and those in fault duly punished But that does not
restore to our lost comrades.
The whole fault for this wholesale murder-ths
rice Of many lives, lies entirely with the hair
Drained officers who had charge of those ferries. OIL
who have little regard for the lives of
trusted to their care should not longer disgrace
army. Fifty such Of the many who infest this
department, who have never yet smelt gunpowder
worth the life of of those brave lost thro'
their neglect carelessness Men who have passed
safely through dozen hard fought battes and at last
to be wontony sacrificed in this manner is than
human nature is wont to bear.
Surneon Witt and Lieut.. SENIOR will be sadly miss
cd by all. They officers of high ability loved and
esteemed by all who knew them, and their untimely
loss will be mourned by more than their comrades
in battle.
1t may be a consolation to many relatives, to state
that thirds of those who lost,
bers of the NJ. E. Church. Some of them has recent
y joined the church, and endeavoring to lead
christian life.
1t was singular coincidence, that, almost at the
time of this sad occurrence, the first ferry which
We had crossed IN safety swamped with four compa-
MES Of the 49th Ind, board, but the shore
that none were lost. This shows more plainly that
the entire fault lies with those in charge of the ferries
and not with Regmental and Company command
ers.
1t nearly night before again got things in
shape, and ready to move. Our campw some place,
one knew where; but some six eight miles of.
The night set in cold, with steady rain. Nearly all
our men were wet, cold and hungry with shelter,
and nothing to make fires with, and would have been
compelled to lay all night in this condition in the open
prairie but for the timely aid given by "a good
martan, Lieut.. Ridenour of the 23rd Iowa. all honor
TO bis name, and 'may his shadow grow less.'O
He Immediately placed disposal all the cooking
utensils, he had and his shared their dry clothes
and blankets far they went, with shivering
With such fuel could be picked up the
prairie, were enabled to make little coffee;
with this and hard bread they in little groups
around the smoldering embers partaking of their
frugal repaSt, sadly thinking ana couverSing IN low
whispers of their comrades lost that day.
With this send you Col. Perry's official report, in
which will be found list of the names of those who
were lost.
The body of Sergt. CrAner Co., B, has been recov
cred since the Coils report Others and all of them
will be recovered if it is possible do So and sol
dier's burial given them.
am yonr obedent servant
NJ NJ. LACEY.
Adj seth Ind, Vols.