The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-04-09

leans -Frightful Accident Thirty .tw
Soldiers Drowned.
Especial Correspondence of the n. o. True Dcltal
Pass CAvALLo, TExAs,)
March l6, 1864.
You may have learned from other
sources, before this reaches you, that In
dianola was evacuated on the morning OF
the 18th by the order of somebody to
this deponent unknown. The evacuation
had been ordered three days previously,
but q terrible Norther-far worse than
that ! encountered at Brazos Santiago
sprung up on the evening of the 9th, and
rendered the execution Of the order i'm
possible. This blow was SO severe that
two transports, the Planter and the War
rior, were beached on the lee shore, where
the former remained three days before
the steamer Matamoras and steam tug
Perry could pull her off.
A number Of tenements were taken
down, and the three boats loaded with
the families Of the Union men Of Indian
ola; for three days previous to the evac-
land for the island was crowded by these
people. They were principally Germans,
and they have always adhered to the old
flag, gazing our troops a hearty welcome
when they first landed, and without hest
tation came forward and renewed their
oath Of allegiance. Little did they sup
pose that the army Of deliverance was 50
soon to leave them, else they might have
been more reluctant in taking an obliga-
ton which would compel them to sacri-
fee their comfortable homes and become
houseless refugees. Yet such is the fact,
and heart-rending sight it was to see
these helpless ones exposed to the bleak
winds of March.
The order was peremptory. Never did
troops leayea place more reluctantly
Major Generals McClernand and Dana,
Capt Gorsuch, Provost Marshal, and
Capt McComas, of Gen. McC!ernaud' $
staff, have done everything in their pow
er to make the sufferers comfortable till
transportation can be had to New Or
leans.
The troops under Gen. Fitz Henry
Warren marched overland. crossing the
bayou in the rear of Indianela, and ford
ing the one below, for there are four in
all The two last are crossed by means
of rope ferries. Toward evening, as a
detachment Of the Goth Indiana, 60 men,
were crossing McHenry's Bayou, from
Bayucos to Matagorda Island, the heavy
sea swamped the pOntOon- boats used as
ferry, drowning twenty-five men and
two officers of the seth Indiana Volun-
teers, Lient.-C Perry commanding
two men belonging to 7th Michigan Bat
terry, and eight Of the I'd Engineers,
Corps d Afrique-in all thirty -four per-
sons and two horses Of those thst were
on board at the time. An officer Of the
I'd Engineers was in charge of the ferry
Mt the time. and insisted on loading the
boat to its utmost capacity. Had it not
been for the protestation Of Col. Perry.
and the presence Of mind Of that officer,
the loss must have been far greater.
A number Of small boats and schoon-
er were lying st the dock, on the south
side Of the bayou, and attempts were
made by officers less cool to shove them
off, without men or oars, when they saw
the ferry boat sinking. Had the schoon-
er gone adrift, the current was so strong
and she SO high out Of water that many
Of those who succeeded in padding
ashore, must have been carried into Es-
perta Santa Bay. Col. Perry stopped
the schooner, manned the boats, and with
the assistance Of those on shore, picked
up many who would otherwise have been
drowned, as all the men had on their
knapsacks and accoutrements. This &C.
cident has cast gloom over the whole
army-nothing else is talked of.
General McClernand intends paying
| Arkansas Pass and Brownsville flying
! visit this week. the I'd Division at the
latter place belonging to his command
| also, Goth Iowa. now at Arkansas Pass
| He has established his headquarters on
| Matagorda Island below Fort Esperanza
while Gen. Dana, commanding the Isl
! Division. remains near MeHenry BAYOU
| Not being in the astrological business
We do not pretend to know what all these
movements mean, further than we pre-
| dicted in our last; indeed. We would not
be at all surprised to find this army com
ing back to New Orleans, our movements
bearing the same likeness to those Of the
King of France and 10000 men. tina,
one tree beareth to another.
ra MUSTANG
We are panied to learn that DR.. Wrrr Assist
ant Surgeon Of the 6sth, among those who were
drowned. sll0ded 70 above. He most excellen,
nan and physician, and his place VIII Be difficult to
6N-
We learn that Col. Bennett received letter from
the Regiment, stating that there II out Of
Co. B. and the balance Of Co K, Who drowned
l Confere1ee.-IAs n. E. Ind. Ccufereoce Of the
! I. csafeh, i now u session at KnighssOvn-