The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1864-01-28
.%etters ftow tge Srmg.
Correspondence Of the News.
From Highland Volunteer in the
Gunboat Service.
OK BOARD GUN-BoAT PEosrA,
OFF EAsTPoRT, ALA,
December B, 1863.

OOCOUbVI Us lOOOs
DEAR FATHER:--I believe 1 have
not as yet given you a description Of
the gun-boat l am now on.
The Peosta was built for a ferry boat,
but was bought by the Government a nd
fitted out at Cairo, Illinois, as a gun.
boat. Her length is about 175 feet,
width ofbeam 65 feet, mounting IA
guns, with q crew of 122 mon. The
guns consist of 8 common thirty-two
pound, and 3 thirty-two pound Parrot
guns, 6 twenty four pound and 2 twelve
pound Howitzers. The boat is oased
with wood and iron. The wood back e
ing is seven inches thick, with a plat
ing ofiron one inch in thick ness. The
boilers have an extra casing Of iron of
tho same thickness, tho better to pre-
serve thom from the FIRE ofnn enemy.
The FIRST officer or master, T. Z.
Smith, is very plain, unassuming
man, and ono that will see that his men
are not wronged. The second in com
mand, Mr.. e. Manser, has been in tho
army and navy ever since the war com
monced; and makes very efficient off e
GER. The carpenter Mr.. William Read,
commenced with the first naval opera
tions on the river, aud is a splendid
mechanic practically and theoretically,
In fact, all the officers arc very gentle
manly.
So far as I know anything Of both
branches of the service, the gun-boat
has the preference in many respects; yet
there are duties performed that the men
and boat were just as we'll without.
There is great quantity of work done
for looks; and fancy work on q gun
boat looks like throwing money away.
for one shot from an enemy would des.
troy moro than dozen workmen would
repair in many days.
We.a running from Paducah, Ky,
to Eastport, Ala, as a convoy. In
passing up and down the Tennessee
river, we have been called to quarters
several times to give tho "rebs" a taste
of Uncle Sans pills, but when we ar.
rived at the place designated, they were
like milk.sickness, not to be found, or
if they we're there, they left at the first
sight of the black hull of the Peosta.
There are some beautiful places here
Tho scenery is varied. Near Fort
Henry the country is very level, and
looks very productive, but as for the in
habitant', they are gone; and a perfect
quiet reigns. Not n human being is to
be seen for miles to disturb the auiet
rest of the snake and lizard, and by tho
peaceful appearance of things, one
would not .hihk that ferocious man had
ever hsre met his fellow.man in deadly
combat, to destroy the best Govern.
ment God ever gave to man. But as
you go up the river the scene changes.
You have nature clothed in all her
primitive beauty, undisturbed by the
hands Of the so-callcd "civilized' age in
which we live. Ia places you have the
stately mountain, coming down to the
river, as it were to battle its foot in the
limpid wave, then exultingly breaking
away to mingle with the clouds of heav.
en-, as if conscious of its superiority.
Thus is the scenery continually Y
changing, but the further UP the river
you go, the more Of mans destruction
you see manifest; you see it in the
blackened chimney of what had been
the lordy mansion, and in the remains
Of those noble works of art, such a.
demolished public buildings, and burn.
ed bridges, whose piers stand as SC
many monuments Of rebel vandalism
And father, do hope they will keer
up their destructiveness, until they
destroy the very foundation of theil
so-called COnfOderacy, and that there
will be nothing left of it but the black.
ened remains of that deadly Upas tree
Slavery, and this want so much charred
up that it never can be whitewashed d
and pushed into our halls of Congress
to disturb the peace of future gen era
tions. .....
l think the rebel sympathizers in the
North have their quietus in the result
of the recent elections. But here
would say, if this is not hint enough
give them Paddy's, that is, place bay.
onet in close proximity to their coat.
tnil', with good Union man behind
it. This they richly deserve--the posl
servilO wretches who have beOn acting
as lick-sPittles for COnfederaOy whose