The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-06-08
From the I2ath q. v. L.

ed off part of our edition at the time, We
had to delay it until this week.
"On Saturday May 18th, the regiment
was ordered up Red River We left on
the steamer City Belle, with 400 men of
the 120th, and about 100 belonging to
other regiments. We had no convoy Of
gun-boats or transports after leaving Fort
De Russey, we began to look out for rebel
batteries, and at a point sixteen miles up
the river, We were fired inrosfrom a bate
ry of five guns, 100 yards in u immedi-
ate front. We had 200 men on deck
with guns standing guard. As soon as
the batteries opened; every officer and SOL
dier was at his post, and the fight Q Il
menced in dead earnest The first shell
from the snemy's, guns struck the boat,
passed through the cabin and exploded in
the ladies cabin, tearing everything to
pieces, killing and wounding several. The
second shot struck the pilot house, killing
the pilot and SCATTERING the wheel. The
third penetrated the boilers which COM
pletely disabled the boat. BY this time
the rebel infantry had gained the bank
and were pouring Volleys of musketry
upon us Our men kept up a constant
fire. When the boiler was struck, the
hot water and steam drove into the river
many of our boys who were either shot in
the wster or drowned. Up to this time 1
was on the uppe deck. Word reached
US that Col. Speigel was killed; 1 weut
below and found him unable to speak.
Col. Mead of the I'd Illinois cavalry lay
rear by him with Lis head shattered and
brains commingling with the blood of
others. l went forward and found the
boat was drifting A r1an was sent ashore
with life preserver and co-d. The enemy
by this time had changed their batteries
and opened upon US with canister ana
grape. As soon as the boat reached the
shore, I ordered every man OF shore with
his gun. At this time there was great
confusion and excitement. The men
threw their guns on shore and commerce
ed climbing the bank. I went back to
the cabin and ordered the mail destroyed.
Here the scene beggars description. The
cabin hOor was covered with the dead
and wounded. [ don't see low it was
possible for any man to live on the boat,
it being completely shot to pieces. When
| first went ashore TO tie up the boat, L
took four men with me-. Two we're in
killed, and the other two were
wounded. When / again reached the
shore 1 found Col. Basset dead He was
shot in the breast. [ rallied the men in
order to hold the boat and get off our
dead and wounded, but the shower of
canister. grape and musketry was so terri
BILE, and having no protection, it would
rave been madness to resist longer. We
leaving our brave and gallant
dead and wounded in the hands of the
enemy. Our Assistant Surgeon R. Gill
was killed. l got off 1874 men, leaving
ZIG kIed wounded aud missing. Many
of this number are prisoners, perhaps over
half. The engagement lasted about forty
After we left the boat a counsel
course to the north west. We marched
all night and at four we reached the river
eight miles below Alexandra. bearing
Of a rebel force two and one-half miles
back in the pine timber, we crossed the
river by the aid Of a small skif carrying
over four or FIVE at a time. At IL O.
clock A. M, we formed and took a line
Of march and made our picket lines at 2
NJ !; after waiting a short time we again
moved slowly on to Alexandria, and
that place at 4 P. NJ, where we
exported to Gen. Banks who treated us
With marked kindness and consideration.
It was so with all the military authorities.
good house was procur, d, and r%ations
lnd blankets furnished. We have now
lot a pretty good outfit and will leave
lere by land in a short time for the Mis-
lis ,ippi river.
Capt. f. Frowufelter, BENZ Milter and
BENZ. Jones are prisoners. James Nc
lain, wounded, and Keeper, missing
is with US; he had his cap shot
md three balls through his clothing. w.
". Brown and John Milling:on, missing.
wounded and prisoner Scion
3oydston ju4pcd overheard and a prison
IT. Capt Motif a prisoner Four Lieu
fnants wounded. AS near as. we can
arm our loss was, killed %, wounded 81.
o. whom has since or will die. The
My scratch l got was a straight cut on
he lower part of my chin.
Below will be found a list of the mis-
nd wounded belonging to companies c.
nd +. from this county.
CGMPANY G.
First Sergeant ellis, severely wound
d in breast. Missing. conditions not
,nown-Sergeant David Hearst, Sergeant
Onn tray, COrpOFai ArcnlOalU mdrshdH,
corp. VIM. MeCrsary. Gibson Craig,
Ebey, John France, John Henry,
ohm S. Hawkins. Edward Otto, Alonzo
Daniel Storefer, Samuel T.
S%trine, Simon Whittemier.
Killed, Sergeant Joseph D.. Seiberts.
William Harmon, severely wounded in
he heel. James Jarvis, missing and Sc
,erely wounded in the breast.
COMPANY T.
Missing. conditions not known Capt.
Elias Frownfeter, Serg't Rich'd Smalley,
Corp. ] s Mcclure, Richard Biggs, w:
Y Brown, Andrew Ginger.
John NJ. Dorland, slight wound in head.
franklin Emery, Andrew Fredline. ia
sob Fisher, Amos B. Kepaer, Andrew 3
Adam Mish, John W. Wellington,
Shin, wounded in thigh. Isaac
Jonathan Holmes, and George
names are appended to the
above list, but whether killed, Younded
Or missing is not stated.