Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1864-08-11
Correspondence Of the Charles City Intelligencer
Letter from " Winfield"
yrckspuRa, MISS, July 26, 1856!


SIS vIcksBuRa, MISS, July 26, 1864.
DEAR HnDRErH On Wednesday,
July goth, the steamer "B. NJ. Run
yon "cleared at this port for st. Louis,
having on board ah1arge number of
passengers, and having a full freight
list. Everything went on prosperous
ly, until the night of Friday the 22d,
when at Egg Point, she struck snag
and Immediately sunk in fifteen feet
Of water. The cabin passengers and
the mails were saved by the U. s. gun
boat /" Forest Rose stationed at that
point, but she sunk 30 fast that nearly
all the deck passengers, chiefly con.
sisting of soldiers whose time had ex-
pired, and refugees, were drowned.
From the most reliable statements, 70
lives were lost. The cabin of the Run
yon, foated off some distance from
the hull, and finally brought up on a
sand bar, where every article of value
was taken off by the Forest Rose, and
the cabin burned to prevent visits
from the guerillas with whom the
shores are lined. 1t seems very hard
that soldiers, after passing through
the dangers of three years enlist
ment in the army, now on their way
to loved ones at home, should be
drowned in the river, in the night,
when sleeping and dreaming of their
past dangers, and their homes to
which they were Fastening but doubt
less it is all for tho best
"God moves in mysterious way :
His wonders to perform"
On Sunday, the Gath, the steamer
"Clara Bell" was fred into at Ash
ton, Louisiana, from four gun bat
terry. She received thirty-fve shots,
three of which being solid shot, pierre
ed her hull, thus rendering her almost
valueless. The steamer had OH board
400 of the engineer regimcnt-Gen.
Bailey's of Red river notoriety-nine
soldiers were wounded very badly,
of which four have since died.
The steamer Union, has been pla-
ced under arrest at Skipwith Landing
by the military authorities, though
cannot ascertain the charges. bold
ly assert that the reason why the que
rillas are so troublesome, is the utter
inef1iciency of the gunboats. Since
the great naval fight off Memphis, the
gunboat squadron has been compare
lively useless. For instance, only a
few weeks ago, when the "W. r. Ar
thur" was on her first trip from New
Orleans, she took in tow the gunboat
Lexington, and when passing Marina
dukes batteries, the Arthur cut loose
from the gunboat which Immediately
dropped down out Of range, leaving
the Arthur to pass as best she could.
The rebs now laugh at any attempt
of tho gunboats to compel them to
leave the river, and in every encoun-
ter tho boats had to repair damages.
They did do service when Footc was in
command, but it is obvious to every
sensible person that Com. Porter, act
ing Rear Admiral, is as incompetent
as Grandmother Wells, his superior
officer.
The Marine Brigade is another COM
plete humbug. They never have done
any greater feat than capturing one
or two small fishing boats. Why, Mr..
Hildreth, there isn't three hundred of
the poorest Confeds but what can clear
out Col. Currie's command in fifteen
minutes. Give US activity on the part
of the feet. Let them do something
save laying off points where rebs ner-
er come. and if they can fight let them
do it with hearty good will, and /
will give my word that the rebs will
again fear their power as they did
when they shelled the woods at Pitts
burg Landing.
There is not much military news
here of importance. Maj. Gen. Dana
is here upon a tour of inspection. He
inspects all Provost Marshals and
Quartermasters. Capt. Caster, A. Q,
NJ, was found guilty of defrauding
the Government, and was placed I'M
der arrest and sent to New Orleans,
to answer to Gen. Candy, for bis short
comings.
A flag of truce came in yesterday,
and tried to negotiate an exchang of
prisoners. But the attempt proves
abortive.
Yesterday ! saw rebel Lieut.. Colo.
mel very loftily promenading Washing
ton Street with lady, thus outraging
the feelings Of every Federal soldier.
How long would the authorities at
Richmond, allow one Of our officers to
promenade their streets !? That is a
shame. and one that ought to be stop
ped. One thing more. A rebel Off
Ger went into a tailor's shop in this
town and requested the tailor to sell
him q suit of clothes, or more correct
ly speaking, uniform which he had
on hand. This the tailor refused to
do without a permit from Gen. Slocum,
which he did not for one moment sup
pose he could obtain, but he did obtain
IL. Even then the tailor thought
there must be some mistake and went