Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-01-14

Steamer capturei--HeaiA and Spirits ereel-
le7f
Correspondence 81 the state Journal.
NEAR SAvANsAH, Ga, Dec. 18th, 1854.
Pleasantly situated upon the banks of the
Savannah river in a grove of huge water
oaks, heavily hung with grayish moss, and
supporting battery planted to prevent the
passage of boats, the 22d Wisconsin are rest
ing from their long march, lasting twenty six
days, and carrying them more than 300 miles
through rebellion, subsisting on the country,
which we found rich in supplies, marking our
route by blazing cotton gins, outhouses and
the lurid flames from the pine ties of the
railroads, and arriving here without the loss
of a man, and all in better health than on
our departure from the ruins of the Gate
City,
Our route lay through tracts of fine coun-
try till near the 0gechee river, and abounded
in forage. From there we found numerous
creeks-requiring a long bridge each of cor
duroying-and stretches of unbroken pine
forest, almost level and covered with growth
of grasses, which fred by the camp-fres,
sent forth great clouds of smoke through
which to travel.
The early part of the journey was most Sc
we're, as we marched day and night, with but
lev t sou Was sesh ~ 1Ds IL n Of the object
sought The weather was generally favor
able, and we found no resist nee from the
enemy.
The 22d were kept by the trains as guard,
and had tiresome duty. They once or twice
had the advance, but only for short dis
lance.
Near Madison, a considerable town on the
Atlanta & Augusta Railroad, the I'd brigade
nj
piled the rails on one side, hundreds lifted
ties, track and all, and turned them over like
a huge furrow, with wild cheering. Having
torn up about three miles, the brigade march
ed through the town in fine order, led by our
fine brass band, joined with that of the 33d
Indiana regiment.
Frequently we lay in camp the entire day,
and at dark began march which lasted till
near morning, and as we halted, waiting for
the passage of the trains through mud-holes,
the pine rail fences, as many as fifteen rails
high, gave us light and heat.
The weather was very favorable, but two
storms occurring during the journey, and
those mainly in the night.
From Madison the goth corps struck for
Eatonton, the terminus of the branch rail-
road running through Milledgeville. March
ed through the town on the morning of No
vember 2lst, to the sound of music, and by
the light of burning railroad buildings, and
camped near Little river.
Scattered by the stalling of teams, the reg
iment were hours in finding camp in Milledge-
vile, which city had been well fortified, but
was undefended. The Arsenal was burned,
together with thousands of spears, huge
knives and shot guns, with which the chiv-
airy had calculated to immediate the myrmi-
dons of Lincoln.
The 14th corps joined us here, but struck
to our left on crossing the Oconee river, and,
thence on, the two corps were not far apart.
There was little of interest occurring till
about noon of November 28th, when our ad-
vance opened fire on the l4th corps, who had
crossed the 0gechee above and were passing.
1t was said that the SD Indiana of ours rout-
ed an Indiana regiment of the l4th. At this
place, Capt Bones, while away from camp,
was pursued by several rebel horsemen, who
fred on and well nigh captured him.
On December 9th we found the first signs
of opposition-a few large pines felled near a
miry crossing, easily thrust aside by our pio-
neers. Thence these felled trees became
more numerous, but occasioned no delay, be-
ing removed or flanked by corduroy road be-
fore trains came up, and not till December
9th did we find even a moments check.
During that afternoon cannonading was brisk,
and right ahead. We marched rapidly, and soon
heard the less sounding but death-dealing
musketry, which grew brisk and then died
out. We halted and rested in line of battle,
facing a swamp almost impossible, and
through which ran a creek. Next morning
we passed on a good road through the swamp,
on the farther side, finding the trees cut
down for acres, and beyond two forts and
rifle-pits, from which the firing came upon
our pioneers till our men fanked and drove
them, Wisconsin troops having hand in.
Dec 10th we struck the Charleston and
Savannah railroad, crossed and struck south
for the city, the boom of cannon coming up
clear from the front where the 18th corps
were taking position. The road ran through
a swamp parallel with the railroad built on
trestle-work and burning finely, and we be-
gan to think we were to enter the city at
once, as stone after stone was passed till the
last told us it was five miles to Savannah.
On the 18th the 22d were called upon to
support a battery which was going, none
knew whittier, and none envied US, as sup
porting batteries is not at all amusing. We
took the back track two miles, meeting the
l4th corps on their way into line, struck to
the right and halted ON the banks of the Sa-
yannah. Co. + were sent across the main
channel to an island, where we found rice
mill and large stacks of rice. Next morning,
while enjoying a hearty meal of rice, the
alarm was sounded the enemy are coming,
and down the river, one behind the other,
came a gunboat and two transports. The
regiment on the main land had thrown up
works, and our battery u, LIST New York, let
fly at them; her first shots, wild and provok-
ing a reply from 64-pounder which called un-
nIoocaptIv naar Of fimaG lint hurt no 0na
As the boats came nearer the range improved
and the shot crashed into them. One ran
aground, the rest stopped, turned about, and
steamed out of sight. The transport and
crew are the prize of Col. Bloodgood, who
commands along the stream and exercises a
superintendent over threshing and hulling
rice mills, in full operation, and turning out
400 or 500 bushel a day. There is large
amount of unthreshed rice in our possession,
and as fast as prepared is issued. The mills
are worked by blacks, of whom large num-
bers Joined us and whose families have been
gathered and placed in a camp by themselves.
During the fight several rebels came down
to the river bank on the South Carolina side,
but skulked away on seeing our force.
The Sd Wisconsin relieved us, and have
had sharp skirmisbing across the stream, and
yesterday the I'd Brigade, LIST Division, cross
ed over in barges with section of our bat
terry, and all has been quiet since.
A gunboat comes up daily from the city,
which is plainly in view. and discharges shot
after shot into rice mill on point of land
over mile and a half from us. The heavy
shell 90 through the mill or burst within, and
occasionally entirely miss the mark and come
rushing over to us. One 64-pound shell
struck in the river bank and exploded, harm