Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-08-18

AAuIAhlHk 1eC|IL1lChe ONe
-EiEhty Survivors ont Of Three
Hundred Men !-Ma1imiltun'S Sol.
diers with tho Rebels!
The Nashville Press publishes the fol-
lowing letter containing the painful par.
t~iculars of the destruction of on Indiana
regiment-the 34th-through the stupidity
of the c~ommandant ct Brazos Santiago,
Texas. We regret that the name OF the
culprit Is not given. We learned by in
quiry Of the Adjutant Generals office this
morning, that information of the disaster
has been received from the Indiana Mill
tary Agent at New Orleans, though he
had not given the particulars of how 1t
came about as detailed in the following
letter:
OFFICE @. NJ, TH~IRTY-FoURTH INDIANA,
BnAzos SANTIAGO, Texas May II.
am panied to write you in u present
circumstances. IT'S but q few days since
our regiment was cut to pieces, and under
circumstances that were truly horrifying.
This post is commanded by. the Colonel of
a colored regiment, and wishing to estab-
lish for himself some notoriety before the
war closed, he started a colored regiment
to Brownsville on the Rio Grande, in d.
rect violation of orders from headquarters.
They met the enemy and had to fall back,
and on the night of the 10Th our regiment
was ordered to reinforce them. After
marching till daylight we met the enemy,
all cavalry. The Colonel commanding
ordered us to press them steadily. The
cavalry fell back slowly. Our Colonel
suspected that as we had neither artillery
nor cavalry that we were being drawn into
O trap. Still the commanding officer
ordered us onward. After advancing
some twenty miles, the rebel infantry and
artillery opened upon US, while the cav
airy, heretofore in sight, was no where
visible. The rebels were five to one.
Their artillery poured into our ranks q de-
structive fire. An order was given to re-
treat at double. quick-the worst time in
the world for such an order 4; but the men,
who were much cooler than their COM
mander, fell back steadily, keeping up n
heavy fire. Our skirmishers having no
orders to fall back, were all either killed
or captured. After we had retreated three
miles, the rebel cavalry made its appear
ance in our rear, cutting us completely
of. The men were not long massing and
cutting their way through, but the rebel
artillery played upon us terribly. This
was repeated several times, our soldiers
fighting desperately. The day was hot
and the fire was hotter. At last the rebels
got a cavalry reinforcement and made 4
final charge upon us. We were now
close to the river, and many rushed to the
water for safety. Some were shot in the
river. The color guards were all shot
down but the sergeant. He tore the colors
from the staf. and also the banner, tied
the flag around his W body and leaped
into the river. 4 soldier took the banner
and followed his example. The latter
escaped, but the sergeant was shot and
sank to the bottom. The rebels got his
body the next day and took off the flag.
ont of 800 men started ont IN the NOM
ing only 80 escaped, and most Of these by
swimming to the Mexican shore. 1t was
the most abominablc affair that l ever
knew of. The c%ommardant of the post
| had asked permission of department head
quarters to make q demonstration. but
was fatty refused. He took the respon-
sibility Of making one, and is now under
| arrest. Our prisoners cant in to-day
parolcd. They say they were well treated,
and that the rebel general told one of our
| captains that if the white regiment had
| come'up alone they would have surren-
dered to us, but that they would never
surrender to niggers. They said they be-
lievcd the war WINS played out, but
thought this was a good opportunity to
give us whipping. Many Of our men
| would not surrender, but were shot down.
The rebel adjutant said he was sorry to
sec it, but couldn't help it. Two of the
| rebel officers came into camp with our
men. They were full Of fun, and said
| they would all be friends soon, as they
intended to surrender to 60 home. The
French help them. We took a few priS-
oners in the morning, and most Of them
| were Maximilian's French soldiers. 1t is
to be hoped that nc will get bis fill of
| fighting United States troops. We can
| prove that our men wcrc fred on BY the
French from the Mexican shore, and that
they sent ammunition over to the rebels.
There was one company Of Texans made
| up mostly of deserters from the rebels.
As fast as those were captured they were
shot down. Neither would the deserters
surrender, for they knew it would be
death, and so died lighting.