Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-05-26
For the Delaware Gazette
FROM TIE MlaETY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
MoINTosH BLUFF, ALA,
May 4th. 1865.

May 4th, 1860.
EDITORS GAzETTE-Thinking a few
lines from this part of the u. s. army
might prove of interest to the readers of
your worthy paper, who are interested In
the welfare Of the tsoger boys and more
particularly those of the 96th Ohio from
Delaware county, l now write YOU.
This regiment now constitutes a COM
ponent part of the 1st Brigade of the Sd
Division, 18th Corps, and although only
a battalion of five companies, has par
ticipated in all the engagements with the
Corps, around and in the taking of the
CITY of Mobile. This body, as a regiment,
have always maintained their integrity
and valor, through prosperity and adver-
sity, for the noble cause IN which they
are engaged. The enthusiasm and pat
riotism that inspired the heart of every
| countryman at the firing of Sumter, has
always filed the breast of every true man
in the regiment. All honor be given to
the officers of the command who have
led these men on to victory.
After the organization Of h 18th
Corps was completed, the Sd Division
made aggressive movements toward Mo-
bile, marching around on Mobile Point
from Fort Morgan, through sand and
quagmire. which made it very difficult
travelling with the batteries and supply
train, until we came to Fort Spanish.
On the morning of the 9th of March,
the enemy appearing IN front, the lines
closed in around Fort Spanish, General
Smith. with the 10th Corps, on the right
/ of the 18th. The troops we're all order
ed to charge the works that morning, but
finding them of too formidable a nature,
the order was countermanded, and a siege
was laid which lasted fourteen days, when
the rebel force was withdrawn from their
works during one night. While the
siege was going on around Fort Spanish,
Gen. Steele, with a strong force of color
ed troops, one Division Of the 18th Corps
and a part of a cavalry Corps, came
through from Pensacola, and closed in
around the rebel works at Blakely.-
When the rebel force was withdrawn
from Fort Spanish, the 18th Corps was
ordered to reinfore Gen. Steele, but be
fore they could be of any assistance, his
forces charged the works, taking about
1000 prisoners and 40 pieces of artillery.
The rebel force in Mobile, consisting OF
one Division, hearing of the fall of Span
ish Fort and Blakely, left the city and
went to Whistler Station, on the M. d y.
r. r., seven miles out. The 18th Corps
was then ordered to take transports, cross
the bay, and take possession of the city,
which was done on the morning of April
18th. The next day, the Sd Division of
the 18th Corps moved to Whistler and
charged on the rebel force there, making
thee "skedaddle." Afterwards, the Di-
vision moved on out to the TOmbigbee
river, about sixty miles above Mobile, by
water, where we now are. Here the reb-
els had a navy yard and machine shop
for building their %gunboats, but now the
place is In our possession, and various
uses are being made of the timbers and
machinery for U. S. purposes. The
steamer Robinson has arrived from
Mobile, bringing the Ohio State Agent
and a q. S. Paymaster. Our regiment
gets pay to-day.
Yours, &c, j. L. K,
Co. "a" Goth Ohio.