The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-01-21


rounded bv an embankment to keep the water
from spreading beyond the limits of the fields
The fields are divided into convenient patches
bv dikcs and causeways. Some of the canals
through these fields are from : TO / feet
wide aud from 1 to 10 feet deep, and the
whole sheet of water averaging from one foot
to three feet in depth. The distance across
these fields is about half mile. All these
fields are subject to overflow from the Ogee
chee a Savannah Canal. The rebels had
raised all the gates in the canal besides cut
ting the bank Ill several places. before We ar
rived aud having closed the outlet gates had
the whole region entirely overilowcd backing
the water at many places, far into the adJoin
ing timber outside The fields. To storm these
works We would have been obliged to wade
these fields and swim the dkes IN the face of
their forts. All undertaking which under the
most favorable circumstances would have
necessarily proved disastrous, as 1t would
have been utterly impossible for the men to
keep their ammunition dry. SO that had We
been able te cross the swamp we would have
been puwcrlc,s, As the abbattIs work around
the rebel forts was such IS to render bayO-
net charge impracticable.
Gen. Davis, IN his reconnaissance, last even
my no doubt detected this difficulty and,
therefore did not order the movement.
The torches above alluded TO, were design
ed to be lit fast as our men gained the
rebel works to prevent other storraing parties
from firing ON our own men.
The 18th. l1th and 20th corps who occu-
pied more favorable ground, moved into the
city during the dav and soon as We can
get o, trains across the marshes we will also
move in. During the day we have found
great many evidences which go to prove that
the evacuation was accomplished with CON
siderable panic Guns, cartridge boxes, hav-
ersacks. &c. are scattered all through the
timber. and at one place some 100 TO lZUo
stand OF small arms were found all stacked
in line. as if q whole regiment had been
formed there and had stacked their arms aud
then marched off leaving them behind. The
only explanation for this sudden evacuation
Is. that almost the entire force the rebels had
here were Georgia militia They found that
they were gradually being surrounded; and
knowing that sooner or later they would have
to give up. They knew too that ii they were
taken prisoners they would be sent north,
away from their homes and perhaps detained
there for many months. There was but one
outlet left for them and that was to cross the
Savannah river at the city and hasten INTO
South Carolina and there scatter. As this
last outlet was being threatened the militia
Doubtless, became alarmed and either with or
without orders abandoned their work and
fled. The whole force here-probabiy not
over 7,O0O-will now sca,ter-all return to
their homes But few of them will again
confront us in the field.
Dec 22-I.ast night the rebels blew mp
the magazine in Fort Jackson and this morn
ing had evacuated it. There are still two
rebel rams below the city. They have made
several efforts 10 run Up the river but have
been prevented by our batteries. They will
now doubtless blow them up before our IRON
clads get the obstructlons out of the harbor.
TODAY we marched through the city and after
spending several hours there moved out on
the north side about l.! miles and wen, into
camp. Here we shall probably remain for
some time, although have no doubt Sher-
man intends to move on Augusta and Charles
ton before the spring rains sets in.
Now then YOU have all know about the
Great Sherman raid We think it was big
thing, and guess the world generally re-
cards it so. understand the mail leaves to-
night and must wind up this long dry com.
munication. 1t is hard to make journal
interesting and as have been obliged to
write most of it after the fatigues of the days
march, hope your readers will excuse its
prosiness. M.
In an article in the United States Serrtce
Mayazine, the following hard-tack story Is
told. 1t appears the boxes in which the
''tack' is packed, always bear the brand o
the baker or maker, and lot which arrived
in the camp of the Fifth New York Excel
siors, with the mark ..B. c. 603," caused
much speculation among the boys" as to
what it meant. 1t war finally agreed unani'
mously that it must be the date when the
crackers were made-six hundred and three
| years before Christ!
4 young lady has been heard to declare
thai she couldn't go to fight for the country
but she was W illing to allow the young mel