Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-01-13


the soldiers. As the Governor happened
be in the rebel Senate assisting in devisin
ways and means for the success Of rebellion
not much mercy was shown to his premises
Much valuable correspondence was discover
ed, including original letters from Brown
Stephens, and other rebel WORTHLESS. The gen
eral purport of these letters illustrated admir-
ably in the case of these men the truth G
Popes stanza:
Vice is monster of such lrghtful mem,
/ But oft, familiar with her face,
! We hrst endure, then pity, then embrace"
| These men seem not TO have been at frs
the willing disciples of treason. They hesi
| tated, reasoned, demurred. But they were too
selfish, 100 much in love with the praises o
the multitude to resist the popular torrent
Gradually they were drawn nearer and nearer
to the carrent, and finally were swept along
! with it. Soon the vortex they foresaw, but
would not heed, will dash them to pieces. Lei
US throw over their deeds the mantle of chari
ty, and kindly say, " It's human"
On the Both the lst and I'd Divisions cross
ed the Ogeechee and arrived at Louisville
Fhis was an important era in the campaign.
To obtain possession OF the Peninsula between
the Savannah and Ogeechee rivers was nat
urally one of our most coveted designs. Once
across the Ogeechee and our army possessed
itself of splendid highway to Savannah
with a river covering each flank. 1t will be
seen by glance at the map of the country
what vast advantage was thus gained. 1t
no longer became necessary TO employ the
whole army in guarding the immense trains
Not more than one-third of it was now need
ed for that purpose the rest could be Olsen
gagged for fighting.
On the Sd of December the column struck
the WayDesboro Railroad, near Mien. Here
the indignation of our soldiers was fully
aroused by a sight of the den in which the in
human foe had confined the Andersonville
prisoners. II consisted of high stockade en-
closing space of 10 acres, in the midst oI
the dismal swamps and forests which make up
the greater part of this wretched county,
Our men evidently had no shelter except such
as they obtained by burrowing in the earth or
constructing booths from pine branches. The
prisoners had all been removed previous to
our arrival and nought remained to tell their
sad story save the unbured remains of one OF
their number, scraps OF letters and clothing,
and the usual debris of deserted camp
The miserable ren was burned as was also the
dwelling of the rebel General Winder who had
charge of it.
On the I6th of December the 2Oth Corps
struck The Charleston and Savannah r. r.
at Monteth Station 10 miles from Savannah.
This important line. coveted by our forces
since the beginning Of the war. was finally
broken. 1t is hardly necessary to say that its
demolition was accomplished with right good
will The rails were not only bent but twisted
and the bridges and trestle works reduced to
ashes.
The army with its f1anks resting on the two
rivers now swept grandly down toward Savan-
nah. The road pursued by the 2Oth Corps,
though leading through tangled and impracti-
cable swamps and over sluggish streams, was
nevertheless excellent and betokened the I'M
proving Influences surrounding city. Look
ing at the sombre cypress trees, their branches
hung with long grey moss that seemed like
mournful drapery, their trunks be, clOmbered
with prefuse network of vines and their
roots embedded in the brown, brackish water
of the swamps, ones mind readily took a
romantic turn and conjured up many weird
old story read beside the youthful freside far
away in the rugged North. But there was
not much time to think of these things. The
column pushed rapidly forward and soon reach
ed the sixth mile-post from Savannah. Can
nonnadiug now began to be heard in 'front.'
The vanguard had found the enemy. The old
Third Brigade came up to the fifth mie-post
and were directed to file off into the woods.
Half mile farther were the rebel works. In
a moment the question was solved-the enemy
had determined to defend Savannah. The
troops were deployed, the line of battle form
ed and the enemys position developed. The
serred line was stretched from the Savannah
to the Ogeechee and thus il still remains.
On the 18th Fort McAlister was gallanty
carried by the I'd Division, 18th Corps, and
water communication was opened TO Ossabaw
Sound. The feet was signaled and straight
way Admiral Somebody sends off dispatch
that he had opened communication with 5her-
mans army. But when asked to send IA few
iron-clads up the Ogeechee be declined, alleg-
ing that that river was infested with torpedoes.
Thereupon Fecumseh embarked upon dug
out" and went down to pay his respects to the
doughty Admiral Such is the dispatch
which has been circulating upon the grape
vine telegraph" for several days.
know not how the truth may be.
I tell the story as twas told TO Ia e.''
It is also alleged that Tecumseh told the Ad-
miraI that if he would provide his men with
little "hard tack" and keep out of his tCay it
would be all he would ask of him. Be this as
it may, it is certain that small supply OF hard
bread reached us to-day and the feet has kept
out of our way admirably so far. So much
for the feet, to which propose the following
toast: "' The army and navy forever particu-
larly the army"
Soon after the communication was reopeued
a rumor became current that an indefinite
number of tons of mail awaited US on ship
board. =" Corn male ?" inquired Irish sol
dier. No, no, letters" "Bedad, and is that
it," That lras it, as the sequel proved, though
the Irishman's appetite had evidently become
stronger than his love of home, which l am
happy to say is not the case with all of u.s.
Thank heaven for home, the dearest, best of all
places. A few hundred miles of blue ocean
are all that seems to intervene now, and no
rebel can sever that line. No burning bridges
or tearing up tracks now. A regular daily
mail from New York The very thought is
a thrill OF joy.
Savannah must fall in due time. Great
obstacles must be overcome but the army is
strong and confident. Let all its friends be
patient, assured that success will ultimately