The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-04-13
CAMP27TH U. S. G. T.,
NORTH EAST STATION, N. c.,
Mnrch 9Th 1868.

Editors Lancaster Gazette AS it
has been q long time since l have seen
any notice of our regiment in your pa
per, thought. perhaps some of your
(colored) readers would like to heay of
our whereabouts. After taking an ac.
tive part in many of the fights and
skirmishes in front of Petersburg, we
have now arrived at the key to the
South in the way of supplies. After u
long and tedious voyage over the
briny deep of ten days, we found our
selves landed about three miles above
Fort Fisher in water-wcll, to say the
least Of it-up to our necks. We
landed on the morning of tho 18th and
remained on. the beach till evening,
when we advanced across the penin-
sula and threw up q line of works,
where we remained till tho night of
the 18th, when our regiment was or
derod to the Fort. Although Lot
among the assaulting party, VIC lay
under heavy fire for nearly half an
hour, when we were ordered back, as
they could not use us for want of room.
We were back till the minute the Fort
surrendered, when we were ordeded
down to Battery Buchanan, where we
had the honor Of demanding the surren'
der Of the battery and the garrison
Here we found most ofthe prisoners of
FtFisher who had made their way down
here after the surrender, | suppose, in
hopes of making their escape. Among
them was Major General Whiting and
Colonel Lamb, commanders of the
Fort; in all about 1900. We only re-
maincd there n few days, when we
were ordered to join our Division,
which was still at the line of works
mentioned above. Since that time we
have been in the advance; have had
several skirmishes with the Johns, in
which we, of course, came out victori-
GUS.
Their last stand was made about
five miles from Wilmington. Here
they, as elsewhere, had to climb. This
was done on the night of the 2lst of
February, and as we were op the look
out, we soon found they had gonc,-I
We up and after them. They gaveus
the privilege of passing through their
once beautiful city. Here we found a
great many who received us with out
stretched arms and welcomed the Yam
KEGS. We only remained in the city
Il short time, when we received orders
to move on, as the Johns were only
short distance ahead. We overlook
them before we had gone far, engaged
in some of their ficndish deeds in the
way Of burning bridges They had
TO light out, and the bridges were
saved. We came along without oppo-
sition until we reached the North Fast
River Here is where the Weldon &
Wilmington Railroad crosses this
stream. They also had a pontoon
bridge q short distance above. They
succeeded in burning the Railroad
bridge, but the pontoon was saved,
will just say that our troops were
not in the advance line this time, as
General Abbott's Brigade was on the
skirmish line, although several balls
came over to where we were lying.
Since our arrival here military
movements with our Division have
ceased. Well, it suits us very well,
as We have seen the rough ofsoldiering
and all are glad forest
| Your very valuable paper finds its
way 10 us regularly, for which we re-
turn our sincere thanks.
Very respectfully,
r. II. BANKS,
1st Sorg't Co. Il, 9th U. S. 9. 7.
o