Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-12-14


/ planter has rescued the salt-marshes
from the overflow of the sea, dykes
/ have been raised and canals extend
for miles through the rice fields. AT
intervals on the horizon may be seen
a clump, OF avenue, of live-Oak trees,
which mark the residence of the plant
/ er, who passed his winters here with
/ has subjeets-for ike a lord of feudal
days the rich man-0Wner regarded his
slaves.
The Ogeechee and numerous tribu-
tary streams wind In and out in every
direction, and force themselves slug
gIshly through the slime. Where the
marsh or swamp hasnOt been redeemed
tall rank grass and weeds grow In pro-
fusion. Where the tide reaches, the
marsh is filed here and there with
frightful holes aud bogs, and covered
with black, thick bed ofmud, through
which 1t Is almost impossible for man
or horse to wade or walk. But as the
anxious Union soldiers gazed toward
the distant sea, where the marsh-line
melted into sky, they we're conscious
Of other foes than those of nature.-
} On one side was Fort M'Allister, its
I browning ramparts crowned with heavy
guns, sweeping In every direction on
the other were the fortlhcations at
/ Beaulieu, covering the approaches to
the Little 0geechee.
All these dangers stood between US
and the feet, when, one morning, Gen
eral Howard called for a messenger to
the sea. A thousand officers and men
we're willing to make the venture, but
he selected Duncan, who, in dark
and stormy night, with only an old ne
I h,T1
+ perIlOus mission. How he dragged his
boat over the black mud, pushed
! through the creek and into the bay.
/ 1oated unharmed past sentinels, past
/ tOrpedoes, and how joyfully be was
! received by the brave sailors of Ad-
miral DahlgTen's feet, Is subjeet-mat-
/ ter for another story. The following
incidents. which came under the WrI-
+ ter's observation, occurred in North
Carolina
The enemy held the old city of Fay
etteville. How much of force was
i there, and by whom commanded. was
a matter of doubt; but four columns
/ Of our infantry and one ofcavalry were
/ pushing rapidly upon the place. As
usual, Duncan and his brave band of
men were IN the extreme advance. It
I was always an important object to save
I the bridges, so that we could speedily
{ cross large bodies Of troops To do
4 this it was necessary to press closely
( the retreatiDg foe indeed, in several
( instances in the late campaigns of
/ General Sherman, the Union soldiers
would gain an entrance upon a bridge
when the rear Of the rebels had not
4 reached the other end. Duncan all
/ the morning drove steadily before him
/ a party ofrebeI cavalry. It was sturdy,
sharp fighting, in which the rebels
/ slowly and designedly gave ground,
and, as Duncan thought, with the in
/ tentlon of getting all their forces across
/ the bridge and then burning it. As
I they neared the town the Union sol
4 diers could see the splendid arsenal,
/ which crowns a height. The sight
! fired young Dunean's blood, and he at
/ once resolved to make a dash into the
4 place and save the bridge, if possible.
The infantry column he had led all
I the morning was several miles In the
rear, and he knew that he must, with
1 his few. men, sustain the fight, if there
4 was to be one. A few words spoken
4 to his men, pistols reloaded, girths
tightened, and away they charged.
/ Wildly but gFandly they went down
4 through a squad of cavalry on guard
/ there; across the bridge they ciattered
aud thundered into the town, with
/ yell and hurrah, and then turned and
! found but sixteen of his men with him
| the rest were killed or prisoners
I There was no return, so he rode on.
/ As he passed the main streets he saw
/ large bodies of rebel cavalry, some
/ battling, others moving here and there.
4 He had arrived altogether too soon.
and had ridden into a town occupied
/ BY thousands of rebel soldiers. Luck
/ lily, his own and companions uniform
was of s. motley wear" partially rebel,
/ so that they escaped general or marked
notice. What was he to do? He dare
/ not 20 back, and he could hear the
shouts of the surprised rebel guard
who were pursuing him. There was
nothing left but to make an attempt
to pass through the town.
In trying to do this, as fate decided
/ it, he unWittiDgly chose the main
] street of the city. Turning a corner
1 he came to a large hotel, on the steps
of which stood General Hardee and
! Wade Hampton, while a crowd of
staff officers were waiting on the porch,
ready TO mount The quick eye of
Wade Hampton saw at once that these
were Yankee riders, and jumping on
his horse-an animal Of immense
strength and great speed-he, with his
officers, shot away up the street In a
direction parallel to that taken by
Duncan, whose force was now narrow
ed down to half dozen men.
Meanwhile the fearless scout, urg-
ing his horse by voice and spur, and
firing his revolver right and left at
those who opposed his progress, rode
rapidly on. One rebel, who saw them
approaching, deliberately aimed and
fred at Duncan, but missed him
Then, In his fright, he elambered over
a neighbOring fence, presenting a
broad yet peculiar mark for Duncan
as he passed. The temptation was ir-
resistible. and the Captain fred, with
fatal success. / saw the man lying
! dead there two hours afterWard, and
wondered not little at the peculiar
nature of the wound, and the cause
, thereof, till Duncan subsequently, told
his story.
BY this time the whole town was II
an uproar. The rebel soldiers on all
sides we're mounting their animals II
confusion The women rushed wildly
z In and out of the houses, screaming
| with terror, for they all believed pool
Duncan and his six men were at leas
: a legion. Duncan had given up al
! hone of escape. Not knowing which
way to turn, he turned to the right
when he should have taken the left
! an1 rode straight into Wade Hamp
toms arms
That chivalrOus brave was complete
" disgusted when he ascertained tina
e he had not captured a general officer
. but it was some consolation to know
Z that his prisoner was the noted scou
j Duncan, who was recognized at ono
by some of the officers and men.
He shall never have another chanc
: to ride into a place occupied by my le
gion, said Hampton, and Duncan an,
a his men we're at once placed under
strong guard and marched across tn
! river.
Z Let us leave him for while, trudg
:. ing along through the mud and owe