The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1896-05-07

-A~& % @OOOS
my brother Henry, but did not send it.
Went to church to-day. 1t is pleasant
evening.
April 18.-A pleasant day. We opened
on the enemy, on the right, and were re-
piled to at once. There has been consid-
cradle skirmishing all day. About four
o'clock, this p. M, fifty skirmishers went
out on the AIKEN road. About sunset the
Rebels advanced in line Of battle on the
AIKEN road and drove back our skirmish-
ers, when our boys turned and drove them
back; but were soon forced to fall back.
The enemy opened on us with one or two
batteries, and the artillery firing on both
sides was terrific. Shot and shell rained
over our heads all the evenieg. Capt.
Burke of Co. A, and few of our boys
were wounded and killed. I was adiu-
tant's orderly to-day.
April ia pleasant day. We we're
called up about two O'Clock and began to
throw up earthworks. About three O'Clock
this morning the Rebel ram came down
and sunk the ''Southfield" and drove the
rest of our feet out of the river Great
excitement prevailed. The enemy charg-
and were repulsed with great loss to the
Rebels. This morning the fort was sur
rounded and compelled to surrender.
Most of the 1O1st Penn. went on picket
on the Columbia road. We all worked
hard all day building "bomb proofs"
Heavy skirmishing and artillery firing has
been going on all day. This evening the
18th moved down on the left, and the en-
emy opened on us from their batteries on
the Columbia road. The firing was aw-
full and closed about midnight. We are
surrounded.
April 2O.-A pleasant day. The enemy
advanced on the Columbia road about
three o'clock, and soon the battle began
and became general. 1t ragged fearfully
until about eleven o'clock, when the
works, except Fort William, were carried
the city, and on the 1O1st Penn. and 10th
Conn, but were repulsed and driven into
their earthworks, when we had to fall
back into our mud holes. About ten
o'clock flag of truce came out from the
enemy and, for the third time, demanded
a surrender, but we're refused by Gen.
Vessels. About eleven O'Clock we were
compelled to surrender. The enemy lost
heavily. Gen Hoke commanded the Reb-
els and we were used we'll. Our loss was
slight. The Rebels killed several negro
troops after they bad surrendered.
April 21.-It is a pleasant day. We
we're marched out of the city yesterday
and stayed all night at our old reserve
picket post on the Washington road. The
enemy numbered from eight to fifteen
thousand; but our force numbered less
than two thousand. Our rations were is
sued by the enemy to-day. Thirty hard
tack and piece of pork to man for four
days, We left for Tarbor ough at one
o'clock. The 35th N. G. regiment is
guarding us, and we are used first rate.
After marching about fifteen miles we
halted at nine o'clock, and stayed in an
old plowed field over night. The Virginia
brigade passed us on the way. 1t has
been little cloudy during the day, but
the evening is pleasant.
April 92.-We were on the march again
about seven o'clock, and passed through
Fosters Mills and Williamson. We
halted just at night, about four miles from
Hamilton, and stayed all night. ALI sorts
of rumors are af1oat this evening, and
among them is one that Gen. Grant had
fought and beaten Gen. Lee, and had Ia
ken ten thousand prisoners. Another is
that Mobile is taken but the reports
were all false.
April pa very warm and pleasant
day. We started on again about six
O'Clock, and marched until about nine
O'Clock, when we halted, near Hamilton,
and remained all day. Received, and
read the rebel papers of the 18th. Wrote
to H. T. Small and to my pal ents. His
father died the 10Th, but, of course, he
did not know it, and did not find it out
until after he was some time in Anderson
ville.-O. p. C.] Thus far we have been
used we'll by the enemy.