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* GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.563.NO. 39.s0QXn9deD5lWISis»»10aboit.of?ifas31 fWIFrom («eu. McGiuiiis’s Division—Fate Marches and Engagements—Loss of the 67th and 60 Ind.—Heroism of a Young Indiana Officer— Engagement at Camp Pratt, on Lake Tasso—Capture of the 7th Texas Cavalry—Thanks, giving Day and Services in the Division-Great Salt Mines of Louisiana Uecounoitered.[Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal. J'Tis quite possible that you have lost j sight of the 13tb corps, and in itHovey's old division, now commanded by McGinnis, siuce our transfer from Grant's army to that of Banks. But you should not, as there are still five Indiana regiments in the division and as many more in tho other divisions of the 13th corps.The details of the march ol this armvihorn New.* Orleans to 'Brasbear City, thence across the country, via Berwick, along the Teche Bayou, Franklin, Iberia, Vermillionville, and Opelousas, with the avowed object of a campaign to Texas by overland march, is quite old, though the sudden change of direction to that of a retro march, probably on account of Banks having made a landing in Texas, is still fresh.The climate and country through which our expedition has led us, is the finest possible. The plantations are immense; the sugar factories are on the largest scale; the residences aro built and furnished with oriental taste and splendor; the most extravagant outlay of wealth \x , exhibited everywhere where late improve-| ments have been added to that which na-j tore or the climate has already rendeied ! beautiful.The orange groves which are burden ed with golden fruit, and the fig, are here in abundance. The magnolia, with its rare and fragrant flower, is only equaled m beauty by the mammoth livo oak, the branches of which often extend with a radius of sixty feet, the interwoven limbs and impenetrable foliage of which are hung in incredible profusion with gray Spanish moss, which is no small staple of the country; it being boiled and dried isthen ready for manufacturing purposes.While our main army wss encamped on Carrion Crow Bayou, Gen. Burbridse’s• * Dbrigade, which was on out-post duty, four miles distant, on the 3d day of November, was attacked by an overpowering force of the enemy, under Generals Muter, Dick Taylor and Green. They numbered between seven and eight thou-CDsand. The attack was made on threesides of the brigade; it being bo spirited that the euemy captured the greater portion of the 67th and 60th Indiana, theylosing about 100 killed and wountUthThe enemy's loss was about 120 killed and wounded and near 200 prisoners. The whole brigade would doubtless have been captured had it not been for the timely arrival of Gen. Cameron's brig.fia3 nearfyr stFr'fifSS *s i ftcavalry had already captured Nim's celebrated Flying Artillery, but was relieved of it by the 46th Indiana, under Col: Bringhurst, who was first to arrive of the reinforcements.Although a disgrace, under any circumstance, for an Indiana regiment to be captured, yet the former prowess oi the 60th and 67th during the Vicksburgh campaign defies all serious intimations of their bravery, and General Burbridge and other Generals accord them due credit, especially considering the overwhelming odds against them. It was the bold and sudden dash of the enemy, they being informed by six deserters the night previous of the exact strength and locality of the brigade.Lieutenant George Richardson, A. A. A. G. to Colonel Owen, displayed the most reckless disregard of danger, and everybody in the brigade speaks of bis heroism, which must be mo9t worthy of notice. The commander of ihe 60th being missing, Richardson wa9 placed in command by Owen, after his horse had been killed under him, while he was using all the energy of his own enthusiasm to encourage the littlo force to contend against their fearful odds till reinforce-ments could arrive. Not till the 67th, on the left, was taken, and his own temporary command surrounded did he lose hope, and then, with a few brave spirits like himself, cut his way through, braving death rather than surrender.Having marched on back to this place, the enemy followed, in small cavalry -ri* 1 squadrons, un our left, o few days since, Genera] Lee, with a force of cavalry, with Cameron's brigade of McLuin's di-vision, on the morning of the 20th of No-vetnber, started for Lake Taeso, whereit was reported a largo force of rebelcavalry were in camp. Aniving there at daylight, the cavalry struck off arouud them through tk'* prairie, got in their rear, the infantry closed in upon their front, and with the loss of but one man wound*, d, the whole regiment, the 7th Texas Cavalry, were captured, except Col. Majors, who was in command, and two privates. Col. Majors was formerly of the regular ainiy under (run. Twiggs, m 1The 26th of November, the national day of Thanksgiving, appointed by the President, was observed with appropriate exercises, by McGinnis* Division, and strange to say, although there are any number of New England regiments in this army, yet none of them took any notice of tho day, aside fiom little squad pieetings.Early in the morning a Urge stand had been erected before tho Division head quarters, on an open space of ground. At six o'clock nil the regiments, without arms, and with clothes, boots, in perfect good order, as iffor inspection, were there. The day was mild nnd beautiful. The new regimental colors of the different Indiana rogi*ments, told a tale of the generosity of our rmembering friends of Indiana, wliiU the lime worn flags of regimen la from* other States, bespoke tbeir neglect.A large choir of very fine singers, composed of select men of different regiments, accompanied by the organ imitations of the llth Ind. Band, gave animation to the large audience by their patriotic songs. Afcer a fervent prayer by Chaplain RSbb, of the *46th Ind., ashort sermon by the Chaplain of tho 24th Iowa, short and spicy impromptu,speeches were made by Gon. McGinnis, Gen. Cameron, Col. MoCauley of the llth Ind., Col. Bringhurst of the 46th Ind. In fact every regiment was represented by a short impromptu. The music of the bands and choir, and the enthusiastic cheers given by the men to every speech, was an infallible index of their haopyspirits.The pleasent exercises and the universal good feeling of all made the day one of the most happy of the year.A few days since Gen. Cameron, Co!., Owen, and a large party of officers, with an escort of cavalry,visited the great and famous taJt mines of Louisiana, which are some twelve miles distance near Vermillion Bay, they being the only salt mines on the continent, and although only discovered but a little over a year since, yet from the inexhausiablo beds the Southwestern Confederacy have been supplied. The specimens which we have seen aro of tho purest crystalized rock salt found in any quantv only twentv feet below thosurface.We have to regret the loss by resignation of Col. Owen of the 60th, and Lieu?. Colonel Bur ter, ot the 24tl\. The former leaves the service to accept a Professorship in an Indiana college and the latter by reason of disabilty caused by the severe wounds received at Champion Hills. Both officers are invaluable, end leave a fair name and many friends behind them.iot:iiire 1i■ml |■*; In.jire i 4s, ifi- 'Reey ras roil liras for lily ral ich aid so-iryndthe.ml1vn-t of lies Nthn tolas the ad -)W3Is-orco,indime iiib- j»30Uif.' ;uld s\ear jall :c., ;uid icmses,thyed,e.•rtv«#1staresther. ishadobetheand.herThefire of gazeorer a canElection or speaker.•‘Agate of the Cincinnati Gazetta^^ gives a very animated and admirable description of the scene at the organization of the Houso, from which we extract that portion referring to the election of Mr. Colfax. It is a touching as well as just tribute to the unwearied industry and unstained integrity of our Hoosier Speaker:There is a moment of suspense, while the list are carefully fooled up; the teller — Dawes, Pendleten, Pomeroy and Wadsworth, a Yankee Radical; a Cincinnati Democrat, a Peusylvania Republican and a Kentucky pro-slavery so and*so Unionist—range themselves before tho ! Clerk’s desk, and Pendleton announces that Colfax has 101 votes, Cox 42, and the rest scattering on down to 2. And the galleries cheer again. Ho has carried every vote of his party in the House —there is not a bolter or dodger. It is the sixth time in his political career he has had just such a flattering experience. With what grace he may, the Clerk announces that “Schuyler Colfax, one ajf the representatives from the State of Indiana, having received a majority of all the votes given, is duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives for the Thirty* Eighth Congress. And tho gal-lleries cheer again, while tho members* faces are wreathed in smiles, and there it a general turning to a medium-sized, brown*beared, genial-faced gentleman intfie midst of the A^dmioioirttiwu ol^ka, Woe Kflan ,Avrvidinlt;* thlt;from spectators by uenaltfj list.In a moment, at the Clerks appoint-| ment a couple of Democrats,Dawson and Cox, are comingover from the opposition side to congratulate tho Speaker and conducted him in the Chair.And then, under the gaze of this assemblage of Placo and Fashion and Pow-er, there walks up the aisle to take the official oath of tho third executive office in the nation, the son of a poor widow of New York city, who quit school at the age of ten years,to seek his fortune in the Weal, and sinco then,thanks to the training of the printing office, to generous talents and an honest use of them, haa baen gradually climbing,climbing ^limbing till to*day lie stands in this envied position, the unamious choice of his party for the place; stands, where tho Fathers who fir9t gathered in our National Congress placed Muhlenberg, where Henry Clav so long shed dignity upon the position, where in lato years Bell and Polk Winthrop and Linn Boyd, and Banks have deemed it high honor to stand. II is another triumph of tho best feature ia the institutions wo are striving to preserve.He speaks briefly, gracefully,patriotically, invokes their rememberance of that sacred truth, which all history verifies, that they who rule not in righteousness shall perish from the earth; and after greatful thanks, turns to take the solemn oath of office which Mr. Washburne administer. And the galleries ring again with applause as he takes the Speaker's chair, and the House no longer depends on tho Clerk.The following is from the Delphi Times:A correspondent gives the folloing history and present condition of the 46lh regiment: “The total number of officersand enlistod men that have belong to the regiment is one thousand andjsixt yone.— Officers killed,died of wounds and disease— four. Officers resigned and dismissed— thirty-six. Enlisted men killed,died of wounds and disease—two hundred and fourteen. Enlisted men discharged—two hundred and sixty-six. Deserted— twenty-six. Officers and men transferred fifteen. Total loss to the regiment in the above—five hundred and sixty one. Officers remaining -twenty-six. Enlisted menlremaining—four hundred and'seven-tv four. Total remaning five hundred.“One Officer and twenty-seven mefi were killed in battle. One officer and twenty-eight men killed of wounds; two officers and'one hundred and fifty-eigut men died of desease; and one .officer deserted, he being afterwards court martial-ed and dismissed from service.“There are a number of men who are on detached duty, and a small number f absent sick;but the majority of those still remainig in good health are worth more than any thousand recruits.
Newspaper Details
Logansport Journal
Logansport, Indiana, US
Sat, Dec 26, 1863
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 31 May 2019
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