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}From tlie 44th I net ibb.Clsbextmk, Monroe countT, Ark.,July ft, 1862.Editors JoOim:—A f*w lines from11 Yours «t this time mat not be uninteresting to many of your numerous readers that b.»ve friends and acquaintances in the 24!b. I select as cool a spot as an u eye M to u speed, safety and comfort ” will admit in which to write.First, S3 regards the general health of the regiment, it was never better. Morning icpoMa for the last raon’h show an average ot 98 per cent, of our presen! force as able for doty. Tbe much vaunted Assertion of the rcoels, that tbe warm weather, miasmatic swamps, Ac., would do lor us whatthey have tacitly admitted they could not do, has roost signally failed,*o far as the 24ih boys are concerned. It is a matter of general rernnrk rtnd surprise by lbe people mmet I tirebecamIberT abolow: 2?f*P i:mte-kS*Ah#OldtMnIexajCoeBeguutlt;this country at the healthy nud rosy checks menof the men.How we come to be up in this benighted region is a matter of fume speculation by tbe boje. There is ono thing sure, we are here, and ever since our advent in While river, we have had parurulorly a warm time of It. Our traufport came up as far St. Charles without convoy. There we met the fleet, wiih Col. Fitch commanding on board. They wtre decending the river, when we met them.They came to a rightabout, and we went up hs far as Abeideco, twelve miles below this point, and one hundred and twenty-seven miles above the mouth of ibe river. The Geel lay at anchor opposite tbe place fur thrre days. While here, the 24 b had an opportnoity to display their fighting qualities on two occasions. On Hie 6tn inst. five companies were ordered out on a reeoonoisance—companies A, B, C, D, and P, under the command of Cot William T. Spicely. We had advanced about four miles, when, coming to tbe edge of Grand Prairie, the enemy were seen in force, apparently wailing onr attack. Closing up, we were ordered to fire. The distance was too great to do ]any execution, but tbe desired object was gained. The enemy were thrown into three detachments, evidentlywith the intention of snacking us on our out from our own command, to protect ourflanks, while company F, with a small detachment from tbe other companies, received tbeir attack in front. Our disposition was none too quick, for in n moment tbey were down on us, yelling like a thousand derila. We were ordered not to fire until the word w»« given.On they caoie at a fell gallop in a splendid line of battle, until tbey were within forty yards, and then our old fashioned Colonel gave tbe word, give them “Hear. en'1 boya, and wt* opened upon them with a well dmclcd Arc and it bioughr them dp standing ‘‘quicker’ the first moment, and theo tbey turned. Oh! didn’t the distance increase between us fast until they got out of range. Tbey tbeo rallied to give us another trial. Tbey called up tbeir reserve, and came at us again with thrice our numbers, but with a like rrsult. The third charge was tried, nod with it something that we were not expecting. We wcra attacked in our front and rear eimuManeoody Here was a dilemna, but the old fashionedHead that we always depended on, brought us through all right. We flankrd around in the woods; rallied the skirmishers to receive tbe rear attack; and with ibe assistance of Co. 0. they met it most gallantly,and nr pulsed them. The attacking party in front met the came fate. Afier the first fire, the order was given for a charge bayonet. The rebels could not stand that, and they left quicker than double quick, every man for himstdf. They left tbeir dead on the firi-J—thirteen. Th»y s*nl a flag of truce in asking permission to bnry their dead, and it was grafted. The list of casualties on our side, is out* killed, and twenty-two wounded.KHUd—Private Samuel Harris, company B.$rp»r«/y WoumUd (but will recover) — Sargeant Boswell, company D; private Frank Knowles, company E; Cspt. George\ rW* v imrr **t ww» ,v* —**■ •eaUdlea, po«a» pistols, Ac.Our other scrimmace took place in tb oight, falling in killing lt;*° rebel* and wounding four, nod capturing seTcrsl pr •-ootre and borws. There were no casualtieson our side. , ,Thar* have been a number of casualtiestornlowknocamoer,theibedicrlt;i».*e aid or rstunt D Swi T swo in g magoathwillthe tbe i3wbulast,or ct by t dealceasft1!Ohilt;deerdo t or a aboi repou:uiabseBfritsand rest son to I postBjyCALcTbilitCOTOVan*itOflra i vi *4nlHotm the fleer, from guerrilla parlies firing Into I he boat* Irotn off rbn banke. The AW€engineer of Ibe gonboel Lesington »« shot and instantly killed on the rean.ng oftbe 5th Ul., bj an nnteen foe. * One o. tbefireman was severely wouoded tbe B»me4time. There was one man killed and »l*ti9mdatoe, in-are s alid-illeJIB-hill-d»s-* ibeile«ganonwounded on the ateanm wounded on the National, and one woundedtbe D. G. Taylor (aevtwly, will die).I will have to close as tbe mailboat is about to leave. Y out*, Ac., ^ ^—Kcbels report 84 killed, wounded'and mining Orand Prairie fight.We leave this river to-morrow—destination Vicksburg.Col Fitch’* expedition us this river ba9 a failure. The ostensible object wassiYi!iolPJtoe.rry anppliaa U Urn. Curtin.army. Hehas failed to gel communication. Kuiw**t*tCrvgi-wiib who s. Itbetweeo us in force, estimated at 15,900,and poorly armed, with nine pieces of artiillnry stationed at Ourall a Bluff, « 'b« crossing of tha Little R«* *nd Memphis Railroad. Rinr failing, force* us out Orders for Vicksburg. Haee beard of McClellan's defeat. Bad effect on tbe mem
Newspaper Details
Evansville Daily Journal
Evansville, Indiana, US
Tue, Jul 29, 1862
Page 1
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 29 Nov 2018
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