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Correspondence of the Centralia Sentinel. We have seized and appropriated what Greroe may consider contraband, but we think our genders will approve the larceny if the Captain does not. Near Wickssura, May 23, 1883, Daur Farner :—We were yesterday day in assaulting the rebel forts. we stormed the works twice, but were driv back. The entrenchments are on the top of high hills, and abouts all the way up. The fight is going on along the line today The firing is terrific. News comes to us that McArthur has two brigades in the enemies rifle pits on the South. We are now temporarily attached to Logan's division. I would not write at this time, but I have a fine opportunity of sending it home, by the guard taking up Co. Navius’ body, and I am afraid that news will go home as it has before, that I am killed. I am wounded in the forehead, but not so bad as to leave the field. My head feels like it had a dozen head aches in it, but it will not be serious. I don’t think it will make a job if it heals up well. The losses in the Company are: Charles Snider, killed ; James Swkes, wounded, mortally ; Jacob Keller, right arm off; Richard Malers, right arm off ; Robert Donahue, wounded in foot severely; M. Halerman, wounded slightly in hand, in cluding meself, 7 in the Company. Col. Nevius is killed. Capt. Duncan is wounded ; don’t know how bad—think not dangerously. Lt. Perronnett is wounded severely. In the Regiment there are 85 or 100 killed, wounded and missing. The fight was very short; two clashes at the works, in the face of a direst fire of mus ketry and artillery, and an enfilading fire from each side, of grape and canister. They are waiting for this, 80 I close. Your son, GEORGE C McKEE. We are permitted to make the following extracts from a private letter from a soldier in the 80th Regiment : Caur Cause, Ohio, May 26, 1863. We started from Nashville on the 8th of April and landed here on the 22nd of this month, and in that time we have seen hardships of all sorts. We travelled two days on foot, the rest of the time were mounted. We were two days and nights on the Cumberland river, when we got off at Palmyra and went to the Cumberland Iron Works ; from there to Fort Donelson, and from there to Fort Henry on the Ten river. We stopped twice, and got off and scoured round through the country. Then we ran up to Eastport, where the whole brigade got off and tilled themselves out for a land march. From Tuscumbia we started right through the center of the State of Alabama. We went through Russellville, Mt. Hope, Moulton, and several little towns. The 20th of April we had to stop and fight Col. Ra dy’s forces at Day's Gap on the Sand Mountains at the head of Tombigbee river. The fight lasted about five hours. Our brigade was too much for Rady’s forces, and they were drown back with a right emart loss. ‘The 80th Illinois and a part of the 3d Ohio made a charge and won the rebel battery. Gen. Forest reinforced Ra dy, and they followed us on with vigor and that evening overtook us. We dismounted and gave them another round, but they were too much for us; re-took their artillery but it did them no good, for our men cut down the wheels and spiked the guns. We lost some men at both fights. We traveled night and day for seven days and nights, all but two half nights, and then we laid on the ground on our arms and held our horses redy a mount at a moment's warning. We had them to con tend with several days and nights, skir mishing every day more or less for five days. In the whole fight from first to last, we lost about 70 in our brigade, killed and wounded. ‘There were five killed out of our Regiment. The Adjutant and one Captain was killed. Lt. Pavy of Co. E. was wounded. The killed and wounded in the 80'h numbered 13. Wee left James Bunce in Richmond, Va., sick. In the whole march from Tuscumbia to where we surrendered, we pressed all the horses and mules we could find. We were sent out for the purpose of burning bridges, to destroy corn, hay, and doing what dam we could. Among the rest we destroy ed three shot and shell foundries, several mills were burned. We found low of Com missary stores hidden in the mountains. We burned 30 wagons loaded with bacon. We burned several bridges after we passed over ther. ‘The orders were to do all the damage we could and not fight, but we had a fight to keep them back. When within 3 miles of the Georgia line we met three rebel brigades with nine can non placed all ready for us. Then we saw flag of trace presented, calling on us a surrender, for the had us entirely surround ed. Our colonel commanding the brigade told Gen. Forest that he would have to see his men and know that he was telling the truth. So the General showed Col. Straight and Maj. Bates, his men, and they were satisfied that we were said, and gave up the struggle. After the surrender they took all our blankets, canteens, haversacks, and half starved us. They took us to Rome, Ga., where we were parolled. We finally ar rived at Camp Chase and are enjoying our selves first rate. Shall probably be sent to Benton Barracks soon. Yours, WM. W. WALLIS.
Newspaper Details
Centralia Sentinel
Centralia, Illinois, US
Thu, Jun 04, 1863
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Andrew M.
USA 10 Feb 2026
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