Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

April 5, 1862 – Rebel Steamer Burnt

Cairo, April 4th, 1862.

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary Navy :

This morning the Benton, Cincinnati and Pittsburg, with three mortar boats, opened and continued for more then an hour a fire on the rebels heavy floating battery at Island No. 10, when the latter, having received several shells from the rifles and mortars, cut loose from her moorings and drifted two or three miles down the river, The shells were thrown from the flotilla into different parts of the Island and into rebel batteries lining the Tennessee shore. The return fire produced no effect on the squadron. No more men than were actually necessary to man the batteries were visible.

(Signed) L. H. FOOTE, Flag Officer.

Posted inUS Civil War

April 4, 1862 – Letter from Winchester

Correspondence of the Baltimore Republican.

Winchester, March 26, 1862.

Messrs. Editors: It may interest your readers to have some account of the severe battle of Sunday last, near this town. You have already the main facts as stated in the dispatches of the telegraph agents, and it is therefore needless to repeat them. The plain story of the fight, as ascertained and believed by the substantial people of this place is sucinctly thus:

Late on Saturday afternoon some two or three hundred of Col. Ashby’s cavalry, unexpectedly to all parties, military and citizens, made their appearance on thehigh ridge of hills south of the town and signalized their presence with the discharge of a few shells, but not in the direction of any of the houses of the citizens. This, of course, produced great commotion among the Federal military, who immediately commenced moving in all directions; cavalry, infantry, and artillery went thundering and plunging through the town all night, giving our citizens a very impressive idea of the dread commotions and fierce energies of war.

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April 2, 1862 – Forced March Against a Rebel Camp at Union City

Chicago, April 1—A special dispatch to the Journal from Cairo says that Col. Buford yesterday, accompanied by the 27th and 47th Illinois Regiments, and part of the 15th Wisconsin Regiment, from the force near Island No. 10, with a detachment of cavalry and artillery from Hickman, under Col. Hedge, made a descent upon Union City, Tenn, after a forced march of 30 miles, and fell on the rebel encampment there at 7 o’clock In the morning, dispersing the entire force stationed there under Clay King, both cavalry and infantry.

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March 29, 1862 – Army Correspondence

Camp Butterfield, Hall’s Hill, VA, Feb. 24, 1862

Dear Register:—One month ago to­day in closing a communication for your paper I expressed the hope that I should soon have something of importance to about. Since that time glorious victories have been gained by our troops in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri. Imperishable laurels have been won, and many brave hearts that then beat high with patriotic emotion, now sleep the sleep of the brave; and still the grand army of the Potomac maintains the “masterly inactivity” that has characterized it since the fatal rout at Bull Run.—Occasional reconnoisances, frequent rejoicings over victories, and a visit of the General in-Chief among the troops, are theonly incidents that have occurred to break the monotony of camp life. It has rained the greater part of the time, and almost all drill has been suspended excepting a little target practice, and occasionally a dress parade, when the mud is not too deep. On Saturday, the 22d inst., in compliance with an order from headquarters, all the regiments in this portion of the army were called out to listen to extracts from Washington’s Farewell Address. It was a scene calculated to awaken the liveliest emotions of patriotism.—While the chaplain read with a clear, sonorous voice the parting admonitions of the Father of his country the National airs came floating on the breeze from the bands of a dozen different regiments in the vicinity.

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March 27, 1862 – Letter from Capt. Kummel

Ossawotamie, Kansas, Feb. 17th, 1862.

Here I am on the battle-ground of old John Brown. The thaw setting in, on Monday we commenced forced marches, in order to cross the Osage river before the freshet would affect a rise in the water, but did not succeed, although I, with the right wing, (five companies) crossed on the ice. Must of our baggage and the whole train is yet on the other side, with all the provisions and stores. The ice is now gone, and the river risen 7 feet, so fording will be impossible for days to come. A communication, by canoe only has been established between our troops. We have had to cross several creeks—some on the ice and some by wading.

Although we should have reached Fort Scott on the 15th, we are yet 50 miles from it, and are hemmed in by the tributaries of the Osage, aa 1 encamped in a heavy piece of black walnut, hickory, and other timber,—Fires are, therefore, plenty, and big enough to roast an ox.