Showing posts with label Ft Cairo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ft Cairo. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

3rd Sergeant Charles Wright Wills: Monday, December 2, 1861

Monday, December 2, 1861.

While I was writing last night there really was a Rebel gunboat came up the river and fired into Fort Holt. Impudent, wasn't it? The Fort replied, and Fort Cairo also shot a couple of shells over our heads toward the rascals, but they fell short. We could see the troops at Fort Holt out under arms for an hour. Taylor's battery went off down the Norfolk road at a slashing pace to try and get a shot at the boat but was too late.

It is very cold this morning and snowing again. We are perfectly comfortable, though.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 47

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Special to Evening Journal

CAIRO, April 10.

Your Chicago batteries have gained new laurels in the late struggle.  Taylor’s battery did fearful execution.  Their praise is in the mouth of every one.  Waterhouse’s battery was in the first attack, and was badly cut up, and its horses mostly killed.  Taylor is said to have protected his men by peculiar movements that dealt destruction to the enemy.  His batter followed the enemy within four miles of Corinth, and fought and performed wonders.  Their feats could not have been surpassed.

The 15th Illinois regiment, under Colonel Ellis, was badly cut up, and most of its officers were killed.  Among them were Ellis, Maj. Godard, Capt. Wayne, and others.

Col. Davis, of Freeport, was shot through the lungs, but is still alive.  Gen. Wallace was shot through the head, the ball entering back of the left ear and coming out at the nose, taking out an eye, but he is not dead as reported.  The 20th Ill. regiment is badly cut up.  Gen. Cullum arrived here to look after the defences of the river.  The list of prisoners captured at the Island foots up to 4,386 rank and file.

Transports have gone down to bring the prisoners to Cairo.  What disposal will be made of them is unknown.

The value of property captured at Island No. 10 amounts to over $2,000,000.

As the Continental rounded Ft. Cairo this morning Gen. Strong fired a salute of 13 guns in honor of Maj. Gen. Halleck.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 12, 1862, p. 2