Dr. Kennedy has just passed through, and was within the
fortifications last night; brings news which is perhaps reliable, as it was
obtained from Gardiner. It was, as we presumed, the batteries and gunboats. One
we sunk; another, the Mississippi, we disabled so that the Yankees had to
abandon and set fire to her, thirty-nine prisoners falling into our hands. It
was her magazine that exploded this morning. Two other boats succeeded in
passing, though badly crippled. Our batteries fired gallantly. Hurrah! for
Colonel Steadman! I know his was by no means the least efficient!
Clinton, they say, will inevitably be sacked. Alas, for
mother and Lilly! What can we do? The whole country is at the mercy of the
Yankees as long as Gardiner keeps within the fortifications. Six miles below
here they entered Mr. Newport's, pulled the pillow-cases from the beds, stuffed
them with his clothes, and helped themselves generally. What can we expect
here? To tell the truth, I should be disappointed if they did not even look in
at us, on their marauding expedition.
SOURCE: Sarah Morgan Dawson, A Confederate Girl's Diary, p.
339-40
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