From a letter, dated Huntsville, Ala., and written by . . .

. . . WILL. B. PICKERING, who by the way, is Private Secretary of Gen. MITCHELL, we are permitted to extract the following:

“Gen. Mitchell’s forces took possession of this place last Saturday morning, at 6 o’clock, taking the citizens entirely by surprise. This is certainly a lucky capture. We captured 21 first-class locomotives and a few cars, belonging to the Memphis & Charleston R. R. The 8th Brigade, to which the [18th] Ohio belongs, has captured Decatur, twenty five miles below. Six hundred bales of cotton were taken.”

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens Ohio, Thursday, April 24, 1862

Aid Society

Since the organization of the Society the following number of boxes have been forwarded: Two, one containing fruit, wine, jelly, &c., the other bedding, pillows, shirts, drawers and towels, to the Eighteenth regiment.

March 27, a large box was sent to the Cincinnati Sanitary Commission.

A supply of jelly, fruit and wine was collected for the 75th regiment, but learning their need was supplied, or would be, and the difficulty of sending to Huttonville determined the Society in sending all stores to the Sanitary Commission; accordingly last Friday two boxes containing the following articles were sent: 6 cans fruit, 6 jars jelly, 9 bottles wine, 2 papers farina, 4 corn starch, 5 lbs blackberries, 1 bottle catsup, 1 package oat meal, 1 package crackers, 1 sack dired apples, 72 bandages, 3 comforts, 15 pillows, 32 towels, 15 pairs socks, 1 pair woolen drawers, 6 half-worn shirts, 32 pin balls, 8 straw ticks, 8 shirts, 14 sheets, 3 double gowns, 3 blankets 1 quilt, 6 pillow slips, 6 boxes lint.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 24, 1862

We understand that Thos. Grosvenor died . . .

. . . at Huntsville, Ala., on the 14th inst., of congestion of the brain. We were not acquainted with Mr. Grosvenor, but we understand that he was employed in the Sutler’s department of the 18th Regiment.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 24, 1862

Victory At Pittsburg, Tenn.

With the news of the surrender of Island Number Ten, came the news also of a brilliant victory by Gen. Grant, at Pittsburgh, Tenn.

The meagre account given in the dispatches of this battle gives us to understand that it was a hard fought one, but none the less glorious in its results. The rebels were defeated, and dispersed in all directions. Gen. Grant was pursuing them in hot haste. The battle lasted nearly a whole day.

LATER. – Since writing the above we have received dispatches which state that the battle began on Saturday and continued during the day. Our forces were that day repulsed with a loss of 3000 killed and several hundred taken prisoners! Gen. Buell came to Gen. Grant’s assistance the next morning, Sunday. This day the rebels were repulsed with terrible loss on both sides. Ours stated to be from 18,000 to 20,000 the rebels from 35,000 to 40,000!! This must be fearfully exaggerated. We will await details with great interest. There is a possibility of Gen. Mitchell’s Division being in the battle. Several hundred men from Athens county were in this Division. The 18th and 3rd Regiments are in it.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 10, 1862