.NTI3.ODc3

From Newberry Transcribe
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Court Martial, and it must be a severe crime or he is punished by forfiture of pay. General Banks is greatly sensured here Among Military Authorities he is considered a Rebel at heart or else dreadfuly deficient Rebel Prisoners that were Captured in the Red River expedition say that they knew Banks position and could have Captured him but it was against their Generals orders, but they were determined to have A. J. Smith if possible. Our men that were in the fight think that the baggage train was given away intentionaly as it was in a road cut through heavy timber where there was no possible chance of retreat, but by turning square around with but one brigade of Infantry in front numbering less than 2000 men, and six Batteries of light Artillery which in the timber against Inft. or Cavalry are but of little use. The Batteries were all taken but two guns and half of the Inft. This is no bragadocie who never saw a fight, report, but facts gathered from a hundred different men that lost their Knapsacks, their guns their all. Then the way they have treated the Chicago Mercantile Batty. boys, after loosing four of their Officers (two killed and two prisoners) and nearly one half of the men, because they refuse to take muskets and do garrison duty in the City, their only remaining Officer, and Non Commissioned are put in prison and kept there two months without trial and the privates are made to do fatigue duty, building forts. The Non Coms had their trial one day last week and were all reduced to the ranks. Have just learned a few minutes ago that Johnny Beem has gone home on a furlough hope you will see him