Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

284 ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS
entered the service, there were after this fight only about 150
left, and we were consolidated with the 48th Ohio; then the
two regiments combined were less than 400 men.
"During the attack on Jackson our skirmishers had captured
a house and cistern. In looking down into the cistern
for water, we discovered a rebel in there, and also a lot of
clothing. The clothes we had on had not been changed for
six weeks and were ragged and filthy. A short ladder had
been put down for the man's use. We captured him and sent
him back to our army, and I climbed into the cistern to in-
vestigate; on finding the clothing I hastily changed, and just
then the cry came: "The rebels are coming! The rebels
are coming!" In my haste to get out I left my blouse in the
cistern, which was no great loss in itself, save that there were
in the pocket all my letters and a picture. That evening the
skirmishers of the 23d Wisconsin recaptured the cistern.
Among them it so happened there was a man by the name of
Myers who found the blouse with the letters and picture in
it, and he brought them back to me the next day."
It is this picture I have to present to you — the picture of
my little sister in that long ago. Brother Datus goes on to
relate his further experiences down South
"We were then moved with our division to Florida, to
operate with the army against Mobile. This army was concentrated
about Mobile Bay, and so our regiment had the
honor of participating in the last great battle of the war,
storming the works at Blakely, across the bay from Mobile,
April 9, 1865 — after Lincoln had been assassinated and Lee
had surrendered. The works we had to attack were about
two miles long; a regiment from each division was selected to
lead the charge and develop the enemy's strength, a sort of
forlorn hope. It was not dreamed that we could capture the
fort in our front without the support of the balance of the
division.
"I will give you here a description of the part our 83d Ohio
played in this fight. The account is written by Gen. C. C.
Andrews, in his 'History of the Mobile Campaign': 'The
83d Ohio had three ravines to pass, and the ravine nearest the