During the latter part of March, the Ninth was relieved from the monotony of its discomfort by a raid upon the enemy. A boat with a little girl in it being found adrift, and brought to Ship Island, Gen. Butler sent it to the nearest town, Biloxi, under a flag of truce, in charge of Major Strong, his chief of staff. While returning to the island, Major Strong was fired upon from the shore, an act of barbarism which so incensed Gen. Butler, that he ordered the Ninth to cross the sound, and burn the town if the outrage was not promptly apologized for. The force went ashore in a steam-transport, convoyed by the gunboat New London* and another; and the landing was the signal for the flight of rebel soldiers and citizens in great terror. Skirmishers were sent into the country, and brought back the fugitive mayor, who made atonement by declaring that the treachery of the morning was the act of straggling ruffians over whom he had no control.

Col. Cahill took possession of the town. Next day it was rumored that there were eighteen hundred rebels at Pass Christian, twenty miles farther west, and that they were about to move on Biloxi. Col. Cahill and Major Strong considered the situation, concluded that the rebels would proba bly leave half their force at Pass Christian, and resolved immediately to sail down and attack the place, relying on success to justify them before their commander for exceeding instructions.

They went quietly aboard at dark, and started rapidly down the coast. The transport Lewis was a small, old, rickety craft, with a wheezy engine; but she carried two smart three-inch Sawyer guns in the bow. Col. Cahill had gone on board a gunboat to arrange the plan; when just at daylight, off Mississippi City, three rebel gunboats attacked them furiously. The two gunboats replied sharply. A naval officer advised Col. Cahill to hurry to the transport, and run her into shoal water, so that, when she sunk, the men could get ashore. He started at once, and returned in an open boat through the midst of the fire. A gunboat.

4 The New London was formerly a propeller running between New London, Conn., and New York, now altered to a screw gunboat with five guns. She was commanded by Lieut. Abner Reed, and captured many blockade-runners.

was plying savagely, with shot and shell, the crowded transport. Several shots took effect. One passed through the wheelhouse; one crashed through the cabin, turning Father Mullen, the chaplain, suddenly out of his berth. The greatest excitement and confusion prevailed.

As soon as the colonel was within hailing distance, he shouted to his men to fire; and the saucy little pieces instantly replied to the enemy's guns. The rebel was now near, and broadside to. The officers of the Ninth superintended the firing. One lucky shot shattered the rebel pilot-house; another cut the tiller-rope. The Lewis had all steam on, and was backing towards shore. Soon the overmatched rebel gunboats made off, rapidly pursued by our

own.

The Ninth effected a landing at Pass Christian, and passed quickly through the town. through the town. Two miles beyond, the 4th Mississippi was drawn up in line of battle. It kept up a constant fusilade as the Ninth advanced; but the latter fired one volley, and charged with an Irish "Ya-a-a-a-ah!” when the defenders of the soil broke, and ran to the woods.

The victors scattered through the comfortable camp, and made themselves at home. Capt. Lawrence O'Brien found in the commander's tent a dispatch to Gen. Lovell at New Orleans: "The Federals are landing in force. I shall defend the place. Have eight hundred infantry, two companies cavalry, and two batteries." The ink was not dry when he was retreating, demoralized, in the direction of the force that had gone to recapture Biloxi.

The camp was well provided and amply furnished; the officers' quarters even possessing a piano. They abandoned tents and equipage, arms and ammunition, food, and every thing else; and the Ninth loaded the transport with as much as they could carry back to the island. Next morning, they again embarked; and, before leaving, a committee came down, and expressed the thanks of the citizens for the good conduct of the soldiers during the night. The regiment

5 Under the name of Osborne, Capt. O'Brien appeared, in 1867, as a Fenian officer in Ireland. He was captured and confined in Clonmel jail, one of the strongest in the island, but, to the astonishment of the English, escaped the first night. He was a brave and efficient officer, and fertile in expedients.

THE NINTH AND TWELFTH REGIMENTS.

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returned to the island in high spirits, bearing among their trophies sundry wrought-iron bowie-knives (one of them marked "Yankee exterminator") and a beautiful silk flag (the colors of the 4th Mississippi), carried off in spite of the tearful protestations of the fair rebels who made it.

It was not difficult to obtain the forgiveness of Gen. Butler for acting without authority. He issued, before going to New Orleans, the following order:

HEADQUARTERS, Department OF THE GULF, April 12. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 10. The major-general commanding desires publicly to testify his appreciation of the gallant courage and good conduct of the Ninth Connecticut Volunteers, Col. Cahill commanding, and a section of the 6th Massachusetts Battery, on a recent expedition to Biloxi and Pass Christian.

Of their bravery in the field he felt assured; but another quality, more trying to the soldier, claims his admiration. After having been, for months, subjected to the privations necessarily incident to camp-life upon this island, these well-disciplined soldiers, although for many hours in full possession of two rebel villages filled with what, to them, were most desirable luxuries, abstained from the least unauthorized interference with private property, and all molestation of peaceful citizens. This behavior is worthy of all praise.

The general commanding commends the action of the men of this expedition to every soldier in this department. Let it be imitated by all in the towns and cities we shall occupy, a living witness that the United-States soldier fights only for the Union, the Constitution, and the inforcement of the laws.

By command of Major-Gen. Butler.

GEORGE C. STRONG, Adjutant-General.

Farragut being ready to attack the forts on the Mississippi, Butler embarked his forces, and moved up to the passes. There was difficulty in getting on board the transports; and the Twelfth went to work at the old sunken hulk of a vessel, got it afloat, and used it as a lighter. Then, taking the ship E. W. Farley, it started in advance of the troops. The Ninth took the steam-transport Matanzas. The vessels proceeded up the river near the gunboats, and witnessed the first day's bombardment and the burning of the wood-work of Fort Jackson. They were ordered down the river, and lay at the head of the passes for two weeks, where they ran a gantlet of rebel fire-ships and other perils. One night, about midnight, the men of the Twelfth were startled by a terrible crash; and the ship careened so