The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-10-26
For the Ha.k-Ey..
Array COrrespondence.
BIRD's PoIHr, No., Oct. 18th, l8t

ea BIRD's PoINT, No., Oct 10th, 1861.
MR. Epiros Our camp was yesterday .
! scene OF some excitement, occasdned by two
circumstances which happened very nearly at
the same time. One was an attack upon and
driving in Of portion Of Noleman's Illinois
Centrally Cavalry; the other the appearance
Of a steamer from Columbus, bearing flag of
truce. sd q a;ifiea
f The cavalry fight occurred about seven miles
from here on the middle road, running south
west, between the Norfolk and Charleston roads,
between Capt. Nolemans Cavalry and hun
dred or more Secesh, supposed to be Aiss'ssip-
plans most Of whom were also mounted. Our
boys stood their ground nobly until they found
that the enemy were outfanking them and would
capture or destroy them, when they retreated
into camp. They lost but one man, corporal,
who was shot through the head and fell dead
Four had their horses shot under them and took
to the woods, firing from behind trees until their
comrades retreated, when they made their way
rs best they could to camp, arriving about two
hours after the others The BOYS say they
saw seven of the Secesh fall, one Of whom wac
the Captain, brave and ine looking fellow,
killed by Sandy Brown, crack shot. Four or
five Of the boys are wounded but not badly
One of their horses fell before arriving at camp
and one or two Others may die. 1t is really
strange to see the fortitude which these noble
animals exhibit when suffering from the extrac-
tion Of balls ard probing of their wounds
The object of the flag of truce is not yet known
by our field officers, though all concur in the
opinion that it was sent up for the purpose OF
spying out our positions and the number and ar
rangement of our forces There has been
great many silly things done in this region of
the world, but the simplest Of all was suffering
that truce boat to IN, at least without an es-
cort, as it did yesterday, giving ample time
and opportunitv for any one to sketch all our
positions from the deck or pilot house. The
boat could be seen for three or four miles down
the river from Fort Holt or Cairo, yet it was
suffered to run right up slongside of Fort Holt,
(which it seemed anxious to get near to,) and
out in full view (since the rise in the river) Of
the unfinished aud unfortifed side of Birds
Point (for at least a third Of the Notifications
required here remain untouched yet, notwith-
standing the casing about our strength) and
finally made straight shoot for Cairo harbor,
when the Aleck Scott pushed out, hooked on
to her and accompanied her piece down the
river.
A gunboat might have met her two miles
down the river and transacted all the business
necessary Sevastopol was sketched by just
such another operation, and we may paw dearly
for this. if Pillow, Polk, Cheatham and johnson
are at Columbus with $4,000 men, as is reported.
We may have desperate fight here before
many days. When our Iowa friends hear of
the I'd Regiment going into battle, let them re
member that we have been reduced by death,
discharges and sickness until we can't turn out
500 men fit for active duty, and let them judge
US accordingly.
We hope the enemy viii attack US in our posi-.
tions, but wish the timber was cut away farther
from the entertainments, and the eastern end OF
the Notifications completed to the river. The
enemy below certainly intend to strike some
where very soon. II. s.
-O-