The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-11-16

Ream probably mortally wounded, aud Lieut.
Gale eerionsly, and Gardiner missing. Probabl
some more arc lost and wounded, but NOT many
for Ihaye seen most that are present this morn
inn. Some Of the companies suffered terribly
Company A went out with 6s men and returned
with l5: B With ~. srsturned With II; b will
So. returned with a.. many Of them wounded
With ss. resarned With ls;C lost about 80; ]
has ls missing, many known to be dead; 20 goe
the sad catalogue. It may be that some vii
yet cone in, . few came in last night BY land
other regiments have suffered as badly a
ours. although we were in the thickest Of the
Eight: drove the enemy into camp, then follow
ed them and drove them inch BY inch from tht
csmp. took lota Of opr,souers. four cannon, and
burned their tents and camp equipage.
Col. Lauman ct the head Of his column, cheer
inx them on, wAs twice dismounted; but would
moant smother horne, waving his sword and re
volver, shouting, Coward my brave boys The
7th has covered itself with immortal honori
they drove the enemy entirely from their ground
and supposed the victory complete, and while
cheering and rejoicing in the enemys camp,
heavy reinforcements crossed the river and COM
plet.ly surrounded the little band that remained.
Then the terrible Slaughter commenced anew,
for all we're determined to die rather than sur.
render. Leonidas like, they cut their way, and
although many brave ones we're made to bite the
dust, yet the remnant got through with the
prisoners they had taken. The tide Of war was
then Get against our forces, and oil were com.
manded to retire to the boats. The cannon
could not be brought Of i
Our forces retired in tolerabie good order,
considering the nature Of the ground. Although
the enemy were reinforced by fresh troops from
the other side Of the rear. they did not seem
disposed to follow us until our forces were most
10 on board of the boats. A reserve force had
been kept to gaard the boats, but they were
destined to have share in the fight, for about
the time the last of our artillery and men were
getting aboard, the advance of the enemy came
up and commenced firing upon US, the boats
still lying to shore, but they we're unhorsed ss
fast az they came up. The whole feet was COW
cred with men and Z constant stream of FIRE
from all the decks was seen to flow. Meanwhile
the gunboats got in position and the batteries on
board the transports commenced the most ter
rife cannonading; the sight was most sublime
and awful, as the white smoke rolled up in col
umns, the declining sun throwing his redeemed
rays upon us as If colored BY the incense that
day offered to the god of war. The smoke
seemed to act as . mirror, rejecting the rays of
light upon the hills Of Columbus, revealing the
position of al her batteries in manner that
could not have been seen before with the best
glass. The bursting of shells on the land, as We
aoated out on the river, wss 80 terrible that We
often thought the enemy had brought artillery
after US.
As We moved OF up the river, the firing con
tinued on shore and from boats for distance
Of two to three miles, after which all was quiet.
The gunboats landed about four miles up and
took on board most Of the 9Th Illinois, who had
become detached and kept around in the rear
Of the enemy, gaining = position above them
without their knowledge.
SO ends an imperfect sketch Of our bloody
days work. It cannot be styled defeat, but .
retirement from q position that any General,
yes, any private, ought to havs known we could
not possibly have held when taken. 1t is COM
pletely under the heavy batteries OF Columbus
Just now learn that the loss Of the Iowa 7th
is equal to all the others combined. Thus the
Se1X h,. svvnh Ia