The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-10-11

II From Departments u che Galf.
WASHINGTON, Oct h--Tssis understood thai
disabled volunteers, or such as are not sufficient
y strong to serve in the field, will be detailed
for guard duty at hospitals.
Lord Lyons is expected to returnt to Washing
ton in the English steamer Of the 18th.
The following report has been forwarded to
the Headquarters Of the army: aH
HfApos's DEPARTMENT OF THE GuLr,l
.ss New Orleans, Sept a. IS
To Maj. Gen. BUTLER, Cong Dept fGu'f:
Pursuant to your orders, OF the 18th inst,
embarked on the afternoon OF that day on board
the steamer Ceres, at Lake Port, with three
companies Of the, 18th Maine volunteers, com
manded respectively by Captains Barnton, Far.
rington and Winter, and one company, Captain
Pickering, of the 26th Mass regiment. and had
previously sent 100 men Of the 18th Coma, on
board the gunboat, New London, whose
commander had kindly consented to cooperate
With US.
The object was to surprise the village of Pom
chatoD, the Headquarters of the rebel General,
the line of the Jackson r. r. To that end, the
New London was to land her men at Mauchack
bridge, whence, at day break next morning, they
we're to drive the enemy.
That night he found them northward to Pom
chula, while the remainder Of the force, having
found their way IL miles up the Tangipahoa in
the night, we're to load and march miles west
ward and capture Ponchatoula in season to &C.
cure those of the enemy who had been driven
up from the Pass Hanchsck. The attempt to sur.
prise the place proved failure, for not only was
the New London unable to get over the bar
Menchsc Pass in the darkness, but the Ceres,
TOO large for the easy navigation Of the narrow
winding Tangipahoa, failed in two nights to
reach her destination on that river in season to
admit of our getting to Ponchatorla before day
light. l strove, therefore, to 60 with the steam
er to Menchack bridge, and did so on the morn.
ing of the 18th. From that point Capt. Winter
was sent with his company southwark to make
destruction of the railroad on the Mnchack,
which duty be thoroughly performed. Captain
Pickerings company was left to guard the
steamer and comm; ssaries, and Captain Thorn.
ton and harrington began forced march
upon Ponchula. A locomotive one mile below
the village, gave notice of our approach, which
could not be concealed, and ran northward
giving the alarm to the village, and thence to
the camp for achievements.
A written document was obtained which
showed the rebel force at that point to con
sist of 800 troops of the 10th Arkansas regi-
ment, one company of Home Guards, and one
of artillery, with six pieces. had, however,
received reliable information that the enemy's
force was only infantry and no artillery. The
reinforcements had taken place at a subsequent
date Our force engaged amounted to about
IL 900. We left of killed, wounded and mis-
sing, exclusive of those who have just came in,
among the last, the gallant Captain Thornton,
ton
Avery, of the 9th Iowa volunteers, with his at
tendants, voluntarily returned with our wounded,
but the former has since returned, bringing in
IL men, more or less, severely wounded. One
fatal case Of sun stroke occurred on board the
steamer. Our return from Penchitocela was
necessarily along the railroad through swamps
and on which there is no cover for troops, and
it was therefore impossible to bring off those
of our men most severely wounded, az they
would be exposed for long distance to the fire
of the rebel artillery, which, with horses at
tached, could be brought along the line of re-
treat as soon as we should have left the village.
The artillery did so return at the signal of the
Inhabitants, but though actively served, did us
no harm.
Sergeant Avery reported 20 of the enemy
killed.
Capts. Thornton and harrington, and the Off
GERS and men of their respective commands
though nearly exhausted by their march, twenty
miles of which was over an open tressle, in the
heat of the day, behaved nobly in the fight
Capts. Pickney and Fouts, after very rapid
march, for which they are entitled to much Gre.
dit, came up after We had left the village, Gov
ering our rear, and assisted IN bringing up the
wounded.
Lieutenants Martin, Allen and Finnegan, and
commander Buchanan of o. s. Navy, who &C
conpanied the expedition, rendered important
services and their gallantry during the action
deserves special mention. have the honor to
be, General, 4
Ht)V Very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
Gro g SrpoNc Aot;po HonN g.