The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-12-13

official reports of the operations of Gen. Grants
army Gre submitted herewith, marked exhibit
No. s. :,
GEN. cuRfn' wIrHDaAwAL OF TROOPS ,aor
ARKANSAS.
The unfortunate withdrawal to Missouri, by
Gen. Curtis, of large part of the army in AT
operations which had been ordered in the latter
State. In Missouri the forces under Brig: Gen
Sch06eld not only broke up and destroyed nu.
mefous guerrilla bands, but defeated the rebel
army in several engagements near the south
west corner of the State, and drove it across the
Boston Mountains, in Arkansas. cannot give
the details Of these engagements, as no official
reports hsve been received. la 81 - ia
1HE ,IsDIAs WAR, DEPARTMENTS or THE GULF, rHz
sat AZ SOUTH, Etc 49, rs
The Indian tribes, in the Nortbw vest, and more
particularly In Minnesota, melted, it is said, by
reoet emissarles, committed numerous murders
and other outrages, on the frontiers, dursg the
latter part OF the summer. These savages were
vigorously attacked by volunteer force under
Brig. Gen. Sibley, and defeated in several well
fought battles on the upper waters of the Mime.
sofa River. These vigorous proceedings struck
terror among the Indians, and put an end to hos.
Utilities in that quarter for the present season
It 10 quite possible that these hostlities will be
renewed in the coming spring, and preparations
will be made accordingly. - a.ag e.
In the Department of the Gulf, the withdraw
q OF our aotilla from vicksburg enabled the
enemy to concentrate q considerable force on
Baton Rouge, which was then held by Brieadier
General Williams The attack vas made on the
9th OF August, with greatly superior forces. un-
der the rebel Gen. Breckenridge. Gen. williams
gained most signal victory but fell in the fight.
Our loss was 90 killed and $50 wounded. We
buried 800 of the enemy's dead, left upon the
field. On the 10th of August the garrison Of
Baton Rouge was withdrawn to New Orleans.-
On the Gath of October, Gen. Butler cent force,
under Brig Gen. Weitzel, to operate on the west
bank OF the, Mississippi, in, the Lafourche dis
trlct. He engaged "a considerable body of the
enemy on the 25tb, about nine miles from Dom
aldsonville, and defeated them, with the loss
Of their commander, large number killed and
wounded, and 26S prisoners. Our loss was ls
killed and GO wounded, This victory, opened
the whole of that part of the country. q General
buuers reports of the military operations in his
department. are submitted herewith, marked Ell.
hibi. No. 4 81 49, ,.,.,s. - 0i
In the Department of the South, the only mil.
ltary4 operations which have been undertaken
we're the reconnaissance of the Pocataligo and
Coosowatchie rivers. These expeditions under
Brig. Gen. Brannan and Col. Barton, eneoun-
tered considerable force of the enemy on the
22d OF October, and an engagement ensued, in
which we lost 81 killed and $50 wounded The
official reports of these engagements are submit
ted herewith, marked Exhibit No 8. ga gaaL
In the Department of North Carolina or
force also has been too small to attempt anv ;a,-
portsnt neutrality-suspicious.. On the eth o.,
September party of the enemy surprised the
garrison of Washington, but we're soon driven
out Our loss was killed and SO wounded, and
hat OF the enemy 33 killed and about 100
wounded Several successful reconnaissance
nave been made into the interior. The official
reports of the affair at Washington are marked
Exhibit No. 9. SO as4ausN M. .1af
CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS.
1t is seen from this brief summary of militia
y operations during the last three or four
months that while our soldiers have generally
ought with bravery, and gained many important
battles, these victories have not produced the
usual results In many instances the defeated
Zoe was not followed from the battlefield and
sven where pursuit wac attempted it almost in
Variably tailed to effect the capture or destruc-
lion OF any part of the retreating army. This is
! matter which requires serious and careful con.
liberation. A victorious army is supposed to
be in condition to pursue its defeated foe with
advantage, and, during each pursuit, to do him
Serious if not fatal injury. M .ras-T
The result has usually been attained in other
countries Is there any reason why it should
not be expected in tbiss 1t is essly under.
stood that in a country like that between York
Town and Richmond, or the thickly wooded
,wamps of Mississippi and Louisiana, that re-
treating force by the telling of trees across the
roads and destroying the bridges over deep and
marshy streams, can effectually prevent aIy "a
pid pursuit. The one in few minutes. blocks
up or destroys roads, which the other cannot
clear or repair for hours or even days The
pursuer has very little hope of overtsking bis
lying foe. But this reasoning is not applicable
to Maryland, and the greater part Of Virginia,
Kentucky and Middle Tennessee. 1t must be
that in these theatres of war, the re-
bel armies have exhibited much more mobility
and activity than our own. Not only do they
out-mafch rs but in advance and retreat, but
on two memorable occasions their cavalry have
made with impunity the entire circuit of the Or.
my Of the Potomac. II it be tue that the sue.
cess OF an army depends upon it's sarms and
legs" ours has shown itself deficient in the
latter of these essential requisites
0UOr-
nous baggage and supply trains, and to want
Of training in marches There is no doubt that
the baggage trains of our armies have been ex-
cessively large Every possible effort has been
made within the last few weeks to reduce them.
But this is no easy task. Once accustomed to a
certain amount Of transportation, an army is un-
willing to do without the luxuries which it Gun.
plies in the field. By the recent increase Of the
army ration, which was previously larger than
in any other country, considerable amount of
transportation is employed in moving proyi-
sions and supplies which are not necessary for
the subsistence Of the soldiers.
An examination of the returns of the Omar
g General, few days since, developed
the fact that the army of the Potomac. inclu-
ding the troops around Washington, most Of
which are without field trains, had 81 900 ami
mails, and that 5000 Of these were EMPLOYED in
ambulances and hospital stores
In addition to all this the roads, streets and
wharves are incumbered with private vehicles
used tor the transportation of suffers stores.
No matter how large the main body of an anmv
may be-, it can never move rapidly with such a
mass Of impediments, and yet speculative pro
jects are almost daily urged on the War Depart.
mont n <hn