The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-12-20

were encamped, and connecting with privste
bridge which the enemy had neglected to de-
stroy. This bridge vas picketed heavily, IS
we're also the roads and paths leading to it, andN
Instructions given to prevent any rebel demon
s,ration againstit A large detail was employed
during the night in filing the ruts and holes in
the road, and making it passabls for our wagons
and artillery. ...........
At o'clock Friday morning the column stsrt.
ed in the order indicated above. Al proper
distance FROM the river, large advance guard
waa sent forward, and a cumpany Of mounted
men deployed to the right and lett Of the road
q administers. We met no opposition until
four miles out, when We came upon the rebel Vi
dsttss. Here the advance was strengthened,
and moved ahead cautious y, mile or more,
when We encountered a company Of Confeder-
ate cavalry Here there Was sharp skirrnish,
resulting iu the retreat of the enemy. They fell
back constantly receiving tAccessions to their
numbers, to the next hill There we're alternate
tskirmshes and retreats until the timber WAS
passed. Just beyond the open Geld there was
an eminence friuged with scrub oaks and cover
ed with dense underground where the enemy
was posted in considerable strength. %
XII ARTILLERY xASruvERs. 'o L34i
At this point the skirmishing became heavy,
and the enemy holding their ground, Col. Lee
brought forward q 1O-pounder James .rfled gun,
and numbered the piece. Before Placing it in
position, however, the enemy slowly gave way,
ard without firing the pursuit continued.
Slowly the column followed. A half mile fur.
Tier %, the same maneuver was repeated, but
new retreat made it again useless. Finally the
rebels crossed cleared valley through which
flowed a small creek. On the south side was q
o thick growth of brush aud timber. On this hill
side they made determined stand, repeliing our
skirmshers The head of the column arriving
at the Northern bank, Col. Lee here placed b
gun and briskiy opened fire with shell. A dog
en- rounds opehed the hill side 70 Our skirmish-
a9rs who rushed UP to it and drove the enemy q
= mile, where he made another more determined
and, as it proved, FINAL stand. The column
moving oyer, the gun was again planted on an
open slope, and prepared to open fire. n "a
o" Not anticipating any serious demonstration,
while the gun was being placed in position,
your correspondent galloped forward q hundred
rods to house to witness the effects of the
shell. Hardly bad our gun opened before a full
rebel battery replied, and dropped solid shot,
grape and canister, in rapid succession, before,
5ehind and all about us. At least hundred
shots were fred before there wassny cessation.
This WAS more than had bsrgsined for, and al.
though thad double log house and . brick
chimney between me and the shell which were
exploding so 6ercely around me, was by no
means At ease, aud took the fret opportunity to
gallop TO the rear aud out9of range. Of "a
THE STAND OF THE RsBE1S. .,egg far
While this cannonading was going on, in the
front we're heard rapid, heavy and continuous
mounted skirmishers, moving slowly over low
piece of ground, driving those Of the enemy,
we're suddenly confronted by long double lines
of infantry, which rose from the ground where
they bad been concealed, and poured yolley If.
ter volley of musketry into our ranks. Our skir-
uaishers of course fell back precipitately save
those whose dead and wounded
bodies lay before this fearful Gre. Meantime
the enemy's battery was sending ite fiery mes
senge:s into our midst, two shells bursting
within ten feet of our gun. The rebels had our
range exactly, and served their battery most
admirably. $3.50 ass =. sa39g ai gsh
sia9a sg The RETRoRGADE N0vskENf. a4sa4s
At once Col Dickey sad Lee discovered that
tie position was untens6le, and that q force far
different in character and strength from any
they had anticipated was attacking ", and that
sretrograde movement must be executed and
speedily. .Flarking parties and skirmishers we're
at once called in and sent back, and slowly the
gun With its support of dismounted rides moved
backward Two squadrons Of the 4sh Illinois
cavalry, under Capt. Townsend, were left in the
front to delay the advance of the enemy. fa
Hardly had our gun crossed the valley and
reached the position from which We had FIRST
fred, when our advance and protecting squad
rons followed US, driven before the enemys in-
family, who we're charging forward with cheers
and yella The gun was placed in the old posi-.
ton. On one side we're deployed several COM
panies of the 7th Kansas, under Lieut. Colonel
Hsrrck, and on the other battalion of the I'd
Iowa, and several companies of the 4th Illinois
under Major Love, of the I'd Iowa, and Colonel
AcCullugh of the 4th. Col. Lee stood near the
gun. directing its fire which now opened with
terrible effect ,.,t1 fs.,f g,-eatstsaR
b On our right advanced two regiments Of rebe
Infantry With their colore; onour center, another
While two more regiments were marching in cot
| upn towards our left fsnk, epdeayoring to At
tack that exposed point, simultaneously, with
our own gun opened, the deadly revolving rifles
OF our dismounted cavalry. The enemy fell in
heaps; but for every one killed two stepped for
ward to take his place. Their impetuous charge
could not be stopped, and when they we're within
tour rods of the mouth of our cannon, Col. Let
ordered the piece hmbered up and moved to ths
Gear. t t8% ~ ..ssa. Is ,te,s
s.l.All behind us now was woods, hills and dee,
Eayines. For moment covering the retreat o
the gun, our rifemen held the enemy in check
and then slowly retired up the bill, hating ever!
few rods to throw volley on the advancing line
now Immediately on their rear. Thus did the,
march for quarter of mile-a march through
continuous storm Of leaden rain. ~ 20
Arriving at the top of the hill, the eyes of GU
brave boys were gladdened by the sight Of tw'
long extending lines Of kneeling ridemen flank
ing each side of the road. 3g8 .g.isii.6 baa,,4
a And here, by way Of parenthesis, let me tel
who they vere. and how they came to be there,
When Colonel iDickey had discovered that tn
enemy were in superior force, and our men, Il
obedience to orders, had fallen back, Colone