The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-08-30


% sharp as ever heard. All of our killed and
wounded we're brought safely ACROSS and small
number OF prisoners mot Eve whole regiments,
- one report has it, That Gen. Sigel should
nave come safely through the day himself is
truly remarkable, for he exposed himself in q
must reckless manner wherever be thought il
necessary to do %, and in the final grand fusi.
iaoe ne Was in the midst Of . real storm of bull
=, With night came cessation Of hostilities.-
ahe enemy bad been foiled In his attempts to
nank ne, and We had gained another day-wor.
my everything to our army and the nation.
IN Saturday there was an artillery duel oil
along the opposing lines. The ball was opened
a. our center, and the firing extended not only
up the river towards Sigel, but down twards the
EAlFoao orldge, where We occupied two bills
across the river. 1t had been raining the eve
ning before and almost all night, and the red
waters Of the Rappahannock had 90 swollen ~
and the debris lodged against the lower one in
such masses that there was great danger Of its
being carried away. Our advanced position
had become very insecure, and il WAS accord
ingly determined to abandon it. The movement
Was executed In perfst order. Matthew and
Thompsons Batteries, supported BY the l2th
and 18th Massachusetts, and llth Pennsylvania,
were safely withdrawn to this side Of the river,
while . company of Pennsylvania riaenen and
. section OF Matthew'S guns held the position
until the last man and last gun WAS safely over.
New positions were taken on this side, from
which the old ones could be enfladed, and on
the rebels sppearingin strong force . terrific
cannosade was opened upon them by Matthews,
Halle, Thompson's, and Leppiers Batteries Of
Ricketts, Division, which caused great loss to-
the enemy. Every attempt to plant battery
on the abandoned eminence was repulsed with
great slaughter, and the enemy were fairly driv.
en- back to the woods when I left the ground.
The topography of the ground about the rail.
road bridge is most favorable for defending the
northern bank, there being on that aide . chain
OF hillocks stretching away toward Warrenton
Springs. At the opposite shore there are two Of
these eminences, level plain beyond, bounded
BY thick woods. In the edge Of these woods
the Rebel Infantry could be seen Ill Friday, and
once IN while squads OF their mounted videttes
would ride out from cover and reconnoiter ~
until driven back BY shot or shell from our bat
teries. On Thursday night slept ON the vet
grass Of pasture field, rolled up in thin wool.
en- blanket, and when mo. ming came Was vet to
the skin and from having Involuntary tasted the
day previous, was' hungry enough on Friday
morning 20 have eaten preserved ten.penny nails.
Imagine, thsn-but none Of you comfortably.
housed up. towners can imagine-how welcome
was the invitation got from the Colonel Of the
18th Massachusetts, to share the breakfast be
had laid at his open cir head quarters on the
hillside, behind Matthew Battery. Our table
was the vet ground, our table cloth an India
rubber blanket but We had coffee, and hard bic.
cult, and bit Of Secesh roastpig, and if that
wasn't meal at for the gods, what could have
been? For our sauce We had appetite, for our
relish, the delicious uncertainty whether or no
the Rebel batteries would drop shells on the
meat platter between us From the crest of the
hilloek We could see the grsy.coated cavaliers
and musketeers deployed in full sight, and, while
We were watching, every now and then there
would come little puff Of smoke and sharp,
cracking noise, and one of the Rebel horsemen
would either finch or fall a. the bullets of our
sharp shooters grazed or hit him.
The positions of our batteries near the bridge,
on this side of the river, we.e chosen in advance
for en6lading those opposite in case they should
be abandoned, but when our guns had fairly got
to work and driven the rebels away, our men
found that on their part the enemy had, during
Friday night, constructed their batteries 60 as
to command our new positions; and 80, after
suffering some loss in men and horses, and hay
ing two of Matthew'S guns dismounted, General
Ricketts, gave the order to timber up and file OF
little more to the right to get out Of range9
terry, while teaching the fuse man "No. 6" at q
gun how to cut bis fuses, was struck by q shell,
which came from battery two miles of, ex.
p!oded AZ it struck him, and shattered bis left
leg, SO 40 to make amputation necessary. Isaw
the brave fellow afterward, and found him doing
SO well, that he made light of his injury and
jestingly talked Of dapcing waltzes again.
As on Thursday and Friday, 60 on Saturday.
the enemy kept working up toward Warrenton
White Sulphur Springs, on the south side of the
Rappahannock, with the view Of aankins US. and
We moved further and further away from the
| railroad to battle their design. As on preceding
days, so on Saturday, the grand artillery duel
went on from right to left and left to right, the
cannonade being heavier now at NcDowelrs DO
sition, now at Sigel's now at Banks. We we're
guarding, and successfully guarding, the whole
river bank, and al the fords from Kslly's to
Warrenton, and the enemy, With any army OF
100, 600 to 100, ZOO, had been held in check by
Pope with much inferior numerical force
Their great game Was to turn our position, take
10 in rear, whip o. and then rush on with stream
ing flags to Washington. Ours the desperate
task Of showing fight, and yet not fighting, Of
playing with our nonstrous antagonist until he
| I6.euJ0keS-
msnts from Fredericksburg, the Peninsula. and
the North would = strengthen 90 that Ne could
crush bic erms and capture his Capital IF Ne
cosld save ourselves until Saturday night We
would bs safe. And tie 9vsatess crisis Of us ,oar
eccxrsd bstsoees Thursday saerning and Haturday
night It 10 passed, and We are safe. WashinS.
ton is safe, army 10 safe, the nation is safe.
For Popss artillery 10 now guarding the linz of
the Rappahannoek, and Fitz John Porter. Win
q very heavy force, Joined Pope on Friday eve.
Ming, and host Of regiments have Joined and
are Joining him now, BY way Of Alexandra. And
now look for the grand nevsments Of the var
| within thirty days. Do not forget that Bnrnside
bas massed . large army at Fredericksburp. maj
Pope 10 nearly OF qsite - strong 90 Lee and
Jashson, and hcClsllan i freed from the net
which--whether self.woven or not-hed him In
i As meshes ON the Peninsula. III "a -
| Some stir WAS caused in camp-and thou-
sand times more in Washington, l fnd-by q
sudden raid of $50 guerrillas Upon Casletts st.-
ton, under cover Of the night The deyoted
band dashed in upon our small collection Of nm
and wagons, and stampsding lot Of suffers nj
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