The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-12-13
BURLINGTON
] gA5sj CoerespoAdsnee Of CAiesgo 5dbuns. 9 q
0eeupatloA q Ahbevflle ana Oxford.

OF the fOrtS. We are on tue uOrtuetu euc VI
the river, awaiting the building Of the bridge
which WAS 70 carry US safely over the Tallahatch.
ie. In their hasty retreat yesterday morning,
the rebels set FIRE to this bridge and the railroad
bridge, 90 that it was necessary to improvise
something upon which the cavalry could pass.-
McArthur's division came down with axes and
SPADES. and BY three o'clock this morning We
we're ready to pursue the enemy.
Capt Reese, of Co. F, Sd Michigan, formerly
employed in the Tribune Office, with doz y
more. SWAN the river and visited Abbeville last
evening. and found that the enemy bad shan
doned the town, first setting IRE to the depot
buildings and cotton in the village, and destroy
ing large quantity Of corn and conmissary
stores and clothing. -
p he al once established patrols between Able
vile and the river, and placed guarde around
the property which the negroes had rescued from
the flames, and reported to headquarters.
The llth Illinois crossed the river before us,
leave the fort, snd eight o'clock before we reachd
AbbevilIe. TO- iisl 1850 'kssAs5 5ota@
! VThis village is Of much less importance, topo-,
graphically, than expected to find IT, hsd
been led TO think that the country back from the
river was strongly fortified but saw nothing
but natural sforti6catons This feature is not
peculiar to tins cosntry round about Abbeyille
From Grand Junction 70 the Tallahstchie, and
even to Oxford, the road leads over series of
natural forts, capsule Of being held BY an enter.
prising enemy for an indefinite period The only
distractions are At the river, and the forts COM
manding the approach from Holly Springs and
the railroad bridge. These seem impregnable,
and the wonder is that the enemy did not think
them. so The citizens say that the reason given
for their hasty evacuation, Is the fear of being
a. = g. ~ "a
that our people are moving upon Grenada, and
thew fear they should have been caught in q,
rocket had they remained. Now that the move
ment is completed go far as the forts at the Tai
lshatchie are concerned, it may be proper to say,
that our Generals we're fully prepared to admit
the strength of their forts and the probable un-
fortunate result should they attempt to take It
from the front. An expedition was even being
planned for extensive flank movements in the
direction of Wyatt and Socky Ford, when intel
ligence Was received of their surrender.
I searched Abbevile all over for trophies, but
except a copy Of the Grenada Appeal Of the
2sth, found nothing worthy Of preservation
There was plenty Of corn and commissary stores,
clothing and cotton in flames, but was no trav
cling warehouse, and was obliged to leave them
behind. ii l'
The day was cold and dreary, and to add to
began to rain, aud so continued without inter
mission during the entire day and night. Long
before we reached Oxford the roads had become
almost impossible. have heretofore described
our skirmishes With the enemy, and those of
to day we're nowise different except as to locali-
ty. Some hours before noon the reports of our
rifles indicated that we were driving in the enc
my's rear guard. We pressed him holly until
within three miles Of Oxford, when shell and
solid shot fred at our line of skirmishers ad-
monished us that it was necessary to exercise
little caution The FIRST shot, a six pound solid,
fred, killed horse of one Of the skirmishers.-
This was the only accident during the day.
just about this time some negroes told US
that party was just outside our hanking line
upon our right, setting fire to the railroad bridges
and cotton gins Col. Dickey, of the 4th Illinois,
detailed q company to attempt their capture
They took them without the loss Of man--one
rebel Captain, one Lieutenant, and thirty.four
men, BY one company, is considered, ir this army,
satisfactory. 5 9H 8 32sl
Prisoners were gathered in by our scouts uatil
the number exceeded one hundred. gng
Just behind where the guns were planted the
enemy's cavalry, dismounted as skirmishers,
we're drawn up in line of battle, but our skir-
mishers with their revolving rifles played such
havoc with their ranks that they we're glad
enough to retire and reform mile further on.
Their last line but one was formed on the brow
of the slight elevation upon which the town is
built This line was broken as before and re-
formed on the court house square. Here was an
opportunity for q cavalry charge, which the boys
were not slow to embrace. One company
charged down the street at run, and soon
charged back again, as behind the rebel cavalry
was discovered line of infantry. They we're
,oo, ro,tad nd no hod posaoes ne 0vTord
The town is delightfully."- located, with 6ae
grounds, public buildings, schools, etc. es -,
We have taken nearly 200 prisoners, several
commissioned officers among them, including
Major Duckworth, commanding the lst Tonnes
see cavalry regiment We have killed end wound
ed twenty ., toltHs rr e.b
When we started on the Oxford road, Colonel
Mover, with the Sd Michigan Cavalry, was sent
on road nearly parallel and leading to this
place. He struck the enemy's pickets four miles
from Oxford, driving them tor nearly mile and
half, when being heavily reinforced by artil-
lery and infantry the rebels made a decided
stand. By flank movement, after short con
test, our boys drove them into ground and whip.
ped them. The enemy loss was heavy. Our
loss one Captain and three enlisted men, wound.
troops three miles to the rear and bivouacked for
the night. It lie likely that the contest may be
renewed tomorrow. Col. Lee will doubtless
send him -einforc .nents. .s $50,
... Important Moveme n,s. a,r
Correspondence Of the New York Tribune. 81
head QuR's. OF GEN. BURNsIDE,)
.te. Dec. s, 1862
Again repeat, Gen. Burnside will not dsap-
point the army, the Administration, or the loyal
people at large--at least, so far a. keeping the
Army of the Potomac 10 notion 5sa7e ia.
To-day has been an active one, in every de
partment. One grand division is OIL the march,
and you may soon expect to hear from it. in
close col Hict with the rebels. Another one has
eeen reviewed to- day, and close examination
made OF the fighting condition of the troops
The third has already undergone Inspection, and
is momentarily expecting marching orders all
the heavy reserve artillery, too, seems to be in
motion. The pontooD trains and the Engineers
Brigade have disappeared from the vicinity Of
headquarters, but where they or any other por.
ton of the army have gone, shall not for the
present inform you. Perhaps you may learn by
Telegraph, before this reaches you, what moye-