The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-06-06
Private Letter from Capt. Bell.
ONE AND A HALF MILES FROM VICKs-
RI1Ra Sunday Nav "a 1863

BURG, sunday, May "a, 1900.
DEAR FATHER-I merely have time,
amid the clash of battle and the duties de-
volving upon me, to advise you of Toms
and my safety, so far. The siege of Vicks-
burg commenced last Sunday, and has
continued without intermission until now,
and it yet goes on; but so far, q Inercitul
Providence has preserved us unharmed.-
But have already losttwoo Of my best men,
and had two more wounded-one seriously.
The killed are: Benjamin b. Dawson and
James b. Layton; and the wounded, Mar
tin Kirchmer and Johannes Gubser--the
latter very seriously. Dawson was killed
by grapeshot on Monday, and Layton on
Friday. l cannot record, with any accura-
cy, the events of the past two weeks. l
can say only that our Regiment were
in none of the sanguinary battles before
reaching Vicksburg. We were guarding
large provision train and 50 escaped par
ticipation in the fights of Raymond, Jack
son and Big Black River-the latter Of
which was an awful battle, the loss being
immense on both sides. Wehave been en-
gagged in this fight since it's commencement
acting, at times, as sharpshooters; and
on Friday last the Regiment participated
in the general charge madealong the whole
line, in which we suffered terribly; and,
what is worse, could accomplish nothing.
l got wet through twice in one day, before
we reached Clinton. and got the ague in
consequence, and was threatened with bill
lious fever; but I stayed with my Compa-
ny all the time until Friday, when l gave
out, and had to remain behind. The con-
tinual exposure, joined to the scarcity of
food, Il ate absolutely nothing for two days.
so weakened me that the Surgeon forbid
me going, but kept up until could do so
no longer, and now l can barely walk
Tom is well, and is unhurt, as yet. Capt.
Spearman, from Mt. Pleasant, is badly
wounded. John Pierson. son of Prof.
Pierson, is mortally wounded, and num-
Der of other Burlington boys are killed and
wounded, whose names are not familiar to
me. Snow got bullet through his coat,
but it missed him. We have the rebels
completely surrounded, and they cannot
get out; but Johnston is collecting force
in our rear, and he may bother us some
unless we get the place soon. The gunboats
have done little or nothing yet. The losses
are immense on both sides. already; but
our Generals have resolved to try no more
assaults, but are now going to undermine
their Notifications and blow 'em up. Such
a network of forts, riiie-pits and every
conceivable mode Of defense was never
before seen. 1t is indeed second Gibral-
tar; but we will have the place soon, with
out fail. Haines Bluff is now held by Gen.
Lauman, having been evacuated by the
rebels. Our communications are now good
up the Yazoo-and we can get plenty. of
food and ammunition, without any him
drance. Our Regimental loss on Friday,
was four killed, eighteen wounded, (some
of whom have since died. and sixteen mis-
sing, (many of the latter are no doubt killed,
as they lay in place impossible to reach
can give you no particulars, as l write
hurrledly; but scrawlcd this merely to adj
wise you OF our safety, and relieve your
minds of unnecessary uneasiness. 49,
Love to all. l am getting better, and
will, l trust, soon be well again. We
have had no tents for two weeks, and all
my blankets We're taken for the wounded.
The bOmbardment still continues. .r..