The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-07-18
The Battle or Helena.

numbering fifteen thousand men, cavalry,
| infantry and artillery, all under the COM
mand of Lieut.. Gen. Holmes, made an az
| tack on this place. Until about hall an
hour after sunrise the fighting was comm
ed to the skirmshers thrown out TO Ineeb
the advancing forces, and at that time q
fierce and vigorous attack was made all
along the whole line. Then ensued con-
| test which has scarcely an equal in the an
nails of the war against rebellion. MARINA
duke, with four thousand men occupied
position opposite our extreme northwest.
ern Notifications, and opposite tho second
Brigade of Iowa troops commanded by
Col. Samuel A. Rice. Here an attempt
was made by the enemy to flank our posi-
| ton, charge down the river under the pro-
lection of the levee, and carry the forts be-
| low in detail, by storm. The attack was a
vigorous one, but Col. Rice, by sklllfuiiy
deploying his force so as to cover the entire
threatened ground, succeeded in driving
back the enemy, Furnishing them severely.
Marmaduke with the main part OF MS
| force then fell back, and the fiercest toe Oh
war was at once transferred to the center
| of our line of Notifications. Parsons rep-
| ell brigade, supported by large force I'M
| der Gen. Markiey. at once made prepare
tions for a fierce and desperate charge on
| batteries C and D. At this sjuncture, your
| correspondent was with the'I5d iowa heSi-
ment under Lieut.. Col. Mackey, Whlch
was stationed at the foot OF the mn, near
the convent. The 33d was then ordered up
| to the support of the batteries, and 1t took
position in the line of breastworks on the
Little Rock road. Here the view OF the
| s.sjtuation" was interesting. Out OF Inc
woods the rebels came pouring, battalon
after battalion, until the old hills OF Hele-
ma seemed alive with the uncouth looking
myrmidons of jeff Davis and treason. On
they came, land occupied the ridges, filled In
| the valleys, all pushing forward, seeming
! ly irresistible, las if ordained by fate to bury
| in destruction the little band OF thlrty-hve
hundred, which calmly waited to receive
the shock Of battle. On they came, with
shouts and hideous yells, with hats and
coats off, sleeves rolled up the elbows
right up to the rife pits, in the face OF
storm of shot and shell. Calmly waited
our brave boys until within short musket
range before they showed to them the full
power of our powder and ball. Then the
word came to fire, and in moment OF time
whole ranks Of the assailants strewed the
ground, like grass is laid by the mowers
scythe. But still they came, and again they
melted before the hot flames of destruction
and death. On farther, and one of our bat
teries are taken, and our gallant fellows
overpowersd by superior numbers, slowly
give way. But it is short time that the
enemy holds our works. Our boys rally
| for the charge, and before the rebels have
time to take advantage of our loss, the bat
tteries are retaken, and the remains of four
rebel brigades fall back in disorder. At
the time the batteries were retaken by
our forces, the enemy met with their most
terrible loss. AT least two hundred fell
dead, and six hundred were captured
Many were torn in pieces by the well di-
rected shot and shell which came from the
gunboat Conestoga, and it is well to admit
that had it not been for the service per-
formed by this famous old warrior, we
4 lao f1,sp, hot ntxy
| After this terrible repulse, the enemy's
fire gradually slackened, until about fiji
| teen minutes of eleven, when it ceased al
| together-the battle was over.
RESULTS OF THE BARTLETT was glo-
riods, magnificent victory. The rebels
numbered at the least calculation ten thou
sand men. They were Prices veterans
-had passed through Pea Ridge and Prairie
Grove. Among them also Holmes men,
but well drilled levies. They came up to
the work fired with enthusiasm, cipa-
ting an easy victory, as Holmes had made
a speech to them, representing that we had
but $500 men, and they were principally
cavalry-that we had but two or three
pieces of artillery, and all that was needed
was quick energetic dash. and Helena
would be theirs. Our actual force did not
exceed thirty-eight hundred, but they were
all of them heroes, and were commanded
by a hero and veteran, old shiloh Prem
oners-their killed and wounded amount
fully to four hundred, and six or seven
| hundred wounded. Our loss is but about
fifty killed. one hundred and twenty-five
wounded, and thirty missing; the enemy
are demoralized, disheartened, and are
now, that Vicksburg is taken, cut off from
the crumbling Confederacy. 1t was indeed
a grand triumph, brilliant achievement
by Federal arms, and fitting celebration
for the Fourth Of July, 1863.
INCIDENTs.-Atter Col. Rice whipped
Marmaduke, the latter sent in flag of
truce asking for permission to bury his
dead. The reply will pass into history:
"Col Rice's compliments to Gen. Marina
duke-we will take care of your dead, and
living too" The interview between the
parties was thus suddenly terminated.
1t would seem to do I'M ustice were to
particularize acts OF bravery and noble
daring. where all did their duty so well;
but if each reader of this, had been here to
witness as l did the heroic devotion of the
Thirty-third Iowa; it would seem injustice
were to fail in recording its gallantry. 1t
bore the brunt Of the fight as its mortality
lists will show; losing more men than any
other three regiments. 1t supported the
batteries "C'' and sd, when whole rebel
brigade made against them that terrible
charge. 1t retook the batteries, and plant
ed its victorious banner in defiance of the
rebel hordes, upon the redeemed fortihca-
4 tons. Their old flag looks terribly sublime
l-pierced with thirty-fOur holes. 1t StlU
floats, and is infinitely more loved now
than when it was received by the regiment.
The people of Iowa may well feel proud of
their noble sons and brothers engaged in
the battle of Helena. They are veterans
now, the worthy compeers of the brave old
Second, the heroes of Donelson, Corinth,
Shiloh and Vicksburg.
The Both Iowa, Coz. Kittredge, was fortu-
nate to escape with very slight loss. Only
one man was killed, and three missing
! The 29th, commanded by Lieut.. Col. Pat
terson, lost about ten killed, seventeen
wounded, and few missing. Although
the loss OF these regiments is small, they
did their duty well, and the officers of each
!! deserve the highest praise. But the heavy
loss was with the 23d. The number OF
, killed is seventeen. fifty-one wounded, and
sixteen missing, total loss eighty-four.-
, Their gallant Lieut.. Col. Mackey was in
f the thickest of the fray, cheering the hearts
;, Jo,,dabla ax.mnle To all those who wit