The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-06-08
The Iowa Brigade ~ vick sburg.
PIONEER CoRPs, 7rH DivIsIoS,l
GRAND CUR, Nav RQ

oRAHp duLg, May x.
EDrroH GATE CrrY Being possessed
of greater facilities Of sending you news
about the Iowa troops now in and around
Vicksburg, avail myself OF them to tell
yos that she may be justly proud OF the
gallant regiments she has sent into the
field.
General Crncker Was in command of
our division during the fst two days
fighting, but was relieved by General
Qumiby, returned from sick leave, who,
with bis usual gallantry, could not remain
out Of 6ght when one Was in such near
prospect; and, although not fully fecu.
pera,ed. Immediately took command Of
his old division, which was in the & ght
since its commencement in conjunction
with General Logan.
l must not omit mention of the con-
spicaous gallantry Of the 18th Iowa
That old prosecuted regiment redeemed
itself again, BY charging up steep hill.
bearing down every obstrustios, and cap
turing full battery. II was the las,
chargs made on the second day. and they
slept on the ground they had SO nobly
won. Although away from the regiment,
have the most perfect confidence in the
gallant commander--Coi D. B. Hills
and no less gallant 1t. Col. Weaver.
| The Iowa Brigade, composed of the
nth, 18th, 18th and 10th. were ordered
to and left here for Fort Warrenton on
| the morning of the 10th inst. The 18th
is commanded BY our old ,ownsman, Gel
Belknap, who looked hale and hearty, but
anxious to be in where thore is any fight
ing TO b done.
Our State is nobiy represented in the
6eld here BY four Bri2adias Generals, Wig:
Gen. Crocker, Gen. Tut.io, Gen. Lsuman
and Gen. Matthias. With those names
comment is unnecessary. They are all
tried and brave men, and to particularize
any, would be inyidious.
My being away from the regiment al
the present exciting time is unpleasant
in the extreme. Since my return to dut,
from sick leave, on account of q wount
J received at Iuka, from which have no
vet fully recovered, have been detached
and in command OF the Pioneer Corps,
corps OF mechanics attached to Gen. Quinn
by's division, numbering At the prssen
time about ESQ men. ] am ably assistes
By Lieut.. Huber, of the 9th Iowa. ant
Lieut.. and A. @. NJ. Mcdonald, of th,
: 93I Illinois. We are all anxious to b,
with our respective regiments, and hav,
requested to be rsliersa, but received
>. refusal, as our duty was considered as im
portant as any other position We could b
placed in. The corps Is ., present en-
gagged repairing transports that were in
% jured while running the blockade pas
yicksburg. and other equally importan
duties.
y The lighting in the front gees bravel
, on. We are now 10 the inside works i
Vicksburg, and it comes from responsible
parties that Gen Grant has stated that
could take the city in two hours, but fc
a wish TO save life and the city from d.
struction as much as possible. Thor
j. were 5000 prisoners taken and sent |
= Milliken's Bend yesterday via Young
Point, and 5000. with II pieces Of arti
lery, to-day aud there is every probabi
ity that before this letter reachey you Il
greatest rebel stronghold in the We
will be in our possession and the old "a
y. waving triumphant over it.
Our Presidents Emancipation Pfocl
nation has been virtually taken in al i
literal sense. The negroes are making
e. regular exodus, aocking to VI il hui
dreds daily-men, women and children
and it is unaocountable what privatiol
they have and can endure All the me
are eager 70 enlist in the colored regimen
now raising in Louisiana snd NJ Mississipr
and from all accounts will Be found
ly. make willing and good soldiers. IT
Iowa boys in this corps would be gratif
~ to receive copy Of your useful and int
lectual papsr occasionally BY directing
as shove. H@
have the honor to be, Sir, =