The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-10

Then none was for party:
Then all We're for the State
Then the grvat men helped the poor
Aud the poor man loved the great:
Then the land was fairly portioued,
Then spoils We're fairly sold:
The Romans were like brothers
In the brave days of DID,
Yours truly, H. C. RIPpEY.
-[Cor. State Register.
THE SITUATIoN.-The latest estimate of
the available forces of the rebels is as fol-
lows:
Lee, 10000
Hill, at Richmond, 5000
Beauregard, at Charleston, $4,000
Bragg, 10000
North Carolina, 10000
AT Mobile, 10000
Total, 153oOO
By dragging in the lame, the halt, very
old men and very young boys under the
operations OF the rebel conscription law,
this number may be increased: but the
figures are believed to include all the tried
soldiers now available for severe service in
the Confederacy, east of the Mississippi
river. Bragg, in the battle of Chicamau-
ga, had probably 9O, 600 men, including the
raw militia pressed in from Georgia.; but at
least $4,000 of this army. have melted
away, either by the casualties of battle or
desertion. Lee, in his invasion of Penn
sylvania, crossed the Potomac with 10000
men, and he returned with 10000. The
number that deserted was equal to the
number killed, wounded and taken priso-
ners. 1t is now in the power of the United
States to organize two armies of 10000
each; one under Rosecrans and the other
under Meade. If this should be done,
and simultaneous movement be made,
the work of crushing the rebellion would
soon be effected. 1t is manifest that the
rebels are now in the most critical po-
sition they have occupied since the be-
ginning Of the war, and the hand of the
National Government is nearer to the
throat of the rebellion than at any former
period. 1t is not necessary Just now to
give much attention to the trans Missis-
sippi rebels. Let all our energies be di-
rected against the forces east Of the Mis-
sissippi and in concentrated columns we
can move toward, sweeping before us,
and scattering into fragments. all that
now sustains the rebellion. Never be-
fore did such splendid opportunities pre-
sent themselves to the Government, and
if these are promptly and fully taken ad-
vantage Of the result will be speedily
and decisively effective. Of course while
Meade and ROsecrans operate against Lee
and Bragg, Gilmore would annihilate
Charleston, leaving nothing but ruins to
mark the place where treason was brought
forth. 1t is possible to accomplish all this
within what remains of the campaigning
season; and if great blunders are not
not committed, we shall be able on next
New. Year, to rejoice over the virtual sup
preston of the rebellion.
How MAN FEELS AND Acts DURING
AN EARTHQUAKE.-The Boston Traveller
publishes the following extract of a private
letter from Manila, giving the writer's
personal experience and sensations during
the late terrific earthquake which visited
that city:
"It would be impossible to give an idea
of the late earthquake, for though have
never could realize the position until had
felt one, and never knew what dreadful
destruction it could make until the third
Of this month. I have heard nothing
talked about but earthquake for the past
ten days. everybody telling their expert
ence and giving their idea of causes and
effects of earthquakes in general. My ex-
perience was that had finished my soup
and was helping myselfto fish, when three
or four tremendous up and down bumps
came. I ran for the azotea (piazza covered
with iron roofing. Then came the fearful
swinging motion from North to South.
clung to the post (wooden, which supports
the iron roof to keep myself from falling,
expecting every moment that the stone
walls which support the aZOtea would give
way, and that I should be thrown into the
river, with the house on top of me. The
whole shock did not last over half a min
ute, but was an eternity to me. The fall
ing ofstone houses and tile roofs was ter
rife; part of our roof, weighing seventy
tons, fell in. About 300 feet from where L
was the tower of Binodi Church fell
through the roof of the church. This tower
was $50 to 200 feet high, built of solid stone,
four to six feet thick. Yet the din from
falling churches and houses was so great
that l did not distinguish when it FELL
When the shock was over, the air was SO
filled with dust of lime that could scarce
ly breathe, and there was not a breath of
air. When the moon rose, Manila was a
frightful and dreary sight to see. Every
body was in the streets, praying, or fleeing
with what they had saved into the country.
For days after, the people walked about
the streets without speaking. And there
was no noise of carriages, and no bells, in
a city where there were thousands moving
before at all hours"
A JoKE.-Three candidates on the Cop
perhead ticket in this county, for county
offices. were out on an electioneering tour a
few days since They had made positive
agreement to meet the Union candidate for
Representative, at Taylor's school house
ON n certain evening But as the said Union