The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-12-26
SATURDAY DECEMBER SSels63

condition of the battle; but, with the true
instinct OF the soldier, he had marched to
tne sound OF the cannon. General Thomas
merely pointed out to him..the gap through
WMch the enemy was debouching, when.
quick as thought, he threw upon it Steed-
mans brigade of cavalry. In the words of
Gen. Rosecrans' report, ''swift was the
charge and terrible the conflict; but the
enemy was broken" A thousand of our
brave men killed and wounded paid for its
possession; but we held the Gap. Two di-
visions OF fLongstreet's corps confronted
the position. Determined to take it thew
successfully came to the assault. A bat
terry OF SIX guns placed in the gorge, poured
death and slaughter into them.
They charged within a few yards of the
pieces, but our grape and canister, and the
!eaden hail OF ofmusketry, delivered in spar
ing but terribly volleys from cartridges ta-
Ken, IN many instances, from the boxes of
their fallen companions, was too much
even for Longstreet's men. About sunset
they made their last charge, when our men.
being out of ammunition, moved on them
with the bayonet, and they gave way to re-
my made repeated attempts to carry Gen.
Thomas position on the left and front. but
We're as often driven back with great loss.
At nightfall the enemy fell back beyond the
range of our artillery, leaving Thomas vic
torious on his hard-fought field.
AS most Of the corps Of McCook and
Crittenden,were now in Chattanooga. it was
deemed advisable to withdraw the left
wing to that place. Thomas consequently
fell back during the night to Rossviile
leaving the dead and most of the wounded
IN the hands of the enemy. He received a
supply of ammunition, and during all the
2lst offered battle to the enemy, but the at
tack was not seriously renewed. On the
night of the 2lst he withdrew the remain
der OF his army within the defense of Chat
tanooga. 10 if Es.Ef IE
The enemy suffered severely in these
battles, and on the night of the Goth was
virtually defeated; but being permitted to
gather the trophies of the field on the 2lst.
ne is entitled to claim victory, however
barren in its results. His loss in killed.
wounded and missing, as reported in rebel
papers, was $4,000.
Our loss in these battles was I,64 killed.
6,272 wounded and 4,945 missing. If we
add the loss Of the cavalry in its several
engagements, at about 5, 600. we have a to- o.
tai Of 1851. We lost in material, 36 guns,
~ calssons, $3.50 small arms, and 1884 in
fantry accoutrements. We captured 1000
prisoners. 90
After Gen. Rosecrans' retreat to Chatta-
nooga, he withdrew his forces from the
passes OF Lookout Mountain, which cover
ed his line of supplies from Bridgeport.
THE New SPEAKER-SKETCH OF THE
HON. SCHUYLER CoLFAX.-The Honorable
Schuyler Coltax, the newly elected Speake er
of the United States House of Representa-
tives, was born in New York on the 2sd of
March, 1923. He lis descendant Of Gen'l
Schuyler and Captain Colfax, both Of Rev
olutionary fame. At the age of thirteen he
fpY n NJ xp,1,n lf,f II Il
much with the Hon. Mr.. Lane, during his
political canvass, and where he learned the
trade OF printer. A widows son, a poor
boy, he educated himself for life of labor,
and made up for his lack of collegiate tut
ton by his perseverance and courage.
About the year ls45 he became the pro-
prietor Of the South Bend Register, and af-
ter short time was somewhat popular as
an editor. In connection with his profes-
sion he took very active part in the poll.
tics OF Indiana, and in lS4S, was appointed
delegate to the Whig National Conven.
tion OF that year. During 1850, he was q
member Of the Indiana Constitutional Con.
vention, and in 1852 was again selected as
delegate to the Whig National Conven.
tion for the nomination Of President Of
the United States.
Thirty fourth United States Congress fol
the State of Indiana, during the year 1854
and was chosen from the Ninth District o,
State, succeeding the Hon. Norman Eddy.
He took his seat on the Sd Of December
1855, and since that date has continued tc
hold his position as Representative Of the
Ninth District of Indiana. He was chosen
during the sitting Of the Thirty fifth Con.
gress as the Chairman of the Committee on
Post Offices and Post Roads, and held this
office for two terms. He was also selected
as one of the Regents of the Smithsonian
Institute during the session Of 1852 and
still holds the position.
On the 7th day of December, 1863 Mr..
ColfaX was elected, viVG vOce, the Speaker
of the House Of Representatives, obtaining
nine votes over the number necessary to
secure his election-viZ: 10l out Of ISL, be-
ing twenty-one votes over all of his oppo-
nents.
Mr.. Colfax is a self-made man, who, by
the force Of his native powers, and in des-
pite Of the want of a classical education, has
raised himself to the high position which
he now occupies. AS speaker he is plain
distinct, fluent and forcible. He is under
the medium hight, rather slim and spare
large forehead, brown hair and eyes, pale
face and good features.
Capt. Willett, late of the steamer Chesa-
peake, captured by the rebels on Sunday
has arrived in New York with eight of his
crew. lie gives some interesting partlcu.
lars of the seizure of his vessel. Sixteen
Southerners came TO New York from Viii.
mington, via Nassau, and remained quiet.
ly in house in Jersey City for some days
On Saturday week, when the Chesapeake
sailed for Portland, eight of the men
bought tickets for that place. 1t was no.
ticed that their trunks, which after ward
were known to be filed with arms, were
very heavy, but the men, who We're poorly
dressed, told the dock porters that they
were too poor to hire men to carry their
baggage, and SO took it on board them
selves. The remaining eight pirates came
on board while the vessel was in the stream
paying their fare to the captain. Besides
them there wereeight passengers on board
On Sunday night the pirates stationed
themselves at the doors OF all the state
rooms occupied, overpowered the watch,
and proclaimed the vessel q prize. The Sc
cond engineer declared he would not run
the steamer, and then fled to the upper
deck. Several of the pirates followed him:
He endeayored to resist, when he was fired