The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-03-28


would show their "pisy" by coming to our Hos
pitos and nurse him, and thus save many poor
fellows life, it would be much better.
- MACK, Co. H, 9Th Iowa,
The following private letter has been sent Us
for publication: 3f}U
CAMP BEsukx ~1cKsBURs, La,
March 5, 1863.
Knowing you to be good and true Union
man, and friend withal. l thought perhaps you
would like to hear something from the Both reg-
ment. This being leisure day, concluded to
drop you few lines, and give you something of
an idea how things we're going away down here
in Dixie.
This Dixie is wonderful country We have
been here about six weeks. A part of that time
our regiment was out on picket duty; five CON-
panies are still out on piaket guard some two
miles below here We are encamped immedi-
ately opposite Vicksburg, about one mile from
the mouth of the canal now being cut across the
point A great many have doubted the success
of the canal, but from present appearances, 1
should say it was going to be success. have
been told that there have been as high as 10000
men at work on it at one time. They work day
aud night. The rebels throw few shells at
them occasionally, and have wounded some, yet
they do not stop the work. I was told, yester.
day, by Lieutenant having charge Of eompa-
ny at work on it. that the design was to let the
water through this week. If they do, it will not
be long until boat could pass down. What do
you suppose will become of Vicksburg them
The rebels will begin to conclude that the Yam
KEGS can do anything
1t is currently reported here that Congress
has passed conscript act. A great many SOL
diers oppose it. have nothing to say about it
until see what it is. When l read the act as
it is, then it will be time to pass an opinion
But am in favor of calling out another six hun.
bred thousand men. If they can't be had with-
out conscrpt law or draft, resort to it, any way
to get them. We have now over million Of
men in the field Now, how many effective men
have We? Have we much over seven hundred
thousands I would think not. Now, suppose
we had 100000 more men. Let the new troops
do garrison duty, and the older ones shoulder
knspsacks and strike for the coast, ard clean
things as they went, and this rebellion would be
crushed in less than four months. t
| see the JEFF Davis sympathizers are holding
peace meetings in the North, for the purpose of
settling this trouble. Now would say hang a
few of the leaders and confscate their proper.
ty They are worse than Southern rebel
They think the soldiers will, as general thing,
take sides with them, but they are sadly mstak-
ken. The soldiers, so far as / can learn, are
down on all snch things. These peace>makers
are going to do the cause more injury than you
are aware Of There arer great many men in
Iowa that ought to be hung and their property
confseated. We have no sympathy here for
any of those peace.makers. They will prolong
this war instead of shortening it. The object,
with them, is to gain power. They do not care
a copper for the Government. read . speech
made by Joseph Wright, of Indiana, at Ottum.
va, the 18th of February. He talks to his
Democratic friends about right. He is sound on
the war question;but the Mahony Democrats can't
stand him; he is not secesh enough for them
Some of the boys in camp get number of the
Argus once in 9 while. l am surprised that the
cltizens of Burlington will let such sheet be
published in the city. 1t is the most contemp.
tible paper published in the State. II ought to
go the way of the Constitution at Keokuk, and
the editor with it.
I should like to know how you feel on the
subject by this time Do you think the war lie
going to wind up soon, or not? 1t seems to be
the opinion here, generally, that it Can't las,
long. There has been some communication be.
tween Gems. Grant and Lee, but IN relation to
what do not know.
l preseme you have heard of the condition Of
our regiment before this We have been almos,
used up, but the health of the men is improving
, some. ehave been cut down to as low as two
hundred men fit for duty, and as low as nine
line officers A great many of our line officers
have resigned and gone home.
My health is good. I was under the weather
! some six weeks, but for the last two weeks
have been improving-and our 'grub"is mprov
ing. They are feeding us better now than sine,
we have been in service. We. do not get veg
etables enough for good health, but if Uncle
. Sam would pay US, we could buy such things
) 1t has been so long since l had any money,
;; would hardly know what to do with it if hat
my pay. We are threatened with pay now in
few days.
I have written to father a number of time
since the battle at the Post, but get no answers
: What is the reason? He surely does not get m
letters, or he would write.
: The weather, for the last five or six days, ha
been very warm and pleasant-nights cool TIL
8 trees are beginning to leaf out. Vegetation
starting nicely. Spring is here, no doubt bu
: we see no preparations for crop, but thousand
= of acres lying waste.
Ny best wishes to all enquiring friends.
am truly your friend,
l" T. SPEED SMITH.
y CAMP OF THE 9Th Iowa,
}, GRAND JUNCTION, Tenn,