The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-04-11
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
Moon LAKE, STEAMER "W H1rE RosE,"
HrApoR's, lOrH Rect. Iowa Vols,
March 2Sd. 1863.

Moon LAKE, STEAMER "WH1rE RosE,"
HrApoRs, 10TH REa'r. Iowa Vols,
March Esd, 1863.
: Editor Rawk.Eye: As our brigade Esd of
Gen. Quinby's Division made . start to-day
for its perilous trip through the famous Yszoo
Pass l thought would give kind Of diary Of
our passage. As We shall have to "be up" every
night shall take the day for observation and
the night for jotting down the incidents Of the
day.
Yesterday We received orders to 'strike tents"
about 9 o'clock q. m. This 10 very striking
scene in more respects than one. In few mo
ments after the order to strike tents, every tent
has disappeared from view, and the various
s'messes" stand lowering about their old tent
stands like colonies of bees that have been sud.
denly smoked down and their hives. removed,
leaving them in bewilderment about their for
mer houses.
We did not make . start, however, for the
PISS, till this afternoon, when we steamed across
the Mississippi River, toward the mouth of the
entrance to Noon Lake, our feet consisting Of
Armada, White Rose, and Jesse K. Bell.
The ag.boat, Crawford, had gone on before
in the morning. In the afternoon the Belle
Creole, being the smallest of the feet, was to
take the lead; the Armada, with the 9th Iowa,
Glowing, and the White Rose, with the 10th
Iowa, third in the procession. The Creole got
about one hundred yards in, and 'came up
standing" The rest of us were still outside in
tie broad Mississippi. After maneuvering
couple of hours, the Creole became disentangled
and came out again, a little wiser, for a new
start. Again she starts, followed by the Arma-
da and Bell. an
1t would be difficult to give any one an idea
Of this perious feat, without seeing the thing
"did." The passage into Moon Lake is made by
cutting the levee Of the Mississippi River, thus
permitting it to deluge the whole country. /
have never seen any stream, cave where have
seen them dash down the mountain sides Of New
Mexico, dash away with the rapidity Of this cur>
rent, as it leaves the Mississippi and rushes into
Noon Lake. Now, the passage from the river
to the lake, about two miles, is merely narrow
opening through dense forest Of willow and
cottonwood timber, not wide enough for two
steamboats,, side by side. To add to the diff
Guilty, when the mad and pent.up waters sudden.
ly fud this outlet to liberty. and rush out in ex-
ultsnt freedom, almost at the very entrance, the
narrow pass makes sudden curve, performing
almost the arc ofs circle, the base of which
would not be more than fifty yards, then it darts
ofinto tangent for the lake, the remaining
distance being straight. ae ta
When we made our second attempt, the first
three boats passed successfully. This time it
was our turn for fun Our pilot though an old
river man, was as raw at this kind OF navigation
as the greenest of u.s. he evidently started his
boat in with too muchheadway; indeed, be shod
have backed water from the start. He com-
ueDced backing, but too late to bring his boat
around the shott curve, and away we went With
acrashing broadside into the timber. Foitu-
rately, the timber ives young and plant, and
did US no injury-it was only exciting. After
backing awhile, we swung loose from the tim
Der, and two or three revolutions brought us to
the other curve. Again we were dashing head
long into the timber, on the other side This
time things looked "squally." Again We backed
water for dear life, but just "leetle" too late
TWAS now to be test of strength between the
Rose and cotton VI God that seemed to stand in
point blank range with our jack.staf. On We
pitched 1t is early Spring, but we bid fair to
be the 'last Rose of Summer" Crash lection
wood succumbs, and the Rose is triumphant
Al! danger is now passed, so fer as our entrance
to Moon Lake is concerned, and we are soou gil
ding, like a thing of life, over the calm waters
OF the little crescent Moon Lake, which, l am
told, is some ten or twelve miles in it's full
length, ana about one in width, in the widest
place. We, however, only traverse about six
miles, coming to the Yazoo Pass proper, or
the passage from Noon Lake to Cold W alter Riv.
er. Tonight we lie at the mouth of the Pass,
anc Tomorrow promises more fun, if not some
ting OF more serious nature. l drop the cur
tain and consult ''tired Nstures sweet restorer,
bslmv sleep.
fought to say, perhaps, that our commanding
ohcer, Col. Small, is confined to his room, suf-
lerns severely from an attack of bilious chol.c.
hope the morning may find him better.
saw detachment Of Cavalry, said to be
from the Iowa Sd, or the shore of Moon Lake,
who eheered US Justify. They seemed to be lust
returning from successful 'skirmisb, with four
Or fye Butternuts on mules Rather early for
gathering butternuts, but when copperheads
creep out in winter, and show all the venom OF
"dos- days" why not gather butternuts in Msrchs
TEE YAzoo Pass, March 24.-As ihtimated
last night, We tied up at the mouth Of the now
notorious Yazoo Pass, which has occupied SC
much space in the newspapers and in public
conjecture for the past six months. The length
Of this Pass, from Moon Lake to the Cold Water
river is said to be IL miles. Although the sen.
satlonal description given by the correspondence
Of the Chicago Tribune, who accompanied the
first expedition is considerably exaggerated
Yet as n payipahla stream IL car.a;nIr kepuar,