The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-09-19

i 49, E4tracts rom private letter from
Geo. Van Beck, LIST cavalry, to his brother
IN this city. It is dated near Brownsville
Arkansas, Sept. 1st. y afs ~ ~
On the 18th ult, we came upon the enemy
at this place and skirmished with him fol-
two hours when he retreated. We took
possession OF the town and EJhoisted the
stars and stripes over the Court House,
Ihls is twenty five miles from Little Rock.
On Inc 10Th ult. we started on q reconnoi-
ter1ng expedition. We came upon the en-
emy's camp and returned, being too weak
dor them, having only one brigade out, the
"a, consisting of the 1st Iowa, Sd Missouri
ana 10TH Illinois, with two Howitzers and
two Parrot guns. go ~. t,.., ~
The next day 9th we started down in
good season to do big days work; the Sd
missouri having the advance and our regi-
ment being next in order of march About
noon weecame upon the enemy in his rife
pits and skirmished with him for two or
three hours when it was ascertained that
ne was retreating, west and across the
Bayou Medic, IL miles east of Little Rock.
crossing on the bridge. At this moment
zen zen! davidson came riding up the lines
calling out for battalion Of the 1st Iowa.
Company'sA, B, G, and X, were ordered
to. charge on the bridge. This was no
sooner given than DONE With drawn sa-
ore we charged like mad men up to within
one hundred yards of rebel battery, the
only ground we had to charge on near the
public road, and it covered six or eight
inches deep with dust. For nearly q mile
we thus charged, the enemy having range
OF the road and throwing she'll thick and
last among us. Our batteries was throw
ing shell at the enemy, many of which ex-
Ploded over us in the air, while those Off
the enemy exploded on the ground among
us. Inc General having discovered his
O n, nr1 nr1V, ~. II
could not reach us, and concluded we were |
all gone up. .AtsL.t 80 20 L." 1tfY I'll
We seeing our critical condition filed to I
the left and dismounted. We fo(ieht tho
enemy here full an hour. They got range
OF our horses once or twice, killing and |,
disaollng several. The recall was sounded
2 second time before we would leave our
holly contested ground, feeling Safer there
man to leave and be posed to a raking
IRE from the enemy's rife-pits. hsftaI -
Our regiment lost in killed three. and in
1ounded about forty. Our company had
me Killed and six wounded iaFs-" |,
kliied-Charles Martin, recruit; he WENT
ioWn and enlisted when I left home in
une last. Notwithstanding left arm
at the shoulder Joint; CORPORAL
jhapman, left hand, two fingers tamputa- j
ed; JOS. Boltz, left leg and shoulder. flesh II
vonnds; keiver, right leg; Simmons. neck. I
lesh wound; WEIGH, mouth and tongue:
sergeant donaldson, hip, slightly. One Of t
Company K had his right leg amputated. {
ne wounded are doing well. We have a I
reat many sick with the ague. /,
l found arbullet in my testament, shot i
trough my saddle bags. This saved NV, t
orse. they cannot shoot through tha1 t
1,ord OF God. The ball entered at tie. 18th q
napier, and lodged at the 18th verse Of the i
9TH chapter of Romans. I will send it
ONE II can, and when you get 1t show it d
!, my friends in Burlington, and to Rev. S
vm. Salter, who, through the Des MONIES c
onnty Bible Society presented 1T to me. lip
sIter tnat send 1t home to New london b
he only ball that struck mefwsis a snent Z
all on the heel of my boot. D. - Ii