The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-01-24

u Atlaboet a ps - ANEW ordsssd - prepare
. shasss tAsrshsl battery, u order 70 do "a.
- bad - psss . narrow osasevay which would
admit bat eight men abreast With . deep
slough on each side, consequently Ne we're dtyi-,
dsd into seotiona The men were ready eager
Md willing - b led forward, but just - the
advssee vas ordered, Gen. Hovey discovered .
MASKED battery which completely covered the
narrow causeway OF lsves, and made it absolute
nsdnsA tosttsnDs he paasage tho order Va
inmsdiatsly oosaasrnanded. Asths arss section
ofths 18th Hissosri were entssing On the mar,
row road The battery opened, Ars and osrlpodf'i
ton became untanable., Tho tmen stood fast
however, and -vosld have gone forward u every
hazard but Gen. Steele deemed i inprudent 70
advance and in the evesiug the whole division
morning. Monday were taken I hslow 70 the
peint where Norgans forces had landed the day
previous. The latter's forces bad been Sighting
msnfully all day Sunday and bad driven che
rebels from the river more than three miles, to
their Notifications, making severe bayonet
charges which in every instance proved success.
full, but the rebels had reached their well forth
fed position on the bluffs. and seemed TO bid
defiance to every attempt made % dislodge
them, Battery after battery was planted By
the rebels along the side Of the bluff protected
by innumerable ride-pits filled with Snapshot
ere, many Of them being las WAS told BY Lieu
tenant Who was in one of the charge up the
hill,) negroes. How many charges were. made
up that bluff I do not know, but in every In
stance, our forces were repulsed with grsal loss
1t was impossible 70 Withstand the terrible Ere
from the we'll posted batteries cannot asoer.
tain the exact number of regiments who attempt
ed in vain 70 storm the batteries, but he 4th
lows, 18th Illinois, 42nd Ohio. and Missouri
regiment, were the principal sufferers During
Monday several attempts we're made to take the
batteries, all proving abortive, our men falling
thick and fast at every attsmptf and the place
soon assumed the nature Of . slaughter PEN
Oar regiment was brought to the front in the
afternoon, fully expecting to be led forward to
the charge as the others had been, and but .
few dinched, although the men knew what the
results would be. The honor, the reputation Of
the sons of Iowa could not be suffered to fall to
the ground through any delinquency Of the s5th
We remsined waiting until night, standing in
line Of battle, when We we're ordered to work
during the night upon the Notifications
A heavy rain prevailed during the entire night
through which the officers and men lsbored
faithfully TO complete the works behind which
we're to be planted our Parrott guns The reb-
81 shells fell among Us at intervals through the
night, but without effect. In the morning,
(ruesday,) We we're Withdrawn to the rear to
dry of and rest. ....,.. :.9i 5-
The rain and mud prevented any active opsr-
atoms during the day, and At nightfall We we're
moved to another position to the left, where We
remsined inactive until Wednesday evening,
when our division was Withdrawn silently from
the front and with trailed arms and empty pieces
we're marched back to the river and on board
transports. Here We ascertained that We we're
intended to partake in . secret movement
against fort higher up the river situated on q
steep ascent called Haynes Bluff a
vas withdrawn to the boats and the following
The programme was all laid out beautifully
ION paper" The gunboats were to open at 3
in the morning upon the fort, at the rate Of l..
40 shells per hour, 70 continue two hours, when
our division was to land and charge In three col.
umns upon the works, and carry them at the
point Of the bayonet 1t vas very pretty pro.
gramme for New Years salute but alas it
was played out before it began. We lay down
to catch . few hours sleep preparatory to the
sharp conflict Of the morning, expecting to be
awakened BY the boom Of heavy artillery, ma.
king holiday music for the ears of tho rebels:
but instead Of that, We awakened to and call
quiet" on the Yazoo, and during the whole day,
not movement showing any intention on the
part Of our leaders, to disturb tie serene and
peaceful calm. We enjoyed our New Years
dinner Of hard crackers and coffee, with tbs ses,
| of hungry soldiers, and "waited for orderss-
At night We received them, but instead Of 70.
ing sp, We went dov~ tho river 70 Jobusep,,
Landing, and We soon found that the whole sr-
my. men, cannon, and wagons, Vas being trans.
fsrred to the transports. By the dawn Of day,
the movement was complete, and, With few
parting saluses from the rebels, replied to BY
our gunboats. we steamed down the Yaxoo and
into the Mississippi. Here We were informed
that Gen. kcClernsnd had srrivei and assumed
command, and yesterday the whole expedition
started up the Mississippi, and VIC are yet pro-
crossing in the same direction. asa
Our loss during the whole eight, in all the Di
visions, is estimated at about 800 in killed and
wounded although think this will come IN.
der the actual loss. The rebel loss, according to
deserters who came into our lines, is much lar.
ger, our shells having made sad havoc among
them in the Notifications. s,.a .,s.,.
As general thing, the officers and men feel
dissatisfied and disheartened with the results Of
this expedition. The confidence in the leaders
of the expedition ia shaken, and no hesitencv IL