The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-08-08
From the 25fh Iowa.

NICKSBURG Miss, } III y lOtn, iSo3.-DEAR
HAwK-EYE: The long agony is over, and
the rebel Gibraltar is ours at last. After
long waiting, weary toll, close watching
and patient hoping, we have at last EN-
tered I'M and hold in our hands the key
which will unlock the State of Mississippi,
and divide, without hope of reunion, the
doors of treason between the eastern and
western banks Of the Mississippi River
Without attempting to cite the grand re-
suits to be derived from the fall of this
stronghold, which your many readers can
see for themselves, / will only say that the
Fourth of July, 1868, is the most glorious
day in the history OF the Union since the
grand event for which we hold that ami
versary so sacred, and patriots, in all time
to come, will have double remembrance
two glorious events to commemorate on
the recurrence of this anniversary.
The bulk four army, however, had no
opportunity to witness the scene inside the
city. Early on the morning of the 9Th, the
| the 18th and l4th Army Corps were in mo-
| ton, with the exception Of the sick and con-
| valescent, who We're ordered to remain
| and before evening, most OF. them had
reached the banks of the Big Black, in pur-
| suit of Johnston and his hastily collected
army of rescuers. The 25th accom- panied
them, without being given an opportunity
even to visit the places where, for forty
eight days, they have poured in the bullets
at the foe. Many were left behind, forced
marching being the order of the day, anC
no baggage being allowed. All who were
not able bodied were left, and the preva
lence of fever, combined with many day:
and nights of hard labor and watching
has included many OF us IN the list OF ''sicl
and convalescent."
| From advices received, there is but iittlt
doubt OF the success of the movemen
against Johnston, and before this reache
you, you may have news of another glori
Gus victory, to add to the laurels OF til
"Army of the Mississippi"
Port Hudson, also, has followed the ex
ample of Vicksburg. The news arrived
to-day by steamer, that Banks now occu
pies that stronghold, and now the who'll
length of the Mississippi is open to on
commerce from source to mouth. But 1t !
impossible to grasp at once the whole fruit
of this short campaign. The results are to-
vast to be thought of in a few moments.
With price again badly whipped at Hele
, ma; Vicksburg, its large army Of defend
ers and it's armament in our possession
Fort Hudson ours; Bragg defeated; John
ston surrounded, and rebeldom West dis
comfitted, disheartened and demoralzeo
we can almost claim that the rebellion il
the VESTS over.
The sick and wounded are being remove
up the river as fast as possible, and soon a
whose wounds or diseases are slow to hea
will be in the hospitals up the river, or
sent home. This is a good move, and wi
be the saving of many precious lives. Th
climate is almost certain death to thos
$ who remain i'll it, after being PROSTATE
e with diseases caused by the malaria OF ii
' surrounding swamps, ana a change -
most sure to restore health. Since the SUI
render, we have removed our camp froI
r the close, cramped position it has oceupie
: during the siege. We were compelled
seek protection under the hills from til
= rebel bullets, but now we are occupying q
Q airy situation upon the hills overlookir
e the river, and the change hasalready BEN
: fitted us.
!. A large portion of the prisoners are mut
n opposed to the manner in which they a.
t paroled. They almost universally desi
to return to their homes. A large pr
portion want to take the oath OF all
IS glance and none care about fighting agar
q but, according to the terms of surrende
.. they are paroled in body, the officers
tang their side arms, and they are to marc
" out tomorrow in body. The object
It Pemberton is to keep them together III
til they can be exchanged, and ne ca
then have them ready TO renew the Coz
Ia fiict. But more than half of them Will ne
>, er be in the rebel ranks again.
AS to personal matters in our heglmer
er some changes have lately taken pla
Is among the field and company oihcers,
10 follows: Lieut.. Col. Brydolf has 5eslgne
~ and Capt. D. J. Palmer, of Co. A has be-
OF chosen to fill the vacancy. In Col. Br
,e dolf we have lost a brave, experienc
3. and able officer, and we part with him wi
regret: but his long services under t
u! disadvantage of an empty sleeve entitl
at him to rest, at least from active servi
i'm the field, and his many friends will
glad to hear of his success in getti
al an appointment in the Invalid Corps
in where his military talents can be ma
|, useful and of great advantage to the 81
- vice. Lieut.. Col. Palmer is eminently 1
W ted for his new position and will, withe
re doubt, prove as able in his new as
| his old position. lst Lieut.. j, NJ. Dick