The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-30

THE MARCH TOwARDJACKsoN.-R =
SPRINGS, May 2, 1853. The army is slowly
with Jackson in front, and Port Gibson is
miles behind. The pale blossoms of the
magnolia peep out among the foliage, and
fills the air with its delicious Od0r. The
road is skirted with lordly plantation
grounds, no longer covered with cotton,
but vast cornhelds, pregnant with stores
for the Confederate army. We frequently
came upon residences Of rare beauty, with
airy verandahs, and gardens of evergreen
and May roses; but the stragglers Of the
army have made complete havoc of every
thing in the shape of provisions, portable
wares of value and even furniture. FIRE.
quently, mirrors, sideboards, wardrobes,
and libraries are wantonly demolished and
trodden under foot. Soldiers in Uncle
Sans uniform are jostling each other
through parlor and bed chamber, opening
bureaus and scattering their contents on
the floor, or smoking and hohnobbing with
some member of the family on the door
step. Who would have dreamed, when the
people of this region, one holiday morning,
commenced voting Mississippi out of the
Union, that this garden spot separated by
hundreds of miles and hundreds of thou
sands of strong arms, would echo the roar
OF battle, and feel the terrible desolation of
civil war? 1t is dismal picture OF the
"bitter end,' which the defenders of trea-
son have SO flippantly talked Of This con-
dltion of things has been almost necessi-
ty with our army. 1t made forced march,
with three days rations, and no transpor-
tation that deserves the management
officers frequently being on foot. Hence
both food and wagons had to be procured
from the surrounding country. ~
Our column on the march is most mot
ley caravan. Every regiment is followed
by a retinue ofnegroes and mules. the ex-
tent, if not quality of which, would have
done honor to an Eastern Sheik. Wagons,
carts, carriages and buggies of every des-
cription fill up the train. Chickens and
gobblers hang on the saddles. Droves Of
cattle and sheep, urged on by frantic ne
groes mounted on ''bare bones,' minglo
with the artillery and baggage wagons.
Notwithstanding the necessities of the
dalism of our soldiery. 1 have been pew
sonally witness to scenes of pillage which
would emulate that of the followers of At
tia. l allude to this subject again, because
l consider it the duty of a faithful historian
to tell the whole truth in reference to the
operations of the army. 1t is but justice to
the troops to add that these outrages are
perpetrated principally by stragglers, who
belong to the same category with the ''vul-
tures'' that rifle the dead on the field of
battle. They do not represent the animus
Of the army as whole. And an order has
emanated from headquarters within a day
| vi WV "hlCh IL 10 lAOpCo WILL SoiAVSo WIG
evil hereafter.
| 1t is unnecessary at this late hour to go
into a minute description of this point
The position impressed me as being strong
er than Columbus or Fort Pillow, and by
nature more impregnable than even the
nights of Vicksburg. The northern bluff,
known as Stony Point, appears to be at
least $50 feet high, and so precipitous as to
render an assault from the front utterly
hopeless. A basin nearly mile across sets
in to the north at the mouth of the Black
river, and gives Grand Gulf its name. AS
at Vicksburg, the approach from that quar-
ter is embarred with dense timber and
marsh. From the south, an army might
land under the range of the batteries, and
carry the lower works by forlorn hope
Even then the northern bluff would COM
mand the southern eminence, and render
it almost untenable. At all events, it is
now plain that by far the most practicable
method of taking Grand Gulf was the one
adopted; j. e., a flank movement, compell-
ingthe enemy to evacuate. The base of the
bluff is protected by an elaborate ri1e-pit,
sweeping the flat beach, and extending for
a mile or more.
From the top of the cliff, above Stony
cent. Below, the river expands into an in
land bay, and breaks on the rocky beach in
a surf, that calls Newport back to mind
Opposite is the low sandbank, around
which our brave transports sped on that
memorable moonlight night of the Goth of
in the forest, and the azure Of the distance,
and the twilight, is alive with busting
steamers, no longer menaced by the tooth
less fangs of the battlements. The setting
sun sheds its tranquil glory along the wave
and sky. Below, on the wide, sandy shore,
the bivouac fires are beginning to twinkle
like gems. Such panorama of water, and
/ fOrnSt and civ ia which Ghnrcn
might achieve fresh Immortality.
/ On the morrow, vast column of troops
| will be on the move. Even now, they are
''on their winding way" through the gorge
to the music Of the "Bonnie Blue Flag"
which, like Dixie, is quite favorite with
us.
The problem which involves the fate of
the campaign is the question, which of the
| two armies will in given space Of time,
anda very short one, be able to concentrate
the largest force on the coming battlefield
That point will, of course, be easily acces
question is, whether the Rebels can use the
Jackson and New-Orleans Road and SO re-
| enforce readily from Port Hudson, evacua-
| ting that place; and attacking us before
Banks can come to the rescue; second,
whether they can re-enforce from Charles
ton, or whether, in point Of fact, as it is ru-
mored, Grierson has cut in two the former,
and the latter may be rendered impossible.
If these channels be left clear, the Rebels
may mass a force of 10000 men. A few
days will settle the question.
| Osterhaus now has the extreme front at
Hale's Ferry, on the Beach-River and ON
the road to Jackson. .-
A skirmish took place a day or two since
under that commander, between a compa-
ny of the I'd and one of the Sd Illinois Cav
| airy and the Rebels, which resulted in kill
| ling two ofthe latter, wounding four, and
| capturing rs prisoners. Our troops are in
splendid condition, and only waiting for
| supplies to advance on the enemy. There
| is general confidence and enthusiasm in
our power to whip any force the enemy may
bring against us.
Negro refugees are as plenty as black
berries in July. And tits to be regretted
that while no officers actively oppose the
formation ofcolored regiments, there is not
a more active cooperation in their organi
zation on the part of those in command
The movements progressing slowly, / am
told, owing in great measure to this cause.
| Cor. N. Y. Tribune.