The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-04-04
ARMY COn Hs ESPONDENCE.
CAMP or THE CHE Iowa, N
FoRr STAT. Tennessee,
March oath. 1863.

~ ARMY COnhESPONDENCEs
CAMP OF THE CHE Iowa,
FoRr STAT. Tennessee,
March Oath, 1863.
EDIroR HAwK-Eyy IL wish to lay be
our readers, as far as ] am able to, judge,
the true feeling and sentiment Of the soldiers
of this regiment; and to disabuse the mind Of
the pubic in reference to the growing pros-
perity ofthe South. i have no news Of inter-
est to write. The foot prints Of the enemy are
not seen around our camp, save feS gusrril-
las who skulk from hill to ravine, in hopes of
capturing some unalmed soldier, as he wan
ders from camp for recreation; but like the
condemned spirit, fees at the approach Of cav,
airy, or the low tread Of infantry; and asks
Why have we come here to torment them be-
fore their time. Forage trains are daily going
into the country, draining it of all the grain
for ten and twelve miles around camp. have
accompanied several of these trains, and thu
scenes which presented themselves were truly
appalling. / gazed upon the untenanted
farms and dilapidated buildings, and asked
myself is this the land Of America that has so
long been the harbor of peace to the downtrod,
den millions of earth, and now her own des-
troyer? Nothing seems to dread our approach
but man. All nature seems harmonious.Sz
Vegetation is springing up, and everything Is
beginning to wear the garb of spring. The
green heritage would fain cover the blood. STAIN
ed earth, and wipe from the recollection of
man the memory Of his wrongs, and invite
him back to the fraternal bonds of peace and
prosperity. The hammer Of the busy me-
chanic is unheard. The sound Of the farmer
is low; the plowsheare is not frightened, and
the farms are uncultivated. The rayage of
war has indelibly written its mark on this
region Of country. / feel sanguine in the De-
lief, that if We keep our arms on Southern
soil the duration of this rebellion is short :;
though we may never fight another battle
Defeat and despair already play upon their.
features they see the seed time and harvest
joining, but must look in vain for the fruit
thereof But it is not SO With the soldiers
who are fighting under the time honored flag,
and for the perpetuafion Of American free.
dom bequeatbed to them by the Fathers of
the Revolution. Almost two years have elapsh,
ed since We took up our line Of march 70
the field Of blood and carnage, and al.houg
We have passed the ordeal of battles, we al
more determined in our purpose, and our hear
are more united in crushing out this rebellio
than the day we bid adieu to the friends
Burlington, and the lively scenes of your Cit
receded from our view as We steamed down ID
waters Of the Mississippi. As the events
time more fully develope the evils of sepal
ton, we pledge anew our lives and tortu
that the great River flowing from north
south shall never be the waters of but OF
people. The uprising of the Northern ira
tors is NO intimidation to the soldiers of tn.
Sixth Iowa, but brings afresh to their neY1ily
the bleaching bones of departed friend ba
brothers, and the Regimenal flag that wa
forated at Shiloh by the enemies balls.
the traitors Of the North the storm of retr]
ton Is gathering thick and fast, and the brt
sons of Iowa will never forget the wrongs Cd
mitted by them. We are not only fighting
conquest, but for principles that will ez
when this generation shall have faded away
No matter how strong are the ties OF home, CT
endearments of association, We will never Jay
down our arms until the land of America is
freed from treason and the name Of her citi-
zene honored by all nations. This regiment il
ready at all times to do her duty, whether id
camp or in the battle field. We have the full.
est confidence in the fighting qualities of oar
commander, and will follow him where ever
he leads. We are enlisted for the war, AM
will continue in the field until there is an IN
conditional surrender on the part of the Rebe
lion. This is the platform on which We stsnt
JOHN NJ. HAYS.