The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-01-22

pofnIhy pchia--A II LILLE uc tku6 buS long
est purse will win the day, other things
being equal. N. O. 8.
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TIE vsehsburv TDsssas anA Resrsas,
ana The RsassA WY.
MIssIssrPpI SQUADRON,
Below Mo. Arkansas, Jan. 6, IS.
DR.. --: Since l last wrote you
the whole army has made most glori
ous retreat from the attack upon Vicks-
burg, and is now ON its way up the riv-
81. to some point, to Us unknown--but
rumor says up the Arkansas--nsar which
river we ell now are. The steamer "Un-
-eie Sam, II coming down as mail boat,
was captured in this vicinity . few days
since and burned with her mails; also
four barges Of coal--and it is more than
probable that some retaliation will be at
tempted; probably the routing of the
entire rebel force in this part Of Arksn-
sas.
Our re treat and evacuation Of the va
200 river was conducted in most master
" manner without the loss Of any men
or Government property. The entire
force withdrew from in front Of the rebel
lines, during the night Of Friday last, 10
silently that the enemy did not know Of
il, probably. until oil the troops were em-
barked on board the transports, which
lay al the time during the battle, from
two to four miles from the Union lines
l think that ! wrote you iamy last, tbs.
the engagement closed on Monday even
log. During the night II ninsd Ill the
time very hard, and ON Tuesday the dead
we're buried and the wounded taken on
board the boats. There was scarcely =
gun fred afterwards. Our forces were
badly located, part of them being in q
swamp and very uncomfortable, and l
suppose the rebels were also tired and
willing to remain silent Is long rs our
troops did not FIRE upon them. During
Wednesday and Thursday our army SEEM
cd 70 be preparing for further operations,
by taking out some larger sized guns.
but as they were not used ! suppose that
those in command came 10 the wiss con-
clusioa that to "retreat was the better
part of valor."' Thus ends. for the pres
emit, the great and long talked of expedi-
ton that was to take vicksburg and open
the Mississippi river to the Gulf Of Aexi.
co. We have lost some valuable lives
say, in oil, $50 killed, md about 1000
wounded and taken prisoners.
The 4th Iowa made che most desps.
rate charge and Loaf in killed and weund-
ed about Ito. Out Of this number I un-
dsrstasA fh1k y luast ons hslf - -
cover. They are now on board the steam
sr Louisiana, which is ussd - hospital
boat and viii be sent 70 some hospital
probably Memphis or Cairo. This ",
the only Iowa regiment in the attack, d.
though several Others were on the grosnd
/ To say nothing Of the loss Of LIE, thi,
expedition hss cost an enormous amount
| Of money--worse than wasted, a. the fail
ure had most disheartening eaec, upo.
our whole army. The feeling Is univsr
cal among the whole soldiefy that thi,
failure 10 disgnceful, and the blame il
| laid Il the door Of our leaders.
j From close observation Of the strength
and position Of the enemy am we'll at
| is6sd that the army should never have
made the attack from this point, and il
fact ought never 70 hSvebeen tak,n up thu
Yasoo River. We should have landed
above the YaEoo and gone asross BY land
above the forti6cations md united Viii
Gen. Grant, Or struck the srailread .be
tween Jackson and Vicksburg. thus get
ting 10 the rear Of tho snemy and ont
: ting Oh their reinforcsments from either
. way. Had this been done ! have n,
doubt that vickaburg would nov be i,
our possession, without y great ioss o
: life Is has nov, taken place. ] sappos,
! it vas expected that Gen. Grant xouls
advancs and take the psar, whils We hali
tho front, but, = I now understand
Gan. Grant did not advanes, bat retrsatst
'lsfssr bib los 1t Holly Springs. B.