The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-08-08
From The 3ith iowa.

Y In VICKsBURG, Miss, July 10th, 1858.
- EDITOR HAwK-EYE:-We are now on
the eve of q move which Will precipitate us
farther into Rebellion than we have hither-
to been. Hence we hasten to write you a
few lines, not knowing when the privilege
of sending friendly missive may again
occur. ..-E N# ....s
With regard to our late operations aud
fortune around and within this city, we
need saw but little. OF the fall of NickS-
burg on the Fourth, and of the part enact
ed by the brave Iowa Boys. you will have
had accurate and glowing accounts, long
before this reaches you. A few words on
ly with regard to the 34th. ..G
Upon our arrival here, being assigned to
Herron's Division, Vandevers Brigade,
we assumed our place. in the line of cir
| cumvalation on the extreme left of the in
vesting forces, thus making strong that
part of the line, before regarded as the
| weakest. EW a
Nobly did our boys endure the excessive
| labor, known only to besieging army;
| digging rifie-pits and acting as sharpshoOt-
ers; building parapets and embrasures;
/ preparing gabions, cotton bales and sun
| dry other Uranium defenSes, until weary
and worn we arrived, in our nocturnal OPP
erations within short stones throw OF the
enemy's strongest forts a.
This is a brief digest of the quality OF la
Dor we had to perform, but gives no idea
of the magnitude. One whole month we
labored thus, day and night without cessa-
ton. At last, on the Fourth, agreeable to
our foregone conclusions, Mars proclaimed
a day Of relaxation from care and toll, and
babe us rejoice and be glad s,l.. %
Our loss since we came here is not very
great; two Lieutenants and eight men were
wounded, two and perhaps three of the
men mortally. Lieut.. Coleman of Co. 1,
and LIST Sergeant Finley of Co. L, died OF
disease. Our sick list has increased rapid
/ w Init xvn hnN-n fnIyj an 10 nall
i'll at present. ...
| The entire loss of our army here, since
Gen. Grant desisted from chrging the rebel
works has been very small in killed and
wounded, compared with that of the enc
my; they suffering daily losses from our
incessant bombardment, while they had
strict orders not to return our fire.
z The aggregate of troops captured, aCcor-
! ding to the rolls, is 80 ST.! what proportion
Of these are officers l have not learned
These troops are the most completely de-
) moralized and void of all hope. Not one
of those with whom have met pretends to
: have the remotest idea of the success of
Southern arms. With the fall of Vicks-
!, burg their last Pickering hope persisted.
The victory here was scarcely complete
, when the victorious army was turned upon
I Gen. Johnston, from whom Girls brings
$ glad tidings. |.eE #t ~.
: While write, the gunboats are BOOM
ing the reception of good news, which
floats to us from all quarters on the breeze
purified by the reverberating shout of VIC
4 TORY.
: Our Division leaves here tomorrow at
o 8 a. m. for Port Hudson, which is now very
r closely invested; reduced to small garri-
8 son; subsisting on mule meat and quarter
rations as per last account. The 34th will
o be compelled to leave some of their "fdith-
fuI jeW' here in hospitals. The remnant
= of our regiment has been tried in the fire
: and not found wanting. ~
/: Assistant Surgeon Coffman. of the 34th,
:, is detailed with the 10th Iowa. Capt. Kern,
i of Co. H, is recommended for Major, vice
i, Kellogg, resigned. Assistant Surgeon J.
4 D. McCleany and Capt. Alexander, of Co.
A, have resigned recently; the former be-
d fore and the latter since the capture of this
Il city. These designations make a loss OF
!. twenty officers, resigned and died in the
,e 34th since it's organization. Loss in en-
II listed men nearly in the samproportion.
is Col. Clark's health is, as usual excellent
70 as well as the other members of the field
d and staff, not excepting tour Adjutant, u
,e whose heart always beats warm for the
l. cause of ''the Unio,,." aE-
r Yours truly, MILES.