The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-02

their unsoundness offered. IOWA.
The siege Of Washington.
WASHINGTON, N. c., April l6.-Eigh-
teen DAYS ago the rebels invested this town,
closed the lines, threw up intrenchments
ON the nights about, and opened fire. A
flag of truce came in, and when the Rebels
found that Gen. Foster was here they ex-
pressed great surprise. Again they de-
handed the removal Of the women and
children, but Foster replied that he did not
receive flags of truce, and if another came
he would fire upon it. Communication by
the Pamlico River was cut off by the stock
some ten feet apart, about two years ago,
and when the place was capturned by Burn
side, a gate was made by the removal OF
about 100 feet of the spiles, and buoys were
placed to mark the place of the gate. These
buoys the Rebels removed, and as the
spiles were sawed off three feet below the
water, it is almost impossible to find the
gate at once even by the best pilot, as the
river is some three miles wide and the wa
ter thick with mud. An expedition, led by
Gen. Spinola, attempted to land below
Hills Point and force the Rebel lines, but
was abOrtive.
Another expedition, led by Gen. Spinola,
land. and this also was driven back, after q
short engagement at Swift Greek, in which
Capt Be1gen of the LIST Rhode Island Artil-
lery and some nine others were wounded,
but none MORALLY. This Capt. Belgen is
from the regular army, and stands No. l
in this department as most efficient and
noble officer. Gen. Foster needed men,
ammunition and bread. For many days
the siege had been heavy and CONSTANT
The town was completely invested, and
shells from twelve to thirty-two pounds
were fired at all hours into all parts OF the
town, and hit everything but the people
1t seems a marvel that no one has been
killed and few wounded. Many thought
Foster must yield. Foster would not yield;
he would die first. Amid the confusion of
Spinola's return from his unsuccessful ex-
petition and the chagrin we all felt on Fri
day, April 10, Adj-Gen. Hoffman sent for
Col. II. T. Sisson of the 9Th Rhode Island,
of Burnside fame and service, and informed
him of the position of things, and said: II
will not order nor ask you to 20, but it is
most vital to communicate with FOSTER
Col. Sisson, with his usual promptness and
patriotism, offered himself and his COM
mand to attempt the hazardous task.
At six o'clock the same afternoon, the
good steamer Escort Capt. Wall, left New
bern with the 5th Rhode Island, accompa-
MED by Gen. Palmer, Adjutant-Gen. Hoff
man, and number Of eminent military
men. Saturday morning we reached the
gunboat fleet, composed OF the Hunchback,
SoOulAiciu, NdhON WY, HlSACdus oiAo
Seymour, together with number of trans
ports at anchor some four or five miles be-
low Hills Point Battery. The day was
passed in lining the Escort about the boiler
and pilot-house with bales Of hay, and
taking on large quantities of ammunition
and stores for Gen. Fosters command
Night came on, and we all expected to try
and run the blockade. No orders came to
move, and morning found us at anchor.
In the dense fog we got under way, and
the gunboats came with us till, when the
fog lifted, the Escort was about half mile
from shore, Just in the channel, and exact
ly in front Of Hills battery, The gunboats
were long, safe way behind. We expect
ed them to run up and silence or engage
the battery, and, in the smoke and confu-
sion, we were to run by andsee if we could
get up and relieve Foster. They ordered
us back to the rear, and commenced to
lombard the battery, perhaps mile and a
grand and terrible. Only nine shots were
drawn from the battery. Some of the hum
dred pound shells landed just beyond the
lines of sand composing the battery, and
exploded, sending the sand and black dirt
in vast jets spouting into the air. Some
exploded in the water, making commo-
ton that cannot describe. The tide of
sound as in billow after billow it rolled
upon the air was like q flood of thunders
rolling from the waters away to the dis
tant forests. What harm was done we
know not. The Rebels seem to have holes
back in the rear under ground into which
they draw their guns after they fire them.
There was no flag visible. Gradually we
dropped back to our original position be-
yond range of the guns. Night came, but
no order to move, and our noble men chat
ed with indignation. Monday we surely
would go. No order. A reconnaissance
on shore by Capt. Douglass and fifty men
of the 5th Rhode Island was led by negro
and a battery with three guns was found,
commanding Blunts Creek, some two
miles below Hills battery. A camp of
200 men were compile OF miles off, and
some 5000 were on this creek by bridge
on the road from Washington to Newbern.
In the afternoon Col. Sisson called to-
gether Lieut.. Col. Tew and Major Jameson,
and told them he felt that a desperate step
was needed, and they fully endorsed his
plans. He then sent his compliments to
Gen. Palmer, and requested him to send
him to Gen. Fosters relief. Gen. Palmer
did not think it safe to go. At length Col.
Sisson got the privilege, Of making the at
tempt and the Escort was put under his
command. At half-past s stood on the
after deck in the clear, calm starlight as a
single stroke of the bell on the gunboat
half a mile away, sounded the hour agreed
upon to move. One after another OF the
grim monsters of war moved OFT towards
Hills battery. The Escort came in the
rear. Col. Sisson borrowed a 12-pound
Wizard gun to put on the forward deck for
his own amusement. Sharp-shooters were
stationed about the ship to take care OF
those on shore and in the guard-boats NOV
ing about in the river. The rest of the
command was put as low in the ship as
possible. AS Hooked out into the future,
certain questions would force themselves
upon my mind. Could the pilot strike the
gate in the row of spiles? With less than
foot of spare water under our keel would
she not, i'll the crooked channel, at some
point get aground? Might not shot ex-
plode the boiler, and scald this multitude
of soalls?- Might not some shell explode
and pierce the carpet of human bodies vol
UNFAIRLY spread over those barrels of gun
powder to protect it, and send those noble
men to repose from the battle? Col. Sissor
knew that ON his GOODNESS and skin hung
measnreless and md. immortal interests. Qui.
mile or so from the battery. Each gun was
trained and ready for work. The Escort
slowly and quietly moved toward what the
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