The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-08-08
Gen. Launan and the 4th Divis.


ri Democrat: The steamer John IA. Dickey
brought the unwelcome intelligence that
the old fighting 4th had been fearfully cut
to pieces near Jackson, Mississippi, and
its noble General, j. q. Lauman, had been
relieved of his command. Az the loss of
the LIST brigade, composed of the Sd Iowa,
18th, 4lst and SD Illinois regiments, is
without parallel in slaughter, purpose
in this article to give q short sketch OF the
division and its commanders.
The 4th division of the Army of the Ten
nessee first went into camp at Pittsburg
s. A. Hurlbut, and few days after fought
the battles OF the 9Th and 18th Of April. Du-
ring that month Gen. Lauman "as sent TO
| take command Of the LIST brigade, since
which time his history and that OF the d.
vision have been almost inseparably con-
neeted.
Gen. Lauman first entered the service SIS
Colonel of the 18th Iowa infantry, and led
that regiment in the battle of Belmont,
where he was severely wounded. He re-
| covered in season to take command OF MS
| regiment before the capture of Fort Donel-
son, where, being the ranking Colonel, he
commanded brigade, and for his gallant
conduct was promoted to Brigadier Gene
raj. He commanded a brigade at Shiloh
with crerit to himself and honor to his
country.
Soon after his appointment to the LIST bri-
gade, he, with his division, participated in
the siege of Corinth. This siege required
the most constant watchfulness-the utmost
vigilance throughout its continuance; and
| if an officer had been remiSS or slack in
discharging his duty, he would most GER
tainly have fallen into disgrace. 1t is
enough to say that Gen. Lauman enjoyed
the confidence of his superior officers to the
! fullest extent
He evinced superior capacity while in
command of independently petitions. At
one time he was sent with his brigade from
| Bolivar. Tennessee, to reconnoiter the en-
| emy's position at Grand junction. To
deceive the enemy into belief that a gen.
eral advance was intended, the entire wa
gon train of the brigade, headquarter
trains included, was sent cut. We camped
| within five miles of the junction at night,
and the next morning advanced to within
| one mile and half Of that place. In the
meantime the enemy had moved his force
on parallel road upon our right flank and
rear, in order to cut us off, with every
prospect of success. IndeciSion and mac
tivlty would have proved fatal. The Gen
eral saw what were the designs of the enc
my, and acted with pronptness. In less
than ten minutes the train was going back,
we took cross-road to Van Buren,, where
shortly after, we put creek on our flank
T between us and the enemy.
On the 9Th of October last General Hurl-
Il but fought the battle of the Hatchie. Soon
after our cannon opened on the enemy
General Ord rode up in citizens dress, I'M
known to everybody, and assumed COM
mand. The General was as ignorant Of the
ground as the men whom he was to COM
; mand. Everything went on swimmingly
{ on the west side of the river, and battery
and nearly all of the enemy's infantry We're
, captured. But the severe work was to
come. The enemy had several batteries,
one 24-pound howitzer, planted so as to
hid u -, Il -,
led to it, for three-quarters of a mile
Under cover OF the timber we managed to
get our infantry to the bridge without be-
!, ing cut up very badly, but here different
tale commences. Regiment after regiment
! was poured over that narrow bridge until
enough for one to work effectually. Shot,
shell and canister swept down the men by
| scores; as many as twelve men fell at a SIN
gle discharge of canister.
, At this critical moment q messenger of
mercy led General Ord from the field, and
, placed General Hurlbut again in COM
, mand! He at once rode across the bridge,
rallied his shattered regiments, deployed
them to the left, reformed them and sue
, ceeded in turning the enemys flank, thus
} compelling him to retreat.
In the midst of that carnage, as much
exposed as his men, General Lauman was
highly complimented by General Hurlbut
, in his official report
General Lauman was Immediately pro-
noted to the command of the division on
his return to Bolivar, which position he
. has retained ever since, with the exception
) of about six weeks. Under him, it sus-
tanned, until the 18th instant, the high rep
utation which it won under it's former COM
/ mander, and no one now regrets that sep
aration more than his old soldiers
He loved his men, and they loved him
warmly in return. Even now, they re-
t greet his leaving; regret the wounding OF
, his kind and sensitive heart; regret the
blow his reputation has suffered, only less
, than the slaughter of their comrades.
f They do not believe him guilty. In their
: hearts, they exonerate him from all blame,
= and charge it upon Ord, whom they detest,
perhaps without a cause, but neverthe-
less true. have seen numbers of its sew
} eral regiments who entertain these feel
, ings.
t forbear to account for the unfortunate
g event, or make any statements regarding
: it. I write this, that public opinion may
! suspend its verdict until court of in
: quiry has decided where the blame be-
9 longs. General Lauman has proved him
, self worthy of the esteem of his country
r men, and until the mystery can be ex-
e plored let us throw over him the mantle
: of charity, which he so delighted in placing
t upon others under similar circumstances.
HATCHIE.
DEcLINAToN OF Mr.. FIsHER.-The ru-
mored declination of Mr.. Fisher of the
q democratic nomination for Governor OF
q this State is confirmed by a letter from that
gentleman; so there is no longer any doubt
:, of the fact. This course of Mr.. Fisher has
t been brought about by the same influence,
il and by nearly the same individual ele-
: ments as were imposed upon Judge Ma
+ son two years ago, and caused him to sac
:. rifice himself for what he supposed to be
; the best interests of the Democratic party
: and through it his State and county, but
n which demoralized the party,-the very
+ thing sought to be accomplished by some
# of the leading spirits who influenced Judge
. Mason to decline the gubernatorial nomi-
nation then, and no doubt the object some
!. of those who influenced Mr.. Fisher to imi.
: tate Judge Mason's example have in view
now. How can it be otherwise than thus
y when the Democratic masses unanimously
\ rejoiced at the nomination of MIR. Fisher
= and even those who have undertaken t
;. speak for the people to Mr.. Fisher conce
- dad nublicly that he was the best NOMINEES