The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-11-07
From the seth iowa.

HEADQ RS 10Th Iowa Vol. Infantry, LIT
TIE ROCK, Ark, Oct. 9th, 1S63.-Roa. No
than OdeU: Dear Friend-I hope YOU will
pardon me for not writing sooner. The dn-
ties OF my command have so consumed NV
time, that l have had barely time to cor
respond with my family, since 1 Joined the
regiment at Clarendon on White river, on
Inc Zlst OF August, up to the present time.
Dut no" tnat our marches are ever, and
we have superseded Old Pap Price IL Co
IN command of the capital of Arkansas
nave got our new camp cleared out. bar,
racks built for the boys, and every thing
comfortable, avail myself of the present
somewhat quiet respite from nv fla,
DOTS POTS, ana VIII perhaps, weary your pa
tlence with a long letter. I will not. how
ever, weary you with n long account of our
hard and fatiguing marches through heat
and dust, and how we quenced our thirst
from the green scummed water of the CIV
press sWamps and the stagnant pools of the
pfalrleS on long stretches between swamps
and OF the hustling of the Surgeons in
| charge OF the various regiments, in provid-
ing transportation for their respective sick.
foot sore and tagged out troops, on board
! the Ambulance corps, incidents of the war
with which your previous service has made
you familiar and OF the taking of Little
ROCK, although l am very much disappoin-
ted III not having TO chronicle the report Of
our regiment engaged in a bloody battle.
| L Will simply say, that we had every as
! surance from the enemy (who were our su-
perIols III numbers, and had every a1yan-
taSe IN position and were strongly fortified
and enIrenched,) that we would hnye. and
had prepared ourselves for "a desperate fight.
and on the morning of the 10th of Septem
| Der, at daylight, we attacked him on his
right flank, with solid columns of Imam
try, Artillery and Cavalry. He resisted
and fought with determination, until about
70 clock, A. NJ, when we succeeded in turn
| ing his flank by forthcoming the river and
| throwing forward one whole division of
cavalry. with portions or artillery and in
fantry, and by 10 O'Clock, the enemy were
in full retreat. We occupied Little Rock
ABOUT CLOCK, p. NJ. Our regiment had
the post of honor in Gen1 Rice's division
and led the advance, moving steadily tor,
ward am!d.the roar and smoke of artillery
unfaltering, with the expectation of charp-
ing through the enemy's works. Had not
General steele OUt-generaled Price, and so
completely thanked him, there would have
been bloody work at the taking of Little
Rock. And now about Little Rock and the
State OF Arkansas, its present aspect and
future prospects.
Little Rock is located on the south side
OF the Arkansas river, on a rocky, gravelly
DluH and is very nice place, containing a
population, prior TO the rebellion. of - G1OO
inhabitants. 1t has large share of good
business houses, (minus the business or
even the capital with which to do it at nre
sent,) and quite number of fine residen
ces, and some elegant mansions, Springs
of excellent water flow out from the ada
cent hills, and the city is supplied with
wells of as pure fountain water as T ever
drank. Its public buildings are built with
taste and elegance,-among them is the
State House, built Of stone, a fine Conrt
House, (but not SO file as ours,l the United
States Arsenal, built by Uncle Samuel and
timely Enclosed, and st. Johns College.
TNI.r
NJ, of Arkansas, for the education of Door
worthy Brothers children and Orphans
The Arsenal and College are near each
other, and are situated in the suburbs of
the city, about one mile back from the riv-
er, and are now occupied as General Hos
p ,i our camp Is near by, and is, with
IT'S magnificent barracks, built of pine INN
per, tours being the only regiment who
nave built barracks,) prominent among
the late improvements of the CITY. and Is
one OF the great attractions of interest to
the citizens. They speak of it as "a Yam
kee Improvement" and in honor of Iowa
troops, call it Iowa City," The barracks
were built by the enterprising and in
dustrious soldiers of the Both, under the
supervision of the persevering and gallant
captain a. w. Miller, who finding a secesh
saw mill, about eight miles from town, that
Would not take the oath, took possession of
II, cut their own logs from the pine forests,
.r;., - ~ i'i.o oot'i I'D, uiu the naulInS
with our regiment teams, while not other.
WISE employed, gathered up nails from the
ashes OF the depot, burnt by Price before
retreating,) and with their own labor cree
ted the barracks, without any expense to
the Government, and by the by, l may say
are now enjoying hugely, the comforts of
Their, protection. from the cold, stormy
weather We are now having. ,. ..r . -
the citizens OF Little Rock and vicinity
appear rejoicel at our possession of the
country, and their deliyerance from Con-