The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-03-28
Army Correspondence.

LAGRANGE, TENN, March 18th, '63. :
EDITOR HAWK EYE: Winter quarters with
us are over, and We hail with jog, the return o.
Spring, with its active operations; for winter
quarters are far more dangerous than is the
battle field to soldiers Still the general health
of this regiment has been good all winter; We
have lost but three men, and two of those were
recruits, who had not got used to soldering.
Much praise is due our officers for the condi.
ton in which they required the camp kept.
We are at our old calling, raid making,
again. Last week, our regiment under the
command of our excellent Colonel, E. Hatch,
was ordered to the Tallahatchie river, distant
TWO days march, to destroy bridge of the NJ.
C.. Railroad across the Tallahatchie. This
railroad was destroyed by US in our last raid
last fall, far below this river, but the bridge
was left. The rebels had contrived rude
hand car, by means of which they transported
army stores, and even horses across the river.
Beside this they had also amassed several tons
of lead, obtained from the ruins Of the Holly
Springs armory, ready for transport. This
lead was deposited in the river, and the bridge
left complete wreck. This done, we started
for camp, and camped at dark some II or IA
miles this side of the bridge. We had just got
our blankets spread down for sleep, which We
much needed, when our Colonel learned by
means of q citizen, {who like Lot, Of old. kept
the faith even in wicked Sodom, that the reb-
els had not been idle in our rear, but had con-
gregated large force, and had the strings 50
set as to feel sure Of our capture. But Coz.
Hatch is not the man to be easily caught, or
made to fight under great disadvantages; hence
he led US by circuitous route, around our
waiting rebel friends, SO that when they sprung
their trap at daylight the next morning, they
caught "nary Yank." But citizen since then
in from near there, tells US that they had quite
q fight on their own hook, in the mist of the
morning, before they found out that we had
given them The slip.
We reached camp at night Of the fourth day,
having had little or no sleep for three days
and two nights of marching. The raid was 3
complete success, resulting in the capture of q
goodly number of horses and mules; also sew
eral rebel prisoners who were through the
country visiting friends and acting guerrllas.
Among them is Lieutenant of the Richmond
army, who was wounded in the seven days
fight with Mcclellan there. He says that
10000 of their men held Mcclellan in check
ten days at Williamsburg, while their forces
were collected on the Chickahominy. Their
joy at seeing Mcclellan set his men to building
Notifications instead of advancing at once, was
only equalled by their surprise at the move
ment. .....- lr...5 ...
While the End Iowa cavalry were engaged
in this bridge burning trip, the 9th aad 7th Ill.
cavalry made dash in the direction of Sum-
merville and when near there and 80 miles
from Fort Pillow, completely surprised and
captured the camp of Colonel Richardson's 1st
Tennessee Partisan Rangers, killing %, and
capturing and wounding 70 more, besides caps
turing over 100 fine horses. All the camp
equipage was captured The FEDERAL loss
was four prisoners.
Another force consisting Of one battalion
each, from the End Iowa, and 9th and 7th Ill.
cavalry, are now out on another scout. We
just learned that they had routed force of
guerrillas at Lamar. Three of the rebels were
killed. Federal loss none.
The weather here is getting quite hot; peach
trees have been in full bloom for a week past.
Yours Sc, L. 3. PIERCE,