The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-24
From First Iowa Cavalry.
LITTLE Rock, Ark, Oct. 9th, Isl

" LITTLE Rock, Ark, Oct. 9Th. 1868.
a Z EDITOR BURLINGTON HAwK-EYE:-
! Knowing that the First Regiment low
Cavalry has many friends who read wit
| interest your most loyal and patriotic pa
per, and who would be glad to hear Of tn
deeds of daring of this gallant Regiment
/ came TO the conclusion to give you
, brief account Of our march from Arcadia
NO., to Little Rock, Ark. ...s,.1.i =
The month Of June was occupied il
gathering together several cavalry. regi
ments for a grand expedition to this place
1t required no small amount of skill ant
energy to bring together and organize tn
cavalrN division and make ample provi
sion for transportation and subsistence
But under the practiced eyes of Brig. Gen
J. w. Davidson difficulties melted ava,
and all things were made ready by tn
last days of June. And on the LIST day 0
tJuly we commenced our march. .. 80 aa
Il; The Division was composed of the follow
Iing Brigades, Regiments and Batteries:
4 % Brig. Gen. J. w. Davidson in command
4 list Brigade, Col. Lewis Merrill COM
manding-Composed of Merrill's Horse
1 Major 6. Harkin commanding; 18th Mis-.
souri, Cavalry, Lieut.. Col. J. S. Chandler
commanding; Sth Missouri Cavalry, Col,
j wv. f. Geiger commanding. f-,,,, Jv
! I'd Brigade, Col. j. NJ. Glover command
ing-3d Missouri Cavalry, Lieut.. Col. Thos.
G. Black commanding; list Iowa Cavalry.
COLI. o. Cover commanding; 10th Illinois
| Cavalry. Col. D. Wickersham command
ing. 81 usa, E.iw a..yfL.,..-e III. aat G.a-
Reserve Brigade, Col. J. F. Ritter COM
manding-lst Missouri Cavalry, Major III.
j.. Sterlin commanding; Sd Iowa Cavalry,
Lieut.. Col. H. G. Caldwell commanding;
18th Illinois, Major L. Lipput command
ing; 32d Iowa Infantry, l Bat, Major
s.. A. gEberhart commanding, g;4,..
Pontoon Train-Capt. w. p Barris
commanding. fu.rl,.f. M 4..-....,i.--
ArtilleryECapt. J. L. Hadley, cnief OF
bard; Co. X, 25th Missouri Artillery,
Lieut.. T. P. Clarkson; Co. NJ, 18th Missou-
ri Artillery, Mountain Howitzers, Capt.
G. St{ange; Lovejoy's Battery. Mountain
Howftzers, Lieut.. G. F. Loveioy. n
Total present in Cavalry Division, June
3Oth. 6, 132. 45>-s.t3 IL t.s-a.I 10
1t has been said by good judges who
has been gathered finer division of cay
airy on this continent. We found the
weather exceedingly hot. roads dusty,
water scarce and very bad, and conse-
quently our march was very fatiguing
and prostrating in the extreme. For one
month we were compelled to use and drink
water that in Iowa we would not think Of
giving to our horses. AS consequence,
the health of the troops suffered in the ex-
IRENE. Our own regiment, at one time,
had four hundred and seven on the sick
list. Nothing of particular interest tran
spired on our march until we came near
the Little Auguille river. Here our chief
of scouts was murdered by "bushwhack-
ers." Capt. Gleun was a Texan refugee,
about 80 years old, brave and competent in
his sphere, and very useful to our COM
mand. This occurred on the I'd of August.
We arrived at Clarendon, on White River,
on the Sth of August, where we remained
for ten days, waiting reinforcements from
Helena under Gen. Steel. On the 18th we,
crossed the river and moved on toward
Brownsville. Here we expected to meet
with resistance. And on the 25th, as we
drew near to that place we found small
force confronting us which was driven
before us like chaff before the wind. We
took number of prisoners, and among
them Col. Burbridge of Missouri. On the
morning of the Goth the I'd brigade was
ordered to go over to Bayou Metar, about
fourteen miles west of Brownsville, where
it was said the enemy had large force
and extensive rifle pits. We found the
enemy in force and showing determine
ton not to yield the ground without Sc
we're contest.
We drove in their pickets, ascertained
the position Of the enemy, and after she'll
ing them for some time, returned, having
lost but one man. The next day Gen. Da-
wilson took the larger part of his Division
and gave the enemy another call; and they
seemed determined to show us more re-
sistance. We drove them before us across
the Bayou into their rifle-pits, and fearing
we might cross, thsyset tt, fire TO-, to the bridge
wilson ordered the First Iowa to charge
down the road and, if possible, save the
bridge. 4 Down rushed our noble boys,
while shot and shell and rife balls flew
around them like hail. The enemy had
perfect range with their cannon of this
road, and their sharp-shooters were SO
It seemed impossible for man or horse to
come out of that fiery ordeal. 1t was soon
|ascertained that the bridge was too far gone
to be saved, and the Regiment deployed to
the right and left of the road, dismounted,
and went to the very bank of the Bayou,
and from behind trees and logs poured in a
most telling fire upon the enemy in their
ri1e-pits. The recall was sounded, and re-
luctantly the boys came forth from the
contest and joined the main body Of our
troops. We lost, in this charge, about thir-
~ ain killed and wounded. The General
complimented the. Regiment in the highest
terms for its gallantry and daring. -
l~Again we returned to our camp at
Brownsville, and remained there until the
9Th ofSeptember. Here Gen. Steele Joined
Us with his forces, and plan of attack was
and on the Sth nit. our forces moved toward
Little Rock, crossing Bayou Matou at Shall
low Ford, about ten miles south Of the
bridge before alluded to. Ashley's Bayou,
about ten miles below Little Rock, was the
scene of another skirmish with the enemy,
and although they met us in force, they
were driven into and across the river.
On the morning Of the 10th the pontoon
bridge was laid down, abont eight miles
below the city in the face of the enemy,
our engineers being protected in the work
by twenty-foar pieces of artillery. At 10
O'Clock a. m. the Ist Iowa cavalry, which
was to hold the post of danger and honor
that day, received orders to cross the
bridge and take up position on the south
side of the river. They were followed by
the Sd Missouri, while the 10th Illinois
forded above the bridge, these were follow
Led by the entire division. No sooner was
4 the crossing effected than the enemy COM
1menced percepsible retreat falling back
to the mouth of Bayou Lafourche, five
miles from Little Rock. Here they made
a stand in thick wood, and it must be
confessed they made desperate resistance
for short time. The 10Th Illinois was re-
pulsed and lost two howitZers and caisson