The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-06-18

u LITTLE Rock, June 1st, 1864.
EDITOR AwKEYE: Since my last let,
| ter additional details have been received
concerning the battle of Jenkins Ferry,
on the Saline River, which demonstrate
fully that the rebels were badly worsted.-
It is now known that Kirby smith com
manded in person-that he brought with
! him from Louisiana good portion OF his
Il Texan army, and that the force opposed
d that day against Steele was but little short
of tWenfy-tWo thousGnG. The results sum
up as follows: Smith failed to capture the
'rtrain or artillery, though he felt certain Ct
leOne at least, on account OF the terrible
lost near fifteen hundred killed, fair pro-
'eportion Of wounded and section Of ar
l-tillery. The moral effect of his defeat is
a. more disastrous still. If $4,000 rebels
!, can be defeated by little ever oue-third
I that number, what hope can there be to ever
el regain Arkansas for the Confederacy. This
II question must naturally present itself
q with effective force to the COnfederates en-
] gagged in the battle, and must do much to
discourage them in their warfare against
the Government.
The Washington Telegraph, q rebel paper
Y published in Washington, Hampstead
\ county, has been received here and con-
tains some items Of Importance. It con-
fesses that Kirby Smith commanded at
"
heavy. Among the killed were Generals
Scurry and Randall, Of Texas, and Col.
Grinstead, of this State. Holmes has
been relieved at his own request and Price
took command, but it was understood that
Magruder was coming up to supersede
him. Smith has been raised grade above
Lieutenant and is now full General. The
following have been appointed Major Cen
erals: Polignac (?), Churchill, formerly
of this city, Pagan, Parsons and Marina
duke, from Missouri. The Telegraph
urges upon Gov. Flanagan to call together
the Legislature. The Democrat, OF this
city, remarks upon this subject: I'VE do
if they did, we would have the singular
spectacle Of two Legislatures in full blast
in our State.'
| The work ON the Notifications of this
city is still progressing, and so far as COM
pleted. are the best ever saw. The whole
is under the immediate supervision OF
Capt. Wheeler, of Ger. Steele s.staff, whose
qualities as an engineer are difficult to over
estimate. The works are strong in profile,
and complete in detail, and 1t Is not con-
trabaud to state, sufficient to protect our
base when our uext advance is made.
! All of Arkansas on this side Of the WASH
ita, is scene of desolation. Deserted
| looking women and children, were the OBJ
iects that greeted the eyes of General
Steele's soldiers on their late laborious
| march through the counties of Saline,
Clarke Washita and Hampstead.
On the I'd day of April, III the evening,
and while General Rice was fighting Shell
by, who was hanging on our rear, l wit
made me lOathe the name Of war, and per-
manently intensified hatred against the
| rebellion and its leaders. I was passing
lowly cabin and observing a commotion
in the yard, dismounted and went in. A
young girl, not more than eighteen, was
laying on the bed and moaning with pain.
A skirmish Lad occurred short time be-
fore between our men and q party of the
enemy, and this girl was accidentally
wounded. The ball had penetrated her
right arm and found Judgement in her
breast. A humane surgeon OF our army
had dressed the wound, but fear his kind
ly Offices were Of little avail.
! A rebel mail has been captured by q par
ty of our men, on the north side of the Ar
kansas. 1t contained nothing Of special
| military importance, but the contents of
the letters indicate to some extent the feel
ing among the people of this portion of the
State. They all acknowledge the hopeless
ness OF the rebe! cause, and pray for speedy
peace. give below extracts from two OF
the captured letters. They are not to be
considered as samples in all respects, but
one or two Of the most remarkable.
| The wife OF n rebel officer writes to her
husband, and uncouscioUsly, no doubt,
produces gem which has more poetry in
tt than all the .ingles I have read ia .
i tYs1Se-month:
"POor dear, this terrible war has reached
4 crisis, and must soon be over. Our aspi-
rations were noble, but, dearest husband,
when will We learn that the South has
tailed? cannot advise and am powerless
to help you. Oh how my heart aches when
reflect how you must safer for lack Of
clothing and all comforts. If / could weave
my heart into garments for you, would
gladly, oh how cheerfully, do it; but, alas,
| am helpless; | can do nothing but pity
you and love you. It is reign Of terror
in Arkansas; have less fear Of the Fed
erals than the lawless guerriilas. I Join
nightly and hourly in fervent prayers for
I the loving ones at home.'
Forget. for a moment, that this is the
| wife of a rebel in arms, or if YOU cannot
do this think Of her only as true, loving
woman, who, from the great depths of her
affection for her suffering husband, could
weave her heart into garments for him. and
you cannot but have q kinder feeling for
human nature, and know also that true
| feeling is born OF the soul.
Mrs. Roberts thus announces to her
truant husband q series Of interesting
eyssfts: -,
II wish 700 Guild cum hoom Jim and see
| my moo baby had sense you left. WAYS
ten pouns. we hav the pu-test Children
in ArAinsay. named the moo baby mis-.
souria ann roberts, Tell yu its nice I.
Our niggers is all run of in the bluff; the
three boys is jined linkins nigger army
| Lord. Lord, how long is these things goin
to last. You amt dom eny gud faiten al
all, en- think you Orter cum HON en- help
me, with the baby. don't think we'tl
max eny crap this yer--then what's pore
NE tOdoo. Sally sends howdy. The hogs
is gone inter the swamps for too weaks.n
In the Hasck- Eye Of the 2lst ult., notice
q copied article rejecting upon General
Steele's military operations. t cannot but
consider it as unjust and unwarranted.-
General Steele enjoys the confidence Of his
army, and the Administration. he is a
brave and loyal officer, and if Banks had
displayed half the energy And skill that
characterized Steele's expedition, the Fed.
eral army to-day would have been nearer
to Shreveport, If not in possession.
The Iowa regiments here are in Good
condition, and fully recuperated from the
tolls Of the late expedition. The SD Iowa.
L S1lN ~AS ~