The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-23
from the Tenth lows Infsniry.

u
HUNTSVILLE, Ala, April IL, 1864.
Editor Of the HdaOk- Eye :-IndispOsitiOn
in part, and in part dearth of incidents,
has prevented me from writing letter for
the HAwK-EYE for some weeks past.
The 5th Iowa, SD Illinois, and 8Oth Ohio,
left us on the LIST inst, and suppose our
more fortunate comrades Of the 5th are by
this time having "gay and festive time
the lions, for the time being, of Iowa. 1t
will hardly be said Of them, however; that
- the lion and the limb (the peace
sneaks'') shall lie d0wn together aud little
child Shall lead them.''
While write tho General (Matthies) is
around inspecting our camp, which We
have got about az near perfection as can
we'll he attained. Our streets are policed
50 nicely that they look like an old fasht
Toned, newly winnowed threshing door,
with just enough Of green grass to give .
pleasing variety. Our camp covers the
area Of large apple-orchard, the trees Of
which are lust bursting into full bloom, bes
sides which, and in contrast with which,
each street, and the rows of line aud head
quarter tents, have q bordering of ever
greens-two or three in front of each tent.
Our companies have been vieing with each
other in the decoration of their kitchens,
dining saloons, and quarters, in the most
tasteful manner, with sprigs and wreaths
Of evergreenA, with blossoms and flowers
peeping out from every side, in q tasteful
blending that would reflect credit upon .
lady's boudoir. The General is delighted.
He takes great pride in having his brigade
exceI.
Yesterday a mounted scout was captured
by our pickets short distance from the
city. It is reported that koddy is trying
to make his way in here with 1000 mount
ed infantry. This is mere camp runor,
and, of course, very unreliable. If ROddy
or any one else should get in here with no
more than 1000 men at his back, he might
fnd the getting out process little more
difficult than the getting IN.
and, of course, the intention is to perma-
nently hold the place. Two forts have
been laid out, and the pioneer corps has
gone to work on them. If the rebs cOntem-
plate making a raid upon this place at al,
they will probably do it soon, as they are
no doubt kept fully advised by amnesty
oath .sneaks within our lines Of everything
that the work Of constructing permanent
forts has been commenced, and also that
some four or Ave regiments of our divis-
ion are now absent-three OF them, at
least, to be absent for some time. Perhaps
they know enough, too, not to presume too
much upon that fact.
Wehad a shocking casualty here this after-
AOOA Al SO3OWS3ksC AAAAAOA0 AA0SSGAys as @
caisson containing some shells ran across
the railroad, near the depot. the jar in
crossing the rails exploded 8 cap and the
cnisson was blown to atoms, killing six
men and wounding some three or four
others. am told by one who was on the
ground at the time that one man was
blown through the top Of large tree
standing near, q part OF the body being
left in the tree, and the remainder falling
some distance beyond. The six who were
killed, he says, were blown to pieces.
have not learned their names. Among the
wounded was one citizen. All the others
were soldiers belonging to the Battery,
believe. I am informed that this same
Battery had precisely similar occurrence,
occasioned in the same way, at Corinth,
Miss, some two years ago, but in that in
stance no one was hurt.
think there is a prospect that there will
be considerable farming done in this region
this year, If the farmers can be protected
from the depredations of guerrilIas. The
infusion of ''greenbacks' and the partial
opening up OF . profitable market for pro-
duce will doubtless afford q strong stimu-
lus to the growth Of cotton and cereals
This, in itself, will do much to create o re-
action in favor of the Union in Northern
Alabama, though I have seen no enthu-
siastic indications of such sentiment as
yet. Yours. &C., w. g. X,
10th Reg. Iowa Vol. Infry.