The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-12-10

~ auO ddQ new luSlS0 10 the name o.
j: n. McDosALD.
" From the IAsh lows.
REsIpUARY BAT. 14th Iowa Vol. Inf, !
CAMP BUTLER, ILL.,, Dec. 4, 1864. I
EDITOR HAWK EYE-Denr Sir :-Believ-
ing that a brief history Of the Fourteenth
Iowa Infantry, for the past three months,
would be of interest to your many readers
in Iowa, and especially ia Des Moines coun-
~, Twill endeavor to give 1t you in the rude
speech Of q soldier.
On the morning of the 9th of Sept. we
embarked on board the steamer "Bostona.
Nc. 2" at Memphis, for Cairo. On the way
up, we were visited by that most agreeable
lofvisi.ors to asoldier-the Paymaster-and
on orr arrival at Cairo, there was an inn
Inense .'wsshing Of hands and cleansing
o. clothes and shaking off the remnant and
effects o: our Mississippi raids. Our stay
IN Cairo thank fOrtune) was OF short dura-
ton. when we re-embarked or board the
"Bcs;ona" and steamed up the river to
Jefferson Barracks. Arriving there we
iLors were aflOat regarding the RAID Of Pap
Price and forthwith we settled down into
the belief that we would not remain here
long, and, without orders, s'held ourselves
n readiness to march at any moment
Nor were we in error, for on the oath of
Sept. at IL o'clock, p NJ, we were called to
pack up and be ready to move in one
hour" We were all ready nj Il NJ. and
were stated on the train for Pilot knob.
Part Of our regiment was distributed
along the /. NJ. Railroad from Mer;inac
bridge 10 Mineral Point, guarding bridges
and stations, and a battalion of six compa-
MES accompanied Gen. Ewing to Pilot
Knob, and took part in the memorable de-
Tense OF that pl.ce. The companies dis
~ cd oil Do,s
Jefferson Barracks with their division,
ssInitn'sl and on the morning Of the ID Of
October, We siaTted out in pursuit of Price,
shaping our course for jefferson City. q
distance Of 1870 miles. All who have ira
vesed this road will agree with me that it
IS the toughest country this side of the Alps
or Andes. Rugged rocks, and hills sue
ceeding hills, SO close that there is scarcely
room fer hollows and ravines. When not
climbing hills or crossing streams, we had
the turnpike. which. ii anything, is the
hardest marching a soldier Is subject to-
We passed through Jefferson City and a.
isr as Upton on the Pacific Railroad. where
We were informed that the remnant Of the
l4t5, was to be stationed TO guard the depot
at ,ha; place. Here we took leave Of our
q! Division. the gallant 3D.. and. although
tne boys OF the l4th, were glad OF a respite
from the wea-isCme march, vet they were
10Th 20 part with their comrades-in- arms.
with whom they had been led to victory hy
their wh.ie-haired chief, Gen. A. J. Smith.
than whom moregallant soldier or brayer
ofncer never wore or welded a sword
With d IN his comm and yer and a, ailtiines
fee. secure and confident Of success in eve
~ undertaking.
The Fourteenth remained at Upton. No.
until the su,h OF October. at hich time we
started for Jefferson City on board the cars.
and from thence We proceeded to st. Louis.
y Spo ura 20 leo ffNn A.
We &c. our faces ..ncmewaTd bound' and
arrived at Davenport on the 9Th Of Novem-
her taking up our lodging ut Camp Kins.
man. No sooner had We settled down
here, than the boys trecruits and veterans)
began their exit ior home on the .sFrench
furiou2h principle. and continuing il un-
til some IS or 100 had s.vamoosesl." The
non-veserans were discharged, paved off
and esnancipated, and the veterans and re-
e-aits We're al that WAS left Out OF these
were formed battalion of Two COMPANIES.
called the ..Residuary Battalion" Cx,,tai..
< ago Hon bauer. formerly acting ASi't of
the li.n. commanding. The companies are
numbered a ana .B, and are differed
as follows:
Co. "A.'-Huco Hoff bauer. Capt.; JOS,
=. Mcclure, lst Lieut.; Addison Davis, I'd
-ssat
Co. "B.'-Orvlile Burke, Capt: Thomas
Z. Beach, Isl Lieut.: Perry L. Smith, I'd
Lie1t.
Lieut.. 7. 3. Beach, Co. .B." is Acting q.
a. OF the Battalion. and is an energetic,
brave and efficient officer, who has already
served three years with credit to hlmself,
arss As Sergeant. .hen as I'd Lieut.. in the old
18th. Capt. Hot bauer, our commander. is
az officer whose sterling worth has already
ceen recognized in his promotion to the
position he nov occupies. As Acting AG-
la'sn; Of me lstn, while in the field. he was
sa
ties requisite % brave soldier, an efficient
officer, and s,ea3fas, friend Of those tho
Followed nsn tc hsttle--the privates. We
are proud tof bin as a commander. and
KNOW that he will never Joisoc sts to battle,
be; we viii follow ata. He is German,
and. as is characteristics Of his country men,
s-ae 10 The old Stars ara Stripes and Abe
and Andy forever. Lieut. Mcclure. for
merry "a Lieas. 81 90. III. Y 18th. has been
in the service ever ssnee the breaking out
OF the Rebeliion-TirSt as private in the GAL
liant LIST, then Orderly Sergeant in Co. Ak >.
18th. and finally promoted Ia I'd Lieut., in
which capacity he served ous the term o;
three years. and n the formation Of this
Battalion was commissioned lst Lieut., He
is an excellent officer and brave man:
never shrinking from duty however ardu-
Gus 1t may be. Capt. Burke was lat Iieut.
ia the old lith, tCo. ~ and is an honest
brave officer. Lieu,'s Davis and Smith
were promoted tom Sergeants to their pre.
sent positions and are both deserving OF
their respective ranks.
The Il. z. Battalion was ordered "a ,hi.
post for duty this winter. thereby relieving
the drafted men and SUBS" who were
doing duty here. and who have now been
sent to the Front" There is continual
stream OF outgoing and incoming Of troops
and at this time there = several hundred in
camp here. Camp Butter IS very pleasant
~ ,oca.ed camp. and think quite healthy.
space in your columns, will PIT in nv ID
and give your readers my ~ in adieu.
.& FAUST.
The King OF the Sandwich Islands has
decided to be an Eeiscspalian.