The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-06-11

For the field, and tented plain
My Country has taken his life and love-
And left me the bitter pain.
turn my eyes to the young Christ-child
Who lived for the cross alone,
hear the buf1etting pitiieSs throng
Exult DER his dying groan;
hear the mother in woe blind grief,
Moan over the worlds great loss
And shall murmur that must bear
For my Country bay-wreathed cross
From sherman's Army.
Two MILES N. E. OF DALLAS, Ca, Nav
., 1864.-The movements of the army have
already been chronicled up to and through
the battle of Resaca, and the precipitate re-
treat of the rebels through Kingston and
Cassville, upon Etowah river, and Allatoo-
ma Gap. AT the two former places they of
fered u slight opposition to our advance,
which was quickly swept away, and the
pursuit continued to Cassville. Here the
army halted two days to recruit after it's
late battles and then its indefatigable leader
gave orders to take twenty days rations
and set out on march, supposed to 0e a
flank movement on Atlanta.
The right Of the army went by the way
OF Rome, the center crossed the Etowah at
Gillum's Bridge, about twelve miles west
of the railroad, while the left proceeded by
parallel (?) roads at supporting distance
from the center/ Why the enemy did not
anticipate our crossing the river below, and
attempt to fOrestall it, is not clearly shown.
They did think of it; but too late. After
the army had safely crossed at Gillum's
Bridge, . rebel bearer Of dispatches was
captured, with an order from Johnston to
his cavalry leader to Intercept US at the
cross it. Gen'l Thomas at once clad one of
his spies in rebel uniform, instructed our
pickets to fire at him lover his head. of
course.) and sent him through the lines
with dispatch to Joe Johnston that he
(TaylOr) had done SO, with loss to US of
1000 or so, and many prisoners. 1t was a
cruel joke upon the rebel, and procured for
the spy, besides, access to valuaCle infor.
nation from pretty high rebel sources. The
army then marched quietly on toward
Dallas.
May 25.-The day passed off without in
.cident OF note, till about five o'clock in the
afternoon, when the sound of a brisk cam
nOnade in the advance discovered fight in
progress. It proved to be Gen'l Hookers
corps. which had held the advance on the
march, engaged with the rebel Gen. Hoods
corps. Early in the afternoon. while the
General and his staff were inspecting the
bridge over Pumpkin Vine Creek, about
half way between Burnt Hickory and Dali
las, he was fired upon by cavalry picket,
which then Immediately fled. After pro-
ceeding two or three miles beyond the
bridge, boldly in front Of his entire force,
his escort became engaged with small
body calling themselves the Louisiana
Sharpshooters, and killed their Major and
a few men. At noon the I'd division (Gen'l
Wiliiams' which was leading the way, dis
covered that they had a considerable body
Of infantry before them. instead of the few
cavalry they had supposed. Skirmishing
Immediately began, the "a division driving
the enemy steadily from their first line of
works, about two miles, entirely unsup-
ported. About five o'clock they came upon
= stronger line, and, being fatgued, they
tGenls Butterfield and Geary command
ing.) The Sd divided, a brigade and a
regiment going to the left. and the re-
mainder to the right and the LIST taking
the place Of the I'd. After a short time,
the "a was brought up at an angle upon the
right, and took part in the remainder Of
the engagement. Advancing steadily I'M
der ire Of musketry, which those who
witnessed it.. declare they have seldom
seen eQualed In severity, they proceeded to
within forty yards of a concealed battery,
planted by sections, which opened upon
them u sudden and murderOus discharge
Of grape and canister. One company of
ing absolute annihilation as, perhaps, was
ever witnessed. A whitening volley of
grape from q battery Frustrated upon the
ground nearly the entire company, eUery
man AID fte-cl0scr in his place, and his face
10 the front, with almost the regularity of
sskirmish line. The rebel firing was rap
ID and terrific: At this point, the gallant
Colonel Of the 9Th, J. H. Patrick, fell NOR
tally wounded at the head of his regiment,
and expired in a few minutes. He was
struck on the leg by q shell, and died be-
fore an amputsti0n could be performed.
The LIST division suffered severely, losing
lear nine hundred men. Some companies
- "a as>l s>s4 ~&-
tie division, a. q whole, maintained its
position against the entire rebel corps for
some time. and till others could be brought
to it, assistance. The heavy losses OF the
Lot division were occasioned by the de-
stfuctive fire Of the central battery, and 1t
is worthy of the greatest praise for the un-
daunted steadiness with which 1t bore the
disabled by the loss of all its horses. and
many Of its gunners, from the close volleys
which were poured into it. The 1928 ILL
nois, armed with the Spencer rifle, claims
the honor Of reducing Il to silence, though
y was most efficiently assisted by others
% the right and left, The enemy were
onven entirely away from the pieces, YET
unity of their lines; and thus they remain
% on neutral ground, claimed BY neither
and useless to both. The Goth ILLINOIS
played prominent part in unmannlng
and unhorsing another section of the bat
cry in the same manner. Their sharp
hooters picked off forty of its gunners,
Who had the temerity toelevate their heads
above the breastwofks.
But to enumerate the instances Of indf- |
noual heroism and good conduct in this
Gfhliant episode, would be to introduce |
ne name and history Of every man, COM |
any and regiment in the 10th corps. A
narrative With so many chapters Is i'm.
eossibie. I. asked repeatedly for special
Instances Of daring and merit, but could
y all alike. It was a special pleasure of
Sse officers to speak Of the magnificent en-
@1slasm with which the men "went in"
=, go the steadiness they exhibited under
~e calling fire which met them, Gen,