The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-06-25
From the "a Iowa Cavalry.
MEMPHIs. Tenn, June 18th

this place two weeks since in command OF
force $4,000 strong. Our Brigade Gen.
Hatch's old command) is not yet mounted
and armed, hence were not out, therefore
cannot tell you as heretofore of what saw
in person, but must give reports. have,
the truth as possible from different parties
who participated. It appears that all went
we'll until they neared Guntown, a small
place on the M. O. r. R., above Tupello.-
Here they appear to have been entrap-
ped by q heavy force Of rebels, who, it APP
secretly massed themselves in that vicini-
ty, and who had fallen back before our
forces without showing themselves, until
they reached the ground that pleased them,
when they, knowing our number by Cit
zen reporters, who counted the Yankee
column at every house, fell with crushing
weight upon our advance. BY some mis-
hap the train was quite near the front, end,
what was worse, was crossing swamp at
the time Of the attack, which was made
with such impetuosity as to crush our i'm
perfectly formed line Of battle. This un-
covered the train, and some two hundred
wagons, loaded with ammunition and COM
missary stores, fell into rebel hands: This
was Friday evening, June 10th. General
Sturgis finding himself thus suddenly and
Unexpectedly defeated, set himself to
work, hoping TO be able to reach Memphis
with his command. But alas il reports
be true, this was not in his power, fer the
exultant foe go followed their advantage
on the 18th, that not over one-half Of the
command escaped death or capture. /
hope further developments will better the
picture, but report now says our loss is
two brigades of infantry, one white and one
black, two hundred wagons, and twenty
six out Of thirty-two cannon. The blacks
are said to have fought desperately, and
| Eo~ - AL,
dered alive. Your former correspondent,
Capt. H. Simmons, was out with his Com
pany, with what fate I have not learned.
cannot believe the Brigade lost. All
agree that Gen. Sturgis did all that could
have been done after the first onset. He
was doubtlessly surprised at the start
The rebel force must have been hurriedly
run up from Mobile for the occasion. No
one dreamed of their being in the country.
We think here that If they will arm Gen.
Hatch's old Brigade and give US Hatch for
leader, Forrest will "hunt his hole" but
he has commanded this Department ever
since Hatch was wounded. All agree
but more was asked of them than mortals
could accomplish. the Sd and 4th Iowa
Cavalry were out and are we'll spoken of.
While the battle was in progress, we
who were quarted near Memphis, were
called to witness, on the common, in front
%
ing, of three Of the I'd New Jersey Cavalry,
for the crime of rape and robbery. The
outrage was committed some six weeks
since, upon young lady who fell into
their power while on picket. The names Of
the criminals were john Callahan, Jacob
Snover and Thos. johnson. Callahan was
an Irishman of bad repute among his COM
rades, and by his own evidences, the leader
of the gang. Shower was native of New
Jersey, and not considered a bad man. He
said he was in liquor, or he would never
have done as he did. When his sentence
was read TO him, he burst into tears
While in prison, he professed Christ, and
said to his spiritual attendant, while walk
ing to the place Of execution: "Jesus is
my precious Saviour, and hope the SOL
diers who witness our execution, will Law
It to heart, and not act as wickedly as we
have. .! that they would give heed to re-
ligious influences, that they might be
saved from such an end.'' His last words
were, lord Jesus save my soul.o He
was Al years old, aud leaves q wife and 81 <
children.
johnson was born in England. was con-
sidered good soldier, and says he was
sodrank as to be wholly ignorant Of the COM
mission OF the crime. be also expressed
9 hope in Christ, and after being blind
folded. breathed a short prayer, and then
said, TEL my comrades not to do as have
done.' a. as1s - - I
The execution was witnessed bv about
~, soldiers, formed in q hollow square.
and large concourse of citizens. A sister
of one, and the wife Of another. were on
the ground, perfectly distracted with urief.
The prisoners came to the ground in q
wagon, and then marched round the entire
square, escorted by the Sth Iowa Infantry.
and following the band Of that regiment.
who played the dead march. They ali
walked with drm step, which told that
NJ tvsV0 -
The shooting party wascomprised Of three
piatto0nS OF II men each, from the Sth
Iowa infantry, all fired together. aud each
prisoner fell back over his coffin, aud died
without struggle.
Ny letter is already too long, but must
tell you OF meeting we had here last
evening. The Rev. Mr.. Ingalls,, agent Of
the "IosCd Soldiers Orphans Homse'' was
mere TO present that noble cause to the
boys OF this regiment. After a. thriIlin0
ADDRESS, paper was passed through each
company, and the neat little sum If A lI3
three thoueand and thirteen ,dollars) suh.
BY Col. Coan, Majors Horton Ard Ma acre
and Chaplain Watson; sitter which. several
patriotic pieces were sung by the regiment.
when all dispersed to their gtente. feeIinos
happier for the chance to aid in SO noble &
!. Company }, the company, raised in Rur.
iington,: subscribed $452.O0. Seven ,1aern
Deis OF Ine company, viz: Capt. II, +.
SANDY, FIRST 1t. James, Fiske1i |Serct. Da.
vid Galbrath and Privates AZ NJ, Sv1nr
J. NJ. Taylor, Joseph NcCord And Ads,,,
Frimood became life members by M bscr;h.
ing $500 each; -fifty-five Others became
members for one year, bysubscribine IS 90
IN. PIERCE.
- = -, June l4th.-Further reports place
struggling in in small commanSs shn az
were dreadfully pressedand would iikeIyy
nave surrendered had they hoped for quar-
ters, put as 1t was they escaped or died
eAu6' ''@ ~ q