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

published q few extracts from letter writ
ten by Lieutenant Jones, in the 45th regi.
ment, which was published in his paper al
Bloomfield. In our preface to those ex-
tracts, we gave our opinion of the manage
ment of hospitals in general, along the
banks of the Mississippi, but did not say
one word in that preface about the hospi-
tails at Keokuk. Weleft that matter "open,'
so that if any one saw proper to put his
foot in,' he could not blame us if he got
it "pinched." The Gate copies our article
and seeks to misconstrue it, in long, I'm.
gentlemanly, interruptions, lying strict
ure. 1t calls upon us to make our asser.
tions good, or to retract. In the first place
las we before stately we made no direc,
charge against the managers Of the Keokuk
hospitals. In the second place, we are no,
Of the "retreating" or ''retracting'' kind
And in the third place, we submit the fol.
lowing for the Gates consideration. 1t is
from a merchant at Keokuk, and the ital-
les are the writer's:
EDITOR HAwK.EYE:-In the article cop.
led from you into the Gate to-day, every
word is true-the Gates sympathy is uIl-
doubtedly paid for-but not by the soldiers.
There is Mct q merchant on Main street bit
WiY testify that there are soldiers moao here,
who haze been uointy begging for the last
eighteen months to be sent to the front, or
HuyaChere else, rather than remain here.
keokuk, June, "a. MERCHANT.
Now, sir, you may 'embalm" the above,
or put it between the lids OF your Bible,
where you will not be likely to see it
again for almost a quarter OF . century, ii
you should live so long.
As soon as we can get an answer from q
certain corps in the army Of the West, we
will give you something good deal
''sweeter" than the above. You shall have
all the Investigation" you want, and we
hold ourself personally responsible for all
Ee say.
The cate also states that sit is to the
soldiers, to these convalescents, that the
charge does the most wrong This is a
: IBID" for ''sympathy' from the 'conva-
lescents.' We did not say q word deroga-
tory to the 'convalescents," nor did Lieut..
Jones, and the Gate simply lies in making
this statement. That's all.
In another paragraph the humane, SYM
pathetic, brave and fighting editor of the
Gate comes at us in the following style:
.Now we say to all such gentry, you go
to war and do as much as these GONZALES
cents have done, and you may come back
and stay without censure, when only half
IS greatly disabled as they are.'
"Go to war;" eh? That's pretty advice
to come from one who is holding ''fat of
6ce' at the hands Of Uncle Sam! Why
don't yom ''go to WARP What have you
done for your Government? Have you
given it four or Eve hundred dollars ont
right of your means? When you have
sheen there" as long as we were, and suf-
fer more than death, over and over again,
Is we did. and give of your means as freely
as we have, you may then talk to us about
going to WARP All, you base. coward!
setting upon your launches, year in and
year out, drawing every dollar Of a salary
that bleeding country has given you, and
then cowardly cringe behind q newspaper
article, and say to us,-"Why don't you
80 to war;" Whoever saw such base
cowardice, and brazen effrontery? Ask
us ITO 60 to warv, Yes, we will Ego to
war;" Come, Mr.. J. B. Howell, here's our
Proposition: We will volunteer as a pri-
vAte in Captain Harper's company, 45th
regiment, To-day men. and pledge our
word and honor not to accept Of position
higher than that of private, during the 100
days term, provided you will pledge your
self to do the same, and resign your office
aspost-master at Keokuk, in favor OF some
one who is not relative Of yours, nor 70
any one who is connected with the GATE
office, directly or indirectly. Will you ac-
cept? If SO, drop us line, and we will
meet you at any point you may designate'
enroutc for the regiment. Now show your
pluck, "snd your love for "convalescents. "
The ranks of their comrades want filling
up. They have become decimated by reb-
elbullets, while their bosonls were barred
to.the missiles of death in defense of that
Government, which, for the third time, is
being baptized in the blood of martyrs,
and under whose broad seat you hold office j!
Will you go? Yours,
JAS. H. KNOX,
Associate Editor Of the Hawk-Eye.