The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-05-14
DFrem Gen. meshies, BrissAe.


EDITOR OF THE Hawkins :-On last
Saturday morning, Goth ult., we, i. e.,
Malhies' Brigade, broke up our pleasant
camp at Huntsville, which we had enjoy
ed for nearly four months, and taking the
cars, arrived At this place about l O'clock
the same day. Dodge's division leaving
our brigade) moved ont the next morning
after our arrival. This leaves us with but
two brigades for the defence Of this point,
and from our brigade the 5th Iowa and q
part Of the 18th Missouri are now absent.
But we are getting the place very strongly
fortified, and if the rebs only give US two
or three days more undisturbed work, we
can snap our fingers at any force they can
now bring against us.
tons of this place. From what had heed
OF it had supposed it was somewhat
important town, ranking at least with Pu-
laski. Judge of my surprise, then, at find
ing nothing but a dilapidated, squallid,
wooden town, with not tO exceed dozen
respectable looking houses in it. Yet I am
told by those who have known the town in
former times. that it was . place Of con-
adorable business, which seems also to be
indicated by there having been here bank,
2 college or seminary, with quite . show Of
business houses, none of which, however,
are on alarge scale.
Decatur 10 on the South bank Of the
Tennessee river. and ct the junction Of th9
ton railroad. It Is about twenty-eie6t
miles west Of Huntsville, and some thirty
miles above Florence, and the Muscle
Shoals. lara 81
I The valley here IL . rich red loan. how
deep know not, for the deepest cuts do
not reveal The euhstratum. It u undoubt-
edly very fertile, but there il no farming
bslnk done in this vicinity. w go =
Tn = Nnovn smHANnsSw ~~S~A - - A.
town site - admirable, being elevated
shove the bottom land beyond t, which =
clear Of timber and al distinctions for
absut . mile in every direction. On the
most commanding point, which II In the
centre Of the town, the fort 10 now being
constructed, and fast apr oaching its com.
pleeaon. One gun . in position, and two
%Ssn 30" 3. esd e. ssp9s:s The fort
mights.yt @Dreessbls to the assault Of any
reasonable numbor Of men. Il II sur.
rounded on three sides-the front and
0aAks-by bitches which viii be come ten
1eee deep. From the bottom or tho ditch.
70 the top OF the embankment will h.
about twenty Sset in height, the embark
ment. icing from ten . twelve fsst in
ehickne0. Two heavy lines Of rifle pite
extend nom either Aank TO The fort throngh
to town, By divergent lines, down 70 the
f1ver oank, % - 70 cover to pontoon.-
Al thece works arc % nearly nnished that
It would take apretty heavy force 70 Dis
lodge ~, ..-,'-
The town itsslf 10 almost entirely desert
ed Of tts inhabitants. Indsed they were
compelled TO remove BY an order Of Gen.
sherman. There il scarcely day that the
rebe do not send in q nag Of truce with a
lot Of refugees, the most pitiable. sounl-
10, nhhy, helf-etarved beings you ever
saw. The rehe, having but little for them
selves. send these mmished and fhmieh-
ing beings over to ts, TO get clear Of feeding
We are kept constantly on the az si,e
are in sight Of 36f CW8. Trey i've - an III
assurance every day that they viii nav be