The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-06-18
From Louisiana.
ATCEAFALAYA RIVER, on board City
Madison MAY Eth 1864

Madison, May Eth, 1864.
EDITOR HAwK-EyE:-With the oft re-
peated question, 'Why does the mail not
come and bring us Hawk-Eye?" sound.
ed IN my ears from every side, your hum
be servant seats himself ostensibly 70
interest you for few minutes. as also
some Of the rea"ers Of you paper, with
brief account Of "sciournings in the land
Of Ham,
Having had ride upon the "boundne
pillows" since writing 10 you last, We feel
it oar duty TO speak of it. This was called
by the many, a pleasant trip. but there
was part Of tie experience, known to all
pleasant; peculiar sensations came over
us-feel as if We live fortnight or any
shorter period of time without eating-be-
iieye the world does turn round, and the
sea too-do give fun credence To the story
OF the whale, as recorded in the book OF
Jonah" tut wonder if he was not little
sea-sick. Finally, we arrived at New Or
leans, stayed there four days, took few
more OF United States greenbacks. which
wasn't bad to take, and left the next day
for Red Ricer, proceeded up II as far as
Fort De Russey without any INCONVENIENCE,
except the crookedness of the river, or any
military exploit for history to record;
OF rebel rams up the Red River to be lit
orally true, If such report had any refer
ence to the fleecy tribe; and il presence Of
the fact, went in on our nerve, as we
westerns" are fond of mutton. But
while we were gathering the sheep into the
fold, and transferring the cattle from their
sleek hides to our meat barrels, the John
ny's, two or three hundred strong, were
deserted by our Colonel making a detOur
through the woods to our right, ostensibly
to capture two companies that were separ-
ated from us, some hundred yards, en-
gagged in butcheripg, and SO we were not
in good shape for receiving such an attack;
we were gotten together in Double quick
time. The rebs, seeing their plan thus
Of all their movements, "retreating''; in
the prompt execution Of which movement
they were greatly aided by the gun-boats
which gave them few shells, in vindica-
ton of their right to defend the old flag.
About fourteen miles farther up the river,
the rehs had battery Of six guns, where
the banks are high and the river narrow.
Here they sunk two boats with the lcCth
Ohio on board, and three coming down
with the Seth Ohio on board; many Of them
were killed or taken prisoners. The dead
bodies were now rising aud floating down
the river, we drew out some and
buried them, one was entirely naked, one
back and was shot through the head. Two
of the 10th Ohio, who escaped the disas.
ter, came to US here. They report
good Union sentiment prevailing in the
settlements back from the river, where
they received the kindest attention, and
found ready guide, who piloted them
| through, to within sight OF our boats,
Each of them bore in his hand q withered
but no less cherished, boquet Of flowers,
bestowed on them by some of their fail
benefactresses. eN
Having ascertained that the rebs were
crossing . force above, with view Il
capture the transports, and as we were but
about SIX hundred strong, we fell back to
the mouth OF Black river, leaving the iron
| ram Choct2w to remain. True to our ex-
pectations, they attacked the Choctaw be.
fore morning; but experience having
taught them the folly Of attacking an iron
clad with infantry, they concluded at least
not TO come within shot water range, and
left her master of the field. We subse.
Quently fell back to the Mississippi.
Maj. Gen. Candy has arrived, but has not
taken command yet. Banks has fallen
back TO Semmsport, Atchafalaya river
We.heard heavy cannonading in that d.
rection on the 10Th.
At P. N. we arrived at our destination.
Semmsport. The firing we heard on the
10th was here. A. ]. Smith, with parts OF
the 18th. 10th and 18th CORPS is defending
the real, which the enemy haye been press
ing ever since the army left Alexandria.
more to their own hurt than ours, howev-
or, and now make their attacks more Wig
orous. Smith, however, has taken his no
sltlon in some rebel forts, from where tCey
nave not force CROUCH to drive him