The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-01-23
Hungry Men and Hungry Mules.
STRAW BERRY PLAINS. 80 MILES FROM
Il NnyNlrr.E I'm . 1874

l wish could say as much of our poor
| men, many OF whom have not enough to
cover their nakedness, and some without
coats.
You may Judge Of their condition when /
tell you: for their Ne,c Years feast for "a
hours they had q ounces Of corn meal per
man, and the day before a little fresh meat
and one cracker to the man. The weather
for the last three days has been so cold that
it was almost impossible for them to sleep
ut all. You can get up at any time in the
night and see the poor fellows crowded
around the little bivOuac fires while two or
three comrades lie as near to the fire as
possible, wrapped in the blankets Of the
whole party probably three in ALL It puts
one more in mind of Napoleon's retreat
from Moscow than anything that / can
think OF. The fact is, you cannot imagine
the distress of the men until q person has
seen for himself. But all praise to the men
themselves. They bear their mis!ortunes
like veterans and true soldiers, ready to
sacrifice themselves on the altar of their
country. But pass around among the men
as often do, and they will say, il q very
pitlful tOne-such as you can imagine a
hungry man viii use s., am hum
gry!'-no other complaint from their lips.
What can l do? Poor boys! l have no
means Of helping them. All l can do is to
pull my hat over my eyes, to keep them
pass on, wishing jeff. Davis and his rebel
crew in he'll and il command. l would
put him through d system OF tactics that
the chivalry have been unaccustoned to up
to the present day.
As for myself personally, I have got a
ID OF an appetite, and can eat anything
which comes in my way. The variety is
tack and fresh meat about the consistency
OF twenty shilling cow-hide boots. l give
the "hard tack" the go-by entirely, as
have split a tooth on each side, trying to
grind the stuff down. But to take it all in
all, am entirely satisfied, and my friends
say am getting fat. They are welcome
to their opinions; but II don't see it in
that light
Christmas and New Years passed as you
may suppose rather dull in comparison
with former years.
I thought my father and mother were
comfortable at home, and it was necessary
for young men to make sacrifices some
times, particularly when our country is so
perilOusly situated.
Gen. Grant arrived at Knoxville day be-
fore yesterday. He has not visited the ar
my at this point yet, but is expected every
hour. l am anxious to see the General of
the present day. l hope he will work "a
reform in this Department, it is needed
bad enough, God knows.
Gen. Burnside has been relieved by Gen.
Foster, lately commanding in North Caro-
lima. ! wish Bunny was back to us
again; we would not be stdruiag to-day if
he Were--he is the man who has the right
ring about him. This army would so in
to the very Jaws of death for him to-day, if
he desired it-they adore him that much.
The enemy are in d worse condition than
we are, Judging from the appearance and
tales OF the numerous deserters that come
into our lines.
My box of clothes which you sent is still
in Lexington, KY; they were in SO large
package tina. the officer could not bring
them across the mountains. / am inst as
glad Of it now. The clothes which he did
bring were all eaten up by the mules on
the mountains. Forage gave out with them
and they eat the tongues out OF the wagons
-spokes out of the wheels, and at last, but
not least, every cussed thing which was in
the wagonbox; pleasant reflection for man
to see the tail of his S45 overcoat disap-
pearing down a mules NAV, and then see
the buggar keel over and die on account Of
his gormandiZing propensities for rich food.
! shall answer fathers letter soon, when
get something to write about other than
starvation and human misery generally
a Pirate Letter.
kossUTH's PRoCLAMATIoN.-Thef follow
ing is the text of the proclamation issued
referred to in a telegraphic dispatch. 1t is
published in the -Ittean-a, Of Milan, a
journal established by the Hungarian emf
grants in Italy. and appears to be consid-
cred genuine document:
BY ORDER OF LOUIS kOSSUTH-THE MA.
TIoNAL COMMITTEE OF INDEPENDENCE
TO THE NATION.
Fidelity to the flag of 1916 survives in the
heart of our nation. Refusing to accept
any kind of compromise, the great major
ity of the nation is tirmly resolved to shake
off the detested yoke OF German domina-
ton. But as the external signs Of our ma
tionai life have in recent times not been in
harmony with that resolution, our natu-
raj allies abroad have conceived doubts as
to the firmness of our designs. These
doubts have been the greatest obstacle to
the efforts of our Government tending to
the deliverance OF the country. The re-
moval Of that obstacle becomes an imperi
Gus necessity before the new turn Of Eu-
ropean events--a turn Offering prospect
full Of promise to all the people who groan
under a foreign yoke. We must give q
sign Of life in order that our natural allies
may be convinced that against the common
enemy they may surely count upon the
armies OF the Magyars. We must hold
ourselves in readiness, in order that the
ties of the terrified Austrian may not
our nation in the SNARE
erergetically the favorable opportunity
For these purposes the Governor, Louis
KOssuth, abolishing every previous order
and having Judged it necessary to deere
the formation of a new General Committee,
makes known by the present document to
the nation, that in consequence of that or
der the General Committee of Independ
ence is constituted; that it has for its end
the realization of the declaration of indie
pendence oflS49; and that, full of resolution
and ready for all sacrifices, it has taken in
hand the direction Of affairs, according to
the instructions received, or to be received,
from the chosen Governor Of our country.
The Committee expects, from the patriotic
sentiments OF the nation, that the orders
emanating from it will be promptly exc
cuted, that its instructions will be follow
ed, and that it's measures will be speedily
accomplished. At the same time it calls
upon the enemies, open and concealed, Q
the flag Of lS49, to abstain from any plot or
intrigue, if they would not incur the pen
atty inflicted upon traitors. At all events,
the General Committee Of Independence
dac1a res that II will know how and that IL