The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-01-30

IslpPi-TeGiuleUtS WnOSc HaSS lOf more tLau
a quarter Of an hour fiaunted proudly
over the very heads Of the foe. 1t. Col.
Fisher, of the 18th Mississippi Regiment,
one Of the most gallant spirits Of the occa-
sion, lost an arm on the parapet. Captain
Tom. Cumming, of Augusta, Georgia, Ad-
jutant Of one of the regiments of Wotford' $
Brigade, not content with scaling the work
leaped into the parade ground and attack
ed the cannoniers. There he was sur
rounded and overpowercd, but not forget
ting for a moment his GOODNESS, his response
| to the demand for surrender was: .lt is "A
satisfaction, sir, that ! give up my sword
| in the interior of this for" "
Other instances of individual heroism
were conspicuous, but time and space viii
not permit their mention.
! Meanwhile, the Federals behind the par
apet were throwing into the ditch ignited
hand grenades and shells, which exploding
| there, added TO the already fearful confu-
sion which existed. Scores were being
Killed and mangled. Every instant cries
and groans Of agony ascendod from the
death-pit, and men hesitated upon the
brink. pause ensued. Discipline was
measurably maintained, but still there was
no brain to direct the yet willing troops in
| THIS terrible emergency. a movement to
the right or left Oh the tanks Of the fort
would have redeemed the misfortune Of
the hour. Those who were partially sue
/ ceSSlui, awaited II WITH DeallnE noarJS.
Colonel Fisher, wounded as he was, crept
along the parapet and implored some one
to make the necessary change Of position
which he discovered would give US the vic
tory. But no such order was issued, and
in twenty minutes more the whole column
was in rapid retreat down the hill.
The Federals, now relieved Of the stu
pendous nightmare, broke loose with their
artillery and small arms. Grape and can
ister musket bullets and rifle balls paved
the slope with the forms Of the wounded
and slain, and the repulse was complete.
Out of three brigades who had so conf
IDENTITY marched up that steep but an hour
before, flushed with the pride Of many VIC
tories, and hopeful Of crowning their ban
ners with yet another, seven hundred and
thirty men were dying. dead, or in the
hands of the enemy. OF these, probably
/ two hundred We're prisoners.
In the 18th Mississippi, Colonel McElrOy
was killed, and Lieut.. Colonel OBrien, a
brother-in-law Of Mrs. Browniow, was cap
tured Col. Sims, OF the 53d Georgia, and
Captain Ellis, Assistant Adjutant General
of General Bryan, was wounded, and in
WOfford's brigade, Col. Ruff, commanding
in the absence of the General, who was at
home i'll, and Lieut.. Col. Thomas, Of the
10th Georgia, were killed.
The causes of the disaster may be sum-
med up in three remarks: First, There was
which men could surmount the obstacles
incurred. Secondly, The insufficiency OF
the reconnoissances made, although as per-
feet as circumstances would allow, left our
General officers in doubt; and finally. no
officer was on the spot possessed Of discre-
tionary power to make such changes as the
emergency required.
The commanders of the several brigaies
were in their proper places. as l have been
informed, and behaved with their usual
gallantry, but they were hainpered by or
, ders which confined them to a certain line
of action. These were no doubt admirable
in their character, had the first steps Of the
movement succeeded, but failure at the
outset entailed disaster throughout, and
neither Anderson nor kershaw could carry
out the portion OF the plans assigned tC
their jurisdiction. Had we succeeded in
the assault, the former would have sweep
on toward the town, carrying the intrench-
ments in their front, and possibly opening
the day with a general engagements; but 4.
before stated, misunderstanding, and wan
Of preparation, wrested an easy victory
from our grasp, and shrouded the hopes o
the army in disappointment.
At 10 O'Clock in the morning, 4 few hour.
after the attack, Gen. Burnside courteous
ly sent to Gen. Longstreet q flag Of truce
offering the privilege Of buryinG our dead
and exchanging some of the wounded pris
oners. The cessation of hostilities contin
ued until 5 o'clock, p. m, during whicl
many interviews were had between tn
officers OF the two armies. +. 9. De +.
/ SIGNS OF IMPENDING PEACETo THE Con
| FEDERACY.-The stability of gOvrrnmen
) depends largely upon the good faith exist
ting between those who rule and those VIII,
are governed. If the Government fultill
all obligations and preserves inviolate it
plighted faith, it will retain the confidence
though it may not command the affections
: of its subjects. History is full Of Instance
where the most popular administration.
of government have ended in disater ant
disgrace through the attempts Of the rulins
class to disregard their obligations ant
break faith with the people. Nor is ther'
single instance in which, in the end, ths
: people have not triumphed, though th'
| victory may have been long postponed By
/ the concentration Of power in the hands o
: the rulers. Yet, disregarding the admo
} nitions of history, the men who have Sc
up a Government for the seeded States
either forced by their necessities, or 4
, manifest their contempt for the people
propose to violate their plighted faith ant
, repudiate contracts of the gravest char
acter.
The flower OF the people, persuaded O
enticed into the Confederate armies, wer'
: compelled, at the expiration Of their tern
of service, to remain for still further pc
riod Of two years. In the meantime,
, rigorous conscripton was established, an(
every available man forced into the ranks
regardless Ofremonstrance or petition. Th'
expiration Of the term Of service Of til.
, greater portion Of these voluntary ant
compulsory soldiers beirg close at hand
The rebel Congress, by enactment, prop"s
es to compel them to remain in the arm
during the war. So audaciOus an attemp
to coerce men, without consulting thei
wishes and without regard to the servic'
they have done the State, is not to be found
, in hstory;n no autocrat Of hereditary or mil
/ tary despOtism has ever ventured on sucl
a measure, however grievous his necessi
, ties. While this is being done at Rich
omnd, bands of cavalry scour the unhappy
, States, seizing unwilling men and forcing
them into camp, or, where resistance is Of
fered, shooting and hanging them with M
show Of compunction. All forms of law arr
! disregarded, and the hunt Of these refugee:
is attended with every species Of brutality
and terrorism. The dogs once trained tc
hunt fugitives are now placed upon the
track oftheir fugitive masters.
Another act of the rebel Congress apprO
PIRATES one-tenth Of the product Of the far
I ,por tn tho ,,co Cf tho GnvprnmQpf md thf