The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-05-28


/Frsm Shermsn's Department.
DECATUR, Ala, May Is, 1854.
0netopic now absorbing all others here, as
elsewhere, 1.-The forward movements of the
two great wings Of eur army, and especi-
ally the sanguinary conflicts of Virginia.
For months we had been watching the
gathering Of these two great armies, as the
gathering Of two mighty storm. clouds, the
meeting OF whose electric currents was
soon TO startle the whole Outstanding,
front TO trent, till winds the signal blow,
To join the dark encounter" s4
With all our confidence in Grant. and the
tried officers under him in the Army Of the
Potomac, and with a still stronger conf
dence in an Overriding Providence for the
ultimate triumph OF right, and the over
throw Of oppression and wrong, we still
had our hours Of trembling suspense and
fearful anxiety. Isuppose in this We only
shared the general feeling Of the whole
community. FROM this feeling of deep
suspense, ]: was the most natural thing in
the world that, MS day after day bore Us the
news OF repeated successes, without the
usual reverses Of that army, men should
pars 10 the other extreme Of wild excite
mept. .
AS to the other wing of the army,-Sher-
anxiety about it. We have felt confident
tina, II Sherman ever came up with john
son, the result would not be adoubtful one.
We have scarcely less confidence in Sher-
man than in Grant, while the names of
MCPHERSON, Hooker. Thomas, Logan, and
others, give assurance that, If good gener-
alship and hard fighting can insure success,
We may expect glorious report from Dali
ton or Atlanta. One Of these "reliable gem
tlemen" of great intelligence" and who
has doubtless had unusual opportunities
Of getting information" informs Us that
Dalton has been evacuated, the enemy fall
ing back to Atlanta, and that Hooker. With
. force Of cavalry and mounted infantry,
10 within eighteen miles Of Atlanta, This
70 reliable" Of course.
The veterans Of the Fifth Iowa arrived
here I'm good orders well conditioned, =
on last Saturday, the 18th inst. and the
Twenty-hNh Indiana day or two preyi-
Gus, thus filling up the two brigxdes here.
general stevenson, heretofore in command
Of this Post, having been ordered to report
. Nashville: General Mathies has been
bury. being the ranking Colonel. viii.
brigade. '''.->> -
Oar Notifications have received the An
ishiog touch, and We 1eel secure acainst
any force the rebels are likely to be able to
send against %. At least one half Of tho
town, emhracing some Of it's best build
1n8s, hGs been laid in ruins. OF THREE or
10ur entire squares, there remain no traces
enve lew piles Of bricks and few smo-
King ptte1 Of rubbish. This has not been
the work OF mere wanton vandalism, but .
stern military .necessity." Onr fort. the
nnin one,-occupies the central part Of
town, and Of course, IN case Of an attack
spon our works, every house, fense, shed,
or even tree. OF any size, would afford I
sneiter 70 the assailants in approaching our
lines. Hence, the reader Will understand
why = - that every house and shed has
been torn down. and the rubbish used in
|constructing barracks, or burned up, and
every tree. of any considerable size. has
been cutdown. Il ID Thought, l,y those wi q
were formerly acquainted with the place.
that ia entire destruction and there viii
not BE- much Of It l~ft.) would scarcely be- :
calamity. 1'7
You know Il used to bs '.hy them or old
time," that this country Dixie / mean
stood pfe-eminent IN chivalry. civiliz.,ion'
renne'nent, intelligence and chr.stianitv
Well. we have had some strikinr evider
Ces oftheir chivalry in their treat ment 80
our prisoners 1t Libby and Belle Island. |.
ntgn development Of civilization at Frr,
Pillow. and the universal commensurate
which thnt brutal affair every y here cnil.
forth In The rebel States; the marks ofra.
hne.nsnt We meet with EVERYWHERE. in ali
our Intercourse with this PECULIAR raonie
ana eeP-cially III the universal ..,nisc.s,s
enation," which IL one If the pecvIia En-.
ct this peculiar people and their "nsrmii.r
iosutstSn." Sat she light Of thsir pro.