The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-01-07

the Savannah river. We commenced Wig
oroEsly throwing up breastworks ant
shelling the enemy's batteries in our front
all of which indicated a combined assault
at that point. This continual during Sat
urday and Saturday night. This caused
the enemy to withdraw most Of their eff
fective force from Fort McAllister (which
was precisely the place Sherman wanteC
to take,) for the defense of Savannah
which they supposed in oxssimmediate
danger. @ AZ
! On Sunday night the 18th corps was nui.
city withdrawn. leaving the 18th to kaey
! up the illusion Of an attack at that point
and moved by rapid but poiseless march
to the vicinity Of Fort McAl!Ister. Under
the cover OF night we passed by the rebel
battery which covered the road, and would
nave ra6ed our ranks had they the leas,
suspicion Of the movement. unmoIestec.-
Inc next day tie enemy, 20 his surprise,
found Fort McAilister IL peril, and en-
deavored to send down reinlorcements. but
send succor was now occupied by the 18th
corps, and couple Of saucy batteries IN
vited them TO make the attempt. ~ 4, ~
GA Tuesday afternoon the I'd division
ltaven 81 was thrown across tie OgeCLee
river. and advanced upon the fort. At the
same time gUnboat slowly moved up the
river, but did not reach the scene Of action
stood the "a division were moving upon
NcAi.ister, party Of Us rode down TO our
.ignal station, some TWO miles this side, 10
witness tae result. Ger. Sherman ard
Gen. Howard were both there. Wiki glass
!. maid zen. Sherman was percLed upon
the root Ct al old mill with a sigma. Tag
at nis side, occasionally signalling theg gun
noats and sending directions to Haven
ne country between the sigma. station. q I'd
the tort being low fat gave him dis
ael view OF al that was going OF IL and
around tie fort. About clock r. Ii. cur
sfooas gave yell, the Usuai precursor or "a
Slarses tie cannon from the .osA pea!ed
Scrousiy. there was che vo.iey, and cur
men We're seen mounting the embank-
iI-enis, pouring over The parapet-, and then
came hand-to- hand fight ,oithin the for..
The rebels had positive orders not to sur.
Tsnde. ths fort, and fought to the last
But the struggle was but for q few mo-
ments. Borne down en- every hand by SUI
perior number they were forced to Weld.
At 0 clock.the fort was ours, with three
hundred prisoners and all its mu nitious Of
war. The old stars and stripes rolled ont
upon the breeze, and Gen. Sherman rubbed
bis hands and danced about like a school
boy let loose for holiday.
fAE MILITARY IMPORTANCE o. MAJ
LISTER.
10 understand the exUberant 10Y OF Sher- |
nan, you mus. know that Fort McA!Iister
,ommanded our only available outlet to tne |
,oast. Savannah IS surrounded by a semi |
,ircle OF almost impossible swainps, ex-
endlng from ocean to ocean. The inner
lne OF these swasnrs is covered with rebel
batteries, when Il IS next 70 impossible to
'aoryc, and the swamps being heavily
timber ed. render 1t very difficult TO operate
ipOn them with artillery. This barrier Law
between us and For: Pulaski, already ia
'nr possession. Foraging upon the coun-
ry was now AT all end, and our supply Of
iard-t tack, sugar and meat about exhaust
'd. It was evident we mus. get communi-
alton VITA the coast before further opera
ions upon Savannah could be continued.
ne Quiet OF the Oxeechee into Cssabaw
,oSnd was our only alternative. Had the
eDe.s had foresight enough to have taken
hese things into consideration, and thrown
additional troops and munitions into Fort
instead OF weakening that
,oin1, they might have given Us great
'eai OF trouble, as the fort is very ditiicuIti
! access. But there is au oyer-rulin9
'rovidence in all things, and they were
mltten with panic at the supposed danger
u their city. The secret is that they have
very Inadequate force, suppose, in Sa-
'annan.
PRESENT STATE OF THINGS.
McAllister, as alread y 'nted, commands
weeps around one side, when it suddenly
makes three short, serpentine bends, sol
IA. a straight line from our signal station
9 he tort crosses the river three times. Ex-
ending northward and eastward for sever.
i miles is low fat swept by the tide.wa-
era, except where levees are thrown up
round the rice plantations. Beyond this
re the sWamps already spoken of. The
'tcer sides Of the fort ara skirted with TIM
yer. with q low flat intervening
Our fleet lay at the Sound laden with
upplIes, aud as sOOn as the fort was tax en-
ur gunboats commenced fishing for torpe-
loes. with which the rebs had taken the
'recansion to fill the river. One man had
leg and an arm blown of by one OF these
evices while going down the river in a
kiff after the surrender. Generals Sher-
nan and Howard had just passed over the !
anne spot in another boat. Our gunbOats |
< pioded quite a number but the river is !
low clear, and transports have come up [
nd are now unloading at Kings Bridge, q |
clint on the Ogeechee near where it is
rcssed by the Savannah. Albany Il Gulf |
railroad. To-day We expect to have our /
carts gladdened oy an enormous Maii.-
lou may imagine our anxiety when YOU {
that it has been more than q
lontb since any of US have had any It'd |
lgs from our homes. or. indeed, any COM
1unieation WITH the outside world. :
BY q congra.nlatory order Of Gen. Sher- I
IAN to day we are informed that the TAX {
az o! Fort McAllister puts US ia full COM |
lunicatlon with cur supplies, and also !
18th Major General Foster. Savannah il
ow compietely-I had almost said herme;. !
'duy-sealed up Cut OF from eyery
ounce of supply, cnt of from all hope of /
her railroads all DESTROYED. !
er Bay sealed up by Fort Pulaski and our ,
Get, she IS more completely at our mercy
ban was ever Vicksburg when guarded by
rants army. We can afford to .pa;t their
'lSa:e should that prove the better plan.
In another letter II may give you some Of ,
ne Incidents of our march, omitted in this !
" brev!ty, As found my sketch would be !
ltolerable for newspaper article. To :
aose at homs who have friends in Sher- !
lan's army let me hint that their lettars ,,
GREATER should he sent pta New York or
sashington-I suppose it makes little diff.
.reRce which.
Yours, &C., W q r
kossUrH, Iowa, Dec. Is. 1864
I'D. HAWK EYE-In com pliance with iha {
..sn OF some OF my comrades left in pris-
q, az Florence, South Carolina. I wifi at
q Il