The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-05-20

BURLINGTON WEI
occurred at Six Mile Creek, twenty mile!
, from Montevallo, Alabama, where our reg
iinent charged the rebels aud drove them
in the utmost confusion, capturing In
Ebenezer Church, twenty miles west o
Selma. The % brigade . eur al, SO.
had dismounted and fought the enemy la.
an hour, capturing their battery, when on!
regiment arrived on the scene of action
Companies and X of our regiment wer,
at once ordered to charge q: n gal!op. I
was grand sight to see US breaking thei
lines and scattering them in the direst con
fusion. 1t was the turning point in TIL
but to take prisoners. was on the Usage
where our regiment had the honor of talk
ing Generals Marmaduke and Cabell, be
aide q large number of prisoners. Tn,
victory here was especially gratifying
from the fact that Forrest commanded II
! person, and was forced to give ''leg baip
to US, who had ample reason to remembe,
deserves record among the gallant &C
tions Of the Iowa boys. Sergeant John
Wall, color bearer Of Company X, while
pressing forward with the colcrs, had his
hand shattered by q musket ball, and his
pistol knocked from his hand. He how.
ever chung to it in the face Of the enemy's
fire, and remained at the front until the
battle was over. Robert L. West also re.
ceived wound there-slight. Our cOmpa-
ny in this fight captured SIS prisoners
whole regiment 500. Our next chef d cuver
was the storming Of their stronghold and
great storehouse, Selma. Gen. Long, 2nti
division, engaged the right, while our di-
vision, the 7th, Gen. Upton. ibid" the left,
and after q stout resistance, ana considera
BILE loss on our side, the works were car
ried. Immediately after we took possess
airy were mounted, and rushed on the fly.
ing foe with IN impetuosity which nothing
could withstand. Weary, on. of breath,
and heated with our double quick, We saw
them pass as like whirlwind, scattering
death and confusion among the 'Johnnies,
while the brass band, that had boldly VEN
tured tothe front, were playing the ealiven,
lar unison with the rattle of musketry and
the shouts Of victory. Night put An end
to the fight and afforded means for many
of the enemy to escape through the swamps
and over the river, although numbers OF
them perished in the attempt. The city
proved rich prize in several respects.-
First, It was strongly fortified; second, it
contained large amount Of commissary
stores for our soldiers, and the finest and
most complete iron works, machine shops,
arsenals and rolling mills ever raw, ali
Of which were destroyed before we left the
place. would mention right hero that
every citizen in the city capable of bearing
arms were In the trenches 1t the time OF
the fight, to defend their sacred soil from
the polluting touch Of the +" Yankee van
dals." The most prominent editor and
gagged In this good work! Strange to- say,
here in the heart Of the Southern Confed-
oracy there was q great demand for green
backs,' in lieu Of their own worthless cur
rency. And co0ee:!-words fail to de-
scribe the infinite relish with which these
poor wretches partook Of that most excel
lent beverage. Indeed, I consider myself
addicted to the use Of tobacco and poor
whisky, an exchange could be effected at
very advantageous rates. OF course they
were all going to die in the last ditch, al
though have never been able, even after
the most diligent inquiry, to ascertain the
locality OF that much. talked-of place. In
Ill likelihood that Information will be ex
tended to them In few days, when the re-
suits Of this Srmistice are made kuown.-
The army remained in the vicinity week,
although our brigade marched 100 mileson
. accommodating expedition during that
time. The country here was rich, and
sbounded in al kinds OF forage, 30 tbat
We lived fast aud rich upon the ooaaties Of
the old planters, making amends. in a
fare We put up with before. We had some
difficulty In constructing . pontoon across
tho Alabama river, owing to the swiftness
Of the current, but after building 1t for the
third time the whole army passed over 1t
safely and proceeded toward Montgomery.
We met with little opposition on the way,
and when within . short distance Of the
city were met BY q deputation Of Aldermen
headed ty the Mayor with flag Of truce,
who made formal surrender Of it in the
name of the citizens, Generals Cobb and
Buford having ingloriouslv fled, leaving
the Yankees undisputed possession. Here
then where Davis was proclaimed ruler Of
the Confederate States, where treason re-
ceived it's heartiest support, and uttered
fierce defiance to the whole North, we
entered without even the firing of a
gnn-our flying oolors and soul -stirriuk
martial music demonstrating tina. juds-
ment had overtaken them in the height of
their pride and ambition. In considera-
ton Of our blOodless victory, the General
protected the citizens from all molestatiou
tn person or property, they in return look
ing and acting very cbligingly towards US,
many expressing themselves better pleased
with our conduct than that OF their owa
soldiers. BIT there wss more work ahead
80 after remaining - hours wa again took
up the war path in the direction Ct Column
bus, Ga. The ID brigade OF our division,
being in advance, reached the outer works
west Of the river at noon, April 18th, and
Immediately opened the attack by noun
ted charge on the lower bridge. but were
repulsed, al the enemy had ten pieces Of
cannon commanding the road, and hurled
such Q shower Of shot and shell that they
were forced to take cover. Our brigade
VA then marched by circuitous route to
the upper aide Of the Notifications, con-
os:led from the view Of the enemy, and
their batteries. and waited patiently for
orders. At shutdown Gen. Upton came on
the ground and ordered the column for.
ward-skirmishing commenced between
tho Generate body guard and the advance
picksts Of the enemy at dark. We were ut
once dism0unted and ordered into line, our
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