The Burlington Weekly Hawk Eye

From the Sixth Iowa.

Port Hudson, La., August 15, 1863.

Editor Hawk-Eye:—At the time I wrote you last, although our course of action was clearly indicated by Gen'l Orders, the fluctuating fortunes of war suddenly changed our plan of operations.

Soon after our embarkation, as spoken of in my last, for Port Hudson, we were pleasantly surprised by the arrival of an Ocean steamer bearing word that reinforcements were no longer needed below, a consummation long one of the greatest desires of America's patriots, in the attainment of which, many gallant followers of Mars struck their last blow for Freedom's cause.

Upon the reception of this news, General Herron directed our course up the Yazoo river, destination Yazoo City. On the afternoon of July 13th, the booming of artillery in our van told us we were nearing the city. After a short bombardment from our gunboats and some wild replies from the enemy's siege guns, all became quiet. It was soon apparent that the rebels were again demonstrating the old saying, that "Southern blood would run." that "the last ditch" had not yet been found.

Late in the afternoon, the gunboat De Kalb, moved up to take possession, when she was blown up by a torpedo. Generals Herron and Vandever were on board—her bow was torn away, but no one injured.

Soon after our infantry, having disembarked below entered the city, and occupied the place; capturing about 300 of the flying enemy, seven siege guns, a few field pieces, and about 1500 small arms.

The citizens seemed most deeply chagrined at their evil fortune, and those who did not fly at our approach, evinced their turpitude, utter want of good taste, and ignorance of the principles of true politeness, by receiving their visitors with marked coldness and sullen silence. But soldiers who have some slight claim to the term of "veterans" were not to be dismayed by cool treatment from rebels, even tho' of the female persuasion.

Yazoo City is located in the midst of a very fertile heavy cotton growing country, as good as any other in the so-called Confederacy. There have been but few troops in this district, a fact which accounts for undisturbed plantations of growing corn, potatoes, and in many cases cotton.

On the 16th of July, Herron, leaving a skeleton camp in charge of convalescents, marched out beyond Big Black river, toward Jackson. This march was very severe on account of heat and dust, which were almost unbearable; exhausted, sore-footed men were plenty; and not a few perished from sunstroke.

Returned to the fleet at Yazoo City the 19th, after an absence of four days, having accomplished but little, unless by way of diversion in Gen. Sherman's favor.

On the 21st the entire command again embarked for Vicksburg, having two transports loaded with jubilant contrabands, and every available space stowed with cotton; even then leaving the country full of cotton ready for market, and contrabands longing to be free. Nothing worthy of special note marked our passage down the sluggish waters of the "river of death." Arrived at Vicksburg the same evening; disembarked and marched to our old camps near the city, to find our sick whom we had left behind greatly improved, with a few exceptions where death had claimed his victim; and what was no small discovery; was a large mail, which in our peregrinations had not been able to follow us, with friendly greetings to gladden our hearts and ameliorate our anxious care-worn minds.

Could the good people at home realize that in perusing friendly, consoling missives from them the soldier's happiness reaches its culmination, that alone would be sufficient incentive to induce them to write longer letters and oftener.

After a two days rest in camp, we were again embarked with five days rations, without the remotest idea of our destination, but as soldiers often do, offering to wager something that we could guess whether the Fates were leading us.

Early on the morning of the 25th the fleet bearing our division swung out from Warrenton, where we had collected during the night, and steamed down stream, according to our presupposal. We passed that day in our descent, Grand Gulf, Natchez, the Delta of Red River, and some other points of less note. There is little to variegate the monotony of the lower Mississippi; the plantations are most all deserted, few are green with growing corn, none with cotton.

Soon after our arrival at Port Hudson, Gens. Herron and Vandever left the fleet at the wharf, under command of General Orm, and proceeded to New Orleans to learn of our future plans.

The place ycleped Port Hudson is marked by the debris of what appears to have been at some ancient date a small village. The defences of this place besides being less extensive are not near so extensive as those of Vicksburg.

On the 30th Jul Herron returned, but manifested no definite plan as the result of his visit below, other than ordering us to go into camp here.

Col. Dye, of the 20th Iowa, is in command of the 1st Brigade, vice Vandever, who is on duty at New Orleans as member of Court Martial.

On the day of Herron's arrival a feu de joie announced the presence of other distinguished military chieftains in the persons of Gens. Banks and Franklin, who were on a visit to Grant and have since returned.

This has been a fine sugar and cotton district, but is now a desolate waste. The weather is oppressively hot and extremely dry. The water is very bad, and as a result of that combined with other causes, the sanitary condition of the troops is at a low ebb. Some regiments bury from three to five men almost every day. Our regiment has lost but three since we landed here. The Colonel of the 38th Iowa died a few days since. Our regiment numbers 311 enlisted men, present, 300 able for duty, and said to be in the best condition of any in the division.

The 13th corps d'armee, of which we form a part, under General Ord, has landed. We are to embark to-morrow evening for New Orleans. The field and staff of the 34th are well and doing excellent service.

Yours truly,
MILES.