The Burlington Weekly Hawk Eye

THE SECOND IOWA INFANTRY.—We find the following in a letter to the Cincinnati Gazette, dated at Pulaski, Tenn., Dec. 24th. It shows the estimation in which the gallant Second Iowa Infantry is held in the army, where its character and services are best known. Some of its members are now at home. Let their friends give them such a welcome as they merit:

One of the best items of news which I can now give your readers is that a large portion of the troops of Gen. Dodge's command are entering the veteran service.
The work began in the Ohio brigade, where such men as Fuller, Noyes, Sprague and Swayne were to agitate the matter and push it forward. I am not positively informed as to the number in that brigade who have re-enlisted, but I have heard that more than half of the 39th and 27th Ohio had done so. In the 43d and 53d many were re-enlisting.

At Pulaski, the noble 2d Iowa leads the van. A regiment which for the social and intellectual standing of its members at its original organization, and for its distinguished valor on the battle field, will challenge comparison with any regiment in the field, has again honored itself and the State by being the first to re-enlist. The regiment which rendered itself famous by that magnificent charge at Fort Donelson under the lamented Smith, still tells to the nation that it does not repose on its laurels, but is ready, with a new will to enter again "for three years or during the war," the dangers and hardships of the soldier's life.

What a rebuke is given to the loiterers in the North by this patriotic action of the soldiers. Go with me to-night around this little village. It is bitter cold. On every road you will find a body of men keeping watch. No matter how the wind may blow or the rain beat, there they stay throughout the night, sleepless and shivering. For two years they have been familiar with such service, yet, knowing fully all its hardships these men flock to the recruiting officers and enlist for three years more.

All honor to the veteran volunteers!

In a very short time their faces will begin to be seen in the North, as each man re-enlisting, is given a furlough of at least thirty days. Where the three-fourths of a company or regiment re-enlist, they are furloughed in a body, with their officers, and sent home to recruit and reorganize.

Can you imagine a more hopeful indication of the end of this war than this re-enlistment of the army? When the first veteran company or regiment marches with steady tread through your streets, let the timid and distrustful take heart—they will see that the army of the Union is not "tired of war," but that its patriotism is unimpeachable. Let the loyal man lift his hat to the veteran corps, and let the Copperhead beware of its heel!