The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-20


shows the important service being performed by ouI
troops at yicksbnrg and the peculiar method for out
whiting the rebel army at that place. which indicated
IN previous letter:-
GENERAL WILLIAMS OFFICIAL REroRrs.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE,
VlrKsBURa, July A. 1862
CAnAm-Leavinx the Twenty Or s. indiana, sixth hich
gan section Of Bveretts battery and McGee cavalry
and taking with the Thirieth Massachusetts,, Ninth
Connecticut, Seventh Vermont and Fourth Wisconsin
regular Nina battery and two sections Of Everetts
left Baton Rouge the morning Of the Goth OF June
rived on Files Cf In the afternoon Of the 22d where
found three gunboats awaiting my approach To cover
the transports in passing tho cliffs landed so
cupy all the woods leading from the cliffs the interior
The cliffs Tho Thirsth Massachusetts and two guns q
MINIS made touring march Of eight miles, while the
Fourth Wisconsin, with skirmishsrs in advance, followed
two Of Evsrstts, marched directly forward by the
cli6 road leading 70 the battery and u
SasoS.a' distant eighteen miles giving time
road and cut on the retreat to Natchsz Soon
the skrmshsrs Of the Fourth Wisconsin upon the
abandoned battery, abandoned by gun timber loft
behind in tho abandonment Timber benches tables 4
broken whfietree, some few cars Of newly gathered
green corn from neghborng field and the well rodden
earth marked the place OF the camp, the battery
which was spacious, shaded and afforded clear view
OF the river no and down. and perfectly protected
by its height above tho river from the re or the gun
boats The rebel method using their guns from the
cliffs the gun forward till projects beyond the
cli deprsss T. fire and run the gun back out Of sight
load and repeat.
Negroes afterwards told that the battery consisting
OF two guns and ninety mounted men left some vs hours
before our landing but the fellows had greatly loered
the way, for Col Dudley reported he was within an
hour Of intsrcopting them. Tho 23d or juno Rodney
passed without molestation; but having learned
from various that resistance 10 the further
advance of the transports would certainly be made
by guns In position on the heights OF Grand Gulf.
we entered Bayou Pierre about three O'Clock the
morning or the oath and attempted to reach its point or
intersection with the Port Gibson and Grand Gulf Rail-
Ioad In order TO from thence the Of the
own and heights OF Grand Gulf After passing up the
bayou some nine miles. and still eight miles from Port
Gibson, raft across the bayou stopped We then
backed down. for the bayou too TO turn to
one Colonel Berrys plantation four miles only by good
wagon road Here at about eleven O'Clock in the morn
ing, the troops were landed The Fourth Wisconsin Ninth
connecticut and four guns, after marching two miles,
taxing branch road by Hamiton's plantation, which
led TO the rear Of the reported rebel camp-sone said
goo, some 900 strong. pitched between Port Gibson
Railroad and the road from Grand Gulf to Willow Springs
and which branch road produced the only two roadsviz
the railroad and Willow Springs road leading Grand
Gulf to the nteriortook the direct road which cuts
the railroad about ono mile in rear Of Grand Gulf
One OF the regimcnts-the Seventh vermont-was to
cooperate with the Fourth Wisconsin and Ninth Con-
necticut in the contemplated attack the camp,
at the fork Of the two roads. The rebels apprized
OF our coming had decamped leaving Of their SICK
few old tents numerous booths articles Of house,
mold furniture and secession flag. (See herewith
Colonel Paines rsport) The town Of Grand Gulf which
our troops before leaving burned TO the ground,
left behind, was captured BY co. Dudey's bankers.
On the 26th We arrived here OF vicksburg, and com
menced running and dwelling the line Of the cut OF canal
and On the morning Of the 9th broke ground Between
100 And 200 negroes gathered from the nsighboring
plantations by armed parties are now engaged in the
work Of excavating cutting down trees and grubbng
cut u far greater thAx estimated BY any.
body. Tho soil ID hard clay far yet excavatsd-
sixteen and half 70 seventeen feet-ADd must be gone
through WITH four feet more before the water
can be let in for all concur in this: that must como
70 sand before the clay.
Yesterday the river fall was only two inches Drift
wood WAS seen coming down, and the Missouri Repubh
Of the 2sh Of June the flooding up OF the
Missouri river and tho rise Of the Upper Mississippi
Working negro force engaged. and h prospect Of
rise, are In good heart Ths project great one,
and worthy Of success. In the next three days
eet Of Flag Ofcers Farragut and Davis awaiting
the result with great interest. seven Of Flag Ocsr FAR
raguts vessels having Vcksburg at eleven O'Clock
on the morning Of the 2sth without alarming the bat
tsries OF the town, and anchored with Flag Ocsr
Dav fleet OF six mortar boats and four gunbosis
west side Of Burnsys Point Tho mortar vessels Of Oo-
modors Porter and the remander Of Flag Oicer rsrra
CUTS feet remain below vicksburg Captain Davis
rived from Memphis o. the LIST Of July.
To protect Commodore Portore mortar noot. lying close
along the east bank Of the river within range Of the
batteries Of Vicksburg, but concealed from their view
BY dense forest from the snemys skirmishers have
some three hundred men, under Major Whit
more Of the Thrtisth Massachusetts, for picket and re-
that side Of the town. In the next ave
nation regarding tho their Approaches and ths
FORCES in support Respectfully your obedisnt servant
7. WILLIAMS, Brig. Gen. Volunteers Comnand'E.
down for supplies, and can furnish details rot given
here.
HEADQUARTERS, SECOND BRIGADE,
BLOW vlcKsBURG, July 6, 1862.
CAPrANThc Tennessee left bore last evening with the
mail, but hearing the beating Of drums Ct Grand Gulf,
further and returned this evening for an
additional gunboat TO protect her in passing that point
Her return enabled ne 70 supply omission In my
port Of the 4th inst II that the eight long ranged
6aA hst.
stion behind the lsvse at Burnsys Point distant
sighths Of mile from the ensmys nearest battery on
ne upper side Of vcssourg. cooper.tcd calamity and
Of the 18th ut Everetts battery lost one man ana
one horse killed The fall OF the in the river ID
nearly ct stand point and tho drift q logs and brush
what tho newspapers promise-viz: . June
rtse the work OF the negro force the cut on they
being organized into squads Of twenty, with an in.
enigent non commissioned officer private TO each,
,upefintendsd by officers, and is satisfactory. The
Flag Ufcer and bis fcet are most sanguine and even
Enthusiastic. regard the cut on to be my best bower
lsizc and hold tho onemys SaltsrlSs, " a least spike
heir guns. Respectfully, your obedient servant,
7. WILLIAMS, Brigadsr General Of voIunteers
ught not 10 approach the batteries that Of tomorrow
will probably give the Affirmative side.
sKTRxsu At RATION ROUGE.
From Baton Rouge W. have received intelligence Of
lutte spirited little skirmish between Captain Magees
company Of cavalry and considerable body OF mounted
usrllas In which the rebel camp was broken up seve
al OF the gusras killed and wounded eight prisoners
AIKEN twenty horses three mules, wagon loaded with
and forage, . quantity Of arms, ammuni-
on accousrsments, saddles and other horse squipass
aptursd and safely transported within our lines at
Baton Rouge.
The following explicit and excellent ocia report Of
Lieutenant Colonel John A. Keith, Of the Twenty rst
indiana, who commanded the expedition, 10 . capital
account Of the AFFAIR."
LIEUTENANT COLONEL LETrH's OFFICIAL RRPoHT.
CAn TWENTY nRsr INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,
BARON RoUaE, July -, 1852. !
JAMES ". hoMnLAS Colonel Twenty first Indiana voun-
teers, Commanding Post
SR-n obedencs 70 order Of Lieutenant Colonel Clark,
sixth Michigan Volunteers, then commanding post,
With forty Of McGsss cavalry under Captain Niece start
ID from the camp Of the Twenty Indiana Volunteers
seven o'clock NJ Of the 9th Of June TO make such
as In my opinion seemed best Following
the Greensburg road nineteen miles crossed 70 the
Camp Moore road by unrsqucntsd path distance six
miles, Nine miles from where this path interssctsd the
last named road broakastsd and fed horses At
eight O'Clock A. M. we resumed our march twelve miles
farther, in the direction OF Camp Moore; then wo
crossed TO tho Grsensburg road, capturing on the
way guerilla On arriving at the road We captured
threa urisopsra the hOr6a OF 4 fourth who