Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-05-16
FROM MEMPHIS.
Details Of Bowen's Defeat Rebel
Officers Killed. Dependency
at Vioksburg--Bragg
at Atlanta.
ITO h%eCineInnati Commereial.l

MEBIPHIs, may IL, VIA CAlhOJ May II.
The Jackson Appeal Of the 9th is re-
oeived. The Appeal mentions and contra
diets the rumor prevailing the previous
evening, that Port Hudson was being
evacuated.
Colonel Blackman Of Illinois, of Grier-
sons command, was captured, and very
badly wounded. He was shot in the head
and is not expected to survive.
The Federal scouts were reported that
morning at Utica, in the southwestern
portion of that county.
Governor Pettus issued a Proclamation
dated the 9th, to the people of Mississippi,
calling on them, in consequence of events
known to them, to make a united effort to
expel the invaders from her soil. He ex-
hOrts them to meet in every county, and
hurry forward, and says the common safe
ty demands every sacrifice.
The Appeal contains some details Of
General Bowen's defeat at Bayou Pierre,
near Port Gibson. His force is put at two
brigades, while the Federal is estimated at
twenty thousand. Bowen left Grand Gulf,
and crossed the bayou, to check the Feder-
al advance until reinforcements, known
to be coming, arrived.
Grants movements were too rapid and in
great force. The armies met at midnight,
Thursday, three miles from Port Gibson,
and fighting commenced, which continued
till Friday evening, when Bowen retreated
across the bayou, burning bridges. This
involved the loss of Port Gibson, which
the Federals Immediately occupied. A
number Of sick and wounded in hospital
were captured.
On Saturday the Federals again ad-
vanced. Saturday night the works at
Grand Gulf were abandoned, after dis
mounting and destroying the guns, and
Sunday the rebels crossed Big Black River
at Hankinson's Ferry, where they met re-
Inducements sufficient to make further re-
treat unnecessary. The rebel total loss is
estimated at 1000 killed, and 70 wounded
were left on the field. Several hundred
prisoners were captured, including an en-
tire company Of the 46th Mississippi. The
Virginia battery lost four guns, FIVE killed,
eleven wounded and. nineteen missing
General Tracey, of Alabama, Lieutenant
Colonel Pettus, brother Of the Governor
and Major Pickerman were killed, anG
Colonel Carrot, Of the Doth Alabama badly
wounded and Major Hurley, of the 81s
Alabama was MORALLY wounded and cap
tured. Baldwin's brigade reached the bat
tie in time to suffer considerable loss.
The Appeals correspondent, writing
from Vicksburg on the 4th and 9Th instantl
takes q gloomy view Of matters. He re
CARDS the river Notifications there insult
cient to stop the passage of boats, whethe
iron or wooden, and says an oversight wa
committed in not making proper defence
below, and that when the gunboats wen
down, people and military were deceived
and thought Grants army was to be take
to operate against Port Hudson before al
tempting Vicksburg. Although safe,
will require the utmost caution to aver
disaster. After having had a years tim
to perfect all d~efences, it appears we 81
now beset in the very quarter where "
least expected it. It may be regarded COL
traband to say this, but it is due that Ii
people should know how affairs stand, an
if danger threatens they are entitled !
know in what quarter it is, and how it wa
brought about.
The correspondent a~pprehends tina
Grant may avoid Vicksburg altogethel
march through the country south of Bi
Black, and intercept railroad communics
ton with Jackson. His movement put
new phase on prospects about Vicksburg.
There was great excitement at JacksO
on the 9th, on account Of the rumored al
p~esrance Of the Federals at Edwards Sta
ton, on the Jackson Railroad.
General Bragg and wife were at Atlani
on the 29th ultimo. On the ID instaI
Bragg issued an order pardOning all d
%serters who returned in twenty days.
airline