The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-26


26 miles east of Vicksburg, May Is. {
Early this morning Gen. McL lernand S corps
was out in motion Hov,ys division was on
the main road from jackson to Vicksburg
Ward was on parallel road, and Mcpherson s
corps followed Hovey's division closely
At9 Ii )vey discovered the enemy on Cham
pion dill, near Bakers Creek, apparently in
force. Sklrmshers were thrown out and the
division advanced slowly to give Mcpherson s
advance division under Logan, time TO come
within supporting distance. Gen Hovey's d.
vision advanced across the open field at the foot
of Champion Hill in line Of battle. At ii the
battle commenced.
The hill itself was covered with timber The
rebels appeared deficient in artillery throughout
the battle, but opened with rather heavy fire
from gun battery Of r1ed 6-pounders The
woods on both sides Of the road were filled with
sharpshooters, supported by infantry.
Here the battle begun just as our men entered
the edge IF the timber, and ragged terribly from
II until A. Gen Hovey's division carried the
heights IN gallant style, and making dash on
the lst battery drove the gunners from their po-
sition, and captured the pieces.
The rebels lay thick in the vicinity of the
guns. Their horses were more than half killed.
The colors of the lst Alabama were captured.
At this uncture Mitcheils Ohio battery was
opened at 80 yards from the brow Of the hill.
The rebels made dash for it, but the Aeetness
Of the horses prevented its capture.
At the same time, the rebels appeared with
fresh troops on that wing, and redoubed their
efforts to hold their position and dislodge our
t'oops on the hill. Hovey was slowly driven
back to the brow, but brigade of Gen. Quinn
by was ordered to his support, and speedily
recovered the ground, and finally repulsed the
rebels.
At the commencement of the engagement
Gen Logan division marched past the brow of
the hill, and forming in line of battle on the
right of Hovey, advanced in grand style, sweep
ing everything before them. Nota man ainched
or line wavered in this division, and all be-
hayed like veterans The battle was most des-
perate. Two batteries were captured by this
division.
Between and Gen. Oserhaus' and Gen.
McArthurs divisions came into action on the
extreme left, and completed what had been so
auspiciously carried forward. They were both
miles away when the engagement began, but
were brought forward as quickly as possible.
The enemy were in full retreat soon after.
From rebel prisoners, says a st. Louis dis
patch, we learn that Pemberton commanded In
person, Fltz Hug Lee, and Gregg, who COM
manded at the battle near Raymond, and
others of note, had subordinate commands
Great dlssa abstraction exists towards Pember-
ton. Heisaccused by many of selling out to
Grant also of planning military operations
for the last four weeks 80 as to insure tho lat
ters success.
1t is impossible to do more than approximate
the loss. 1t will probably turn out to be about
1000 killed and wounded. But few officers of
distinction are injured. Not General or Staff
Officer on our side was killed. The men are en-
thusastic when Gen. Grant appears. His reck-
less exposure of himself on the field of battle
won the unbounded admiration of his men,