The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-06-03
Utlclal Report of General McGinnis
OF the Battle of MAGNOLIA.
he9aa9uarters lst. Brigade, 18th Division, !
Ioth' Army Corps, Army of the Tenn, I
In the + ield, Nav 6. lS63

! IN the ield, May 6, 1868.
capt John f. Phillips, A. A. G. l2tJ
! SIR: | have the honor to submit tb,
following report of the part taken by thf
lst Brigade in the battle of Port Gibson
Miss, on the 1st instant
My Brigade consisted of the following
commands, viz:
11tb Ind;o. Men.
9ith u W. I. Spiceley $40
Seth q. . " X A. Cameron. .6O7
9oth yv;.oo. H. Bringhurst. 423
u 90 ou " .sCohsih " Chas. b. Gill.
,e, ca ehlo Dattery. Ist. Lieut. Beach Com L. O
M capt j. A. Mitchell. l
$50
At about o clock A. NJ. I received an
1' ~ - r1-:ss-l.~.-osun7rrsT- IIUvey
commanding our division, to form nv
brigade IN line of battle, holding two
regiments in reserve The order was
Immediately executed. NY first line
was composed of the 9th, 34th, and
10th Indiana, the second of the l1th In
diana and 29th Wisconsin, with diree-
tons to hold themselves about 200 wards
in the rear, and act as support to the first
line
One section of the I'd Ohio battery
was all the artillery had with nv com
mand at the commencement of the bat
tie, IN consequence of lack of trans
portatlon upon leaving Perkins Planta-
ton, La. AS soon as our lines were
formed, we advanced about three quar-
ters OF mile over surfa ce of country
which, under any other circumstances,
would nave been pronounced impossible.
High hills, i'll many places almost per-
penidlcuiar, deep ravines, thicky covered
with cane and vines, interfered very
much with our advance After advanc-
ing about half a mile, at the request of
General Benton, commanding the lst
brigade of the 18th division. the 24th
Indiana was detached from my BRIGADE
for the purpose of supporting General
Benton's right, which had brought on
the action. and had been hotly engaged |
for some time.
The 9th moved up to its position in
gallant style, and after short, but very |
sharp engagement, the enemy retreated |
from that part of the field, upon which
the 24th rejoined the brigade
The balance of my brigade moved rap
idly to the front, and were soon within
range OF rebel battery, supported by a
brigade of infantry. The 34th Indiana
being IN advance, was ordered by Gen.
Hovey to charge the battery. A gallant
effort was made to execute the order,
but such fearfully destructive fire was
poured upon them that Colonel Cameron.
and Judgment, halted his command and
protected them from the enemy's fire
behind the brow of the hill At this juno
ture the Ilth Indiana, which had been in
reserve, moved to the front in double
quick, and as soon as a portion of its
right was in line with the 34th and left
of the 10th, another gallant charge was
made upon the battery, which was double
shotted, and just upon the point of being
fired. The gunners and horses were
shot down, and the brigade in support
turned their backs upon US and fed in
confusion from the field.
The result of this gallant dash, in
which the 34th, 1lth and 10th participa-
ted, was the capture of two 12-pounder
howitzers, three caissons, three stand of |
colors, several horses and over two hun
dred prisoners.
Company X, of the 11th, was detailed |
to man the guns, and turned them upon
the enemy, and deliveIed few effective |
shots.
After a short halt, to enable all to
rest and procure water, | received an
order from Gen. Hovey for another ad-
vance.
In this movement, the 34th and 10th
were held in reserve within supporting
distance of the first line.
After advancing about one mile, we
again met the enemy, who had been
heavily reinforced, and was strongly
posted on the opposite side of the deep
ravne.
My command was Immediately order
ed forward to support the second brig
ade, Col. Slack, and took a position in
the ravine and on the brow of the hill,
and opened their fire upon the enemy.
At. this point the conflict was terrific,
and was kept ur, without any intermis-
sion whatever, for an hour and thirty
seven minutes, whenthe enemy, nndlng
they could not drive US from our posi-
ton, retreated in dismay, and made no
further resistance on that part of the
field.
During this last engagement | receiv-
ed information that the rebels showed
signs of an intention to attack and turn
our right. l Immediately directed Col.
Cameron, of the 34th, to occupy and
hold the hill to the right, and sent one
section of the 10th Ohio battery to his
assistance, and informed General Hovey
of what had done A concentrated fire
from sixteen guns of the division con-
tinued for over an hour, dislodging the
enemy from their position, and driving
them from the field.
After this engagement had been con,
tinued for an hour, received a message
from Colonel Gill, of the 26th Wis, In
forming me that his regiment had suffer.
ed severely, and asking to be relieved
for short time. Having no regimen
of my own command unemployed, call
ed upon General Benton for the required
assistance, who generously rendered thu
services of the gallant Sth Indiana, Col
Skunk, and although they were short o
, ammunition, they went in with will
; and rendered the necessary relief an
fought gloriously and VIGOROUSLY du
, ring the remainder of the engagement
The Oath Indiana and 29th Wisconsin
stood the brunt of this engagement, OF
cupying the front and most dangerou
position. 1t was here that their heavies
.. |