The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-05-30
'ured large portion of prisoners, small

s 80 SAs'ou Va P'AsoSAs, eWaAi
Between 3 and 4 o'clock Gen. Oster.
hans aud Gen. AeArthur's divisions came
into action on the extreme left, and com.
pleted what had been 90 auspiciously car.
ried forward. They we're both miles away
when the engagement began, but were
brought forward -, all the despatch pos.
sibl3.
The enemy were in full retreat soon af>
ter, and these divisions pursued till 9
o'clock, and are now eneamped ct Ed
ward . Station, eight miles bey ond tho bat.
tie ground.
Unfortunately We have no cavalry; pur.
sult - therefore is out of the questios.
From rebel prisoners We learn that Gen.
Pemberton commanded in person, and
Gems Fitz Hugh Lee and Gregg, who CON.
manded 1t the battle near Raymond, and
others OF note, had subordinate commands
From them We also learn that great dis
satisfaction exists towards Gen. Psmber.
ton.
The list Of killed and wounded will be
sent at the earliest possible moment; but
~ We march and fight alternately, delay
may be Unavoidable.
TEE BAr1LB AT BLACK RrvER BRIDok
Black River Bridge, May II.
Gen. McCiernand's corps marched to this
place early this morning. Gen. Ostsr-
haus was in advance, and found the reb-
els strongly intrenched, on the left, on the
east bank of the river. Batteries were
soon in position, playing On the snsmy's
works.
At 10 o'clock Gen. Lawler's brigade, in
Carr's division, charged across the open
field 200 yards ia width, wsding a bayou
in front, and swarming over into the in.
trenchments In moment, utterly and
irresistibly TO rebeldorn, seventeen cannon
were taken in the side earthworks and
from 1900 to 2000 prisoners captured.
No description can do justice to the in
trepidity OF the regiments composing this
brigade. The rebel fire of artillery and
musketry was appalling, but they rushed
On to victory, regardless of death, aud lit
orally swept Everything before them.
Gen. Mart. Green's Missouri Brigade,
over 200 strong was cut off by the lth
Wisconsin Regiment. and surrendered to
a man. Gen. Vaughn's brigade was also
principally captured The 2lst and Odd
Iowa led in the charge, and sustained the
loss The llth Wisconsin also captured
. stand of colors
Furious cannonading has continued all
day from the rebel batteries on the other
side Of the river. They fred the bridge
to prevent our crossing, and caa prevent
our reconstruction Of il at that point in
all proba bility. Our Engineer Corps, aid
ed by whole bricades, are busly engaged
preparing timber for bridge, and the
delay will probably no: exceed II or Is
hours. Pantoons have been sent to Gen
Shermans corps, and he will probably
cross a few milcs above here, and attack
in flank
As Gen. Grant rode to the front to-day,
he was everywhere greeted with tremend-
Gus and upro,r,ous shouting and cheering.
The boys appreciate his strategy. There
Is something practical in it. They have
marched over two hundred miles, fought
five hard battles, been victorious in all,
skirmishinG nearly the entire distance,
taken over 5000 prisoners, captured 65
field cannon ard heavy siege guns taken
an immense quantity of small arms, and
destroyed an amount Of enemys proper
~ that can scarcely lie computed VIC
tory has pressed upon its banners every.
where Gen. Grants name is to day q
terror to every southern heart. and
pillar Of strength TO every soldier in his
command. He can well endure the CO.
vert sneers or the open attacks Of the lit
tie Tri5une and papers of that ilk His
reputation Is not ia their keeping They
did not make him, neither can they un
make hun.
This morning two 81 pound howitzer,,
two IL Founders, and six pound rifle
guns were surrendered, with horses, har-
ness, and ammunition, complete without a
sho.,-a few miles back on road. These
guns oeca,ae separated from the main
body of the rebel army yesterday, in the
retreat, and were cut off by eur advance
The loss in to days fighting is not
heavy on our sids. The rebel killed and
wounded is unknown. Their troops did
not fight as obstinase!y to day as yester
day, and seemed to expect defeat on this
side yof the river. The wonder is they
were not wholly Withdrawn to tho other
side without an engagement The rebel
Gen. Tilghman was killed this morning
Gen. Osterhaus was slightly wounded, but
rode on the field again in q carriage