The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-16
FIR OM WICK SBU R G.
OUR FORCES DRIVE THE ENEMY BEFORE
THEN, BUT ARE SUBSEQUENTLY
REPULSED.
THE DEATH OF COL. WYMAN.

Correspondence of the St. Louis Democrat.
HELENA, Ark, Jan. 1.-The Minnehaha
arrived here last evening, having dipatches
from the scene of strife and carnage before
Vicksburg. The boat left on Monday ev-
ening, and reports that the battle had ragged
without intermission during Sunday and
Monday, with the following results:
Gen. Sherman on Sunday drove the reb-
els before him, who through the day ma
neuvered as if they were to weak to dis
pute our advance, and especially to assume
the offensive. They fought fiercely, but
as if unable to cope with our massed COL
umns, and everywhere gave ground. On
Sunday we drove the rebels one mile and
halt, took possession Of their outer
works, capturing nine spiked guns. Early
on Monday Gen. Sherman attacked their
central line of defence with great impetu-
osity. The enemy, as usual, gave ground,
and three regiments, including the 18th
Iowa, succeeded in getting within the
works-drove the rebels from their rifle
pits, and stormed the main battery. But
our troops had hardly gained possession
here before the enemy, strongly reinforced
with massed columns, at least ten regi-
ments strong, charged headlong upon them.
Our boys manfully maintained their posi-
ton for some time, anxiously awaiting re-
enforcement from Hoyey S command, which
had been ordered by Gen. Steele to their
aid. But it appears that General HOvey
could not get there, and our handful of
brave soldiers were literally crushed be-
meath the massed columns of the rebels,
and driven from the ground they had SO
bravely won, with fearful slaughter. This
information received from the son OF the
late Col. Wyman, of the 18th Illinois, who
came from the battlefield bearing his ia
theirs corpse.
Col. Wyman was shot early in the bat
tie on Sunday afternoon, while leading
his men to an attack on the enemy's
works. He was shot by a skirmisher,
who carried an English rifle that shoots a
round ball with great accuracy and tre-
InendiOus momentum. | examined the
ball. 1t is round, weighing about half an
ounce The ball passed through Col. w.
body, near to the heart. The Colonel lived
nearly two hours After he received his
death wound, the 18th Illinois seemed to
be thrown into confusion, and the Lieut..
Colonel, COrgas, seemed for a moment
paralyzed At this juncture Col. Wyman
raised himself erect, and in clarion tones
shouted, "Fo, Gods sake, Col. Corgos,
90 .foruord It acted like magic upon
the Lieut.. Colonel, officers and men. Col.
Corgas, with fiery energy, rushed to the
head of his regiment, gave the word ''fOr-
ward" and with a shout the brave column
rushed into the cloud where death and
carnage were holding their grand earni-
val.
The laying of the pontoon bridge across
the bayou in the face Of the enemy fire,
and the determined and unquestionable
spirit evinced by our men in crossing in
the face of so many and so formidable OBJ
stacles, gives them place beside the heroes
whose chivalrous deeds will live forever.
General Morgan is reported MORALLY
wounded while engaged in an onset upon
a rebel battery. have not been able to
get the particulars. The brave and gal
liant Gen. Morgan L. Smith, who moved
unscathed amid the rain ofbullets and fiery
missiles at Donelson and Shiloh in COM
mand of the 9Th Missouri, was slightly
wounded while in the advance cheering on
his fainting columns.
Major Partridge OF the 10Th Illinois, lost
his right arm.
1t is said that on Sunday General Sher-
man had several narrow escapes from
death. The General had taken his stand up
on favorable point of observation, and
stubbornly maintained it, though it proved
to be within range of rebel battery. Sew
eral times sixty-four FOUNDER plowed the
ground fearfully, near covering his person
with earth, but doing him no damage.