, 1863-05-22
FROM GEN. GRANTS ARMY.
TIE BATTLE OF TH01IPSON'S
HILLS.
Bravery Of the Mercantile Battery.
THE POST TAKEN BY CARR'S DlVI-
SION.
The Killed and Wounded
From Our Own Correspondent

From Our Own Correspondent
ROCKY SPRINGS, May 8. 1864
THE BATTLE OF TuoMpsoS's HILLS
In MY account Of the battle Of Thompson's
Hills, ] was unable to speak particularly Of
the part taken By the Union army in the
forenoon Of the first OF May, because
did not arrive on the battlefield untf1
nearly noon. lam happy to supply this hi.-
tus With the account of Brig. Gen. Carr. WIN
had the advance of McClernand's corps, and
vas actively engaged on the extreme right,
from which an intelligent idea can be gained
Of our movements; and the part taken By the
the different regiments comprising the diyi-
sion.
THE MERCANTILE BATTERY
It will crafty the friends Of the Mercantile
Battery to know that they performed dis
tinguished part in the late battle, firing over
fifty rounds ut the enemy. Fortunately, they
were unhurt. Not q man was killed or woun-
ded. The members are in good spirits and
anxious again to meet the enemy. They will
give m excellent account Of the Mercantile
Battery. It is attached to the reserve diyi-
sion of Gen. A. J. Smith, and is at present
three miles north Of Rocky Springs. The two
batteries, A and B, are with Gen. sherman,s
army corps, expected here this evening.
THE BATTLE AND THE PART TAKEN Br CAMS
DIVISION.
HEADQUARTERS 14TH DIVISION,
May 6, 1858. (
GENERAL OnDEn No. 81 desire to conrratu
late the officers and soldiers Of this divisi5n on
the brilliant and successful manner in which thny
the late battle near Port Gibson.
~ Inc tnd Of tlIeEome nights march, the I'd
brigade. under Col. Stone (being in advance J came
upoh % ihe enemy at o'clock n the morning, re-
Immediately formed into line and Capt Griflth's
the pieces Of kean's 1st indiana battcry,
drove him from bis position, when VIC lay down to
take our first rest since O'Clock Of the preceding
morning.
At haIfpast six we renewed the conflict. The
two batteries made terrible havoc with the enemy.
The LIST brigadc, under Brig. Gen, Benton, was Dc.
ployed In the raynes and underbrnah on the tight,
ana navnnsed sallnsly to flank tue eaenAy, aud
take b1s guns. When they eugased him On til.
right, the second brigade engaged him on the left
The 18th division was advanced to their support,
ard M With rush the enemy was routed from hls
The 18th Indiana, Col Il. .. Washburn, had tho
distinguished honor Of capturing rcsimrntal tlay,
On y licll was inscribed the names or four battle
Bailey, and some Of the 9th ard iGth Iudiana, of
capturing two Of the cnemy's gnus. This succesa
wae the rts9ltof the splendid d=hting Of the whole
dsS;on Wh.rh provided ta the orpo:tunity
I'd brigade was very severely engaged on the ieft
Of our line for long time and behaved with dis
ths It. fn9sseqey 5sq took
The enemy, where two regiments the ,2Ist and asi
Iowa. remained till after dark.
Thy 1T brigade went 10 the relief Of Gen. Nc
Gi':nie, brigade, and the sth Indiana distinguish
en- itself by driving the ehemy from strong posi-
tion, and taking it for themselves.
Coming from Missouri. where you had endured
great hardship6 during the last winter, you were
honorcd By being placed at the head OF the graad
ar,nE Of the Mississippi, and you nave pfovcd
yourselves we'll worthy Of that houor
You have encountered and defeated the same
mei' against whom we have so long eontcniled in
Missouri and Arkansas, and you have added N.
other wreath TO those -you won at Blackwatrr,
nnnES i S,atGn FstsdrrGakton Pea Ridge
Arkansas, and am strc you will 60 on with your
glorious achievements, until the demon OF rebellion
shn!l be- destroyed and our land shall once more
rejoice in tic ssings OF peaec aril prosperity,
Willie wemoprn our fellow comraues, nc cailnot
forget that they have offered up their lives fof the
nohlest OF purposes-that of preserving to their
which shall give, in conjunction with tie largest
liberty to the Citizen the greatest security for bis
life and prosperity.
We lender our sympathies, and hope that time aud
the thoughts of what they sufreE for will sooth
their patu md sorrow.
The loss Of ths LET brigade wae: Killed. &c;
wounded, 49, Thnt Of tho I'd brigade was: Kill
cd Is; wounded. 70. Total in tho division, a63
This comprises only those placed hors du combat.
When all have do1e their duty, it Ia inridious to
make distinctions, but the conduct Of somc indi-
yiduals seems to merit special mention, even ut
have not been reported to me. Thcae shall receive
their due credit az soon AZ am informed Of their
IiriE Gen ". P. Benton distinguished himself
IN darirS, Eallantry aiti good management during
the whole battle. Indiana continues to BE- goEi.
col G. s. Harris. 1,sh WISCONSIN, though he had
BEEN Obliged 10 giro up the command OF his brig
nde on account Of illness, was on the field a11,l
Col. ". n. Stone, aad Iowa, who euccecaed tn
the command Of the I'd brigade, took his pl4cc
with tic extreme advance gua!d, at night. d,rins
nc adsanc. upon tue snen'y,exposcd himself free.
completely exhausted in the afternoon, and w,s
GannelEc1 to re!inaMish his commqnl TO to Col.
Samuel Meril, sst Iowa for aborr hour By
brigade he reflects new honor on Iis noble State.
Capt =: =: NarehaIl, a. 4. G. 1gt brigade, and
CAPT L. u WAitttvseJ: llth WiEconsln, a. 4. A.
whole battle. and exposed themselves freely,
The regiments and batteries ali atowcl great
gallantry: and their commanders good ma.agc-
"e.it: m Me-: iHe nst ~, ~ " loii9'ss:
III 1s,, 'in, in'iisus, n: = \ oas WasShnr Strnhk.
.,aI Iii;nn;s r. T. :r;n4s;.tt
~, I1,;nnis = = =; ~ ~ 'E1!Pl1n,nGG!tt' PlnnG'
fet 1nd3ana n.,t.rc III - =. "a. n"'t}.
1ith W;sc"ne;n I I, ;,nt TaEt, r., n1a"s' y w.,
t1et 1omc ri aa-,,n; Nh; NJ y; .. ood.
on" ~ tha i,st - ia ~ ~ TX, 1ntst ~ oattle ana
cortrs;nn f ~ Wv "e1o- L. received
q oo9 sSntnslon I rom fhcll.)
So io~a 1f;3U, WI 'osei'a - Ataer.ofc.
<,aIisrt cnI,,n.r1a tta =; HasEoW' t"ltn liz
Tot 1NtayA nn$$ ~. 7 TT
IL: IL lown ", batte!y' Sapt; II. L. Gr1ihths
js of thn ~ f. commanded the sklr
'a1sI ELL. ~ ~ 1 ~ PgIagaue' gg .,.,
oa naIehs rie GO 1sth indiana made
the nicht "A'niA tAe encii'eS lnes ons1aS
nnGp nas H. n ot1en WITH 1osr companies Of the
IN s hSedlnE him in check until the
aiI!vst y osLethau9 oisleloh.
Sapa ;, ;Gnarles, co =. ISL indiana, was the first
W ;nnt ~ 'I'E ap5n Ja. aac tstnes siI!t Eune. aI1
al ti ~ th.t E. sh AuJu!anI istn Indiana pass
eest ..Sr1Su ~ itottest u tue eAe1niee nfcEo
eoIsuust D,. aesi.uts .o rl1 ans,
t1'sa.G y 9.pos Noy!g eo ~ la1h !ndiana captur-
ee tne 9o!oi qta1er WITH aagt bearing inscriptions
VI onI natteslGa. MI,
~ :. -; Dtnstaole, s'tn 1liinois eetzed one
o. the enemies hoWitzczs, turned 1t and fired at
NM hie oWn % charges
Lieut.; col Duniap; a'st Iowa, commanded the
ssknmshefe, ann Ma1of y an Anda OF the same reg
ine9t, ~ commanoea tne supports ot the howttzcrs
IN re ao'anse q sgso 81 Inc, Inc "a nrasaae.
70. u, S1ff !oWa+ capt CFookc, received the first
hIe Of The reosl ptckets and returned great