The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-12
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENTS.
Interesting Letter from Vicks'
burg.
Journal of Operations from First
Of May. ...t....
A Glorious Record of Marches and
Battles.
THE FOURTH MINNESOTA EN-
GAGGED. 80,
FIRST BRIGADE SEVENTH DIVISION,
I'LL ApM1, CORpS Mau 10Th 1899

This being the first time l have had to
write you for some time, will improve
the same by giving brief account of our
campaign since we crossed the Mississip-
pi below Warrenton, which is probably
one of the most brilliant records of the war.
We crossed the Mississippi on the first of
of this month, crossing the whole division.
and marching out eight miles to assist the
troops that were fighting between US and
Port Gibson. The rebels were expecting
ten thousand reinforcements that night
from Grand Cult, and our division was
placed in position as soon as we arrived,
twelve O'Clock at night to meet them
should they come. They did not come up,
however, and we had no fighting.
In the fight the day before Netherlands
corps were engaged the battle was pref
hard one; our forces were victorious, kill
ing and wounding by far the greater num-
Der, capturing five cannon, and over
over thousand prisoners.
On May I'd, we arrived at Port Gibson
about 10 O'Clock. The rebels in their re-
treat had burnt the bridge across the Bay
on Pierre, therefore we were obliged to
build a new one, which we did in about
three hours-Qet me mention here that
our division will be known as Crocker's
division; Gen. Crocker having been in
command since we crossed the Mississippi
The advance was given to our (Crocker's)
division, and we were the first to cross the
new bridge about - miles cut from
Port Gibson, and within three miles Of
Black River crossing.
We met the enemy again, but drove
them after sharp skirmish with our
Brigade and two pieces of artillery. We
had,a handsome!artillery duel; some oftheir
shots, twelve FOUNDERS striking within six
feet of our party, who were on our horses,
Immediately behind our artillery watching
the effect of our shots; it was a short
range not more than thousand yards.
The enemy being driven, we went on to
the Black River crossing, (Hankerson's
Ferry where we kept up a continual Skin
mish through the night. In these Skin
mishes we lost but few men.
We remained at Hankerson'S Ferry un-
til the 18th, when we marched to Utica
Gross Roads. Left Utica Gross Roads on
the 10Th. Logan's division in the adj
vance, and marched to Raymond, fighting
a pretty hard battle. Logan engaged
them first, being in advance he sent
back for US to come up on the double
quick They were driving him when we
arrived. We formed our line of battle
under a severe fire Of shot and shell from
the enemy's batteries, and drove him with
but small loss to our division. Logan's
division lost from two to three hundred
killed and wounded-distance marched
fourteen miles.
May 13th-Marched with our division
in the advance to one mile east Of Clinton,
on the Jackson road; found Clinton full
of rebel wounded from the tight at Ray
mond Their loss was about the same as
ours. Met no enemy during the day
distance marched fourteen miles.
On the {4th, started out for Jackson,
our division in the advance; we knew we
were going to have work to do before
reaching jackson. We met the enemy
in force about three miles this side, form
ed our division into line with skirmishers
in front-the enemy opened OH us with
two batteries and his skirmishers. We
charged their whole line with ours and the
I'd brigade, and the most splendid charge
YOU ever saw Our (Sanborn's) brigade
had open ground and charged over ridge
into a ravine where the enemy's line were
sheltered. They broke in disorder and
we pushed them right up until Crocker's
division we're over their Entertainments.
We (Crocker's division) alone without any
help fought the battle and captured from
seventeen to twenty-five pieces of artillery.
Lieut.. Martin got permission from Gen.
Croker to take forward the colors, and
with Capt Cadill of Crocker's staff by his
side, with the colors of our brigade, went
into the town, and had the honor of rails.
ing the Union colors on the top of the
Capitol building of Mississippi.
Our loss was about three hundred klllet
and wounded. The rebel loss not so heav.
thew having the advantages of position
Distance marched eight miles.
May 15th-left Jackson early; bl
youacked for the night four miles west o
Clinton. Distance marched twelve miles
May Marched five miles and me
the enemy at Barker's creek. They wer'
in f1ll force, probably forty thousand, hav
ing come out from vicksburg to whip us
AZ II we went and had big and hare
fought battle-loss in our division is no
accurately known yet, but will number
abo ut seven or eight hundred killed
wounded and missing. Their loss il
greater than ours. Probably the whole
Federal loss iu this battle will amount te
three thousand killed and wounded, and
many a gallant fellow Of my acquaintance
went down in this glorious conflict.
Orr hr;oada suffered but little in thi!