The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-05-30

OUR SPECIAL DISPATCHES.
~>>S>>~~->~~-~~~~~->oo->~-
THE BATTLE OF CHAMPIONS HILL.
The Part It zen by She Thtrse NTH Army
Corps-rhe Battle Ended and ere vic-
tory Won-Union Loss 1900 Killed ma
Wounded-Rebel Loss Over 1000 Killed,
Wounded and Prtsoners-Defcat and
Decentralization or the Enemy-The
Pursuit. and Its Consequ~ nees-Deash
OF MaJor General TtIghman-Capsure
OF Rebel NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF Ed
wareis' sfation--Ex plosions, &c.
our SPECIAL ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
ra EDwARns' STATION. My Is, 1868.
Early on the morning tho day following tho occupa
ton Of the city OF Jackson was decided to evscuaie
tho position There wore several reasons which in
duccd General Grant to arvc ~ this dec,.
sion, prominent among which was the ddl
Guilty OF keeping intact his long line or commpnica-
ton and tho fear that General Johr known
to be hoverng in the region north Of Jackson with
estimated at from fifteen 70 twenty Thousand
attack his The force which we encountered ,uss
before we reached jackson, General Gregg had
divided, one portion going Canton tho north and
the other from Tho SOUTH Johnston Gregg combined
mi NJ prove altogether too formidable. IL there
decided TO =. turn 10 Clinton and move upon vcksburg
that the main column Of the enemy Edwards sta.
tion proposing 10 dispute passage and Tive MS battle
there Soon after daylight the column was In notion Gen.
AcPherson In advance. They reached Clinton noon,
and after an hours delay marched 70 their camping
grorrd, short distance from the village Of Bolton.
may DO OF interest TO describe the topography and
appearance OF the country through which tho route lay
Imagine region rugged and broken with succession Of
hills ard valleys. PERCEPTIONS steers and deep ravines
over and through which the road winds dense forests
with here and there cleared patches planted with cereals
swamp meadows and barks Of sterile yellow soil and
you viii have fair idea Of the country between Jackson
and folton There elements OF beauty about
II, and were not for the occasional white dwellings by
the roadside, empowered wreath Of evcrrreens and
Towering trees deserted and Abandoned by their
rirhul propretors, might nae Tho country unin.
habied and Ininhabitablc.
The programme o. the advance arranged by Gen
eral Grant and General McCsrnand as follows :Fxreme
left, General Smith, supported by General Blair on the
right OF General Smith General Userhaus by
General Carr General Hovey In the CENTRE with McPher
son on the extreme right, with Croker reserve In
this order the advance made. General McCernands
CORPS with the exception Of General Hoveys DIVISION
reaching tho son by way of the several roads leading
from Raym end TO Edwards Station.
On the evening Of tho 10Th General McCernand heard
that the enemy advancing from Ed.
wards Station to Raymond. and quickly placed
his troops In order OF battle TO repel the
anticipated attack Extensive rcconnoss revealed
the fact however that he merely feeling his position
and force, and tn attack expected day
At nno in the morning General Usterhaus took posses
sion Of Bolton taptnring rebel mail and several prs
oners. General McCscrnand placed his army In camp
early in the evening, and by daylight tho following day
each division occupied the ground selected and prepared
10 offer battle.
mo enemys FIRST demonstration was upon our extreme
left. which they attempted 10 This attempt was
most CALAMITY repused by General Smith, commanding
the left wing. Al O'Clock tho skirmshers wcrc
actively engagcd and the enemy sought tho Of
the forest our artillery Gro opened which continued
without ntermssion for two hours. At this time General
Rsnscms brigade @srchcd % the Geld, and took up
posito6 q reServo bSkind General Carr. -"
Now the battle ragged fsaruly along the entire ne The
evident intention Of the enemy being TO his forces
upon Hovcy tho centre Thcro the fight most
nest but General McPhessr brought hts forces into the
ned and alter four hours hard lighting the tide Of baltic
was turned and the enemy forced to retro
Dsapp Ined In his movements upon right, he turn
Cd his attention 10 the let OF Hovey's division, where
Colonel sack commanded brigade OF Indianians Mass
Ing his forces here be hurled them against the opposing
columns with irresistible impetuosy and forced them
fall back however, until at least quarter Of the
troops comprising tho brigade eithe- killed
wounded Taking new position, and receiving fresh 70
Inducements, our soldiers again attempted 70 stem the
tide this time with eminent success Tho enemy were
be1en back and compelled seek the OF the forest
In their Following up their advantage, without whit
ing orm the soldiers OF tho Western army fixed their
bayoncts and charged into the woods after them. The
enemy seized with uncontroilable panic, and
thought only Of escape. In this terrible charge
catau vod vritho
orally covered with tho dead and dying. The enemy
scattered In every direction and took through the fields to
reach the column moving 70 the west along the
vicksburg road Al three O'Clock In the afternoon the
battle and the victory
OF the part taken In this battle by McPhcrsons corps
you doubtless informed by your correspondent
psuyng that grand division Of the army and IL is only
necessary say that rendered the efficient and
satisfactory assistance. To belongs the credit OF win.
ming tho fight on the extreme right.
10 s impossible 10 arrive at any just estimate OF
losses this battle Of Champions Ill., The list swcs
fearully Those who are Ia position TO know say viii
reach fully three thousand killed and wounded In
the excitement Of pursuit and daily engagements with
the enemy no definite statements Can be obtained.
The cnemy's loss Is not Known Their dead upon tho
battle field largely In excess Of our own None but
the fatally wounded left behind. The citizens say
that two trains allied with wounded left Edwards station
for vchsburg tha evening Of the light large number
Of prisoners fell.nto hands1vcr thousand. From
the data At hand estimate the rebel loss 10 killed
wounded and prisoners At four thousand.
The battle ended the left speedily advanced upon
the vicksburs road driving the enemy rapidly before
thsm, and picking up they advanced large numbers Of
prisoners and guns.
On thu loft Of the road could largo squads o.
rebel soldiers and commands cut OF from the main
column, whom engaged at Intervals with artillery.
One OF these wnder the command Of Major General
Tigblman who was struck BY shell from battery
and Instantly killed whiIc In tho act OF sighting q
gun. This learned from prisoners subsequently
captured.
mus pursued the enemy until nearly dark, when
entered this little village just tho guard Of the
enemy leaving ~
when within rife range ~ the staton discovered On