New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-19


men OF military experience and tried courage and
inspired tue enthusiasm OF the army.
THE SITUATION.
| The scene of action was about ten miles from
Bruinsburg, tb, point Of debarkation, and seven
miles nearly sottt. east from Grand Gnlf. II waa
consequently flank, or rather rear, attack upon
the latter point, and compelled the enemy either to
meet us IN the open field or abandon one Of the
strongest holds GU the Mississippi. 1t was there
fore determined TO push forward by forced marches
on this route, and II possible get possession Of the
orldge over the Bayou Pierre at Port Gibson before
tne enemy reached there.
Iot he east and north Of Mr.. Skaters house is an
open liable land, quarter Of a mile ia width, faDked
N All DIRECTIONS by heavy timber-on the east by
ceep ravine la this forest the movements of the
enemy eould be completely concealed while our
own would Tor the most part be at once revealed.
AS 10 tle strenBh OF the enemy, we had no mean6
Oh KNOWING dehblteiy, except through one prisoner
VINO thOu8bC tuht mere ere three brigades-Tras
eye Brigade from Vicksburz, Bowen's from Grand
! Gulf, and another whose name he did rot know
and which turned oct to DO that OF Gen. Greene of
Missouri. As 10 bis position, We had reason TO sure
pose that there was heavy force TO the south.
Near Skaters houSe, the road turns at right angles,
anu extends for quarter Of mile la a soulherly
direction. At that distance from the plantation
house. and Immediately on the west side Of the road
ia a small fame building, bali church. baf hhool-
house and presume, intrlaslcsy, II not IRON the
accident OF its posltioD, rs important as tue amouI
had been chrstened At vail have TO remain nusang,
and the name by which the battle field will descend
TO posterity, Will probably be that OF Clear
lills," or Magnolia Knob But thR is digres.
siOD Beyond tue church and on the opposite side u
the road were a couple OF sheds, which mention
merely rs andmarkus; to the left Of these sheds,
the battery of the enemy had been planted on ths
previous night. But ssde from this fact the enemy
bad given evidence OF his being there In forcel
Gen. Benton however, rode over early IN the morn
q. -. :. md nd
was there still The was evidence satisfactory that
there be a considerable body of infantry there
10 SIT port IT, IL may be remarked here that IN this
Engagement es elsewhere, the enemy eAhlOted re-
marketable tkIl IN the conCeaiment Of his nnHberG
rbe most careful scrutiny Of tie surrounding hills
could reveal nothing
OsrERHAUss DIVISION.
st 6 O'Clock Gen. NcClernand determined to take
the initiative. therefore Gen. Osterhaus was ordered
70 advance bis column aud push il out 10 the north.
ward aud on our LETT. So LampheEas's battery Of
four 3neb Rodmah cannon wac brought to tie top
Of the fufhesr nOrthery ridge looking into the tim,
ber the 7.h Kentucky aud 18th Indiana being
thrown out a. skirnishers. Previously TO tbis, ~
special order from headquarters, MAYOR Potter wltl
four comuAnes q the 33d ILLINOIS were dispatched
IN he same direction, AM on a sluilar mission. Ihia
was independent Of Gen. Osterhaus, and without ms
knowledge.
THE BuL OPENS.
At about half.qast SIX, Lampbere's battery began
10 gODQ earnest, anu eOOh tug
enemy, who replied with his ten-pound Naroleon
guns, with interest. The shells Of tie latter were
thrown with remarkable accuracy, generally burst,
z aiu0s, over our gus, or hustiing through tho
cotton gin close by. THIS artillery practceI soon DO
came not ouiy exciting but uGeomior!aoiy warm
for our canbODieIs, aud the Infantry imuediateiy
behind Gen. Os'erhaus, therefore, ordered the
batteies to advance hundred yards, ana The infan-
Try TO move OH by the flank to Tie right, so that the
enemy were thrown out OF their calculations, and
the sielIs passed harm,ssly beyond the gnhs'
GEN ChgR's DIVISION.
Meantime, Gen. Carrs force, when, by virtue o.
he rank nsd the right, occupied tie open space 70
tle sout; Beutou's brigade the right; Col. liar
li,'s brisuce on the lsh-;he whole line stretching
soross q p Pat Gibson road n southwest ny di-
rcotiou. klAuss let lpoaanc battery was also got
in p0s.tcn; two pieces nesr tie angle q tie road;
two more TO the east o. tie road; sti Two others
an eighth OF a nile further TO ile easl, and all GEAR
ing uIcu tho naked rotei battery beyond tue Two
shcds before menti Oued.
IN tho course Of 20 minutes from tue time when
Gen Osterhaus first moved forward, tie caDnonad,
iug bad become general, aud tbe spuLter Of the
ekrmisbiug bad increased almost 10 vOlleys.
One fact was BY ibis tiu.e revealed, OF the last
significance in reference 20 the general result. The
epeuly was or bot1 Hanks. We had proof almost
postive that our force, either IN the tird or within
supporting distance, greatly ouinumbered Ihat 40
present within reach Oi the enemy. lie bad possibly
five br gades or a sum total OF 10 OUU. We had three
DIVISIONS s eady on the field and auolher within q
few hours march. The Rebels Lad committed our
own mistake ,as the result showed AZ Wilson's
Creek, and tie mistake which hes go ot,en proved
80 isld 10 an attacking force. lie hed dIYded his
army and was menacng Us VIII TWO weak todles OF
soldery, separated By an interval oi mile, and
liable AZ any moment 10 be isolated and whipped in
detail. When THE fact became apparent breathed
more freely, feeling that the day was ours DeyOn
peradventure. The enemy had but ore, certainty
rot more than three Ports, with winch TO con-
vey Lis troops from Nl,hsburg by the Buck hiVer.
From railroad Communication with tLat town the
uurch Womb be long ana tedious. requiring at tne
leas: calculation two day.. II was llghly lmRfoDaoie
tl.at he force al Grand Gulf could originally have
eNceoded ,OO0 ana BOwens Brigade was, accord
ing 10 tie statement Of Prsoners already here. FUR
theruOre tie eueuy could Lot have anticipated lnas
our troops would lasd al Blulnsburg, ~ ni'es oeioW
q and Gulf iusleld oi IL miles below, nj Rooney
On tie contrary, Il. was, as we nave leari ca, sup-
rosea hat the laudns would I've effected either In.
n.diotely below the iOrtiicaton or tat Rodney aud
that verlaps come other pOat would be menaeed'
By o'clock the battle was raging furiOusly IN
bota quarters. The Rebels appeared de'ei nined 20
force lie lighting. The oanLonHdlng was mol heaVy,
but ehArp and savage. On the night matters Net,o
already reaching criss. Brnton's brigade bad adv
yanced cautiously but steadily clear beyond me
church and upon the flank OF tue enemy eue 90 %
Judlara on tue extreme right then tie Jod and 9:h
Iliuoi, and lastly the 18Th Indiana, two companies
OF which were 10 the east Of the road. Originally
the brigade hld marched ooiiqueiy W tue ROAD, DuS
with tho xcepton Of these Two companes VI ing
18th Indiana, had swung around on the ehuien as
rivot and moved on the euemy's hauk Al nearly
The anne time. Col. Hsrriss brigade, commanded BY
Col. stone l23d Iowa. and consisting Of the 2lst, I'D
aud 23l Iowa and the llth Wisconsin, had advanced
ON ,be cast of tire Port Gibson road, and nearly az
right angles to the final position OF Bentoas force,
through deep ravDe, aud were fighting desperate.
Iv From an eninenoe to the east OF the house the
Rebel force could DO plainly seen charging a. tull
run through an opening in the timber, and shouting
Ike devils. IL was Beals DUN reenscted;
Al cncs there rose s Wild yell,