The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1863-06-04


battle of Big Black River.
Especial Correspondence Of the Missouri Republican
EDWARDS STATION, Miss, !
May 10, 1868.
The gallant army Of Gen. Grant has
just won a glorious victory-a victory
which fully justiies the confidence
their commander seems to have felt
when he entered upon the daring cam.
paign to Vicksburg by the way of Grand
Gulf and Jackson.
Yesterday morning the position of our
army was briefly this: Part of Shcr-
mans corps occupied Jackson; the par
ticulars of the capture of that town you
have already learned. The larger part
of McPherson's corps lay at the same
place. Netherlands was two miles
south of Bolton, and sixteen miles west
OF Jackson, while Raymond's brigade
of McArthur's division, (MePherson's
corpse and Blairs division of Sher-
mans corps were approaching Ray.
mond, on their march from Grand Gulf.
The little town of Raymond lies eight
miles south of Bolton, and about TWEEN
ty miles southwest from jackson.
The enemy had mnssed his forces at
Edwards Station, nineteen miles east of
Vicksburg, on the railroad, with intent
to cut our long lines somewhere be-
tween Raymond and Bolton, and thus
at once deprive us Of supplies and beat
MS ir detail. But his designs were dis
covered and splendidIy defeated.
Yesterday morning, news came TO
Gen. McClernand that the enemy we're
advancing on him from the north west.
and in the manner just indicated, and
he Immediately ordered Gen. A. L. Ice,
who had that moment arrived and re.
ported for duty in the 18th Army Corps,
to reconnoiter the approach. With a
squad of cavalry, Gen. Lee gaIloped off
five or six miles toward Edwards Sta
ton, secured the country to to and fro,
discovered the cnemy's pickits in that
direction, and returned with map of
the ground over which tho battle was
next day to be fought.
In the meantime, Gen. McPherson's
command moved rapidly down from
Jac ksoD, and arrived toward nightrall
near Bolton, while Ransom's brigade
and Blair's division reached Raymond
Thus our widely extended front was
suddenly closed on tho centre, in such
a way as to be ready for either attack or
defence. At the same time, General
Sherman moved from Jackson, north of
the railroad, toward Edwards Station,
in such course as to keep within sun.
porting distance, aud to prevent the
rebel force under Joe Johnston, driven
northward out Of Jackson, from ma.
king junction with their friends at
Edwards Station.
At daylight, this morning, our move
ment toward Edwards Station began;
lIovey's division of McClernand's corps,
followed by Mcpherson on the right;
and advancing on the road from Bolton,
Osterhaus' division, followed by Gen.
Carr's on the center, and Smiths divis.
ion, with General Blair's as reserve
on the left, by the first road from Ray
nond to Edwards Station.
Tho battle opened, on the left, about
'ight o clock, with artillery directed on
smiths advance. Il seemed that the
'ebcls we're attempting to turn our left
md get in our rear, in the direction of
raymond. But Smith held his road
lrmly, and the enemy slowly retired
Thile We slowly advanced.
The enemy next massed his forces on
ur right center, where Hovey's divis-
on was coming up, and here the battle
egan to rage in deadly earnest. For
inc the result seemed doubtful, the
ebelS pressed on in the most dctormin.
d manner, while Hovey's brave boys
sturned their attack with the most per
stent valor For few monsnts we
ave back at that point, but Hovey, be. 8
'g reinforced by two brigades Of Crook
RS division, the enemy were driven,
nd the day went in our favor. A pOr
on of the rebel force began their re. .
eat by the Vicksburg road. McPher. .
'n swung around his right, aud out of
nd captured about 1900 prisO nsrs, and
battery of ten guns. Our left, Mo.
lernand's corps, Blair's division, and
brigade, now pressed forward,
nd the complete defeat and demOrali.
ltion of the enomy was sssuy.d Onr