The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-08-20
OPERATIONS AGAINST VICKsBURG.
GEN. GRANTS OFFICIAL REPORT.

GEN. GRANTS OFFICIAL. REPORT.
Report of the Operations of thc Army
of the Tennessee, from the day Ma
1or General U. 5. Grant Assumed
Immediate Commend OF the Expe-
dition Against Vicksburg 10 the
Surrender of that Place.
On the afternoon of the 18th, | pro-
ceeded as far west as Clinton, through
fh5fP u &fhIal IRlqsfafb sabpMSRahe 81 Segge9
division of McClernand's corps, which
had moved that day on the same road to
within one and-a-half mile Of Bolton
On reaching Clinton, at AS P. NJ, |
ordered McClernand to move his com
mand early the next morning toward
Edwards Depot, marching so as to feel
the enemy, if he encountered him, but
not to bring on general engagement
unless he was able to defeat him; and
also to order Blair to move with him.
At FIVE o'elock on the morning of the
10Th two men, employees on the jackson
and Vicksburg railroad, who had passed
through Pemberton's army the night be-
fore, were brought to my headquarters.
They stated PemDerton' force 10 consist
of about eighty regiments, with ten bat
teries of artillery, and that the whole
force was estimated by the enemy at
about twenty-five thousand men. From
them also learned the positions being
taken mp by the enemy, and his inten-
ton of attacking our rear. had deter
mined to leave one division of Sherman's
corps one day longer in Jackson, butthis
information determined me to bring his
entire command up at once, and | ac-
cordingly dispatched him, at $40 A. NJ,
to move with all possible speed until he
came up with the main force near Boil
ton. My dispatch reached him at 7:l0
A. NJ, and his advance division was in
motion in one hour from that time A
dispatch was sent to Blair at the same
time, to push forward his division in the
direction of Edwards Station with all
possible dispatch MeClernand was d.
rected to establish communication be-
tween Blair and Osterhaus, of his corps,
and keep it up, moving the former to the
support of the latter Mcpherson was
ordered forward, at 5:45 A. NJ, to Join
McClernand, and Lieut. Col Wilson, of
my staff, was sent forward to communi-
cate the information received, and with
verbal instructions to McClernand as to
arriving at the crossing of the Vicksburg
and Jackson railroad with the road from
RAYMOND to Bolton, | found McPher-
sons advance and his pioneer corps en-
gagGeqa age qaod in rthati lila hte9ssf 4he faF
cavalry of Osterhaus's division that had
zone into Bolton the night before. The
train of Hoveys division was at halt,
and blocked up the road from further ad-
vance on the Vicksburg road. l order
ed all Quartermasters and wagonmasters
to draw their teams to one side, and make
room for the passage of troops. Nc
Pherson was brought up by this road.
Passing to the front, | found Hovey
| division of the 18th army corps at halt,
with our skirmishers and the enemy s
nickets near each other Hovey was
bringing the troops into line, ready tol
battle. and could have brought on al
engagement n any moment The enemy
had taken up very strong position on &
narrow ridge, his left resting on helgh
where the road makes sharp turn tt
the left approaching Ficksburg IN!
top of the ridge and the precipitous hill
side to the left of the road are covered
by dense forest and underground. II
the right of the road the timber extend
a short distance down the bill, and the
opens into cultivated fields on a gentl
siope and into a valley extending for
considerable distance. On tbs road an
; into the wooded ravine and hill-sld
Hovev's di7ision was disposed for the a
. tack. McPherson's two divisicns-a
of his corps with him on the march frol
- MilKken's Bend (until Ransom brigad
arrived that day after the battle )-wel
thrown to the right of the road, properl
spepking, the enemys rear. But | woul
'' not hermit an attack to be commence
by our troops until l could hear fro
McClernand, who was advancing vii
II four divisions, two of them on a road
tsrse9ting the gsekson ks rgG5 geaa about Q!
scribed were placed, and about the ce
: ter of the enemy's line; the other two
visions on a road still north and near
the same distance Oft.
7 soon heard from McClernand throu
D members of his staff and my own who
7 had sent TO him early in the mornlr
and found that by the nearest practical
route of communication he was two
Y. half miles distant | sent several 81
cesgive messages to him to push forwa
with all rapidity. There had been c.
t;nuous firing between Hovey's skirmi
e ers and the rebel advance, which, by
,y o'clock, grew into battle. For SO
re;s time this division bore the brunt
the conflict; but finding the enemy
strong for them, at the instance OF 10
;. I directed first one and then sec'
brigade from Crocker's division to
= enforce him. All this time Logan s
vision was working upon the enen
,E left and rear, and weakened his fl
t here opposing US evidently far outn
bered ours. Expecting McClernond
noy ny mentarily, with four divisions, inclue
Is Of Blairs s. never felt doubt OF the
atcs suit He did not arrive, however,
1sits 5sft. the enemy had been driven from