The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-05-14
By LAST NIGHTS MAIL.
THE MOVEMENT UPON VICKSBURG.
From the Missouri Domocrat. I


By a gentleman just arrived from the
scene of General Grants operations, we
have the following interesting, and, in
many particulars, highly satisfactory in
telligence:
On Thursday, 3lst ult, at o'clock
a. M, Admiral Porter began the bonn
bardment upon the enemy's works at
Grand Gulf His force consisted of the
five gunboats-Tuscumbia, Lafayette,
Louisville, Cincinnati and Benton--the
latter the flag ship The action con-
tinued for FIVE hours.
Admiral Porter in person commanded
on the Benton The scene is described
as magnificent one; the gunboats NOV
ing in a circle for the attack upon the
enemys works, discharging their bow
guns as they advanced, giving them
broadside as they were passing, and fir
ing their stern guns as they retired. The
boats advanced to within about fifty
yards Of the enemy batteries. By noon
all the guns of the rebels, except three,
were silenced. The works were defend
ed by brigade in command of General
John S. Bowen, of Camp jackson noto-
riety, many of his command being we'll
known characters from this city. The
enemy fought gallantly, but were we'll
protected behind classmates from our shot
and shell, which were showered upon
them.
The Benton was pierced in thirteen
places-once through the pilot-house;
her boat cranes were swept away, eight
of her men were killed and some fifteen
wounded In the whole fleet, only about
twenty were killed, and TWENTY-FIVE were
wounded-the casualties on the Benton
much exceeding those on any of the re-
manning vessels. The Tuscumbia was
temporarily disabled, in consequence of
a shot cutting her hog-chain; she then
hoated below, out of range of the bat
teries, near the Louisiana shore. By
this time she is thoroughly repaired, and
prepared for action. OF the other boats
two escaped injury, the third being
slightly damaged.
On board the little tug Rumsey, witt
Messing the attack were Major General
Grant, Adjutant General Thomas, U. S.
A, General Grants staff, Governor
Richard Yates, of Illinois, and his staff.
The tug was frequently in range of the
enemys guns On Thursday night Gen
eral Grant concluded to run the trans
ports-seyen in number-below The bat
terles, under cover Of the gunboats.
At dusk the gunboats dropped down
and renewed the attack upon the bat
teries, while the transports passed down
in safety. They were loaded with horses
only Five horses were killed on the
steamer Cheeseman, and the hull of the
Forest Queen was penetrated above the
water line, no other injury being sustain
ed on the transports. The boats moved
three miles below Grand Gulf At IL
O. clock p. m. the gunboats moved below
the batteries, the entire feet, gunboats
and transports, moving towards Rodney,
and anchored at Broughton's landing,
ten miles below Grand Gulf In the
meantime the troops had been passing
down to that point, on the Louisiana
| shore. The transports at once began
ferrying them to the Mississippi shore,
under cover of the gunboats, all of which
was effected without any opposition.
General Netherlands army corps pass
ed over first, moved enthusiastically
eight miles, towards Port Gibson, and
| took possession of range of hills about
| ten miles distant from that place The
main body followed in the same direc-
! ton.
At 2 O'Clock Saturday morning the
enemy advanced from Port Gibson in
force, and opened fire upon McClernand
with artillery. Our forces pressed for
sition with little trouble and moved slow
ly and cautiously on Port Gibson, which
the rebels abandoned, leaving in our
hands a battery and number of prison.
ers. When within three miles of Port
| Gibson severe engagement occurred,
the enemy having planted several bat
| teries at this point While McClernand
was moving on Port Gibson, Mcpherson
was advancing on Grand Gulf, within
eight miles of which he met Bowen's
rebel brigade strongly posted.
After a brief period of skirmishng,
General John a. Smith brigade charged
| the rebels, capturing three hundred pris
Oners, together with two batteries, killing
the rebel General Tracy and large
number of other officers. Gen Bowen's
horse was shot under him. The enemy
| fed to the swamps in great disorder, and
crossed bayou Pierres, swiftly pursued
by our gallant troop.
At four clock, Saturday afternoon,
our troops moved to the bayou, Gen. Lo-
gans division taking the advance, Skin
mishing with the enemy who had erect
ed breastworks, behind which they had
placed their remaining batteries Mean
WHILE the rebels were moving off their
trains laden with troops and stores from
Grand Cult. McClernands and por-
ton Of McPherson's corps proceeded
eight or nine miles above, where they
constructed a bridge over the bayou, en-
abling our troops to cross before morn
ing. On Sunday the enemy's works at
Grand Gulf were occupied by our forces,