The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-07-03
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Letter frOm Milliken's Bend.

The following plain statement of the
fight at Millikens Bend, Louisiana on the
9Th, isIwritten by an officer in the llth
Louisiana regiment, (colored) He was
formerly private in the Goth Indiana
and is from Posey county.
To the Editors Of the Evansville Journal;
Permit me to have this put in one OF
the columns of the Journal tits true
statement of our battle, fought at Mill
kens Bend, June 7th, 1868. We were
attacked on the morning of the It'll by
$500 Texas Rangers They were COM
manded by Henry McCullouch, broth
or of the notorious Gen McCollouch, that
was killed at Pea Ridge. Our forces
were commanded by Col Leib of the 9th
Louisiana. We had 125 men of the 23d
Iowa, there to help US but they only fired
two volleys when they had to retreat.
Our whole force did not exceed more
than 200, white and black, Our men
all fought we'll considering their practice
at drill. There were more than halt OF
the blacks that never shot gun before
this morning, The rebels massed their
forces and charged our breast works but
thew soon had to fall back with much loss.
Then they though they would flank US
but they were met by portion Of the
18th Louisiana and they had to fall back
under cover of the levee. Col Lieb and
all the officers that were in my sight did
all they could to rally our black men and
got them to do the best they knew how.
There were portion of the 1st Mississip.
nj and a portion of the 9th Louisiana,
had to take shelter under the river hank.
If the gun boats had not have been there
they would have been compelled to have
taken to the river. Our officers all did
their duty. They stood up and fought
with great courage and vigor. Lleuten-
ant Pirtler of company D, 18th Loulsl-
ana has the praise of killing the rebel
Col Allen. Our men suffered severely
from the gun boat before it could get the
range ofthe rebels. 1t killed four OF ouI
men at one shot, one of the shells fell
in our camp and exploded, killing 4 Of
our men. The battle commenced about
3o'elock A. NJ and lasted until IL A. NJ
when the ''rebs' took to their heels II
double quick time, not waiting to bury
their dead. Our loss is about 300 killed
wounded and missing. The rebels say
their loss was $40 killed add wounded
they left LOG of their dead on the field
that am certain of, because we haC
them to bury. Fifty of their wounded
were left to our mercy also.
They hoisted on our breast works theil
flag with skull bone and black coffin
which meant no quarter but they did no
let it stand long till it got down some
way Ican't tell how. Col Lieb was wound
ed,lMaj Cotton, 18th La. was wounded anC
afterwards died. Capt. Albeit, of CO. A
was wounded; Capt Blunder, of co B
killed; Lieut.. Crosby, of co. F, killed
Lieut. Conn, who was out on picket, wa
taken prisoner. These are the officer
killed, wounded and taken prisoner GU
of the 18th Louisiana. There was min
officers killed and wounded of the ct
Louisiana. Besides Col Leib, twenty
seven of the 23d Iowa were killed out c
l25 men, several of them wounded
Twenty-eight of the 10th Illinois cavalr
were taken prisoners out on picket, VIII
were paroled after they were taken
Richmond, Louisiana. The officers wer
taken to Delhigh, La, to wait their d.
cision. l can not give the gunboat an
great praise, for it killed about as man
of the 18th Louisiana regiment as it di
rebels. l do not know the name of ii
eunboat l know it was not very goo
to kill our own men and to fire the cotto
bales that we had put up for brea
works
This is about as true statement ;
/ can give you at present. +. NJ. Z.