The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-08-22

Gibson. I deemed it a matter Of vast
importance that the highlands should be
reached without assistance. The 18th corps
followed as rapidly as it could be put across
the river.
PORT GiBsoN.-At 2 o'clock, on the LIST
of May, the advance of the enemy was
eight miles from Bruinsburg, on the road
to Port Gibson. He was forced to fall
back, but as il was dark, he was not pur-
sued far until daylight. Early on the
morning of the LIST, went out, accompa-
MED by members of my staff, and found
McClernand with his corps engaging the
enemy about four miles from Port Gibson.
At this point the roads branched in exactly
opposite directions, both, however, leading
TO Port Gibson. The enemy had taken po-
sition on both branches, thus dividing as
he fell back the pursuing forces. The ma
ture of the ground in that part of the coun-
try is such that very small force could
retard the progress OF much larger one
for many hours. The roads usually run
on narrow, elevated ridges, with deep and
impenetrable ravines on either side. On
the right were the divisions of Hovey,
Carr and Smith, and on the left the di-
vision of Osterhaus, of McClernand's
corps. The three former succeeded in dri
wing the enemy from position to position
back toward Port Gibson, steadily all day.
Osterhaus did not, however, move the
enemy from the position occupied by him
on our left until Logan's division of Nc
Pherson's corps arrived. McClernand, who
was with the right in person, sent repeated
messages to me before the arrival of Logan
to send Logan's and Quimby's divisions of
McPherson's corps to him.
l had been on that as well as all 9TH
er parts of the field, and could not see how
they could be used there to advantage
However, as soon as the advance of
McPherson's corps Uogan's division) ar
rived, | sent one brigade to McCler-
nand on the right, and sent one brigade,
Brigadier General J. E. Smith command
ing, to the left, to the assistance of Os-
terhaus.
GRAND GULF.-By the ijudicious DISPOSE
ton made of this brigade, under the i'm
mediate supervision of Mcpherson and
Logan, a position was soon obtained, CIV
ing us an advantage which soon drove the
enemy from that part of the field to make
no further stand south of Bayou Pierre
The enemy was here repulsed with heavy
loss in killed, wounded and prisoners
The repulse of the enemy on our left took
place late in the afternoon. He was pur-
sued to Port Gibson, but night closing in,
and the enemy making the appearance of
another stand, the troops slept upon their
arms until daylight. In the morning it
was found that the enemy had retreated
across Bayou PIERRE, on the Grand Gulf
road, and a brigade of Logan's division was
sent to divide his attention whilst float
ing bridge was being built across Bayou
Pierre, Immediately at Port Gibson. This
bridge was completed, eight miles marched
by McPherson's corps to the north fork of
Bayou Pierre, that stream bridged, and
the advadce of this corps commenced,
passing over it at 5 o'clock the following
morning. On the Sd the enemy was pur-
sued to Hawkinson's Ferry, with slight
skirmishlng all day, during which we took
quite number of prisoners, mostly stray
glers from the enemy. Finding that Grand
Gulf had been evacuated, and that the adj
vance of my forces was already fifteen
miles out from there, and on the road, too,
they would have to take to reach either
Vicksburg, Jackson, or any intermediate
point on the railroad between the two
places, I determined not to march them
back, but taking small escort of cavalry,
some fifteen or twenty men, l went to the
Gulf myself and made the necessary ar
engagements for changing my base Of sup
plies from Bruinsburg to Grand Gulf In
moving from Miliken's Bend, the 18th
army corps, Major General w. T. Sherman
commanding, was left to be the last to start.
To prevent heavy reinforcements going
from Vicksburg to the assistance of the
Grand Gulf forces, | directed Sherman to
make a demonstration on HaineS' Bluff,
and to make all the show possible. From
information since received from prisoners
captured, this ruse succeeded admirably
1t had been my intention, up to the time OF
crossing the Mississippi River, to collect all
my forces at Grand Gulf, and get on hand
good supply of provisions and ordnance
stores before moving, and in the meantime
to detach an army corps to cooperate with
Gen. Banks on Port Hudson and effect a
junction of our forces.
THE MARCH To JACKSON.-About this
time / received letter from Gen. Banks
giving his position west of the Mississippi
Rivar and Of n th at he cp1llI
Baton Rouge by the 10th of May; and that
by the reduction of Port Hudson he could
Join me with L., 900 men. l learned about
the same time that troops were expected al
Jackson from the Southern cities with Gen
Beauregard in command. To delay unit
the 10th of May, and for the reduction O.
Port Hudson after that, the accession o
1900 men would not leave me relatively
so strong "a to move promptly with Wha
L had. Information received from day t
day of the movements of the enemy alst
impelled me to the course pursued. Willis
lying ut HaW kinsons Ferry, waiting FOL
wagons, supplies. and Sherman's corps
which had come forward in the meantime
demonstrations were made, successfully
believe, to induce the enemy to think tina
route, and the one by Halls Ferry above
were objects or much soiicitude to me-
Reconnaissance were made to the ives
side OF the Big Black to within six mile:
of Warrenton.
On the 9TH Of May an advance was or
dered. McPherson's corps keeping the
road nearest Black River to Rocky Springs
Netherlands corps keeping the ridge roaC
from Willow Springs, and Sherman follow
ing with his corps divided on the two
roads. AL the ferries were closely guard
ed until our troops were well advanced
1t was my intention here to hug the Black
River as closely as possible with McCler
nand's and Sherman's corps, and get then
to the railroad at some place between Ed
wards Station and Bolton. Mcpherson
was to move by way of Utica to Raymond
and from there into Jackson, destroying
the railroad, telegraph, public stores, &c.
and push west to rejoin the main force
Orders were given to Mcpherson accord
ingly. Sherman was moved forward or
the Edwards Station road, crossing Four
teen Mile Creek at Dillon's plantation
McClernand was moved across the same
creek, further west, sending one division
of his corps by the Baldwin's Ferry roae
as far as the river, At the crossing of thu