The New York herald., 1863-08-13


Auburn while hcAr.nuv, With sns r,p,d, a. hts d,vi
sion o. AePnersopjs corps vss moving towards Ray
mond on she Jsta read Il Was moi the nlrntion 10
esition where hey woAla be 10 SUPP rsins a.a CO
Ne rsssaancs - Jackssp shousd prove obstinate
nm 1ns "sss snsss Dss"SS s rs,ses . expect ~ -. -
% the Cfstn road and engaged Ncrherson's
csFrs abons two and . half miles from the city.
n N front of ShermAn the same distance out BY
Adesormn&A advance or skirmshers these
soon arven within their ride pits jnss outside The city
IL waa impossible 10 ascertain the strength OF the
enemy AT this part of the line in time justi nme
dAsS assault Consequently hcfherson's divisions
without further aid than the moral support given them
by the knowledge the enemy had Of force he south
sas , o. the cry and lew infantry and arery o. The
sherman soon discovered the weakness Of the enemy
oy sending resonnoitring. party 70 his right
which also had the effect Of causing the enemy 70
retreat from this part Of his line. few OF the
artilerists, however, remained 10 their. pfices.
firing upon Sherman's troops until the last moment
evidently instructed TO do so, with the expectation OF
being capture cd in the end. On entering the city II
found tnat the main bodyo OF the enemy had retreaed
north, after heavy engagement OF than hours
with Me- hersons corps, IN which he badly beaten.
He was pursued until near night but without further
During that evening lerrned that General Johnston
as soon no he had satisfied himself that jackson TO
be attacked, had ordered Pemberton peremptorily 10
march out from the direction OF vicksburg and at
tack our rear. Awaiting myself Of this informa
tion, Immediately issued orders 70 scClernanA and
Blair, OF Sherman's corps, 70 lace their troops to-
wards Bolton. with a vies to reaching Edwards sta
tou, marching different rodds converging Bolton.
These troops were admirably located for such move.
Mcpherson ordered acc his steps early
morning OF the 18th on the Clinton road Sherman
ieft m Jackson to destroy the railroads. bridges aco
support OF the enemy. This was accomplished in the
most efiectual manner.
Clinton through which place McPhersons corps passd TO
within supporting distance Of Hoveys division Of Mct1er-
nand's corps, which had moved that day the same
road to within one ana halt mile OF Bolton On reach
IN Clinton, at quarter to five p. M, ordered
McClerpand TO move his command early the next
morning towards Edwards Dept, marching 80 as TO
feel the enemy II he encountered him but not to
bring on general engagement unless he confident
he was able to defeat him. and also to order Blair TO
move with HIM.
About 1--WE O'Clock on the morning Of the 10th two
men employees tho jackson and vicksburg Railroad,
who had passed through Pembertons army night be-
fore, were brought TO my headquarters They stated
Pembertons force TO consist Of about eighty regiments
with ten batteries OF artillery and that the whole force
estimated by the enemy at about twenty five thou
sand From them also learned the positions being
taken up by the enemy and his intention Of attacking
rear had determined 20 leave one division Sher
mans corps day longer Jackson but this information
determined me TO bring his entire command up at once,
and accordingly despatched him at $50 A. TO move
with all possible speed until he came with the main
force Bolton My despatch reached him at 710A. NJ,
and bis advance division in motion n hour from
that time despatch sent to Blair at the time,
to push forward his division the direction Of Edwards
station with all possible despatch heClernand was d.
rected TO establish communication between Blair and
Osterhaus OF his corps and keep up moving
70 the support OF the latter ordered for
ward, at 5A5 A. M 70 join McCernand, and Lieutenant
Colonel Wilson, Of my staff, sent forward to
communicate the information received, and with
verbal instructions 70 McClernand to the dis
position Of his forces. At early hour I left for
the advance, and on arriving at the crossing OF the
mond to Bolton, found Mcphersons advance and his
ioneer corps engaged in rebuilding bridge on the for
o,erhaas division that had zone INTO Bolton tSe nsbt
before. The train OF Hoveys division was at halt,
and blocked up the road from further advance the
vciksburg road. I ordered all quartermasters and
gonmasers to draw their teams one side and make
room for the passage Of troops. Mcpherson
% found y HOyeys Y division T Or the Ihnseensir H i,
army corps at halt with skirmishe
and the enemy's pckets near each other. H
vey bwas bringing his troops into line, really
for battle and could have brought on an engagement az
any moment. The enemy had taken up very strsng
where the road makes sharp turn the left approach
ing vcksbug. The top Of the ridge and the prectptous
forest and undersrowh. To tho rrt Of the read the
timber extends short distance down the Mil, and
then opens into cultivated fields gentle slope and
into valley extending for considerable distance. On
the road and into the wooded ravine and hillside oyeys
division disposed for the attack. McPherson's
divsions--a Of his corps with him the march from
Mkens Bend (until nnsom's brigade arrived that day
after the batis)-were thrown the right OF the road
properly speaking to the enemy's rear But !, would
troops until could hear from McClernand, who
advancing with four divisions, two Of them on road
incrsecng the jackson road about milo from where
troops above described placed and about the
centre Of the enemys ne the other two divisions
road still north and nearly the same distance on
soon heard from McCernand through members OF his
staff and my own whom had sent to him early In the
OF communication ne was two and half miles distant
sent several messages TO him to push forward
with all rapidity. There had been continuous 1rng
between Hoveys skrmishers and the rebel adj
vance, which by eleven O'Clock grew into battle.
For some time this division bore the brunt Of
the conflict but finding the enemy strong for them
at the instance OF Hovey directed first one
second brigade from Crockers division to reinforce him.
All this time Iogan's division was working upon the
enemy left and rear and weakened his front attack
most wonder uy. The troops here opposing evidently
FAR outnumbered ours. Expecting McClernand momenta
rly with four divisions including Blar's felt
doubt Of the result. He did not arrive, however, until
the enemy had been driven from the field, after terri
bic contest Of hours with heavy loss OF killed. wound
ed and prisoners, and number OF pieces OF artillery II
was found afterwards that the Vicksburg road after fol
lowing the ridge in a soutberly direction for about
one mile and to where II interseced OF the Ray
mond roads, turns almost TO the west down the hill
and across the valley in which Logan was ope
rating the OF the enemy. Une brigade Of
Logbn's division had, unconscious OF this import.
ant fact, penetrated nearly to this road and COM
PEELED the enemy 70 retreat to prevent capture Az
was much OF his artillery and Ioring's division OF his
army was cut oil besides the prisoners captured On
the call Of Hovcy for more rcnorcemens Just before the
rout OF the enemy commenced, ordered McFherson TO
move what troops he could by left flank around to the
enemys front. Logan rode up this lime and old me
that II Hovey could make another dash at the enemy he
could come up from where he then and capture the
greater part OF their force Immediately rode forward
and FOUND the troops that had been gaany engaged
for so many hours Withdrawn from their advanced
position aud were nllng their cartridge boxes.
directed them 10 use all despatch and push forward rs
soon as ossbie. explaining TO them the position &c
Logan division Proceeding stil further forward. OK
pecing every moment to see the enemy, and reaching
what had been us line found he VAS retreaing Ar
irving al tic haynono read saw 10 my left and on the
next ridge column Of troops which proved % be Carrs
division and M.clcrnaad with 4 in persons and 70 The
left Of Carr psterhaus' division soon ailerwsrdl ap
peared with Ia skifmshers well In advance. |
sent word 70 o,crhaus 'hH the enemy was Ia foil
retreat aud 20 pnsh up wn ai haste The situation
explained after which ordered Carr pursue with
all speed 10 Black river ana II he could and 70
0serhaus o. follow. smo o Mrpherson.s troors had
already got into The nsd arce hut having marched
aud engaged The enemy an day taey tat gied and
gave the rnaa 10 Carr who cntiugcd no pursuit until
after DIRK capturing train II cars loaded With commis
aary and ordnauce stores and other property.
lhc delay n the advance Og the troaps Immediately
with Mctlefuand was causel. no doubt, by the cneny
presenting front Of artillery and infantry where Il
imposs bio, from the nature Ut ound and tue ep
sy ~ the forest to discover his numbers AZ IL
the battle OF Champions Hi. or 1akgts creek,
fought mainly by Hovcya division OF Mce nnnds corps
- nnI abNfa