The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-05-30

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city, which, it would seem, must sur
render. with its 10000 men and 3O'
remaining cannon.
Admiral Porter rendered assistance
and reports as follows:
Gas soon as the capture Of Haine :
Bluff was known to mo. l directed tb,
gun-boats from below to open FIRE o,
the hill batteries, which was kept VI
for two or three hours.
At Atmid-night they moved up to town
opened on it for an hour, ,and continued
at intervals during the night. to annoy
.he garrison.
On the 10Th l placed six mortars il
position, with orders to fire nigh, ant
day upon the works on Hains's Bluff
which are most formidable. Their deat
covered many acres of ground in tn.
forti6cation, extending about mile and
a half. The rebels were year in con.
structing them, but ell were rendered
useless in an hour. Their gun carriages
we're burned. magazines blown up, and
the works generally destroyed.
The rebels had ammunition enough
there to last long siege.
The following is description Of the
battle of Bakers Creek:
Gen. Hovey's division advanced
across an open field at the foot oi
Champion Hill. in line of battle. A,
4 o'clock the battle commenced. The
hill itself is covered with timber, and
is in fact but an abrupt terminus of the
high ridge running north and so::..aa
fianked on both sides with deep ravines
and! g:!.s;s g:!.s;s. and in many places cover
ed with an almos, impenetrable growth
OF scrubby white oak bushes.
The rebels appeared TO be deficient
in artillery throughout. the battle, but
opened with rather heavy fire from
four gun batteries, rifled 6 Founders,
planted about 400 yards back from the
brow of the hill. The woods on boil
sides of the road leading up the face
of the LiIl. and winding back on the
ridge mile or more. were filled with
sharp shooters. supported by infantry
Here the battle began in earnest MS
our men entered the edge of the timber,
and ragged terribly from IL O'clock ill
between 8 and 4. Hovey's division
carried the heights in gallant, style, and
captured the pieces. The rebels lay
thick in the vicinity of their guns
Their horses were more than half kill
ed. Gun carriages and caissons were
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sacks, blankets. small arms and Other
debris a.!ested the deadly struggle for
the ground. The colors of the 3lsi
Alabama were captured there. Al
this Junciure the rebels appeared to be
reinforced with fresh troops. on ,ha,
VIM. and redoublei thei, efforts to hold
the position and dlslo1se our troops on
the hill. liovey was slowly driven
back to the brow. but brigade from
Gen. Quimby was ordered TO his sup
poit and the ground speedily reoccu pied
by US.
Logan's division marchei past the
brow of The hill, forming in line Of bat
tie on the right of Hovsy. and advanc-
ed in grand style. sweeping everything
before them. At the edge Of the
woods. in front of Logan The battle
was Of tie most desperate character
imaginable. The rattle of musketry
was incessant from the first moment Of
the engagement, and b!ent in con!inu.
Gus and deadly roar, in which the re-
ports so blended that single discharge
was rarely heard. Not man f,inched
or line wavered in this division. All
behaved like veterans, aud moved to
new positions with the conscious tread
OF victory. Two batteries were capiur-
ed by this division. and enough hard
fighting done to immortalize it, be i.les
this. I. captured large number of
prisoners. small arms. DC.
Between 3 and 4 O'Clock. Gems. Oster
haus and McArthur's divisions came
into action on the extreme LETT. anil
c"nn'e'sd .@:: :. lad been 50 auspicous.
ly carried forward. They were both
miles away when tie engagement, be.
gan. but were brough, forward with all
the dispatch possible. The enemy
were IN fUi' retreat soon after, and their
divisions pursued them ill 8 O'Clock,
and are now encamped at Edwards
Station, eight miles beyond the battle
ground.
IL is too early yet to do more than
our loss. l think it will
be about 200 killed aud wounded: it |
may prove less. 1t cannot be much
more. But few officers Of distinction
we're injured. |
The 24,h Indiana regiment lost 100
i-en. Lieut.. Col. Swan. commanding
was killed. No, Gsneral or staff of.
icer on our side is hurt.
This has been the hotties, and most
brilliant fight in the southwest for sew
.ral months.
Well authenticated cases of rebel
'atbarllies to our wounded meu can be
No less than three differ.
mt men who were shot down IN bat,le
o,day were subsequently sabred by the
eoels' when they temporarily re,look
ne ground, The men lived to narrare
he a'roclty. but will scarcely recover.