The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-05-29
From the Eighth.

In letter to his parents, dated at "Rocsy
Springs Miss, May 9TH Jos. T. Dempsey,
gives the following interesting details from the
capturing of Grand Gulf to the battle Of Mag
nolia Hills:
We came from Millkin's Bend and landed
opposite Grand Gulf After lying there al out
two hours, the gunboats dropped down the NV
err and commenced the attack on the fortlhca-
tons Of the rebels after fighting about four
hours the gunboats drew off and came up the
river to the landing. Several were killed and
wounded on the gunboats, and great number
of the rebels were killed We went to another
landing one mile further down the river, where
we embarked on the steamboats,, dropped down
the river about six miles landed on the Missls
sissippi side and went into camp where we had
not been over an hour when orders came for our
company to get ready to move in few minu es-
Three companies including ours. had beer de-
tailed as skirmishers out of the brgade-ours
in the advance. We went about nine miles and
camped till dark. then struck out again-- the
second brigade in advance. Having marched
until II o'clock at night we came upon the rebel
pickets when slight skirmish ensued and then
our batteries opened on .hem-the rebel bate
ries replying vigorously. This was kept up
about two hours and half. Just as the bate
ries opened our regiment was ordered TO douhle
quick which was done in good style. just as
we crossed their line Of fire, one of our boys
was struck with piece of she'll, wounding hun
severely in the arm We laid down near a strip
OF woods until morning, and thea our company
with the other skirmishers were ordered to ad-
vance. We were deployed in line of skirmish-
ers and CONNER reed firing on the eEemy's sharp
shooters. The rebels kept retreatipg until they
came to their main force. We were in deep
gully, when our regiment came up and were
ordered TO fire. which they did in good style as
or r,rcy rrred INTO the midst aof
cEI -her- Il
Of fire. Being under the enemy's fire and our
own too, we thought it was too much for us 10
stand so we rallied on the battalion; then our
regiment poured it into the rebels heavy fer ten
minutes when tbey- ceaSSdndf riow1tzers The
11lh Ind. supported the 18th when the battery
was taken-the rebels Tetreating in disorder
Our regiment advanced in line Of battle 10 the
top of the hill AID then marched by the right
flank for about half mile and halted for a while
The rebels came bacT but were met by our men
and held for about one hour. They then chang
ed their line of hattie and came down on the 9th
Wisconsin, but got cut up pretty badly. Our
regiment was ordered to their support The
rebels were on the top of the hill whilst we
were in the hollow. and our Colonel seeing that
the men were getting cut up co considerably, or
dered the regiment to fix bayonets and charge
up the hill; this was quickly done and the reb-
els wore dslodged from their hiding place; but
they gave all we wanted from another hill
opposite. We then poured in cross fire and
soon dislodged them making them retreat for
good. We marched up the hill and gave three
cheers for Gen. McClcrnand and three for the
victory"
Our company lest seven wounded and one
killed--the largest loss in the regiment. See
Gen Bentons report in another coumn-Ed
Capt. Kinney, was accidentally shot in the same
foot he was wounded in before, previous to our
crossing the river
We also read letter received by Mr. Pagan
from his son, who is a member Of the tn. Civ
ing similar account of the battle After the
battle was over, he says he lay down on the
battle field and went to sleep and when he
awoke he found he had been Lying between two
dead soldiers, one Of whom had his head taken
of by cannon balll' Young Pagan estimates
our loss at Magnolia, at 1900 killed and woun
ded and the rebel loss at 1000 killed and wouu-
ded