The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-08-19

son corps 10 ntIn 4
mad been on that as we'll as all other
parts of the field, and could not see now
they could be used there to a"Vantage'
However, as soon as the advance OF NC
Phersou's corps (Logans diVlsaen) ar
rived, sent one brigade, brig zen D.
r Smith commanding, to the lett to the
assistance of Osterhaus.
Nv the iudicious disposition made of
This brigade. under the immediate super
y;s;on Of Mcpherson and Logan, posi-
ton was soon obtained giving US an ad-
vantage which soon drove the enemy |
from that part of the held, to make no
further stand south of Bayou Pierre.
The enemy was here repulsed with a
heavy loss in killed, wounded and pris-
oners. The repulse of the enemy on our
left took place late in the afternoon. he
was pursued toward Port Gibson, but
night closing in, and the enemy making
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
divert his attention while floating
bridge was being built across Bayou
Pierre, Immediately at Port Gibson.
This bridge was completed, eight miles
marched bv MePherson's corps to the
north FORK OF bayou Terre anu tsuVoS'
bridged, and the advance of this corps
commenced passing over it at o clock
the following morning.
On the Sd, the enemy was pursued to
Hawkinson's Ferry, with slight skirmsh-
ing all day, during which we took quite
a number of prisoners, mostly stragglers
from the enemy.
Finding that Grand Gulf had been
evacuated, and that the advance OF my
forces was already fifteen miles ont from
there, and on the road, too, they would
have to take to reach either Vlcssburg,
Jackson or any intermediate point on
the railroad between the two places,
determined not to march them back, but,
taking a small escort OF cavalry, some
fifteen or twenty men, went to the Gulf
myself, and made the necessary arrange
nents for changing my base OF supplies
from Bruinsburgh to Grand Gulf
In moving from Milhken's Bend, the
18th army corps, Major General W. T..
Sherman commanding, was left to be the
last to start. To prevent heavy rein
forcements going from Vicksburg to the
assistance of the Grand Gulf fort, | d.
recI6Q sherman 10 MAKE d ucmOHeti a
ton on Haines' Bluff, and to make all
= the sho1o possible. From information
since received from prisoners captured
this ruSe succeeded admirably.
1t had been my intention, up to the
collect all my forces at Grand Gulf, anC
get on hand good supply OF provisions
and ordnance stores before moving, anC
Al dot
to cooperate with Gen. Banks on Por
Hudson and effect a junction, Of GU
forces.
About this time received letter from
Gen. Banks giving his position west Q
the Mississippi river, and saying that h,
could return to Baton Rouge by the lOtl
of May; that by the reduction of Por
Hudson he could join me with 1900
troops were expected at Jackson fror
the southern cities, with General Beat
regard in command. To delay until tn
10th of May, and for the reduction of p
Hudson AFTER that, the accession of II
600 men would not leave me relatively S
strong as to move promptly with what
had. Information received from day
day of the movements of the enemy ais
impelled me to the course pursued
While lying at Hawkinson's Ferry wal
ing for wagons, supplies, and Sherman
corps, which had come forward in tn
meantime, demonstrations were made
successfully | believe, to induce the emf
my to think that route and the one b
dalPs Ferry above were objects of muc
solicitude to me. Reconnaissance wer
made to the west side of the Big Blac
to within six miles of Warrenton. o
the 9TH of May an advance was ordered
McPherson's corps keeping the road neal
est Black River, to Rocky Springs NJ
Clernand's corps keeping the ridge roa
from Willow Springs, and Sherman 70
lowing with his corps divided on the tw
roads. All the ferries were closel
guarded until our troops were well az
vanced. 1t was my intention here
hug the Black river as closely as poss
BILE with Netherlands and Sherman
corps, and get them to the railroad,
some place between Edwards Static
and Bolton. Mcpherson was to move
way of Utica to Raymond, and froi
thence into Jackson, destroying the raj
road, telegraph, public stores, &C., an
pvsh west to rejoin the main force o
ders were given to Mcpherson accorC
ingly. Sherman was moved forward O
the Edwards Station Road, erossin
f0urteen Mile Greek at Dillon plant;
ton; McClernand was moved across tn
same creek, further west, sending or
division of his corps by the Baldwin
Ferry road as far as the river At til
crossing of Fourteen Nile Creek bot
McClernand and Sherman had consic
cradle skirmishing with the enemy to ge
possession of the crossing.
Mcpherson met the enemy near RAJ
mond two brigades strong under Greg
and Walker, on the same day engage
i'm, after several hours hard fghtin
drove him with great loss in killed
wounded and prisoners. Many threw
down their arms and deserted.
Ny position at the time was with She
mans corps, some seven miles west {
Raymond, and about the center of th
army
On the fight of the 18th of May, afte
orders had been given for the corps
McClernand and Sherman to march Il
ward the railroad hv ma ra llaI roade-tb