Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-05-06
S]aiiIg gppeal.
MORNING EDITION.
JACKSON, MISS.
OLD TYPE HIETAL.

OLD TVPE HIETAL.
A few hundred pounds Of old type metal can
be had By spplica,ion at the APPEAL Office.
TmE BATrLE OF RAY0U PIRRRR.
someihing Of the particulars of the affair near
Port Gibson, that occurred on Fridsy last, have
reached Is after perlinAciOus inquiries made in
every direction to ascertain the result, snd we
regret our report camel, in truth, be so favor
able as have been those Of other operations in
this department
There is no doubt bat that the Federal forces
landed at Brsiasburg, bsI0w tsIe mouth Of BAY
on Pierre were mush larger than had bsen re-
portsd; that they excelled Gen. BowEs's com
msnd st least Eve 70 one, is not doubted. The
few prisoners taken from the ensmy-only some
eight oT tsn--estimats the force engaged ct
10000, and claim that the reserve on the river
bank was equslly as great. To oppose these,
Gen. BOwEE had in the fight two brigades-
With such dispsrity in numbers, Of course a
Cosfedsrats victory was next to an impOssi-
bil;ty.
General BOWEE's object in leaving his posi-
sOn a: Grand Gulf, on the South side Of the
Big Black, and crossing Bayou Pierre, was, we
presume, to hold the enemy in check, and pre-
vent their advance into the country and upon
Per. Gibson, Entil TsinfoTcements then known
90 b on the wsy could arrive. The movements
Of the FsdeEals, however, were rapidly made,
and in great loree. The forces met about mid
night Thursday night, some two or three miles
from Pert Gibson, and the fight ragged almost
uninleTupsedly until toward evening on Friday,
when General BOWEN gave the order to fan
bsck across Bayou Pisrre, which movement was
effected, and the bridges behind the retreating
forces destroyed OF course, this step involved |
the loss Of Port Gibson, which was occupied by |
the Fs5ersls the same night Such of our sick /
and wouadsd ia the hospitals IS were able to
walk had timely warning, and crossed the /
bridges before they were fred. The remainder
fell into ths hands Of the enemy, who, we are
iuformed. found extensive hospital arrangements
ready prepared.
On Saturday the enemy continued to advance,
in such num5ars thst ]. was deemed best to re-
lire across the Big Black. Saturday night the
works 81 Grand Galf were abandoned, sfteT dis
mounting and destroying the guns, and on Sun
day the amy crossed she Big Ba-~ at Haakin-
sons Ferry, where IL was met by reinforce
msuts strong enough to msks further retrest IN
necessary, and prevent passage being effected
By the enemy. This we believe IS the present
posstson Of cur foTc1s on the Big Black, and as
any further advance Of the enemy sgainst
vicks5urg viii be contested by grestly increased
forces derived from no matter where, and aided
by al the artificial dsfenses that science csn add
70 naturally strong position, delsy of active
hcsGltiss mast enEae tilzt viii enable our gen
erals 20 make sucA further arrangements as may
be required.
We have made every effort 20 obtain sons in
tslligencs Of tie loss on both sides, but have
been unable to do 80. Yesterday morning moth
ing more vas known at Vicksburg than here.
Both armies suffered severely. The general es-
fimaiss Of the army Sunday noon were that our
less was one thousand killed, wounded and
prisoners, that Of the enemy about four thou
sand. Oar killed and severely wounded were
left upon the fed. On Saturday the enemy re-
fused to allow party sent out under flag of
truce to bury the dead, to cross their lines for
that purpose, saying that their own details were
attending to that duty, and that the wounded
we're cared for They secured some hundreds
Of prisoners, most Of whom were sick CT dis
sbled
The engagement was long and bloody one,
snd gsllsnty did our boys for hours repel the
hor5ss concentrated against them. Whatever
Of advantage the enemy gained was dearly
bought Il was only when cur little band was
worn out by fatigue, and their ammunition ex- I
hsustsd, that they fell back, which was done in I
comparatively good ordar, and the army saved
TO win honoTs elsewhere, which they are now
prepared to DO whenever the enemy see ft to /
advanes toward the stronghold at Vieksburg. '
On suudsy morning, bridge having been {
thrown across Bsyou Pierre, Federal cavalry {
force crossed, and gave some little annoyance
70 the rear Of cur column moving across Big t
Back. Nothing serious, however, occurred, ss
the enemy generally kept at a respectful dis- c
tance. s
As we look upon it, the position at Grand /
Gulf was only Of strategic importance so long q
As the Big Black was navigsble. The defsnsss, Q
such as they were, were only constructed after I
the enemy had succss5sd in getting some Of his S
csaft between Port Hudson and Ylcks5urg; and '
when it was spprehended they might possibly
get transports through the canal. At that time
the Black was nAvigsble as high up as the rail
road bridge, and % obstruct the passage of
force to the rear Of Vicl1sburg By thst route the
Place was occupied. The river has now fallen, :
and division Of our forces for holding Grand il
Gulf Is 10 longer necessary. Its abandonment
will enable our generals 70 concentrate their
strength whenever necessary t3 repel the invad- 8
ers Whether the latter will advance against B
Y Vielzsburg, or attempt to move inlsud to some
point where they imagine communication can {
be cut Of, remains 70 be seen. Military opiu- {
ions diFsr as 10 what may be reasonably eI- d
psct.d. bat wsfchful cyes are upon them. Our Z
opinion is. a great bsttle viii yet be fought in 6
open fed, UPON which the fate Of Yicksburg r
may, 10 sous extent depend. When is does 8
occur We shall entertain no fears az 10 the
result
tgusunItfe. 80 sac EEud-sn Battery.
We a.e indebted to Surgeon q P. Weaver,
fJr TIE following list Of casualties in the Hud-
Bon Battery;
GRAND GULF, Mss, Nay 2, 1863.
EDToEs APPEALi Hudsyn Battery wsa en- !
gagged yesterday aud the night before a. Bathel
chRrcb. near Port Gibson. The following is a