New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-06-05

awful summit gaze down ct something within, then
spring forward and disappear. Ia it victory Ia
the stronghold wont Or do they enter there as
those who cross the Bridge Of Signs never to re-
turni Now others scale the works to be met by
shots from within, and sink to the earth, or reel
backward into the trenches. Merciful God
How hard it is to see brave men, fighting in ga
cred cause fall like cattle with support, no res
cue, by the hand Of foe they cannot reach They
cling desperately to the side of the breastworks
who are living, who are dead, no one knows. Some
buuow with hand and foot and bsyonet into the
embaukment. Some stark and motionless. Along
the hher side Of The ravine, and partially screened
from nusketry our soldiers are crorchiug and lying
and returning the fire from the rfepits as beet they
cam An officer can be seen by the aid Of the
field glass moving back ward and forward among the
men, with drawn sword, yainIy attempting to get
them up the fort to the support Of their contradict
Here aud there they rn,b forward across the exposed
surface, Que or two at a time. But The danger IL
too appalling to be faced by the brave fellows
that stormed the works at Black River.
At last a regimental flag and the stars and stripes
are advanced and planted upon the edge Of the para
pet. Tie dear old flag burns far in the van, Ike
beacon OF distress We endeavor TO cheer, bit a
heart sickness comes over us and chokes the utter
suce. What we want ale strong reinforce
ments on that one point A diyision Of men thrown
forward upon the corner Of yonder basion might
insure us Vicisburg After few moments which
seem an age, Landrums brigade or portion Of it
comes forward to position equdistant from the re-
doubt with that occupied by the main portion Of
Laelers brigade, and can be got no further
While Landrnm 10 moving up il 10 plain that the
enemy is ma,siDg his force against us. Men can
be seen rushing along behind the rifle pits toward
the main works, both above and below. Ii is
evident that an attack must be made elsewhere by
way Of diversion. Accordingly Gen. McClernand
orders Benton and Burbridge TO put forward and
engage the enemy ut once on the night. The
constant inquiry il now what news from the right
What news from Sherman and Mcpherson Every
Orderly and horseman Of any description lie
catechised. Bat the information is indefinite and
unsatisfactory. McPherson's corps was close to the
enemys work. Oar flag was planted on the Rebel
parapets at various places. But no forts were
taken. Rumors came to that effect but proved to
he without foundation. i. was evident that the
attack was everywhere being made, not with
heavy columns, but with fororn hopes. The fire
OF the enemy was too concentrated and murderous,
the diiches too deep and the moles too high to be
overcome.
Thus h. day wore along; day Of gallant fight
ing against hopeless natural obstacles.
,hall not attempt TO enter into u minute deicrip-
ton o. tie ss.sG in other parts Of The field, for the
simple reason that did not sec it. From = state
mcni Of facts obtained from others am satisfied
that the nature Of the ffouies 10 be surrounded,
and the gaan,ry Of the soldiers, were very mucn
tue ZANE along the entire line.
sTEELEs's DIVISION.
which occupied the extreme night, since The ISM,
had been constantly pressing forwad without any
de,peree f.,Lting, but with constant and very hot
diminishing and eanuoiading. The nature Of 20
ground q hs front, which was exceedingly .roken
by bluffs snd .svnes made his progress recessarily
slow. In many place. the roads Wee 20 steep a, TO
be mpas,be to artillery or lolded wagons.
Fortuna ely, however, the enemy found hs lines
too much extended to the north, and fell buck for a
distance Of near. thrte.qusrtep OF mile, giving
mp defenses which could only have been carried
with terrible 10 "A OF life. The assault in that d.
vision did no, tfke place until about clock in the
afternoon Of Friday. The day until that hour wac
employed w. msssing aud concentrating the forees.
Con. Manv,rs brigade was held in reserve. Gen.
Thay.rs brigade attempted TO storm the works, the
9th and Alb Iowa in front, the 3Oth and 3ith fol-
lowing. The 9tt lost very heavily report says Ga
killed and l2J wounded. The lofs Ii probably over
estimated 1hal Of The 30th il said 10 be near 100
/ in all. Col. Abbott of the Both wac killed. also
Major -. Gen. Tbayer behaved with bis usual
gallaniry and in the course OF the action received
shot on the sheath Of his sword which might other
wise have caused dangerous wound.
Col. Woods Brigade was also engaged. His old
regiment, the 10Th Ohio, was left behind in charge
of prisoners The l2lh Missouri lost very heavily
4 commissioned officers killed, wounded; 70 pri-
Yates killed, ~ wounded. The Adjutant of the iIi
Iowa brought of the regimental colors. Gen.
Steele himself was barely srazed on the ankle with
fragment Of shell no AZ TO be stunned for the time
but was not seriously hurt 1t is impossible to est-
mate the casualties in Steeles Division. There were
22i in The hospital the day after the engagement,
beside which We must reckon the killed and por-
ton Of the wounded of which report had been
made.
Next Oh the left of Stees Division was that OF
! GIN. BLAIR.
In the grand assault OF Friday, plan wac adopted
which | believe is somewhat novel, at leass in
America. Ten men were chosen from each regi
ment to the number Of about 49, TO head the charge
as sort Of forlorn hope. They got to the edge OF
the parspot, but as elsewhere, no further.
Gen. Blair himself. am told by one of his staff,
advanced, hat and sword in hand, trying in vain to
moyo them further. The loss Of Blairs division IN
this action was not SO heavy AZ that of Tuesday,
although it suffered severely. Trogden, soldier Of