The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-05-30

OUR SPECIAL DISPATCHES.
THE BATTLE OF CHAMPIONS HIll.
s~~>~~~~o~~~~~>~->~~~~~~~-
The Part Takem by She Thirseenth Army
Corps-rhe Battle Ended md tie vio-
tory Won-Union Loss 5000 Killed ina
Wounded-Rebel Loss Over 4 900 Killed,
Wounded and Prisoners-Defeat and
Decentralization or the Enemy-Thc
Pursuit and Its Consequ~ nccs-Deash
OF Mnyor General Ttighmnn-Capturc
OF Rebel Batscri~s-Occu patton OF Ed
warsis' sfation--Ex piOsioas, &c.
oUR SPECIAL ARMY CORRESPONDENTS.
EpwARns' STATION. May Is, 1865
Early on the morning Of tho day following tho occupa
ton Of the city Of jackson decided 10
tho position. There several whach in
dnccd General Grant TO avrivo ~ this deci
sion, prominent among which was tho din
Guilty OF keeping intact his long line Of commpnica-
tion and tho fear that General Johr known
10 be lowering In the region north Of Jackson with
estimated at from fifteen twenty thousand menwouId
attack hts rear. The force which encountered inst
before we reached Jackson urder General Gregg, had
divided one portion going to Canton the north and
the other from the south. Johnston aud Gregg combined
mi ht prove altogether too formidable. there
decided to turn to Clinton and upon vicksburg
From documents which feu into hands was learned
that the main column Of the enemy At Edwards STA
ton proposing 70 dispute passage and give battle
there Soon after daylight the column In notion Gen
Mcpherson In advance They reached Clinton at noon
and after hours DENY marched 70 their camping
grorrd. short distance from the village Of Bolton.
II may be OF interest 70 describe tho topography and
appearance Of the country through which tho NY
Imagine region rugged and broken, with succession Of
hills ard valleys. PERCEPTIONS sieeps and deep ravines
ar md Suhfrh thn a..
with here and there cleared patches planted cereals
swamp, meadows and banks Of sterile yellow soil and
ycu will have fair idea Of the country between Jackson
and roltop. There are no ecnients Of beauty about
II, and Il not for the occasional white dwellings by
the roadside, empowered In wreath OF evcrrreens and
towering trees deserted and abandoned by their
rirhul propretors, might imagine The country
habicd and uninhabitablc.
The programme o. tho advance was arranged by Gen.
eral Grant and General McCernand as folows .Exreme
eft General Smith, supported by General Blair; the
right Of General Smith General Uscrhaus supported by
General Carr; General Hovey In the centre with McPher
son on the extreme right, with Crocker reserve In
this order the advance made. General McCernands
corps, with the exception Of General Hoveys division
reaching the son by way 81 the several roads leading
from Raym end TO Edwards Station.
On the evening of tho 18th General McCernand heard
that the enemy were advancing from Ed
wards Station TO Raymond. and quickly placed
his troops In order OF battle 10 repel the
anticipated attack Extensive rcconnoiss revealed
the fact however that he merely feeling his position
and force, and IN attack noed be expected that day
Al nino in the morning General Usterhaus took posses
sion OF Bolton turing rebel mail and several pris-
Oners. General McCcrnand placed his army In camp
early in the evening and BY daygh. tho following day
each division aped the ground selected prepared
10 offer battle.
me enemy's FIRST demonstration upon extreme
left. which they attempted 10 This attempt
most calamity repused by General Smith, commanding
the left wing. Al O'Clock tho administers
actively engaged; and tho enemy sought tho Of
the forest artillery Ore opened which continued
without intermisson for two hours At this time General
Rsnss@'s brigade marched ~ she field, and took up
posisio6 q reScrvo bSknd General Carr 49,
Now the battle ragged sarfay along the entire line The
evident intention o. the enemy being to his forces
upon Hovcy tho centrc. Thcro the fight
nest but General AcPherssE brought his forces into the
ned alter four hours bard fighting the tie Of battle
was turned and the enemy forced 10 retro
Dsapp uted In his movements upon right, he turn
Cd his attention TO the left Of Hoveys DIVISION whore
Colonel Slack commanded brigade Of Indianians. Mass
ing his forces here hs hurled them against the opposing
columns with irresistible impeuosity and forced them 70
fall back however, until at least quarter Of the
troops comprising tho brigade eithe. killed
wounded. Taking position and receiving fresh 70
nforcemens soldiers again attempted 70 stem the
tide, this time with eminent success. The enemy
beaten back and compelled 70 seek the Of he forest
In their rear Following up their advantage without wait
ing rorm the soldiers Of tho Western army fixed their
bayonc,s and charged into the woods AFTER them. The
enemy were seized with an uncomfortable panic, and
thought only Of escape. In this terrible charge
were slaughtered without mercy. Tho ground IT.
orally covered with tho dead and dying. The enemy
scattered every direction and took through the fields
reach the column now moving TO the west along the
vcksburg road Al three O'Clock 10 the afternoon the
battle was over and the victory won.
OF the part taken In this battle by McPhcrson's corps
you doubtless informed by your correspondent
psnying that grand division Of the army and u is ouiy
necessary say that rendered the most efficient and
satisfactory assistance To belongs The credit Of
ming the fight on the extreme right.
Il 10 impossible TO arrive at any just estimate OF
losses in this battle Of Champions Hill. The list swels
fearfuliy Those who In position to know say will
reach fully three thousand killed and wounded In
the excitement Of pursuit and daily engagements with
the enemy definite statements be obtained.
The enemy's loss Is not Their dead upon tho
battle Gcld largely In Of None but
she fatally wounded left behind. The citizens say
that died with wounded LEFT Edwards station
for vcsburg thu evening Of tho light. large number
Of prisoners felinto hands-'ver thousand. From
the data at hand estimate the rebel loss in killed,
wounded and prisoners q, four thous<n1.
The battle ended tho ef, speedily advanced upon
the vicksburg road, driving the enemy rapidly before
thsm and picking up they advanced large numbers Of
prisoners and guns.
On thu loft Of the road could see largo squads Of
rebel soldiers and commands cut Oh from the main
column, whom we engaged At Intervals with artillery.
One Of these under tho command Of MAJOR General
Tigblman, who vas struck BY shell from battery
and instantly killed while In tho act OF sighting .
quo. THIS we learned from prisoners subsequently,
captured.
entered this little village JUS, tho guard Of the
ercmy was leaving ~
when within rnc range the staiIon we discovered on