The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-06-06
treme right, and half on the left. Smiths
division came rapidly up, and formed on

lery duel of an hour or SO, varied with some
sharp skirmishing, Gen. Carr's division,
with the portion Of Lees which was on the
right, made gallant charge upon weak
spot on the enemy's left, and took the
works. So suddenly and effectively was
this done, that the whole of Bowen's brig
ade was cut off and captured; while our
left, advancing at the same time, took two
regiments of rebels, who were trying to go
down the swamp and across the river, in
that direction. t
Every gun in the works was taken-in
all eighteen-and the number of prisoners
amounted to about 5000. The haste with
thing ludicrous. The moment our charge
began on the right, fifty white flags APP
peared behind the works, extemporized by
hosting punches of cotton on the end of
bayonets. Alas, that the regal fiber should
fulfill SO meek mission!
We Immediately advanced up to the cap
tured works, and, planting a section OF
the rebels who had got across the river, and
burned the bridge which took them over, as
well as set fire to the immense railroad
bridge and trestle-works.
The enemy left regiment of sharp
shooters on the west bank of the river to
annoy us and delay our crossing, but Gen.
Lee, with pioneer corps and company
Lemphier's 7th Michigan Battery. recon-
noitered the bank and commenced the con-
struction of a floating bridge. At9 o'clock
tomorrow it will be completed and we
shall move forward.
Meantime, Sherman's corps is crossing
on pontoons, above, and will go to Vicks-
burg by the upper road toward Haines'
Bluff, while McClernand and Mcpherson
will move on the jackson Rord.
Our losses in the battles of yesterday
were heavy-probably three hundred kill
ed, and the usual proportion wounded
Pemberton was in command of the rebel
forces. Major Tilghman was killed. In
the u! battle of to-day, our losses were but
sllght-our captures immodertaely large.
THREE MILES IN REAR OF VIcKsBURG,
May 20, 1S63.-On the 18th our army CROSS
ed the Big Black and marched on Vicks-
burg, Sherman coming in and taking pos
session of Haines Bluff, Mcpherson arriv-
ing on the Jackson road, and McClernand
advancing toward the close Of his march to
Baldwin's Ferry.
Yesterday morning Gen. Grant began to
"move upon the enemy's works"-a line
of redoubts extending from the rear of
Haines' Bluff to the Warrenton road, dis
lance OF eight or ten miles. The attack
was made with Sherman on the right, Nc
Pherson extending from his left to the
railroad, and McClernand from the rail-
troops moved up, but the action did not
commence till about noon, save an occa-
sional shot from our artillery, as it came
up in range.
On the left Gen. Osterhaus, having re-
covered from his confusion, took command
again of his division, Gen. Lee being as
signed to thecammandO of the 1st Brigade
After a slow fire from our artillery had
failed to elicit any reply from the rebel
works, our lines slowly advanced until at
every point they were in front hardly one
thousand yards from the redoubts. The
ground over which we crossed in this
movement was singularly rough, series
of hills and hollows, not high, but Steep
AS we neared the hostile redoubts we
found that they commanded every crest
and swept every ravine. Yet at 2 o'clock
general charge was ordered. I was on
the extreme left at the time, and had an
opportunity to observe the movements of
Lees brigade in the advance at that point.
Addressing few words of cheer to his
men, he placed himself in front of the CEN
ter of his brigade, and led instead of fol-
lowed them. Arriving on the crest of the
hill, he was greeted by perfect tempest of
shot and shell; and while thus CALAMITY
leading his men, he was struck in the face
by bullet, and fell, seriously, but, am
happy to say, not dangerously, wounded.
His brigade dropped behind the crest they
had attained, and held their ground there.
About the same successor want of sue
ccess-attended the charge along the whole
line.
We have, up to this time, advanced so
closely to the enemy's works that he can
not safely use his guns, and our heavier ar
tillery is being pushed up and planted in
such a way that | trust tomorrow will see
some good results. Communication is open
ed to the Yazoo by the way of Haines' Bluff,
and supplies now come to us from the up
per river.
AS write, the slow and sullen booming
of the gunboats, both above and below,
show that they too are joining in the fight.
The situation grows dramatic and solemn,
and the end is at hand.
In REAR OF VICKsBURG, May, 81, 1863.
The stronghold of the rebel power on the
Mississippi, is now completely invested by
the army of Genl Grant.
The fragments of the insurgent forces
which escaped from the victories of Port
Gibson, of Jackson, of Champion or Mid
way Hills, and of Big Black, have retired
within the small but strong circle of defen-
ses which surround the city at a distance
of about two miles from its heart. There
stubborn resistance is now being made, the
redoubts and rifle pits giving the rebels an
advantage in the way of safety, but none, I
think, in the way of moral strength. Pre-
sumptively the advantage is with the at
lacking party, and especially in this case,
where our army, since its bold move from
Young's point, by the way of Grand Gulf,
has been uniformly and brilliantly sue
cessful.
To-day our forces are busy from right to
Ieft, over the entire line, in creeping more
closely to the formidable works of the enc
my. At several points our sharpshooters
are so near the redoubts, and so well-shel-
tered by the remarkably rough ground, that
thew totally prevent the enemy from using
his guns. They are near enough, too, to
indulge in jocose conversation. with the
rebels in their rife-pits. AS to-day an lii
nois boy cries out:
'Hullo, there, secesh!'
"Hullo."
''Got any liquor in Vickburg?"
Plenty
"Well, we'll come in. tonight. and take
a horn"
At the same time our heavy artillery is
being..pushed up slowly in such way as to
bear very effectually on the enemy's works;
The ground is such that the hills occupied
by us are Just about as convenient and COM
manding as those occupied by them. What