, 1863-06-16
FROM eRAkT'S ARMY.
Eighteenth Day in Rear Of
Ticksburg.
The Battle at Big Black Bridge.

7 II + .
The Battle at Big Black Bridge.
Ga1lantry Of the 23d Iowa Tol-
unteers.
From Our Special Core spondent.l
Ii REAn or V1cKsBuno, june 5, 1868.
On the Sd inst. the rebels had q spasm Of
activity, and opened on US somewhat yigor-
ously along the line with heavy and light
artillery. Eone express the opinion that it
Was done, expecting the cooperation Of
Johnston in the rear at that time. Be this as
it may, Johnston did not "come to time"
Before he assists in raising the siege Of Vicks-
burg, he may stumble upon some fortilca-
tions between this point and jackson, that
will upset his cacnlations. It seems more
probable that the attack was made in return
for the constant annoyance they are compell-
cd 10 receive from our investing line, and
from the gun and mortar boats in front. It
required about onc-half hour for our artillery
and sharpshooters to silence their guns.
They su1lcn1y subsided, firing an occasional
/ shot Us they could find opportunity. In this
brief time We destroyed one heavy piece aud
dismounted another, and materially damaged
their works. To my mind this siege has fully
demonstrated the superiority Of our forces
In the accuracy Of firing both artillery and
email arms. Pemberton's dispatch to Rich
mond says: "They nre constantly picking of
our officers and men," This is doubtless
true, while on the other side It Is different.
We have very few, comparatively, killed OF
wounded. The enemy has the advantage Of
us. His artillery is mounted in strong forts,
md the men arc in rife pits constructed with
much care and labor. and all protected bF
cotton bales and sand bags. Our artillery Is
only protected by temporary carthworks, and
the rife pits arc necessarily imperfect from
being hastily constructed under fire Of the
enemy. Each day, or rather night, perfects
them; forts are making their appearance
along the line; heavy Co1umbiads are being
] mounted in position rile pits that were only
few days ago dug in detached portions, are
now extended and will soon form a continu'
Gus line, aud rehlforcements that were need
| ed TO strengthen and perfect the Investing
force, have arrived. 4 1ew days more will
find The Union army In strong defensive po-
! cd would be reduced probably one half if the
! Government would hang i few rillainous ord
| nance contractors. Much Of ONT artillery
ammunition is defective and esplodcs prema-
| turely. The artillery is Obliged to fire over
| tie river in The trenches, and one man wound
i INV. frtuhf.tt- T.
! zation in the command, than three killed bS
| the enemy. That the range and execution Of
our artillery is effective, IL proved BY the ad~
missions Of rebel officers.
Under flag Of truce few days ago, officers
| and pTiyates from both arnlsss met aud talked
| tauiliarly for few moments. They remarked
| that cur ARTILLERY firing was very superior And
| pointed out battery {1Gth Ohio, formerly
commanded By Captain Mitchell. killed At
Champion Hills, and now colitnasded by
Lieutenant Aurdock,) as rarely making wild
shot.
Two dcsenerE came into ourlines last night.
They report great difficulty in getting AWAY,
and only those who are put OH duty Us out
posts can succeed. They say that three lines
I are kept constantly on duty to prevent deser'
lions. The rebels are on one fourth rations
and very hungry, and the naen want to sur
render, but their officers say they cau hold
| cut until relieved By Johnston
| Once. for al, allow me 10 say That do moi
endorse the dcclarattons Of deserters, girs
them US they are given, for the benefit u all
and your readers can accept or reject the =
| as they choose. Some state facts-some uakt
enormous statements from ignorauce-somt
ualiclcnsly misrepresent fucts, while other
sav many things to p1eaee tie tacts" Their
can be no doubt that very many would be glat
to get into our lines, and intend to impToy'
the first opportunity. They sea the hand
writing on the wall, md they would rathe
come voluntatially tlan be "gobb1cd up'' l.,
ANONYMOUSLY. Ier contra give The following II
show tue spirit that 1Dilnate4 the two armies
It Col Graham, Of the Ed Iowa aud . fl Y
Of his men as the consequence of their hcrot
bravery were taken prisoners on the day o
our assault. They were thrown into the jai
with large number OF Texans who refused Il
6ght us. The same night shell from ou
mortar boats entered the Roof, presse
through partition, ,exploded.on the lower floo
and demolished things generally. Col: Gr1
han, " as paroled few days ago, and it wa
suggested to him {by Gen Petabertoa, 1t
Laid, to cali on Adtairal Porter and say t
him That he onght not to 1lse on the jill b.
cause some OF the Federals nrc there Co
!: Grsham concluded 10 consult the men in ii
first. After stating-the f4cts to them thr:
said, "Tell Admiral Porter to blow tue jail t
the d-l, we'll dodge the balls, AMI take cai
Of ourselves
One ofour men. a prisoner, Was asked ho'
many men We Aa1 hcre, aid replied, 'Abot
::C0, ,CC0-jukt come out OF your. foltidc.l1iot
md We will gohhla. you all In fifteen nit
Lies" Can any one doub; the result when on
,rn,, is Weary If their cause and despoutlem
E ,t1,t the othtr brave, hopeful and buoyant:
The rtut.hcr If reintotcemeuts nov arri
: i, decides the probability Of Johnston t:{t
able to interfere with the siege Of Vicks5nr;
PARTRIDGE.
YoCSc's POINT, Lower Lsuding, L.,
G June 2, 1853.
: Editors Chicago Tribune:
;. The campaign which opened in the State
d | Mississippi with the b4ttIe near Port Gioso
y on tile 1st day Of May. will form brillla'
chapter in the history OF this war, and 81.
unfadipg glory upon Northern arms. Tt
character of the fighting, the rapidity Of Il
marches, aud the patient endurance Of OF
) soldiers, lave hardly ever BEEN equallc,l-ce
: taiply not surpassed. Every regiment inGr
army has established new clafms to glory at
| the gratitude Of the patriotic Of the uniol
!, but It has been the fortune OF some regimen
j. | to dtEtinguieh themselves more than other
and pcform deeds Of yalor which find no pa
aliel in The history Of the bcasted chivalry
: J.ast ages. These regiments have paid dear
!, for their regulations. The country has rcap'
T profitable harvest OF victory from their 81
e rious actions. and they are clearly entitled
Il the credit Of their achievements. It Is on
r" through the press Of the country that tusti
C can be done the soldiers who run extraort
; nary risk to win decisive victories, and no
n through your journal, I wish to have publ
o Justice done gallant Western regiment,
OF all the battles fought IN the rear
s Vicksburg, that OF Big Black River Railro
a Bridge was the most gallant on the part
II tue Federals, and the most disastrous to t
o rebels. The rebels were very strongly for
= f1ed-had cntrenchmcnts extending aron'
u the Gust end Of the bridge, across the bc1
e of the river. They Ind seventeen pieces
le artillery planted In their works, and q ve
g. strong force Of infantry, safely posted bch
:, two lines Of b1eastworks- Round the ent'
ID outer line was deep, wide ditch Of Watt
filled with brush and logs SO arranged d
?, render it, in the opinion Of the rebels, i
pastible. To move OH these works ffotn q
point promising Success at all, terrible Gro
+ fire must tbecucouptetcd. nfrout of the wor
re a nan could not show hts head without
coming the target of a hundred shnrpshoote
!. Now, This rebel stronghold must be taken.
l. was found, after sufficient trial, to be utte'
: impossible to drive the rebels out BY artitle
f,r n,usketry firing. Wecou1d not hurt the
- Tie bayonet alone could rout them. by /
bayonet they were driven and scattered Il
ehlep: The charge was made By thes3d 1o1
O. or cight companies Of 1t. two companies
ot ing at the time deploJed Us selrtnlshe
=" =" This regiment moved through brush
IL cane braIes along the banks Of tue river un
IN | they were within seventy five yards OF Il Il
MT filed with rebel eharpshooters. II
life nit nm usa1ly at right angles with I
st u main works, Its left resting on the ri,
na 1 near where it takes turn to the soul
i; 4 small clump Of timber s2Rarat i
he this rifle pit from the mafn works. The u
tail frrtv1 nj Is