Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-05-26
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati commcrclal.l
Battle of Bakers Creek.
CHAMPIoN HILL BATTLE-FiELD,
TwENTY-eIx MILES East OF VIcKsBURo,}
May l6, l663-9:30 P. M. J

CHAMPIoN HILL BATTLE-FiELD, J
TwENTY-eIx MILES East OF VIcKsBURd,}
May 16, l663-9;30 P. M. }
The Federal army under General Grant hat
won another glorious victory. A furious battle
lasting nearly Eve hours, has resulted in the
defeat OF the enemy at all points, with the los
of from 1000 TO 5000 killed and wounded
Three complete batteries of heavy rified can
non. besides several single pieces, and from
1900 to 5000 prisoners fell into our handa, and
an immense quantity OF small arms and camp
equipage. Our success ia signal and complete
Nothing mars the intense satisfaction of officers
and men but the heavy sacrifice OF life by which
it WAS achieved. Early this morning General
McClernand's corps was put in motion. Gen
eral Hovey's division wac on the main rold from
Jackson to Vicksburg, but the balance of the
corps was few miles to the southwsrd gu a
parallel road.
General McPherson's corps followed HoVey't
division closely. At nine O'Clock General
Hovey discovered the enemy in front on Cham.
pion Hill, 30 the left Of the road, near Baker'e
Creek, apparently in force. Skirmishers were
thrown out, and the division advanced cautiously
and slowly to give General McPbeWon's ad
vance division, under General Logan, time tt
come within supporting distance. Genera
Hovey's division advanced across an open field
at the foot of Champion Hill, In line OF battle
at ii O'Clock, and commenced the battle
The hill itself is covered with timber, and lie
10 fact, but al abrupt terminus OF high ridge
running north and south, haDked on both sdei
with deep ravines and gullies, in msry places
covered with an almost impenetrable groath o
scrubby white oak bushes. The rebels appear
cd deficient In artillery throughout the battle
but opened with rather heavy fire from q icuI
L ~ .iNad r. ,,la 4oI akn
four hundred yards back from the brow OF the
hill. The woods on both sides cl the road
leading up the hill and winding back on the ridge
a mile or more, was filed with shsFpshooters,
supported by infantry. Here the battle bsgan
In earnest, as our men entered the edge Of che
timber, aud ragged terribly from eleven O'Clock
till between three and four.
General A. P. Hovey's division carried the
heights IN gallant style, aud, making dash on
the first battery, captured the pieces. The llih
Indiana regiment claim the honor Of carrying
the battle. The rebels lay thick in tho vicinity
of the guns, and their horses were more than
half killed. Gun carriages and cAissOns broken
and overturned, while knspsackg, blankets
small arms, and other debris, Rttesed the strug.
gle for the ground. The oOlors OF the 3lst Al
ALBANIA regiment were captured there also, bat
failed to learn by whose handle.
At this juncture Mltchell's Ohio battery was
opened about eighty yards from the brow Of the
hills. The rebels made dash for IL, and Io;h-
ing but the feetness of its horses prevented its
capture. Capt. Mitchell was wounded, and ia
believed to have fallen into the enemy hands.
At this iuncture the rebels appeared TO receive
reinforcement of fresh troops on the evening,
and redoubled tbeir efforts to hold the position
and disodge our troops on the hill. Gen Hauey
WAS slowly driven back to the base OF the hill,
but brigade from Gen. Quimby wGs ordered
to his support and the ground was speedily
reoccupied by US, and the rebels fiaaliy re-
pulsed.
At the commencement of the engagement,
Gen. Logan's divisiOu marched past tno brow Of
the hill, aud forming Is line OF battle on the
right of Harvey, advanced In gallant style,
sw eping everything before them 10 the edgo OF
the woods. In front of Gen. Logan, the battle
was OF the most desperate character imaginable.
The rattle of musketry was incesssnt from the
first moment OF the engagement, and grea. in
O continuous and deadly roar, in which reports
were 80 blended that single discharge wat
rarely heard. Not mau ainobed or a single
line Wavered in this division so far as could
discover; behaved like veteranf, and moved to
new positions wi n the consciOus tread oi VIC
tory. Two batteries were captured by t1is di'
vision, and enough hard fighting dono to im-
mortalIze It. Besides this it captured large
portion OF the prisoners, small arms, eo