The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-06-08
pokoNEL MBLLte, hEesfGeHT AT
CHA MRaoN 114LLU.
BATTLz FiEIp, CHlnrroE HfLLs,
May IL. 1853,

Editor Gate citg:
Ere this reaches you you viii have
heard Of the bold exploits, ths rapid
strokes and brilliant achievements Of
Gen. Graat in The rear Of vicksburg /; Of
the battles Of Port Gibson, Rsynosd and
Jackson, oil of which were glorious VIC
tories Of the Federal army. But. per-
hsps, the most desperate battle and bril-
liant victory Of the Western Army was
that fought and won on the 18th Of May
II Champion Hills. Of the general re.
suit Of this battle you have already
learned, bat to relieve the anxiety of
those who had friends in the engagement,
] hsstsu to vnts this article, and shall
report TO you only that which more i'm
medistsly interests you and your readers,
and that Is The part performed in the bat
tie BY our Brigade. (the Cd Of Crooksr's
Division, formerly Quimby's,) or more
especially our regiment, the l7th Iowa.
The battle Of Jackson was fought on the
18th, and on the following morning The
army moved up toxards Yickbnrg. Our
Brigade beng 10 the rear. bivouaced for
the night at Clinton, where Gen. Grant
had his headquarters, and We expected
to remain there for . day or tso, no one
having the least idea thai . battle would
be fought before We reached Black River
Bat in the morning cannon were heard in
the distance, and We were ordered tc
march Immediately. The fact was soor
discovered that The enemy had met nj
ten miles east Of Black River with oil hi,
Vieksburg forces. about forty thousand
in number. and having been driven bach
BY cur left, had masssd I'll his forces OF
the Jackson road and was making q des
persis attempt to cut his way through on,
(McPherson's) corps. Our Brigade hae
been SO terribly cut to pieces at Jackso,
that Il wss not the intention to put u
into the engagement, except in cas o
an emergency; but on approaching tb,
scene of conflict it was found that ou
men, overpowered by numbers. had beel
driven back, back, back. until the da,
vas nearly lost. Hssdrsds OF ssraggier
and worn out men were sscaping to tn
rear, all euquiring. "What Brigade i
that p "The Second OF Quimby's Divi
sion - we told them. "That the Brig
ads - "Tha.'s the Brigade! !" they I.
shouted. "Now wo are all right I
They'll give the rebels hell r. By th
way. this Brigade at this time consiste
o! but two regiments. the l7th Iowa i
the lead. followed by the gallant ol
Tenth Missouri, the 80th Ohio havin
been left behind to guard the train. o
arriving at place where the tu'ics b.
gan 70 whistle past US, We were mel b
Gen. Grant. His sorrow .ul look toid ,
|, plainly that the battle was going sad
against US. Said he, Brave boys. yo
T whipped them at Jackson, and am cor
pelled 10 call upon you to do it agai
This battle now depends upon you-w
. it, and I'll remember you !" "we'll ,
. itr' shouted the boys. aud altboue
much fatigued by forced march of
: miies through the burning sun, thu
s started of on the double-q uick, reach,
: the front of the battle where our seattle
4 ed forces were falling back before shove
Of bullets, when Col Hills command,
\ the regiment into line. The regime
/. came into line Of battle on the run, n
8 started forward with shout and q char,
Q SO impetuous that the rebels were imm
y dsately driven back TO high steep hi
where they checked us about TWEEN
minutes, during which time the 6ring
both sides was the most terrific I ev
heard; bat another desperate char
right up the steep hillside drove the
from their strong position on to the ne
hill, and from that they were driven
the next, aud then to the next, tin 6nal
9 completely routed, they ded precipiht'
I and our boys after them with the {
. colon waving and shouting At eve
jump, We took great portion Of /
slst Alabama prisoners. cuptured ID
: cnio5 md color bearer, and took {,
d pieces Of artillery. By shs time We
70 d'ivsn the enemy asost three. q aartsrs
3 aNmile. Eve or six Brigadier aud Ms
i Generals came riding up eagerly and
K cisedly, and grasping Col. Hills BY
hand, bestowed all manner Of encomiu
n upon him for the glorious work be !
7. = done with his gallant regiment. Colo
" Hills well deserved the praise that ,
- bestowed upon him, for he has pro,
. himsslf . brave officer and one Of
I'd finest commander IN the field. His I
~ lantry and the splendid manner 10 wh
be led his regiment through The fsal