Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-06-16
FROM 5TH!Jz Y F;>@5t[7

{shI0 nlFeT, Sixty lnilos aDlV5 Ilcl1;ll~ti> &'t|
Sixty miles northwest from Lexington.
Our latest iutormaiioc sTonl Ylcksburg Is 30
the 10Th, when matters we're unchanged. -
Kirby Smith IS reported 20 have come ny me
" uch;y4 River, On the louisiana side q 1ha
river.
Tie Federal troops ct 5liIikan's Bead Iav5
been reinforced - Phil: ING.
THF, BATTLE. AT MILLIKEN'S BEND
We find the following letter n the Cincinnati
Gazette:
CAIRO, June L, I8G3.-Ou Saturday last
orr force at M;lliken's Bend consisted Of about
III troops and 500 negro yoluntoer5-soine
]. 500 or i, 900 in ali. On Saturday evening
the alarm was brought The commander OF the
rost that large force d Conf9deraCes-so
5000 in alI-Uere outside the works at no
great distance, marching upon tie togtlbca"
tons The commander Immediately sent 0nl
bis cavalry, and held the colored troops f0r
reserves in case the cavalry had 70 talt back IL
turaed cur we'll that this pracautlon vas taken,
for, after engaging the enetny, and tlndlng the?
were about % be oyerpowered, the cavalry did
fall back and Joined the colored infantry. 4
battle then took place, which was Waged On
both sides viii? terrific fury The C0ntederates
pressed forward on the white and black troops
opposed to them with al the;r strength. Our
troops had no artillery, and the Contederates
had. Yet, after struggle Of some hours, The
enerny we're driven OF, leaving 8 great number
on the held slain and wounded. Their retreat
was not followed up, our n2er being SO much
exhausted. Oux forces fell back TO JheirYorks
and Drenarat;ons were made for defense. la
the evening the steamer St. Cloud came Up
from below, and learning the bad state Of at
fairs returned Tor reinforcaments Of artillery
and g gunboat. Both were started u3 and tEle
gunboat Choctaw arrived npon the spot early
on Sunday morning, to find that the ContodeG-
atoe had returned.
During The night they busted themselves III
gathering large number OF mules together
and when day broke started .hern toward,
using them as a means OF projection, while
they followed close behind; Ihey were
promptly met by our troops this time behind
their breastworks Gradually me Contcder-
ates moved their line s2srihcl2g their mules 70
the rife sb.,ts, and opened upon The works
with rifles, shot~guns and artlleryv, but they
made adj little by their strategy. They had got
fairly engaged when tho gnnboat ChoctaW
came in for her share IL the fight, using with
effect her heavy guns, charged with shell!
An unfortunate shot from the Ch0ctaw It IS
said, killed several members OF the negro regl-
nent. Il was owing to the tact that sac gas
not allie to raise her guns sufficiently to fire
above them. This was renedied. The fight
was continued, and zen the Choctaw succeed
ed I'd IN getting range, she sent such a storm Of
shot and shell into the Confederate ranks that,
after being once or twice rallied they broke in
disorder and fed taking of their dead and
wounded. 1t was impossible for my informant
to learn the extent Of our loss. but It. must
have been heavy. One hundred colored men
fell. The enemy loss Was also considerable,
and m to the latest dates On Monday, when
the steamer Niagara left for Memphis, they
had 70 returned to renew tbs attack.