The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-05-25
Ghe RaiGll duurltar.
Battle of Magnolia.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GEN. BENTON.
BIvoUAc IN THE FIELD, }
M;se;co;,r; Nov Stb 1892

following report of the part taken by the
lst Brigade, 18th Division, 18th Army
| Corps, Department of the Tennessee, in
the engagement on the night of the Both
ult, and the lst inst, near Port Gibson,
! Mississippi: eG
About midnight I received the order
of the General commanding the Division
to hasten forward the lst Indiana Bat
terry, which was Immediately executed at
full run, arriving on the ground in a
few minutes. The battery was at once
placed in position, and opened vigor-
Gus fire, which was continued, without
intermission, until o. clock a. M of the
lst inst, when the enemy ceased his fire
and we lay upon our arms awaiting the
tardy coming of daylight. In the mean
time, the Infantry, consisting of the 8th
and 18th Indiana, and the 33d and 99th
Illinois regiments, had come on the field
and were also lying on their arms in
support of the battery At the earliest
dawn all were on the alert, eager for the
coming fray. At this juncture Major
General McClernand came dashing to
the 'front.' asking a thousand questions as
to the position and strength ofthe enemy,
the roads and general topography of the
ground; and with matchless energy pro-
ceeded to verify every statement by a
personal investigation About o'clock
a. M, was ordered to push four COM
panies down road turning to the left of
Sch@ffer's house, and directly in the rear
of the one in which the previous engage
ment occurred | accordingly sent the
gallant Major Potter of the 33d Illinois,
with four companies of that regiment,
with orders to feel his way down the road
cautiousl ly and hold it until relieved by
General Osterhaus's command, which
had been ordered up, and then without
further orders hasten to rejoin his regi-
ment. In a few minutes his skirmishers
! engaged the outposts of the enemy who
replied sharply, both with small arms
and artillery. Owing to the promptness
of General Osterhaus, the Majors fight,
though spirited, was of short duration
and he in turn promptly reioined his
regiment and shared with it the dangers
and glory of the fight on the extreme
right
| General OstarL~--I- Q - s>10et ca
our pTears Tear. by Special direction of General
! McClerrand, l ordered the 33d Illinois,
commanded by the cool and fearless Col.
LlpPlncott, to move forward aleT-;- IL
| high ridge UU ufe wcst, ana carfully ex-
plore the ravines intervening between
| Schaeffer's house and our intended line
of battle, at the same time Capt. Klaus
was ordered to change the position of
one section of his battery to the high
ground on the left of the road, and open
fire with his whole battery, while the
gallant Major Brady of the Sth Indiana,
commanding my skirmishers, consisting
of one company from each regiment,
was pressing forward under orders, and
the Sth and 18th Indiana formed forward
into line of battle The 99th Illinois
was also ordered forward as the reserve
of the brigade. In a very short time
the battle ragged with great fury Hav-
| ing driven the stubborn enemy at the
point of the bayonet several hundred
yards. from one ravine to another, and
completely turned his left flank, order
ed change of front forward on the tenth
company, which was accom- plished most
handsomely at a double quick, over the
most difficult ground. So promptly was
the movement executed under a CALLING
fire of she'll and musketry, that was at
loss which most to admire, their valor
or the efficiency of their drill In the
meantime sold Rough and Ready No
| 2" Col. Bailey, commanding the 99th H.
linois, was ordered forward, which was
executed with cheer on cheer, at a
double quick Our new line was form
ed with the Sth Indiana, Colonel David
Skunk, on the right, the 33d Illinois,
Col. Lippincott, 99th Illinois, Col. Bailey,
and the 18th Indiana, Col Washburn,
whose left was resting near the Magno-
liza Church, and his whole regiment in
front of the enemy's battery. Now came
the tug of war in good earnest | soon
found that the odds were largely against
us, and that the enemy was making a
most desperate effort to turn our left
flank, thus cutting us off from our sup
! - :--I.S-ly s--r---r-~>- OopG.
! Marshall for reinforcements, and did all
| in my power to stimulate the men to he
roic action, and right nobly did they re-
! spond. For at least two hours, single
handed, the lst brigade fought three
brigades of the enemy, giving him volley
for volley with interest Three times
did he form to charge US, and as often
was he hurled back discounted by the
we'll directed aim of the brave lads of
Illinois and Indiana. We had already
driven the enemy over the hill top and
through ravine for quarter of mile,
never yielding one inch ourselves. AT
length the long-looked for succor came.
We were all, officers and men, glad to
know that it was composed of a part of
the veteran troops of the gallant Gener-
al A. p Hoveys division, and the Sc
quel proved that we were not mistaken in
our estimate of their courage. No soon
er had they come upon the ground-be-
fore had fully completed my arrange
ments- than some one, unknown to me,
gave the order "charge," which was ex-
ecuted with the widest enthusiasm, the
men of my brigade vieing with their
friends of Hovey's division as to who
should first reach the enemy. The re-
suit of this splendid charge was the COM
plete rout of the enemy-the capture of
two l2-pound howitzers, and, at least
one flag. This was not the work, exclu-
sively, of General Carr's division, or
General Hovey Sit was the joint work
of both, and in my humble judgement,
herein is in glory enough, and to spare,
for both divisions.