The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-06-06
IMPORTANT FROM MISSISSIPPI
PI.
Two Brilliant Victories by the Western
Troops.

Two Brilliant Victories by the Western
Troops.
EDWARDS STATION, MISS, May I6.
The gallant army of Gen. Grant has Just
won glorious victory-a victory which
fully justifies the confidence their comman-
der seems to have felt when he entered up
on the daring campaign to Vicksburg by
the way of Grand Gulf and Jackson.
| Yesterday morning the position of our
army was briefly this: Part of Sherman's
corps occupied Jackson; the particulars of
the capture of that town you have already
learned. The larger part of McPherson's
corps lay at the same place. McClernand's
astwo miles south of Bolton, and sixteen
1 miles west of Jackson, while Raymond's
brigade of McArthur's division, (McPher-
sons corps,) and Blair's division of Sher-
mans corps were approaching Raymond,
on their march from Grand Gulf The lit
| tie town of Raymond lies eight miles south
| of Bolton, and about twenty miles south
= west from Jackson.
The enemy had massed his forces at Ed
wards Station, nineteen miles east of
! vicksbufg, on the roilroad, with intent to
| cut our long lines somewhere between
RAYMOND and Bolton, and thus at once de-
prive us of supplies and beat us in detail
Y But his designs were discovered and splen-
didly defeated.
(, Yesterday morning news came to Gen.
| McClernand that the enemy were advanc-
ing on him from the Northwest, and in the
manner just indicated, and he Immediately
ordered Gen. A. l. Lee, who had that mo-
ment arrived and reported for duty in the
( 18th Army Corps, to recounoiter the APP
proach. With a squad of cavalry, General
Lee galloped off five or six miles toward
| Edwards Station, secured the country to
II md fro f1iScnuaraI a
1 that direction, and returned with a map OF
the ground over which the battle was next
4 day to be fought.
1 In the meantime, Gen. McPherson's COM
mand moved rapidly down from Jackson,
/ and arrived toward nightfall near Bolton,
4 while Ransom's brigade and Blair's divis-
/ ion reached Raymond. Thus our widely
extended front was suddenly closed on the
\center, in such a way as to be ready for
4 either attack or defense. At the same time,
/ Gen. Sherman moved from Jackson north
of the railroad, toward Edwards Station,
/ in such course as to keep within supporting
/ distance, and to prevent the rebel force I'M
i der Joe Johnston, driven nOrthward out OF
I Jackson, from making junction withtheir
friends at Edwards Ferry.
! At DAYLIGHT, this morning, our move
fment toward Edwards Station began;
Hoyey's division of McClernand's corps,
l beloved by Mcpherson on the right, and
II
hars division, followed by General Cars
Non the centre, and Smiths division, with
vGeneral Blair's as a reserve on the left, by
& the first road from Raymond to Edwards
Station.
The battle opened on the left, about eight
s o'clock, with artillery directed on Smiths
8 advance. 1t seemed that the rebels were
attempting to turn our left and get in our
: rear, in the direction of Raymond. But
Smith held his road firmly, and the enemy
slowly retired, while we slowly advanced.
The enemy next massed his forces on our
right centre, where Hovev's division was
coming up, and here the battle began to
ragein deadly earnest. For time the re,
suit seemed doubtful; the rebels pressed
Son in the most determined manner, while
Hoveys brave boys returned their attack
with the most persistent valor. For q few
moments we gave back at that point, but
Hovey, being reinforced by two brigades
of Crocker's division, the enemy were
driven, and the day went in our favor. A
ABORTION of the rebel force began their re-
treat by the Vicksburg road. Mcpherson
swung around his right, and cut Oft and
captured about 1,5OO prisoners, and bat
terry often guns. Our left, McClernand
corps, Blair's division, and Ransom's bril-
gade, now pressed forward, and the COM
plete defeat and decentralization of the enc
my was assured. Our artillery was has,
numberless hills of this most rugged coun-
try, and poured its deadly fire into the n.y.
ing columns of the rebels. At sunset we
entered Edwards Station, to find there
was a great debris of stores abandoned by
the enemy in his flight-among them a
Ntrain of cars, loaded with ammunition and
set on fire, and depot of provisions, also
partly consumed. We managed to save
from these, 90, 900 rounds of musket ammu-
milton, large quantity of fixed ammuni-
ton for field pieces, and a good supply OF
sugar.
Our captures in this splendid fight foot
Cup to about $500 prisoners, l9 guns, and
Fabout 10000 serviceable Enfield rifles, to-
gether with the stores I have mentioned.
The battle was fought on the front occu-
pied by McClernand's corps (the l3th,) and
one of his divisions, {Hovey's) sustained
the brunt Of the struggle. To General Nc
.Clernand great credit is due, and conceded
khere, for his vigilant and skillful DISPOSE
tons. It is said that the plan OF the battle
was mainly his, and have no doubt that
this supposition is correct. He deserves
for this the highest praise.
General A. L. Lee, arriving from Grand
Gulf but the day before, had no separate
Acommand, but acted throughout the fight
as chief of General McClernand's staff
The latter generously accords to Lee the
greatest credit for his rapid perception and
commander.
THE BATTLE OF THE BIG BLACK.
! AT THE BRIDGE, May 18th, 1868.
At daylight this morning our victorious
4 army moved on from Edwards Station, by
the main road, to the Big Black, McCler
y nands corps in advance, led by Carr's di
a vision. 1t was known that the enemy haC
n constructed earthworks to defend thu
&bridge, and that these works must be ia
ken. The distance was but three miles
and we had hardly advanced one before thu
skirmishing in front commenced. TIL,
enemy slowly retired, and we pressed
on until we reached point about on
mile from the river, when the rebel bat
teries. some eighteen guns, opened OIL
ms They had good range Of the road
. and the shells few and burst about us il
Carr Immediately formed in line of bat
+,a and advanced on the center and RICH
with half of Osterhaus' division on the ex