The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-10


the width of a gunboat- the boats were
SO close up that only one bow gun apiece
of four could be used, and then at an in
convenient angle-in fact in only one po
sition-and the broadsides of several were
useless on account of the bank. Our i'm
mense superiority of metal was thus rem
dered almost useless for the purpose Of
engaging an enemy that was endeavoring
to encircle the admirals boats. If his rear
was gained, their superior numbers could
board the first or the last boat, and having
captured her, use her guns with fearful eff
feet on the others.
About midday the enemy commenced
moving upon us, with the purpose of
reaching the bank of the creek below he
gunboats and below the infantry. Gener-
al Sherman was some six miles distant.
The rebels are believed to have advanced
with about 4, 900 men. 1t must be borne
in mind that our troops were on a belt of
land which forms the bed of the creek, of
no great width, back of which the bottom
land was under water and impossible. The
rebels came down with the intention of
turning his right and reaching the creek
below. The gunboats and four mortars
opened upon them, as soon as they discov-
cred themselves in bodies. This firing
embarrassed their movements and consid
erably retarded them. They debouched
through the wood and became engaged
with the skirmishers of the 9Th. The fight
was beginning to be in earnest, but the
rebels were gaining ground. The object
was notsa battle, but to pass by Smith.
The first firing of the gunboats was heard
by General Sherman near the Shelby
plantation. He urged his troops forward,
and after an hours hard marching the
18th regulars and 18th Illinois, who
were in the advance deployed as
skirmishers, came upon a body of the
enemy who had passed by the force which
engaged Smith. Immediately engaging
them, the enemy stood while disconnected
by the unexpected attack, fought short
time and gave way. Our forces pressed
them, driving them back toward Smith
some two miles. The gunboat opened up
on them thus hemmed in, and the day was
ours. The rebels retreated and the gun
boats were saved for that day. Our loss
was but one killed and none wounded.
The loss of the rebels was heavy. The
plantation upon which the engagement
took place belonged to Col. Givins. He
was killed, and his wife, a beautiful wo-
man, was also killed by shell, while rid
ing into the wood. One shell from NOR
tar killed twenty-six as they were rallying
as skirmishers. Another is stated to have
killed and wounded forty persons. They
suffered very much, but as we did not at
tempt to occupy the field, it cannot be as
certained. 1t being obvious that further
advance was impracticable the boat at once
commenced moving backward and made
several miles that evening.
The next effort of the rebels was to pass
around our lines in the afternoon and
night, and throw their whole force still
further below us. Gen. Stuart, with four
regiments of Gen. Ewing's brigade, march
ed on Hills plantation the same morning,
having run his transports in the night
The rebels who were making circuit
about Sherman, thus found the whole line
occupied, and abandoned the attempt to
cut off the gunboats for that day. During
the afternoon the troops and gunboats all
arrived at Hills plantation. Rebel scouts
followed them within two miles of the di-
vision headquarters During the night
the 37th Ohio, Col. Lieber, which was on
picket one-half mile out, was attacked by
a squadron of cavalry. 1t Immediately
upon the return of their fire fell back. In
the afternoon of the next day the SD In
diana, Col. Spooner, going out to relieve
the 3Oth was attacked by three regiments
of infantry and a squadron of cavalry
Acting under instructions to draw them
on, and their whole force, Col. Spooner
skirmished with them, but they refused to
follow. The SD lost one man killed. The
enemy landed steamer and two flatboats
loaded with troops and artillery about six
miles above, on the night before. We re-
manned two days at Hills plantation, wait
ing for the rebels to prepare. But they
would not give or receive battle. We en-
barked on the transports and gunboats and
returned. The troops, gunboats, ammu-
milton and supplies, with a considerable
quantity of cotton and fifty good mules are
all safe, and approaching Young's Point
as [ write. -.
There were destroyed by our troops and
by the rebels at least two thousand bales
of cotton, fifty thousand bushels Of corn,
and the gins and houses of the plantations
whose owners had INSTRUCTED our progress
and Joined in the warfare. The resources
of the country we found ample to subsist
the army at Vicksburg for some length of
time, and by the destruction OF them we
CRIPPLED the enemy so far.
There were features about this expedi-
ton novel and exciting.
Black bayou, a narrow stream, hereto
fore only navigated by dug-outs, was made
of the width of our steamers, with great
labor of telling trees and saving stumps
below the surface. Every foot OF our way
was cut and torn through dense forest,
never before traversed by steamers. I
never witnessed more exciting and pic
turesque scene than the transportation of
the Sd brigade by General Stuart the last
day. Crowded with men, the steamer at
the highest possible speed, pushed through
overhanging trees and around short curves.
Sometimes wedged fast among trees, then
sailing along smoothly, huge cypress
would reach out an arm and sweep the
whole length of the boats, tearing guards
and chimneys from the decks. The last
trip through the Black bayou was in a
l. Il 4