The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-06-01

Considered defensvey the positions Of NcCiernand
corps werc equal 70 the covering h'
left, with his troops well under and his batteries
upon commanding eminenccs controlling . road upor
which, Ave miles further on, the snsmys cavalry Nv,
hundred strong carly in tho morning maxim,
hostile demsnssasias The road thus held intsrsectes
tho main road in the Of the body OF our army. II
ths centre General Hovey commanded, and took wei
protected positions, while the right held by Genera
BLAIR. Ct1lnt rlf Ff.4fr
On the morning OF the same day General A. T.. Lee
formerly o the Seventh kansas cavalry, madc his
appearance upon the field in pursuance OF orders 10
port TO General McClernand Being familiar with cavalry
operations General Mccernand at despatched Gene
raj Lee on reconnaissance to discover possible tho ia
tentions OF the enemy. lie several times saw their
p'ckes, and in instance body Of infantry line Of
battle. Unmolescd, with his slass, he studied tnsiI
movements which seemed 10 be those Of preparation fo
an attack The General also drew up chart Of the roads
avsrsng the country which be travelled and then
returned. The result or the reconnaissance was very
satisfactory andhad much 70 do with The movements oI
the Thirteenth corps today.
ARRIVAL or rm sxEMmvm coars i
AZ five O'Clock yesterday afternoon tho advance Of
hcPhersons corps made ~ appsasance and the Juno.
zion Of the Two commands was made. We wero then In
condition to take up moro the ssnsive The di.
visions Of Logan and Crocker the only ones Of the
corps present. that Of Macarthur arrived this afternoon
from Grand Gulf, having been lsfts charge Of army
stores accumulated there.
THIS morning found everything n order for the light.
Tho troops intended for the action wsrs formed in heavy
columns along tho respective routes q march towards
the enemy. Tho men and oces we've fresh after good
nights rest and 10 high spirits as to the issue of ths
trying scenes in which they wore seos 10 participate In
addition 70 all this, Sherman's corps was rapidly moving
In this direction and by tho Of IL ac was within
supporting distance, and still moving 70 % operate with
Us In tho movements which 70 sac,seA the triumph
TO day.
IHE ADVANCE
During the night part OF McClernand's corps went
forward several miles, u baving tho advance for a
me and halted before the enemy. depaoyed in line OF
battle and came to rest TO await the disposition OF this
corps, which tako the right In order " take this
position II was necessary 70 somewhat on the road
through country considerably broken BY Irregularities
Of surface. However, by ten O'Clock the ground was
reached dispositions Of the troops msde and every
In readiness TO commence tho action F
POSITIONS PRIOR FIGHT.
Tho order Of formation attack chosen by our com.
mandcrs was admirable and resulted in nnqnestionabe
victory on our part In the front, immediately the
right Of the principal road to the Big Black bridge
Hovcys division Of Mcernand's corps dcployed into
line along ridge facing the enemys positions On the
right Of Eovey's division was dcpoyed tho division of
Gen. A. ). Smith, his right leaning somewhat to the
On the right OF this division lay that OF Cen
John A. Logan OF the Seventeenth corps with General
NJ D. Iesget the lott. General John y. Smith In tho
CENTRE both In line Of battle ncning the rear and on
the extreme right in column by DIVISION lay tho brigade
OF General Stevenson. In the short distance az
resorve General Coksr occupied projected postion 70
await the development Of the struggle.
Our artillery, numbering forty pieces, occupied em
ncnces at various points tho Held positions 10 fire
over the heads OF our troops IT. line.
THE ADVANTAGE POSITION
was decidedly In the encny's favor His infantry was
drawn up, from appearance two bodies on the same
line, partly covered by thick wood. His artillery in
commanding situations, stood out prominently and gas
directed upon all OF the battle ground One posi-
ticn In particular he occupied which commanded tho
whole field the entire reach Of artillery range This was
the scene Of tho most sznguiuary struggle during the
battle.
orExrsG or THs FIGHT.
Tho action opened with skirmishing O: traing nature
early this morning. the division Of Gen. Hovsy
being engaged The object hero was to keep the cnemys
attention and defer engagement until tho rest Of
the troops had taken their respective positions This
was done In few hours, and the battle was ready to
begin.
was hour after the troops got into position before
severe firing commenced during this time officers on
both sides could be riding up down the lines
encouraging tho 10 stand ana do their duty
Also some changes OF detail wcrc made but not materially
changing the general figure.
TERRIFIC ARTILLERY rRISo
At eleven oclock like terrific burst Of thunder all OF
sudden the booming of hfty cannon broke upon the
comparatively srians the action and gave utter
ancc TO tho general opening Of the conflict The enemy
in an nstsn. caught UP the sound aud returned IL
from the mouths Of as many pieces. The artillery on
both sdss noby strained every energy. The battle had
fairly begun Flying proIectilcs could be heard every
where whstng through the air like the rush Of heavy
wnd The explosion OF shell every sde added to the
roar OF artillery and the yng fragments Of iron aud shat
tered trees rendered the Of terror. The COM
bincd fire Of both armies dcafenng and sounded 10
those cugagod terrible than Shiloh. During
this engagement Of the artillery the Infantry SILENT
passive spectators OF the Consequently during The
time thus occupied the fight not OF that general that
promiscous which engagement Of infantry
involves.
rns INFANTRY AcuoS-A CHARGE.
shortly after midday the infantry brought into
action by charge upon strong position an cminencc
occupied by battery supported heavily by infantry.
Tho charge was admirably made. Through a perfect
s:eet OF shot, she'll and musket balls they rushed
10 tue summit ot the hill, drove the gun.
uers from their guns, captured the battery and
with yell rushed down the other side OF the hill, the
enemy fleeing before them In perfect panic AZ fast az
tho men could load running they delivered their Are into
the dcnse masses Of the retreatng foo Nothing was
more 10 our favor than the Of these delghtfu
moments Artillery horses, lImbers ammunition wagons
officers and panic stricken soldiers were crowded IN
confused bofy in cut, which was necessary in the
road TO mako zoe descent ascent Of the hill pract
cable to vehicles This stayed the and gave US an
opportunity to make mort appalling havoc the enemys
ranks
REBEL FLANK MOVEMENT.
or sudden. on the left, emerging from a wood near
tho road upon which forces pursuing retreat
Ing enemy the foe appeared in large upon Nc.
Cinns flank. The situation Of troops was appalling
Superior numbers, fresh from . shady position In tho
woods, and vigorous after long rest, now bore
down N uanting he.f and