The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-21

and prisoners, and a number of pieces of artil.
!ery. 1t was found afterwards that the Vicks.
burg road, after following the ridge in south
cry direction for about one mile and to where
u lntersected one of the Raymond roads, turns
almost to the west, down the hill and across
the valley in which Logan was operating on
the rear OF the enemy. One brigade of Logan's
dlvislon had, unconscious of this important
TACT, penetrated nearly to this road, and COM
peiied the enemy to retreat to prevent capture.
AS 1t was, much of his artillery and Lorings
DIVISION OF his army was cut off besides the
prisoners captured. On the call of Hovey for
more relnforc 5ments- Just before the rout
OF the enemy commenced ordered
MCPHERSON to move what troops he
could by left flank around to the enemy's
'front.'. Logan rode up at this time and told me
that II Hovey could make another dash at the
enemy ne could come up from where he then
was and capture the greater part of their force
l Immediately rode forward and found the
troops had been so calamity engaged for go
many hours, withdrawn from the advanced DO
sltlon, and were filling their cartridge boxes. I
directed them to use all dispatch and push for
ward as soon as possible, explaining to them the
pOSltlon OF LOSan's division. Proceeding still
1urther forward, expecting every moment to
see the enemy, and reaching what had been his
line, found he was retreating Arriving at
the Raymond road l saw to my left and on the
next ridge column of troops which proved to
be Cars division and McClernand with it in
person; and to the left of Carr, Osterhaus' di-
vision soon afterwards appeared with his Skin
mishers well in advance. sent word to Oster-
haus that the enemy was in full retreat, and to
push up with all haste. The situation was
soon explained, after which ordered Carr to
pursue with all speed to Black river and across
it if he could, and to Osterhaus to follow.
Some of McP1ersons troops had already got
inf hn in o1u h,,f ho.,:,
and engaged the enemy all day, they were IA
tlgued and gave the road to Carr, who con-
tinued the pursuit till after dark, capturing
train of cars loaded with commissary and Or
dinance stores and other property. The de-
lay IN the advance OF the troops Immediately
with McClernand was caused, no doubt, by
the enemy presenting front of artillery and
infantry where it was impossible from the ma
ture OF the ground and the density of the for
est, to discover his numbers. As it was, the
battle Of Champions Hill, or Bakers Creek,
was fought mainly by Hovey's division of Nc
Clernands corps and Logans and Quimby's
divisions (the latter commanded by Brigadier
General NJ. NJ. Crocker) of McPherson's
corps.
Ransoms brigade, Of McPhersons corps.
came on to the field where the main battle had
been fought Immediately after the enemy had
begun his retreat
CROSSING OF THE BIG BLACK
Word was sent to Sherman, at Bolton, of
the result of the days engagement, with direc-
lions to turn his corps towards Bridgeport, and
to Blair to join him at this latter place. At
daylight, on the 18th, the pursuit was renewed
with Netherlands corps in the advance, The
enemy was found strongly posted On both sides
of the Black River. At this point, on Black
River, the bluffs extend to the waters edge on
the west bank. On the east side is an open,
cultivated bottom OF near one mile in width
surrounded by bayou of stagnant water, from
two to three feet in depth, and from ten to twen-
ty feet in width, from the river above the rail-
road to the river below. Following the inside
line of this bayou the enemy had constructed ri
fle pits, with the bayou to serve ditch on the
outside and Immediately in front of them,
Cars division occupied the right in investing
this place, and LAWYERS brigade the right of
his division. After a few hours skirmishing,
Lawler discovered that by moving a portion of
his brigade under cover of the bank, he could
get position from which that place could be
successfully assaulted, and ordered charge
accordingly Notwithstanding the level
ground over which portion of his troops
had to pass without cover, and the great OBJ
stac!e OF the ditch in front of the enemy's
works, the charge was calamity and success.
fully made, and in a few minutes the entire
garrison with seventeen pieces of artillery
were the trophies of this brilliant and daring
movement. The enemy OF the west bank OF
the river Immediately set fire to the railroad
bridge and retreated, thus cutting off all chance
OF escape for any portion of his forces remain
ing on the east bank.
Sherman, by this time, had reached Bridge
port, on the Black River above. The only
pontoon train with the expedition was with
him. BY the morning of the 18th he had
crossed the river, and was ready to march on
Walnut Hills. McCiernand and Mcpherson
built floating bridges during the night and had
them ready for crossing their commands at
o'clock A. NJ. of the 18th.
Inc march was commenced by Sherman at
an early hour by the Bridgeport and Vicksburg
road, turning to the right when within three
and half miles of Vicksburg, to get posses
sion OF Walnut Hills and the Yazoo River
Inns was successfully accomplished before
the night of the 18th. Mcpherson crossed
Black River above the jackson road, and came
into the same road with Sherman, but to his
rear. He arrived after nightfall with his ad-
vance to where Sherman turned to the right.
McClernand moved by the Jackson and Vicks-
burg road to Mount Albans and there turned
to the left to get into the Baldwin's Ferry
road. BY this distribution the three army
corps covered all the ground their strength
would admit of, and by the morning of the
10Th the investment of Vicksburg was made
as complete as could be by the forces at my
command.
THE ASSAULTS ON vICKsBJRG.
During the day there was continuous skir-
mishing, and was not without hope of carry
ing the enemy's works. Relying upon the
decentralization Of the enemy in consequence
of repeated defeats outside OF Vicksburg, l Or
dered general assault at two o'clock, p NJ,
on this day.
The 18th army corps, from having arrived in
front Of the enemy's works in time on the 18th
TO get good position were enabled to make
vigorous assault. The 18th and 18th corps sue
ceeded no farther than to gain advanced posi-
tons, covered from the fire of the enemy. The
Goth and Dist were spent in perfecting commu-
nications with our supplies. Most of the
troops had been marching and fighting battles
for twenty days, on an average of about five
days rations, drawn from the commissary de-
partment Though they had not suffered from
short rations up to this time, the want of bread
to accompany the other ratiOns was beginning
to be much felt. On the 21st, my arrangements
for drawing supplies of every description being
complete l determined to make another effort
to carry Vicksburg by assault. There were
many reasons to determine me to adopt this
course. believed an assault from the position
gained by this time could be made successfully
1t was known that Johnston was at Canton with
the force taken by him from jackson, rein
forced by other troops from the east, and that
more were daily reaching him. With the force
had, a short time must enabled him to attack
me in the rear, and possibly succeed in raising
the siege. Possession of Vicksburg at that
time would have enabled me to have turned
upop Johnston opd driven him from, tho Sfoto