, 1863-05-29

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thence to Bottoms Station, on the line Of the
Vicksburg and jackson Railroad This will
bring Us sixteen miles nearer Vickshurg, and
may, possibly, require us to tight amor her bat
tie. Three engagements VIC have already
fought within the past fourteen days, and we
nle prepared and expect to fight the enemy
daily until ne reach the city Of Vicksburg.
OUR LOSS.
Our loss in the brilliant little affair At Jack.
eon will reach not less than three hundred
killed and wounded. The 18th Iowa and 18th
Wisconsin suffered the most severely. Some
OF those who were in the charge say these
regiments were almost annihilattd, but these |
impressions, obtained under such exciting |
circumstances, must be taken with some |
grains Of allowance. Bop.
In TEE REAR OF VIcEsBURG,
May 10, 1868. {
ApoLoGETlc.
For the last few days I have been entirely
cut off from mail facilities. / was forced to
maintain degree Of reticcnce, while stirring
events we're transpiring every day around me,
altogether unprofessional, or entrust my let
ters to the tender mercies Of the mule driver,
moving once week, By slow and easy stages,
over route L hundred miles long, billy and
infested by rebel cavalry. chose the former.
EVACUATION OF JACKSON.
There were several reasons which induced
General Grant to evacuate jackson. In the
first place, there was no military reason re-
quiring him to hold it, after the communica-
ton with Vicksburg was destroyed. 1t would
have been gratifying to our pride to have
ruled In the capitol Of Mississippi. but the diff
1culty OF keeping open the long line Of coni-
uunication, by way Of Grand Gull, Raymond
and Clinton, forbade its indulgence. 1t was
also known that General Joseph E. Johnston
was somewhere in the region north Of Canton
With a5 600 Carolina and Georgia troops seek
Ing to form 4 junction with the forces at
Vicksburg, or waiting an opportunity to
fall upon our rear and cut of our supplies.
Besides the division which We fought outside
of Jackson on the 14th, had divided and
| moved to the north and south Of the city, and
| it was doubtful where they would strike.
/ These we're some Of the reasons which in.
duced our departure from Jackson.
| NEAR BOLTON.
We therefore, early on the morning Of the
18th, returned to Clinton, and after an hour $
rest, moved again along road running par
allel to the railroad, until VIC reached the vi
cinity Of Bolton. At o'clock in the after.
noon VIC went into camp In delightful strip
Of timber bordering the road, and rested until
daylight the next morning.
POSITION OF OUR FORCES.
Hovey's division WINS cncamped just in ad
vance, On 4 road running from the Clinton and
Raymond Railroad. Osterhaus' division, with
Ca1r's division in reserve, occupied the roa6
to Edwards Station, little south Of the las
named road, willie Gen. Blair's division, viii
4. J. Smiths division as reserve, occupied
the extreme southern road from Raymond tt
Edwards Station. These roads are all plainl,,
indicated on the accompanying map.
LINE OF HATTIE.
The programme for the 10th instant was ar
ranged by Gen. McC1ernand, Of the 18th arm,
corps. Gen. Mcpherson with his army corps
the nth, had the right Of the line resting
upoa the main Ticksburg and jackson road
: Gen. uoyey had the right centre, Gen. Oster
) haus, with Cars reserve, the left centre, an
; Gen. Smith, who had passed Blair On the road
. the left, with the last named General as re
serve. This WAS the line Of battle for Satul
day.
: : Ofthc part taken by Smiths, Carr's, Blair
t and Osterhaus' divisions. I am not cognizan
+, from personal observation. refer you t
= the account furnished me below, by al office
j who WAS over the batt1e ground, and who wi
+ messed every movement.
GEN. HovEI's DIVISION.
: Ilelt the camp Of the preceding night 500
b after daylight, and moved out on the roa
taken By Gen. Hosey. This division consist
Of two brigadcs commanded By Col. Slack (
q the 9th Indiana, and Gen, McGinnis, TO
u u merly Colonel Of an Indiana regiment.
e Gen. HoTey's line, Gen. McGinnis had tt
d right, resting on the right Of the first road
) Vickeburg, and Col Slack the left, resting
!. right on the road, and his left O hundre
d yards In the dense forest to the left Of Il
d road. As he moved up in battle order, the
we're frequent ekirmisles nth the rear gaal
II Of the enemy, he always retreating and setti1
ID fire to all the cotton gins and receptaeles f
70 rebel cotton rs he fell back.
i. TOPOGRAPHY.
cl The topography Of this section Of count
ut is remarkable. TIE road winds around t
&c ,o base OF lofty hills, turning sometimes to Il
N right and sometimes to the left, now desceu
ing into deep valleys, and again climbing t
I'd submits OF activities which In prairie cor
OF tries would be entitled mountains. The 6el
= are mostly covered with dense forests, exec
Il. where here and there a planter has reclaim
on the wilderness, and made it, in patches, b
). aud blossom as the rose.
" CHAMPIONS H1IL.
,t. The place where this battle which I am
ke scribing, was fought, is called "Chamrio
NC llill,'' after the planter who Owls the proper
I'd He is an ardent rebel, and lives In q pre-
ck mansion, with a green lawn in front, thic
er- studded with eycrgreens and Towering tn
z; sk1RM1sHISG.
cr- A military man would at once pronou
EN-. the position an excellent one for battle. tt
'Sia ,a was hill beyond deep ravine, throl
the which the road passes, an open field bel
ut- ard just across the hitter, series Of hills
valleys covered with dense forest trees, aHE
ing excellent cover for an enemy, while
ter were obliged to skirmish and fight in
re- ae, meadow, exposed to CALLING fire, N
n. out an opportunity to reply e.
op- lively. We were not surprised, theret
and that our advance guard received heavy
l1o ;1,1a Of musketTy from the advance line Of
lay encmy's ekismishers posted In the edge Of
ing. timber. The enemy had also planted .
'ote terry Of artillery on the right Of the I
,na., where Champions Hill 1uts out, bold t
gni- and clear OF nmscs, and osefiooks Inc
70 below.
ana DISPOSITION.
,Eer The disposition Of our forces was PROF
.ates and Quickly made, and = heavy line Of
the mishers thrown out in advance, backed u