The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-05

)attle. ~ ,NfkG 9Nt sfa9lO WaE mon a |,
The hill itself is covered with timber, and is,
n fact, but an abrupt terminus of q high ridge
'unning north and south fianked on both sides
With deep ravines and gulleys, in many places
covered with an almost impenetrable growth
Of scrubby white oak bushes. The rebels APP
peared deficient in artillery throughout the
battle but opened with rather heavy fire from
4 four gun battery of rifled six-pounders,
planted about 400 yards back from the brow of
the hill. f'.t.rf Il
The woods on bOth sides of the roads leading
up the face OF the HILL and winding back on
the ridge mile or more, were filled with sharp
shooters, supported by Infantry. tl. o. n1
Here the battle began in earnest as our men
entered the ridge of the timber, and ragged ter
ribly from eleven o'clock till between three and
four. Dbl.
General A. P. Hovey's division carried the
heights in gallant style, and, making dash on
the first battery, drove the gunners from their
posts and captured the pieces. The 18th In |
diana claim the honor of carrying the battery. |
The rebels lay thick in the vicinity of the guns,
and their horses were more than halt killed,
gun carriages and caissons broken and over,
turned, while knapsacks, blankets, and small
arms and other debris attested the deadly
struggle for the ground. The colors Of the
31st Alabama regiment were captured there,
also, but failed to learn by whose hands.
At this juncture Mitchells Ohio battery was
opened about eighty yards from the brow OF
the hill. The rebels made a dash tor it, and
ed its capture Captain Mitchell was wounded
and is believed to have fallen into the enemy's
hands. .a+ fo
At this juncture the rebels appeared reinfOrc-
ed with fresh troops on that wing, and redOub-
led their efforts to hold the position and dis
lodge our troops on the bill. 90
General HOvey was slowly driven back to
tho hroxU IF tho hill huf a hriUada from GannroI
Quimby was ordered to his support, and the
ground was speedily reOccupied by us, and the
rebels finally repulsed.
At the commencement of the engagement
General Logan's division marched past the brow
of the hill, and, forming in line of battle on the
right of HOvey, advanced in grand style, sweep
ing everything before them.
At the edge of the woods, in front of General
Logan the battle was of the most desperate
character imay Unable. The rattle of musketry
was incessaEt from the first moment of the en-
gagement, and blent in continuous and deadly
roar, in which reports were so blended that a
single discharge was rarely heard. Not a man
flinched or a line wavered in this division, so
far as l could discover. All behaved like vet
Grams, and moved to new positions with the
conscious tread IF victory.
Two batteries were captured by this division
and enough hard fighting was done TO immOr-
talize it. Besides this it G. ptured large por-
ton of prisoners, small arms, &c.
Between three and four O'Clock General Os-
terhaus and General McArthurs divisions
came Into action on the extreme left, and CON-
pleted what had been SO auspiciOusly carried
forward. They were both miles away when
the engagement began, but were brought for
ward W tn all the dispatch possible.
The enemy were in full retreat soon after.
and these divisions pursued till 8 O'Clock, and
are now encamped at Edwards Station, eight
poilpS hpvOnA thn hatfln rrOunA
Unfortunately we have no cavalry: pursuit
is therefore out of the question.
From rebel prisoners we learn that General
Pemberton commanded in person, and Generals
Fitz Hugh Lee and Gregg, who commanded at
the battle near Raymond, and Others OF note,
had subordinate commands. From them we
also learn that great dissatisfaction exists tow
ard General PembertOn. He is accused by
many of selling out to General Grant; also of
planning military operations for the last four
weeks so as to insure the enemy's success. BY
way of offset we presume there are those at
the North who, within two months have charg-
ed General Grant with little less than imbecility,
incapacity, and a general unftness to command.
Another case OF extremes meeting in abuse Of
men who have both unquestiOnably done all in
their power to serve their respective superiOrS
in authority. 1t is too early yet to do more
than approximate our loss. I think it will be
about !. 900 killed and wounded. tmay prove
less, but cannot be much more, think. But
few officers of distinction are injured The
oath Indiana regiment lost 100 men, and Lieut..
Colonel Swain commanding is killed. Major
Jones escaped unhurt, and subsequently cap
tured an Alabama battery. Not a general or
staff officer on our side was hurt s,
Col. Bouck, of the 18th Wisconsin, informed
me, at the close of the engagement that but
two privates in his regiment were injured.
This has been the hottest and most brilliant
fight in the Southwest for several months, and
may only be a prelude to Others of the same
character in store for us within three days.
say three days because within that time Grant
will have marched to the suburbs of Vicksbury
if every mile Of road be not contested The
men are enthusiastic wherever Gen Grant APP
pears. Gen. G. has been fairly Outdong him.
self OF late and his reckless exposure of him
self on the field, heyetS unbOunded admiration
amO'g the privates
Well authenticated cases of rebel barbarity
to wounded men can be enumerated. No less
than three different m,n who were shot down
to-day in battle were subsequently sabred by
rebels when they temporarily retook the
ground. The men lived co narrate the atroci-
ty. but will scarcely recover. [ have been
slow to believe such stories, and know that
such instances are rare. but they do occasional
ly occur, to the disgrace of our common hui
manity.
The list of killed and wounded IL be sent
at the earliest possible moment; but us we
march and tight alternately, delay may be una
vOilabie.
Special dispatch to the Chicago Times.
GRANTS HEADoRS. BLACK RIVER BRIDGET
II MuI.s EAST OF VICks. URIC, May IT, {
Gen. Netherlands corps marched 20 this
place early this morning. Gen. Osterhaus was
in advance, and found the rebels strongly en-
trenched. on the lett, on the east bank OF The
river. Batteries were soon in position, play
ing ON the enemy's works.
At 10 o'clock General LAWYERS brigade in
Carr's division, charged across an open field
200 yards in width, wading bayou in front,
and swarminv over into the entertainments
In moment utterly and irresistably TO rebel
dom, seventeen cannon were taken inside the
earthworks and from l 800 to 2, 900 prisoners
captured.
No description can do justice to the intrepid
ity Oh the regiments composing this brigade
The rebel fire artillery and musketry was APP
palling, but they rushed ON TO victory, regard
less OF death and literally swept everything
before them.
Gen. Mart. Green's Missouri Brigade, over
1,2OO strong, was cut OFT by the 18th WiscOn-
sin Regiment and surrendered to q man. Gen.
Vaughn's brigade was also principally captu-
red The loss to the 18th Wisconsin was
light The list sent is complete, SO far as the
loss of that regiment is complete. The 2lst
and Odd Iowa led in the charge, and sustained
the princil al loss, The list is not complete in
either of these The 1th Wisconsin also cap-