The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-06-06
OGe RaiTg dunrttar.
SATURDAY MORNING -. JUNE 6
Official Report OF General HOyey Of
the Battle Of Magnolia.
Headquarters 18th Division, 18th A. c., !
In the Field Nav g. IS63

the landing of the 18th division, at Mil
Gken's Bend, on the 18th of April, and
terminating with the battle of Port Glib
son, on the lst day of May Marching
over heavy roads from the Bend on the
10th, under orders to leave our camp
and garrison equipage behind, we ar
rived at Dawson's farm, on the Rounda-
way bayou on the second day.
On the 18th we marched to the mouth
of Gilbert's bayou, with directions to
make a reconnaissance in. the direction of
the Mississippi river, and ascertain
whether practicable route could be
found
Descending the bayou I met'.Gen. Os-
terhaus coming up from the river on the
same business, and, on comparing notes,
the route was deemed practicable, and
and SO reported to Maj General McCler-
nand. In four days from that date my
division, with the aid of Captain Patter-
sons Pioneers, built four bridges over
about one thousand feet of water, and
cut two miles of road through the woods,
thus opening up the great military route
from Milliken's Bend through the over
flowed land to the Mississippi river, be-
low Vicksburg.
During this severe task my men work
ed for hours up to their necks in mud and
water, and l take this occasion to thank
them for their devotion and energy there
displayed To Capt George W. jackson,
34th Indiana, aid his pioneer corps,
praise is particularly due, for the per-
formance of his Herculean task. On the
2Sth we embarked on steamers for the
purpose of aiding in the attack on Grand
Gulf, and on the 29th witnessed the brill
liant assault by the gunboats upon that
place.
AS it was supposed at the time that
battle would take place at Grand Gulf,
the horses of all officers except those
commanding divisions, and all kinds of
transportation, were left behind. Subse-
quent events made this very onerous up
on the officers and upon the command.
On the 30th ult. we disembarked at
Bruinsburg Landing, Mississippi, below
Grand Gulf, and at o'clock P. NJ took
up our line of march for Port Gibson.
The order of march by divisions was
Cars (i4th), Osterhaus' {oth), Hovcy'S
Q2th), Smiths (l0th).
The organization of the 18th Division
at that time was as follows:
First Brigade, Gen. Geo. f. McGinnis, com ding.
Oath Indiana, commanded by Col W.
7. Spicely.
16fh Indiana, commanded by Col. T.
b. Bringhurst.
11th Indiana, commanded by Col. Dan
Macauley.
29th Wisconsin, commanded by Col
Chas R. Gill
34th Indiana, commanded by Col R.
A Cameron.
10th Ohio Battery, commanded by
Capt j. Mitchell.
I'd Ohio Battery, commanded by I'd
Lieut. Aug. Beach.
Second Brigade, Col James R. Slack, com'ding.
Oath Iowa, commanded by Col. E. J.
Byam.
2Sth Iowa, commanded by Col. John
Connell
56th Ohio, commanded by Lieut.. Col.
W. H. Raynor.
47th Indiana, commanded by Lieut..
Col John A. Mclaughlin. ..
lst Missouri Battery, commanded by
Capt Schofeld.
Peoria Light Artillery, commanded by
I'd Lieut. Fenton.
We continued our march through the
night. Near two O. clock in the morning
of the first of May, cannonading was
heard in our front, which continued fol-
several minutes. The column pressed
forward, and at daylight reached Centre
Creek, about three miles west of Port
Gibson. At this point at 81 o'clock A
NJ, my division was ordered to take po
sition few hundred yards in advance
upon the right on the crest of two hills
nearly opposite the Shaffer farm house
at that time the headquarters of Major
! Gen McClernand. The lst Brigade oc
cupied the position in front nearest th'
enemy's line, and at right angles to thu
road; and the I'd Brigade on simila
ridge in the rear of Ist Brigade
The lines of ench brigade warn for-n or
under fire from the enemy, who were be
ing engaged by Brig. Gen Benton to m
left and near the centre of the line Q
battle.
At this juncture I received order
from Major Gen. McClernand to hol
nv division as a reserve until the arr
| val O1 lD0 1Obu ~
Brig. Gen. Smith, at which time m
whole command was to be in READINGS
to take part in the action. On receivin
this command, ordered my division
lie down under the cover of the brow {
the hills.
In less than thirty minutes afterwar(
Gen. Smith arrived, and the fact was a.
nounced to the Major General comman
ing. In the meantime the brigade und
General Benton was engaged in seve
conflict with the enemy upon our lei
and gallantly resisting almost owe
=, whelmning numbers.
About seven o clock, Aids from Maj
K General McClernand came rapidly fc
. ward with orders, directing me, witho
the lea delay, to support Gener
Bentons line. [ Immediately ORDER
Brigadier General McGinnis to mar
IS the infantry of the lst Brigade in Ii
t of battle across a deep and rugged !
ls ls vine to his support. All concur in
oe scribing this ravine as being filled wi
" vines, cane and deep gulches, and
n ceedingly difficult of passage. I
enemy, no doubt, regared dit as impass
= ble AS soon as the lst Brigade co
menced moving, l ordered the I'd Br