The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-05-30


DO, excercntiy well In tho morning, nT a
nights bvouac the hill overi King tho
village OF Edwards sti,,on lhe lumn. with
Mcccrnand al its ID, moved Black liver bridge
Tho citizens who ques, subject said th'
position was most strongly fortified at the crossins a.
we naturally thought the my would make s'bborn 70
s'stancc there. We were not surprised therefore, 70
arn that cur advance guard fired upon by tie rebc'
p'ckcts ~ tho column moved towards the river.
Tho entry between Eiwards' Station and the dge
oes that Lilly and broken character which distinguishes
the region further cast and spreads into broad and
serti plain, which moved rapidly. There were
no c. mmsndng hills whence they could pour deadly
fire into our ranks but there patches Of
Forest der the aud from the edge Of which they
could easily ennade the open fields by tho road
side. There such a. nile east
tho n'1enenmsns where The main picket guard was sta
toned Here determined resistance WIS Grst made.
General tar division had the extreme advance ,f the
column and oTened and ended the engagement Hastily
dcpoyng bcav rc Of skrmishers the right Of the
road. backed by the two brsades Of Carr's dvish
IN line Of battle behind IL, with General Oterhaus diyL
sion on The left Of the read similarly disp sed, General
kcCicrnand gave the order to advance Soon In tho
depths 81 tho thick tho skrmshers - both
were holly engaged, while batteries Of artillery planted
on the right and left OF poured shot and shell
into the fort most furourly Tho guns tho intrench
ments replied win vgor and srriI Almost
the nrst shot dropped IN tho cakson belonging
70 Fosters Wisconsin Satcry and exploded lis contents
slightly woundng General osterhaus aud Captain Foster
Of the battery and very seriously njuring guuners
General Osierhaus being thus disabled tho command of
his division was temporarily given 10 Brigadicr General
A. L. Lee. So sifrrH
After diminishing bad continued for hour,
during which the enemy way and sought the
49,
brigade commanders the right advance and charge
the encmys works. The order received with cheers
and shouts. and the INVENT yrs. Twenty Twenty
third Iowa and Eleventh Wisconsin, General LAWYERS br
gade we're tho nrst 70 themselves readiness
The order " forward" given, and steadily
and splcnddly. tho brave boys moved up 70 The
assaa. The enemy crouchcd down behind tho breast.
works portion OF them, stationed In curtain on the
right Of the fort, whence they able 70 get cross
re upon tho column reserved their voey until We were
within easy musket range Of tho ntrenchments whom
they swept the advancing line with their terrible Are.
Tho brave boys lost IN that fearful voley ono hundred
and nifty mon; yet they fatered not turned their
steps backwards They waded tho bayou delivering their
fro they reached the other bank and rushed upon the
enemy with fixed bayone,s. So quickly all this &C.
compshcd that the enemy had not limo 10 reload their
guns, and was forced TO surrc,der.
Tho battle was ended and the fort, with three
thousand prisoners, eighteen pieces Of artillery
some OF them captured from ourselves, and bearing
appropriate Inscriptions evstsl thousand stand Of
arms and large supply Of and commissary stores
fell into hands.
Tho enemy had earlier In tho day out Of the huls Of
thrco steamboats,, constructed bridge which no
had passed the main body Of his army the charge
was made and became evident that should capture
tho position they burned this bridge aud also tho rail
road bridge across the river Just above.
In the afternoon several attempts 70 cross
the river, but the sharpshootes lined the bu beyond
and entirely prevented IT, Later the main body Of sharp
shooters were dispcrscd by artillery. u was not
however safe TO stand upon the bank the open
field east OF the BRIDGE until aer dark when tho enemy
wi hdrew altogether An excellent bridge Ia now In pro-
Of by General Lee. We cross the river
To- morrow.