, 1863-05-23
GOV. YATES AMONG THE SOL
DIERS,
Ills Trip to the Armies Of the
Mississippi.
What He Saw---And What He
Thinks.
lFrom Our Own Correspondent

Ion nave learned by telegraph That GOV.
Yates returned to this city, this week, after
protracted visitto the army of the Mississippi.
1regrct to lind that His Excel1ency comes
back with health quite impaired. On the way
down be was attacked with diar.hea, which
finally ran into bloody dysentcry, after some
weeks continuance in it's original FORM
This, Of course, pfostrated him, but not be-
fore he Was able to visit the greater por-
ton Of that division Of the Western army.
The Governor hoped to hive witnessed the
capture Of Vicksburg and opening Of the riv-
er, on which lie had ret his heart, but was not
able to do SO. When recovered from his at
tack {and he already begins to rally) be will
again visit the brave Illinois boys in the field,
and elare their dangers aud privations to
whatever extent it may be thought best for
the good Of tile country.
On his way down the river, the Governor
visited the various points at which bodies Of
troops we're stationed, to see that they we're
in proper condition, and that their wants,
military or otherwise, we're supplied. At
all these places he WIS most flatteringly and
enthusiastically received by both officers and
men.
At blil1iken's Bend be reviewed Gen. Nc
Plereon's corps, in which are the divisions
Of Gems. Logan, Stevenson, aud othcrs. A
number Of Indiana regiments we're also in this
corps. Here the Governor was presented By
Major Gen. John a. Logan OF this S ate, witha
magnificent charger, Which lie rode during
Eeres Of reviews of the troops, gotten up in
honor Of his arrival. There was number Of
these reviews Of five TO ten thousand men
each, which gaze the Governor an opportunity
x,Fhl
tle artillery, and the Indiana regiments, scpa-
ratcly.
At tpcrkins' Plantation, Gen. McClcrnand
honored the Governor with another very fine
review, aud which closed with a sham-ilght,
in which all the ulannuycrs Of grand battle
we're performed with precision and very fine
eflCct. Gen. Ben:o on Of Missouri, and Gen.
Carr Of Illinois, directed the movements. The
enthusiasm Of the troops upon passing in re.
view to salute the Governor, was the strongest
evidence Of the bold he has upon the hearts Of
the Illinois soldiers.
btfolc ,hc bombaTdmtnt Of tile rebel bate
ries Of Grand Gulf, Gov. }ntes also addressed
the officers of his division. They were assem-
bled on one IF tho transports Tor tlllt pur-
pose. The Governor spoke to them Of their
duty upon such m OCCASION; uf the sacred
cause IN which they we're engaged, and of the
glory Of even being allowed the privilege of
dying for ones country. Tue address had a
very powerful effect The occasion, the hour,
the death.slrife to come off at the lnurniug's
dawn, all combined to render this most In
tc1eE1ing el'isude, aud it will no doubt long
be remembered by thuse who participated
therein There are mnny such nnrecorded
in this war no doubt; and many and many q
brave heat has struggled with the deepest
emotions Of our being has experienced iu
one thort Lorr all the iondest rcc,llections of
home, wifi, children, parents, brothers and
$Cfor
nul gun or trump If battle calls it to sacrifice
| them NIL upon the altar Of its country.
On the next day but one WAS fought the
bloody and decisive battle Of Port Gibson
| Gen. Grant, ty a cireuitous march. got into
+! the rear Of the emmy, ntter I'LL Intellectual at
| les. In this attempt, six gunhuats, including
the Benton, were engaged. The Governor
| here had an opportunity of witnessing the
| contest between gnnboats and land batteries !;
! the question Of the superiority of the Que or
the e'htr is now the grcut question Of the day
| in Western warfare. The Governor, after see
ing tile desperate conrage and daring Of the
navy, nnd the tact that they were fruitless Of
effective results, is satisfied that tho victory
remains with the land defvnses. Some Of the
gunboats wc,e completely rildlcd, hasing
twenty shot holes put through them, not
withstanding their armor Tie Tuscumbie,
commanded by the gallant Shirk, Was riddled,
| ana received several shots between wind 3nl
| water. Capt. Slirk ran his vessel right under
| tie batteries. amid perfect storm Of shot
and she'll After the action she was with diff.
ficulty kept atloat. Gov. Yates went OH board
| the Benton during the action, where he was
| cordially received by Commodore Porter,
| whom he found as cool in action, and plcing
his quarter deck, as merchant the Hoor of
| his counting room. The sccnc on board tue
| to the sights and sounds Of battle. 4 num-
ber Of men were killed and wounded, and the
vessel had received some gery ugly shot
marks. The feet was compelled to withdraw,
afcr having been able to silence only the
lover tier Of guns. The battery on the blu1
could not be eifsctual}y destroyed.
Upon getting oil his transports below,
Gen. Grant re embarked the army and march
cd against Port Gibson. And, as was said
above, a bloody but decisive battle WAS
fought: The enemy took advantage Of the
ground to entrench themselves, and it was
only by flank movement that they were
compelled to moye ont OF their position aud
meet our army. The action lasted five hours,
and terminated in the utter route Of the
rebels. the capture IF their artillery, and the
death Of their commander, Gest. Tracey. t1ov
Yates was with Gen. Grant during the action
and both at one tine narrowly escaped dc
stFuction, having rode to within very shor
rat &C IF large force of infantry concealed it
Eolne brush, which opened frc 1T point blanl
range upon them. 4 regiment Of ours was
~
llanding general and his co1npanio. saw il
out TO tic last. The rebel infantry wert
soon compelled to retire, from the effects O.
the fire OF . battery Of artillery which ths
General ordered up.
1he Governor rode into Port Gibson be
tween the lines of our troops with Genera
Grant, and the reception given to botl, was
| tic wArmest kind. In the evening the Gov
crnor was also scrcnaded By Gen. CArr's tiyi
sion. and delivered short speech in response
TO the calls OF tho boys.
In the meantime the troops on tho trans
ports were impatient 10 take part iu the &C
tion. General Grant, however, determined
| 10 dcbark them about two miles above til,
| batteries, march them across tongue OF lane
aud cInbark them again. But to do this II
was necessary that the transports should rnr
the batteries. This was finally accomplished
strangc to say, without the loss Of transport
or u'an, notwithstanding that the boiler,
md other machinery Of the boats WAS nol
guarded ~ bales Of hay, cotton, &c. as j:
usual. TAe gallant Colonel A. Z. johnson
oncl Of tire 18th, who has been In the Mexicar
| war md nearly every great battle in the IVES
J in this war, volunteered to take the transport
past the batteries, md did 50 most SUCCESS
in1lH. aotWl1hstnnainE st., that nine Of them wer
miration Of the entire Acct and army, and n
fleets the highest credit upon Colonel John
son anu the officers who volunteered uUIe
him.
Governor Yates found our army in splcalj,
: condition, both physically and morally. tt,
, health Of the troops could not be better. TIL,
men appear to be perfectly acclimated, IN.
l TIC trighttul mortality and sickness Of H.,
: years. operations on the Tennessee il happil,
not experienced By our Mississippi troops j;
the present campaign.
, With the colored troops Gov. Tates, as vel
, | as all the officers with whom he conycrsctl
| expresses himself highly pleased. They ar
looked upon as coed soldiers, capable ofdisci
:; | l'line 10 very high degree, and very obcdiea
10 their superiors, whom they look NJ t,
, with much respect and admiration They ar
also very anxious to be led into action. Al
that they fear Is that the Northcrncrs vii
leave them to the tender mcrrfes Of their oil,
masters when they quit the country, If eve
that event shou!d take place. Gen. TAoma
c has one regiment of cOlored troops q thou
+ sand strong Mt Helena; another of the sa1n
r. strength at Milliken'a Bend, and another l.
,, being raised at Memphis. Two or three o
i these regiments are well armed and equipped
: and make very fine appearance. In Ill ther
I are about II, COO Of these troops.
, must not also forget to mention the pas
y sage ct the batteries at Vicksburg, u,ltIc
0 Col: Clark B. Ia Cow of Gen. Grants staff,
e native Of Crawf ford county. in this Slate. I
4 Is considered most laring achievement. an,
- 10 it much Of the success Of SUBSEQUENT move
c mcnts must be attributed.
:, Tho statements published concerning th
d destitution Of the rebels as regards food Coz
Yates pTounnnces as untrue or ut least cyar,,
;, rations. Everywhere he found abundance d
= everything in the way Of the mere nccessayie
e Of life, aud Mt several points large dcnots a.
;, corn and provisions. Tic thinks the rebel