The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-08-22

directed first one and then a second bril-
gade from Crocker's division to reinforce
him. All this time Logan's division was
working upon the enemy's left and rear,
and weakened his front attack most won
derfully. The troops here opposing us evil
IDENTIFY far outnumbered ours. Expecting
McClernand momentarily with four divis-
ions, inlcuding Blair's) I never felt
doubt of the result. He did not arrive,
however, until the enemy had been driven
from the field, after a terrible contest of
hours, with heavy loss of killed wounded
and prisoners, and number Of pieces of
artillery: 1t was found afterwards that
the Vicksburg road, after following the
ridge in southerly direction for about one
mile and to where it intersected one of the
Raymond roads turns almost to the west,
down the hill and across the valley in
which Logan was operating on the rear of
the enemy. One brigade of Logan's divis-
ion had unconscious of this important fact,
penetrated nearly to this road and COM
PEELED the enemy to retreat to prevent cap
ture. AS it was, much of his artillery, and
Loring's division of his army was cut off,
besides the prisoners captured. On the
call of HOvey for more reinfOrcements just
before the rout of the enemy commenced,
ordered Mcpherson to move what troops
he could by a left flank around to the ene-
my's front. Logan rode up at this time
other dash at the enemy he could come up
from where he then was and capture the
greater part of their force. / Immediately
rode toward and found the troops that had
been so gallanty engaged for so many
hours, Withdrawn from their advanced po-
siton, and were filling their cartridge box
es. directed them to use all dispatch
planning to them the position of Logans
division. Proceeding still further forward,
expecting every moment to see the enemy,
and reaching what had been his line, I
found he was retreating. Arriving at the
Raymond road saw to my left, and on the
next ridge column of troops which prov
ed to be Carr's division and McClernand
with it in person; and to the left of Carr,
Osterhaus' division soon afterwards appear
ed with his skirmishers well in ADVANCE
sent word to Osterhaus that the enemy
was in full retreat, and to push up with all
haste. The situation was soon explained,
after which I ordered Carr to pursue with
all speed to Black River and cross it if he
could, and to Osterhaus to follow. Some
Of McPhersons troops had already got in
to the road in advance, but having march
ed and engaged the enemy all day, they
were fatigued and gave the road to Carr,
who continued the pursuit till after dark,
capturing train of cars loaded with COM
missary and ordinance stores and other
property. The delay in the advance of the
troops Immediately with McClernand was
a front of artillery and infantry where it
was impossible from the nature of the
ground and the density of the forest to dis
cover his numbers. As it was, the battle
of Champion Hill, or Bakers Creek was
fought mainly by Hovey's division of Nc
Clernand's corps and Logan's and Quimbys
divisions (the latter commanded by Briga-
| Il AZ ~ 80 MI
sons corps.
Ransom g brigade, of McPherson's corps,
came on to the field where the main battle
had been fought Immediately after the en-
envy had begun his retreat.
CROSSING OF THE BIG BLACK.--Word
was sent to Sherman, at Bolton, of the re-
suit of the days engagement, with direc-
and to Blair to join him at the latter place.
At daylight, on the 18th, the pursuit was
renewed with McClernand's corps in the
advance. The enemy was found strongly
posted on both sides of the Black River
At this point, on Black River, the bluffs
extend to the waters edge on the west
bank. On the east side is an open, cult
} waited bottom of near one mile in width
surrounded by bayou of stagnant water
from two to three feet in depth, and from
ten to twenty feet in depth, from the river
above the railroad to the river below. Fol-
{ lowing the inside line of this bayou the
) enemy had constructed rifle pits, with the
) bayou to serve as a ditch on the outside and
Immediately in front of them. Cars diyi.
sion occupied the right in investing this
J place, and Lawler s brigade the right of his
division. After a few hours skirmishing
} LAWYER discovered that by moving por.
J ton of his brigade under cover of the bank
) he could get a position from which thai
place could be successfully assaulted, and
ordered charge accordingly. Notwith
, standing the level ground over which q
portion of the troops had to pass without
cover, and the great obstacle of the ditch ir
: front of the enemy's works, the charge was
} gallantlv and successfully made, and in $
J few minutes the entire garrison with sew.
enteen pieces of artillery were the trophies
of this brilliant and daring movement
The enemy on the west bank of the river
5 Immediately set fire to the railroad bridge
: and retreated, thus cutting off all chance o
| escape for any portion of his forces remain
/ ing on the east bank.
: Sherman, by this time, had reached
, Bridgeport, on Black River above The
only pontoon train with theexpedition was
with him. By the morning of the 18th hi
; march on Walnut Hills. McClernand anc
MCPHERSON built floating bridges durins
the night, and had them ready for crossing
) their commands at 8 o'clock a. 10. of thu
, 18th.
l The march was commenced by Sherman
at an early hour by the Bride eport ant
V!cksburg road, turning to the right ,wher
within three and half miles of Vicksburc
to get possession of Walnut Hills and thu
, Yazoo River. This was successfully &C
complished before the night of the 18TH
MCPHERSON crossed Black River above the
= jackson road, and came into the same roac
Z. with Sherman, but to his rear He arrived
after nightfall with his advance to where
| Sherman turned to the right. McClernanG
moved by the Jackson,and Vicksbnrg roat
J to Mount Adams, and there turned to thu
left to get into the Baldwin's Ferry road
: By this distribution the three army corp:
covered All the ground their strength woulc
admit of, and by the morning of the 1911
the investment of Vicksburg was made as
complete, as could be by the forces at my
2 command.
The ASSAULTS ON Observation-Disclosures
the day there was continuous skirmishing
and was not without hope of carrying the
, enemy's works. Relying upon the demon
4 aiization of the enemy in consequence O
s repeated defeats outside of Vicksbure,