The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-08-20

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 10
gan's division had, unconscious of this
important fact, penetrated nearly to this
road, and compelled the enemy to re.
-tfe't TO prevent capture. As it was,
much of his artillery and Loring's divi-
sion OF his army was cut off, besides the
prisoners captured. On the call of Hovey
Tor more re-eniorcements, just before the
rout OF the enemy commenced, ordered
( MCPHERSON to move what troops he could
by left flank around TO the enemy'S
front Logan rode up at this time and
told me If Hoyey could make another
dash on the enemy he could come IN
/ from where he then was and capture the
greater part of their force. | immedi-
ately rode forward and found the troops
that had been so gallantly engaged for
Sahee3 P6ainIioY, " aYd" I" waree fTllhg their
cartridge-boxes. / desired them to use
all dispatch and push forward as soon as
possible, explaining to them the position
of Logans division. Proceeding still
further forward, expecting every mo-
ment to see the enemy, and reaching
what had been his line, ! found he was
retreating. Arriving at the Raymond
road, l saw to my left and on the next
ridge column of troops which proved
to be Carr's division, and McClernand
with it in person; and to the left of Carr,
Osterhaus's S division soon afterwards ap-
peared with his skirmishers we'll in ad-
vance. ] sent word to Osterhaus that
the enemy was in full retreat, and 10
push up with all haste The situation
was soon explained, after which order
ed Carr to pursue with all speed to Black
river and across it if he could, and to
Osterhaus to follow. Some of McPher-
sons troops had already got into the
road in advance, but having marched and
engaged the enemy all day, they were
tatlgued, and gave the road to Carr, who
continued the pursuit until after dark,
capturing a train of ears loaded with
commissary and ordnance stores and
other property.
The delay i'll the advance of the troops
immediately y with McClernand was caus-
ed, no doubt, by the enemy presenting n
front of artillery and infantry, where it
was impossible, from the nature of the
ground and the density of the forest, 10
discover his numbers As it was. the
battle of Champions Hill, or Bakers
Creek, was fought mainly by Hoveys
division of McClernand's corps, and Lo-
gan's and Quimby's divisions, (the latter
commanded by Brigadier General N. NJ.
Hronl-.nA oT Ill >,
Ransom's brigade, of McPhersons
corps, came on to the field where the
main battle had been fought immediate
ly after the enemy had begun this re-
treat.
with direction to turn his corps toward
Bridgeport; aud to Blair to join him at
that place.
At daylight, on the 10th, the pursuit
me arreasffffttAt. aeafffftAt with CleEn9nd's earns in
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
cultivated bottom of near one mile IN
width, surrounded by bayou of stag
nant water, from two to three feet IN
| depth, and from ten to twenty feet in
width, from the river above the railroad
to the river below. Following the inside
| line of the bayou the enemy had con-
structed rifle pits, with the bayou to serve
as ditch on the outside and immediate
ly in front of them. Carr's division oc-
cupied the right investing the place, aud
Lawlers brigade the right of his divis-
ion. After skirmishing Lawler discovered
that by moving portion of his brigade
under cover of the river bank, he could
get position from which that place
could be successfully assaulted, and or
dered charge accordingly. Notwith
standing the level ground over which q
portion of his troops had to pass without
cover, and the great obstacle of the ditci
, in'frout Of the enemy's works, the charg'
! was gallantly and successfully made, ant
in few minutes the entire garrison, witt
: seventeen pieces of artillery, were th'
trophies Of this brilliant and daring
| movement. The enemy on the west banl
of the river Immediately set fire TO tn
e railroad bridge and rctreattd, thus cut
e ting off all chance of escape for any poT
: ton OF his forces remaining on the eas
u bank
Sherman, by this time, had reache
| Bridgeport, on Black river above. III
only pontoon train with the expeditio
/ was with him. BY the morning of th
S rssdJb he 70 Ind maref ehn55d oh tbs bftef and
/ Clernand and Mcpherson built foatin
I bridges, during the night, and had the
, ready for crossing their commands by
i A. NJ, of the 18th. -
~ ;, The march commenced by Sherma
- = at an early hour by the Bridgeport al
H7ea Vieksburg roads, turning to the rigf
ID when within thlee and half miles
=. Vicksburg. to get possession of Vain
n Hills and the Yazoo river. This W
~ successfully accomplished before {
h h nipht of the 18th. Mcpherson cross
II Black river above the Jackson road, a
ne came into the same road with Sherma
Of but to his rear. He arrived after mig
oo fall with his advance to where Sherm
.ey turned to the right. McClernand NOV
nd bv the Jackson and Vicksburg road
re- Mount Albans, and there turned to
di- left to get into Baldwin's Ferry ro
VS. By this disposition the three army CO..
mi covered all the ground their strene
ms would admit of, and by the morning
m. m the 18th, the investment OF Vlckso'
no. was made as complete as could be Dy
-: foroas ,,nder my command