The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-05-30
The BATTLE AT CHAMPION Hill.


immediately on entering jackson.
Tennessee, on Thursday. General Grs nt
dispatched orders to McC!eruauds corp..
which were coming up in the rear as rap
idly as possible, TO countermarch and get
on the main road to Vicksburg at Clinton.
Yesterday it marched to a point two
miles west OF this before supdown, and
drove the enemys plckets there.
Cen hcPhersons corps was put in mo
ton in the same direction, with Gen. Lo
gan in advance, and reached this point at
1 clock.
Early this morning Gen McClernand'. /.
corps was again put in motion. Gen. Ho
veys division was on the main road from
jackson to Nicksburg, but the balance OF
OF the corps was few miles to the south
ward On parallel road Gen McPher
sons corps followed Hoveys division
closely.
At 9 o'clock Gen. Hovey discovered
the enemy in front on Champion Hill, to
the left Of the road near BAKERS Creek,
apparently in force Skirnishsrs were
thrown out, and the division advanced
cautiously and slowly to give Gen. Nc
Phersons advance division, under Logan
time to come within supporting distance
Gen. Hoveys division advanced across an
opcn field at the foot OF Champion Hill, in
line of battle, at III clock, and COM
menced battle.
The hill itself is covered with timber,
and is, in fact, but an abrupt terminus of
a high ridge running north and south,
and gulleys, in many places covered With
All almost imrenetrable growth Of scrub
BY white oak bushes. The rebels ap
peared deficient in artillery throughout
the battle, but opened with a rather
heavy fire from four gun battery of ri
fle six Founders, planted about 4OO yards
| back from the brow Of the hill
The woods on both sides Of the road
| leading up the face Of the hill, and wind
ing back on the ridge 4 mile or more,
were filled with sharpshooters, supported
by infantry. fl. II ssEE bt#
Here the battle began in earnest, as
our men entered the edge of the timber,
and ragged terribly from | | o'clock till be
| tween 3 and f.
Gen 4. P. Hovey's division carried the
heights in gallant style, sand, making a
dash OIL the first battery. drove the gun.
pers from their posts and captured the
Ipieces. The 1lth Indiana claim the honor
of carrying the battery. The rebels lay
thick in the vicinity Of the guns, and their
horses were more than half killed, gun
carriages and caissons broken and over
turned while knapsacks, blankets, small
arms, and other debris attested the dead
ly strrggie for the ground. The colors of
the 3lst Alabama Regiment were cap
tured there also, but failed 70 learn by
whose hands.
At this juncture Mitchslfs Ohio battery
was opened about eighty yards from the
brow of tho hill The rebels made dash
for it, and nothing but the heetness Of the
horses prevented its capture. Captain
Mitchell was wounded, and is believed to
have fallen into the enemy's hands.
At this juncture the rebels appeared re-
inferced with fresh troops on that wing,
and redoubled their efforts to hold the
position and dislodge our troops on the
hill
Ger. Hovey was slowly driven back to
the brow OF the hill, but . brigsde from
Gen. Quimby was ordered to his support,
and the ground was speedily reoccupied
by US, and tho rebels finally repulsed.
At tho commencement Of the engage
ment, Gen. Logan's division marched psst
the brow of the hill. and, forming in line
Of battle on the right Of Hovey. advanced
IN grand style, sweeping everything before
them 80 - - - - 49,
At the edge Of the woods, in front OF
| Gen Logan, the battle was of the most des
perate character imaginable The rattle
of musketry was incessaut from the first
momSnt Of the engagement and blent in
continuous and deadly roar, in which re.
ports were 80 blended that . single dis
charge was rarely heard. Not man
hinched or line wavered in the division, 90
far - could discover All behaved like
veterans, and moved to new positions with
the conscious tread of victory.
Two Batteries were CAPTURED by this di.
vision, and enough hard fghting was done
= immertaliss il Besides this il sap