Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-04-28

niles, reaching our place Of bivouac sometime afser
night Early Ia the next morning we resumed our
march and crossed Cross Bayou deep muddy stream.
This crossing was also made in hatbt ats. We were
nov within seventeen miles Of Vdaa small town on
the Missssppi river It's hank Immediately oppc site
to the city OF Natchez For that point marched
directly, and at rapid step For nine miles before
reaching that place our route lay song lake and In
full yisw of Natchez. We reached the vicinity Of
Vidslia after o'clock ard before ocl9ck invested
the place. The enemy had been informed Of our APP
proach and were ready to receive ue Dol. Hawps and
Gel Stones regmsnis approached the place from the
souhWes and thereby fVled the enemy in an attempted
flank movement upol our right The l7th approached
on The NORTH vest and front and by skilu man9uVrng
prevented the enemy from linking our left
10 this manner we approached tie town, driving the
enemy before from negro quarters to thiekes from
thckets gin houses and negro quarters again-itom
there to ditch(s and towR and from bitches and town
to their breastworks the river bank and immediate
" under the protection OF their gunboats field bate
ries on this sde aud land batteries on the oher side
of the river Soon after formed in line OF battle
the enemy opened upon US most terrific cannonade
from their guuboas and land defences OF Natchez ana
Vldaia covering the plain over which we passed With
their missiles OF death--etll we advanced while the
bursting shells and roar Of cannon.rom the river and
cliffs of Natchez seemed if the heavens we're bursting
under AID hsiling regiments on every side OF us
We continued to advance rn;il within three hundred
Yards of the enemys beastworks. wen the conflict be-
ment in position TO receive and return this fire. The
brilliant Ooonel Taylor was always present where ais
presence was NEEDED and spael no rick otImb or lie
to encourage aud support his men, and most gelan ly
did this cid regiment sustain thai reputation 1t has won
for itself Oh well-fought fields. Que men, tskng adj
vantage OF ditch that had been dug for drainage put
poses were W. sheltered from the enemys bullets.
In gaining this position, We gained cur object for
from bore We kept the enemy covered in their wok,
until our drove CT their mules horses, beeves, and
brought away fuch other public opery could,
that would be useful to Us, and destroyed much more.
Thousands of spectators thro gad the buliirgs and
bluffs Of Natchtz witnessed holiirg the Feds in
their corner while we captured and trCught auay the
contents of their stables and stoehouses aud that 100
spite of their shells and bullets and from under the very
paris OF one of their slrongholGs To lave charged
she Gnemy 10 their brsastwors where they numbered
five to one and uder shelter OF their hiaVy ari-
lery which could have swept the p ain with grape and
canister would have been madness, and besides, that
was not what we went there to do aud the
down We slowly Withdrew from the field. Toe hand OF
Providence seems 10 have been u.s. protec-
tor and shield for we had only four men wounded We
withdrew from beyond the range of the enemys bate
res that night and bivouacked the next morning After
securing our captured property, very lesurely
menced our march back to this phce and occupied four
days in marching the ground, which passed over
in two days when going.
l, the frst thirty.sx houIs Of tits expedition we
marched forty FIVE miles, three navgabe stream
| in Aaboats, aud made the fight at Viisha. Few iE-
stances eau be referred to Of such speed and endurance
on the part CT dismounted troops Ia the assault on
Vdaa our forces scarcely numbered seven hundred
The Federals numbered, by their admission, over
800 men, besides the advantage CT their artillery
Their loss we have not aGcertaned Brig. Gen. Polg-
nae commanded our troops in person. and with US
in every part of the field. He is gallant soldier and
an scoomp lished officer and has for himself high
position in the esteem and sffsctions of bis men.