The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-12-04

some two or three miles from Port Gibson. My
recollection, and diary kept during the time.
fixes the date certainly as May /. The entire
battle was fought by McClernand's Thirteenth
Corps, with Carr's and Hovey's Divisions on
the right and ours (Osterhaus'sl on the left.
One brigade Of Gen. Logan's Division of Nc
Pherson's Corps came OH the field in the after
noon and attempted to advance where bril-
gade of ours had tried before, but failed as sig
nally as ours had during the forenoon. They
then filed of 10 the left for the purpose OF turn
ing the enemy's flank, and we saw no more of
them.
In the afternoon my regiment-the Hath
Ohio-was supporting Fosters (Iichigan) and
Lamphere's wisconsin, batteries, consolidated
and commanded by Capt. Lamphere. Gems.
Grant, Mcpherson, and others came riding over
from the right, where the firing had ceased
The rebels opened up two brass guns on them.
Ihey rode up TO the battery we were support
Ing, and our guns were working very lively,
when Gen. O5terhars jumped off his horse and
called on our regiment TO charge, he leading us.
This we did with WILL and it was our pleas
ure TO capture the two brass guns and about 10
prisoners, the balance running as hard as they
could. i believe l can truly say that this was
the happiest moment OF my life when L put
my hand on one OF the guns. After getting
what prisoners we could and sending them to
the rear, we formed line with what was left of
us after sending so many with prisoners. AS
Gems. Grant, Mcpherson, Logan, and Osterhaus
also, think, Gov. Yates of Illinois-rode in
front of us, our hats and cheers went high in
the air.
Gen. Grant said to us "Boys, you have
done well to-day, but you'll have more of the
same thing Tomorrow" We then called for
Osterhaus. who had mounted his horse. He
said to us: well, boys, dells you vat it is :
you do as veil tomorrow as you does to day
and we whip dem repels undil they can't eat
saurkraut."
Gen. Mcpherson came up then and asked
Gen. Osterhaus for the loan of our regiment to
push on rs far as he could before dark, as he
wished TO bring his corps up as far as possible.
We advanced with Gen. Mcpherson, passing
any number Of rebel knapsacks, which in their
hasty retreat they had not time to gather up
After going something like mile or so, and
coming almost to the brow of a high hill, the
enemy opened fire on us. 1t was just dark,
and Gen. Mcpherson ordered US to halt, as he
did not want to bring on general engage
ment.
My regiment did the picket duty that night,
l being the officer in charge of pckets. Gen.
Mcpherson was on the line considerable part
of the night Next morning we moved back
over the battle ground and got our blankets,
except those that had been taken for the
wounded. Then we marched to Port Gibson
about noon, joining our division there. My
impression is that the 9th Ind. lost more killed
than any other regiment in our division. Our
Colonel (Cradlebaugh) not being WELL had gone
to lie under shade tree something like 100
yards away, at the time We were supporting
the battery, and therefore was not present
when We made the final charge that closed the
fight. He did not find us that night, but
Joined US early next morning. remember of his
feeling so badly about not being with Us in the
charge, which he witnessed. He said Il would
have given all / have, all am, or expect to be,
to have been with you" He was at the time
a Member of Congress, and had Joined us but
short time before the battle. On the 22d Of
May, in the last charge on the works at Vicks-
burg, he was shot in the mouth, and could
never give commands to the regiment after
Mard.-E. i. HAWK. Capt. 114th Ohio.