The National tribune., 1884-09-04

afforded some shelter from the rebel artillery. |
The 42d Ohio with the Goth Ind. on the left, |
moved smartly up the ridge and found the |
enemy on a similar ridge, about a hundred
yards distant the two ridges being separated |
by deep ravine. The two regiments were on
their mettle, and, their losses prove, bore the
brunt of battle in that part of the field. Still
keeping partly under cover, the men would
advance until they got an opportunity for a
shot then lie down or retire and reload. By
this time the accurate fire of Fosters guns had
begun to cut up the rebel battery. The AID
also opened upon it, and the cannoneers were
driven into log hut near by. Then they
rallied, and making rush for the guns tried
TO get away with the three not yet disabled.
They first tried to drag the pieces away by
hand but the fire of the 42d and Goth killed
the gunDers before they could move them an
inch. Then, in desperate effort to save the
guns, the horses and limbers were brought out
from behind the log buildings and made dash
for the battery, but yolley from the right
wing of the AID brought down every horse, and
the guns were lost; it was certain death to ap-
proach them. The AID and 69th now made
two gallant efforts to charge over the hill, down
through the ravine, and up the opposite bank.
In both instances the dash was successfully
made, but failed of its results through the un-
accountable stupidity of our men. The two
regiments reached the second ravine and be-
gan the ascent, when the rebels fearing they
would be attacked at close quarters, advanced
to the top of the slope, seeing which the 120th
Ohio, in the rear and left of the 42d, opened
MURDERoUs FIRE,
every shot of which that fell too low struck
among the 42d. Several men, including Lieut..
Campbell, of Co. G, and Ira Osburn, of Co. A,
42d, were severely wounded, aud five or six
others killed by this severe fire in few mo-
ments. Finding itself thus between two fires,
the AID gladly obeyed the order to fall back to
its former position on the first ridge. The 69th,
which had gone forward at the same time,
reached a position sheltered from the fire of
our own troops, and held its ground manfully,
singing Rally Round the Flag" as it fought.
After an hour of this the 69th, whose ammuni-
ton began to run low, was ordered back, while
the AID moved forward to occupy its place.
The rebels mistook the movement of the 69th
for retreat of our line and came down in pur-
suit, firing furiously, but the AID charged up
CALAMITY and drove them back. few mo-
ments after we saw two or three companies
detached from, the rebel line and move round
another ravine, separated only by narrow
ridge from the one in which the AID was then
fighting. 1t Was impossible to fire upon them
without exposing ourselves to a cross-fire. So
Col. Pardee tried strategy Moving four COM
panies of the AID round by the right, he gained
the flank and rear of the rebel force, opened
sharp reverse fire upon it, and then charged
down, driving the rebel companies over the
ridge into the hands Of the main body of the
42d, by whom they were all captured, Eight
of the rebels were killed in this little exploit
and more than hundred prisoners taken.
1t was now about noon. For more than five
hours the
BATTLE HAD RACED WITH DESPERATE FURY.
We could hear the roar of the conflict away to
the right, and knew by the gradually reeeding
tumult that Hovey's, Carr's and Smiths divis-
ions were driving the enemy. Report came
that Hovey's men had captured a battery; so
in fact had we, but we had not yet got our
hands upon it, We, in our part of the line,
were opposed to force superior TO our own in
a strongly chosen position and though our
entire division had fought gallantly, the en-
emy had substantially held his ground. The roar
of our guns that morning had reached the ears
of Gen. Grant on board gunboat at Bruinsburg,
and, borrowing mule, he had started for the
scene. On the way he passed Gen. John A.
Logan's division of the 18th Corps, which had
crossed the river during the night and was
hurrying forward. Grant arrived at 1920 and
assumed chief command. Logan came an hour
later. and one of his brigades-Gen. John Z.
Smith's-was immediately sent 10 our aid. IL
was put in on the left of O5terhauss division,
swung round, and took the enemy in flank. At
the same time, our line again charged forward,
crossed the second ravine, climbed the hill I'M
position, and rolled his line back in disorder.
The rebel Gen. Tracy was killed in the final
assault, and we found the woods and the open
space near the battery and about the lighthouse
strewn with dead. Nearly mile from his first
position the enemy met re-enforeements from
Vicksburg, and when we again came up re-
sisted untilnight, falling back stubbornly be-
fore US until within two miles of Port Gibson,
the spires Of which we could see shining white
and peaceful in the setting sun. Our May-dsy
was over.
WE HAD GAINED A VICTORY,
Of which every man instinctively felt the i'm
portance, but it had been won at serious cost.
The loss of the 42d Ohio was II killed and 81
wounded; that of the 69th Ind, 10 killed and
Al wounded. have no data in figures of losses
OF other regiments engaged. Ten brigades had
been engaged on the Union side that day, and
these two regiments had suffered nearly a
quarter of the entire loss. Gems. Grant and
Mcpherson, who came with Smiths brigade to
the left of the field and watched the charge
that broke that part of the enemy's line per-
sonalIy complimented the AID and Goth upon
their gallantry. al day long we had been
fighting the flower of the Vicksburg army, the
famous Mississippi Tigers" The two roads
upon which this spirited battle was fought
fork, as already stated, at a point four miles
west of Port Gibson. After diverging until
nearly two miles apart, they gradually con-
verge and unite half mile from Port Gibson
McClernand, with his three divisions on the
right, continued to press the enemy vigorously
all the afternoon. About o'clock Q. m. there
arrived two brigades of Confederates from
Vicl1sburg They could be seen coming over
the hills swinging their hats and shouting as
! they hurried into the fight This arrival
served TO cheer the spirits of Bowen's men, and
as still further re-enforeements were expected
| from Jackson, under Gen. Loring, the enemy
held out stubbornly until dark. The troops
| lay down whore they stopped fighting, and
/ awaited the coming of another day. The VIC
tory to the Federals had been complete. They
/ had captured two batteries and $50 prisoners,
! and held tho whole field of the days battle.
! The dead and many of the wounded of the
enemy were in our hands. The Federal loss
had been 130 killed and us wounded, of which
more than half were In Osterhauss division.
| The enemy's loss was much greater
WHO WOULDN'T BE A SOLDIER.