The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-23

tance by Cau's Division, when the whole line
was halted,
AND DAYLIGHT AWAITED.
AT the hats made during the night march
the men would fall out on the side Of the road
and 60 10 sleep, the officers usually remaining
awake At one Of these halts, / think IL was
the one after the firing, something gave way
about one of the battery wagons, either gun
carriage or caisson aud il came laundering
down steep hill, frightening the hai-sleeping
men aud for moment creating quite panic
IL was all we could do 10 prevent a stampede Of
the men. They were soon, however got into
line, and, once fully awake, discipline as
serted itself i cite this incident 10 show how
easy il is 10 create panic even among good
soldiers
Soon after daylight we came to a small creek.
halt was ordered, aud the men proceeded TO
make their toilets aud get breakfast. Fires
were at once kindled and coffee made in the
shortest possible time. This was just done
when the order came 10 fall in." Then each
soldier and officer could have been seen with
CUP OF COFFEE, BOILING HOT,
in one hand aud his gun OF sword in the other,
on the march TO the front Gen. Carr had
found the enemy strongly posted on Thomp-
sons Hill, four miles from Port Gibson.
The position selected by Gen. Bowen, the
rebel commander, was a very strong one. IL
was on "A succession Of hills of very consider
able hight, with deep ravines between them.
The hills were cleared Of timber, but the hol-
lows were very thickly grown up with under
brush, briers and canebrakes. The one through
which we passed was especially so. Ii was one
of the most dismal places ever saw. In front
of the position selected by Gen. Bowen the
roads forked lie had placed his army-ya-
riOusly stated TO be from 6.000 TO 5000 men
across these two roads and on the highest of
the hills behind these almost impossible hol-
lows. Gen. Carr had arranged his force TO meet
this disposition of the rebels. His First Bri-
gade, composed Of the sth and 18th Ind. and
the 33d and 99th ILL.,. commanded by Gen. Ben
ton, was on the right or south road; his other
brigade was on the left or north road.
In following up these roads Carr's Division
had necessarily become
VERY WIDELY SEPARATED,
and Hoveys Division was deployed between
the two brigades OF Carrs Division. The right
of the First Brigade commanded by Gen. Nc
Ginnis, was on the right, aud next TO Benton's.
When we attempted to advance we found it
almost impossible TO do so, owing 10 the nature
of the ground, the distractions that i have
noted, and the fire Of the enemy. When we
finally reached the hill in front of us we found
its ascent so abrupt that we could not advance
in line of battle and had TO march by the flank
quite a distance in order TO iGd a suitable
place TO so up. Such place was finally found
and we got up and formed our line on the top
of the hill, ON the left of Benton's Brigade.
Our position was Immediately in front Of the
battery about the capture Of which there has
been so much controversy in The NATIONAL
| TRIBUNE So far as i am concerned j still adj
here to what i have previously said about that
matter
As soon as the line Of battle was formed an
advance of our brigade was ordered, which was
responded 10 with cheer; and notwithstand-
/ i'm oga ctr onH n
brave defense Of the position he had selected,
he was soon driven back in our front. That
they made determined stand was apparent
/ from the number Of their dead and wounded
we found in our front.
The rebels at once formed a new line Of bat
tie on another bill, perhaps half a mile in rear
Of the one from which they had just boon
driven. But as that was not as difficult Of ap-
prOach as the first,
1T WAS SOON TAKEN,
and the enemy retreated in considerable dis
order. They did not make any further stand
in our front. but TO all appearances abandoned
our part of the field.
Gen. McGinnis then formed his brigade on
! the bill last held by the enemy, and from
which he had driven them and we were per-
mitted 10 take some rest. At the time this
was done the 29th Wis. for some reason, was
! placed at the foot OF the hill and about 200
/ saids III lfoul ol Ahc Dfikaqc line OF baillb.
This disposition was made about l o'clock,
possibly later While we were in that position
a squad of rebel bOrsemen We're seen under a
magnolia tree, about q mile in front Of us.
Capt Mitchell, of the 10th Ohio battery. which
was i'm line just to the left our regiment, had
one Of his guns unlimbered and at the third
discharge scattered the group. We afterwards
heard that a rebel General had been killed at
that time and under that tree.
/ In front of the Dosition of the ooll Wis
was a thick undcrbrush Of briers, canes etc,
| which extended from within a few yards OF
that regiment quite a distance 10 the front
Under cover Of this, about four o'clock, the
rebels made a fierce attack on the 29th. Tho
Wisconsin men stood up manfully aud
FOUGHT LIKE VETERANS
although they were then comparatively new
troops. With the help of the artillery and
such Of the infantry were within range, thI
assault was soon repulsed aud the enemy
severely punished. Then three times three
cheers went up for that gallant command from
the remainder Of the brigade. This ended Tho
battle of Port Gibson. 1t was our May Day, 1863
IL was a hard fought and fairly won field al
the losses on both sides will testify. This
battle was principally fought by CaT's anC
Hoyey's Divisions, assisted by 0sterhaus'
Division aud one brigade Of Logan's Division
j do not pretend TO give anything but wha
took place in the immediate part Of the fielC
occupied by my own regiment. All the troop
engaged did their whole duty.
Early in the morning one of the guns Of tn
lst Ind battery was disabled by shot from
the enemys artillery, which struck the axle
aud IL was left there. Soon after one Of th
guns Of the 10th Ohio battery was renderei
useless by blowing out Of the vent. As th
guns were Of the same caliber and kind, gul
squad from the 10Th Ohio buried their gul
and
MARKED THE GRAVE
"Serg't Dawson, 10th Ohio battery" took thei
carriage aud mounted the lst Ind gun on it, an
used il during the remainder of the day an
that campaign. IL the Indiana boys neve
heard what became of their gun they will no,
know.
In the morning, as we were going into lin,
a large bear camc from the direction Of th
, rebel line passed through the Union line an
! went to the rear unmolcsted No one SCENE
! TO be hunting that kind Of game that day.
f While we were making our way through th
y canebrake in the morning one Of those annoy
ing and eXasperating circumstances happene
! that do so much 10 create confusion anon
men. The Bath Iud. was on hill 10 our le
. aud rear, aud by mistake commenced frin
J, upon our regiment. Fortunately no one W,
a hurt, and the firing ceased in a moment. FC
their good work afterwards they were freel
: forgiven.
= = About the time Of the FIRST advance Of OF
\ line and the capture Of the battery, Prva
:, Ben. Chilcot, Of 60. B. lGth Ind, my compan
: captured the flag Of a rebel regiment an
handed il TO some officer Of another regimen
nc not knowing the importance usually attach,
10
!, A CAPTURE OF THAT KIND,