Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-12-03


son in the center and Sherman on the right,
all facing the north.
From the Sd of May, when the writer's
regiment left Port Gibson, till about the
18th OF that month, the part of the army he
was with, General A. J.. Smiths division
of the Thirteenth corps, moved in gener-
al northerly course. Willow Springs,
Rocky Springs, Cayuga and Mount Auburn
were severally occupied, and among other
streams crossed were Big Sandy, Five-mile
creek and Fourteen-mile creek. At CaYuga
the command (the diyislon) halted for .
day or two. 1t was now dry and dusty, the
immediate vicinity was devoid of streams.
and the only water available was dipped
from stagnant ponds, after the green scum
covering them had been pushed aside
While here, towards the middle of hot
sultry day, division marched by on the
dusty road, near which Smiths division
was encamped. Among the moving troops
was Wisconsin regiment which had a pet
eagle. A perch was made for him upon
thin board cut in the form OF shield. to
this he was chained and all was borne upon
the shoulder of a soldier, As before said
the day was hot, the roads were dusty and
the eagle with dropping feathers and a gen.
eral crestfallen appearance looked any
thing but the proud Bird" he is supposed
to be. Wonderful stories concerning the
eaglewere, however, in circulation. Among
other things it was SAID that in time Of bat
tie when he was always loosened, he would
/ soar above the regiment, flap his wings,
hover about and scream with delight.
The Wisconsin regiment that had this
''emblem of its country'' became noted as
the "EdgIe regiment
At Auburn General Frank p. Blair's di-
vision joined Smiths.
Frank P. Blair, before the war, was a
prominent and vigorous opponent of
GlQyTnrr OF Tn
the hotly-contested slavery discussions
that preceded the war, many free-soil
speeches were made by him, and full re-
ports Of these frequently appeared in the
Missouri Democrat, the only paper of any
prominence published in st. Louis that ap
posed slavery. Blair entered the army and
proved most efficient officer.
! While at Auburn, word was received of
Hooker's defeat-the Army of the Potomac
at Charlottesville, the ID and Sd of May
The command-Smith's division-moved
northward, and about the 18th or 18th of
May crossed Fourteen-Mile creek and en-
; camped over night some miles north of
: stood that the enemy was not far off-ir
fact they were in force but five miles
away, at Edwards Station, on the Vicks
! burg and jackson railroad.
! All this time the line of march had led in
| a northerly direction, but early the next
| morning after encamping north of Four
| teen-Mile creek, the division faced about,
recrossed that stream and finally took a
/ road eastward for Raymond. This place
| was reached late in the evening and the
! regiment went into camp some little dis
lance east of the town. Early next morn.
! ing the regiment again passed through
| the town and took a road leading in d
| northwesterly direction; very soon tho
| enemy's pickets were encountered and tn
| xxy60 ixTici hon MI a. nj o1r Il
| ployed and advanced in line of battle.
J The country on both sides the road was
| either cultivated fields or for the most part
| open timber, so that the advance was I'm.
INSTRUCTED by thick timber or ravines.
| The enemy did not seem to be in strong
force in front, and the advance was mos
| beautiful and orderly. Every regiment
had It's flag unfurled and banner flying
and all moved forward with stately tread
The writer looked on with admiration, fol
| here was the "pomp and circumstan o.
war" without its horrors. But heavy
firing off to the right told that others were
not coming off so easily. This was the
Creek, and was fought May 16, 1868. Th'
Confederates, with force numbering
twenty five thousand, had taken a strong
position at Champions Hill, an elevation
that commanded the whole region.
The road upon which were Smith ant
Blair's divisions ran 70 the south of thu
elevation, hence but slight resistance wa
found in their front.
But on the other roads to the north
upon which Carr's, Osterhaus' anC
Hovey's divisions came into action, tn
enemy was met in force. Hovey's Division
belonged to the Thirteenth corps, but TO
the time was with Mcpherson upon tn
northern or main Vicksburg and jackson
road.
11r1f 4a,, 4
verely; large share of the whole loss wa
sustained by his division, which that da.
lost one-third of its number
The Confederates sustained overwhelm
ing defeat, losing in killed, wounded an
missing upwards of six thousand, an
towards and after night retreated precir
itately.
The Thirteenth Corps pursued Their
, early on the morning of the 18th of May
and before noon came upon their FORTH
, cations on the Big Black river, where til
railway bridge crosses that stream. Tn
, writer with the hospital department wa
behind with the trains. These moved YER
deliberately. Early in the morning hous
was passed that had been shot through an
through with cannon-balls.
Before noon Edwards station was reache
! and at the Confederate hospital the writer
, attention was called to young Confed
. crate who had his heart on the OrOng sid
, There was probably some enlargement tina
; made the heart beat appear to the right @
the chest. At noon-time rest and Dime
were taken under some trees in pastur
, and while here Confederate paper wa
seen which told what terrible losses the il
vaders had sustained and how they wer
soon to be hurled back ahd sent flying I
: their homes.
After a time the road was again take
: and pretty soon a cot was passed at th
side of the road upon which was dyin
officer.
Before Black river bridge was reaches
!, the advance had skirmished with the 81
= envy and in this affair the officer, who wa
l|gEs!g1elkil gs.4X +