The Southern reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1876-1890, 1890-05-30

hike Tracys, we're exhausted by thei
terrible forced march.
1t should be remembered that whel
| Pemberton on the 29th set these twl
brigades in motion from Vicksburg ans
vicinity, their destination was Crane
lGulf, Grant having not yet landed a
Bruinsburg Their route was change
towards Port Gibson late On the Both
Grants march having already begun
II is evident that Grant had virtual,
taken his enemy By surprise.
Notwithstanding the threatened al
tack from Bruinsburg. Bowen was
obliged to protect Grand Gulf (wherC
he held three or four regiments in re
serve) and TO guard Big Black and
Bayou Pierre against the ascent Of the
gunboats. Along the former stream
he had posted two battalions Of infant
ry, a regiment Of dismomted cavalry
1st Mo-, and 6 pieces Of artillery: and
on the right bank Of Bayou Pierre below
the railroad bridge he had 2 regiments
and six pieces Of artillery. None ofthe
troops on that side Of the Bayou took
part in the battle except Guibor's bat
terry, part Of lands battery, and three
Missouri regiments from Grand Gulf I;
and even these did not arrive till mid
day when the fight was halflOst. Bowen
was sadly weakened by thus scattering
his little army, but 1t is not for civilians
to say that the emergency did not justi-
fy his precautions.
Such was the strength and such the
preparations Of the Confelerates on
Thursday, April 30th, the eve Of the
battle.
THE BATTLE,
On being fired into BY the picket near
Skaters gate { a. m, May lst) the
Federals advanced slowly under cover
Of "a heavy skirmish line; but ON enter
ing the Magnolia church lane, Col.
Stone says that his skirmishers re
ceiyed a tremendous volley ofmusketry"
from the enemy posted at the church.
Immediately afterwards the latter open
ed at short range with their only battery
(the Hudson battery, which was an
swered by an Iowa battery and an In
diana battery. Stone says: "The fire
Of the rebel batteries was quite accurate
and disabled many Of our men and
horses" This artillery duel lasted an
hour and a half, when the Confederate
batteries, according TO this officer, "were
driven from the field and silenced, and
our men lay down upon their arms to
await the coming dawn" A few lines
further his report says "Soon after
sunrise the battle was renewed BY the
enemy who held their position during
the night" this statement conflicting
with the previous one.
On the other side Gen. Green's re-
port states that 'the Hudson battery,
though In a very warm place, drove the
enemy's battery from its position. This
was soon replaced by another which
opened on us with great fury. Our
battery replied with signal success,
though the enemy's shells and balls fell |
thick, wounding many. After three
hours hard fighting the enemy ceased
firing and withdrew a short distance,
We holding our position"
Col Stone says: "This artillery duel
Vas one long to be remembered by those
who witnessed it. The darkness, the
screaming and bursting Of shells. and
The rattle of grape through fences and
timber, rendered the scene one Of ter
-ifc grandeur"
At $50 a. m. the battle reopened
With great fury ON the same ground
hat had been disputed at night. On
he Federal side Cars division led the
attack supported by Hoyey's and two
batteries on an elevation to the left. |
Benton was ordered to move his brigade |
sast Of the road, thread the tangled |
lollows there, and bear on Green's left. |
In the meantime, Green was sorely |
pressed BY heavy odds and the Hudson
battery was out Of ammunition. He |
therefore sent to Tracy for reinforce
nents. That officer, though sustaining
l fierce attack on the other road, (be-
,ween Andrews and Shaifer's), never
theless dispatched the 23rd Alabama
md two Of the four guns Of Anderson's |
oattery. This was at 7:30 a m, a lit
lie before Gen. Bowen had reached the
ield.
Thus strengthened, Green maintain
d himself in the neighborhood Of the
church for two hours longer but at 10
,'clock, Benton's brigade, supported by
AcGinnis', pushed through the ravines
Ind canebrakes ON the extreme Federal
light, and turned Green's left wing.
rhe Federals charged and drove back
he Confederates, capturing 200 prison
IT'S, and two 12-pounders (Anderson's)
)esides arms and ammunition. Green
ell back to Senter's creek where he
net Baldwin's brigade hurrying to the
ront Bowen, after directing Green to
move his brigade 10 the other road and
Tracy's harassed troops, march
d Baldwin's men half a mile back to-
Yards the church and again made a
stand against the advancing foe.
Aided by strong positions and the
,-yken nature Of the country, Bowen
lectually checked the pursuit having
X pieces Of artillery which were work
"a with great skin, though much ham,
1ered by scarcity Of ammunition. At
i:30 d. m. he attempted a slight adj
lance in order 10 test his enemys
strength: but this movement drew such |