The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1892-02-03


/ notice IN your last issue Mr. Hobbs
experience in his march to Vicksburp
under Gen. Grant. In the main he is
correct, but as the federal soldiers had
to be put aboard the transports at the
point Of the bayonet it seems a little
doubtful about the "buoyancy" Of the
federal soldiers. Their fighting next
day when there was no advantage ol
ground for either side, did not prove
that they we're very COOL figh ers, when
they let $500 confederates keep them
IN check from about II o'clock at night
until sun down nextday, and then let the
confederates draw off and march a.
way in good order. Mr.. Hobbs fails to
state that part Of Grants army actu,
ally began t. retreat towards Bruins
burg and had the confederates held out
three-quarters Of an hour longer before
falling back short distance, Grants
entire force would have retrcated. Ii
is true that Gen. Tracey brought mp
some rclnforcements late in the day,
but they were scarcely Of any avail so
completely were they broken down by
hard marching and famine
The editor Of the Reyeille seems TO
think strange that Gen. Bowen dId not
take advantage Of the strong position
at Widows Creek. Let me explain.
Gen. Bowen was stationed near Grand
Gulf where he supposed the federals
would attempt to land, or IN all proba-
bility land above and try 10 cross Big
Black. His scouts were familiar with
this part Of the country. The strange
part is that Bowen did not m ke him
self familiar with the Rodney and Bru-
insburg road, on which the battle was
fought, but he was as ignorant Of Wild
ow's creek and its advantages as Julius
Caesar. About dark the evening be-
fore the ba' tie was ordered to report
to Gen. Bowen on the battlefield. In
three-quarters of an hour | was there.
/ knew nothing Of positions, but knew
every inch Of ground in the whole OF
that part of the country. / never was
SO completely surprised. ] well re-
member what | SAID, "Great God, is
this what is called an advantageous pO-
sitionw
Gen. Bowen was in consultation with
Gen Green at the time | advanced
and made myself known. He was sat
isfed in a minute that was posted a.
bout the country and sent me away tc
post the pickcts wherever there was
danger Of being hanked. This beng
accomplished, | returned and went up
to Gen. Bowen to explain what
thought Of Widows creek as a position
or in other words to give him a descrip
tion Of the locality. felt. must adj
init. very small IN approaching a gener
eral to give advice. and my heart failed
me when it suddenly occurred 70 me
that | would he rebuked for volunteer
ing my advice, as he surely knew hls
business, I'll was not aware Of the fact
that he was ignorant Of even the public
roa1s as much SO as were the federals),
90 said nothing about the matter, and
retired.
The next day, while fighting was 90
ing, he sent me away. for what / know
not, with one Of his aids. We rode to.
wards the Gulf, then through the
Humphreys places, crossed the north
fork Of Bayou Pierre and returned by
Jno. Humphreys place. Just there
riding along | broached the subject and
told the aid about Widows creek. New
er shall | forget his look. "Great
Godw he said, "why did you not tell
Bowen? lie knew nothing of the
country / explained to HIM as
have above. He seemed heart-broken.
Had Bowen placed his men on each
side of the valley Of Widows creek in
ambush and allowed the federals to
march their whole force into 1t before
opening fire, they could as easily have
annihilated Grants as Sitting Bull did
the lamented Clusters army.
This battle, small as it was, was Of
great importance. Many suppose, and
with good reasons too, that had Grant
been driven back here the siege Of
Vicksburg would have been abandoned.
Loring's failure to come was attributed
by many to a spy getting into the tele-
graph Office at Port Gibson, which /
have good reason myself to believe.
LorIng on the field Grant would GER