The National tribune., 1905-10-12

also ordered Tilghman to gather up all
the men around jackson and start to-
ward Vicksburg. Traey's Brigade
reached Grand Gulf on the afternoon Of
April 80, and Baldwin's Brigade came
in later. with both bodies badly jaded
on account of the rapid march.
The Opening Of the Battle.
Carr had been pushed out with his
division on the road leading to Port
Gibson Immediately after the bluffs had
been gained, and at midnight, about 10
miles from Bruinsburg and four from
Port Gibson, his advance ran up against
the pickets of Green's Brigade. There
was brief scattering fire and then
Carr, not wishing to attack in the dark,
ignorant, withdrew a short distance,
and his men lay on their arms in the
road until daylight. Osterhaus's and
HoyeyS Divisions came up to Carr'S
position during the night and A. j.
Smiths was well closed up to them.
AS soon as it was daylight the enc
my's position was hastily reconnoitered
roads which describe an angle and a
semi-circle and unite at Port Gibson.
Green's Brigade was posted across the
southern road and Tracys was astride
the northern. Between the two was a
deep valley, thickly overgrown, which
Union wings. The country Immediate
ly around was rough and difficult for
the movement of troops, being gener-
ally short, steep, detached hil1sideS, be-
tween which were deep raVines filled
with impenetrable thickets of cane and
underbrush. The battle was brought
on at $50 by McClernand's pushing
forward Osterhauss Division on the
left, along the northerly road with
Garrards Brigade in advance. 1t
struck Tracy's Confederate Brigade,
which met it with sharp fire and
checked its advance until Sheldon's
Brigade came to Garrard's assistance
and forced the Confederates back
short distance, but was unable to ad-
vance farther for several hours.
With Benton's Brigade in advance on
the right of the southerly road and
Stones Brigade on the left of the road,
Carr advanced at 6:15, but made slow
progress over the difficult ground and
through the heavy brush. He finally
came upon Green's Brigade posted very
strongly on a high ridge.
Benton's and Stones Brigades had
become much separated in working for
ward, and Hovey, always eager to be I'm
the fight, had thrust his Division into
the gap The line then worked its way
forward through the distractions until
Ii reached point at the foot of the
ridge, and about $50 yards from the
eOliIeuefdte line, Wnlcn nau In the CEN
| ter battery of artillery. Without wait
| ing for more than a brief study Of the
position, the line rushed forward reso-
| lutely, gained the ridge, captured two
pieces of artillery and 400 prisoners
| Green fell back with the remainder Of
his brigade toward Port Gibson. Bowen
sent out other troops to reinforce his
first advance, and finally went himself,
reaching the battlefield about o'clock
He halteIthe retreating troops, brought
up the others to their assistance, and
| established new line about one mile
| in the rear Of the battlefield. Rein
] iforcements We're also sent to Tracy
who was still holding his own against
Osterhaus on the northern road. Here
a very stubborn fight took place. lasting
an hour and a half. during which Bow
en- took two regiments and tried to turn
/ Netherlands right flank. Burbridge
met this with his brigade and drove it
back but the Confederates still clung to
the position which they had assumed
Gen. Grant, arriving on the field
labout 10 o'clock. reconnoitered the enc
my's lines and took the direction Of the
battle in his own hands. McClernand
had been sending back requests for
Ireinforcements. although he had three
divisions fighting less than two bri-
/ gades, and could not use effectively
half the troops he had.
Gen. Grant ordered a brigade sent to
i support Osterhaus and make a flank
movement on the Confederates, and
Mcpherson accompanied this in person.
| So tangled and difficult was the coun-
TRY that this took hours to accomplish,
and 1t was not until o'clock that J. e.
Smiths Brigade struck the enemy's
right flank at the sGme time that Oster-