May 26, 1863, The New York Herald
The Battle of Baker’s Creek.
CHAMPION HILLS, TWENTY-SIX MILES EAST OF VICKSBURG,
May 16, 1863.
Early this morning General McClernand’s corps was put in motion. General Hovey’s division was on the main road from Jackson to Vicksburg, but the balance of the corps was a few miles to the south. General Ward was on a parallel road, and General McPherson’ corps followed Hovey’ division closely.
At nine o’clock General Hovey discovered the enemy in front on Champion Hill, to the left of the road, near Baker’s creek, apparently in force. Skirmishers were thrown out, and the division advanced cautiously and slowly to give McPherson advance division under General Logan time to come within supporting distance. General Hovey’s division advanced across the other field at the foot of Champion Hill in line of battle.
At eleven o’clock the battle commenced. The hill itself was covered with timber, and is, in fact, but an abrupt terminus of a high ridge, running north and south, flanked on both sides by deep ravines and gullies, and in many places covered with an impenetrable growth of scrubby white oak brush. The rebel’s appeared deficient in artillery throughout the battle, but opened with rather a heavy fire from a four gun battery of rifled six-pounders, planted about 5400 yards back from the brown of the hill. The woods on both sides of the road leading up the face of the hill, and winding back on the ridge a mile or more, were filled with sharpshooters, supported by infantry. Here the battle began just as our men entered the edge of the timber, and raged terribly from eleven till between three and four o’clock.
Gen. Hovey’s division carried the heights in gallant style, and, making a dash on the first battery, drove the gunners from their posts, and captured the pieces. The rebels lay thick in the vicinity of the guns. Their horses were more than half killed, gun carriages and caissons were broken, and knapsacks, blankets, small arms and other debris, attested the deadly struggle. The colors of the Thirty-first Alabama regiment were captured there.
At this juncture Mitchell’s Ohio battery was opened at about eight yards from the brow of the hill. The rebels made a dash for it, but the fleetness of the horses prevented its capture. At the same time the rebels appeared with fresh troops on that wing, and redoubled their efforts to hold their position and dislodge our troops on the hill. Hovey was slowly driven back to the brow; but a brigade from General Quimby was ordered to his support, and the ground was speedily recovered and the rebels finally repulsed.
At the commencement of the engagement General Logan’s division marched past the brow of the hill, and, forming in line of battle on the right of Hovey, advanced in grand style, sweeping everything before them. At the edge of the wood in front of Logan the battle was most desperate. Not a man flinched nor a line wavered in this division. All behaved like veterans, and moved to new positions with conscious tread of victory. Two batteries were captured by this division, and enough hard fighting done to immortalize it. They also captured a large portion of the prisoners, small arms, &c.
Between three and four o’clock General Osterhaus’ and General McArthur’s divisions came into action on the extreme left, and completed what had been so suspiciously carried forward. They were both miles away when the engagement began, but were brought forward with all despatch possible. The enemy were in full retreat soon after, and these divisions pursued till nine o’clock, and are now encamped at Ward’s Station, eight miles beyond the battle ground.
From rebel prisoners I learn that General Pemberton commanded in person. Fitzhugh Lee and Gregg who commanded at the battle near Raymond, and others of note, had subordinate commands. I also heard that great dissatisfaction exists towards Pemberton. He is accused by many of selling out to General Grant, also of planning military operations for the last four weeks so as to insure the latter’s success.
It is impossible yet to do more than approximate our losses. It think it will be about one thousand killed and wounded. It may prove less, but it cannot be much more. But few officers of distinction are injured. The Twenty-fourth Indiana lost one hundred men. Lieutenant Colonel Swain, commanding, was killed. Not a general or staff officer on our side was hurt. This has been the hottest and most brilliant fight in the Southwest for several months. The men are enthusiastic whenever General Grant appears. His reckless exposure of himself on the field begets unbounded admiration among the privates.
Well authenticated cases of rebel barbarity to our wounded men can be enumerated. Three different men who were shot down in the battle were subsequently sabred by the rebels when they temporarily retook the ground. The men lived to narrate the atrocity, but will scarcely recover.
The Battle of Big Black River Bridge.
BLACK RIVER BRIDGE, TWELVE MILES EAST OF VICKSBURG, May 17, 1863.
General McClernand’s corps marched to this place early this morning. General Osterhaus was in the advance, and found the rebels strongly intrenched on the east bank of the river. Batteries were soon in position, playing on the enemy’s works. At ten o’clock General Lawler’s brigade in Carr’s division charged across the open fields, two hundred yards in width, wading the bayou in front and swarming over into the intrenchments. Seventeen cannon were taken inside the earthworks, and from 500 to 2,000 prisoners captured.
No description can do justice to the intrepidity of the regiments composing this brigade. The rebel fire from artillery and musketry was appalling; but they rushed on to victory regardless of death, and literally swept everything before them. Gen. Mark Green’s Missouri brigade (rebels), over twelve hundred strong, was cut off by the Eleventh Wisconsin and surrendered. General Vaughan’s brigade was also principally captured. The loss of the Eleventh Wisconsin was slight. The Twenty-first and Twenty- third Iowa led in the charge and sustained the principal loss. The eleventh Wisconsin also captured a stand of colors.
Furious cannonading continued all day from the rebel batteries on the other side of the river. They fired the bridge to prevent our crossing. Pontoons have been sent to General Sherman’ corps. He will probably cross a few miles above here and attack in flank. The force opposite is thought to number twenty-five thousand. Our army is in excellent fighting condition and think themselves invincible.
As General Grant rode to the front to day he was everywhere greeted with tremendous and uproarious cheering.
This morning two four-pounder howitzers and two six-pounder rifled guns were surrendered, with horses, harness and ammunition complete, without a shot, a few miles back on the road. These guns became separated from the main body of the rebel army yesterday in the retreat and were cut off by our advance.
Our loss in today’s fighting is not heavy. The rebel killed and wounded is unknown. Their troops did not fight as obstinately today as yesterday. They seemed to expect a defeat. The wonder is they were not wholly withdrawn to the other side without an engagement.
Gen. Osterhaus was slightly wounded, but rode on the field again.