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his captive into camp. The casualty list of the Methodists is very large, and shows that they stood up to their work like true soldiers. On returning from the battle-field in the evening they held a religious meeting, at which the exercises were very impressive. As I write they are filling the woods with "Old Hundred."

Indiana was more largely represented in the fight to-day than any other State. The troops that were exposed to the heaviest fire were from the Hoosier State. Among them were the famous Zouaves formerly commanded by Lew Wallace. Just before Hovey was driven back the Fortysixth Indiana advanced, with the Eleventh, far beyond other troops, with no supporting force on either flank, and took six pieces of artillery, driving the rebels from their guns by a hand-tohand fight. The rebels immediately inclosed them on three sides in overwhelming numbers. They had two lines, and our wounded, when they passed over, say this column was eight deep. There was nothing left for our men, of course, but to fall back, which they did in excellent order. After retreating a short distance they rallied and held the enemy in check till reënforcements came up, when they in turn drove the enemy along their whole line. Indiana has just cause to feel proud of the deeds of her sons in the hard-fought battle of the sixteenth.

Doc. 193.

BATTLE OF BLACK RIVER, MISS.

General Carr's division had the extreme advance of the column, and opened and ended the engagement. Hastily deploying a heavy line of skirmishers to the right of the road, backed up by the two brigades of Carr's division in line of battle behind it, with General Osterhaus's division on the left of the road similarly disposed, General McClernand gave the order to advance. Soon in the depths of the thick forest the skirmishers of both armies were hotly engaged, while batteries of artillery, planted on the right and left of the road, poured shot and shell into the fort most furiously. The guns in the intrenchments replied with vigor and spirit. Almost the first shot dropped in the caisson belonging to Foster's Wisconsin battery and exploded its contents, slightly wounding General Osterhaus and Captain Foster, of the battery, and very seriously injuring two gunners. General Osterhaus being thus disabled, the command of his division was temporarily given to Brigadier-General A. L. Lee.

After skirmishing had continued for an hour, during which the enemy gave way and sought the cover of his intrenchments, the order was given to the several brigade commanders on the right to advance and charge the enemy's works. The order was received with cheers and shouts, and the Twenty-first, Twenty-second, Twentythird Iowa, and Eleventh Wisconsin, General Lawler's brigade, were the first to announce themselves in readiness. The order "forward" was given, and steadily and splendidly the brave boys moved up to the assault. The enemy crouched down behind the breastworks. A portion of them, stationed in a curtain on the right of the BRIDGE ACROSS BIG BLACK, May 17, 1863. fort, whence they were able to get a cross-fire THE battle of Big Black bridge was fought on upon the column, reserved their volley until we Sunday, the seventeenth, the day after the battle were within easy musket-range of the intrenchof Champion's Hill. In this spirited engagement ments, when they swept the advancing line with only the Thirteenth army corps was engaged. their terrible fire. The brave boys lost in that It is superfluous to add that the troops compris fearful volley one hundred and fifty men; yet ing this corps fought as they always do, excel- they faltered not, nor turned their steps backlently well. In the morning, after a night's ward. They waded the bayou, delivering their bivouac on the hill overlooking the village of Ed-fire as they reached the other bank, and rushed wards's Station, the column, with McClernand at upon the enemy with fixed bayonets. So quickly its head, moved toward Black River bridge. The was all this accomplished, that the enemy had citizens who were questioned on the subject said not time to reload their guns, and was forced to the position was most strongly fortified at the surrender. crossing, and we naturally thought the enemy would make stubborn resistance there. We were not surprised, therefore, to learn that our advanceguard was fired upon by the rebel pickets as the column moved toward the river.

The country between Edwards's Station and the bridge loses that hilly and broken character which distinguishes the region further east, and spreads out into a broad and fertile plain, over | which we moved rapidly. There were no commanding hills whence they could pour a deadly fire into our ranks; but there were numerous patches of forest, under the cover and from the edge of which they could easily enfilade the open fields by the road-side. There was such a one a mile east of the intrenchments where the main picket-guard was stationed. Here determined resistance was first made.

The battle was ended, and the fort, with three thousand prisoners, eighteen pieces of artillery— some of them captured from ourselves, and bearing appropriate inscriptions- several thousand stand of arms, and a large supply of corn and commissary stores, fell into our hands.

The enemy had, earlier in the day, out of the hulls of three steamboats, constructed a bridge, over which he had passed the main body of his army. As the charge was made, and it became evident that we should capture the position, they burned this bridge and also the railroad bridge across the river just above.

In the afternoon several attempts were made to cross the river, but the sharp-shooters lined the bluffs beyond and entirely prevented it. Later, the main body of sharp-shooters were dispersed by our artillery. It was not, however, safe to

stand upon the bank, or cross the open field east of the bridge, until after dark, when the enemy withdrew altogether.

Doc. 194.

CAPTURE OF HAINES'S BLUFF.

ACTING ADMIRAL PORTER'S REPORT.

FLAG-SHIP BLACK HAWK, HAINES'S BLUFF, YAZOO RIVER, Wednesday, May 20, 1868.

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inch rifled guns, with ammunition enough to last a long siege.

As the gun-carriages might again fall into the hands of the enemy, I had them burnt, blew up the magazine, and destroyed the works generally. I also burnt up the encampments, which were permanently and remarkably well constructed, looking as if the rebels intended to stay for some time.

These works and encampments covered many acres of ground, and the fortifications and the

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Wash-rifle-pits proper of Haines's Bluff extended about ington:

On the morning of the fifteenth I came over to the Yazoo to be ready to cooperate with General Grant. Leaving two of the iron-clads at Red River, one at Grand Gulf, one at Carthage, three at Warrenton, and two on the Yazoo, left me a small force; still I disposed of them to the best advantage.

On the eighteenth, at Meridian, firing was heard in the rear of Vicksburgh, which assured me that General Grant was approaching the city. The cannonading was kept up furiously for some time, when, by the aid of glasses, I discerned a company of our artillery advancing, taking position, and driving the rebels before them.

I immediately saw that General Sherman's division had come on to the left of Snyder's Bluff, and that the rebels at that place had been cut off from joining the forces in the city. I despatched the De Kalb, Lieutenant Commander Walker, Choctaw, Lieutenant Commander er Ramsay, Romeo, Petrel, and Forest Rose, all under command of Lieut. Commander Breese, up the Yazoo, to open communication in that way with Generals Grant and Sherman.

This I succeeded in doing, and in three hours received letters from Generals Grant, Sherman, and Steele, informing me of this vast success, and asking me to send up provisions, which was at once done.

In the mean time, Lieut. Commander Walker, in the De Kalb, pushed on to Haines's Bluff, which the enemy had commenced evacuating a day before, and a party remained behind in the hopes of destroying or taking away a large amount of ammunition on hand.

When they saw the gunboats, they came out and left every thing in good order-guns, fort, tents, and equipage of all kinds, which fell into our hands.

As soon as the capture of Haines's Bluff and fourteen guns was reported to me, I shoved up the gunboats from below Vicksburgh to fire at the hill batteries, which fire was kept up for two or three hours. At midnight they moved up to the town and opened on it for about an hour, and continued at intervals during the night to annoy the garrison.

On the nineteenth I placed six mortars in position, with orders to fire night and day as rapidly as they could.

The works at Haines's Bluff are very formidable. There are fourteen of the heaviest kind of mounted eight and ten-inch and seven and a half

a mile and a quarter.

Such a net-work of defences I never saw. The rebels were a year constructing them, and all were rendered useless in an hour. As soon as I got through with the destruction of the magazines and other works, I started Lieutenant Commander Walker up the Yazoo River with a sufficient force to destroy all the enemy's property in that direction, with orders to return with all despatch, and only to proceed as far as Yazoo City, where the rebels have a navy, yard, and storehouses.

In the mean time, General Grant has closely invested Vicksburgh, and has possession of the best commanding points. In a very short time a general assault will take place, when I hope to announce that Vicksburgh has fallen, after a series of the most brilliant successes that ever attended an army.

There has never been a case during the war where the rebels have been so successfully beaten at all points, and the patience and endurance shown by our army and navy for so many months is about being rewarded.

It is a mere question of a few hours, and then, with the exception of Port Hudson, which will follow Vicksburgh, the Mississippi will be open its entire length. D. D. PORTER,

A. R. A. Commanding the Mississippi Squadron.

Doc. 195.

SKIRMISH NEAR FAYETTEVILLE, VA. FAYETTEVILLE, VIRGINIA, May 27, 1863. WE have perfect quiet here now, though but a few days ago matters were lively.

On Sunday, the seventeenth of May, our cavalry outpost on the Raleigh road, distant from Fayette Court-House something like eight miles, were informed of the presence of the enemy in their front; and one company of the Second Virginia cavalry was sent to their assistance. About fifty men of the Twelfth regiment had been stationed on Blake's farm, one mile and a half inside of the cavalry outpost. Saturday morning the infantry force was drawn in, and arrived at camp about dark.

Some time during the night the cavalry were attacked, and the pickets driven into our outside camp-guard, where they remained until the morning of the eighteenth, when Captain Robert Wilson arrived with companies A, F, K, and E, of the Twelfth, from this point; and proceeded with

his whole force, consisting of one company of the Second Virginia cavalry and the four companies of the Twelfth, toward Blake's Farm, which they reached without molestation.

Here the infantry was halted, and Captain Wilson took the cavalry and moved out on the Raleigh road four or five miles beyond the point from which they had been driven the night before; and there encountered the enemy in considerable numbers. After exchanging a few shots, he fell back to Blake's farm; and then sent Lieutenant Ankrom and twelve men up the Raleigh road the second time, with orders to ascertain, if possible, the strength of the enemy. Lieutenant Medlicott, with twelve men, was also sent out on the old mountain road that intersects the main road near Blake's farm.

Lieutenant Ankrom advanced on the Raleigh road a short distance beyond where we first saw the enemy. After firing a few shots, he fell back to the main body, and reported that he had seen about one hundred men.

A courier was then sent to Lieutenant Medlicott, ordering him to fall back for fear of an ambuscade. It being late when he arrived, the whole party bivouacked for the night.

balance of the company were led by First Lientenant Joseph Ankrom, who rescued some of the men who had fallen through the bridge, and making their way around the bridge succeeded in getting into position. They then commenced firing, and thus enabled company K, of the Twelfth, and some of the cavalry, to gain the woods. The cavalry skirmished all the way back until they reached the outside picket-fort. While running the road, Captain Wilson had his horse shot from under him, but escaped unhurt, and soon after his arrival at the outside picket, had the pleasure of meeting the other companies of his command, who had been brought in safely by Lieutenant Glotfeldter. They then proceeded to camp. In a few minutes the enemy got their artillery into position, and began shelling the woods, but without doing any damage.

When the detachment under Captain Wilson reached camp, the works were all filled with troops, and every thing prepared to receive our visitors, who soon made their appearance. They fired the first shot at two A.M., and as soon as our guns could be brought to bear, we replied. The second shell fired by the rebels killed the only man killed during the engagement. His name was Owen McGinnis, a sergeant of company A, of the Twelfth, Captain Wilson. He was struck on the head with a ball from a twelve pound spherical case-shot, killing him almost immediately. The firing of the rebels was rapid, and, as a general thing, wild. One section of Captain McMullen's battery, which was stationed in the outside redan, compelled the rebels to move their artillery nine times during the afternoon, and disabled one piece. The firing was kept up until night, when both sides ceased, and the troops rested on the ground all night.

About seven o'clock in the morning of the eighteenth, twenty men, under command of Lieutenant Glotfeldter, of the Twelfth, were sent to the front to reconnoitre. Just as they were starting, one of the advanced pickets came in and reported that a squad of fifteen men had made their appearance, but, upon discovering our pickets, had fallen back. The two lieutenants of cavalry were then ordered to take twelve men each one squad to follow, and, if possible, overtake the fifteen men; the other to proceed to McCoy's bridge. Neither squad had got out of sight before the pickets on the Raleigh road commenced firing. The lieutenants were im-K arrived in camp, they having gone entirely mediately ordered to return, and the whole force drawn up to receive the enemy.

Company K, of the Twelfth, were sent back to the cross-roads, two miles in our rear, with orders to hold the road; but before he got his position the enemy appeared in sight on the front and on our left flank, and attacked our pickets, who fell back, disputing the ground all the way, until they reached the main body.

In a few minutes information was received that company K had been attacked in their rear, at Huddleston's Bridge. Captain Wilson gave Lieutenant Glotfeldter command of the three remaining companies of infantry, with orders to fall back into the woods and make their way to camp. About the time the infantry had gained the cover of the woods, the rebel cavalry appeared in force. The cavalry under Captain Wilson fell back for the purpose of reënforcing company K, of the Twelfth. The Captain's horse not being as fast as the others, he could not keep the lead, but the company charged down the road toward the bridge at Huddleston, under a heavy fire. The rebels had torn the bridge up, and some ten or twelve of the foremost horses went through into the run, carrying their riders with them. The

About five A.M., on the nineteenth, company

around the right flank of the rebels. They were hailed with a hearty greeting by the rest of the boys. During the operations of Captain Wilson and his command, three men were wounded and six missing. One of the wounded-George Bahan, company K, Twelfth O. V. I.—has since died. The others are doing well.

Early on the morning of the twentieth our battery opened on the rebels and elicited a reply. The firing was kept up until two P.M., when it was ascertained the enemy was retreating. Colonel White, of the Twelfth, who has command here, asked for permission to follow, which was granted, but not until late in the evening, when the enemy had got a good start; but, thinking that he might overtake them, he started, after dark, with about two thousand men and part of McMullen's battery, and after pursuing them a distance of twenty-five miles, gave up the chase as hopeless, and returned to his camp with as dusty a crowd of boys as ever any one witnessed.

Our total loss was fourteen killed, wounded, and missing, in the Twelfth Ohio; three men and six horses missing in the Second Virginia cavalry, and three horses wounded.

Among the men who went through the bridge

at Huddleston, was Lieutenant J. J. Medlicott, of the Second Virginia cavalry. He was fortunate enough to escape, and, two days after, made his appearance in camp. The coolness and daring of Lieutenant Ankrom, of the same regiment, is deserving of notice; and owing to his exertions at the bridge, Lieutenant Atkinson of company K, Twelfth Regiment, was enabled to get a good position for his command, and then he handsomely returned the compliment by pouring into the rebels a hot fire, which aided the cavalry in getting out. In the attack on our works here, no anxiety was felt as to the result.

Since the fight several of the enemy have come in and given themselves up. They report that they are most all willing to lay down their arms and take the oath, but are watched too closely. They say that it was the expectation that a large body of mounted men, under Imboden and Jones, would attack Gauley Bridge at the same time that McCausland would attack us here; but it is the opinion that the movement of some of our forces from the direction of Clarksburgh, changed the notion of the rebels, and, therefore, the column operating on this road was left to take care of itTWELFTH O. V. I.

self.

Doc. 196.

FIGHT NEAR FORT GIBSON, ARK.

COLONEL PHILIPS'S REPORT.

HEADQUARTERS, INDIAN TERRITORY
AND WESTERN ARKANSAS,
FORT BLUNT, CHEROKEE NATION, May 22.

Major-General James G. Blunt:
SIR: I have the honor to report to you a some-
what severe engagement with the enemy on the
twentieth instant.

I had eight hundred (800) mounted men guarding my supply line, to cover approaching trains, when the enemy, in the night, crossed the Arkanas River with five regiments, going a mountain road. A scout I had sent, failing to do his duty, left that road unwatched, and they approached within five miles of me, getting me on the left flank. They were, however, afraid to attack me in the works, and taking a strong position on the mountains on the south, five miles distant, and close to the Arkansas River, tried to cut off the stock. As all had been reported quiet for twenty (20) miles in all directions this side of the river, the stock was, therefore, being sent out to graze, when the enemy pounced upon it. Sending all the mounted men I could raise, the larger portion of the stock was taken from them. The Creek regiment refused to charge, or it could all have been saved.

Kansas, was nearly surrounded, as was Captain Anderson, of the Third Indiana, but they gallantly cut their way through.

Leaving Colonel Dole, with a strong command, and most of my artillery behind the works, I moved rapidly forward with two battalions of Indian infantry and a section of Hopkins's battery, under Lieutenant Bassett. Leaving one battalion as reserve, I supported the forces already in front, and soon drove the enemy into the woods. Here they contested the ground for a short time, but they were pushed over the mountain, and rapidly driven in complete rout to Webber's Falls, where they crossed the Arkansas River.

As we were following the enemy up the mountain, I learned that the enemy, with two six-pound field-pieces and one twelve-pound howitzer, were trying to cross Arkansas River, two miles from Gibson. Leaving the mounted men to follow the retreating enemy, I took my infantry and two guns down to the river, and found that the enemy, although in considerable numbers on the opposite bank, were only making a feint. Desiring to dismount their artillery, I immediately opened on them, but they rapidly withdrew their guns and

fell back.

The battle was a very severe one while it lasted, as I could only bring a portion of my forces to bear. My loss in killed is upwards of twentyprobably twenty-five or twenty-six-as some are missing, and about half that number wounded. I understand that the enemy's loss is much more severe. We lost no officers. The rebels had one major killed.

On the field there were Colonel Coffey, (with Missouri and Arkansas troops,) Major Bryant, Colonels Levi and Chili McIntosh, each with a regiment; Colonel Adair's regiment and a Choctaw regiment. Only one battalion of Texans came over, as the remainder (infantry) staid with the artillery across the river, with the design of crossing the short way if we were pressed back.

Yesterday the enemy kept up a heavy cannonade until dark, over the river at my picket stations. This morning, at daylight, it had been renewed. Lieutenant-Colonel Schurate got in yesterday with the first part of the train, and the paymaster. The refugee train, which I reenforced-sixty miles off-is also in safety.

The enemy have left Van Buren and taken all but a handful of men from Fort Smith. They are massed south of the river in front of me, and give their forces at eleven thousand, but their real force is between four and five thousand men. They are nervously determined that I shall not recruit in the country south of the river, and tell the Indians that the United States forces are whipped in Virginia, and will be obliged to evacuate the Indian country, and that their only safety is with the Confederacy.

I sent forward Majors Foreman, Wright, and Pomeroy, with all the present available force, and as rapidly as possible moved every thing within Three of my Indian picket stations behaved the works. The enemy being strongly posted very badly, having deserted their posts without five miles distant, drove back Major Foreman and giving me notice, and allowed the enemy to get the others for some distance, although the ground on my flank in the morning. I feel it due to the was hotly contested. Captain Lucas, of the Sixth | majority of the men and officers to compliment

Respectfully,

their gallantry and heroism, by which we, with-heard for miles, owing to the rocky soil and the out risking our position, achieved a decided vic-iron axles; but in Louisiana one must hunt very tory over greatly superior numbers. assiduously in order to discover a pebble, so that a train can move with but little noise-an advantage of great importance to an army on the move. On the evening of the twenty-second the advance had bivouacked at Centreville, and the weary sentinels paced up and down their posts, COLONEL CHICKERING'S EXPEDITION. anxiously listening for the welcome footsteps of

WILLIAM A. PHILIPS,
Colonel Commanding.

Doc. 197.

ON BOARD STEAMER CAHAWBA, OFF GEORGIA COAST,
June 5, 1863.

No full account has yet found its way into print respecting the recent exploit of Colonel Thomas E. Chickering, of Boston, and having received the particulars from the Colonel, I am enabled to give the interesting details of this hazardous, but successful expedition.

the relief-guard, when mounted messengers dashed into camp with news of an attack on our rear. Three squadrons of the Forty-first Massachusetts cavalry were at once ordered to the rear to prevent any surprise in large numbers, and to disperse the cowardly guerrillas that followed in the track of the train, annoying us constantly, evidently with the intention of harassing us to such an extent that a rapid advance would be impos

In the mean time other messengers came in reporting that General Mouton, son of the exGovernor of Louisiana, with Brigadier-General Greene, were but a short distance in our rear, with five thousand men, including a large number of "Texicans." It was very plain that Mouton's object was to engage our rear, and then, by a coup-de-main, endeavor to flank the entire division.

On Thursday, May twenty-first, at daybreak, Colonel T. E. Chickering, of the Forty-first Mas-sible. sachusetts cavalry, (extemporized for this particular service,) the Fifty-second Massachusetts, One Hundred and Tenth, One Hundred and Fourteenth, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth, and Ninetieth New-York, with one company each of the Thirteenth Connecticut, Twenty-second and Twenty-sixth Maine, and one section of Nim's Massachusetts battery, under command of Lieutenant Snow, the whole division under the immediate command of Colonel Chickering, proceeded, with Upon discovering this scheme, Colonel Chickthree hundred army wagons, from Berrie's Land-ering had three regiments of infantry drawn up ing, laden with cotton, sugar, molasses, and other in line of battle, directly in front of the wagonvaluable products, toward Berwick City. The train, and orders were then given for the train to ponderous train once in motion, soon began to move on. Colonel Morgan, of the Ninetieth Newwind itself along the easterly bank of the Teche, York, whose regiment formed the rear-guard, was the white canvas covering to the wagons giving instructed to retreat, giving battle, and at the the train, at a distance, when viewed from a slight same time protect the rear of the train. Colonel elevation, the appearance of a monster white boa- Morgan indulged in a few lively skirmishes with constrictor, which crawled slowly but surely the scattered forces of the enemy, chiefly guer along. rillas. The train was pushed on with all possible speed during the night, followed closely by the most daring guerrillas, and on the morning of the twenty-sixth reached Berwick City, after a forced march of one hundred and ten miles in four days. The last forty miles was accomplished in the almost unprecedented short time of twenty-four hours, the enemy following close upon our heels.

Upon arriving at St. Martinsville, Colonel Chickering learned from his spies, and from those worthless negroes that Copperheads talk so much about, that the enemy were in ambush just beyond his advancing scouts. He at once crossed the Teche, and marched rapidly to New-Iberia, where he found the steamer J. M. Brown, laden with supplies for his troops. Unloading the supplies, they were soon distributed among the various regi- The rebels were exceedingly vigilant, and we ments. The steamer was at once laden with cot- were continually reminded that they were on the ton, sugar, corn, and molasses, and with one thou-qui vive at all points. Colonel Chickering resand contrabands on board, sailed for Brashear City.

From New-Iberia the march was resumed toward Franklin, and the warlike caravan entered this pretty little secesh town amid the reverberation of the different bands, and the choruses of the regiments, swelling with the notes of the various camp songs, our glorious colors proudly fluttering their silken folds over the serried ranks-all tended to form a thrilling and beautiful picture. Perhaps you can form some sort of an idea of the gigantic proportions of one of of these wagon trains, when I state that the one under command of Colonel Chickering was five miles long.

The noise of such a train in Virginia could be

ceived information through reliable sources that the main body, numbering five thousand men, were at Calcosien, or Lake Charles Court-House, forty miles south-west of Opelousas, near the Texas boundary line, and from which State the troops were being drawn.

The rebels were expecting Colonel Chickering and his train of booty on the Grand Coteau, and the shrewdness of the Colonel in command alone prevented the rebels from gaining a rich prize. The enemy's spies, who pretended, of course, to be the strongest kind of Union men, were permitted to hold converse with Colonel Chickering, and he very adroitly made use of them, by pretending to divulge to them the plans of the retreat; and he succeeded most admirably in “Yan

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