equal size. The Twentieth Ohio, Twentieth II- Crocker's division came up in the afternoon, but The fight on the left was growing desperate. The Twentieth Illinois had fired forty rounds of cartridges, and still the enemy held them at bay. Colonel Richards, of the Twentieth, had been mortally wounded while urging his willing heroes forward. At this critical period General Stevenson's brigade came to the rescue. The Eighth Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel Sturgis commanding, came up, with fixed bayonets, and with a wild yell, which the rebels wisely interpreted as a premonition of death to the foe, drove them from the creek in wild disorder. This was one of the most brilliant feats of the day. It made the assurance of our victory doubly sure. in their estimate of casualties. Our loss in killed and wounded will not exceed two hundred and fifty, I think. The burial party report having buried forty of our men on the field; to these may be added ten who died on the evening of the engagement. There were one hundred and sixty wounded Union soldiers carried to hospitals. A number were slightly wounded, and either did not enter the hospitals at all, or were cared for in their own regiments. The rebel loss was much heavier than ours. We buried sixty-one confederates on the field, and twelve died at our hospitals before the morning of the thirteenth. We picked up nearly a hundred of their wounded on the field, and found nearly fifty in the hospitals at Raymond. All their slightly wounded were carried off; of those left behind by them, more than one half will die. On their side, Colonel McGiffick, from Nashville, of the Tenth Tennessee, was killed; also several captains and lieutenants. We lost but one field-officer killed, Lieutenant-Colonel Richards, of the Twentieth Illinois. Colonel McCook (brother of Major-General McCook) was wounded in the foot. We lost a number of line-officers. I sent a partial list of our casualties by a special messenger yesterday. If he is not captured on the road, it will reach the North in good season. We took between two and three hundred prisoners during the day. During the engagement yesterday, General McPherson rode along our lines in the thickest of the fight, encouraging his men, and directing their movements. He behaved with remarkable coolness all day. He had several narrow escapes from cannon-shots. General Logan was, as usual, full of zeal, and intoxicated with enthusiasm. His horse was shot twice. If you ever hear that Logan has been defeated, make up your mind that he and most of his men have been sacrificed. He has stricken the word "retreat" from his military lexicon. The rebels were by this time thoroughly defeated, though they still kept up an outward show of willingness to continue the battle. Nothing occurred after the charge by the Eighth Illinois The Seventh Texas met the Eighth Illinois on that deserves especial mention. The rebels re- the field, and was repulsed by them. The same treated gradually toward Raymond. General regiments faced each other at Donelson. The Logan advanced cautiously, until receiving no Seventh Missouri (Union) and Tenth Tennessee, reply to his fire, he became convinced that the (confederate,) both Irish regiments, had a closeenemy was "on the wing." We were in the range contest, in which they exchanged complitown of Raymond about an hour after the departments with genuine Hibernian accent. The Misure of the routed rebels. souri boys were victorious. The most reliable estimate we can make places We arrived here last evening. Raymond is a the rebel strength at six thousand men. Citizens small town-an exact copy of all Southern burgs tell us they had but three thousand, but there of its size. It is the county-seat of Hinds County, were prisoners captured from ten different regi- and contains a population (in peace times) of ments-Tennessee, Alabama, Texas and Missis- about one thousand five hundred. It is distant sippi. They were under command of General eighteen miles from Jackson, and eight from the Gregg, of Texas. We fought them with General Jackson and Vicksburgh Railroad, with which it is Logan's division, of McPherson's army corps, be- connected by a branch road. Of course we did tween five and six thousand strong. Generall not expect to find Unionists in a Mississippi vil lage, and were, therefore, not disappointed at the coolness of our reception in Raymond. We obtained Jackson papers of the eleventh (the day previous) in the town, and were a little amused and a good deal instructed, to learn by them that the Yankees had been whipped at Grand Gulf and Port Gibson, and were falling back to seek protection from their gunboats. We were told by the citizens that the confederates had fallen back only a couple of miles, and would give us a big battle when we advanced upon them; that Gregg had been strongly reenforced, and would prevent us from reaching the railroad at all hazards. Doc. 191. and left flank, and moved in the direction of Jack son. All was quiet for the first five or six miles, until we reached a hill overlooking a broad open field, through the centre of which, and over the crest of the hill beyond which, the road to Jackson passes. On the left of this hill the enemy had posted his artillery, and along the crest his line of battle. From the foot of the acclivity, and not a mile removed, we could see the long line of rebel infantry awaiting in silence our onset. Slowly and cautiously we moved up the hill until we came within range, when all at once, upon the heights to the right, we discovered a puff of white smoke and heard the report of booming cannon, followed by the shrill scream of an exploding shell. The first Missouri battery was moved to the left of a cotton-gin in the open field, midway between the enemy's line of battle and the foot of the hill, and played upon the THE Union army have undisturbed possession rebel battery with telling effect. The duel was of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, and the kept up with great spirit on both sides for nearly headquarters of the department of Mississippi and an hour, when all at once it ceased by the withEastern Louisiana. The Federal flag floats grace-drawal of the enemy's guns. Meantime General fully from the dome of the State House, Yankee Crocker had thrown out two brigades to the right soldiers are patrolling the streets, prisoners are and left of his battery-Colonel Saubon's and gathering at the guard-house, the sick in the hos- Colonel Holmes's-supported by Colonel Boompitals are being paroled, negroes are grinning hor-er's brigade at proper distance. He had pushed ribly from the sidewalks, citizens look silently and sullenly at us from behind screens and closed window-blinds, and all the details of military government are in full operation. CAPTURE OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI. JACKSON, MISS., May 14, 1863. forward a strong line of skirmishers, and posted them in a ravine just in front, which protected them from rebel fire. After a little delay they were again advanced out of cover, and for several My last was written at Raymond, on the even-minutes a desultory fire was kept up between ing after the battle. We encamped there Tuesday night, and early Wednesday morning started for Clinton, a small town on the Vicksburgh and Jackson Railroad. It was considered indispensably necessary for the success of our movement upon Vicksburgh that we should have possession of the railroad and the city of Jackson. We reached Clinton at nightfall and went into camp. During the night the Seventh Missouri regiment, under Captain Tresilian, of General Logan's staff, moved out on the railroad east and west of Clinton and destroyed it, tearing up the rails and burning every bridge and the timbers across every cattle-guard for four miles each side of the village. The telegraph office and the postoffice were seized and rifled of their precious contents. From this source most valuable information of the enemy's future movements was obtained. In the express packages left by the train of cars which steamed out of town just as our advance came in sight, several orders from General Johnston were found, and a package of confederate scrip. At Clinton a hundred prisoners were found, occupants of rebel hospitals. These were paroled and taken in charge by the citizens. At daylight Thursday morning the army was on the road to Jackson, moving in line of battle. General Crocker's division, formerly Quinby's, had the advance. He threw out a strong advanceguard and a heavy line of skirmishers on his right both lines of skirmishers, in which, owing to the topographical nature of the ground, the enemy had the advantage. At last General Crocker, who was on the ground and personally inspected the position, saw that, unless the enemy could be driven from his occupation of the crest of the hill, he would be forced to retire. He therefore ordered a charge along the line. With colors flying, and with a step as measured and unbroken as if on dress-parade, the movement was executed. Slowly they advanced, crossed the narrow ravine, and, with fixed bay onet, rose the crest of the hill in easy range of the rebel line. Here they received a tremendous volley, which caused painful gaps in their ranks They held their fire until they were within a distance of thirty paces, when they delivered the returning volley with fearful effect, and, without waiting to reload their muskets, with a terrific yell they rushed upon the staggered foe. Over the fences, through the brushwood, into the inclosure, they worked their way, and slaugh tered right and left without mercy. The enemy, astonished at their impetuosity, wavered and fell back, rallied again, and finally broke in wild confusion. The brave Union soldiers gained the crest of the hill, and the rebels fled in utter terror. Our boys reloaded their muskets and sent the terrible missiles after the fleeing rebels, adding haste to their terrified flight. They cast muskets and blankets to the ground, unslung their knapsacks and ran like greyhounds, nor stopped to look back until they reached the intrenchments, just within the city. Meantime General Sherman, who had left Raymond the day before and taken the road to the right just beyond the town, came up with the left wing of the enemy's forces and engaged them with artillery. They made a feeble resistance, and they, too, broke and ran, taking the road leading south from Jackson. After a delay of half an hour, to enable our wearied soldiers to take breath, our column moved forward again. We reached the fort, and found a magnificent battery of six pieces, which the enemy had left behind him, and a hundred new tents, awaiting appropriation. The hospital flag was flying from the Deaf and Dumb Institute, and this was crowded with sick and wounded soldiers, who, of course, fell into our hands as prisoners of war. Opposite and all around this building were tents enough to encamp an entire division, and just in front of it, hauled out by the roadside, two small breechloading two-pounder rifles, used to pick off offi cers. Further down the street we found a pile of burning caissons, and on the opposite side of the street, directly in front of the Confederate House, the stores, filled with commissary and quartermaster's stores, were briskly consuming. Directly in front of us the State House loomed up in ample proportions. Two officers of the Seventh division took the flag of the Fourth Minnesota infantry, and galloping rapidly forward, | hoisted it from the flag-staff surmounting its broad dome. The beautiful flag was seen in the distance by the advancing column, and with cheers and congratulations it was greeted. two hundred wounded. This is, of course, mere estimate, as no reports are yet handed in. For the same reason I am unable to give you the names of the sufferers. Several days must necessarily elapse before this information can be made public. This division will return to Clinton to-morrow, leaving General Tuttle to occupy the city. Doc. 192. BATTLE OF CHAMPION HILL, MISS. COLONEL SPICELY'S REPORT. SIR: In pursuance to orders, I have the honor to report the part taken by the Twenty-fourth regiment Indiana volunteers, in the battle of Champion Hill, Mississippi, on the sixteenth day of May, 1863. On the sixteenth instant, at six o'clock A.M., we moved from our camp near Bolton's Depot, four miles from the distant battle-ground, in the direction of Edwards's Depot, at which point the enemy were reported to be in force. My command being in advance, I was ordered by General McGinnis, commanding brigade, to move three companies of my command to the front. I immediately sent companies C, F, and I to the advance, and again resumed the line of march. At about ten o'clock in the morning, as we ap. proached the hills, we were apprised by our cavalry advance that the enemy were posted in force in front, on Champion Hill. General McGinnis We had captured Jackson, the hotbed of the then ordered me to form my line of battle on the rebellion. Guards were established, a provost-right of the road leading to Edwards's Depot. At marshal appointed, and the city placed under martial law. The citizens, particularly those who sustained official relations to the State and rebel governments, had left the city the evening before; but there were many soldiers left behind, and a large number in hospital who fell into our hands. half-past ten A.M. our line of battle as a brigade was formed, and ready for action. A few minutes after I was informed by a signal-officer that there was a force of the enemy manoeuvring to the right. I immediately sent companies A and K to the right, and company G in support of the skirmishers in front. They had hardly deployed The State Treasurer and the Governor were in line before firing commenced on our right, the gone, taking the funds and State papers with enemy making an effort to turn it. At half-past them. A large amount of government and mili-eleven A.M. I was ordered to advance in line of tary property fell into our hands; but private battle, and by two o'clock my command was in property was altogether unmolested. The offices close contest with the enemy, whose force exof the Memphis Appeal and Jackson Mississip- ceeded ours by more than five times our numpian were removed the preceding night— the bers. Our line advanced from where it was first former to Brandon and the latter to Mobile. formed near sixty rods, across the timber, when I discovered the enemy in large force, moving to my right, and making an effort, as I supposed, to capture our batteries, stationed in the field to the right. I at once halted my command, and poured a galling oblique fire into his flank. This, with the destructive fire of the artillery, checked for a time their advance. We now have quiet and undisturbed possession of Jackson. One portion of the rebel force has moved out on the Canton road, and the other on the road south of the city, whence they will both doubtless make a detour around Jackson, outside of our lines, and unite at Edwards's Station, on the Vicksburgh and Jackson Railroad, where the citizens say they will give us battle. Our loss in the gallant charge by General Crocker's division this morning will reach fifty killed and By this time the action became general along the whole line, and very severe. From the edge of the timber we drove the enemy, step by step, for near eight hundred yards, over deep ravines and abrupt hills. At this time the rebels were heavily reenforced, and again the struggle commenced, the most desperate and destructive of the day. While engaged actively with the enemy, I received notice through Captain Cavin to come to the support of the centre of our line, which was sorely pressed by the left flank, and in a few minutes became again engaged with the enemy in strong force. This point I contested against superior numbers for near an hour, under the most galling fire I ever witnessed. Again the enemy massed their forces, and threw their whole weight upon the right and centre of our line, and here my men fell by scores, but yet with determined bravery held the enemy in check, and again it became necessary for me to change my position, as the enemy's fire was converging upon my lines. I moved to the rear about seventyfive yards, and again opened fire upon the rebels, who were still pressing forward. Here we stood before a destructive fire fifteen minutes, when I was compelled to change my position, and again for twenty minutes we fought ten times our number. At this time word came to me that the left of the division was giving way, and that our troops to the right were overwhelmed, or nearly so. I again fell back and formed a line, returning the enemy's fire, which was kept up for a considerable time. Here it was that our colors fell. The gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Barter, believing that the bearer was wounded, rushed forward, seized them, and waved them with cheers in the very face of the enemy. The flag-staff was shattered, and Lieutenant-Colonel Barter severely wounded. Being entirely out of ammunition, and overwhelmed in front, my command fell back near three hundred yards, and here the Eleventh and Twenty-fourth formed a new line, replenished their cartridge-boxes, and again advanced to the field. By this time we were sufficiently reënforced, and in less than an hour the enemy gave way, leaving our gallant troops in full possession of Champion Hill. But amid our rejoicing over this great victory, we are called upon to mourn the gallant dead. Captain Felix G. Wellman, of company B, Second Lieutenant Jesse G. Cain, of company A, and twenty-seven others of my command fell at their post, nobly and gallantly performing their whole duty. Let their names be inscribed in the hearts of our people, and their memories revered as noble patriots and gallant soldiers. I shall feel the loss of these men, together with the loss to the service of the gallant Lieut.-Colonel Barter and Lieut. J. H. Baldwin, who are so severely wounded as to leave me without the benefit of their valuable assistance for a considerable time. I desire also to make mention of Capt. N. J. Bolton; Lieut. Daniel Smith; Lieut. Fred. T. Butler, and Assistant-Surgeon T. C. Williams, who were severely wounded while engaged in the gallant performance of their duty. Adjutant S. R. Henderson, and Capt. Hugh Irwin; Lieut. Smith, company C; Capt. F. M. Downey; Lieut. Frank Robbins, commanding company F, after Lieut. Baldwin fell; Capt. Chas. Jenkins; Capt. John B. Hutchens; Capt. Benj. F. Summers and Capt. Redburn, with their subordinate officers, are deserving special notice for the ability and zeal with which they performed their duty. The men, without exception, did gallant service, and stood up to the galling fire of an overwhelming force for three hours and twenty minutes, like veterans, and Indiana and the country generally may well feel proud of the gallant men engaged in the greatest battle of the war. My loss in killed and wounded was two hundred and seven out of a force less than five hundred men. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, W. T. SPICELY, IN CAMP, ON THE BATTLE-FIELD, Four engagements in sixteen days show that the campaign in Mississippi is progressing in terrible earnestness; but their results indicate that it will soon close in triumphal success. We have defeated the rebels in four successive battles on fields of their own choosing, and before to-morrow night we will probably increase the number to five. At Thompson's Hills, at Raymond, and at Jackson, they met us, and essayed to stop our progress, but signally failed. To-day they again gave us battle, and victory. I am at a loss to know by what name to designate the battle-field of to-day. The engagement may be known, officially, hereafter as the battle of Baker's Creek, as that stream runs within a very short distance of our first line of battle; or it may take its name from Edwards's Station, on the Vicksburgh and Jackson Railroad, within a few miles of which the scene of conflict was. The casualty list of to-day's battle shows an engagement much more severe than any one of the previous three fought since our debarkation at Bruinsburgh. As yet, I have no data from which to form a just estimate of the number of killed and wounded on our side. From the verbal statement of officers who were in the fight, and from my own observation on the field, I think it likely that our entire loss will reach three thousand. The situation last night was about as follows: General Hovey's division held the advance on the main Vicksburgh road, the same road that leads to Edwards's Station; behind them were General Logan's and General Quinby's divisions. General Sherman, with two divisions of his corps, was at Jackson, but was understood to have marching orders for this morning; Generals McArthur, Osterhaus, and Blair, with their respective divisions, were in the vicinity of Raymond, or to the left of Hovey. The rebels, in heavy force, variously estimated at from fifteen to fifty thousand, were near Edwards's Depot, which is within a couple of miles of Big Black bridge, and said to be strongly fortified. We mish lines had been strongly reenforced, did they yield sufficiently to show us the situation of their lines. have not fought our way to their fortifications yet, and I can only say of them what I hear from others. Wirt Adams's rebel cavalry had been watching our movements since the fall of Thinking the rebels would emerge from the Jackson, and had probably formed a very correct woods to drive our men from the crest of a hill opinion as to the point at which we were about upon which they had to advance, General Mcto strike. I do not think General Grant antici- Guiness gave orders to his brigade commanders: pated a very formidable stand at this place."If they come out to keep you from that hill, Black River bridge is only important to the reb-fix bayonets and send them back with a charge." els as being necessary to hold their communica- The soldiers expressed great satisfaction in heartion between Jackson and Vicksburgh. With ing this. The Eleventh Indiana, especially, Jackson in our possession, and the railroad destroyed at several points, it was thought they could gain nothing by fighting for the bridge, which is the only object of the battle commenced to-day. I say commenced to-day, because I believe it will be continued to-morrow, and may last still longer. wanted to fix bayonets and go at them with cold steel; they were anxious to go into the woods after the rebels in case the rebels failed to come out of the woods after them. If the mountain wouldn't come to Mohammed, Mohammed proposed to go to the mountain. I do not believe any bayonet-charge was made during the day, except by the Thirty-second Ohio, on the right. The ground upon which General Hovey had to operate was such that he had to keep his lines contracted and receive the full fire of the enemy, who was pouring in reënforcements and concentrating them upon his exposed ranks from a heavy timber cover. Hovey had not yet been reenforced, though he had seen the impossibility of holding his position, and had sent for support. The firing became terrible. Such an awful rattle of musketry as was kept up between Hovey's division and the almost concealed foe, was not heard upon the bloody fields of Shiloh or Donelson. General Hovey's division of McClernand's corps held the advance on the night of the fifteenth. The rebels were known to be awaiting our approach, in the vicinity of Edwards's Station. This morning, at about seven o'clock, General Hovey commenced moving toward Big Black River. A company of cavalry was thrown out as an advance-guard. They had proceeded but a short distance, when they were met by the enemy's cavalry, supposed to be a part of Wirt Adams's regiment. After a little skirmishing, the rebels fell back. Our cavalry did not follow them up. At about nine o'clock, the ground chosen by the rebels was reached. General Hovey's division was halted and formed Hovey held his ground with heroic tenacity into line of battle. Skirmishers were thrown for an hour and a half. Had he given way at out and advanced toward heavy timber, where the rebels were drawn up to check us. They soon commenced exchanging shots, and kept up a fire, light and heavy, at intervals, for two hours. The rebels having the choice of position, selected for their battle-field the most advantageous ground within several miles of Edwards's Station. They made a good selection, as they always do. To reach their lines from the road on which we were travelling, our men had to cross two open fields and ascend a steep slope, exposed to their fire from the woods, and unable to return it so as to do execution. It was the best position for defence that they have selected in Mississippi as yet. first, the rebels would have turned our left, and the consequences could not have been other than disastrous. After a long and desperate struggle with an enemy of more than twice his numerical strength, and at every disadvantage of position, he was compelled to give way. He was forced back half a mile-retreating in excellent order, expecting every moment to meet reënforcements, and quickly regain his lost ground. He retreated about half a mile, until, reaching a favorable point, he re-formed, obtained support from General Quinby's division, and commenced another forward movement. The Third division of the Seventeenth army corps arrived at the scene of action while Hovey was skirmishing with the enemy. General McPherson rode over the ground in the vicinity of the rebel lines, and saw an excellent chance for Logan to operate on the right. The rebels observed this movement on their left, and formed a General Hovey's division having thrown out a strong skirmish line, advanced over the open space that lay between them and the enemy. The first brigade under General McGuiness, consisting of the Eleventh, Thirty-fourth, Twenty-line behind a fence in the woods. The Second fourth, and Forty-sixth Indiana and Twenty- brigade of Logan's division, under General M. D. ninth Wisconsin, took the right, and the Second Leggett, was thrown upon the right of Hovey, brigade, under Colonel Slack, composed of the the Twentieth Ohio regiment in the advance. As Forty-seventh Indiana, Fifty-sixth Ohio, Twen- General Leggett advanced with his command, the ty-fourth Iowa, and two other regiments that I rebels opened a heavy fire, but failed to make cannot name just now, were on the left. Ad- him give way a single inch. The Twentieth, Sevvancing halfway to the woods, the lines halted, enty-eighth, and Sixty-eighth Ohio and the Thirwhile the skirmishers kept up a brisk fire. The tieth Illinois, composing his command, stood their rebel skirmishers were well posted under good ground like veterans. General Leggett wished cover, and were not easily compelled to fall back to move forward, but was not permitted to do so, upon their main body; and not until our skir-lest he should expose Hovey's right, which he |