May 18, 1863, The New York Herald
Our Expeditionary Correspondence.
SOUTH SIDE OF BIG BLACK RIVER,
HANKERSON’S FERRY, MISS., May 3, 1863.
Events have followed each other so rapidly within the last three days that I have been utterly unable to keep you informed of them as they have occurred. In a land blessed with mail facilities those would be an irreparable misfortune in a journalistic point of view; but here, cut off as we are from one of the blessings of civilization and good order, and depending upon the courtesy of returning officer to take our communications, we feel the misfortune less sensibly.
AT BRUINSBURG.
When I wrote you from this place, it was long past midnight, and at the conclusion of my letter I was forced to throw myself upon the ground, under the friendly shelter of a thrifty cottonwood, to gain a little sleep for the labors of the coming day. Since eleven o’clock of the preceding (Thursday) night we had heard the occasional boom of cannon, followed by the sharp rattle of musketry, and I was not surprised, soon after I went into bivouac, to learn that an order was issued to march at daylight. At five reveille was beaten, and swallowing a cup of coffee and securing within haversack a cracker or two, just as the first rays of the tropical sun came glistening along the surface of the Mississippi, we left our bivouac, and, taking the levee, moved in the direction of Port Gibson.
LOSS OF THE STEAMER HORIZON.
The steamers which a few nights before had run the rebel batteries at Vicksburg and Grand Gulf were then used to carry troops from Bromly’s plantation to Bruinsburg. Among others the Moderator and Horizon were thus used. The Moderator on her return trip met the Horizon coming down the river, having on board one hundred and fifty thousand rations and a full battery of artillery – Sparrestsom. Whether it was owing to the fog or the carelessness of the pilot has not been ascertained, but somehow the two vessels collided and the Horizon, rations and battery, sank in deep water; and disappeared from mortal vision. Every horse on board was drowned. Every gun lies fathoms deep in water, rations are ruined, and I regret to add, that two or three soldiers found a watery grave. At this juncture the loss is almost irreparable.
THE MARCH.
The road to Port Gibson lies along the inner side of the levee for a couple of miles, until its branches to the right and strikes the bluff or series of hills extending to Grand Gulf and Vicksburg. The route over these bluffs differs so materially from that over the dead levels of the preceding days that we were continually finding something to wonder at and admire. The abrupt acclivities, the deep ravines, the waving corn, the beautiful flowers and magnificent magnolias, just now in full blossom, diffusing most delicious perfumes, and the long line of soldiers winding around the green trees, formed a truly beautiful picture. The harmony of this scene, normally so suggestive of peace, was sadly marred by the constantly recurring evidences that man was at variance with his fellow. As we approached a point six miles from Bruinsburg we could hear the more rapid firing of cannon and the shaper rattle of musketry. When we arrived within four miles of Port Gibson we met a small force of stragglers, and received orders to move forward to the front.
THOMPSON’S HILLS AND ITS TOPOGRAPHY.
The peculiar features of the region a little east of Bruinsburg are rigidly maintained here, except that, if possible, the hills are steeper, the ravines deeper and ingress much more difficult. As we approach the plantation whence the battle takes its name we find at the bottom of a deep ravine a clear running stream of water – a rarity in this latitude. Ordinarily the streams are muddy and turbid; but here was one as clear as crystal. Beyond this stream the road over the hill rises abruptly until it reaches an open field, upon which the plantation mansion stands. Just beyond is a road to the left leading to Grand Gulf, and to the right a road, leading south. We follow the latter, and reach a primitive church just in the edge of a grove of magnolias, with an open lawn in front. A half mile beyond this road again forks, the left leading to Port Gibson and the right to Rodney. Taking this church as a centre, and striking a semi-circle towards the east whose periphery shall be everywhere two miles from this common centre, and your line will strike a chain of hills and valleys, upon which and between which this battle, known as that of Thompson’s Hills, was fought. Just beyond these hills is Port Gibson.
THE BATTLE OF PORT GIBSON.
General McClernand’s army corps was marching in the direction of Port Gibson, and had reached the ravine and the running brook alluded to as early as eleven o’clock on Thursday evening. It was his intention to encamp on the opposite hill, near which the hospital has since been indicated; but the enemy had placed a three gun battery there, and, as our advance reached the ravine, he began most persistently to shell us. His range was not good, and the guns did no damage. We withdrew out of range, and patiently waited for daylight. At daybreak the fight was renewed, first by the advance skirmishers, and afterwards by the main body. The battery placed upon the hill opposite was annoying us, and the Eighteenth and Eighth Indiana were ordered to take it. Across the running water and up the steep ascent advanced the brave Indianians, with bayonets firmly set, nor faltered a single step until the enemy were driven from the position and their guns fell into our hands.
From here the enemy retired to the right, following the road which led past the church, near which they had stationed another battery. Here the battle raged fearfully, and several of our men were wounded and killed. After the rebels had left this point I was able to find where the fight raged the fiercest, the dead bodies of twenty men within a circuit of half as many rods. Driven from this position by the impetuous attack of the federal soldiers, the rebel General sought a convenient circlet of hills, and established his battle line. His centre rested on the Port Gibson road, with his right and left on the right and left of that thoroughfare. The attack was first made with artillery upon his centre, then skirmishers advanced, and the engagement became general in that locality. After heavy firing, the enemy gave way and massed his forces on his left with the evident intention of flanking our right. This intention was discovered in season to avoid it by a proper disposition of our reserves, when the enemy wheeled over to his right and massed his forces, making a most formidable demonstration. The attack against this wing was resisted with great determination and with partial success in the earlier part of the day, and the enemy gained several important positions, from which, for some hours, we tried in vain to dislodge him. On our extreme left and their right there was an elevation, protected in front by an impenetrable canebreak, and defended from flank approach by ravines, where the attacking party would be forced to undergo an enfilading fire. The enemy had mounted his guns upon the hill and posted his skirmishers in the thicket before it. Several hours most strenuous efforts were made to dislodge them, but our boys were unable to penetrate the dense thicket. The deadly missiles came singing through the air with fearful accuracy, and many a brave soldier was laid low. General Osterhaus and a portion of his division were opposite. At length reinforcements were called for, and the First brigade of the Third division, commanded by General John E. Smith, came rushing along the road towards Grand Gulf. They were quickly formed and in position, and with a shout, which must has struck terror in the hearts of the enemy the boys fixed bayonets and boldly charged the position. Down upon their hands and knees, they worked their way through the young cane, and mercilessly slaughtered all who did not yield. One hundred and fifty men were taken prisoners in the glorious charge, and scores of rebels were killed and wounded. They gained the other side of the thicket and picked off the men and horses serving the rebel battery. The Union batteries finished the good work and the position and guns fell into our hands.
Beaten at every point, losing one hundred and fifty killed, three hundred wounded, and more than five hundred prisoners, the enemy sullenly and rapidly retreated to Port Gibson, harassed in his flight by vollies of musketry and the most strenuous efforts of our artillery.
Without difficulty they reached Port Gibson, blowing up when near the village a caisson filled with shot, shell and powder.
Night was wrapping her sable mantle over hill and valley, and the silver moon shone out clear and bright, casting a flood of beautiful light over friend and foe, when the order was given to cease pursuit. We rested on the battle field, wearied and exhausted, and soon deep silence reigned supreme where Mars so recently held high carnival.
THE UNION LOSS.
I have yet seen no estimate, and must rely upon my own observations. I estimate the killed at one hundred and fifty, wounded as four hundred and prisoners at twenty. I consider this rather an over estimate. I give you the following list of wounded: […..]