May 30, 1863, The New York Herald
OUR SPECIAL ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
EDWARDS’ STATION, May 16, 1863.
Early on the morning of the day following the occupation of the city of Jackson it was decided to evacuate the position. There were several reasons which induced General Grant to arrive at this decision, prominent among which was the difficulty of keeping intact his long line of communication, and the fear that General Johnston – who was known to be hovering in the region north of Jackson with a force estimated at from fifteen to twenty thousand men – would attack his rear. The force which we encountered just before we reached Jackson, under General Gregg, had divided, one portion going to Canton from the north and the other from the south. Johnston and Gregg combined might prove altogether too formidable. It was therefore decided to return to Clinton and move upon Vicksburg.
From documents which fell into our hands it was learned that the main column of the enemy was at Edwards’ Station, proposing to dispute our passage and give us battle there. Soon after daylight the column was in motion, Gen. McPherson in advance. They reached Clinton at noon, and after an hour delay marched to their camping ground, a short distance from the village of Bolton.
It may be of interest to describe the topography and appearance of the country through which the route lay. Imagine a region rugged and broken, with a succession of hills and valleys, precipitous steep and deep ravines, over and through which the road winds; dense forests, with here and there cleared patches, planted with cereals; swamp, meadows and banks of sterile yellow soil; and you will have a fair idea of the country between Jackson and Bolton. There are not elements of beauty about it, and were it not for the occasional white dwellings by the roadside, embowered in a wreath of evergreens and flowering trees, now deserted and abandoned by their rightful proprietors, we might imagine the country uninhabited and uninhabitable.
The programme of the advance was arranged by General Grant and General McClernand as follows: – Extreme left, General Smith, supported by General Blair; on the right of General Smith, General Osterhaus, supported by General Carr; General Hovey in the centre, with McPherson on the extreme right, with Crocker as reserve. In this order the advance was made. General McClernand’s corps, with the exception of General Hovey’s division, reaching the position by way of the several roads leading from Raymond to Edwards’ Station.
On the evening of the 15th General McClernand heard that the enemy were advancing from Edwards’ Station to Raymond, and quickly placed his troops in order of battle to repel the anticipated attack. Extensive reconnoissances revealed the fact, however, that he was merely feeling his position and force, and that no attack need be expected that day.
At nine in the morning General Osterhaus took possession of Bolton, capturing a rebel mail and several prisoners. General McClernand placed his army in camp early in the evening, and by daylight the following day each division occupied the ground selected and prepared to offer battle.
The enemy’s first demonstration was upon our extreme left, which they attempted to turn. This attempt was most gallantly repulsed by General Smith, commanding the left wing. At seven o’clock the skirmishers were actively engaged; and as the enemy sought the cover of the forest our artillery fire was opened, which continued without intermission for two hours. At this time General Ransom’s brigade marched on the field, and took up a position as reserve behind General Carr.
Now the battle raged fearfully along the entire line, the evident intention of the enemy being to mass his forces upon Hovey on the centre. There the fight was most earnest; but General McPherson brought his forces into the field, and after four hours hard fighting the tide of battle was turned and the enemy forced to retire.
Disappointed in his movements upon our right, he turned his attention to the left of Hovey’s division, where Colonel Slack commanded a brigade of Indianians. Massing his forces here he hurled them against the opposing columns with irresistible impetuosity, and forced them to fall back; not, however, until at least one quarter of the troops comprising the brigade were either killed or wounded. Taking a new position, and receiving fresh reinforcements, our soldiers again attempted to stem the tide, this time with eminent success. The enemy were beaten back, and compelled to seek the cover of the forest in their rear. Following up their advantage, without waiting to reform, the soldiers of the Western army fixed their bayonets and charged into the woods after them. The enemy were seized with an uncontrollable panic, and thought only of escape. In this terrible charge men were slaughtered without mercy. The ground was literally covered with the dead and dying. The enemy scattered in every direction, and took through the fields to reach the column now moving to the west along the Vicksburg road. At three o’clock in the afternoon the battle was over and the victory won.
Of the part taken in this battle by McPherson’s corps you are doubtless informed by your correspondent accompanying that grand division of the army, and it is only necessary to say that it rendered the most efficient and satisfactory assistance. To it belongs the credit of winning the fight on the extreme right.
It is impossible to arrive at any just estimate of our losses in this battle of Champion’s Hill. The list swells fearfully. Those who are in a position to know say it will reach fully three thousand in killed and wounded. In the excitement of pursuit and daily engagements with the enemy no definite statements can be obtained.
The enemy’s loss is not known. Their dead upon the battle field were largely in excess of our own. None but the fatally wounded were left behind. The citizens say that two trains filled with wounded left Edwards’ Station for Vicksburg the evening of the fight. A large number of prisoners fell into our hands – over a thousand. From the data at hand I estimate the rebel loss in killed, wounded and prisoners at four thousand.
The battle ended, the left was speedily advanced upon the Vicksburg road, driving the enemy rapidly before them, and picking up as they advanced large numbers of prisoners and guns.
On the left of the road we could see large squads of rebel soldiers and commands cut off from the main column, whom we engaged at intervals with artillery. One of these was under the command of Major General Tighlman, who was struck by a shell from our battery and instantly killed while in the act of sighting a gun. This we learned from prisoners subsequently captured.
Thus we pursued the enemy until nearly dark, when we entered this little village just as the rear guard of the enemy was leaving it.
When within rifle range of the Station we discovered on the left a large building in flames, and on the right a smaller one from which just then issued a series of magnificent explosions. The former contained commissary stores, and the latter shell and ammunition – five carloads – brought down from Vicksburg on the morning of the day of the battle. In their hasty exit from Edward’ Station the rebels could not take this ammunitions with them, but consigned it to the flames rather than it should fall into our hands. We bivouac in line of battle tonight and tomorrow move upon the bridge across Big Black river.