The Southern reveille., May 30, 1890, Image 1

About The Southern reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1876-1890

Image provided by: Mississippi Department of Archives and History

                
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VOL. XV--NEW SERIES.
PORT GIBSON, MISS., FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 30, 1890.
NUMBER 9.
Queen
Crescent
JACKSON TO CINUINNAT
Entire Train,Baggage Cars.Day Coach
es and Steeping Cara ran through
without change,from Meridian,
The Short Line rim
CHATTANOOGA
III Cuolins ui Virçm
Mini, Wishington, Baltimore
• •
The Shortline via Cincinnati to
CHICAGO. CLEVELAND, BUFFALO
Niagara Falls and Canada,
■EW YORK,
The Adirondack and White Mountains,
ISew England
And all points North and East.
rrAll Tit rough Trains pass around
I he base of Lookout Mountain, along
the shore of the Emory River, «ver the
Famous High Bridge mid through the
Blue Grass Region of Kentucky to Cen
tral Union Depot, where connection ia
made for tbe North mid East without
transfer, through the city.
For farther information address
BOSTON
C. H. Carnahan, Ageist, Jackson,Mias.
I. Hardy, A. G. P. A.. Vicksburg,Mi*.
N. A. liol lias, Travl. A. Birmingham Ala
F. M. Comfort, T. & P. A.. Vicksburg.
D. G- Edward«,
G P A T. A.
J. C. Gault,
U«D. Manager,
Cincinnati, O.
DR. R. Gr. WHARTON
Offer» hi» nr«*fc»*i<*»nl service» to tin
peuple of Port Gibson anil vicinity. Ob
lice next door to W$ i evidence.
Port Ghmom, Feb. 16. 1888.
rtf
DR. I*. A. SMITH,
Resident Dentist,
Offer» Ilia professional services to the
Office over Goeprl'a.
public.
Port Gibson. Jan. 6. 1888.
I U
er
to
Evon TSÆ. Barber
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW.
WILL PRACTICE IN TIIE COURTS OF
Vv Claiborne and adjoining counties ; also
in the Supreme and Federal court« st Jackson.
Special attention Utfcollectlon of claim*. Of
fice upeialrsover WanM-mo'* barber shop.
Port Gibson, Sept. !«, 'SO.
J. 3. ASKEW,
DENTIT,
STOWERS' NEW BUILDING,
VICKSBURG, MISS.
\>U. E. D. BOBBIN8, D. D. Ö.,
]Suitimore Colletre.
DKNIAL 8UHURON,
- Mrssi&sim
JCKSBCKC,
BARBER SHOP,
H. WASSEM, Proprietor,
• YtiHS,
Pori iitbson t
Hair Catting ami Shaving done with
neatness and «lispstch.
C. A. FRENCH.
E. H. 8T1LES.
Stiles & French,
A TTORNEYS-A T-LA W,
Office in the Person Building
Opposite Ryan's Shop.
J»n. SI, 1990.
ZOsrtra,
Open kettle molasses.
Very choice California prnnes.
All kind» sogar, very low.
Some very nice choap pantaloons.
at Wharton'«.
THE PORT GIBSOH SOMMER SCHOOL,
A first-class school for colored teachers
Will Open July J 4, 1890,
and continue for a term of 13 weck«,
rlosing at the beginning of the fall exam
inations, which will be held in October.
Terms the lowest. Progressive teachers
cannot afford to let this opportunity go
unimproved. Build up a grade higher,
thus doubling your usefulness and in
creasing your salary by attending this
school. Wliether you expeot to attend or
not, write for particulars lo
[al8-8m] J. M. Tayi.uk, Grand Gulf.
Furs.
Furs.
IKE KLEIN,
OF PORT l»I!SOH S MARTIN,
Offers tbe following prices:.
For fox 8kins
50 cents
50 cents
Raccoon
Black Polecat.50 cents
Otter
3 to 6 cento per pound
Beaver...2 to 7 cents per pound
Ginseng
.$2 per pound
j^ANDHETH'S
Orrt»n S*«|p at «IiOImaI«,
J 'ME HICHAKIUJON * 00.
vv&vuii ®«
■V^iclcs'b-ajrg', IfeuCIesiesippl,
-WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER IN
Foreign and Domestic Drugs
HIED PAHTS FBOI PUTS TO «ALL0I8,
White lead, boiled and raw linseed oil, lard oil, ueatsfoot oil, turpentine
and all kinds of lubricating oils. Wludovv glass all sizes cat to order.
20 Barrels Putty. 50 Bibs. Lamp Black.
INCORPORATED lfS4.
JOHN . HALPIN M«Dag*.
JOHN F. HALPIN CO
TX7"Ib.oles3-l© G-rocexs,
•>
Dos. 117 tad 120 lalbsiTT Direst, Vitkibarg, liai,
-HEADQUARTERS POR
Flour, Meal, Hay, Corn, Oats and Bran. Alabama Lime, Portland and
Kosedale Cement'a specialty.
$\*** MEMPHIS WEEKLY AVAlMilM/tâ
V&\A TWaLVX-FAOX 'DEMOCRATIC PAJEB./fetf/
Y ISTARLISHEO 1887. /T»/
IVW\ CONTAINS ALL THS NEW8 OF THF DAY. Av*/ {
/*&/ (9
i
LR KDITORIALt, CAB.KFCa.JL.Y-S3 T _KCTK D
MATTER, TALIAOS'8 SERMONS, OHI O- J
» IVAX STORIES, AMD a VARIETY of
V HEADING THAT KARES UP A
V
WfAfV
V
THB
/WIEKLY
AVALANCHE
^ Hi« had 4. Distil.
atlons and haul given away
$10,000. T he names and
addresses ot parties
> N k >re always Pub
lished.
S.SRXD for
a LIST.
IPlrst-ClA««
newspaper
3?
o,ooo^S3
Circular»
former Dtatribatio*»
MEMPHIS.
«
OHVBW A.W
1
$1.000 In O
^AGENTS WANTED EVERYWHERE. >
unui came ra s an lamb mem list rss unm mi.
rim Cl AH For a TZAB'S ST7BSC2UPTI02
lUV 4>llUU WHICH INOLUDZ8 THI DISTRIBUTIONS.
ill oifiai
m
Harmony.
While there are essential differ
ences between democrats, and some
apparent conflicts of interest be
tween different portions of the state,
yet there can be hut one common
and predominating interest among
white men in the presence of the
suffrage question. Compared with
it, every other issue presented in
either state or national politics be
comes insignificant.
It must be apparent
Justinen! ot the suffrage upon any
constitutional and legal basis in
such manner as to secure the gov
ernment to the white race will re
quire of this white race unity of pur
pose, harmony of action, a patriot
lie ami self-sacrificing spirit and
[clear, honest judgment. If minor
difference« are to be brought to the
front and wrangled over; if one class
of men place their special interests,
or what they imagine to be their
special concerns, above the common
good; if one organization or associ
ation whatever it may eall itself,
determines that all other interests
must yield to its own; then the task
of dealing with the suffrage had bet
ter never be assumed by the con
vention. Again, if the idea is to ac
complish by indirection
or equivocal and doubtful measures,
what cannot be reached by simple
and direct methods; if the idea is to
secure and appropriate everything
in the way of benefits, and yield
nothing in return and make no con
cessions; then the task is a hopeless
one and had better be abandoned at
the outset.
These things deserve careful at
tention and consideration. If any
man believes that white supremacy
can be secured legally without the
sacrifice of some white votes ; that
thousands of neçro votes can be cut
off without depriving a small num
ber of white men of the franchise ;
then he had better read the amend
ments to the iederal constitution.
There is necessary to a solution
of this question, a full and candid
realization of our own political-con
dition and surroundings, an appre
ciation of the fact that any remedy
to be effectual must necessarily af
fect the interests of a certain num
ber of white men, and that if the
white race as a race cannot afford
to sacrifice a few of its number for
the coromou safety of the entire
race, then it is clear that the white
men of the state are not in a prop
er frame of mind to consider their
condition, much less to undertake
to provide a remedy.
In a word, for illustration, it 10,
000 illiterate white voters out of
125,000 are to stand as obstacles in
the only road that leads to deliver
ance and safety to all, then upon
whom will rest the responsibility?
The Commonwealth has believed
firmly in the honest and earnest
purpose of the white men of the
state to undertake the thorough con
sideration and settlement of this
question, and it now confidently
and hopefully expresses the opinion
that in the presence of a patriotic
and unselfish spirit in tbe conven
tion the most forth i dab le difli
that an nd
or evasion,
cullies involved in tnis problem will
disappear.— Jrokmm OommoHieeaUk.
Bu KKW ^totr
LEE RiCHABDftON * on., Vick:barf
25
IDE BATTLE OF PORT BKOI.
in
in
;
COMPILED PROM THE OFFICIAL
WAR RisCORDS OF THE UNIT
ED 8TATE3 GOVERNMENT
Anti Supplemented by Local Informa
tion Gained from Gitiiens Resid
ing in tbe Neighborhood
of the BattleGround.
This engagement, otherwise call
ed by the Federal» the battle of
Magnolia church, and also, though
incorrectly, thebatileofThompson's
hill, was fought Friday, May 1st,
1863. between the Federal army
under lieutenant-general U.S Grant,
and a small Confederate force com
manded by brigadier-general John
8. Bowen. The battlefield lies in a
singularly rugged scope of country
between Widows creek and Senter's
creek, a few miles southwest of Port
Gibson. Gen. Bowen hazarded the
action in order to check Grant's
inarch on Vicksburg, but after a
a stubborn contest from sunrise till
5 o'clock in the afternoon, the Con
federate forces were driven from the
field. The cause and consequences
of the battle will be more clearly
understood after a preliminary
SKETCH OF THE FEDERAL CAMPAIGN.
In January, 1863, a few week?
after Sherman's bloody repulse at
Vicksburg, Gen. Grunt assumed
command of the array on the Mis
sissippi, and renewed the attempt
on that city. Finding the works
too strong to be attacked on the
north, he determined to land his
troops at Grand Gulf and operate
from the south. But the river was
swept by the Confederate batteries
at Vicksburg, and as it was judged
too hazardous to risk a passage un
der their fire the following scheme
was conceived : Opposite to Vicks
burg the river made a great bend to
the nortlreast, embracing in its folds
a long narrow tongue of land.
Across the neck of this peninsula
Grant determined to dig a canal,
thereby forming a cut-off through
which his transports might drop
down the river in safety out ot reach
of the Confederate gun«. His plan
was to land at Grand Gulf, then
occupied by Gen. Bowen, crush the
enemy there, and march directly
against Vicksburg.
Early in April the canal was a
bandoned as impracticable ; but to
wards the end of that month the
fleet succeeded in running bv the
Vicksburg guns (losing several ves
sels in »he passage) and
anchor below. The army, mean
while, was in Tensas parish, La.,
making its way southward aluiig the
west bank of the river. The water
was high, the country partially
flooded and the roads almost impas
sable; consequently its progress was
slow and toilsome.
Being able now to use the fleet
for crossing into Mississippi, Grant
ordered admiral Porter to bombard
and destroy the Confederate works
at Grand Gulf, preliminary to effect
ing a landing there. Accordingly on
the morning of April 29th seven
iron-clad« opened fire, 10,000 men
being held on board the transports
ready to cross and land as soon as
came to
;; y:.}
the Confederate works should be
destroyed ; but after a terrific can
nonado from 7 a. m. to 1:30 p. in.
it bos found impossible to silence
the hostile batteries. Official re
ports put the Federal loss at 17
men killed and wounded, and the
Confederate loss at 15 wounded and
3 killed, among the latter being the
gallunt Col. Wm. Wade, Bowen's
chief of artillery. That night Por
ter re-opened the cunnonade, under
cover of which his transports slip
ped below unharmed.
BRUINSBURG AND ITS ROADS.
Baffled in his plan of getting a
foothold at Grand Gulf, Grant de
cided to cross at Bruinsburg, at the
mouth and on the south bank of
Bayou Pierre 10 miles lower down.
This spot wo« a lonely plantation
landing, forming part of the Evans
estate of 2000 acres. It derived its
name from Peter Bryan Bruin, a
Virginia Irishman who had been a
major in the American army during
the revolutionary war. After the
war he came to the southwest, set
tling at this spot about a century
ago. A tiny village grew up con
taining several stores, a tavern, <fcc.,
and the place became a lively trad
ing point for the interior country.
But the little hamlet soon went to
decay, having relapsed into
wilderness long before the civil war.
The direct road to Port Gibson,
which is 11 miles east, lay along
the south bank of Bayou Pierre ;
but that route was closed by Wid
ows creek, which stream, then un
fordable by reason of aeep back
water, intersected the road lour
miles from Bruinsburg. There is
another road g>atg first to Bethel
church, 5 miles southeast, and then
turning to the left into the main
road to PortGibBon.the town being 10
miles to the northeast. From Beth
el church the route follows a toler
ably level ridge until, 4$ miles
from Port Gibson, it reaches Wid
ows creek, which at that place is
an insignificant brook. There the
road suddenly descends a long,steep
and dangerous hill, crosses the creek
(the valley of which is about 200
yards wide), and on the other side
climbs another mountainous hill.
The road is deeply sunken into the
hillside, forming a narrow defile
enclosed by high walls of earth. It
is a position of 6uch military
strength that a small force on the
créât of the hill might hold in check
tenfold its own numbers.
Two miles further the road crosses
Senter's creek at another rugged
gorge, which for defensive purposes
is almost as strong as the one just
described. F rom this {mint the road
is less uneven, and at the end of
two miles more it winds down the
last of these great hills and enters
the lovely valley where lies tliej
town of Port Gibson. The entire
western portion of Claiborne coun
ty is a remarkably rugged country,
presenting an interminable succes
sion ef bills with deep, thicket
grown hollows betweeu. This ex
traordinary roughness ofsurface was
remarked on by many of the Union
officers in their reports. Gen. Grant
said : "It is the most broken coun
try I ever saw. The whole country
iya series of irregular ridges, divid
ed by impassable ravines grown up
with heavy timber, undergrowth
and cane."
THE ADVANCE FROM BRUINSBURO.
Early on Thursday, the 30th day
of April, the transports began
work of bringing the Federal forces over
and putting them ashore at Bruinsburg.
There seem to have been no Confeder
troops here, not even an outpost,
the landing was made without op
position. The -kith Indiana (McGin
nis' brigade) landed first, Lieut T. A.
Howes being the first man to step
ashore. By dawn next day the entire
army was on terra firma. The official
reports are silent regarding the numeri
cal strength of tliis force, but it is esti
mated by Confederate authorities at
about 25,000 men. The Return oj
Casualties in the Union forces at the
battle of Port Qibson names 53 regi
ments of infantry as engaged in the
action, besides 11 batteries of artillery,
21 cavalry companies and a few other
companies of light troops.
About three o'clock in the afternoon
began the inarch towards Port Gibson
by way of Bethel church, the brigade
commanded by CoL Wm. Stone (Carr's
division) being in the advance. The
order of much by divisions was, 14th
division (Gen. E. A. Carr), 9th division
(Gen. P. J. Osterhaus), 12th division
(Gen. A. P. Hovey), 10th division (ßen.
A. P. Smith). The 21st Iowa (CoL
Samuel Merrill) of Stone's brigade was
the leading column. The rest of the
army was formed and sent forward as
brigade after brigade continued bo land
from the boats, and during the whole of
that night the Federal hosts pressed
steadily onward. The weather was
clear, and brilliant starlight shone down
on the blue columns moving cautiously
through that rugged region. About 1
a. m. (May 1st), the vanguard reached
Widows creek, crowed, mid climbed the
bill on the other side, being no doubt
surprised to find this precipitous bluff
without defenders. Gaining the sum
mit, Merrill's regiment (which was still
in the lead) pushed cautiously forward,
the road here being perfectly level.
Half a mile beyond the creek they
covered the first Confederate, picket sta
tioned at tlte gate opening into the Shaifer
farm-yard. These ^ sentinels were
driven in, but not beftre they had fired
a serai
the
ate
and
Y
be
17
a
into the enemy killing one man. The
killing of this Federal
mentioned in the official reports, but it
is here related or the authority of Rev.
W. Gossett, of Honey creek, ImL, who
■H t as a private in Benton's
soldier is not
was presen
brigade.
Thus at half-past one on the morning
of May 1st the Federal vanguard had
met the Confederate outpost at Shaifcr's
gate, and both sides knew that a com
bat was at hand. The enemy in front
of the Fédérais numbered about 800
men (including a battery of light artil
lery) encamped at Magnolia church on
the roadside. Their commander, brig
adier-general Martin E. Green, hail
taken this position late the day before
to watch any Federal demonstration
from Bruinsburg
Before following the Federal move
ment« further it will be necessary
to acquaint the reader with Bowen 8
plans and tbe disposition of his forces.
BOWEN PREPARES TO MEET GRANT.
After the fleet had passed his bat
teries at Grand Gulf on the 29th, Gen.
Bowen seems to have anticipated a land
ing somewhere below. Early on the
80th he ordered brigadier-general
Green to take command of the Confed
erate troops in and around Port Gibson
and to picket the various roads. Green
had 450 men of his own-command, with
a section of the Hudson battery and the
0th Mississippi regiment (Col. Robert
Lowry),—in all 775 men (official
reports). This force he marched
out and stationed on the Rodney
road one mile from town, and thon
went in person as far as Lhe strong
position at Widows creek previous
ly described. In his report he savs
that his reconnoisonco was for the
purpose of selecting a spot to give
battle to the Fédérais, should they
advance by that road ; yet, strange
to say, instead of seizing at once on
the Widows creek heights, lie chose
in preference the neighborhood of
Magnolia church which was half a
mile nearer to Port Gibson, and was
immensely inferior to the other lo
cality in defensive strength. This
decision on the part of a military
commander who nad ample time to
examine the country at leisure is
hard to understand.
The same afternoon Bowen, who
was still at Grand Gulf, got definite
intelligence about Grant's move
ments, as the following dispatch to
Pemberton, the commander at
Vicksburg, will show :
M. E.
a
Obaiid Gulf, April 90, 1S69.
Three thonwotd Federal« «»re at Bethel
church, 10 mile« from Port Oibaon, at 3 p. m.,
advancing. They are «tili landing at Bruim
Jso. 8. Bowi*.
bar*.
Later in the afternoon Bowen, rode
up to Port Gibson, and Green took him
he had chosen for de
forces were now moved
up to Magnolia church, Bowen approv
ing the selection of that spot Thus
both generals concurred in the fatal
error of leaving the Widows creek
heights undefended. Not a single piece
of artillery, not a single man was sta
tioned there though the creek was only
half a mile to the front Being satis
fied with Great's disposition of his
troops, Bowen returned to Grand Gulf.
Meanwhile reinforcements were on
the inarch. About sunset on the 29th
Gen. Edw. D. Tracy with a small Ala
ahaina brigade (Carter L. Stevenson's
division) left camp near Warren ton and
hurried towards Grand Gulf, crossing
Big Black at Hankinson's ferry that
night. The next afternoon, when with
in 4 miles of Grand Gulf, they received
orders to turn left, cross Bayou Pierre
by the suspension bridge 2 miles below
Port Gibson, and then move towards
tliat town. The brigade crossed the
Bayou and prepared to cook theif|^N
rations, having been all day without
food ; bit they were immediately inter
rupted by another order from Bowen
commanding them to advance through
Port Gibson and support Green, who
;nng an attack. The brigade
the field at 10 p. m. on the
3<>tb, utterly broken down by
march of 40 miles in 27 hours. They
formed the right wing of the Confeder
ate line of battle, being stationed at the
Andrew's farm house,which was not on
the Rodney road but on another road
that diverged therefrom at the Shaifer
plantation, just in front of Green. In
other words, the road that Tracy occu
pied connected the Rodney road with
the old disused Bruinsburg road that
lav along Bayou Pierre. From Shaff
ers house to Andrei' house the dis
tance is 1 i miles. The brigade had a
nominal strength of 2200 men, but de
ducting the sick and furloughed
the large number who had broken c
eu route, only about 1500 men reached
the field, where they lay down at 10 p.
m. for a few hours' rest
On the night of the 29th Pemberton
also dispatched to Bowen's support
the brijpuie of Gen. W. E. Baiawin
(Smith's division), composed of Loui
iana and Missisai^* '
over the
fense.
) ground
Green's
raw
was ex]
reach«
theb
and
down
iving at Hanky? fî . n
n the 30th, £
structions. .1 L/L
en sent orders c yf ■ I
hasten to Green's,*^° r
church, and they hrimuL im Ma ß no y a
started towards /Port GiUn« -
stoneford bridfo». "*on, m Grind
morning, Ma/r 8 L noxi
distant from Pbr 4 anleslsisteuce
«d their I«we
.rdiiLnr in f. ««e Sound of instant
' passed through town
Y Iitle hev i»d«& ^ farmed m line of i'
duriiîtf ti hSf 8m * k M j,
uuriiig v ootteet part of the I
«<"1 .treugth of 16R S' S
■Bowon'greport, Th©senL > *' '
mi
had
II
ts. J
havi
it
like Tracy's, were exhausted by their
terrible forced march.
It should be remembered that wlien
Pemberton on the 29th set these two
brigades in motion from Vicksburg anil
vicinity, their destination was Grand
Gulf, Grant having not yet landed at
Bruinsburg. Their route was c hangt« j
towards Port Gibson late on the doth,
Grant's march having already begun.
It is evident that Grant had virtually
taken his enemy by surprise.
Notwithstanding the threatened
tack from Bruitudmrg. Bowèn i
obligod to protect Grand Gulf (where
he lie Id three or four regiments in re
serve) arid to guard Big Black and
Bayou Pierre against the ascent of the
r boats. Along the former stream
had posted two battalions of infant
ry, a regiment of dismounted cavalry
(1st Mo.), and (Î pieces of artillery : ami
on the right bank of Bavou Pierre below
the railroad bridge he had 2 regiments
and six pieces of artillery. None of the
troofis on tliat side of the Bayou took
part in the liattle except Guibor's bat
tery, port of Landis' battery, and three
Missouri regiments from Grand Gulf ;
and even these did not arrive till mid
day when the fight was half lost Bowen
was sadly weakened by thus scattering
his little army, but it is not for civilians
to say that the emergency did not justi
fy his precautions.
Sucn was the strength and such the
preparations of the Confe lerates on
Thursday, April 30th, the eve of the
battle.
at
THE BATTLE. -
On being fired into by the picket near
Shaifer'8 gate-(l a. in., May 1st) the
Federal« advanced slowly under cover
of a heavy skirmish line; but on enter
ing the Magnolia church lane, CoL
Stone says mat hi« «kirmishers "re
ceived a tremendous volley of musketry"
from the enemy posted at the church.
Immediately afterwards the latter open
ed at short range with their only tottery
(the Hudson battery), which wo« an
swered by an Iowa battery and an In
diana battenr. Stone says : "The fire
of the rebel batteries was quite accurate
and disabled many of our men ami
horses." This artillery duel
hour and a half, when "the Confederate
batteries, according to this officer, "were
driven from the field and silenced, and
our men lay down ujion their arms to
await the coming dawn." A few lines
further his report says: "Soon after
sunrise the battle was" renewed by the
enemy who held their position during
the night," this statement conflicting
with the prenons one.
On the other side Gen. Green's re
port Htatc8 that "the Hudson batter}',
though in a very warm place, drove the
enemy's battery from its position. This
was soon replaced by anotlier which
opened on us with great fury. Our
battery replied with signal success,
though the enemy's shells and balls fell
thick, wounding many. Alter three
hours' hard fighting the enemy ceased
firing and withdrew a short distance,
wo holding our position."
CoL Stone says : "This artillery duel
was one long to be remembered by those
who witnessed it The darkness, the
screaming and bursting of shells, and
the rattle of grape through fences and
timber, rendered the scene one of ter
rific grandeur."
At 6:30 a m. the battle reopened
with great fury on the same ground
that had been d'simted at night On
the Federal side Carr's division led the
attack supported by Hovey's and two
batteries on an elevation to the left.
Benton was ordered to move his brigade
east of the road, thread the tangled
hollows there, and bear on Green's left
In the meantime. Green was sorely
pressed by heavy odds and the Hudson
battery was out of ammunition. He
therefore sent to Tracy for reinforce
monts. That officer, though sustaining
a fierce attack on the other road, (be
tween Andrews' and Shaifer'»), never
lasted an
Ha
a
theless dispatched the 23rd Alabama
and two of the four guns of Anderson's
battery. This was at 7:30 a. m., a lit
tle b More Gen. Bowen had reached the
field.
Thus strengthened, Green maintain
ed himself in the neighborhood of the
church for two hours longer ; but at 10
o'clock, Benton's brigade, supported by
McGinnis', pushed through the ravines
and canebrakes on the extreme Federal
right, and turned Green's left wing.
The Fédérais charged and drove back
the Confederates, capturing 200 prison
ers, and two 12-pounders (Anderson's)
besides arms ana ammunition. Green
fell back to Senter's creek where he
met Baldwin's brigade hurrying to the
front Bowen, after directing ( < roen to
move his^ brigade to the other road and
s harasse«! troops, march
men half a mile hack
8upi*>rt Tracy'
od Baldwin's
wards the church and again maile a
stand against the advancing foe.
Aided by strong positions and the
)»"/ken nature of the country, Bowen
ly checked tiie pursuit, having
lx pieces of artillery which were work
n d with great skill, though much ham
by scarcity of ammunition. At
p. in. he attempted a slight ad
vance in order to test his enemy's
strength ; but this movement drew such
a tremendous fire that it was soon
nhandoued. 'Dio Confederate general
held his ground till a little while be
fore »unset, when, seeing further re
anleslsisteuce was usele», he ordered a re
i"«<le .lowly .»d ir.
good order, tbe enemy abandoning the
pursuit a «hört distance before reach
i' u K Port Gibson.
j, I** 8 necessary now to tell lmw the
battle went with Tracy on the bhaifer-J
A»dr c «' ro»d «. Ibo righl.
At 2 a. aa. Tracy'» men were aroused
Ä*' *> * 1 i % !. * 1
to
j
by the conflict between Green and the
head ofGranl'a army, and they prompt
ly fell into line, but no attack wat
made in this quarter till after sunrise.
The Confederate forco here eousislcd
of the 20th, 2lrd, 80th, and 31st Ala
bama infantry, and Johuston's battery
of four gun*. Soou after sunrise Tracy
sent one of the regiments and two of
the guns to sup|»orl Green, and dis
posed the rest of his littlo fore« to
meet the expeeted attack. About 7
o'clock the Ferlerai artillery opened
from the neighborhood of Hliaifor'a
gin, and was answered by Johnston's
battery at a distant« of 1000 yards.
8har|whootor* on each side crept into
ravines and thicket« ami galled the
hostile ranks with a deadly tire. An
hour later Traey w as killed while at
the frout, but bia men repelled all at
tempts to drive them back. During
the forenoon they were reinforced by
two pieces of artillery and tbe 46th
Alabama infantry (Ilk) strong), and
about 1 o'clock tien. Green also ar
rived with his command from the
Rodney road, together with the fith
Missouri infnutry from Grand Gulf,
the latter numheriug 400 men. Though
iu constant danger ot being rut olf by
superior numbers, they continued tit«
struggle till near sunset, when a mes
sage came from Bowen, ordering a re
treat. The rear was well covered as
they withdrew from the fleld.aad they
succeeded, like I bo troops on the Rod
ney road, in crossing Bayou Herr« un
molested by pursuit, burning tbo
bridges behind them.
The Federal army entered I'ort Gib
son on the morning of the 2nd, built a
floating bridgo that day, and ou the
3rd" crossed *„d v:cnt in pursuit of
Boweu, who was retreating to^ck»
burg.
The Confederate official reports show
that on both roads they had but 51 A4
men engaged in the battle, to-wit :
Part of nreen's briasdr, with SUi Mum., sd<I
part of Hadson battery, . .
Tracy's brigade and Anderson's Virginia
battery.
DaUlwi n s brigade,
Part of Cockrell's brigade, Guibor'i battery.
77#
151«
. 1614
port of Luidte' battery, .
115«
6164
Bowen'« 1 o*a, Recording to hi« offi
cial report, was 68 killed, 380 wouuded,
384 missing; total, 832 ; but G rant re
ported the capture of MX) prisoners.
Official reports ot the Federal loss
showed 131 killed, 719 woanded, 25
missing ; total, 875.
Graut, in hi# report of May 3rd, »ay«:
•'The move by Bniin»bnrg undoubted
ly took tiie enemy by surpri»'. Gen.
Bowen's defense was a very bold one
and weil carried out. My force, Im»w
ever, was too heavy for Ids.'
This was a just tribute tbe to defeated
Confederates, who had «ustaiued them
selves manfully from sunrise till sun
set in the fare of overwhelming num
liers. Under such circumstances de
feat brought no dishonor.
Obituary.
Fell asleep iu the arm» of Je»tis on
the 15tb «lay of May. 1890, at 1:20
o'clock, a. m., John Ika Bihd. only sou
of ,Ino. I. B. ami Eliza J. Hnndell, aged
seven years and four months.
"In that groat Cloister's •tiUnoM.aud «ccluai* n
By guardian angola 1««1,
Ha it from temptation, aafa from aiu'a pollution.
He liroa »horn m call iteatL"
Our hearts have beeu well-nigh brok
en and onr minds stretched ou the
rack of misery aud despair over tbo f
loss of onr littlo darling, and the light
of life has gone down into the gravo
that hid away the form of little Johu
nie.
We could almost doubt the justice of
Omnipotence, but wheu we remember
those sweet words of the blessed Re
deemer, "Suffer littlo children to come
uuto me,''
"We will be patient ami Manage Lhe reeling
We may not »hi»Uy atay.
By etieoee aanciifymg, nut concealing,
Tbe grief that moat hare way." *
The Winona Ad ranee remarks :
It is a sin and shamo the way
some ladres of means impose upon
poor girls, who, be it said to their
credit, endeavor to make an honest
living by sewing. We have beard
of instances where those fine ladies
flounce into church rigged out in
handsome dresses, for which they
have never paid the poor young
ladies for the making, when they
sewed early and late in order to
finish them in time. How can con
science be s.nothered mo ?"
It is said that there are also Indies
who make it a habit to beat down
the sewing-girls to starvation wage».
The seamstress basa hard life at
best, and it looks like the acme of
meanness for metnbers of her own
sex to reduce her poor earnings to
a still narrower margin. Yet so
called Christian ladies do this.
$4
The Brandon Republican savs ;
"When the advocate« of a convention
were howling for the calling of otic,
tbe cry was for improvement of the
franchi»« law, so aa to secure whit«
supremacy and intelligent rule. That
great question is being relegated to
tbe rear. Those who favored a pn»p
erty aud educational qualification,
and those who opposed submitting
tbe new constitution to the people
for ratification, have all backed down,
»nd many of them wish they had
oe ver' expressed titemselvea ou tbe
,
• , .. . *
That is true. e believe that few
politician# will have the courage to
k out man fully on ltd« question,
, . . .. .
"»u*l. «V
Jtavdr suffrage reform.
kJ , *•**#! «y T» i - * jkriùi^itA <kdii