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Numbers 11. Report of Colonel Samuel A. Holmes, Tenth Missouri Infantry, commanding SECOND
Brigade, including operations April 18-May 23. HDQRS.
SECOND Brigadier , SEVENTH DIV. , SEVENTEENTH A. C. , Before Vicksburg, MISS. , May 25, 1863.
CAPTAIN: I herewith submit a detailed report
of the operations of my brigade, consisting of the Tenth Missouri, SEVENTEENTH Iowa,
Eightieth Ohio, and FIFTY-sixth Illinois Infantry, as called for by Special Orders,
Numbers 92, Army Corps Headquarters, of this date.
The brigade disembarked at Milliken's Bend, La. , on the morning of April 18. The same day two regiments, the FIFTY-sixth
Illinois and Eightieth Ohio, in command of Colonel Raum,
senior officer, were sent to occupy Richmond, La. , and relieve the forces
at that point.
On the 20th, I followed with the remainder of the brigade, with instructions to collect
forage there for the passing troops, protect the pontoon bridge over the Roundaway Bayou,
explore the same, reconnoiter the vicinity, and obtain such information as might be of
service. I remained here in the discharge of
these duties until the 25th, when I moved to Holmes' plantation, 10 miles. The next day to SMITH's plantation, 8 miles, where
I remained until the 28th; thence with the DIVISION to Fisk's plantation, 4 miles; thence, April 29, 12 miles, to Perkins' plantation; thence,
April 30, some 20 miles around Lake Saint Joseph, to a point about 3 miles from the
crossing of the river.
During these marches nearly all the camp and garrison equipage of the several regiments
was left behind at different places for want of transportation.
On the morning of May 1, the guns were heard from the battle-field of Thompson's farm, or
Port Gibson, showing a severe engagement in progress.
Leaving the FIFTY-sixth Illinois, Colonel Raum, on detail, I moved the other
three regiments as rapidly as possible to Hard Times Landing, opposite Grand Gulf, where
they embarked on board gunboats and transports, dropped down the river to a place called
Bruinsburg, or some such name, and immediately took up the line of march for Port Gibson. When within about 3 miles of the battle-field, I
received orders to that effect, and fell back 1 mile, with my own and three regiments of
the THIRD Brigade, and took a position for the night, covering a road leading from Grand
Gulf.
In the morning, being joined by the whole of the First and THIRD Brigades, I moved into
Port Gibson, passing the battle-field of the day previous, and resting in town, awaiting
the completion of the pontoon over the Bayou Pierre, the enemy having destroyed the other
bridge behind them.
About 4 o'clock the same day, I crossed the Bayou Pierre and marched until late at night,
and encamped near the bridge over the north branch of the Bayou Pierre.
During the night this bridge was made passable by a portion of the THIRD Brigade, and in
the morning the troops crossed. Advancing
about 3 miles, the head of the column encountered a force of the enemy with artillery,
which was at once engaged by the skirmishers of the First Brigade, Colonel Sanborn, and a
portion of the First Missouri Battery, Lieutenant MacMurray. I was ordered by Brigadier-General Crocker,
commanding DIVISION, to take a position on the left of the road, which I did, the Tenth
Missouri Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Horney, being deployed as skirmishers, supported by
the Eightieth Ohio, Colonel Bartilson, and the SEVENTEENTH Iowa, Colonel Hillis, in line
of battle. The enemy soon abandoned the
position, and the pursuit was at once resumed to Black River, distant 6 miles.
The brigade, with the DIVISION, remained bivouacked at this point until the morning of May
9, when we moved out on the Utica road 10 miles, and encamped.
On the morning of the 10th, we marched 10 miles, to a point 2 miles beyond Utica, and
encamped.
Again, on the 11th, we marched about 1 mile, and took up a position.
May 12, we advanced about 7 miles toward Raymond, near which place we found Major-General
Logan's DIVISION severely engaged with the enemy. The
brigade, by direction of Brigadier-General Crocker, was at once formed in support of
several batteries found in position on the left of the road, but not engaged.
Remaining here a short time, the Eightieth Ohio and Tenth Missouri were ordered to the
support of Brigadier-General Stevenson, preparatory to an advance into town, the former to
his center and the latter to the extreme right wing.
Having taken the position assigned, the whole line of battle moved forward 1
½ miles, and entered the place, the enemy evacuating without further opposition, except
from his artillery, which did no damage to those of my command. One lieutenant and a few prisoners were captured
by Company A, Tenth Missouri.
The brigade and DIVISION encamped near the town, and marched again on the morning of the
13th to Clinton, without opposition, and encamped 1 mile east of that place, on the
Vicksburg and Jackson Railroad.
The march was resumed on the morning of the 14th toward Jackson, the SECOND Brigade
leading. In view of the probability of soon
meeting the enemy, a heavy force of skirmishers from the Tenth Missouri was thrown forward
and deployed with supports. Advancing about 3
miles, the enemy was discovered in force on both sides of the road, occupying a commanding
position, his right covered by a dense thicket of oak bushes, his center and artillery at
Wright's house, with his left on the continuation of the ridge. The main position at the house was also covered by
a line of infantry formed in the ravine in his immediate front. His artillery commanded the road and an open
country of undulating ridges for 1 ½ miles in the direction of our approach. Upon discovering the enemy, the SECOND Brigade was
at once deployed, the Tenth Missouri, Lieutenant-Colonel Horney, to the right of the road,
and the Eightieth Ohio, Colonel Bartilson, and the SEVENTEENTH Iowa, Colonel Hillis, to
the left. The First Missouri Battery was now
taken into position and my line changed so as to support it, with the SEVENTEENTH Iowa on
the left of the road, the Eightieth Ohio in the center on the right of the road, and the
Tenth Missouri on the right of the line, the whole supported on the right by the First
Brigade, Colonel Sanborn, and on the left by the THIRD Brigade, Colonel Boomer. The whole line advanced in a heavy rain and under
a severe fire of artillery and skirmishers to within 500 yards of the enemy's main line,
when I halted under the shelter of an intervening ridge, preparatory to the final charge. Being again ordered to advance, I commanded my
three regiments to fix bayonets, and, at the word, to move at double quick upon the enemy,
which they did in excellent order, sweeping everything before them and carrying the
position. The Sixth Wisconsin battery,
Captain Dillon, was quickly brought to the front, and opened a heavy fire upon the fleeing
enemy, who continued his retreat into and through the town of Jackson, abandoning his
artillery as he went.
My loss in this battle-mostly in the charge-amounted in all to 215 killed, wounded, and
MISSING, out of a force of about 1,000 actually engaged.
Lists of the casualties accompany this report. *
The conduct of my officers and men in this action was worthy of all praise, without
excepting any.
The brigade bivouacked in the town that night, and in the morning took up the line of
march, with the rest of the DIVISION, for Vicksburg.
Marched 8 miles to Clinton, where I encamped, with orders to report to
Major-General Grant at that place, which I did, the remainder of the DIVISION moving on.
Early on the morning of the 16th, I received
orders from Major-General Grant to move immediately to join the DIVISION. Heavy firing being heard in the direction of
Champion's Hill, I hurried forward with dispatch toward that place, distant 13 miles. Arriving within about 3 miles of the field of
battle, I was met by orders to leave my train parked in guard of a regiment. The Eightieth Ohio, Colonel Bartilson, was
assigned to this duty. The two remaining
regiments, the Tenth Missouri, Lieutenant-Colonel Horney, and the SEVENTEENTH Iowa,
Colonel Hills, continued to advance by the main road, the SEVENTEENTH Iowa leading, until
engaged with the enemy. The enemy occupied a
strong position upon a steep, wooded hill, over which the road ran, flanked by deep
ravines. This point had been sharply
contested through the day, and at the time of the regiments of the brigade, was in the act
of being retaken by the enemy. Colonel
Hillis, SEVENTEENTH Iowa, encountering the enemy's fire, immediately formed forward into
line and gallantly pressed on. I ordered the
Tenth Missouri into line in the same manner and to advance.
These two regiments drove the enemy from the position.
The gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Horney, commanding the Tenth Missouri, while moving his
regiment across the road to the right to uncover the SEVENTEENTH, fell, pierced by several
balls, and the command devolved upon Major Francis C.
Deimling, who led the regiment with great bravery through the rest of the
fight. In this brief but fierce contest four
pieces of artillery, which had been captured by our forces and again retaken by the enemy,
were recaptured by the SEVENTEENTH Iowa, together with the colors of the Thirty-first
Alabama (rebel) Regiment. The position being
taken was not again disputed. I estimate the
number of prisoners taken by my brigade at not less than 300.
My loss in this action, in the two regiments engaged, was 103 killed, wounded and MISSING,
detailed reports of which are annexed. *
After the battle my brigade was ordered to remain to bury the dead, subject to the orders
of Brigadier-General McGinnis, detailed with his brigade on the same duty.
On the 19th, I marched to Black River, joining Colonel Sanborn, with the First Brigade,
and crossed the river during the night at the upper crossing. Before leaving Champion's Hill I was joined by the
FIFTY-sixth Illinois, absent no detached service since the crossing of the Mississippi. At the same point the Eightieth Ohio was detailed
to guard prisoners, and is now absent on that duty.
On the 20th, I moved from my camp near Black River, with the Tenth Missouri, SEVENTEENTH
Iowa, and FIFTY-sixth Illinois, to a position in the rear and near Vicksburg, and on the
21st to the position in front of the enemy's works now occupied by me.
On the 22nd, the brigade was moved to the front as support to the First and THIRD
Brigades, of this DIVISION, in the general assault ordered on that day.
Although partially under fire on that occasion, I sustained but small loss, a report of
which is herewith forwarded. + Later in the evening I was moved to the left of the line,
to report as support to Brigadier-General Osterhaus.
Upon my arrival I received orders to move to the attack of the enemy's works
in his front, which order was almost immediately countermanded, owing to the lateness of
the hour.
Early on the morning of the 23rd , I took up a position on the extreme left of our line,
deploying skirmishers in front of the enemy's works and to my left, and at 3 p. m. same day returned to the position I now occupy.
In concluding this brief summary of the operations of this brigade throughout so long and
active a period, I cannot withhold a just tribute to the lamented Lieutenant Colonel
Leonidas Horney, commanding the Tenth Missouri Infantry, who fell, as stated, at
Champion's Hill. He was truly a capable and
valiant soldier, and his loss is very deeply regretted.
Colonel Hillis, SEVENTEENTH Iowa; Colonel
Bartilson, Eightieth Ohio, and Major Deimling, Tenth Missouri, as will be seen, have
rendered distinguished service in the operations of the brigade.
I am also much indebted to the services of my personal staff, Captain W. W. McCammon,
acting assistant adjutant-general, and First Lieutenant H.
H. Meredith, aide-de-camp.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
SAML. A.
HOLMES,
Colonel Tenth Missouri Infantry, Commanding.
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