19

17 the enemy doubtless realizing the importance
of the tiny craft sent shot and shell recocheting
after and over it. paid it special and particular

The gunboats were all more or less seriously
damaged, without having accomplished
the purpose of the attack, and a flank movement
was at once ordered. We [illegible]
South on the Louisiana shore, to a point opposite
[Brownsburg?] 50 miles below Vicksburg. The
transports were put into requisition as
ferries and by the evening of the following
day the 13 Army Corps was crossed, and pushed
forward on a road intersecting the road
from grand Gulf to Port Gibson 12 miles
from the river [Bonner] retreated and was
met by Bentons brigade at 2 oclock in the
morning at the point mentioned and a battle ensued, Benton holding
Port Gibson
the enemy in check until the arrival of the
balance of the corps at dawn. There every
available man was engaged. The 15, 16 and
17th corps reached the battlefield during
the day and the enemy was compelled
to relinquish the struggle and retreated
accross the Pearl river destroying the bridge
after them. As soon as a crossing could
be effected we were at their heels and
fought again at Raymond, on the 15th
of May the combined armies of Pemberton