Chapter X: Front Matter (10)

At the commencement of the engagement General Logan’s division marched past the brow of the hill, and, forming in line of battle on the right of Hovey, advanced in grand style, sweeping everything before them. At the edge of the wood in front of Logan the battle was most desperate. Not a man flinched nor a line wavered in this division. All behaved like veterans, and moved to new positions with a conscious tread of victory. Two batteries were captured by this division, and enough hard fighting done to establish its fame. They also captured a large portion of the prisoners, small arms, &c.

Between three and four o’clock General Osterhaus and General McArthur’s divisions came into action on the extreme left, and completed what had been so auspiciously carried forward. They were both miles away when the engagement began, but were brought forward with all dispatch possible. The enemy were in full retreat.

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 were seen large squads of rebel soldiers, cut off from the main column, who engaged at intervals with artillery. One of these was under the command of Major-General Tilghman, who was struck by a shell from a Federal battery and instantly killed while in the act of sighting a gun. The Federal loss in this battle amounted to three thousand in killed and wounded; while that of the rebels approximated two thousand five hundred in killed and wounded and three thousand prisoners.

Major-General Lloyd Tilghman, of the rebel army, was a native of Maryland, and nearly fifty years of age. He was appointed to West Point Military Academy as a cadet in 1831, and graduated on the 30th of June, 1836, standing last but three in a class of forty-nine members. On the 1st of July, 1836, he was breveted a second lieutenant of the First dragoons, rather a high brevet for an officer occupying so low a grade in the Academy; but when we consider who were the appointing officers at that time, and the position the same men held in the war, our readers need not wonder at the appointment. Three days after that date he received his full commission and after being in the army for three months he resigned, plainly showing that he merely wished to gain a military education at the expense of the United States government, for which he gave nothing in return but rebellion. During the remainder of 1836 and the subsequent year he was appointed to the lucrative position of division engineer of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad, followed immediately by that of assistant engineer in the survey of the Norfolk and Wilmington Canal of Virginia. He was next appointed (1838–9) assistant engineer of the Eastern Shore Railroad of Maryland, and in 1839–40 of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. During 1840 he was also engaged in the survey of the public improvements of Baltimore.

For the next few years he held no important public position; but the Mexican war again brought him into notoriety. He first served as volunteer aid to General Twiggs in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, Texas, May, 1846, and doubtless here learned some of his early military lessons.

Orders were now sent back to General Sherman to turn his corps toward Bridgeport, and General Blair was expected to join him at that place. Bridgeport was on the Black river, and some miles north of the railroad. By crossing the river at that point, General Sherman would be on the flank of the enemy, if they made a stand at the railroad crossing of the river.

BATTLE OF BIG BLACK BRIDGE, MISS.
MAY 17, 1863.

The battle of Big Black Bridge was fought on Sunday, the 17th, the day after the battle of Champion’s Hill. In this spirited engagement only the Thirteenth army corps was engaged. In the morning, after a bivouac on the hill overlooking the village of Edwards’ Station, the column, with McClernand at its head, moved towards Black river bridge.

The country between Edwards Station and the bridge loses that hilly and broken character which distinguishes the region further east, and spreads out into a broad and fertile plain. There are no commanding hills, but there are numerous patches of forest, under the cover and from the edge of which the enemy could easily enfilade the open fields by the roadside. There was such a one a mile east of the rebel intrenchments where the main picket guard was stationed. Here determined resistance was first made.

General Carr’s division had the extreme advance of the column, and opened and ended the engagement. Hastily deploying a heavy line of skirmishers to the right of the road, backed up by the two brigades of Carr’s division in line of battle behind it, with General Osterhaus’ division on the left of the road similarly disposed, General McClernand gave the order to advance. Soon in the depths of the thick forest the skirmishers of both armies were hotly engaged, while batteries of artillery planted on the right and left of the road poured shot and shell into the fort most furiously. The guns in the intrenchments replied with vigor and spirit. Almost the first shot dropped in the caisson belonging to Foster’s Wisconsin battery, and exploded its contents, slightly wounding General Osterhaus and Captain Foster, of the battery, and very seriously injuring two gunners. General Osterhaus being thus disabled, the command of his division was temporarily given to Brigadier-General A. L. Lee.

After skirmishing had continued for an hour, during which the enemy gave way and sought the cover of his intrenchments, the order was given to the several brigade commanders on the right to advance and charge the enemy’s works. The order was received with cheers and shouts, and the Twenty-first, Twenty-second, Twenty-third Iowa and Eleventh Wisconsin, General Lawler’s brigade, were the first to announce themselves in readiness. The order “forward” was given, and steadily and splendidly the brave patriots moved up to the assault. The enemy crouched down behind the breastworks. A portion of them, stationed in a curtain on the right of the fort, whence they were able to get a cross-fire upon the column, reserved their volley until the Federals were within easy range of the intrenchments, when they swept the advancing line with their terrible fire.

The brave soldiers lost in that fearful volley one hundred and fifty men; yet they faltered not nor turned their steps backwards. They waded the bayou, delivering their fire as they reached the other bank, and rushed upon the enemy with fixed bayonets. So quickly was all this accomplished, that the rebels had not time to reload their guns, and were forced to surrender.

The battle was ended, and the fort, with three thousand prisoners, eighteen pieces of artillery, several thousand stand of arms, and a large supply of corn and commissary stores, fell into the hands of the Federals.

The enemy had, earlier in the day, out of the hulls of three steamboats, constructed a bridge, over which he had passed the main body of his army. As the charge was made, and it became evident that the Unionists would capture the position, the rebels burned this bridge, and also the railroad bridge across the river just above.

In the afternoon several attempts were made to cross the river, but the rebel sharpshooters lined the bluffs beyond, and entirely prevented it. Later, the main body of sharpshooters were dispersed by the Federal artillery. It was not, however, safe to stand upon the bank, or cross the open field east of the bridge until after dark, when the enemy withdrew altogether.

By this time, General Sherman had reached Bridgeport on the Black river, just above. The only pontoon train was with him. By the morning of the 18th he had crossed the river and was ready to march on Vicksburg. Generals McClernand and McPherson caused floating bridges to be constructed during the night, and were ready to cross their troops by eight o’clock on the next morning.

General Sherman commenced his march by the Bridgeport and Vicksburg road on the 18th, and, when within three and a half miles of Vicksburg, he turned to the right to get possession of Walnut Hills and the Yazoo river. This was successfully accomplished before night. General McPherson crossed the Black river above the road to Jackson, and came into the same road with General Sherman, but in his rear. His advance arrived after nightfall at the point where General Sherman turned to the right. General McClernand moved by the Jackson and Vicksburg road to Mount Albans, in the rear of Vicksburg, and there turned to the left to get into the Baldwin’s Ferry road. By this disposition the three army corps covered all the ground their strength would admit of, and by the morning of the 19th the investment of Vicksburg was made as complete as could be by the forces under the command of General Grant.

Communication was now opened with the fleet above Vicksburg, and General Grant’s supplies were thenceforth received from the Yazoo, instead of from Grand Gulf.

CAPTURE OF HAINES’S BLUFF.
MAY 18, 1863.

The operations of Rear-Admiral Porter, which had an important bearing on the movements of General Grant’s army at that time, are thus detailed in the reports of that officer, and of Lieutenant Walker.

FLAG SHIP BLACK HAWK, }
HAINES’S BLUFF, YAZOO RIVER, _May 20th_. }

To Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy:

On the morning of the 16th I came over to the Yazoo to be ready to
cooperate with General Grant, leaving two of the iron-clads at Red
river, one at Grand Gulf, one at Carthage, three at Warrenton, and two
in the Yazoo, which left me a small force. Still I disposed of them to
the best advantage. On the 18th, at meridian, firing was heard in the
rear of Vicksburg, which assured me that General Grant was approaching
the city. The cannonading was kept up furiously for some time, when,
by the aid of glasses, I discovered a company of artillery advancing,
taking position, and driving the rebels before them. I immediately saw
that General Sherman’s division had come on to the left of Snyder’s
Bluff, and that the rebels at that place had been cut off from joining
the forces in the city.

I dispatched the DeKalb, Lieutenant-Commander Walker, the Choctaw,
Lieutenant-Commander Ramsay, the Borneo, and Forest Rose, all under
command of Lieutenant-Commander Breese, up the Yazoo, to open
communication in that way with Generals Grant and Sherman. This I
succeeded in doing, and in three hours received letters from Generals
Grant, Sherman, and Steele, informing me of this vast success, and
asking me to send up provisions, which was at once done. In the mean
time, Lieutenant-Commander Walker in the DeKalb pushed on to Haines’s
Bluff, which the enemy had commenced evacuating the day before, and a
party remained behind in the hopes of destroying or taking away a
large amount of ammunition on hand. When they saw the gunboats they
ran away and left everything in good order, guns, forts, tents, and
equipage of all kinds, which fell into our hands.

As soon as the capture of Haines’s Bluff and the fourteen forts was
reported to me, I shoved up the gunboats from below to fire on the
hill batteries, which fire was kept up for two or three hours. At
midnight they moved up to the town and opened on it for about an hour,
and continued at intervals during the night to annoy the garrison. On
the 19th I placed six mortars in position, with orders to fire night
and day as rapidly as they could.

The works at Haines’s Bluff are very formidable. There are fourteen of
the heaviest kind of mounted eight and ten inch and seven and a half
inch rifle guns, with ammunition enough to last a long siege. As the
gun carriages might again fall into the hands of the enemy, I had them
burned, blew up the magazine, and destroyed the works generally. I
also burned up the encampments, which were permanently and remarkably
well constructed, looking as though the rebels intended to stay some
time. Their works and encampments covered many acres of ground, and
the fortifications and rifle pits proper of Haines’s Bluff extend
about a mile and a quarter. Such a network of forts I never saw.

As soon as I got through with the destruction of the magazines and
other works, I started Lieutenant-Commander Walker up the Yazoo river
with sufficient force to destroy all the enemy’s property in that
direction, with orders to return with all dispatch, and only to
proceed as far as Yazoo City, where the rebels have a navy yard and
storehouses.

In the mean time General Grant has closely invested Vicksburg, and has
possession of the best commanding points. In a very short time a
general assault will take place, when I hope to announce that
Vicksburg has fallen, after a series of the most brilliant successes
that ever attended an army.

There never has been a case during the war where the rebels have been
so successfully beaten at all points, and the patience and endurance
shown by our army and navy for so many months is about being rewarded.
It is a mere question of a few hours, and then, with the exception of
Port Hudson, which will follow Vicksburg, the Mississippi will be open
its entire length.

[Signed] D. D. PORTER,
Commanding Mississippi Squadron.

* * * * *

U. S. STEAMER BARON DEKALB, }
MOUTH YAZOO RIVER, May 23d. }

SIR: I have the honor to report that in obedience to your order, I
started from Snyder’s Bluff on the 20th, with the DeKalb, Choctaw,
Forest Rose, Linden, and Petrel, on an expedition to Yazoo City.
Arriving at Haines’s Bluff, I landed a force and spiked an 8-inch gun
on the fort there, and burned the carriage. I also burned some forty
tents left standing, and a steam sawmill.

Arriving at Yazoo City at one P. M., 20th, I was met by a committee of
citizens, who informed me that the place had been evacuated by the
military authorities, and asking protection. The navy yard and vessels
had been fired by the enemy. I sent a working party to insure the
destruction of everything valuable to the rebels. The vessels burned
were the Mobile, a screw vessel, ready for plating; the Republic,
which was being fitted out for a ram; and a vessel on the stocks—a
monster, three hundred and ten feet long, seventy-five feet beam. The
navy yard contained five saw and planing mills, an extensive machine
shop, carpenter and blacksmith shops, and all necessary fixtures for a
large building and repairing yard, which, with a very large quantity
of lumber, were burned. I also burned a large sawmill above the town.
Most of the public stores had been removed; such as I found in town
were taken on board the vessels or destroyed. Enclosed I send a list
of articles removed or destroyed by Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Brown,
the officer detailed for that purpose. In the hospital I found and
paroled one thousand five hundred prisoners, a list of whom I enclose.

Returning, I left Yazoo City this morning, arriving here at four P. M.
At Liverpool Landing, in a sharp bend in the river, we were attacked
by some field guns, and about two hundred riflemen concealed in the
bushes, and for a few minutes the firing was very sharp. The enemy
retreated as soon as the vessels got into position to use their guns
with effect. The Petrel, Linden, and Choctaw were struck with shot,
but received no particular injury. Sergeant Stockinger, of this
vessel, was killed by a rifle shot. The Linden had five wounded, the
Petrel two, and the Choctaw one. Most of the wounds are slight.

BOMBARDMENT AND ASSAULT OF VICKSBURG.
MAY 19–23, 1863.

After encompassing Vicksburg as closely as the nature of the locality and the numerical force under his command would permit, General Grant lost no time in preparing for a direct assault on the place, in combination with a grand naval attack by the fleet. During the 19th, there was a continued skirmishing, and General Grant was not without hope of carrying the works.

After the storming of the rebel position on the Big Black river, and the enemy had been driven within the fortifications of Vicksburg, their army was reorganized, and placed as follows: General Smith’s division on the extreme left, Major-General Forney in the centre, and Major-General Stephenson on the right. Brigadier-General Bowen’s division or Missourians held the reserve.

General Grant ordered an assault at an earlier day than was desirable, as there was danger of General Pemberton being reinforced by an army under General Johnson, which was then gathering strength, and advancing in the rear. A general assault was made at two o’clock on the 19th. This was made by the Fifteenth army corps, which arrived in time before the works on the previous day to get a good position. The Thirteenth and Seventeenth corps succeeded in gaining an advanced position covered from the fire of the enemy. A Confederate report of the action is as follows: “On Tuesday morning, before daylight, they opened fire from their batteries, our guns responding immediately, and at ten o’clock, advanced to the assault in a rather ridiculous manner. They advanced their flags close to the works, their negro troops in front, and lay down. Bowen’s gallant Missourians never fired a shot. The other regiments then marched up, and the whole assaulting column, forlorn hope and all, marched within easy musket range.

“At the word ‘forward—charge!’ they received our fire, shattering their ranks frightfully. They rallied, closed up and stood to it for thirty minutes, when they broke and fled. They were rallied to the charge four successive times and met with the same storm of iron hail and leaden rain. The whole field was literally covered for one mile with their dead and wounded, where they were still lying on Thursday night, unburied and without attention.” Another Confederate writes:

“The days intervening from the 19th to the 22d were spent in one continued bombarding and sharpshooting during the day; in the night they generally ceased firing. On the morning of the 22d, the enemy opened a terrific fire with their Parrot guns, and continued it till about eleven o’clock, when the bombardment ceased, and heavy columns of the enemy could be seen forming in line of battle. Our forces were all ready for them, and eager for their advance. At about a quarter to twelve, the column of the Federal army advanced all along the lines in splendid order, and with a loud cheer dashed up to the works. They were gallantly responded to by our brave boys, and the first charge repulsed. On the extreme right of our lines, the nature of the ground prevented the enemy from making any heavy attack, but on the right of the centre, the centre, and the left of the centre, the assault was desperately made and gallantly met. But once did our lines break, and that was in Lee’s brigade. The enemy gained a temporary footing on the rifle-pits, but Lee quickly rallied his men, and, after a desperate hand-to-hand fight, drove them out and reoccupied the lines. The engagement at this point, and at the right of the line, held by Brigadier-General L. Herbert, was of a terrible nature, the Federals having thrown their best troops on these works. Five times did they charge, and each time were repulsed. The last charge on the right of Brigadier-General Herbert’s lines was made by an Irish regiment (the Seventeenth Wisconsin), carrying the green flag of Erin. They came at a double-quick up the hill, each man in the front ranks furnished with a ladder to reach the works. Three times they essayed to plant their ladders, but were prevented by the obstinate resistance offered by the consolidated Twenty-first and Twenty-third Louisiana regiments. At the third charge they came within ten yards of the line, but two volleys of buckshot from the shotguns of our forces compelled them to make a precipitate retreat from the front of our works. At about two o’clock they made their last charge, and were again repulsed, when they retired, and did not attempt any further demonstration that day. The loss of the enemy on that day is estimated by competent parties at not less than from eight to ten thousand, while our loss was between eight hundred and one thousand in killed and wounded.”

The following dispatch of Rear-Admiral Porter to the Secretary of the Navy, describes the part taken in this conflict by the naval force:

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAGSHIP BLACK HAWK, }
May 23, 1863. }

SIR—On the morning of the 21st I received a communication from General
Grant, informing me that he intended to attack the whole of the rebel
works at ten A. M. the next day, and asking me to shell the batteries
from half-past nine until half-past ten, and to annoy the garrison. I
kept six mortars playing rapidly on the works and town all night, and
sent the Benton, Mound City and Carondolet up to shell the water
batteries and other places where troops might be resting during the
night. At seven o’clock in the morning, the Mound City proceeded
across the river, and made an attack on the hill batteries opposite
the canal. At eight o’clock I found her in company with the Benton,
Tuscumbia, and Carondolet. All these vessels opened on the hill
batteries, and finally silenced them, though the main work on the
battery containing the heavy rifled gun was done by the Mound City,
Lieutenant Commanding Byron Wilson. I then pushed the Benton, Mound
City and Carondolet up to the water batteries, leaving the Tuscumbia,
which is still out of repair, to keep the hill batteries from firing
on our vessels after they had passed by. The three gunboats passed up
slowly, owing to the strong current, the Mound City leading, the
Benton following, and the Carondolet astern. The water batteries
opened furiously, supported by a hill battery on the starboard beam of
the vessels. The vessels advanced to within four hundred and forty
yards (by our marks) and returned the fire for two hours without
cessation, the enemy’s fire being very accurate and incessant.

Finding that the hill batteries behind us were silenced, I ordered up
the Tuscumbia to within eight hundred yards of the batteries; but the
turret was soon made untenable, not standing the enemy’s shot, and I
made her drop down. I had been engaged with the forts an hour longer
than General Grant asked. The vessels had all received severe shots
under water which we could not stop while in motion, and not knowing
what might have delayed the movement of the army, I ordered the
vessels to drop out of fire, which they did in a cool, handsome
manner.

This was the hottest fire the gunboats had ever been under; but, owing
to the water batteries being more on a level with them than usual, the
gunboats threw in their shell so fast that the aim of the enemy was
not very good. The enemy hit our vessels a number of times, but
fighting bow on, they did but little damage.

Not a man was killed, and only a few wounded. I had only enough
ammunition for a few moments longer, and set all hands to work to fill
up from our depot below.

After dropping back I found that the enemy had taken possession again
of one of the lower hill batteries and was endeavoring to mount his
guns, and had mounted a 12-pounder field piece to fire at General
McArthur’s troops, which had landed a short time before at Warrenton.
I sent the Mound City and Carondolet to drive him off, which they did
in a few moments.

I beg leave to enclose a letter from General McArthur, explaining why
he did not (to use his own expression), take advantage of the results
gained by the gunboats. I have since learned through General Grant
that the army did assault at the right time vigorously. In the noise
and smoke we could not see or hear it. The gunboats were, therefore,
still fighting when the assault had proved unsuccessful.

The army have terrible work before them, and are fighting as well as
soldiers ever fought before. But the works are stronger than any of us
dreamed of. General Grant and his soldiers are confident that the
brave and energetic generals in the army will soon overcome all
obstacles and carry the works.

DAVID D. PORTER, Acting Rear-Admiral,
Commanding Mississippi Squadron

Having been repulsed with severe loss in several attempts to storm the rebel works, General Grant now determined to approach the fortifications by regular siege lines. It had been demonstrated that it was impossible to approach any point of attack, with a force equal in numbers to that with which the enemy would be prepared to resist him.

General Pemberton deemed it prudent at that time, to forbid all unnecessary waste of ammunition, and thus General Grant was able to commence throwing up works and erecting forts within a short distance of the opposing line of breastworks. The firing upon the town was made only during the day, until the 26th of May, after which it was continued day and night. The mortars on the peninsula opposite Vicksburg opened fire on the 25th, and continued it until the surrender. It was estimated at Vicksburg that as many as six thousand mortar shells were thrown into the town every twenty-four hours, and on the line in the rear of the city, as many as four thousand in the same time. During about five days after the siege commenced, the troops in the city were allowed full rations. At the expiration of that time, they were gradually reduced to four ounces of flour, four ounces of bacon, one and a half ounces of rice, two ounces of peas, not eatable, and three ounces of sugar. The extent of the works, and the limited number of the Confederate troops, required every man to defend the lines, and no time was allowed to rest. Whole companies laid back of their breastworks for three weeks without leaving the line for a moment.

Meantime every effort was made to strengthen the force under the command of General Grant. He had already ordered a division under General Lanman, and four regiments at Memphis to join him. He now brought forward the divisions of Generals Smith and Kimball, of the Sixteenth army corps, and placed them under the command of Major-General C. C. Washburn. On the 11th of June, Major-General F. J. Herron’s division, from the department of Missouri, arrived, and on the 14th, two divisions of the Ninth army corps, Major-General J. G. Parke commanding, reached Vicksburg. These two divisions were a part of the forces of General Burnside, commanding in the Department of Ohio. This increase of the forces of General Grant enabled him to make the investment of Vicksburg more complete, and at the same time left him a large reserve with which to watch the movements of General Johnston.

These reinforcements were arranged by placing General Herron’s division on the extreme left, south of the city. General Lanman’s division was placed between Generals Herron and McClernand. General Smith’s and General Kimball’s divisions, and the force under General Parke, were sent to Haines’s Bluff. This place was now fortified on the land side, and every preparation made to resist a heavy force. About the 25th of June, General Johnston crossed the Big Black river with a portion of his force, and everything indicated that he would make an attack.

About this time Rear-Admiral Porter reported to Secretary Welles, under date of May 27, the loss of one of the finest gunboats in his fleet, in the following dispatch:

SIR:—Amidst our successes I regret to report any losses; but we cannot
expect to conquer a place like this without some loss.

At the urgent request of Generals Grant and Sherman, I sent the
Cincinnati to enfilade some rifle pits which barred the progress of
the left wing of our army.

General Sherman supposed that the enemy had removed his heavy guns to
the rear of the city. On the contrary, he seemed to have placed more
on the water side than usual.

The Cincinnati was sunk in shoal water, with her flag flying. The
enemy still continued to fire upon her, but the flag was not hauled
down. Twenty-five were killed and wounded, and fifteen are missing.
The latter are supposed to be drowned. The vessel can be raised. The
pilot was killed early in the action.

DAVID D. PORTER, Acting Rear-Admiral,
Commanding Mississippi Squadron.

A successful naval expedition to Yazoo city, is thus described in the report of Rear Admiral Porter, under date of May 24:

SIR—I have the honor to inform you that the expedition sent up the
Yazoo river the day after I took possession of the forts on
Snyder’s Bluff, has returned, having met with perfect success. As
the steamers approached Yazoo city the rebel property was fired by
Lieutenant Brown, of the ram Arkansas; and what he began our
forces finished. Three powerful rams were burned, the Mobile, a
screw vessel, ready for plating; the Republic, being fitted for a
ram, with railroad iron plating, and a vessel on the stocks—a
monster, three hundred and ten feet long and seventy-five feet
beam. This vessel was to have been covered with four and a half
inch iron plating, and was to have had six engines, four side
wheels and propellers. She would have given us much trouble. The
rebels had under construction a fine navy yard, containing fine
sawing and planing machines, and an extensive machine shop,
carpenter and blacksmiths’ shops, and all the necessary appliances
for a large building and repairing yard. Lieutenant-Commander
Walker burned all these, with a large quantity of valuable
building timber. He also burned a large saw mill that had been
used in constructing the monster ram. The material destroyed, at a
moderate estimate, would cost more than two millions of dollars.
We had one man killed and seven wounded by field pieces from the
enemy’s batteries going up the river, but the wounded are doing
well. I enclose Lieutenant-Commander Walker’s report in relation
to this affair. He deserves much credit for the handsome manner in
which he performed the duty assigned him. If he could have
obtained pilots he would have succeeded in getting possession of
all the rebel rams, instead of having them burned. I am, very
respectfully, your obedient servant.

DAVID D. PORTER,
Acting Rear-Admiral, Commanding Mississippi Squadron.

HON. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.

From the 22d of May, until the 25th of June, no attempt was made to take the city by direct assault. During all that time, however, the mining operations had been carried on successfully, and on the latter day a fort on the immediate right of the Jackson road was blown up. It was occupied by the Third Louisiana regiment, but the troops had been withdrawn, and only a few were wounded by the explosion. An advance by a small portion of the Federal force, immediately after, was the occasion of a bloody contest, in which the Unionists were defeated, and compelled to retire.

Several portions of the enemy’s defences were destroyed by the mining operations of the Federals at this time, but no decisive advantage had thus far been obtained. The condition of affairs in the city is thus described by a Confederate officer: “About the thirty-fifth day provisions began to get very scarce, and the advent of General Johnston’s relieving force was anxiously and momentarily looked for. Mule meat was the common fare of all alike, and even dogs became in request for the table. Bean meal was made into bread, and corn meal into coffee, and in these straits the garrison patiently dragged on the weary length of one day after another, under a scorching sun, the stench from the unburied corpses all around alone causing the strongest minded, firmest nerved to grow impatient for the day of deliverance. The enemy pushed their works: they blew up several forts, and with them the soldiers and attempted to charge; but the meagre and famished yet steadfast garrison still defiantly held the key of the Mississippi. But everything must have an end. General Pemberton learned from General Johnston that he could not afford him relief, and as the garrison was too famished and reduced to cut its way out, he determined to capitulate.”

* * * * *

After resisting the Federal forces for fifteen months, and enduring a direct siege and bombardment for forty-seven days, Vicksburg was finally surrendered to General Grant, on the 4th of July.

The following correspondence between Generals Grant and Pemberton embody the interesting details of that event:

HEADQUARTERS, VICKSBURG, July 3, 1863.

Major-General Grant, commanding United States forces:—

GENERAL—I have the honor to propose to you an armistice for —— hours,
with a view to arranging terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg. To
this end, if agreeable to you, I will appoint three commissioners, to
meet a like number to be named by yourself, at such place and hour
to-day, as you may find convenient. I make this proposition to save
the farther effusion of blood, which must otherwise be shed to a
frightful extent, feeling myself fully able to maintain my position
for a yet indefinite period. This communication will be handed you
under a flag of truce, by Major-General James Bowen.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON.

To this General Grant replied as follows:

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE, }
IN THE FIELD, NEAR VICKSBURG, July 3, 1863. }

Lieutenant-General J. C. Pemberton, commanding Confederate forces,
&c.:—

GENERAL—Your note of this date, just received, proposes an armistice
of several hours, for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation
through commissioners to be appointed, &c. The effusion of blood you
propose stopping by this course, can be ended at any time you may
choose, by an unconditional surrender of the city and garrison. Men
who have shown so much endurance and courage as those now in
Vicksburg, will always challenge the respect of an adversary, and I
can assure you will be treated with all the respect due them as
prisoners of war. I do not favor the proposition of appointing
commissioners to arrange terms of capitulation, because I have no
other terms than those indicated above.

I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Major-General.

General Bowen, the bearer of General Pemberton’s letter, was received by General A. J. Smith. He expressed a strong desire to converse with General Grant, and accordingly, while declining this, General Grant requested General Smith to say that if General Pemberton desired to see him, an interview would be granted between the lines in McPherson’s front, at any hour in the afternoon which General Pemberton might appoint.

A message was soon sent back to General Smith, appointing three o’clock as the hour. General Grant was there with his staff, and with Generals Ord, McPherson, Logan, and A. J. Smith. General Pemberton came late, attended by General Bowen, and Colonel Montgomery. He was much excited and pert in his answers to General Grant. The conversation was held apart between General Pemberton and his officers, and Generals Grant, McPherson, and A. J. Smith. The rebels insisted on being paroled, and allowed to march beyond our lines, officers and men, all with eight days’ rations, drawn from their own stores, the officers to retain their private property and body servants.

General Grant heard what they had to say, and left them at the end of an hour and a half, saying that he would send in his ultimatum in writing, to which General Pemberton promised to reply before night, hostilities to cease in the mean time.

General Grant then conferred at his headquarters with his corps and division commanders, and sent the following letter to General Pemberton, by the hands of General Logan and Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson.

GENERAL GRANT’S OFFER FOR THE SURRENDER.

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE, }
NEAR VICKSBURG, July 3, 1863. }

Lieutenant-General J. C. PEMBERTON, commanding Confederate forces,
Vicksburg, Miss.:

GENERAL—In conformity with the agreement of this afternoon, I will
submit the following proposition for the surrender of the city of
Vicksburg, public stores, &c. On your accepting the terms proposed, I
will march in one division, as a guard, and take possession at eight
o’clock to-morrow morning. As soon as paroles can be made out and
signed by the officers and men, you will be allowed to march out of
our lines, the officers taking with them their regimental clothing,
and staff, field, and cavalry officers, one horse each. The rank and
file will be allowed all their clothing, but no other property.

If these conditions are accepted, any amount of rations you may deem
necessary can be taken from the stores you now have, and also the
necessary cooking utensils for preparing them; thirty wagons also,
counting two two-horse or mule teams as one. You will be allowed to
transport such articles as cannot be carried along. The same
conditions will be allowed to all sick and wounded officers and
privates, as fast as they become able to travel. The paroles for these
latter must be signed, however, whilst officers are present authorized
to sign the roll of prisoners.

I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Major-General.

The officer who received this letter, stated that it would be impossible to answer it by night, and it was not till a little before peep of day, that the proposed reply was furnished.

While these deliberations were pending, the men of both armies, who simply knew that a surrender was in contemplation, under intense excitement, were anxiously awaiting the result. Groups of soldiers, who a few hours before were engaged in a deathly struggle, now freely engaged in conversation from the edge of the opposing works.

REPLY OF GENERAL PEMBERTON, ACCEPTING ALL THE TERMS OFFERED BY GENERAL
GRANT.

HEADQUARTERS, VICKSBURG, July 3, 1863.

Major-General GRANT, commanding United States forces:—

GENERAL—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date, proposing terms for the surrender of this garrison and post. In the main your terms are accepted; but in justice both to the honor and spirit of my troops, manifested in the defence of Vicksburg, I have the honor to submit the following amendments, which if acceded to by you, will perfect the agreement between us:—At ten o’clock to-morrow I propose to evacuate the works in and around Vicksburg, and to surrender the city and garrison under my command, by marching out with my colors and arms, and stacking them in front of my present limits, after which you will take possession; officers to retain their side arms and personal property, and the rights and property of citizens to be respected.

I am, General, yours very respectfully,
J. C. PEMBERTON, Lieutenant-General.

To this General Grant immediately replied as follows:—

GENERAL GRANT DECLINES TO ACCEDE TO THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY GENERAL
PEMBERTON.

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE, }
BEFORE VICKSBURG, July 4, 1863. }

Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON, commanding forces at Vicksburg:—

GENERAL—I have the honor to acknowledge your communication of the 3rd
of July. The amendments proposed by you cannot be acceded to in full.
It will be necessary to furnish every officer and man with a parole
signed by himself, which, with the completion of the rolls of
prisoners, will necessarily take some time. Again, I can make no
stipulation with regard to the treatment of citizens and their private
property. While I do not propose to cause any of them any undue
annoyance or loss. I cannot consent to leave myself under restraint by
stipulations. The property which officers can be allowed to take with
them will be as stated in the proposition of last evening—that is,
that officers will be allowed their private baggage and side arms, and
mounted officers one horse each. If you mean by your proposition for
each brigade to march to the front of the lines now occupied by it,
and stack their arms at ten o’clock A. M., and then return to the
inside and remain as prisoners until properly paroled, I will make no
objection to it. Should no modification be made of your acceptance of
my terms by nine o’clock, A. M., I shall regard them as having been
rejected, and act accordingly. Should these terms be accepted, white
flags will be displayed along your lines, to prevent such of my troops
as may not have been notified, from firing on your men.

I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Major-General, U. S. A.

To this the following was received:—

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY GENERAL PEMBERTON OF THE TERMS PROPOSED BY
GENERAL GRANT.

HEADQUARTERS, VICKSBURG, July 4, 1863.

Major-General U. S. GRANT, Commanding United States forces, &c.:—

GENERAL—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
communication of this date, and, in reply, to say that the terms
proposed by you are accepted.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON, Lieutenant-General.

Of the terms of the surrender, General Grant thus speaks in his report: “These terms I regarded more favorable to the Government than an unconditional surrender. It saved us the transportation of them north, which, at that time, would have been very difficult, owing to the limited amount of river transportation on hand, and the expense of subsisting them. It left our army free to operate against Johnston, who was threatening us from the direction of Jackson; and our river transportation to be used for the movement of troops to any point the exigency of the service might require.”

At ten o’clock on the 4th, the Confederate forces marched out and stacked arms in front of their works, while General Pemberton appeared for a moment with his staff upon the parapet of the central front. The city was immediately after occupied by the divisions of Generals Logan, J. E. Smith and Herron.

The result of his operations is thus summed up by General Grant: “The result of this campaign has been the defeat of the enemy in five different battles outside of Vicksburg; the occupation of Jackson, the capital of the State of Mississippi, and the capture of Vicksburg and its garrison and munitions of war; a loss to the enemy of thirty-seven thousand prisoners, among whom were fifteen general officers; at least ten thousand killed and wounded, and among the killed, Generals Tracy, Tilghman, and Green; and hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of stragglers, who can never be collected and reorganized. Arms and munitions of war for an army of sixty thousand men have fallen into our hands, besides a large amount of other public property, consisting of railroads, locomotives, cars, steamboats, cotton, etc., and much was destroyed to prevent our capturing it.

“Our loss in the series of battles may be summed up as follows:

╔═════════════════════════╤════════╤════════╤════════╗
║ │ Killed.│Wounded.│Missing.║
╟─────────────────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────╢
║Port Gibson │ 130│ 718│ ║
║Fourteen Mile Creek │ 4│ 24│ 5║
║Raymond │ 69│ 341│ 32║
║Jackson │ 40│ 240│ 6║
║Champion’s Hill │ 426│ 1,842│ 189║
║Big Black railroad bridge│ 29│ 242│ 2║
║Vicksburg │ 545│ 3,688│ 303║
╚═════════════════════════╧════════╧════════╧════════╝

“Of the wounded, many were but slightly wounded, and continued on duty; many more required but a few days or weeks for their recovery. Not more than one-half of the wounded were permanently disabled.”

* * * * *

We will now turn our attention to a brilliant engagement which occurred simultaneously with the fall of Vicksburg. The town of Helena, in Arkansas, had been garrisoned by a small force under General Prentiss, a gallant officer, who had been captured at Pittsburg Landing with a large portion of his division, after bravely contending for more than half a day with a foe quadruple his own force.

THE BATTLE AT HELENA, ARKANSAS.
JULY 4, 1863.

The town of Helena, in Arkansas, is situated upon the northern bank of the Mississippi river, and lies upon flat ground. Not more than a quarter of a mile from the river the city and its approaches are commanded by high ridges, between which are ravines opening toward the river. The city had been strongly fortified by batteries placed upon these hills and connected in line by rifle-pits.

An attack upon Helena had been anticipated for some days, and at four o’clock on the morning of the 4th of July, the attack was opened upon General Prentiss by a rebel force numbering fifteen thousand, under Generals Holmes and Price. The Union forces, who had been two nights under arms and waiting the attack, were in readiness in a few minutes, and infantry, cavalry, and artillery were immediately in the positions assigned them. Between the ridges and the river the low, flat ground was protected by cavalry and rifle-pits and flanking batteries of ten-pounder Parrotts, and six and twelve-pounder brass pieces. Making the city the base of operations, Battery A was placed upon the right, and Batteries B, C, and D, upon the left. The enemy attacked upon the left of the line, and were opposed by a strong force of cavalry, with a brigade of infantry and four pieces of artillery. Presently it was reported that a large force was assaulting Battery A; and close upon the heels of this intelligence came the news that sharpshooters were harassing batteries C and D; behind the sharpshooters came heavy columns of the enemy who were rapidly moving artillery into position. In front of Battery B could be seen a large force of cavalry, showing that the enemy had been disposed by the planning of a master mind. The enemy opened a spirited fire on both flanks of General Prentiss’ troops at once, but without producing any effect; evidently no great result was expected by the rebels in regard to this movement, and it was merely intended as a diversion while they were throwing their whole strength against the Union centre. This plan would, if successfully carried out, have given them possession of Fort Curtis, a point which was centrally located, and commanded all the ridges surrounding the city. But the rebels were not aware of the presence at the city’s landing of the gunboat Tyler, commanded by Lieutenant James M. Pritchett, and they were equally astonished and disconcerted when, at a critical moment, the Tyler made them aware of her presence. The enemy were unable to open batteries upon the centre from being disappointed in finding ravines in which to place them, and therefore relied upon their infantry for the work. The attack upon Battery D was personally superintended by Lieutenant General Holmes, and Major-General Price directed that made upon Battery C. Half an hour after the battle first opened a regiment moved out to attack Battery D; but as they advanced in line upon a bridge within range of the guns of Battery C, the latter opened upon them a furious fire of shell, which was imitated by the guns of Battery D, with such effect as to create a perfect panic in their ranks which rapidly increased to a rout, and the rebels retired in great disorder. They were immediately reinforced, however, and their sharpshooters pressed close upon the guns of Battery C, so that they were turned upon them, vomiting forth canister, and so effectually checking their advance that they retreated again, and took refuge under cover of the ravines and fallen timber.

About this time operations on both sides ceased for a brief while owing to a dense fog which had fallen, and continued to hang heavily in the air for about three-quarters of an hour. When it was light again the force in front of Battery D appeared to be much weakened, while a brigade of three regiments was seen crossing the ridges between that work and Battery C. Before any of the guns could be used against the approaching force the first line of pits in front of the battery was flanked, and the company forced back upon the battery, where they stood bravely. The guns of Battery D opened furiously upon the rebels, but notwithstanding the fierce fire they pressed forward upon the company of Battery C, swarming like locusts, and causing a sudden panic to fall upon the Union men. Two companies upon the left of the battery broke and fled in the wildest confusion; but two more with the guns, and two in the pits to the right of them held their ground bravely, pouring in a heavy fire of canister and minnie balls into the ranks of the enemy. But the guns could not be saved; seeing which the captain of the battery spiked one just as the enemy reached the piece, while the gunners, determined that the battery should be useless to its captors, secured all the friction-primers. At the foot of the hill the retreating Unionists made another stand, and being promptly supported by portions of two regiments they proved to the rebels that they were not yet beaten.

It was now that the services of the Tyler became of such value to the National forces; and as the enemy, flushed with success, gathered together his scattered companies and charged down the hill toward Fort Curtis, a broadside from the gunboat poured death and destruction down the slopes of the hillside and enfiladed the ravines, while the stern guns silenced the rebel battery below, and the bow guns at the same moment played upon the upper one. And yet the rebels bore the fire, nor once turned to flee, although it seemed worse than madness to go on.

But in the language of a correspondent of the day, “With the howl of demons, the last mad, defiant impotent howl of baffled but still determined traitors, exposed to history, to nations, and to themselves, whipped, naked, and hungry, on they came cursing, firing, riding like the ‘Light Brigade’ ‘into the gates of death, into the mouth of hell.’ No hurrying, no excitement, and yet no hesitation in the fort and batteries, but steadily the shell, case, grape, and canister flew, with the swiftness of lightning and the precision of fate straight in the faces of the infuriate mob. Heads, trunks, and limbs hurled asunder by bursting iron, flew into the air, nauseating and sickening all who witnessed the horrible sight. No body of men on earth could long endure such a tornado of iron as was hurled on them, while their shots all fell short or passed harmlessly over the gunners of the fort. Not a man was even wounded. Slow to receive conviction, but at last satisfied of the hopelessness of their assault, the mob turned about as if by common consent and broke into squads of twenty, ten, two, and at last, every man for himself.” The rebels, who fought like madmen, made still another stand, and tried an approach through a ravine; but one particular point which the line must pass was exposed to the fire of the Union troops; and very soon the guns succeeded in getting such excellent range of this point that not a man could pass it. One regiment which had passed into the ravine could not return, nor could the brigade pass in to its support. At the mouth of the ravine one of General Prentiss’ regiments was so placed as to rake the entire length of the rebel line, while another immediately took position on a ridge on the right flank of the rebel brigade, and both regiments poured in their fire at once; and cross fires from the Fort and batteries, aided by the gunboat, completely scattered the regiments left upon the ridges. In haste and confusion they abandoned the guns which they had captured, uninjured, and left the brave regiment which had passed into the ravine, with all their arms, officers, and colors, prisoners of war. About three hundred of the rebel killed and wounded, besides four hundred prisoners, were lost by the enemy in this charge.

A similar attack had been made on Battery D while this was going on against Battery C, and with much the same result to the enemy, who was driven back by a murderous fire from the battery’s guns and from the sharpshooters. A few who succeeded in getting through the Union lines took position in a ravine to the left of the battery, but they made only a short fight, when they threw down their guns and formally surrendered. The following anecdote is related of a Lieutenant-Colonel who commanded the rebels. While they were still fighting he sprang upon a log and waved his sword, lustily cheering on his men.

The captain of Battery D called out to him: “What in thunder do you keep swinging that sword for? Why don’t you surrender?”

“By what authority do you demand my surrender?” returned the rebel officer.

“By the authority of my 12-pound howitzer,” replied the captain.

The rebel looked sharply around, and seeing no chance of escape passed his sabre-blade into his right hand and holding it out said, “Very well, sir, I surrender.”