Chapter IX: Front Matter (9)

About the same time the ram was found to be on fire. A shell from shore had set her on fire near the starboard wheel, while the discharge of the guns with the combustible balls had fired the cotton on her bow. Both steamboats were thus ablaze at the same time. The flames spread rapidly on both vessels. The smoke from the front of the ram rushed into her engine-room and threatened to suffocate the engineers. Those on board the rebel steamboat did all they could do to extinguish the flames on their boat. This they soon accomplished. Colonel Ellet had intended to strike the rebel steamboat in the stern, and thus finish the work of demolition; but the spreading flames on the Queen of the West made it necessary for him to attend to the safety of his own vessel. He therefore ran down stream, and set all hands on board at work extinguishing the flames. Though the cotton had been wet before starting, the fire was extending rapidly, and several burning bales were thrown overboard in order to save the ram. She then anchored below the mouth of the canal, where she awaited further orders.

All this time, both when approaching the city and leaving it, the rebel batteries were blazing away at the Queen of the West with light and heavy guns. It was a very exciting scene. About one hundred and twenty shots were fired from the batteries; but the ram was struck only twelve times, and sustained no material injury.

The Queen of the West now proceeded down the Mississippi, and when below Natchez, burned three small rebel steamers, the Moro, Berwick Bay, and A. W. Baker, laden with stores for the army at Vicksburg. After cruising for two weeks in the Atchafalaya, the Red river, and other tributaries of the Mississippi, inflicting serious injury on the rebel commerce, and capturing several vessels, she finally ventured up the Black river, and captured the rebel steamer Era. She proceeded to Fort Taylor, some fifty miles from the mouth of the river, where she grounded on a bar, exposed to the fire of the guns of the fort, and her crew was compelled to abandon the vessel, which fell into the hands of the enemy. Captain Ellet and most of the men succeeded in reaching the Era, and effected their escape.

* * * * *

When the work on the canal through the peninsula had approached its completion, and the huge iron scoop of the dredging machine had commenced demolishing the barrier which intervened between the bed of the canal and the “Father of Waters,” an unforeseen occurrence, which could not be guarded against, crushed the enterprise.

Owing to heavy rains and the rapid rise of the Mississippi above and opposite Vicksburg, the head of the canal gave way, and the water poured in at a tremendous rate. The force of the current, however, did not break the dam near the mouth of the canal, but caused a crevasse on the western side, through which the water flowed in such profusion as to inundate the lower part of the peninsula to the depth of four or five feet. When the fracture occurred a number of soldiers were on the levee, and were thrown into the torrent, but no lives were lost. All attempts to repair the mischief proved ineffectual, and the troops were removed to Milliken’s Bend, fifteen miles above.

* * * * *

On the 27th of February, Admiral Porter dispatched what was called a dummy Monitor, to run the Vicksburg batteries, in order to ascertain their exact location. This contrivance was an old flatboat, with flour-barrels for smoke stacks, and a couple of large hogsheads to represent Monitor turrets. It ran the fortifications in gallant style, and drew the fire of the rebel guns, without creating a suspicion of the true character of the vessel. The rebel authorities, fearful of the capture of the Indianola, then in an exposed position undergoing repairs, caused that vessel to be blown up to prevent her from falling into the hands of the Federals, and thus uselessly sacrificed the finest iron-clad they had on the western waters.

The prudent forethought of General Grant exhibited by his employing a portion of his men in cutting channels from the Mississippi to Providence lake on the west side, and to Moon lake on the east side, was now made apparent, and those works were progressing rapidly.

Lake Providence is a few miles south of the boundary line between Arkansas and Louisiana. It is situated in Carroll parish, Louisiana, about one mile west of the Mississippi river, and about seventy-five miles above Vicksburg. It is about six miles in length. Two streams flow out of the lake to the south, Moon bayou and Tensas river. The former, after running about a hundred miles, unites with the latter. The two continue south, and unite with the Washita, and are called after the junction, Black river. By cutting a channel from the Mississippi to Lake Providence, General Grant thought a communication might be had through that lake down the Tensas and Black into the Red river, and thence through the Atchafalaya, with General Banks at New Orleans. This route avoided the batteries of Vicksburg and Port Hudson. The canal to the lake was finished so as to let in water on the 16th of March. The flood was so great as to inundate a large district of country, some of which was fine land for growing cotton. Some boats passed into Lake Providence, but the uncertainty of the channel of the Tensas river, and the interest which was now excited by the Yazoo Pass expedition, together with the unimportant results to be anticipated by removing a large force to the Red river or below, caused a diversion from this route to others presenting more certain prospects of success against Vicksburg.

Eight miles below Helena, in Arkansas, and on the opposite side of the river, is a little lake, known as Moon lake. The passage from the Mississippi across the lake to the mouth of the Yazoo Pass is about eight miles; thence through the Pass proper to the Coldwater river, twelve miles. The Coldwater, a narrow stream, runs south, empties into the Tallahatchie, which continues to flow south, and unites with the Yallobusha, forming the Yazoo river, which empties into the Mississippi a few miles above Vicksburg.

Another important operation took place on the 14th of March, which had much to do with the success of General Grant’s movements. Admiral Farragut, with his fleet, attacked Port Hudson, and the flagship succeeded in running past the batteries and arriving before Warrenton, when he communicated with the fleet above. Shortly after this Admiral Porter succeeded in running some of his fleet down to the assistance of Farragut, and the united fleets began operating upon the river between Vicksburg and Port Hudson, cutting off the communications of the rebels with Louisiana, and making important military movements on the Louisiana shore.

An attempt to pass the rebel batteries at Vicksburg, was made by the Union rams Lancaster and Switzerland, on the 25th of March, without success. As soon as they came within range, the rebels opened a tremendous fire. The Lancaster was struck thirty times. Her entire bow was shot away, causing her to sink immediately. All the crew except two escaped. The Switzerland was disabled by a 64-pound ball penetrating the steam-drum. She floated down, the batteries still firing, and striking her repeatedly, until finally the Albatross ran alongside and towed her to the lower mouth of the canal.

An expedition proceeded down the Coldwater, on the 2nd of April, consisting of a portion of General Sherman’s and General McClernand’s corps, under General L. F. Ross, with eighteen transports and five small gunboats, and arrived at the mouth of the river without obstruction. They proceeded down the Tallahatchie, to its junction with the Yallobusha, which there forms the Yazoo, near which point is the village of Greenwood. On a peninsula near by, the rebels had erected a fortification. It consisted of a single line of breastworks facing westerly, composed of cotton bales and earth, and flanked on the right by a battery of three heavy guns fronting the river. Other field-pieces were in position on the works. On the right flank of the line, a defence or raft of logs had been constructed, to serve as a blockade of the river. Directly in front of the breastworks was a deep slough, extending across the peninsula, and admirably serving the purpose of a ditch. The slough was close to the base of the works at the upper end, but gradually receded from them at the lower, where it was several hundred yards distant. Beyond the slough there was an almost impenetrable canebrake, backed by an extensive forest.

The reduction of this fort was an inevitable necessity, before the expedition could proceed further, and the gunboat Chillicothe, Lieutenant Foster, was sent forward on the morning of the 11th of April to reconnoitre. The vessel approached the fortification, and fired several shots, but was soon struck four times by heavy rifle shots.

At the same time detachments from the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Indiana regiments were sent out to feel the Confederate position on the land side. A considerable body of the enemy’s skirmishers were encountered, who were driven across the slough and into the works, when the detachments were withdrawn. In the afternoon the Chillicothe was ordered to engage the fortification. After she had fired seven rounds, a 64-pound shell from the enemy passed through a half-open port striking upon the muzzle of a gun, in which a shell had been placed preparatory to cutting the fuse. Both shells exploded at once, by which three men were killed and eleven wounded. At this time orders were received to withdraw from the engagement. During the ensuing night a force was sent to throw up a battery facing the enemy’s works, west of the slough, and in the edge of the timber. A single 30-pound Parrott gun was mounted, and the work concealed by brush from the view of the enemy. Subsequently another gun was mounted. No attack was made on the 12th, in consequence of the absence of the mortar boats. After some delay, on the 13th, the engagement was commenced about half past ten A. M. by the land batteries. The gunboats Chillicothe and DeKalb soon after approached and opened their fire. It now appeared that the fortification mounted a rifled 64 Parrott, and three 24-Dahlgrens, and a small field battery. These guns were protected by a parapet composed of seven tiers of cotton bales, covered on the outside with eight feet of earth. The contest was bravely maintained for some time, when the fire of the enemy was suspended, but no disposition to surrender was shown. The gunboats and battery kept up the fire, but without any success in reducing the works. The Chillicothe was struck thirty-four times, but not severely injured. The DeKalb suffered more, in consequence of some shot penetrating her casemates, by which one man was killed and five wounded.

The impracticable nature of the land approaches rendered any attempt on the part of the military futile, and the expedition was compelled to retire.

An expedition under Admiral Porter, consisting of the heavier gunboats of his flotilla was undertaken about this time accompanied by transports, for the purpose of reaching the Yazoo river below Fort Pemberton, and Greenwood, and above Haines’ Bluff. The route of this expedition was up the Yazoo to Cypress bayou, thence into Steele’s bayou, and through Cypress lake to Little Black Fork and Deer creek. These waters were found to be impenetrable to the Federal vessels, and that expedition also proved a failure.

PASSING THE VICKSBURG BATTERIES.
APRIL 16–22, 1863.

General Grant having now fully determined to transport his army below Vicksburg, the cooperation of the naval commander was obtained: and on the 16th of April, three transports, under cover of the gunboats, were in readiness to descend the river. At half-past ten at night Admiral Porter’s vessels started on their perilous expedition down the river.

The vessels comprising the expedition started in the following order, fifty yards apart: Benton, Lieutenant-Commander Green; Lafayette, Captain Walker, with the General Price lashed on the starboard side; Louisville, Lieutenant-Commander Owen; Mound City, Lieutenant Wilson; Pittsburg, Lieutenant Hall; Carondolet, Lieutenant Murphy, and Tuscumbia, Lieutenant Commander Shirk, with the tug Day, which was lashed to the Benton. The three army transports were in the rear of these vessels, and the Tuscumbia was placed astern of all.

Two of the transports, when the firing became heavy, attempted to run up stream; but Lieutenant Commander Shirk drove them back, and stayed behind them until the Forest Queen was disabled. He then took her in tow, and placed her out of reach of the enemy’s shot.

All the vessels except the Benton took coal barges in tow, and all except the Lafayette brought them safely past the batteries. Having the Price alongside the Lafayette did not manage very well, and the coal barge got adrift, but was picked up at New Carthage. The Louisville, Lieutenant Commander Owen, lost hers in the melee, but picked it up again. The Benton fired over eighty shell, well directed, into the town and batteries.

The Pittsburg, Mound City and Tuscumbia were more fortunate than the others in not turning round as they came by, although no ill results happened to those vessels which did turn. The pilots were deceived by a large fire started on the side opposite to Vicksburg by the rebels, for the purpose of showing the vessel more plainly. Fires being started on both sides of the river at once, the vessels had some narrow escapes, but were saved in most instances, by the precautions taken to protect them. They were covered with heavy logs and bales of wet hay, which was found to be an excellent defence.

No one on board of the transports was injured; and, encouraged by the success of this enterprise, General Grant ordered six more to be prepared in like manner for running the batteries. On the night of the 22d of April the Tigress, Anglo Saxon, Cheeseman, Empire City, Horizona and Moderator, left Milliken’s Bend, and all passed in safety but the Tigress, which received a shot in her hull below water-line, and sunk on the Louisiana shore.

CAPTURE OF GRAND GULF, MISS.
APRIL 29-MAY 3, 1863.

On Wednesday, the 29th of April, a part of the gunboat fleet under Admiral Porter, consisting of the Benton (flagship), Lafayette, Mound City, Pittsburg, Carondolet, Tuscumbia and Louisville, left Hard Times, and steaming down below Coffee Point, engaged the rebel batteries at Grand Gulf, just at the confluence of the Big Black and the Mississippi. The engagement commenced at eight o’clock and lasted until half-past two.

The enemy had four batteries at Grand Gulf, one on the rock around which the waters of the Big Black flow into the Mississippi, and three below, about midway between the water and the summit of the bluffs. In the former they had placed four heavy guns, and in the three latter two and three each, with parapets, embrasures and rifle pits. The upper guns were very large, throwing shot and shell weighing one hundred pounds. The lower guns were mostly thirty-two-pounders.

The Benton opened the fight, followed by the other gunboats in rapid succession. At first they stood off at long range, and fired at a distance of a mile or more; but as the fire became warm they pressed closely to the bluff, and passed and repassed the batteries, sending broadsides upon the fort whenever they came in position. For six hours where the gunboats firing and receiving fire, until the gradually ceasing explosions of the enemy indicated their desire to terminate the engagement.

The Benton suffered considerably in her upper works, not less than a half dozen shots passing entirely through her. One shell exploded in her porthole, killing five men. The Tuscumbia was disabled. Other gunboats were more or less injured, but not seriously.

On the same day Admiral Porter sent the following report to the Secretary of the Navy:

HON. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy:—

I have the honor to inform you that, by an arrangement with General
Grant, I attacked the batteries at Grand Gulf this morning, which were
very formidable. After a fight of five hours and thirty minutes we
silenced the lower batteries, but failed to silence the upper one,
which was high, strongly built, and had guns of very heavy calibre.
The vessels were unmanageable in the heavy current. It fired but
feebly toward the last, and the vessels all laid by and enfiladed it,
while I went up a short distance to communicate with General Grant,
who concluded to land the troops and march over to a point two miles
below Grand Gulf. I sent the Lafayette back to engage the upper
batteries, which she did, and drove the soldiers out of it, as it did
not respond after a few fires. At six p. m. we attacked the batteries
again, and under cover of the fire all the transports passed by in
good condition. The Benton, Tuscumbia, and Pittsburg were much cut up,
having twenty-four killed and fifty-six wounded, but they are all
ready for service.

We land the army in the morning on the other side to march on
Vicksburg.

DAVID D. PORTER, Acting Rear Admiral.

On the 30th of April General Grant, with the three selected _corps de armeé_, viz.:—the Thirteenth, General McClernand; the Fifteenth, General Sherman, and the Seventeenth, General McPherson, crossed from the Louisiana side of the Mississippi river and landed at Boulinsburg.

The total number of killed in the fleet was twenty-six, and the wounded fifty-four.

The bombardment was terrific, the gunboat men exhibiting a coolness, courage and determination which it seemed nothing could resist. The rebels stood bravely to their guns, but the steady and heavy fire of the iron-clads drove them again and again. All the boats were struck repeatedly; but the Tuscumbia was the only one materially damaged. She had her hogchains cut away, and was otherwise so badly damaged that it was deemed advisable to remove her from the scene of action.

Finding it useless to protract the contest when the object to be attained could be reached by another way, the gunboats moved out of range and prepared to run the blockade at night. The usual precautions were taken to prevent casualties, and each gunboat carried all the troops it could conveniently accommodate. The transports were filled with troops, and all the barges crowded—so eager were the soldiers to take part in the exciting scene. The gunboats started first, and were subjected to a severe fire, for it was almost as bright as midday; the moon shining from a cloudless sky. When the transports appeared the concentrated fire of the rebel batteries was directed to them; but none of the vessels were disabled. The Cheeseman had six or seven horses killed by the explosion of a shell; but no lives were lost, as far as heard from.

General Grant was aboard a tug during the fight, and directed the movement of troops, under cover of the gunboat fire. The forces landed at Bayou Pierre.

BOMBARDMENT OF HAINES’ BLUFF.

Simultaneous with the land attack on Grand Gulf, General Sherman made a demonstration on Haines’ Bluff on Wednesday morning, April 29. A considerable force was embarked on the transports, and preceded by the iron-clad Choctaw and all the wooden gunboats in the Yazoo, proceeded up that stream. The bombardment at the Bluff was chiefly carried on by the gunboats Choctaw, DeKalb, Black Hawk, Romeo, Linden and three mortar boats. The former was struck fifty-two times, and had her upper works pretty badly battered. Her pilot house was struck by an eight-inch solid shot, which penetrated the extreme top, but fortunately injured none of the occupants. Her turret was struck repeatedly, but the shot all glanced off. She was also penetrated by three shots below the water line, one shot entering three feet below the surface of the water. Another shot penetrated her casemates and floundered on her deck. It was supposed to be a shell, and all hands beat a hasty retreat, except Chief Engineer Baldwin, who ran up, seized it and threw it overboard. General Sherman landed his forces on the south bank of the Yazoo. The main object of the expedition was to prevent the enemy from sending reinforcements to Port Gibson. The rebels displayed a large force, and anticipated a battle. The expedition returned on the 7th of May.

* * * * *

On the third of May, Admiral Porter took possession of the forts at Grand Gulf. The details of the occupation are narrated in his report to Secretary Welles, of the same date:

FLAGSHIP BENTON, GRAND GULF, Miss., May 8, 1863.

Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy:

SIR—I have the honor to report that I got under way this morning with
the Lafayette, Carondolet, Mound City and Pittsburg, and proceeded up
to the forts at Grand Gulf, for the purpose of attacking them if they
had not been abandoned. The enemy had left before we got up, blowing
up their ammunition, spiking their large guns, and burying or taking
away the lighter ones. The armament consisted of thirteen guns in all.
The works are of the most extensive kind, and would seem to defy the
efforts of a much heavier fleet than the one which silenced them. The
forts were literally torn to pieces by the accuracy of our fire.
Colonel Wade, the commandant of the batteries, was killed; also his
chief of staff. Eleven men were killed that we know of, and our
informant says that many were wounded, and that no one was permitted
to go inside the forts after the action except those belonging there.

We had a hard fight for these forts, and it is with great pleasure
that I report that the navy holds the door of Vicksburg. Grand Gulf is
the strongest place on the Mississippi. Had the enemy succeeded in
finishing the fortifications no fleet could have taken them.

I have been all over the works and found them as follows:—One fort on
a point of rocks seventy-five feet high, calculated for six or seven
guns, mounting two seven inch rifles, and one eight-inch and one
Parrott gun on wheels, which was carried off. On the left of this work
is a triangular work, calculated to mount one heavy gun. These works
are connected with another fort by a covered way and double rifle pits
extending one quarter of a mile, constructed with much labor, and
showing great skill on the part of the constructor. The third fort
commands the river in all directions. It mounted one splendid Blakely
one hundred-pounder, one eight-inch and two thirty-pounders. The
latter were lying bursted or broken on the ground.

The gunboats had so covered up everything with earth that it was
impossible to see at first what was there, with the exception of the
guns that were dismounted or broken.

Every gun that fell into our hands was in good condition, and we found
a large quantity of ammunition.

These are by far the most extensively built works, with the exception
of those at Vicksburg, I have seen yet, and I am happy to say that we
hold them.

I am dismounting the guns, and getting on board the ammunition.

Since making the above examination new forts have been passed nearly
finished. They had no guns, but were complete as regards position, and
had heavy field pieces in them.

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

CAPTURE OF PORT GIBSON, MISS.
MAY 1, 1863.

Two days after the bombardment of Grand Gulf by Admiral Porter’s fleet, General Grant’s forces made a successful attack on Port Gibson, a point six miles in the rear of Grand Gulf, which compelled the rebels to evacuate the latter place. General Grant sent the following dispatch to General Halleck, dated May 3:

GRAND GULF, Miss., May 3, 1863.

Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief:

We landed at Boulingsburg April 30, moved immediately on Port Gibson,
met the enemy eleven thousand strong, four miles north of Port Gibson,
at two o’clock A. M. on the 1st inst., and engaged him all day,
entirely routing him, with the loss of many killed, and about five
hundred prisoners, beside the wounded. Our loss is about one hundred
killed, and five hundred wounded.

The enemy retreated towards Vicksburg, destroying the bridges over the
two forks of the Bayou Pierre. These were rebuilt, and the pursuit has
continued until the present time.

Besides the heavy artillery at this place, four field pieces were
captured and some stores, and the enemy were driven to destroy many
more.

The country is the most broken and difficult to operate in I ever saw.

Our victory has been most complete, and the enemy are thoroughly
demoralized.

Very respectfully, U. S. GRANT,
Major-General Commanding.

Governor Yates, of Illinois, writing from Grand Gulf, on the following day, gives a glowing account of the operations of the Federal army:

“Our arms are gloriously triumphant. We have succeeded in winning a
victory which, in its results, must be the most important of the war.
The battle of May 1 lasted from eight o’clock in the morning until
night, during all of which time the enemy were driven back on the
right, left and centre. All day yesterday our army was in pursuit of
the rebels, they giving us battle at almost every defensible point,
and fighting with desperate valor. Last night a large force of the
enemy was driven across Black river and General McClernand was driving
another large force in the direction of Willow Springs. About two
o’clock yesterday I left General Logan, with his division in pursuit
of the enemy, to join General Grant at Grand Gulf, which the enemy had
evacuated in the morning, first blowing up their magazines, spiking
their cannon, destroying tents, etc. On my way to Grand Gulf I saw
guns scattered all along the road, which the enemy had left in their
retreat. The rebels were scattered through the woods in every
direction. This army of the rebels was considered, as I now learn,
invincible; but it quailed before the irresistible assaults of
Northwestern valor.”

GRIERSON’S RAID.
APRIL 17–MAY 2, 1863.

For a long time Colonel Grierson’s ambition had been to lead the cavalry force under his charge into the enemy’s country. At last he received an intimation from General Grant’s headquarters that his desire would be gratified. Colonel Grierson commanded the First brigade of cavalry under General Grant. This force had been for some time occupying Lagrange, Tenn., which is a small town on the Memphis and Charleston railroad, about fifty miles east of the city of Memphis, and four miles west of the junction of the Mississippi and Charleston railroads. When Colonel Grierson first received permission to move with his force into Mississippi, one of the chief objects of the expedition was to cut off the means of communication between the rebel army of the West, and that of General Bragg, then in Middle Tennessee; but when the expedition was once begun, it branched off into many unthought-of directions, and ended in being one of the most brilliant, as well as important feats of the war.

On the morning of the 17th of April, Colonel Grierson received orders from General Grant to move his force out on the Ripley road; accordingly, his brigade, consisting of the Sixth Illinois cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Loomis; the Seventh Illinois cavalry, Colonel Edward Prince; and the Second Iowa cavalry, Colonel Edward Hatch, obeying the directions they had received, bivouacked for the night on a plantation a few miles northwest of the town of Ripley. During the night five guerrillas were captured by the Union men. On the morning of the next day the march began; the main body of Colonel Grierson’s men proceeded in a southerly direction, while one regiment, the Second Iowa, crossed the Tallahatchie, and went in a southeasterly direction. On both sides of the river the enemy’s pickets were posted in all directions, endeavoring to prevent the Union soldiers from crossing, and there was constant skirmishing between them and the rebels. The pickets were constantly driven in; and an attempt to fire the bridge at New Albany was prevented by the rapid movements of Grierson’s men. At the close of the day the Union troops had accomplished their contemplated march, and were stationed as follows: the Sixth and Seventh Illinois regiments were encamped on a plantation a few miles south of New Albany, and the Second Iowa about four miles east of the same place. The Second Iowa, during the night, repulsed a severe attack of the enemy. On the morning of the 19th, Colonel Grierson dispersed his troops in various directions, with a view to mislead the enemy, and cause him to suppose that the main object of the expedition was to break up the various military organizations in that part of the country. Accordingly, one detachment marched to the eastward, another moved back toward New Albany, and a third marched northwest towards King’s Bridge; and the enemy was thus completely puzzled and in total ignorance of the real destination of the Union forces.

Colonel Grierson himself, with the main body of his command, marched in a southerly direction, and were subsequently joined by the remainder of the force, when they took the road to Pontotoc. There they met a detachment of the rebels, who fled before them, after the exchange of a few shots, and were hotly pursued, and driven through the town. Their entire camp equipage was captured, and a large store of salt, which was destroyed. The march was then continued till about eight o’clock at night, and the men encamped at a point on the road leading to Houston, a few miles south of the Pontotoc. At an early hour on the following morning the reveille was sounded. Major Lull of the Second Iowa, with about one hundred and fifty picked men, and one piece of artillery, was then sent back to Lagrange in charge of all the prisoners and captured property which had been taken from the rebels, in order that the force might be relieved of all incumbrance, and the enemy made to suppose that Colonel Grierson was retracing his steps.

At five o’clock on the morning of the 21st, Colonel Hatch was ordered with his command to proceed up the Columbus road, and destroy as much of the Mobile and Ohio railroad as was possible; and to attack Columbus These orders were successfully carried out; and Colonel Hatch, with the troops under his command returned to Lagrange, and thus aided in still further deceiving General Chalmers (who was in command of the rebels at this point) in regard to the movements of Colonel Grierson.

In the mean time the remainder of the Union forces had continued their march, and reached Starkville, where they captured and destroyed a rebel mail which had arrived; and set fire to and utterly destroyed one of the finest tanneries in the country, which they reached after continuing their march for five miles in a southerly direction.

On the following day, the 22d, the march was not only disagreeable, as the men were often compelled to swim their horses through streams and lead them over blind marshes, but extremely perilous; for often horse and rider would sink into the marsh together, and though the men escaped with life, the hapless animals often disappeared and were lost. With unparalleled fortitude the men pushed on; and at ten o’clock the next morning they reached Philadelphia, Miss. At this place the mail was taken from the post-office, and destroyed, but nothing else was injured in any way.

On the following day the march was vigorously prosecuted. A battalion was sent by the Southern railroad to Decatur and Newton, where they were joined the same night by the main body, under Colonel Grierson. Two trains of cars were captured at Newton, laden with every description of commissary stores, and a large quantity of ammunition and loaded shell. All were destroyed, and the locomotives rendered unfit for any further service. The march was then resumed, and continued till the 25th, when a halt was made at a plantation a few miles west of Montrose, the men having fired every bridge which they passed on the way. From this place the route was slightly changed, and the cavalry pressed on in a more southerly direction.

At Raleigh they halted for the night, and a scout who had been sent out to cut the telegraph wires on the Southern railroad between Lake Station and Jackson, was met by the enemy, and questioned as to the whereabouts of Grierson’s men. The rebels were then on the direct road to the camp, and not more than fourteen miles distant; but the scout, with admirable self-possession, parried their questions, and succeeded in misleading them as to the position of the Union troops, and then escaped and hastened back to camp in time to give information of the enemy’s proximity. Colonel Grierson immediately moved his men across Leaf river, and destroyed the bridge to prevent the rebels following and attacking him in the rear. They then marched on to Westville, and swam their horses across Reaul river, at a point ten miles from Westville. The advance, under Colonel Prince, had by this time reached Hazlehurst station, where they captured a train of forty cars,—four of which were filled with shell and ammunition, and the remainder with commissary stores. As the march continued, the cavalry came upon a team carrying a 32-pound Parrot gun, which was then on its way to Fort Gibson. The piece was captured and spiked. Two detachments from the main body had been doing serious damage to the rebels, burning cars, water tanks, and a great deal of other property.

At early dawn on the 28th, the advance moved upon Brookhaven, and entered the town so suddenly that two hundred rebels were taken prisoners, before they had recovered from their surprise at finding themselves confronted with Union soldiers. At Gallatin a camp of instruction, said to have been one of the most beautiful and extensive in the State, was utterly destroyed. After leaving Gallatin, the Union cavalry encountered a rebel cavalry force under Colonel Garland, and a skirmish occurred, in which the enemy suffered severely in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Two clever feints, menacing Port Gibson and Natchez, deceived the enemy again, and the main body marched straight forward to Brookhaven, which was already occupied by Colonel Grierson’s advance.

On the 30th, the whole force left Brookhaven, and proceeded to Bogue Cluto Station, destroying every bridge on the way. At the station, fifteen freight cars, which were standing on the track, partially loaded, were fired, and utterly destroyed. From that point to Summit a rapid march was performed, and there twenty-five freight cars were reduced to ashes. Information was sent to Colonel Grierson that a regiment of rebel cavalry was rapidly moving toward Wassitta, and they were discovered at Wall’s bridge on the Tickfaw, by a detachment of Union cavalry, who dashed in upon them, and killing and wounding a large number, put the rest to flight. Colonel Grierson’s loss was one killed and five wounded.

The march again continued, at first east of the Tickfaw, and then changing again continued directly south, marching through woods, lanes and by-roads, and struck a road which led directly from Clinton to Osyka. There the cavalry came most unexpectedly upon the Ninth Tennessee cavalry regiment, which was posted in a strong defile guarding the bridges across the Tickfaw river. A sharp skirmish ensued, in which the enemy’s pickets were captured, and the regiment driven back with great loss. The cavalry then crossed the river at Edward’s bridge, where they were met by Garland’s rebel cavalry, which they put to flight with a single battalion of the Sixth Illinois, and two guns of the battery, without even halting the column. It was clearly perceived now that the rebels were sending out forces in all directions to intercept the march of Colonel Grierson’s troops.

At midnight the Amite river was crossed, over which there was but one bridge; and the National troops were just in time to escape a heavy column of infantry and artillery which had been sent to intercept them. They moved on to Sandy creek, where Hughes’ cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Wilburn, were encamped, and reached that point at dawn of day. The rebel camp, completely surprised, was in no condition to make a successful resistance, and a large number of the enemy were taken prisoners; the camp, consisting of one hundred and fifty tents, was destroyed, together with a great quantity of ammunition, guns, public and private stores, books, papers, and public documents. A large number of horses were captured also; and the cavalry then took the road to Baton Rouge, and on the way surprised Stuart’s cavalry at Commite river, and took prisoner forty men with their arms and horses.

On the morning of the 1st of May, the commander at Baton Rouge was startled by the intelligence of the close proximity of Grierson’s cavalry, and sent out two companies under Captain Godfrey, to meet and welcome them. The troops entered the city at three o’clock in the afternoon, amid cheers and shouts of welcome that rent the air, and echoed along the hills toward Port Hudson. Thus in less than sixteen days this heroic cavalry force had marched over six hundred miles, over marshes and rivers, endangering their lives for whole days at every mile they traversed. The last twenty-eight hours’ march was performed without either rest or food to men or horses. The loss to Colonel Grierson’s command during the whole journey was three killed, seven wounded, five sick and left upon the route, and nine men missing. Of the enemy, over one hundred were killed and wounded; five hundred taken prisoners (many of them officers); from fifty to sixty miles of railroad and telegraph wire destroyed, and three thousand stand of arms, together with army stores and government property, captured and destroyed—making in all a loss to the rebels of over three million dollars.

BATTLE OF RAYMOND, MISS.
MAY 12, 1863.

On Thursday, May 7th, General McPherson moved his corps to Rocky Spring, and his camp was occupied next day by General Sherman. On Saturday McPherson again moved to the eastward, to the village of Utica, crossing the road occupied by McClernand, and leaving the latter on his left. On Sunday morning McClernand marched to Five Mile creek, and encamped on the south bank at noon, on account of broken bridges, which were repaired the same day. Monday morning Sherman’s corps came up, passed McClernand’s, and encamped that night at the village of Auburn, about ten miles south of Edwards’ Station, on the railroad from Vicksburg to Jackson. As soon as it passed, McClernand’s corps followed a few miles, and then took a road going obliquely to the left, leading to Hall’s Ferry, on the Big Black river. Thus, on Monday evening General McClernand was at Hall’s Ferry; General Sherman was at Auburn, six or eight miles to the northeast, and General McPherson was about eight miles still further to the northeast, a few miles north of Utica. The whole formed an immense line of battle, Sherman’s corps being in the centre, with those of McPherson and McClernand forming the right and left wings. From Grand Gulf the army marched westward, but, by these last movements, swung on the left as a pivot, and fronted nearly northward.

Up to this the enemy had not appeared on the line of march. On Tuesday morning General McClernand’s advance drove in the enemy’s pickets near Hall’s Ferry, and brisk skirmishing ensued for an hour or two, with little loss to either side. By noon the rebels had disappeared from his front, and seven wounded and none killed was the total Union loss. General Sherman put Steele’s division in motion early in the morning, and came upon the enemy at the crossing of Fourteen Mile creek four miles from Auburn. The cavalry advance was fired into from the thick woods that skirt the stream, but was unable, owing to the nature of the ground, to make a charge or clear the rebels from their position. Landgraber’s battery was thrown to the front, supported by the Seventeenth Missouri and Thirty-first Iowa infantry regiments, and threw a few shell into the bushy undergrowth skirting the stream which gave them cover. Skirmishers were thrown out, and advanced to the creek, driving the enemy slowly. A brigade was thrown to the right and left flanks, when the rebel forces, mainly cavalry, withdrew toward Raymond. The bridge was burned during the skirmish, but a crossing was constructed in two hours, and trains were passing before noon.

But the principal opposition to the line of march was in the front of General McPherson. General Logan’s division came upon a body of rebel troops, estimated at about ten thousand, posted on Fondren’s creek, two miles southwest of this, at ten o’clock on Tuesday morning. Brisk skirmishing began at once, and a general engagement was soon brought on. The enemy (as in front of General Sherman), was almost wholly concealed at first by the woods bordering the stream, behind which their forces were posted. Their artillery was on an eminence that commanded our approach. The Federal troops had to cross an open field, exposed to a terrible fire. The First and Second brigades, commanded by General J. E. Smith, and General Fennis (both Illinois regiments), were in the thickest of the fight, and suffered most. After three hours’ hard fighting, the enemy withdrew sullenly in two columns, the principal one taking the road to Jackson. The Federal loss, in killed, wounded, and missing, was about three hundred. The rebel loss was much greater.

CAPTURE OF JACKSON, MISS.
MAY 14, 1863.

On the 13th, General McPherson moved to Clinton, and destroyed the railroads and telegraph. General Sherman moved to a parallel position on the Mississippi Springs and Jackson road, and General McClernand to a point near Raymond.

On the 14th General McPherson and General Sherman each advanced from his respective position toward Jackson. The rain had fallen in torrents during the night before, and it continued to fall until about noon, thus making the roads at first slippery and then miry. Nevertheless, the troops marched in excellent order and spirits about fourteen miles, when they came upon the enemy. The main body of their force in Jackson had marched out on the Clinton road, and encountered General McPherson about two and a half miles from the city. A small force of artillery and infantry also took a strong position in front of General Sherman, about the same distance out from Jackson.

On the march of General McPherson from Clinton toward Jackson, General Crocker’s division held the advance. All was quiet until he reached a hill overlooking a broad open field, through the centre of which and over the crest of the hill beyond, the road to Jackson passed. On the left of this latter hill the enemy had posted his artillery, and along the crest his line of battle. As the Federal force came within range, the artillery of the enemy opened fire. The battery of the First Missouri was moved to the left of a cotton gin in the open field, and returned the fire for nearly an hour, when the guns of the enemy were withdrawn. Meantime, General Crocker had thrown out two brigades to the right and left of his battery, supported by another brigade at a proper distance, and had also pushed forward a strong line of skirmishers, and posted them in a ravine in front, which protected them from the fire of the enemy. After a little delay they were again advanced out of cover, and a desultory fire ensued between the opposite line of skirmishers, in which the enemy, owing to the nature of the ground, had the advantage. At length General Crocker, seeing the necessity of driving the rebels from the crest of the hill, ordered a charge along the line.

With colors flying, and with a step as measured and unbroken as if on dress parade, the movement was executed. Slowly they advanced, crossed the narrow ravine, and, with fixed bayonets, reached the crest of the hill in easy range of the rebel line. Here they received a tremendous volley, which caused painful gaps in their ranks. They held their fire until they were within a distance of thirty paces, when they delivered the returning volley with fearful effect, and, without waiting to reload their muskets, with a terrific yell, they rushed upon the staggered foe. Over the fences, through the brushwood into the enclosure, they worked their way, slaughtering on the right and left without mercy. The enemy, astonished at their impetuosity, wavered and fell back, rallied again, and finally broke in wild confusion. They finally retreated north, but without further damage.

When General Sherman encountered the enemy, he discovered their weakness by sending a reconnoitering party to his right, which had the effect of causing them to retreat from that part of their line. A few artillerists, however, remained in their places, firing upon General Sherman’s troops until the last moment.

At this time General McClernand occupied Clinton with one division, Mississippi Springs with another, Raymond with a third, and his fourth division and General Blair’s division of General Sherman’s corps were with a wagon train, still in the rear, near Auburn. At the same time General McArthur, with one brigade of his division of General McPherson’s corps, was moving toward Raymond on the Utica road. It was not the intention of General Grant to move these forces any nearer Jackson, but to have them in a position where they could be in supporting distance if the resistance at Jackson should prove more obstinate than there seemed any reason to expect.

On the retreat of the enemy, General McPherson followed directly into the city of Jackson. A fine battery of six pieces was found, and around the Deaf and Dumb Institute, which was used as a hospital, tents enough were seized to encamp an entire division. The commissary and quartermaster’s stores were in flames. The Governor and State Treasurer had withdrawn, taking the State funds and papers. All citizens officially connected with the State or Confederate Governments had also left. Many soldiers remained, besides a large number in the hospital.

Early on the morning of the day following the occupation of the city of Jackson it was decided to evacuate the position. There were several reasons which induced General Grant to arrive at this decision, prominent among which was the difficulty of keeping intact his long line of communication, and the fear that General Johnston—who was known to be hovering in the region north of Jackson with a force estimated at twenty thousand men—would attack his rear. The force which he encountered just before reaching Jackson, under General Gregg, had divided, one portion going to Canton from the north, and the other from the south. Johnston and Gregg combined might prove altogether too formidable. It was therefore decided to return to Clinton and move upon Vicksburg.

The main column of the enemy was at Edwards’ Station, proposing to give battle there. Soon after daylight the column was in motion, General McPherson in advance. They reached Clinton at noon, and after an hour’s delay marched to their camping ground, a short distance from the village of Bolton.

The programme of the advance was arranged by General Grant and General McClernand as follows:—Extreme left, General Smith, supported by General Blair; on the right of General Smith, General Osterhaus, supported by General Carr; General Hovey in the centre, with McPherson on the extreme right, and Crocker as reserve. In this order the advance was made; General McClernand’s corps, with the exception of General Hovey’s division, reaching the position by way of the several roads leading from Raymond to Edward’s Station.

On the evening of the 15th, General McClernand heard that the enemy was advancing from Edwards’ Station to Raymond, and quickly placed his troops in order of battle to repel the anticipated attack. Extensive reconnoissances revealed the fact, however, that he was merely feeling his position and force, and that no attack need be expected that day.

At nine in the morning, General Osterhaus took possession of Bolton, capturing a rebel mail and several prisoners. General McClernand placed his army in camp early in the evening, and by daylight the following day each division occupied the ground selected, and prepared to offer battle.

BATTLE OF BAKER’S CREEK, OF CHAMPION HILL, MISS.
MAY 16, 1863.

Early this morning General McClernand’s corps was put in motion. General Hovey’s division was on the main road from Jackson to Vicksburg, but the balance of the corps was a few miles to the south. General Ward was on a parallel road, and General McPherson’s corps followed Hovey’s division closely.

The enemy’s first demonstration was upon the Union extreme left, which they attempted to turn. This attempt was most gallantly repulsed by General Smith, commanding the left wing. At seven o’clock the skirmishers were actively engaged; and as the enemy sought the cover of the forest the Union artillery fire was opened, which continued without intermission for two hours. At this time General Ransom’s brigade marched on the field, and took up a position as reserve behind General Carr.

At nine o’clock General Hovey discovered the enemy in front on Champion Hill, to the left of the road, near Baker’s creek, apparently in force. Skirmishers were thrown out, and the division advanced cautiously and slowly to give General McPherson’s advance division under General Logan time to come within supporting distance. General Hovey’s division advanced across the other field at the foot of Champion Hill in line of battle.

At eleven o’clock the battle commenced. The hill itself was covered with timber, and is, in fact, but an abrupt terminus of a high ridge, running north and south, flanked on both sides by deep ravines and gulleys, and in many places covered with an impenetrable growth of scrubby white oak brush. The rebels appeared deficient in artillery throughout the battle, but opened with rather a heavy fire from a four-gun battery of rifled six-pounders, planted about four hundred yards back from the brow of the hill. The woods on both sides of the road leading up the face of the hill, and winding back on the ridge a mile or more, were filled with sharpshooters, supported by infantry. Here the battle began just as the Federals entered the edge of the timber, and raged terribly from eleven till between three and four o’clock.

The battle raged fearfully along the entire line, the evident intention of the enemy being to mass his forces upon Hovey on the centre. There the fight was most earnest; but General McPherson brought his forces into the field, and after four hours’ hard fighting the tide of battle was turned, and the enemy forced to retire.

Disappointed in his movements upon the Union right, he turned his attention to the left of Hovey’s division, where Colonel Slack commanded a brigade of Indianians. Massing his forces here he hurled them against the opposing columns with irresistible impetuosity, and forced them to fall back; not, however, until at least one quarter of the troops comprising the brigade were either killed or wounded. Taking a new position, and receiving fresh reinforcements, the Federals again attempted to stem the tide, this time with eminent success. The enemy were beaten back, and compelled to seek the cover of the forest in their rear. Following up their advantage, without waiting to reform, the soldiers of the Western army fixed their bayonets and charged into the woods after them. The enemy were seized with an uncontrollable panic and thought only of escape. In this terrible charge men were slaughtered without mercy. The ground was literally covered with the dead and dying. The enemy scattered in every direction, and fled through the fields to reach the column now moving to the west along the Vicksburg road.

General Hovey’s division carried the heights in gallant style, and, making a dash on the first battery, drove the gunners from their posts, and captured the pieces. The rebels lay thick in the vicinity of the guns. Their horses were more than half killed, their gun carriages and caissons broken, and knapsacks, blankets, small arms and other debris, attested the deadly struggle. The colors of the Thirty-first Alabama regiment were captured there.

At this juncture Mitchell’s Ohio battery was opened at about eighty yards from the brow of the hill. The rebels made a dash for it; but the fleetness of the horses prevented its capture. At the same time the rebels appeared with fresh troops on that wing, and redoubled their efforts to hold their position and dislodge the Federals on the hill. Hovey was slowly driven back to the brow; but a brigade from General Quimby was ordered to his support, and the ground was speedily recovered and the rebels finally repulsed.