USA > Illinois > Military history and reminiscences of the Thirteenth regiment of Illinois volunteer infantry in the civil war in the United States,1861-65, pt 1 > Part 26
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Tuttle, commanding the Third Division of Sherman's Fif- teenth Corps, who had the advance that day ; but on our coming up and deploying into line of battle, General Johnston concluded not to dispute any longer, faced to the rear, and politely retired, and we walked into the city.
Our flag looked beautiful and inspiring, floating over the city, and as though it belonged there.
This city had extensive manufactories of Confederate mili- tary supplies, all of which we destroyed, as well as all rail- roads and bridges, and all supplies that we could not use, including four hundred hogsheads of sugar.
On May 16th, via Clinton, we marched towards Vicksburg, forty-seven to fifty miles distant, making nineteen miles to Bolton Station, where we learned of the battle that day, of Champion's Hill.
On May 17th .- We had the advance of the Fifteenth Corps, ours being the right or northernmost of the three Corps of Sherman, McPherson and McClernand, which were now fast closing in on the devoted city.
At Bridgeport we found supplies, helped to complete one of the three several bridges being there constructed, as the bridge over the Big Black had been destroyed that morning by the vanquished enemy. We crossed the river at dark and camped one mile further on, in the woods.
We have the narration of the following incident from the Confederate General, S. H. Lockett, " Chief Engineer of the defenses of Vicksburg," on the occasion of the rebel retreat to the fortifications of Vicksburg, after their defeat at the battle of Big Black Bridge.
General Lockett says : "After the stampede at the bridge, orders were issued for the army to fall back to Vicksburg, Major-General Stevenson being placed in command of the retreating forces.
" General Pemberton rode on himself to Bovina, a small railroad station about two and a half miles from the river. I was the only staff officer with him. He was very much depressed by the events of the last two days, and for some
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time after mounting his horse rode in silence. He finally said : "Just thirty years ago, I began my military career, by receiving my appointment to a cadetship at the United States Military Academy; and to-day-the same date-that career is ended in disaster and disgrace."
And again, at a council of war on the night of July 2d, 1863, in Vicksburg, General Pemberton said : “Well, gentle- men, I have heard your votes and I agree with your almost unanimous decision, though my own preference would be to put myself at the head of my troops and make a desperate effort to cut our way through the enemy. That is my only hope of saving myself from shame and disgrace. Far better would it be for me to die at the head of my army, even in a vain effort to force the enemy's lines, than to surrender it and live and meet the obloquy which I know will be heaped upon . me. But my duty is to sacrifice myself to save the army which has so nobly done its duty to defend Vicksburg. I therefore concur with you and shall offer to surrender this army on the 4th of July."
On May 18th .- Bright and early we were on the road, which the rebels had kindly left unobstructed until we had measured off about fifteen miles, when our advance encoun- tered the enemy's pickets with whom our boys insisted on an exchange of skill at shooting at a mark. Our regiment fol- lowed our skirmishers so closely, and boldly, that either one side or the other, had to give way ; and it was not us; and we slept there that night close up to the enemy's outer works, which were empty the next morning, May 19th, and this gave us the right of way to the Yazoo river, which added greatly to our convenience and comfort, as it re-established our connec- tions with our old base of supplies, and uninterrupted com- munications with the outside world. From these hills, Vicks- burg was in sight, and our old battle-ground of Chickasaw Bayou, lay at our very feet.
The Fourth Ohio Battery was now soon brought into posi- tion and opened fire, supported by our regiment, which was the first regiment in position in the investing lines.
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On May 27th .- Our brigade with four others under Blair, was sent up the Yazoo, for some work, which being accom- plished, we took our old position in the line of investment. During a seige like that of Vicksburg, there is little to be said of any one regiment in particular and this siege of forty-seven days gave no opportunity for particular mention. Lieutenant Josselyn says : "On May 22d another grand assault was made, our regiment taking part to the left of our position. From this time to the last of May, our duties were to support
the battery, sharp shooting, and digging trenches.
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"Colonel Gorgas detailed Lieutenants Dement, Russell and Josselyn, with two men from each company, to go over to Young's Point and bring over our camp equipage. All sick men left there when we started for Grand Gulf, now joined their companies.
"From this time until the surrender of Vicksburg, our work and duties were constant. Strong picket lines out every night, digging trenches, roadways, sapping and mining, making earth-works supporting the Marine and Hoffman's batteries and sharp-shooting were the order of each day. The fire was continuous from artillery, musketry and the Mortars. Towards the last of June the enemy seemed more quiet ; and it was not often that we could get a good shot at them with a musket. We could see buildings burning occasionally over in town, set on fire by the bursting mortar-shells. Gen- eral bombardments took place June 20th and 25th."
As far back as March Ist, General Halleck had written General Grant as follows: General: "There is a vacant major-generalcy in the regular army ; and I am authorized to say that it will be given to the general in the field who first wins an important and decisive victory."
This had reached General Grant while at Young's Point ; and six days later, had been replied to as follows : "General : I will have Vicksburg this month or fail in the attempt."
This seems a vain boast so entirely foreign to the nature of General Grant, that its appearance among the War Docu-
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ments, published by order of Congress, alone saves it from a doubt of its authenticity.
However, the surrender came in season to save General Grant's chance in competition with General Mead, at Gettys- burg, by nearly twenty-four hours.
On the 21st of May, when the investment was completed, we were eight-hundred yards distant from the enemy's main works. On June 4th, or fourteen days afterward, we had so well employed our time and opportunities as to have advanced our lines to within one hundred and fifty yards of the same objective ; and when the surrender came, the thickness of the enemy's parapet alone divided the hostile forces.
The surrender, which had fully been decided on by Gen- eral Pemberton as early as the night of the 2d of July, was consummated as agreed upon with General Grant, on the 4th of July.
If ever soldiers had earned a rest, and time in which to participate in the celebration of the glorious victory, it cer- tainly was Sherman's soldiers, after so arduous a campaign ; but that was not to be ; and already the tremendous energies of these great generals had planned for further vigorous move- ments almost before the surrender could be completed, as will be seen by fragments of two communications to Grant from Sherman, of date of July 3d, as follows : -X- * * " If you are in Vicksburg, glory, hallelujah ! The best 4th of July since 1776."
And again : " Already are my orders out to give one big huzza ! and sling the knapsack for new fields." * *
Comrades, when you "slung knapsacks for new fields," twenty-nine years ago, the writer had just severed his connec- tion with the old Thirteenth Regiment; he was still to wear the blue, in the same service but in other fields. And now again, I must leave you. Other hands, able and patriotic, will guide your historian's pen to completion, and again I must say, comrades, God speed you, and good-bye.
ASA B. MUNN.
SERGT. AMOS H. MILLER.
Historian, Company B.
ASA B. MUNN, IS91 Historian, Company I.
CHAPTER XXIV.
SHERMAN TO GRANT .- "IF YOU ARE IN VICKSBURG, GLORY, HALLELUJAH !"- KNAPSACKS SLUNG FOR NEW FIELDS. -THE BEST 4TH OF JULY SINCE 1776.
N JULY 4th, 10 a. m. the white flag went up on the fortifications of Vicksburg, Missis- sippi.
General Order No. 52, emanating from General W. T. Sherman, awaited this event and spoke then as follows :
The moment Vicksburg falls and the investing army is. relieved from the trenches, by General Grant's orders a move- ment will be made inland, preliminary to which the following orders are made :
I. Thirteenth Army corps will move direct to the Big Black river, in the direction of Edward's Depot.
2. The Fifteenth Army corps, General Sherman's will move by the Bridgeport road to Tiffin, and take the road by Fox's to Messenger's ford,. an advance guard to occupy the hills, the main body along the Big Black and Fox's Creek.
3. The Ninth Army corps, General Parke's, move to the vicinity of Bird's-song Ferry with his advance guard across his main force on Bear Creek.
4. The Cavalry force, Colonel Bussey, will cross Black River near the mouth of Bear Creek.
5. All commanders will see that their troops are well provided with five days' rations in their haversacks and regimental wagons; cartridges at the rate of one hundred and fifty per man. Great atten- tion must be paid to providing water.
All baggage, tents and incumbrances of any kind must not be taken along.
By order of MAJ .- GEN. W. T. SHERMAN.
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A number of things are suggested by this order.
First. It was confidently expected that we had about reached a triumphant conclusion of General Grant's effort to secure Vicksburg and open the Mississippi river. And so we had.
Second. We still had business on hand and our officers were disposed to attend to it without delay and spend no time in fire-cracker demonstrations over our victory. To some per- sons it will hardly seem credible, that when the white flag went up over the fortifications, that gave us thirty thousand prisoners and hundreds of cannon and an open river, that there were no noisy demonstrations of joy. The fact was, that this feature of it had been about all worked off earlier, and that we regarded it as a foregone conclusion for weeks, that Vicks- burg was ours, and we had death enough to sober us, and there was no disposition to unduly exult over a fallen enemy, that had fought bravely ; so the event passed off quietly for so great an event in the war. The noisy part we left to our friends in the North, who did not have the satisfaction of see- ing it. It is true that when the navy came down the river in array, guns were fired. This feature of it, on the part of the navy, was most imposing and delightful in appearance. The long line of boats headed by Admiral D. D. Porter's flagship, gorgeously set off by the Stars and Stripes, and firing as they came in line down the river and swinging around to the landing at the wharf of the captured city, was one not easily forgotten, and much enjoyed by all but the fallen enemy.
Another thing suggested by the order and not fully appre- ciated by those not familiar with army life, is that baggage must be kept at a minimum in a sharp campaign, and further, that the details for the necessities of the army must be looked after with great care. On the march that was to follow, a lack of sufficient and good water was the greatest cause of suffering.
General Grant said to General Sherman as soon as they had surrendered, "General Sherman : Ord will get off a divis- ion of his troops to-night and the balance to-morrow. Steele
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will get off before daylight to-morrow. I have just returned from a visit to the Admiral at the landing. The number of prisoners as given by the rebels, is twenty-seven thousand. There is much more artillery than we thought. The field pieces are given at one hundred and twenty-eight and about one hundred siege guns." The Thirteenth Regiment was in Steele's division and so we were to be off before daylight.
Major-General McPherson was put in charge of paroling the prisoners.
Major-General Logan was given command of the city and the necessary garrison duty. By special request of General McPherson, because of special hard service and exposure dur- ing the siege, the Forty-fifth Illinois Infantry (known as the Lead-mine regiment), was permitted to take the advance in going into the city and to take possession of the Court House.
While certain troops were designated to take charge of the works and the prisoners, many others took the liberty during the day to leave their camps and go into the rebel fortifica -. tions and camps, to see what and whom they had been fighting. The care and anxiety that they had been compelled to keep up so many weeks had passed away, and the men felt when standing on the works, as a man would toward a dead lion.
1 COCKED THE CANNON.
In the midst of this scene one of our camps was quite astonished to find several shells come booming from the rebel guns. They began to shelter themselves, not knowing but that the old sore had for some reason broken out again. The explanation was that some of our bad boys on going to the rebel works, had found the guns of a battery loaded and "just for fun " had cocked them, put on a cap and snapped it and then of course ran away. But had they killed some of our brave soldiers, it would have been too serious even for the Fourth of July at Vicksburg.
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A MEAN MAN.
While going through one of the camps I saw a group of soldiers of each kind together. An argument of some kind was going on. A talkative soldier of a rebel regiment, but of Northern birth, was making some strong declarations about the Northern army. A Southern man with a drawling tone said to our soldiers, "Don't pay any attention to what he says, for he is the meanest fellow you ever surrounded."
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Even if we were modest in the amount of noise made on this great occasion we would of course expect some exuber- ance of feeling and something of the manner of the Fourth of July in addresses. Let me present to you something from some of our Generals.
General McPherson himself wrote to his men as follows :
VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, July 4, '63.
Soldiers of the SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS.
Again I rejoice with you over your brilliant achievements, and your unparalleled success. Hardly had your flag floated to the breeze on the Capitol of Mississippi, when springing to the call of our noble com- mander you rushed upon the defiant columns of the enemy at Champion Hills and drove him in confusion and dismay across the Big Black river to his defenses within the stronghold of Vicksburg. Your assaulting columns that moved upon his works on the 22d of May, and stood for hours under a withering fire, you were unsuccessful only because no men could take the position by storm. With tireless energy and sleepless vigilance by night and by day, with battery and rifle-pit, with trench and mine you made your sure approaches, until overcome by fatigue and driven by despair to oppose your progress, the whole garrison of thirty thousand men with all their munitions of war, have, on the anniversary of our National Independence surrendered to the invincible troops of the Army of the Tennessee. The achievements of this hour will give a new meaning to this memorable day, and Vicksburg will brighten the glow in the patriot's heart which kindles at the mention of Bunker Hill and Yorktown. This is indeed an auspicious day for you. The God of battles is with you. The dawn of a corresponding peace is breaking upon you ; the plaudits of an admiring world will hail you wherever you go, and it will be an ennobling heritage surpassing all riches, to have been of the Seventeenth Army Corps on the Fourth of July, 1863.
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General Sherman was in command of the army that faced toward General Johnson so that he was not permitted to look upon the goings on at Vicksburg on the Fourth, but he knows of the event, and writes from his headquarters on the Big Black both to General Grant and Admiral Porter. To Gen- eral Grant he says :
Major-General GRANT.
MY DEAR GENERAL : The telegraph has just announced to me that Vickburg is ours. I can hardly contain myself. Surely I will not punish my soldiers for being "unco' happy " this most glorious anniversary of the birth of a nation whose sire was Washington. Did I not know the honesty and purity of your nature, I would be tempted to follow the example of my standard enemy of the press in indulging in wanton flattery, but as a man and soldier and ardent friend of yours, I warn you against the incense of flattery that will fill our land from one extreme to another. Be natural, be yourself and this glittering flattery will be as the passing breeze of the sea on a summer day ..
To me the delicacy with which you have treated a brave and de- luded enemy is more eloquent than the most gorgeous victory.
This is a day of jubilee, a day of rejoicing to the faithful and I would like to hear the shout of my old and patient troops ; but I must be a " Grad-Grind." I must face facts and knocks and must go on. Already are my orders out to give one big huzza ! and sling the knapsack for new fields.
I did want rest, but I ask nothing until the Mississippi is ours ; and Sunday and the Fourth of July are nothing to Americans, until the river of our greatness is as free as God made it. Though in the background, as I ever wish to be in civil war, I feel I have labored some to secure this glorious result. Your friend,
W. T. SHERMAN.
This letter, written so spontaneously, brings out in beautiful manner the brotherly feeling between Grant and Sherman, and also the warmth with which Sherman's heart entered into the cause and country he served.
To Admiral Porter, Sherman says :
DEAR ADMIRAL : No event in my life would have given me more personal pride or pleasure than to have met you to-day on the wharf at Vicksburg-a Fourth of July so eloquent in events as to need no words or stimulants to elevate its importance.
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I can appreciate the intense satisfaction you must feel in lying be- fore the very monster which has defied us. In so magnificent a result I stop not to ask who did it. It is done and the day of our Nation's birth is consecrated anew in a victory won by the united navy and army of the country.
Thus I muse as I sit in my solitary camp out in the woods, far from the point for which we have jointly striven so long and so well; and though personal curiosity would tempt me to go and see the frowning batteries and sunken pits, that have defied us so long and sent to their silent grave so many of our early comrades in the enterprise, I feel that other tasks lie before me and time must not be lost.
Without casting anchor, and despite the heat and dust and drought, I must again strike into the bowels of the land to make the conquest of Vicksburg fulfill all the conditions it should in the progress of the war. Whether success attends my efforts or not, I know Admiral Porter will ever accord to me the exhibition of a pure and unselfish zeal in the service of our country.
Congratulating you and the officers and men of your command, I remain as ever,
Your friend and servant, W. T. SHERMAN.
As we consult the records we find many orders and letters attributed to General Grant on the Fourth of July, but no con- gratulations. He had no time for that just then, but it seemed that by his quiet touch that his whole vast army moved in some direction for some purpose. Some to meet Johnson's army ; some to see after the spoils and some to fly to the relief of General Banks at Port Hudson.
A BATTLE AT HELENA, ARKANSAS.
Before starting on our march after Gen. Joseph Johnson and the repossession of the State Capital, it will be of interest to refer to what was going on at this same date at Helena, Arkansas, so long our camp-ground just previous to entering upon the Vicksburg campaign.
General B. M. Prentiss was in command of the place, with about four thousand men, fortified, and a gun-boat in the river as a support.
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Many plans had been projected for the relief of Vicksburg on the part of the rebel forces west of the river. It finally culminated in an attack upon Helena on the morning of the Fourth of July.
Lieutenant-General Holmes was in command, and on July 3d issued the following order which will somewhat explain the situation, and the purpose of the rebels. .
July 3rd, 1863.
I .- The attack on Helena will be made to-morrow at daylight.
2. Major-General Price will assault and take the graveyard hill at daylight.
3 .- Brigadier General Walker with his cavalry brigade will proceed to the Sterling road and when the hill is captured will enter the town and act against the enemy.
4 .- Brigadier-General Fahan will assault and take the batteries on Hindman's Hill at daylight.
5 .- Brigadier-General Marmaduke will assault and take Reiter's Hill at daylight.
This plan was attempted, but not entirely carried out. General Price did succeed in getting possession of the fort and hill where the Thirteenth had been encamped the previous summer and fall, but was not able to hold it in the face of the fire of the gun-boat. The other two attacks failed and so the whole battle failed with severe loss in killed, wounded and prisoners to the rebels, and with but slight loss to the Union forces.
The battle was ill-advised. General Price was strongly against it but General Holmes proposed to fight, ready to take the glory or blame as the outcome might be.
General Hurlbut reports concerning it as follows :
Major-General HALLECK.
GENERAL: General Prentiss was attacked by a force of rebels under Holmes and Price at Helena on yesterday. He estimated the force at fifteen thousand. I think nine thousand will cover their strength. Prentiss sustained their attack from daylight to 3 p. m., when the rebels were repulsed at all points, leaving twelve hundred
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prisoners. Their loss from killed and wounded is from five to six hun- dred. Prentiss lost about sixty. He has already sent me eight hundred and sixty prisoners, whom I have sent to Alton to-day.
This was quite a change from the quiet days spent on this same ground by our regiment, with nothing more than a raid on some sutler's goods or rough joke on some of the officers, or a mournful march along the ridge to bury some fallen com- rade. We hardly thought then that this same ground would be strewn thick with dead and wounded from battle.
A VICKSBURG NEWSPAPER.
But to return to our preparation for our march from Vicks- burg after Gen. Joseph Johnson's army. And yet before doing so it may be interesting to look over the Daily Citizen, J. M. Swords, proprietor, printed in Vicksburg.
The type was set up for July 2d, 1863, but was not struck off until the 4th after we had possession. Then some of our boys ran off the edition on wall-paper, as that was the only material the proprietor had in stock.
It is interesting to see ourselves as others see us, and hear them talk about us. In this copy we have some of this, and some of the news inside of the besieged city.
We glean as follows:
KILLED ON MONDAY.
Mrs. Cisco was instantly killed on Monday on the Jackson Road. Mrs. Cisco's husband is now in Virginia a member of Moody's artillery, and the death of such a loving and affectionate wife, will be a loss to him irreparable.
The deaths among women and children were frequent dur- ing the siege and seemed to add new horrors to war, that people in Northern homes knew nothing about.
We were indebted to Major Gillespie for a steak of Confederate beef, alias meat. We have tried it and can assure our friends that if it is rendered necessary, they need have no scruples about eating the meat.
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It is sweet, savory and tender, and so long as we have a mule left we are satisfied. Our soldiers will be content to subsist on it.
Grant's forces did a little firing on Tuesday afternoon, but the bal- ance of that day was comparatively quiet. Yesterday morning they were very still and continued so until early in the afternoon when they sprung a mine on the left of our center and opened fire along the line for some distance. We have not been able to ascertain anything defi- nitely as to the extent of our loss, but as our officers were on the lookout for the move of the enemy, the expectations of the Yankees were not realized by a great deal.
Among the many deeds spoken of with pride by our citizens, we can not refrain from mentioning the case of Mr. F. Kiser. The gentle- man, having more corn than he thought was necessary during the siege of this place, portioned off what would do him for the brief interval that must ensue, before the arrival of the succor for the garrison, and since that time has relieved the wants of many families, free of charge. May he live and prosper and his name be handed down to posterity, when the siege of Vicksburgh is written, as one in whose breast the milk of human kindness had not dried up.
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