USA > Indiana > Greene County > Vicksburg > Indiana. Vicksburg National Military Park Commission. Indiana at Vicksburg > Part 12
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For the brilliant achievements recounted in this report, the Army of the Tennessee, their comrades of the 9th Army Corps, Herron's Division of the Army of the Frontier, and the navy co- operating with them, deserve the highest honors their country can award.
I have the honor to be, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
1
U. S. GRANT, Major General U. S. Army, Commanding. Col. J. C. Kelton,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C.
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24
...
Big Black Railroad Bridge.
Wounded. Missing.
167
REPORT OF GENERAL GRANT.
(Inclosure No. 1.)
HEADQUARTERS.
VICKSBURG, MISS., July 3, 1863.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant,
Commanding United States Forces, etc.
GENERAL: I have the honor to propose to you an armistice for ---- hours, with a view to arranging terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg. lo 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 further 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 Maj. Gen. J. S. Bowen.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON, Lieutenant-General.
(Inclosure No. 2.)
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,
IN THE FIELD, NEAR VICKSBURG, MISS., July 3, 1863.
Lieut. Gen. J. C. Pemberton.
Commanding Confederate Forces, etc.
GENERAL: Your note of this date is just received, proposing an armis- tice for several hours, for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation through commissioners to be appointed, etc.
The useless effusion of blood you propose stopping by this course can be ended at any time you 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 to prisoners of war.
I do not favor the proposition of appointing commissioners to arrange terms of capitulation, because I have no terms other than those indicated above.
I am. General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT. Major-General.
tIn Pemberton's report, "several."
168
INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
(Inclosure No. 3.)
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE.
NEAR VICKSBURG, MISS., July 3, 1863.
Lieut. Gen. J. C. Pemberton,
Commanding Confederate Forces. Vicksburg, Miss. :
GENERAL: In conformity with agreement of this afternoon. I will sub- mit the following proposition for the surrender of the city of Vicksburg, public stores, etc. :
On your accepting the terms proposed, I will march in one division as a guard, and take possession at S a.m. to-morrow. As soon as rolls can be made ont, and paroles signed by officers and men, you will be allowed to march ont of our lines. the officers taking with them their side-arms and clothing. and the field. staff and cavalry officers one horse cach. 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 nec- essary cooking ntensils for preparing them. Thirty wagons also, counting two two-horse or mule teams as one. 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 soldiers as fast as they become able to travel.
The paroles for these latter must be signed, however, while officers are present authorized to sign the roll of prisoners.
I am. General. very respectfully, your obe:lient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Major-General.
--
(Inclsoure No. 4.)
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant.
HEADQUARTERS. VICKSBURG. MISS., July 3, 1863.
--- ------ --- 1 i
Commanding United States Forces, etc. :
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your com- munication of this date. proposing terms of capitulation for 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 defense of Vicksburg. I have to submit the following amendments, which, if acceded to by you. will per- fect the agreement between us.
At 10 a.m. tomorrow 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, stacking them in front of my pres- ent lines, 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, very respectfully, your obedient servant.
J. C. PEMBERTON, Lieutenant-General.
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Site of Interview between Generals Grant and Pemberton on the afternoon of July 3. 1863.
(170)
171
REPORT OF GENERAL GRANT.
(Inclosure No. 5.)
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, BEFORE VICKSBURG, Miss., July 4, 1863.
Lient. Gen. J. C. Pemberton,
Commanding Confederate Forces, Vicksburg, Miss. :
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your com- munication of July 3. The amendment proposed by you cannot be ac- ceded 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 pris- oners, will necessarily take some time.
Again, I can make no stipulations with regard to the treatment of citizens and their private property. While I do not propose to cause them any undue annoyance or loss, I cannot consent to leave myself under any restraint by stipulations. The property which officers will be allowed to take with them will be as stated in my proposition of last evening; that is, 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 arms at 10 a.m .. and then return to the inside, and there remain as prisoners until properly paroled. I will make no objection to it.
Should no notification be received of your acceptance of my terms by 9 aun., I shall regard them as having been rejected, and shall act accord- ingly. Should these terms be accepted, white flags should be displayed along your lines to prevent such of my troops as may not have been no- tified from firing upon your men.
I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Major-General.
(Inclosure No. 6.)
HEADQUARTERS, VICKSBURG, MISS., July 4, 1863.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant,
Commanding United States Forces, etc. :
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your com- munication of this day, and in reply to say that the terms proposed by you are accepted.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
J. C. PEMBERTON, Lieutenant-General.
172
INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
GENERAL SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES IN THE UNION FORCES DURING THE OPER- ATIONS AGAINST VICKSBURG, MAY 1-JULY 4, 1863.
(Compiled from nominal lists of casualties, returns, etc.)
Killed.
Wounded
Captured or Missing.
ENGAGEMENTS.
Officers.
Enlisted men.
Officers.
Enlisted men.
Officers.
Enlisted men.
Aggregate.
Battle of Port Gibson, Thompson's Hill, or Magnolia Church, May 1.
1
130
44
675
25
875
Skirmish on the South Fork of Bayou Pierre, May 2. Skirmishes on the North Fork of Bayou Pierre, at
1
1
Willow Springs, Ingraham's Heights, Jones' Cross- Roads, Forty Hills, and Hankinson's Ferry, May 3 Engagement at Raymond, May 12
7
59
17
322
2
35
442
Engagement at Jackson, May 14.
2
40
14
237
7
300
Battle of Champion's Hill or Baker's Creek, May 16.
27
383
108
1,736
4
183
2,441
Engagement at Big Black River Bridge, May 17.
3
36
16
221
3
279
Skirmishes about Vicksburg, May 18, 20, and 21.
3
40
14
180
2
239
Assault on Vicksburg, May 19
10
147
65
712
1
7
942
Assault on Vicksburg, May 22
37
465
173
2,377
1
146
3,199
Siege of Vicksburg, May 23-July 4
8
96
20
399
1
6
530
Skirmish at Liverpool Landing, Near Yazoo City May 23. . .
1
3
4
Skirmish at Mechanicsburg, May 29
4
4
Skirmish at Mechanicsburg, June 4
2
10
12
Skirmish at Birdsong Ferry, June 12
1
1
Skirmish at Birdsong Ferry, June 18.
2
2
Action at Hill's Plantation, near Bear Creek, June 22. . Skirmish at Edwards Station, July 1
10
1
8
1
27
47
Total
98
1,416
474
6,921
10
443
9,362
1
1
1
8
10
Skirmish on Fourteen-Mile Creek, May 12
6
24
30
Skirmish at Bridgeport, May 17
1
1
Skirmish at Mechanicsburg, May 24.
1
I
2
2
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The Indiana Soldier at Vicksburg.
A BRIEF NARRATIVE OF THE PART TAKEN BY INDIANA TROOPS DURING THE CAMPAIGN AND SIEGE, MARCH 29-JULY 4, 1863.
During the latter part of March, 1863, General Grant began the concentration of his forces at Milliken's Bend, and set on foot a movement to New Carthage, where he hoped to effect a passage across the Mississippi, below the Vicksburg batteries.
McPherson came down from Lake Providence and the Yazoo Pass, whither he had lately dispatched part of his corps. Sherman arrived from Steele's Bayou. Hurlbut sent forward every man who could be spared from the rear. Boats were brought from Chicago and St. Louis.
By the 29th of March the roads by way of Richmond were con- sidered sufficiently dried, as the distance was but about twenty miles, and on that day orders were issued for McClernand to move his corps without tents, blankets, or baggage of any kind.
Osterhaus took the lead with his division, sending a detachment in advance to capture Richmond, reported to be fortified by a small force, and to explore the route. The detachment was under the command of Colonel Bennett, formerly Major in the 36th, and always an officer of excellent ability and character, and consisted of the 69th Indiana, a section of artillery and a portion of the 2d Illi- nois Cavalry. Bennett started at 7 on the morning of the 31st, directed his course toward the west, and gathering up, for future necessity, all the boats he could find in the watery region through which his road led him, reached Roundaway Bayou at 2 in the after- noon. He dislodged the enemy from the further bank, took posses- sion of Richmond, and from that point turned his course southward. He was stopped by a break in the levee of Bayou Vidal, which, unit- ing with the Mississippi, encircled New Carthage, and made ap- proach undesirable, as well as impossible. The 49th soon came up. Explorations were at once instituted in search of a clue through the maze of water-courses. General Osterhaus, with Captain Gar- retson's company. made a voyage on the Opossum (a gunboat built by the 69th, and armed with two howitzers), propelling it with oars
73)
.
174
INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
through a forest to the Mississippi levee, gained a position on a plot of twenty aeres, whose elevation had preserved it from the general overflow, and awaited there the arrival of the 49th Regiment, and of the residue of the 69th. But neither these regiments nor any other attempted to follow, and the little force remained on the isolated spot five days, protecting itself, by sham artillery, which it made from the smokepipes of the Indianola, and by its two real howitzers, from a threatening gunboat on the river, and a body of rebels at Hard Times, a mile or two below.
Meantime. General Osterhaus, continuing his explorations, met General Hovey, also on a voyage of discovery, with three men, in a skiff. The two generals compared notes, and reported a practicable route round Bayon Vidal to Perkins' plantation, on the Mississippi, thirty-five miles from Milliken's Bend.
Osterhaus and Carr made roads, as far as roads were made, at the beginning of the movement. The 18th Indiana headed Carr's Division, marching in single file on the levees, with water on either side, or moving on flatboats and rafts, made with tedious delay. Hovey's division was in the rear when it started, but passed to the right of Osterhaus and Carr as the march progressed, and gained the van. It built more than two thousand feet of bridging in four days, and cut two miles of military road through an almost impassa- ble swamp, men working for hours up to their necks in water. Capt. George W. Jackson, of the 34th Indiana, with his pioneer ยท corps, was distinguished in the herculean labor.
McPherson followed MeClernand, but on account of the tedious character of the march Sherman was directed to remain at Milli- ken's Bend until further orders.
To carry the troops across the river and to protect their land- ing. eight gunboats and three transports ran the batteries. Al- though the night was dark, they were speedily discovered, and the river was made lighter than day by the glare of burning houses on both shores, while all the artillery on both bhiffs opened. Nobody was killed, and but few were wounded, though many of the boats were broken to pieces and men were picked up from pieces of float- ing wrecks.
Another night, April 26, six unprotected transports made the fiery voyage. As had been the case with the former expedition, the erews refused to venture, and their places were promptly supplied by volunteers from the army. Logan's Division, which had not yet hegun the march, rapidly manned the vessels, our 23d furnishing seventy hands. Men seldom do a nobler thing than to volunteer a
175
THE INDIANA SOLDIER AT VICKSBURG.
dangerous and untried service, in addition to known and allotted duties of the most exacting character.
The army, meantime, moved down to Hard Times Landing. making the distance traversed from Milliken's Bend seventy miles, and there awaited transportation.
General Grant now endeavored to distraet the attention of the rebels while he should effect a landing and gain a position in the rear of Vicksburg. He gave directions for an extended cavalry raid, and a demonstration in force on Haynes' Bluff. The former was performed by Illinois soldiers under the lead of Grierson, and cut from La Grange, through the center of Mississippi, to Baton Rouge. The latter was made by Sherman, with the 15th Corps and so much of the fleet as lay at the mouth of the Yazoo.
Accepting the guidance of events as they opened, without any attempt to hold to an arbitrary plan, General Grant was quite snc- cessful in effecting a landing. During five hours of the 29th of April, as large a portion of MeClernand's Corps as could be crowded on the boats waited in front of Grand Gulf, with the expectation of assaulting that strong position, when Admiral Porter should have succeeded in silencing its guns. Happily the guns were not af- fected by Porter's fire, fierce, heavy and well-directed though it was, and the army was spared a repetition of the murderous scene en- acted before Chickasaw Bluffs. The troops debarked and marched to a point below, where they re-embarked and crossed the river on transports and gunboats which had run the Grand Gulf guns unin- jured. They were landed at Bruinsburg, and as soon as landed were supplied with three days' rations in their haversacks and started toward the bluffs, three miles inland, where it was possible for the enemy to make a strong defense. Benton's Brigade pushed out in advance without waiting for rations, a detail at the river fol- lowing after several hours, each stout-hearted fellow trudging along under the broiling sun with a cracker box, a hundred pounds in weight, on his shoulders.
Benton's Brigade was in Carr's Division, and included the Indi- ana 8th, Colonel Shunk. and 18th, Colonel Washburn, and the 1st Battery, Captain Klauss.
Osterhaus' Division followed Carr's: Hovey's came next in order, and A. J. Smith's brought up the rear of MeClernand's Corps.
Hovey's Division was more largely Indianian than any other in Grant's army. In General MeGinnis' Brigade were the 11th, Colo- nel Macauley; the 24th, Colonel Spicely : 34th, Colonel Cameron,
176
INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
and 46th, Colonel Bringhurst. The 47th, Colonel MeLaughlin, was in General Slack's Brigade. Company C of the 1st Indiana Cav- alry was General Hovey's escort.
The 69th, Colonel Bennett; 49th, Colonel Kcigwin, and 54th, Colonel Mansfield, were in Osterhaus' Division.
In Burbridge's Brigade, of A. J. Smith's Division, were the 16th, 60th and 67th.
Two of McPherson's divisions followed MeClernand's Corps. His remaining division joined him several days later. The 23d, 48th and 59th Indiana were in MePherson's Corps. The 97th was also one of his regiments, but it had been left in Moscow, Tennessee.
All the regimental officers were on foot, and continued on foot during the succeeding day, in consequence of an order forbidding them to bring their horses across the river. Neither officers nor men carried more than their blankets. Many had only a rubber poncho.
After midnight, and about eight miles from Bruinsburg, the enemy began to give evidence that he was not unobservant, assail- ing the van with artillery and a light infantry fire. Klauss has- tened his battery to the front, and replied. The fire continued with something of the character of question and answer through nearly two hours, when there was an entire lull.
Noah Havens, a scout of the 18th, erept within the hostile lines, and ascertained that the enemy was withdrawing; but as the moon had set, and it was quite dark, no effort was made to follow. The troops rested on their arms, and marched again at daylight.
The march led through an exceedingly broken region, down deep ravines, up abrupt heights, and, where the country was not opened in plantations, through heavy timber, tall and strong wild cane, and other tangled underbrush. The roads, however, were hard and most delightful after the oozy soil of Louisiana ; and, in spite of the bloody days they knew were now close upon them, the soldiers were enraptured with the luxuriance and splendor of magnolias, olean- ders and wild roses.
It was the first day of May, and in the serene and cool morning twilight, promised to be the loveliest of May days. But the sun rose blazing hot, and poured his blinding rays directly in the face of the troops.
The march was toward Port Gibson, the possession of which would force the enemy to evacuate Grand Gulf. The road dividing. Osterhaus advanced on the left, and Carr, Hovey and Smith directed their movement toward the right. General Benton still led the head of Carr's column. Major Brady, of the 8th, with a company from
177
THE INDIANA SOLDIER AT VICKSBURG.
each regiment of the brigade, skirmished in front of his line. Cap- tain Klauss kept all his guns firing. Following the enemy from height to height, Benton's troops reached a deep, dark ravine, and wound and climbed through it in single file. Beyond it the rebels made a resolute stand, and Benton formed line of battle on a ridge, the 18th on his left, near a little church, Magnolia church ; the 8th on his right, and two Illinois regiments in his center. Firing grew hot, the enemy threatening. now the front and now the flank, and, with a battery directly before the 18th, sweeping the line.
Stone's Brigade was soon engaged on Benton's left. Hovey has- tened forward to his right, but restrained by instructions not to join in the battle until supported by Smith's, the hindmost division, he waited a long and anxious half hour, during which his troops lay behind the erest of the ridge. When Smith came up, Hovey pushed forward through a narrow. deep gulch chocked with vines and cane. and as soon as Slack's Brigade and the left of MeGinnis' had gained the front, Klauss having pointed cut to him the rebel battery with a line of rebel heads in its rear, he gave the order to Colonel Cam- eron, and a few moments later, to the residue of his division, to charge bayonets. The troops obeyed, charging over fences, pitching over logs, tearing through bamboo. Cameron's voice, "Come on, my brave boys !" Colonel Spicely shonting, "Come on! Come on !" the deportment of all the officers, and the sight of the breaking rebel line, animated them to the highest pitch.
Onr 46th ran over the colors of the 23d Alabama. Captain Charles, of the 18th, leaped upon a cannon and claimed it as his trophy. Amos Nagle, of the 18th, killed the color-bearer of the 15th Arkansas, and captured his colors, inscribed all over with the names of battles-"Oak Hill," "Elk Horn," "Corinth," "Hatchie Ridge." A triumphant shout reverberated among the hills.
Colonel MeLaughlin, with the 47th, held a conspicuous position on the right of Slack's Brigade, and after the charge repeatedly re- pulsed a flanking force.
At last the whole Confederate line fell back. Hovey's Division paused to take breath and to exchange congratulations. The early and swift success was a good omen.
It was impossible to pursue the rebels with rapidity, and when they were next confronted, they were strongly posted in a creek bottom, protected by trees and bushes, and commanding the ap- proach, which was over open fields and exposed slopes. A short halt for rest and water was followed by a resolute advance; and a
[12]
178
INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
terrible conflict, lasting an hour and thirty-seven minutes, by utter defeat to the enemy.
On the road to the left, General Osterhaus, with the 49th Indi- ana deployed as skirmishers, encountered pickets at 6 o'clock, and soon came in front of heavy hostile lines. The 49th charged single- handed on a battery and captured it.
As he endeavored to push on, he replaced the 49th by the 120th Ohio, and the 120th by the 69th Indiana. The last lay on a ridge,
7
A Bivouac of the Dead.
somewhat isolated, at 3 in the afternoon, and had there a spirited fight with an attacking force of double its number. During a cessation of the combat, the 69th sang "Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys." At length, reinforced by the 49th and the 120th Ohio, it routed the opposing force.
Osterhans' column, however, was too light for the force opposed to it, and though he fought well, he made little advance until rein- forced by a brigade from Logan's Division. The 23d Indiana was in Logan's advance, and engaged the enemy as soon as it appeared on the field.
-
179
THE INDIANA SOLDIER AT VICKSBURG.
The battle of Port Gibson continued through the entire day, and was exceedingly wearisome, as much on account of the maneu- vering which the tactics of the enemy necessitated, as because of the severity of the fight. Many men in the 24th were barefoot and could not walk withont difficulty. They had been supplied with shoes at Helena, but had already worn them out. Ill-fitted as it was from this circumstance to move rapidly, the regiment was hurried from Hovey to Osterhaus, and from Osterhaus back to Hovey, crashing through cane, and at one time supporting the 29th Wis- consin, under a heavy fire from a concealed force.
General Burbridge reached the ground at 7 in the morning, and forming in the rear of Hovey, constituted his reserve. He shifted ground rapidly, as weak points presented themselves, and late in the afternoon advanced to the extreme front and drove the enemy from the last hill he attempted to hold. At night, his brigade sank down exhausted, not having had a mouthful of food since the pre- vious evening.
The troops slept on their arms. In the morning they found their front clear, the rebels having retreated across Bayou Pierre.
Our loss in the battle of Port Gibson was 130 killed, 718 wounded. Of these a large proportion were Indianians. The 8th lost 32; the 11th, 25; the 23d, 25; the 24th, 23; the 18th, 98, or one- fifth of the regiment; the 69th, 71 ; the 46th, 43. The number who fell in the 34th, 47th and 49th is unknown.
The conduct of the Indiana troops in the battle of Port Gibson received high commendation. "Indiana continues to be glorified in her sons," said General Carr in his report.
Hovey's Division suffered a loss of 308. It captured 400 pris- oners and four guns. The whole number captured was 580 men, with six guns and four flags.
General Grant had 19,000 men engaged. The Confederates had not 8,000, until in the afternoon they received reinforcements from Vicksburg. Their positions, however, were exceedingly strong.
Early in the morning of the second, McClernand's troops pushed on two miles and entered Port Gibson, finding it evacuated. The enemy had retreated across Bayou Pierre, and burnt the bridge over the South fork. A heavy detail rebuilt the bridge, more than 120 feet long, tearing down houses for timber, and working with great rapidity, though waist deep in water. Meanwhile, MePher- son effected a crossing and continued the pursuit, reaching the bridge over the North fork in time to extinguish the flames and save all but the planks, which were soon relaid, pressing on to llankin-
180
INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
son's Ferry on the Big Black, fifteen miles from Port Gibson, and taking several hundred prisoners. The enemy fell baek with great reluctance through a country that afforded him every advantage.
General Grant rode in person to Grand Gulf on the third, find- ing that post also evacuated by the rebels, and the naval force in possession. Thirteen heavy guns, which it had been impossible for the enemy to withdraw, fell into his hands. He now set himself to the task of gathering up his strength for further progress. Since leaving Milliken's Bend his army had marehed by night and by day, through mud and rain and burning heat. Since leaving Bruinsburg it had been constantly engaged in battle or in skir- mishing. But it had not murmured nor straggled, it was now nearly thirty thousand strong, with the prospect of the early addi- tion of Sherman's Corps, and it had gained that for which it had been for five months ineffectually struggling, a foothold in the rear of Vicksburg. Grierson's raid had done all that was desired in distracting the attention of the enemy. Sherman's feint had ac- complished its purpose.
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