USA > Indiana > Greene County > Vicksburg > Indiana. Vicksburg National Military Park Commission. Indiana at Vicksburg > Part 2
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Up to that time General Grant had contemplated the probabil- ity of uniting the army of General Banks with his army. He then decided not to await the arrival of Banks' army, and the march to the rear of Vicksburg, by way of Raymond and Jackson, was begun. The next engagement was at Raymond, May 12. The Union army, under command of Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson, was composed of the Third and Seventh divisions, Seventeenth Corps. The Con- federate army, under command of Brig. Gen. John Gregg, was composed of Gregg's brigade and a squadron of Wirt Adams' cav- alry. The battle was opened by the advance of the Third Division, Maj. Gen. John A. Logan commanding-Smith's brigade on the right, Dennis' on the left, and Stevenson's at first in reserve, but later on the extreme right. The Seventh Division, Brig. Gen. Mar- cellus M. Crocker commanding, formed line in support and as re- serve. The Confederate line was held for more than two hours, when the brigade fell back, mostly in good order, through and beyond the town of Raymond. Six mounted companies of the Third Kentucky (Confederate) Infantry arrived at the close of the battle and assisted in covering the retreat. Casualties-Union : Killed 66, wounded 339, missing 37, total 442, seven officers killed. Confederate : Killed 73, wounded 251, missing 190, total 514, nine officers killed or mortally wounded. The same day the left of Grant's army, under McClernand, skirmished at Fourteen-Mile Creek with the cavalry and mounted infantry of Pemberton's army, supported by Bowen's division and two brigades of Loring's di- vision.
After the engagement at Raymond, Sherman's and McPherson's corps marched toward Jackson, near which city a brief engagement occurred May 14. The Union army, under command of Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, was composed of Steele's and Tuttle's divisions, Fif- teenth Corps, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman commanding; and
31
HISTORIC VICKSBURG.
Logan's and Crocker's divisions, Seventeenth Corps, Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson commanding. General Grant was with Gen- eral Sherman. The Confederate army, under command of Brig. Gen. John Gregg, was composed of Gregg's, Gist's and Walker's brigades. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was in the city. Gist's brigade was posted on the Clinton road, about three miles west of Jackson ; Walker's supported Gist's, and Gregg's was on the right of Gist's. The Third Kentucky Mounted Infantry, a battalion of sharpshooters and Martin's battery of Walker's brigade were posted on the Raymond road, about two miles from the city. The divisions of the Fifteenth Corps marched toward Jackson on the Raymond road; Tuttle's formed line of battle on both sides of that road and drove the Confederate forces into the intrenchment; Steele's formed line on both sides of the railroad; the two divisions advanced and occupied the intrenchments on their respective fronts. The divisions of the Seventeenth Corps marched on the Clinton road; Crocker's formed line of battle, with Logan's in reserve, drove the Confederate line from its position after a sharp fight, ad- vanced and occupied the intrenchment in its front. Casualties- Union : Killed 42, wounded 251. missing 7, total 300, one officer killed. Confederate: Killed 17. wounded 64, missing 118, total 199, one officer killed. The Confederate army retreated northward in the direction of Canton, and General Grant had placed his army between those of General Pemberton and General Johnston.
Sherman's corps remained at Jackson one day and was ordered to destroy the military supplies of all kinds in that city and as much as possible of the railroads centering there; MePherson's corps marched west from Jackson the morning of May 15, and the bloodiest battle of the campaign was fought the next day at Cham- pion's Hill. The Union army, under command of Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, was composed of the Thirteenth Corps, Blair's division of the Fifteenth Corps and Logan's and Crocker's divisions of the Seventeenth Corps. The Confederate army. under command of Lieut. Gen. John C. Pemberton, was composed of Stevenson's, Bowen's and Loring's divisions and Wirt Adams' cavalry. Reyn- olds' brigade of Stevenson's division and two Union regiments were detailed as train guards. Logan's and Hovey's divisions were on the right, Osterhaus' and Carr's in the center, A. J. Smith's and Blair's on the left of the Union line. Loring's division held the right, Bowen's the center, and Stevenson's the left of the Confeder- ate line. The battle was opened about 10:30 or 11:00 a. m., by the advance of Logan's and Hovey's divisions in line of battle ; Hovey's
32
INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
attack broke the Confederate line at the angle, captured the guns at that point and at the junction of the Clinton and middle Raymond roads, and forced Cumming's brigade and the right of Lee's to form new lines-the former on the middle Raymond road, the latter on a ridge between that road and its first position. Bowen's division reinforced the Confederate left, formed line of battle under fire about 1:30 p. m., drove back Hovey's division, recovered the guns at the junction of the two roads and most of the ground lost earlier in the day. Boomer's brigade of Crocker's division reinforced Hovey's and became engaged about 2:00 p. m .; two regiments of Holmes' brigade of Crocker's division became engaged a little later and Bowen's advance was checked. About the same time the right and center of Logan's division reached the middle Raymond road and captured the guns on the left of the Confederate line. About 3:30 p. m., the Union batteries concentrated on a commanding ridge, opened a heavy fire. the Union line advanced and the Confed- erate army was driven from the field. Stevenson's and Bowen's divisions crossed Baker's creek and fell baek toward Vicksburg; Loring's division abandoned its artillery and marched southeast- ward to Crystal Springs. Casualties-Union : Killed 410. wounded 1,844, missing 187, total 2,441, thirty-eight officers killed or mortally wounded. Confederate: Killed 380, wounded 1,018, missing 2,453, total 3,851, Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tilghman and thirty- two other officers killed.
Part of the Confederate army was ordered by General Pember- ton to make a stand on the east side of Big Black River and an engagement occurred there May 17. The Union army, under com- mand of Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, was composed of Osterhaus'. Smith's and Carr's divisions of the Thirteenth Corps, Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand commanding. The Confederate army, under command of Brig. Gen. John S. Brown, was composed of Cock- rell's and Green's brigades of Bowen's division, Vaughn's brigade of Smith's division and the Fourth Mississippi of Baldwin's brigade. Smith's division. Carr's division was on the right, Osterhaus' in the center, and Smith's on the left of the Union line. The Confederate line was formed in an intrenchment on the east side of Big Black River and across a peninsula formed by a bend in that river; Cockrell's brigade held the right, Vanghn's and the Fourth Mississippi the center, and Green's the left of the line. After an artillery engagement of about two hours, Lawler's brigade on the right of Carr's division attacked in line of battle with fixed bayonets, the Union line advanced along its entire front, and the
33
HISTORIC VICKSBURG.
Confederate army fell back from the intrenehment in disorder and crossed the river. Casualties-Union : Killed 39, wounded 237. missing 3, total 279, seven officers killed or mortally wounded. Con- federate : Killed 3, wounded 9, missing 539, total 551 (exclusive of Vaughn's brigade and Fourth Mississippi of Baldwin's brigade not reported), one officer killed.
The railroad bridge (covered with plank) and the boat bridge, on which the Confederates crossed the river, were both burned. The morning of May 18 the Union army began crossing on three bridges that had been laid during the afternoon and night of the 17th. Sherman's corps crossed at Bridgeport, on the right, and marched toward Vicksburg on the Benton-Jackson road; McPher- son's corps, in the center, crossed on a floating bridge borne up by cotton bales, and marched on the same road; McClernand's corps crossed near the railroad bridge, marched on the Jackson road to Mt. Alban, took a cross-road at that point, turned to the left to in- terseet the Baldwin's Ferry road and marched toward Vicksburg on that road. General Grant believed that his army could storm the Confederate works around the city, and ordered an assault at 2:00 p. m. of May 19. The Union army under his command was composed of three divisions of the Thirteenth Corps, the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps. The Confederate army, under command of Lieut. Gen. John C. Pemberton, was composed of Stevenson's, Forney's. Smith's and Bowen's divisions, and Waul's Texas Le- gion. The Fifteenth Corps was on the right, the Seventeenth in the center and the Thirteenth on the left of the Union line. Ste- venson's division held the right, Forney's the center and Smith's the left of the Confederate line. Bowen's division and Waul's Texas Legion were in reserve, but Cockrell's brigade of Bowen's division was engaged. The Union army advanced at 2:00 p. m .; only a reconnaissance in force was accomplished at most points along its line, but Blair's division of the Fifteenth Corps assaulted the Stockade Redan on the Graveyard road and carried the colors of some of its regiments close to both faces of that work and to the curtain immediately west of it. Casualties-Union : Killed 157, wounded 777, missing 8, total 942, fifteen officers killed or mortally wounded. Confederate: Not fully reported.
Neither General Grant, nor the rank and file of his army, were yet convinced that Vicksburg must be reduced by the slow and laborious operations of a siege. The Twentieth and Twenty-first were employed in securing positions for the infantry and in placing batteries on commanding points. At 10:00 o'clock in the forenoon [3]
34
INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
of the 22d a second assault was made. The two armies were in position on their respective lines as on May 19, except that Waul's Texas Legion had been assigned a position in the rear of the left of Lee's brigade on the left of Stevenson's division. After a heavy cannonade by every gun in position on the Union line, assaults were made at 10:00 a. m. by the Fifteenth Corps at the Stockade Redan on the Graveyard road; by the Seventeenth on the right and left of the Jackson road, and by the Thirteenth at the lunette on the Baldwin's Ferry road, the railroad redoubt and the curtain be- tween that redoubt and Fort Garrott; Hall's brigade of MeArthur's division, Seventeenth Corps, advanced close to the Confederate line on the Warrenton road, but did not assault; the colors of the lead- ing regiments were carried close to the Confederate works at every point assaulted, a brigade headquarters flag was placed on the para- pet of the Stockade Redan, flags were placed on the parapet of the railroad redoubt and that work was temporarily occupied, but no permanent lodgement was anywhere made. Assaults were made in the afternoon by the Seventeenth Corps at curtain between the railroad redoubt and the lunette on the Baldwin's Ferry road, at that lunette, at the Jackson road, and at the curtain north of Glass' Bayou; and by the Fifteenth Corps at the curtain south of the Graveyard road, at the Stockade Redan on that road, and at a point about one-third of a mile west of that redan; the colors of the lead- ing regiments were again carried close to the Confederate line, an- other flag was placed on the parapet of the Stockade Redan, but the effort to carry the Confederate line of defense by assault was un- successful at every point. Casualties-Union : Killed 502, wounded 2,550, missing 147, total 3,199, sixty-eight officers killed or mortally wounded. Confederate: Not fully reported.
As early as May 5. General Grant had ordered Lauman's di- vision of the Sixteenth Corps to the vicinity of Vicksburg; it took position on the left of the Thirteenth on May 25, and on June 15 Herron's division took position on the extreme left, extending its line to the river below Vicksburg, and thereby completing its in- vestment. Two divisions of the Ninth Corps, two other divisions of the Sixteenth Corps and seven brigades detached from the three corps that began the campaign were deployed on an exterior line, under command of General Sherman after June 22, extending from Haynes' Bluff, on the left, to Big Black River bridge, on the right, to guard against attack by Johnston's army. This army was assembled after the engagement at Jackson, May 14, in the hope that it would be able to raise the siege of Vicksburg, either by de-
35919
Confederate Railroad Redoubt.
37
HISTORIC VICKSBURG.
feating General Grant's army, or by assisting the Confederate army of Vicksburg to break through the investment lines. Siege operations were carried on by the part of the Union army engaged on that line, and were successfully opposed by the Confederate army, from May 23 to July 3, when a proposal for capitulation was sent by General Pemberton to General Grant. They met for con- ference that afternoon between the lines and near the Jackson road. The terms of capitulation were agreed upon by correspondence after the meeting, and the Confederate army of Vicksburg was surrendered to General Grant on July 4, and a detachment of his army occupied the city. Casualties from March 29 to July 4, in- clusive-Union : Killed 1,581, wounded 7,554, missing 1,007. total 10,142. Confederate : Killed 1,413, wounded 3.878, missing 3,800. total. 9.091 ; 29,491 officers and men were surrendered at the end of the defense.
At the beginning of siege operations, May 23, about 162 guns were on the investment line, most of them in position in hastily constructed batteries. These were enlarged and strengthened and additional guns successively mounted in new batteries at advan- tageous positions. Embrasures of batteries close to the Confeder- ate line closed against rifle balls by plank shutters or with bags of packed cotton. The first parallel made almost continuous from the right on the river to the left of the Thirteenth Army Corps, and. as the approaches were carried forward, second and third parallels opened. Loopholes for sharpshooters, made either with sandbags or in a timber on the parapet; sixteen principal approaches begun and eleven carried elose to the Confederate line. They were loop- holed for sharpshooters wherever opportunity for fire was afforded; nine galleries for mines started and two mines fired, both at the head of Logan's approach. At the end of the siege, July 4, about 220 guns, including all from the navy, were on the investment line, largely in position; eighty-nine batteries constructed, but about twenty abandoned and their guns moved to the exterior line or to advanced positions; aggregate length of Union trenches, twelve miles.
The Confederate line of defense, eight miles long, mounted about 130 guns in sixty-seven batteries. Works and connecting curtains loopholed for sharpshooters. Damage done them by the Union batteries repaired at night. A number of guns disabled by the fire of the Union batteries and, in most cases, new guns could not be mounted in their places. Countermines against Union approaches and mines prepared at nine places and four fired. Retrenchments
38
INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
made in rear of some works, but not used, as the line of defense was not anywhere broken. The defense largely confined to sharpshoot- ing and maintained for forty-seven days without relief for the offi- cers and men in the trenches, part of the time without sufficient rations.
Reported casualties, May 23-July 4-Union: Killed 94, wounded 425, missing 119, total 638, nineteen officers killed or mor- tally wounded. Confederate: Not separately reported. Reported casualties, May 18-July 4-Union : Killed 766, wounded 3,793, missing 276, total 4,835, 107 officers killed or mortally wounded. Confederate (river batteries not included) : Killed 873, wounded 2,141, missing 158, total 3,172, 93 officers killed or mortally wounded.
The Vicksburg campaign would not have been planned and could not have been conducted on the lines on which it was suceess- fully made without the assistance of the navy. About twenty-six gunboats and light-drafts of the Mississippi Squadron, with nec- essary attendants, Acting Rear Admiral David D. Porter com- manding, and during part of the time the Mississippi Marine Brigade, Brig. Gen. Alfred W. Ellett commanding, co-operated with the army in the operations of the campaign and siege.
The night of April 16, 1863, eight gunboats, including the ram "General Price," and three transports passed the Confederate bat- teries on the river line at Vicksburg and at Warrenton, one trans- port sunk. Six days later five additional transports passed down without material damage, and one was sunk by the fire of the Con- federate batteries. The gunboats below Vicksburg bombarded the Confederate batteries at Grand Gulf, April 29, without effectively silencing them. They and the seven transports ran past these bat- teries that night, and, during the two following days, carried six divisions of the army across the river, landing them at Bruinsburg on the Mississippi side. The other divisions of General Grant's army were carried across the river at later dates.
At the beginning of the investment the gunboats below the city attacked the lower Confederate batteries, May 19, May 20, May 21, May 22 and May 27. On the last named day the gunboat "Cinein- nati" attacked the upper batteries from above the city and was dis- abled and sunk. During the siege detachments from the squadron eo-operated by making the investment on the river side as complete as possible and by shelling the Confederate batteries and intreneh- ments; served seven mortars on mortar boats anchored behind the peninsula and opposite the city, and, during the latter part of the
39
HISTORIC VICKSBURG.
siege, three heavy guns on scows behind the peninsula and at the left-north-of the mortar boats; made expeditions up the Yazoo river and its tributaries and co-operated in the repulse of the Con- federate attacks at Young's Point, Milliken's Bend and Goodrich's Landing. Thirteen heavy guns from the squadron mounted on the investment line in eight batteries.
Detachments from the Marine Brigade were engaged at Rich- mond, Louisiana, June 15, casualties, wounded 3; co-operated in the repulse of the Confederate attack at Goodrich's Landing, casual- ties, 1 officer killed ; and served three guns on the peninsula oppo- site the city during the latter part of the siege. Reported casual- ties in the squadron-including the infantry regiments detailed for service on gunboats-in the campaign and siege: Killed 23, drowned 14, wounded 102, missing 1, total 140, 1 officer killed.
The river batteries, under command of Col. Edward Higgins. C. S. Artillery, were served by six companies of Tennessee Heavy Artillery on the right, four companies of the Eighth Louisiana Heavy Artillery Battalion in the center and eight companies of the First Louisiana Heavy Artillery on the left. Two companies of the Twenty-second Louisiana were attached to the left and the Vaiden (Mississippi) Battery to the center of the command. It was charged with the duty of opposing the passage of Union gun- boats and transports and was in action the night of April 16. when eight gunboats and three transports passed without reported casualties, one transport sunk : the night of April 22, when six transports passed, casualties. 1 killed, 2 wounded, total 3, one trans- port sunk; and the night of May 3, when a tug and two loaded barges attempted to pass, but were sunk, without reported cas- ualties.
At the beginning of the investment, May 18, about thirty-eight heavy guns were in position on the river line and thirteen light pieces posted on the city front. All the light and six of the heavy guns were successively moved to the line of defense with the de- tachments serving them, but one of the heavy guns was moved back to the river line.
During the investment, May 18-July 4, the river batteries were opposed to the gunboats below the city, the mortars behind the peninsula, and the guns on the peninsula and on seows, and were engaged May 19, May 20, May 21, May 22 and May 27, with the gunboats below the city. On the last-named day the gunboat "Cin- cinnati" attacked the upper batteries and was disabled and sunk on the Mississippi side of the great bend in the river above the city.
40
INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
after an action of thirty minutes. Reported casualties in command during the investment: Killed and wounded, about 30.
GENERAL SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES, MARCH 29-JULY 4. UNION.
Killed. Wounded.
Missing.
Total.
Dunbar's Plantation, Louisiana, April
15 ...
2
. .
2
Port Gibson, May 1 ...
131
719
25
S75
South Fork Bayou Pierre, May 2
1
6
...
7
Pinhook, Louisiana, May 10.
2
S
3
13
Raymond, May 12.
66
339
37
442
Fourteen-Mile Creek, May 12-13.
6
10
16
Jackson. May 14.
42
251
7
300
Champion's Hill, May 16 ..
410
1,844
187
2,441
Big Black River Bridge, May 17.
39
237
3
27!
Skirmishes about Vicksburg, May 18, 20, 21
13
41
2
56
Assault on Confederate Line of Defense, May . 19
157
777
8
942
Assault on Confederate Line of Defense, May 22
502
2,550
147
3,199
Mechanicsburg, June 4.
1
5
6
Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, June 7
101
280
265
646
Bayou Baxter, Louisiana, June 9.
1
1
Birdsong Ferry, June 12
1
1
Richmond. Louisiana, June 15.
1
S
9
Hill's Plantation, June 22
S
16
23
47
Ellisville, June 25.
37
37
Near Lake Providence, Louisiana, June 29.
1
3
144
148
On Peninsula opposite Vicksburg. June 29 ...
1
1
Edwards Station, July 1.
3
...
3
On Gunboats. in Detached Infantry Regiments
6
26
32
Siege Operations, May 23-July 4
94
425
119
638
Total
1.581
7.554
1.007
10,142
CONFEDERATE.
Killed.
Wounded
Missing.
Total.
Action of River Batteries. April 22
1
2
3
Grand Gult, April 29.
3
18
21
Ilayne's Bluff (Snyder's Mill). April 30
3
3
Port Gibson, May
56
32S
341
725
Raymond, May 12.
73
251
190
514
Jackson, May 14 ..
17
64
118
199
Champion's Hill, May 16.
380
1,018
2,453
3.851
Big Black River Bridge, May 17.
3
539
551
Hill's Plantation. June 22
5
16
1
22
Defense Operations. May 18-July 4
875
2.169
158
3,202
Total
1.413
3.878
3,800
9.091
. .
. . .
.
.. .
.
. .
. .
..
.
...
1
North Fork Bayou Pierre, May 3.
1
Position Tablet Inscriptions. VICKSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK.
UNION POSITION TABLET.
Ewing's Brigade; Assault, May 19, 1863.
This brigade, with skirmishers in advance, was formed behind the crest of the ridge immediately north of Mint Spring Bayou, in order, from right to left, as follows: 37th Ohio, 4th West Vir- ginia, 47th Ohio, in line, and the 30th Ohio in reserve. The brigade connected closely with Steele's division on its right, and with Giles A. Smith's brigade on its left. This brigade moved promptly at the appointed time, 2:00 p. m. Its left two regiments advanced close to the Confederate intrenehment, where their colors remained until after dark. The right regiment was unable to cross the ravine in its front, on account of obstacles, but covered the left in its advanced position by a heavy fire. When the line moved forward the reserve regiment advanced to the crest of the hill and began firing. After dark the brigade retired, under orders, to the position where it formed for the assault. This tablet marks the farthest advance of the 4th West Virginia. Casualties: 30th Ohio, wounded 9; 37th Ohio, killed 14, wounded 35, total 49; Lieuts. Gustav A. Wintzer and Sebaldus Hassler killed; 47th Ohio, killed 13, wounded 40, missing 6, total 59, Lieut. Edward N. Bernard killed, Lieut. Jonathan Castro mortally wounded; 4th West Vir- ginia, killed 27, wounded 110, total 137, Maj. Arza M. Goodspeed killed, Lieut. Finley D. Ong mortally wounded; aggregate, killed 54, wounded 194, missing 6, total 254.
UNION POSITION TABLET.
Giles A. Smith's Brigade; Assault May 19, 1863.
This brigade, with skirmishers in advance, was formed behind the erest of the ridge, about 320 vards in front of the north face of the Confederate Stoekade Redan on the Graveyard road, in the following order, from right to left: 6th Missouri, 113th Illinois (detachment). 116th Illinois, 1st Battalion, 13th U. S. Infantry, in line, and the 8th Missouri in reserve. . The ground in front was much obstructed by a growth of brush and cane and by felled trees.
(41)
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INDIANA AT VICKSBURG.
The brigade moved promptly at the appointed time, 2:00 p. m., but its lines were soon broken up by the obstacles encountered, and by the rugged character of the ground. The 8th Missouri, under or- ders, halted on the crest of the first ridge in front of the one be- hind which the line was formed, and hegan firing; the battalion of the 13th U. S. Infantry and the 116th Illinois pushed close to the Stockade Redan and to the stockade west of that work, some men of the battalion getting into the ditch on the north face of the
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