Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II, Part 106

Author: Dunbar Rowland
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : S.A. Brant
Number of Pages: 1020

USA > Mississippi > Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II > Part 106

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making about 4 cents on the dollar of valuation for taxation. Extravagant aid had been given to railroad companies and munici- pal improvements. "Among all the local officers," said Senator Furlong, a Republican, "ignorance and incapacity, defalcation and embezzlement, forgery and the larceny of both money and the public records, had got to be the general rule. We know that the board of supervisors arbitrarily and persistently refused to even meet so that they could so much as hear the just com- plaints of an outraged people." He also said that, over all this, there was thrown by the favor of Governor Ames and the courts "an air of official insolence and arrogance to which the history of civilized government affords no parallel." The Ames, Republican party, nominated for mayor a white man then under indictment for 23 offences, and for aldermen seven ignorant negroes and a white saloon keeper. Many white Republicans and some negro voters supported the Taxpayers' ticket. The campaign was excit- ing, and white and colored marching clubs were organized. In April, A. K. Davis, the negro acting governor, applied to the com- mandants at Jackson and New Orleans for United States troops to maintain order. In July he notified President Grant that "im- mense armed bodies are parading the streets both day and night, and the city authorities are unable to protect life and property." He asked for two companies of United States troops. Governor Ames, returning to the State, renewed these appeals, but the presi- dent would not heed them until it had been shown that there was some insurrection beyond the power of the State to repress. The election came off August 4, and the reform ticket was elected.

Attention was then turned to the county affairs. Peter Crosby, the negro sheriff and tax-collector, had given a bond that was worthless. The board of supervisors was asked to require a new bond, but it refused to meet, and Crosby publicly declared that he would not give a new bond or vacate his office until the supreme court should require it. Judge Wiley P. Harris could see no legal remedy when the officers and tribunals appointed by law utterly failed to act. Governor Ames might, by a word of disapproval, have compelled action, but he was silent. "The truth is," said Harris, "that under our government, as it now exists, there is no remedy for the peculations of public officers. We are fleeced and robbed on all sides, and we are powerless to prevent it, either by law or the force of public opinion. You can't operate a government honestly when the majority of the voters care noth- ing for the morals of the officials." (Letter to Lamar, Dec. 11, 1874.) In August, the State auditor, W. H. Gibbs, discovered and made known a fraudulent and forged issue of court warrants at Vicksburg. The grand jury, in November. found indictments against Cordoza, former circuit clerk, then State superintendent, for forgery and embezzlement, and like indictments against the in- cumbent circuit and chancery clerks. This was followed by the abstraction of records from the county officers to prevent the con- viction of these officials. A Tax payers' convention December 2,

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demanded the resignation of the sheriff, chancery clerk and cor- oner. When Crosby refused, the convention, about 500 strong, marched to the courthouse and compelled him to resign. An ex- Union soldier was put in charge. The chancery clerk also re- signed. Crosby went to Jackson, and Governor Ames advised the sheriff that his resignation was void and he should have the sup- port of the State in holding his office. Two members of the gov- ernor's staff returned with the sheriff to Vicksburg, and a call was sent out for the assistance of all Republicans, black and white. Governor Ames issued a proclamation directed against the attempt of "riotous and disorderly persons," to deprive the negroes of their rights. He ordered the captain of a negro militia company to aid Crosby, and ignored the two white companies in the city. On Sunday and Monday the city was thrown into great excitement by rumors of an invasion of negroes and, finally, a large body of blacks was known to be approaching, Monday morning, December 7. The mayor ordered all armed bodies to disperse, put the town under martial law, with an ex-Confederate officer in command. Armed men moved out to meet the invaders, and Union veterans seem to have been as numerous as Confederates in the mayor's forces. There were several collisions, one at the Pemberton mon- ument, in all of which, including the following two or three days, 2 whites were killed and 29 blacks. (Garner.) Thirty prisoners were taken but soon released. In a few days quiet was restored and a special election was ordered for sheriff. President Grant is- sued a proclamation requiring peace, but no troops were sent. The governor called a special session of the legislature, which ap- pealed to the president for troops, and passed a law intended to invalidate the special election. This was held, however, and Flan- nagan elected, the negroes refusing to vote. January 5, 1875. Gen. P. H. Sheridan took command of the military department of the Gulf, and recommended to the secretary of war that the leaders of revolt in New Orleans and elsewhere should be declared "banditti," and left to his mercy as such. January 18, Flannagan was ejected from the sheriff's office by an officer of the United States army, and Crosby reinstated. The affair was the cause of much censure of Governor Ames, who displayed no desire to investigate the alleged wrongs or establish friendly relations with the white population, none of whom condemned him more fiercely than Gen. Furlong, formerly a member of Gen. Sherman's staff.

On the other hand Governor Ames declared that the trouble was a result of an effort to urge "a war of races for political pur- poses." He said, "No single legal remedy had been exhausted. The petit jury had not been organized." No attempt had been made to restrain the Sheriff by injunction or compel him to make a new bond. But a reign of terror had been created through the county by bands of armed riders ; officials and prominent men had been compelled to flee, and even the judges of the State courts forced to escape at night. There was not in the county "a single militia officer," but officers and companies had been organized pre-

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tending to act by authority of the State, and homes were searched, officials deposed and citizens put to death. To this the governor's attorney-general, Joshua S. Morris, replied that as regards militia officers, the governor was an "official liar." An investigation was made by a committee of congress which made majority and minor- ity reports, with testimony, of 560 pages, in February, 1825. (Mayes' Lamar, Garner's Reconstruction.)

Vicksburg, Second Campaign. Gen. Grant, in planning this campaign, in the fall of 1862. desired to withdraw Rosecrans from Corinth, destroy the railroads in that vicinity, make Memphis his base of supplies, and operate in a line parallel with the Mississippi river, supported by the gunboats. He would compel the evacuation of Vicksburg by moving down the Central railroad to Jackson, with his main army. But he was overruled in almost every detail by the authorities at Washington. "General Grant was not fully informed as to the matured plans at Washington, and was allowed to start to carry out his plans, but soon saw that he was not sup- ported by his superiors, and was checked at almost every step of his advance." (S. D. Lee.)

With the first of November Grant began a concentration of his army at Grand Junction and LaGrange, Tenn., ordering three divi- sions from Corinth, and Sherman from Memphis. The troops at Helena, Ark., under Gen. A. P. Hovey, were ordered to cross the Mississippi and move towards Grenada, so as to compel Pember- ton to retreat from Holly Springs. These movements would bring about 40,000 men into the field against Pemberton's 22,000. Pem- berton called anxiously for reinforcements, and VanDorn and Price and Lovell fell back to the south bank of the Tallahatchie, where they began fortifying. Gen. George with his State troops, lingered a while at Oxford. While Grant was yet at LaGrange, his cavalry reconnaissance entered Holly Springs, November 9, and found the town evacuated.

Grant brought his army to Holly Springs about two weeks later, repairing the railroad as he came, and began the collection of stores at Holly Springs as his base of supplies.

Pemberton was compelled to abandon the Tallahatchie and fall back to Grenada, making the Yallobusha his line of defense, early in December. Grant made his headquarters at Oxford, and his cavalry advanced as far as Coffeeville, where they were defeated. December 5 by Gen. Lloyd Tilghman's command, mainly the 23d Mississippi, Col. Moses McCarley; 26th, Maj. T. F. Parker, and 14th. Maj. Doss.

"Hovey was taken care of by Starke's cavalry, and after skir- mishes at the mouth of the Coldwater on the Yockhapatalfa, at Mitchell's Cross roads and Oakland, he retreated to the Missis- sippi, having done little damage except burning some 'bridges and sinking the steamer New Moon on the Tallahatchie."

But now Grant was required to send Sherman with a division back to Memphis. Thence Sherman was to take an army by boat to capture Vicksburg, while Grant should confine himself to keep-

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ing the Confederate troops in his front from going to the defense of that fortified city. On a week's notice, Sherman obtained at Memphis transports to carry 32,000 men. Admiral Porter brought to Memphis the entire river gunboat fleet, including 19 ironclads, 31 vessels in all, carrying 150 guns. The entire expedition, which set out from Memphis December 20, comprised 125 boats. But, as this expedition was starting, Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, sent to Pemberton's assistance from Bragg's army near Chattanooga, made a great cavalry raid to Jackson, Tenn., and along the rail- road north, cutting Grant's communications with the North, and capturing many of the smaller garrisons. At the same time, Grant having sent a cavalry expedition under Col. Dickey on a raid to cut the railroad near Tupelo, Gen. VanDorn took about 2,500 Con- federate cavalry, left Grenada December 18, and moved around Grant's flank by way of Pontotoc, as if to attack Dickey. Van Dorn was informed of the posting of troops, etc., at Holly Springs, by a spy who had spent a week there in the guise of a countryman looking for negroes. He passed through Pontotoc in such fashion as to persuade Dickey he was going north to join Forrest. In- stead, he turned straight for Holly Springs, near where his men dismounted and waited through the night of December 19 until dawn. Then they advanced on two roads, the First Mississippi cavalry going in on the northeast, ignoring the infantry, and pres- ently clashing with the 2d Ill. cavalry, near the fair grounds. It was a great fight, but the Confederate revolvers were more ef- fective than the Federal sabers. The Federal infantry was panic stricken, and 1,500 gave their paroles. VanDorn destroyed mili- tary supplies and provisions, which he estimated to be worth about $1,500,000, but which Grant placed at the more conservative estimate of $400,000. VanDorn also attacked Davis Mills, but was repulsed. He brought back his command to Grenada, on the '28th, with little loss.

This cutting of communications by Forrest and VanDorn com- pelled Grant to abandon his forward movement. Instead of attacking at Grenada he fell back to Holly Springs, and thence slowly retreated to Memphis, his troops living from the country. "This relief in favor of the Confederate side was not known at the time the troops were being moved to reinforce Vicksburg, and did not really become known until the crisis was over at Vicksburg. It was thought strange that General Grant did not attack at Grenada at the time." (S. D. Lee.)

Gen. Bragg had sent to Pemberton's help from Tennessee the Georgia brigade of Seth M. Barton, the Tennessee brigades of John C. Vaughn and John Gregg, and the Alabama brigade of E. D. Tracy. They were held in readiness to use where most needed. until December 24, when they were ordered to Vicksburg. There Gen. M. L. Smith was yet in command, with about 6,500 men, in- cluding outpost cavalry. About one thousand were artillerymen in the batteries. In the Yazoo river were the Federal gunboats, picking up torpedoes and clearing the way for the great fleet that

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was known definitely, December 23d, to be approaching. Stephen D. Lee, one of the ablest artillery officers of the Army of North- ern Virginia, had been promoted to brigadier-general to take com- mand of the artillery defense of Vicksburg. On Christmas Day, when Sherman's expedition arrived at the mouth of the Yazoo, Lee was given command of the line of defense from Vicksburg to Snyder's Mill on the Yazoo, where it was evident that Sherman would attempt to make a landing and establish his base for an attack on Vicksburg. Included in Lee's command were the 3d, 4th, 13th, 35th and 46th Miss. infantry regiments, 3d battalion State troops, Johnston's cavalry company, Ward's light artillery, and the batteries of Capts. Robert Bowman, J. L. Wofford, N. J. Drew, and Lieut. Frank Johnston. Lee set about fortifying the bluff line with hasty rifle pits. It was not necessary to fortify it all, for near Vicksburg the approach from the flats in front was made practically impossible by the felling of trees, and the im- passable swamps and lakes of the old river bed in front of the bluff left only two dry crossings, one at the mound, four miles from the city, and another at Chickasaw Bayou, six miles from the city. On the 26th Sherman landed Steele's division beyond the bayou and the remainder of his army on the island of low land cut off by the lake and bayou from the Confederate position on the bluff, and immediately moved forward, sending two divisions toward the race-track crossing near the city and the mound crossing, and two on each side of the bayou, on the Yazoo side of which there was a levee.

The first fighting was down in the flat, on the west side of the bayou, on the 26th, Col. W. T. Wither's command against the ad- vance of Morgan's division. Withers had the 17th Louisiana, two companies of the 46th Mississippi, and a section of Wofford's bat- tery. Wofford fired the first gun. Next day Withers was forced to fall back, and he was put in command at the levee, where he checked the advance of Steele, Lee reporting "the Forty-sixth Mis- sissippi and two Napoleon guns under Lieutenant Johnston doing admirable work." Steel found an advance in that direction im- possible, and was brought back to support Morgan. Sherman had determined to try an assault at the bayou crossing. There had been fighting there on the 27th and 28th, one Louisiana regiment, intrenched, sufficing with batteries to hold the narrow path. Lee was forced, by a concentration of artillery, to withdraw this out- post, early on the 29th, leaving Sherman to move what troops he would through the abatis, the mucky shallow at the head of the bayou and the tangled marsh, to the dry plateau on which the Confederate line was waiting.

The assault was to occur on the 29th, by two Federal brigades. Sherman ordered it over the protest of Morgan, deciding to risk the loss of five thousand men for the chance of gaining the bluff. An attempt to pontoon the lake miscarried under the Confederate artillery fire, and the two assaulting columns, about six thousand strong, advanced through the passes. "The troops moved forward

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handsomely, in spite of all obstructions, came over the steep bank of the lake and bayou and formed on the plateau beyond under a withering fire from eight pieces of artillery and several regiments of infantry. After partially forming they moved on a double quick towards the Confederate position. As soon as they began to get close to the Confederate line they were literally mowed down by the fire of the infantry in their front and on both flanks.

The assault failed, many recrossing the lake at the dry crossing, many lying down to avoid the terrible storm of bullets." (S. D. Lee.) Two Louisiana regiments were doublequicked on the field to gather up the remnants. Two hundred dead were counted. Over three hundred prisoners were taken and four stand of colors. The assault was not renewed. The Federal report of loss was 154 killed, 757 wounded, 528 missing; in all, 1,439. Lee's loss was 36 killed, 28 wounded. The troops under Lee at this battle of Chickasaw Bayou were ten regiments of infantry and three bat- teries. "The following troops from Mississippi were in the bat- tle : the 3d, 4th and 46th regiments, companies A. D. E and G of Withers' artillery and Ward's artillery battalion." (S. D. Lee.)

At the mound, defended by Louisianians and Georgians, under Gen. Barton, there were some efforts to obtain a lodgment on the plateau, but, says Ice, only one regiment, the 6th Missouri, crossed the lake, and it could not do much alone. At the race track the Confederate skirmishers were not driven in. There was a bombardment of the batteries at Snyder's bluff, but this was in- effective. Reinforcements came in for the Confederates on the 29th and 30th. Gen. C. L. Stevenson, commander of the division from Bragg's army, arrived and took command of the forces in the field, as he was senior to Gen. Smith.

The fire along the whole line grew weaker on the last two days of the year. On the morning of the 31st Morgan requested a truce of four hours to bury the death, which was granted. Sher- man arranged for a night assault at Snyder's mill, but weather conditions made this impracticable. Grant having retreated, the Confederates were becoming strong enough at Vicksburg to attack Sherman in his dangerous position. Reconnaissances by Lee and Withers showed that he was about to re-embark. Lee pursued with part of his command, and his advance line of skirmishers fired upon the departing transports January 2. The total loss in killed, wounded and captured along the line was, Federal, 1,929; Confederate, 206.

Vicksburg, Siege of, May 18 to July 4, 1863. At the close of the Vicksburg campaign of 1863 (q. v.) Lieut .- Gen. John C. Pember- ton brought into the intrenched line around Vicksburg the rem- nant of an army that had been badly defeated, with a narrow escape from capture, but was yet heroic. There was a garrison in Vicksburg, the artillery command of Col. Edward Higgins, about 700 men, in charge of 31 heavy guns and 13 field pieces, along the river front for two miles, infantry supporting the artil- lerymen and a large representation of the non-combatant part of

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an army, as well as the men in hospital, who were greatly increased as the crippled troops that had escaped from Champion's hill poured into the city. The garrisons at Snyder's bluff and War- renton were called in, swelling the number of Confederates on all duty, to over 30,000. But, besides the men in the river batteries, Pemberton was able to put only 18,500 in the intrenchments and in close support. These intrenchments surrounded the city on the line of a ridge, about eight miles in length, and consisted of a system of detached works, redans, lunettes and redoubts, on the prominent and commanding points, connected by intrenched lines and rifle pits. On this line were mounted 102 cannon.

Stevenson's division was stationed on the south end of the line, partly on the river front, and curving around along the ridge as far north as the railroad, about five miles, Lee's brigade extending to the railroad cut. From the railroad north to the Graveyard road, about two miles, lay Forney's division, lately commanded by Maury. Smith's division, and the State troops with him, com- pleted the curve back to the river, on the north of the town. Bowen's division and Waul's Texas legion, in all about 3,000 men, were held in reserve to throw to any part of the line as needed. (For the Mississippi troops, see Vicksburg, Campaign of 1863.)

The first move of General Grant, as he brought his troops across the Big Black river, was to open up a new base of supplies. Sherman was sent to occupy Snyder's bluff for this purpose, a po- sition that he had vainly sought in the previous December. Com- munication was not fully opened with the supply ships in waiting until the 21st, but Grant did not wait for this, hoping to be able to deliver an assault on the Confederate line before there could be a recovery from the recent disasters. In this he was disappointed, though his attempt was as prompt and determined as could be ex- pected, his troops also being jaded by long marches, severe fight- ing. and insufficient food.

Pemberton's men had scarcely been assigned position and settled, when the advance of Grant's army appeared on the Grave- yard, Jackson and Baldwin's Ferry roads, and began skirmishing with the Confederate pickets. This was May 18, just one year to the day since the Federal fleet first appeared before Vicksburg and demanded its surrender. On this day Pemberton received a despatch from Gen. Johnston, "to the effect that as he had evacu- ated Snyder's bluff, Vicksburg, if besieged, was untenable and must finally be surrendered, and he should evacuate the city, march to the northeast and save the army." (S. D. Lee.) Pem- berton called a council of war, which decided it was too late to attempt such a movement. It had been forestalled by Grant's prompt occupation of the only exit to the northward. Pemberton settled down to hold the line as long as possible. hoping that a Confederate army would be sent sufficient to relieve the siege. This hope was, however, in vain. Grant, having established bases of supply at Grand Gulf and Snyder's bluff, with the river full of transports and gunboats, 150,000 troops in his department to draw

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from, and the Big Black forming a strong defensible line in his rear, could defy the Confederacy to loosen his grip on Vicksburg. As it turned out, his position was so strong that he did not need half the men available, and troops could be spared from the West to save the panic-stricken East when Lee marched to the Susque- hanna.

He rapidly put his troops as close as possible along the in- trenched line. The Missourians inside and Missourians outside were near enough to exchange news of home before they met in deadly fight. (J. H. Jones, M. H. S. Publ. VII.) On the 19th an assault was made at the Graveyard road, at the junction of Smith and Forney. The effort was determined, at the cost of nearly a thousand men killed and wounded, and the loss of two flags. But the line was impregnable. Still hoping for success from a general assault, for McPherson and McClernand had not been vigorous in this one, Grant prepared for another and more concerted effort on the 22d. Lauman's division was brought up from Grand Gulf, swelling the apparent strength of Grant's command to about 50,- 000. But he also had suffered heavy losses since leaving Bruins- burg, and the killed, wounded and sick must have aggregated a large percentage of his numbers.

Admiral Porter's mortars bombarded the city on the 20th, and there was an almost continuous fire from the gunboats in the river, and from the batteries Grant had planted upon the nearby hills. On the morning of the 22d the cannonading for over two hours along the entire front of Grant's line was incessant and fierce, the thunder of the guns being accompanied by the steady cracking of the sharpshooters' rifles. From army and navy together it was the greatest bombardment of the great war. The Confederates knew from this that an assault was coming, and they waited in silence, making no reply of artillery or infantry, but preparing for a desperate defense, conscious that some weak spot might be found through which they could be overwhelmed, but all resolved that it should not be where they stood. About half past ten in the morn- ing every gun stopped on Grant's line, though the fire from the fleet increased in intensity.

The almost appalling silence that came so suddenly along the Federal line was followed by the appearance of dense masses of men in blue, in numerous columns of attack, rushing with loud hur- rahs toward every advanced position of the Confederate line. They had not far to run, as their lines had been advanced under cover. to distances varying from 100 to 500 yards. The advance, 30,000 along the whole line, was a grand and thrilling spectacle, but the bravery of the men in blue was equalled by the grim tenacity of the men in gray. The attacking column was met by a fierce fire of artillery and musketry that no troops in the world could stand before. Falling back stubbornly to shelter, there began again the roar of the batteries. The assault was not evenly distributed. On the south end of the line it was feeble. The hard fighting was along the three and a half miles, beginning with Lee's brigade and

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Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II, Part 106

Author: Dunbar Rowland Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Madison, Wis. : S.A. Brant Number of Pages: 1020

Author: Dunbar Rowland
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : S.A. Brant
Number of Pages: 1020