The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-11-14
The Bomba rdment OF vioksburs.

The Bombardment OF vicksburs.
1 Mr.. Montgomery, formerly Edito
Of the vicksburg Wig, gives the
following inside view Of the bonn
bardment OF Vicksburg:
The bombardmont OF Vicksbure
was no insignificant affair, although
the results were meager. The 10.
cation Of the city which 10 dotted
around among hills, proved its safe
ty. On learning that the feet had
started out from New Orleans, and
that the city was to be defended, a
large majority OF the citizens re
moved their household effects to the
interior. The merchants and tra-
ders did the same with their stocks,
and it was a curious and lively scene
to see the streets and roads lined
with these moyeables. Fabulous
prices were paid Tor teams, and tho
Planters adjoining the city eujoyed
II fine harvest by assisting in this
general evacuation. The country
ior miles around was soon dotted
with camps Of every description,
from the camps made Of brush to
the more pretertious ones erected by
throwing carpets over stakes previ-
ously driven in tho ground. The
general expectation was that the city
would be captured the fret day OF
the bombardnent, the object in
moving boing to save life and await
the hour when the fatal blow should
DO struck. The result was, they
were compelled to remain in this
position three months, during which
time there was more or less sheling
every day. The city itself present
ed a desolate appearance. The
shelllng not being continuous, gave
an opportunity to those who re
msined-quite number-to attend
to their domestic affairs, alter which
they gave their attention TO the BON.
baidment. The women aud child,
rem congregated in the rear OF the
hills an quietly awaited the result
On the opening OF M engagement,
terrific report carsed by firing
the mortars would be heard, which
would cause the windows of the ten
antless houses TO rattle, followed by
a moment OF silence. when the roar
OF the approaching shell could be
heard growing more and more die
tlpct, until the sound resembled a
train of railroad cars, when the shell
would suddenly dash into a building
with the velocity OF lightning, bury
itself ten feet uuder the surface oi
the earth, and explode with noise
like thunder, hcaving up large
mass Of earth, tearing up the floor,
and otherwise injnring the building,
bnt not totally destroying the house
While this war was going on, the
shells would be continually kissing
an roaring around. some bursting
in the air, the pieces striking roofs
aud breaking windows, others stri
king tho hills, and ,nscqucntly fall
ing harmless, the whole presenting
picture terrible to beholI and i'm
possible to describe. Most OF the
shells from Capt. Porter's mortars
Commodore Farragnt's fleeD fell
without exploding, while those from
the uppeg fleet (Com. Davis) almost
invariably exploded. OF the per.
cussion shells fired, scarcely any
exploded. They were orened and
the powder extracted, quite an i'm
portant item, as powder was four
dollars a pound, Some OF the shots
fired by the lower fleet were extra
ordinary, and quite astonishing to
the bohulJers. Several conical shells
fell in the cemetery, located two
miles North East OF the city, and
distant some five miles from the
boats that fired them. A soldier,
lying under tree, reading, some
four miles East Of the city, was NOR.
tally wounded by the falling of a
limb cut from the tree by a cohical
shell, which finally fell in front OF q
residence soma half-mile beyond
On the morning Of the 2sth OF june
portion OF Commodore Farsgut's
fleet passed up the river and joined
the upper feet. The boats got un.
der way about four o'clock, and
the combined fleets opened on the
city. The scene was terrible and
sublime. Ii was estimated that l95
shot and shell tell in the city to q
minute. The iron hail poured in a
continuous sheet, and with such ef-
feet that the batteries could make
but feeble resistance. Every living
thing in the city sought a place o.
shelter. Soldiers and citizens, dogs
and cattle, all covered beneath the
hills or sought refuge in stamped,
to the interior.
A handful OF men could have land
ed and spiked the guns, so universa
WAS the panic. This lasted for abou
two hours and.a half, when the firing
ceased. The city presented curi
ous spectacle; nearly every hous'
had a hole through it and some wer'
quite destroyed. One bed room cit
uated on the tni of porch ha(
tiity-three holes through it, made b,
.rana shot On tho piuht of ~,