The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-06-09


ic cannonsde was kept up. Soon afte
daylight, the batteries of the army open
ed fire. The rebels replied from all thei
guns. The water batteries were silenc
ed by the gunboats, but those on The
heights kept at work. The gunboat,
could not fire at them, as our army was
in their rear.
About midday another assault was or.
dered on the whole line. Storming
parties Of volunteers, and forlorn hopes
were advanced under cover Of field bat.
teres and sharpshooters, and supported
by brigades. Them moved bravely
and we'll into the field, and up to Mt
works but all in vain. We could not
take the works. The men dug steps in
the earthworks with their bayonels, and
planted their colors on TIE rebel para
pets, whence neither party could re-
move them, every man who showed him
self falling from the shot of reheman
Our loss during the day was very Sc
we're, especially oi officers.
Vicks burg is defended in the rear by
works fifteen feet in height, with bitches
ten feet deep-the works standing on
steep hillsides, every approach protect
ed by rifle pits and covered by artillery.
1t cannot be taken by assault, but acM be
taken. 1t is a doomed city.
This morning mine under one of the
forts, in front of Sherman's 5 corps, was
blown up, and the site is now in our pos
session.
The gunboats Choctaw and Baron De
kalb returned last evening from Yazoo
City. one hundred miles above, on the
4azoo. The city capituIated. All the
rebel Government stores and a partly
burned ram were destroyed
| send you partial list of casualties
Our loss, so far, is about 5000 killed
and wounded, perhaps less. The
enemy's loss, so far, Is not less than
$4,000. Seven thousand prisoners are
in our hands, and 90 pieces of artillery.
The quantity Of small arms, ordinance,
camp and garrison equipage, that has
fallen into our hands. is very large.
This is the total of our armys work :
In sixteen days il has marched 100
miles, fought five battles, taken the capi-
tai OF Mississippi, destroye ed all commu-
nication with the rebel army at Tulaho-
ma, captured 1000 prisoners, 90 pieces
of artillery, 5000 stand of small arms.
seven miles of heavy iortifcations on the
rebel right, completely invested the city
in the rear, and opened for us a new and
perfect line of supplies. During those
sixteen days, the army had but four
days ratlons from the depols of supplies
If the Tribune sees fit, it is good time
to put in force the change Of command
ers which it threatened upon receipt OF
intelligence of the opening move of this
campaign. Their special" who dis
covered that Vicksburg could be taken
in two hours by storm, by 10000 men.
under an enterprisibg leader " like Ne
C'ernand, might select successor.
The army is in excellent health, and
confden. of success JACK.
p. S.-Before the second assault up
on the enemy's rear fortifcat;ons, Gen
Nc Arthur with a portion of his division.
crossed the Mississi pi near Warrenton,
and after severe engagement drove the
enemy and occupied the teighls above
Warrenlon and below Virksburg
Col Dolllns, OF the sist Illinois. was
Captain OF an independent cavalry com
pany in the three months service, which
he raised AT his home NJ Centralla. Last
summer. while in Illinois on thirty
DAYS leave OF absence. he recruited the
8lst He was shot through the head
and fell at the head of his regiment,
Col. Humphreys, of the 95th Illinois.
was in Gen. Rsnsom's brigade In the
second assault, his regiment was hesAat-
ing Gen, Ransom called TO him to
move forward. Dropping his sword in
salute TO the General. he ordered :
Forward, 95lh," and Tell dead. The
color bearer WAS shot, and fell at the
same instant. Tie regiment wayered
Gen. Ransom seized the colors aud ad
vanced in front OF the line; three line
officers left their places, came 10 the
General, and took the colors. The line
advanced, and those colors were planted
on the rebel parapet. During the same
day. the colors OF the 9th Iowa were
planted on a rebel parapet. the color.
guard digging steps with their bayonets
The colors remained in that position
D L