Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-07-03
FROM TIE THIRTY-FRsT IOWA.
Letter from Capt. Speer.
t5a rs - Iune lAth 1nR9

I
80 June 14th, 1873.
Mr.. Editor Since we. ,commsnecd the
siege Of VicksburgI have writteaS oftene,
than usual, TO lessen the anxiety of those
who have relations or friends in Gen. Grants
army from Black Hawk County. There has
been but little change in the position Of on,
army or that Of the enemy during the past
week. For several days we have fred very
slowly, just enough to let the enemy know
that we are here and awake, and it is very
seldom that Pemberton replies. Nearly ev-
cry man in the army has learned how to use
the pick and the spade. We continue to
work every night on rife pits and forts. We
can gain but little in getting nearer to the
rebel works than we arc at the present time.
And to take them BY assault without fear.
full loss Of life would be impossible. At some
points We are within one hundred yards Of
their works and at others we are as much as
six hundred yards from them. At points
where we are nearest to them. both parties
are obliged to shoot through loopholes il the
pits. Sharp shooters are at work every day
but accomplishing very little. Deserters
come in every night but We can gather very
little from them that is reliable. They all
say that Pemberton's army would desert or
surrender Immediately if the rebel officers
were less vigilant. They receive only sufi.
cient food to make one meal per day. We
have rumors every day to the effect that
Johnston is coming up in our rear with an
immense army. ] do not think it would an.
noy Gen. Grant in the least if Johnston,
Bragg and Lee would concentrate their entire
forces in our rear Our spades and picks
have not been idle either in our front or rear.
Our axes have also been laying the tall tim.
Der on the bottom along the Big Black in
such a shape that men cannot pass over it
without considerable trouble. .,1 as. .,f.r
Our base for supplies is a good as We
could wish fo1, while their means for bring.
ing up supplies and heavy guns are very linn
tied. Also We have destroyed nearly all the
stores which they had through the country
for Fifty miles from Vicksburs. Gen. Her.
ron has arrived with his Amy and gone 10
the rear Other forces are now coming and
will do likewise. And we are assured that
they will continue to come. All right. We
hope to, crush the rebellion in the rear of the
",naiden city" We are now guarding the
lines so closely that rebel spies can neither
pass in or out. We have had q refreshing
rain; have plenty TO eat, and are in the best
Of spirits. Our gunboats have accomplished
but little since the battle Of Arkansas Post,
although much has been claimed for them.
Our infantry should have the honor of TAX
ing Haines's Bluff and Grand Gulf It is
impossible to- elevate the guns on our
Backs" 80 as to affect the enemy's
works attbis place. Ono or two thousand
rebels (number not positively known) at
tempted to capture some stores which we
had at Milhken's bend and Yonng's Point a
few days ago. At the two places we had
only three or four hundred convalescent SOL
diers and about six hundred negro recruits.
After hard fight the rebels were repulsed
Loss on each side about two hundred. When
the rebels came within sight the negroes
manifested great anxiety to attack them.-
And when the attack was made they exhib-
tied more Of the tiger than the man. After
the battle, negroes pointed with pride to
their fallen comrades, and the wounded ap
peared to glory in the loss of limb. They
are willing to earn liberty and set as though
lit is sweet to die for ones country a
so Ism Of the opinion that few regiments
Of them would be sufficient to give relief to
any community suffering with copperhead
fever. Hessrs. ToAdro and Rounds are re-
covering rapidly. The health of the boys
in company B is good. The Union loss since
we commenced the siege Of vicksburg is not
half so great as represented by correspon-
dents of Chicago papers. In fact can End
but very little truth in tho accounts which
they give Of our movements here Iexpeet
that they have been deceived and supposed
that the heavy mortar .snta artillery firing
which has been kept up for the last three or
four weeks was q" desperate fighting" Half
Of them ought to be imprisoned for dying
just now happen to thing Of an item which
Ihad forgotten. One afternoon as we were
from jackson to Vicksburg, curl.
osity prompted lady to come 10 the road
from her residence to look at US. Some one
asked her how she liked the looks Of yankee
soldiers? She answered." First rate !
from what had heard that you
would look like the devil-but begin to
need a husband pretty bad and l think after
you take Vicksburg l shall marry some Of
YOU" 1,,l - S''.sl " 1877 2''@ ..'. 1910
THE situation Of affairs in Pennsylvania ID
one not TO be contemplated with any salts
faction, by loyal men. Gen. Lee. with .
large rebel force, is fairly in the State, snd
steadily advancing toward the interior At
last accounts portion Of the Isbel army
was but few miles from the State Capital,
Harrisburg has been fortified. but what n,,.>.