The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-06-24
A Heroic Sergeant.
The Vicksburg correspondent Of the New
FORK Herald relates the following:

The Nicksburg correspondent Of the New
York Herald rela.es the following:
ION Friday, the 22d ultimo. a Sergeant OF
the Twenty-second Iowa. named Joseph Grit
nth. immortaized himself by performing one OF
those acts which we often read of in romanccs
b. which are really enacted. perhaps. but once
ia century. We have had lew more note
worthy during the continuance of the war OF
notable incidents. Sergeant Griffith was enea>
ged with the remainder OF this regiment 10
sIOrming and endeavoring to carry the enemy's
works. The rebel bullets whistled about his
ears. and ever and anon a heavy shot would
strike in the hard earth that barred bis pro
gress, or a she'll explode over his head and the
death-dealing fragments come patterng into
the soil near his position. Yet The bold iOwan
persisted in his endeavors to scale the rebel for
tidcatiOns and some ten or fifteen of his com
pany seconded his efforts with their best en-
deavOrs. Finally, after tremendous exertiOns
the Sergeant and thirteen men actually drove
off the defenders of the small fortress. climbed
up and stood upon the earth work But they
stayed there only a moment Not waiting 10
see. but expecting a large body Of their com
rades were close upon their heels they clam
bered down the embankment and drove every
rebel out OF it at the point of the bayonet. and
actually found themselves, fourteen men in all.
masters OF the field. They held the place some
hours. but none Of their Iaen came to their
assistance. Presently the rebels made the dis
cOvery that their works were pierced. aud
small detachment was sent to capture or kill
the audaciOus Yankee generators But our
friends from Iowa had rested slightly. and
were not to be captured so easily. They dispu
ted the entrance Of the rebels. and soon thianed
their ranks considerably. But valor could do
nothing against such superior numbers. Yet
the ranks of the Iowa boys were full But
presently a more effective volley than usual
either killed or wounded every man in the little
band, with the exception of the Sergeant aud
be was Knocked down end badly stunned by
spent ball whose force had been partially
stopped by first striking one Of his companions.
For some moments Griffith remained mot.onless:
but just as the rebels were entering the works
either TO kill or capture those Of the Federals
who might survive, be recovered himself
Down came the rebels. Their muskets were all
empty. Griffith had the advantage Of them
there, for his was uudischarged. He immedi-
ately drew the implement 10 his shoulder and
ordered halt Forced to obey. the Coniede-
rates halted. Griffith then told them that BE-
had them. aud. unless they surrendered them
selves prisoners Of war. he would kill them one
by one with his musket aud revolver. The
rebels wavered They hardly knew what 20 do
Griffith did not know what TO do-he knew verv
we'll that bis life hung in the balance. and
unless he could ffighten his foes. he was &
~ gone Iowan.' Finally the Confederates &C
tually surrendered TO this single and unaded
man-and be positively marched them over the
wall he aud his friends had scaled. and deliver
ed Them safely, prisoners Of war. at the bad
quarters Of his division. Why the rebels sur
rendered do not pretend 70 decide b1i that
they surrendered 10 Z single man-a8d there
we're thirteen Of them-is al undoubted fact
have the incident from al eyewitness of their
delivery. Lieut.. Colonel IS arn0ta. Of General
McCiernand's stat. Griffith IS quite q youth.
II Is said, aud makes DC great pretensions BE
should Dc promoted directly. ard uudoubtedlv +
will be, just as soon as il can Be- done. Such
zen are rare, and i" when found should be made
q note Of