The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-06-09
Tuesday Morning, June 0, 1868.
The Siege of Vicksburg.
Correspondence q the Chicago Journal.

Correspondence Of the Chicago Journal.
REAR OF VIcKsBURG, May "a, 1868.
General Grants army is in the of Vicks-
burg in most excellent military position, the
line extending from the upper water batteries
on Walnut Hills, above Vicksburg, to the
heights above Warrenton and below Vicks-
burg. The average distance of our main force
from the city is two miles. Our line of skirm-
ishers, however, is quite up to the rebel en-
trenchments - few yards generally measur-
ing the distance between our sharpshooters
and the rebel earthworks .
A detailed account of all the operations in
cluding the battles and marches by which the
position has been attained, would be too long
for your columns. A brief resume must an
swer.
A three months campaign in the front, with
the attempts to reach and carry the enemy's
right through Yazoo Pass and Steee's Bayou,
having demonstrated that the flank could not
be turned in that way, the battle of Chicka-
saw Bayou having shown that single column
could not reach Vicksburg by front attack
on Walnut Hills, Haines' and Snyder's Bluffs
proving altogether too strong for the naval flo
tilla, and all the canal projects failing after
immense labor, il was determined to attempt
the movement which has so far proved sue
cessful. The history of modern warfare fur
nishes few that equal it in boldness and audac-
ity Of conception, and, SO far, in brilliant, tri-
umphant execution.
While the Fifteenth Army Corps tSher-
mans) was posted in full force In the immedi-
ate front of Vicksburg, the Seventeenth Nc
Pherson'sl was moved by divisions and
brigades across the country from Milliken's
Bend, fifteen miles above Sherman's Landing
and encamped below and about Carthage.
Admiral Porter ran the blockade with his IRON
clad and two transports A vigorous cannon
ade from Sherman's casemated batteries
opened the next morning on the town. Four
other transports followed the Admiral's feet
The Thirteenth Army Corps (McClernands)
followed the Seventeenth across the country.
Things being thus prepared General Sherman,
at midday on the 30th of April, moved up the
Yazoo on a large fleet of transports, preceded
by seven gun-boats. Early in the morning he
opened fierce attack upon Haines' and Sny-
der's Bluffs. The same day Porter attacked the
batteries at Grand Gull. The rebels were COM
pletely deceived. Their main forces were
concentrated at Vicksburg and Haines' Bluff.
Grand Gull was left with garrison of about
seven thousand.
On the I'd of May Sherman renewed the at
tack on Haines' Bluff, and Porter on Grand
Gulf. The transports ran the batteries below,
and two divisions crossed over the Mississippi.
Grand Gulf was evacuated, aud Grant had
foothoold on the rebel side of the Mississippi.
In the night time Sherman returned to Young's
Point, and the next day moved his corps 1.-THE
Fiteenth) to Grand Gulf and joined Grant.
In the meantime Grant had, with Osterhaus'
and Logan's divisions, overtaken the rebel
Bowen's force at Wilson's Hill, completely
routing them and taking seven hundred prison
ers. Pushing rapidly up the line Of the Big
Black River, near Raymond he met the en-
emy under General Gregg, and at once at
tackled and defeated him, with Logan's Divi-
sion of McPherson's, and Tuttle's Of Sher-
mans corps, capturing some two thousand
prisoners. Without delay, Sherman's and
McPherson's corps moved to Jackson, captur-
ing the State Capital after short engagement,
on the l4th
McClernand's corps, the head of whose col
umn was eight miles in the rear, was at once
ordered to move by Edwards Station towards
the Big Black Bridge. Mcpherson moved
along the line of the road through Bolton, and
Sherman on the right towards the Bridgeport
Ferry. Between Bolton and EdYards Station,
at Champion Hills, was General Tilghman
found posted in a very strong position. Crock
er's and Hovey's divisions attacked him in
front and very severe battle took place.
Our field was fought over three times. The
rebels finally gave way as Logan was moving
in upon their flank. General Tilghman was
Killed and his army utterly routed. Several
thousand prisoners and thirty-three pieces of
artillery were captured.
The army crossed the Big Black by three
columns the next morning, and moved at once
f. X.
man on the right. Mcpherson in the center,
g and McClernand on the left. The enemy re-
treated TO their intrenchments in the rear of
Vicksburg, and along the line of Chickasaw
Bayou and the Yazoo. In the night Steele's
Division, of Sherman's Corps, made night
attack upon the Rebel works on Walnut Hills
the same which he attacked on December
last-and after a hard battle, OF five hours du-
ration, defeated them. Our right was thus
brought to the heights above the Yazoo
Haines' Bluff aud Snyders Bluff were captur-
ed, with all their ordnance and stores.
The next day General Grant ordered an as
sault TO be made on the whole line at ten
o'clock. The assault was delayed until two
In the afternoon. in consequence of report
from McClernand that he was not ready to
move. Promptly at two o'clock Sherman's
corps and the right Of McPherson's, under Lo-
gan, moved to the assault. The left of Nc
Phersons corps waited for the right of Nc
Clernand's. McClernand did not move. The
assault was, therefore, made by the right and
center. 1t was a most gallant attack Our
men, In the face of storm of grape and can
lister and rifles, charged down hills up ravines
and up hills, straight to the enemy's earth
works. The Rebel bitches were circular and
deep, and the parapets Of such height that our
brave men could not scale them The enemy,
finding that they were not attacked by our
left, massed in fronto Sherman and McPher-
son, and we were repulsed. Many brave off,
GERS and men fell in this assault. Our troops
lay close to the Rebel works until night, when
they were withdrawn.
Our line OF supplies by the way of Grand
Gulf had been abandoned for several days in
consequence of its great length. During the
night after the assault, General Sherman. i'm
person, with small escort of cavalry. looked