The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-01-17
The Battle Of vicksburx.

uC oASSAS u VlCAoOuIks | 4
We have, only within the last few days,
been receiving In the large city daiiies, full
and correct accounts ofthe unsuccessful as.
sault upon Vicks5urg, made from Goth to
the 29th Of Dec. We shall attempt, from
these lengthy details, to give brief, intel
ligible sketch.
And first, let it be promised, that the !
late assault upon Vicksburg, was another
of those cumbrous plans of Gen. Hallek,
which, though beautiful in theory, always
presuppose a continuous Intervention of
providence and insurance against accidents
to give success. Thus the plan was, that
Grant should proceed down the Mobile L.
Ohio R. X. to Jackson, Sherman was to
proceed with about 5000 men and the
and the gun boat feet down the river to
Vick-barg, and simultaneously the feet
of Com. Farrigut, with supporting land
forces under Banks. was to ascend the
river from below. The rationale of it was,
that if Grant should take jackson, VIcks.
burg would be fanked and must fall of
| course; but as the enemy had a considera-
! bic force at Jackson and Pembertop, after
Grant had driven him from the TalIa-
hatchie, had fallen back to Canton, on
the Big Black midway between Jackson
and Vicksburg, the movement of Sherman
by the river was as necessary as diversion
to compel Pemberton to reinforce Vicks-
burg, as Grants movement was also a d.
version in favor of Sherman and Farrigut
by compelling Pemberton to strengthen
jackson. The success Of the plan would
have been inevitable, had there been no
failures in the execution. Bat this is the
way it was done
Grant drove Pemberton from the Talla-
hatchie. and was fowllowing rapidly tow
ards jackson, his advance having reached
within few miles of Grenada, less than
days march from the point aimed at
No,c, if ever, was the time for Sherman to
move. The enemy at Jackson, alarmed,
was concentrating all his available forces
there. Nicksburg was weaker than it had
probably been in year before-Sher-
mans forces had been lying at Memphis
and Helena for several weeks-4S hours
could bring him in front Of Nicksburg.
But Sherman remains stationary The
enemy addresses himself to annoying
Grants rear-fnally cuts off his supplies
and about the middle Of December com
pels HIM to fall back TO the Tallahatchie
Nothing now to prevent the enemy from
concentrating all his forces at FIcksburg /;
ami TO enable him to do so effectually,
and to strengthen his works at al! points,
Sherman .til further delays until few
days before Christmas before he gets his
|, feet in motion. The enemy is duly adyis-
ed Of the day of his departure. Instead OF
IS hours over week is consumed In drop.
. ping down TO the mouth of tha Eazoo
, The feet arrives here on the oath. The
, 18th is spent in fishing for torpe'
, does, &c On the Goth the fleet ascend.
the stream twelve miles and the army de
barks in front Of the range of bluffs run
: ming nearly north and south. from the
. Yazoo to the Mississippi at Nicksburg, the
: bottom between these bluffs an the Yazoo
, and Mississippi being occupied by our
troops Now as 10 the plan of attack. BY
passing up the iazoo beyond the bat:erie:
= in the rear of Nicks burg could be reached
: and the bridges there destroyed, the
/ place would be virtually Invested, and
: could be starved out without firing another
| gun. Accordingly the Benton, a solitar,
i gunboat, on the 9th, is sent 10 engage Tho
/ batteries on Haires' Bluff After tire.
, hours fighting she hauls off, her comman
e der killed, ID men wounded aud the boa
n badly datsaged. So the plan Of penetrat.
o ing 10 the Big Bla5k is abandoned, a.th ousi
officers on the Benton aver that with
e small 60 operating land force, uaines b,ut
:, could have been taken.
An assault upon the enemy right is nov
e determined upon. Between our forces anC
a the bluffs is bayou, with levees on eacl
= side, and behind these, at the foe
l Of the bluffs, the enemys rihemen ar
i posted The attack on these is made b,
. Gen. Morgan l. Smith and Gen. Blair, ant
= after two hours sharp fighting carried, tn
s eHemv retrea,ing TO their riff. pits up tn
5 hill This was the extent of Sunday
n (29,h) fight. Our loss was about 300 kill
F. ed and wounded, among the killed bein;
' Gen. Wynaan, and among the wounded
# Gen. Smith
l. Next morning it is determined to max,
v the grand assault. Our forces, now abl
q to cross the bayou by brigdes, are in read
ness, and about 60 guns are placed in po
Y sition. At about o'clock the ball opens
y and a furious cannonade RACES until 20 cl' k
|, the enemy showing more guns than we
!, Then our infantry advances Up the bluff
, they climb, slowly, steadily, until the rid,
n pits are gained, and into these they rust
t at one end while the enemy retreats from
S the other. Still they advance, until o
that huge column but about so seem fa
' in the lead, on the very summit the enem.
: running in all directions. But where i
0 the supporting column? The fifty are
: hanked and surrounded; the column
t comes rolling down the hIll--ail is over
!, we are repulsed About the last man tina
# descends the Mill is "a youngish lookin:
J, individual on foot, corn husk clinging Il
y his saber, splashed to the crown with mud
l This was General Frank 2. Blair, the frs
e man at the top Of the hill and the las. t
!, descend" Thus ended the battle o
Vicksburg, in which our loss was abou
S 600 killed, and ! 800 wounded and pri
e soAers.
= Another attack was planned next right
( but failed on account Of the fog; and ther