The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-06-16
From the 9th.

From the 9th.
Ft- The following extracts are from
letter written by ELI HOLLAND, TO his
parents, aud as il contains matter Of some
interest to the friends Of Co c, We thank
Mr.. HOLLAND for the privilege OF making
use of il. lis dated I" In Confederate
| Camp. in the Rear OF Vicksburg, within
Rife Shot of the Euemy's Entiench.
lnents, May o5th." He says:
owe left MilIiken's Beud on the 81
Of May, and took a circuit until we
reached the Mississippi again, ABOUT bali
way between New Carthage and Grand
Gulf We were put on boats and went
down TO Grand Gulf There we landed,
laid one day, and started for Port Glib
son. There The Rebs were whipped.
They made another stand at Raymond.
and were whipped there by Gen. L,gau 5
division. They next ,ricd 10 hold the
Capital of The State, but were defeated
there easier Than before. Thy had no
Qualifications but some rife pits, which
had been drown up III one night. The
army went mo camp one day al Jackson,
and the city was totally ruined. The
troops broke open the stores and took
Boots, Shoes. Hats, and C!othing such
as we would be allowed TO wear. There
WAS not store in The city but was bro
ken open. The leamst-rs aud artillery
got harness, and the cavalry got saddles
The Quarlermasrers took boots and shoes,
and issued them TO The Regiments
All the tobacco chewers supplied them
selves with abundance. The roads had
been 50 dusty, that all The boys wanted
clean shirts. and helped themselves.
was around and took my share. One OF
the largest manufactures in the South
was there, and it was burned The de.
pot. which had about $4,000, 600 worth
Of army stores, was burned BY The reb.
els. The next morning we took our way
down the railroad towards Vicksb burg.
and reached Black River. Gen. Logan
had whipped them there and drove them
across the river. They burned the
bridge after them. Our men then pur
down pontoon bridge, aud was Cross
ing in a few hours, after lie retreating
enemy. We started from Black River
on the l9th and kept up the march I'M
I'll we came within fighting distance OF
the Rebels. At their forts in The rear
'of Nicksburg The battle commenced a
3 o'clock. and kept up till dark. L. a
PIFRsALL. of our company, was killed,
and at night Lieut.. WILBUR was on pick
ct, and while going around the lines, h.
got TOO far out, and was shot by one OF
our own regiment. He lived 4 days.
and is now dead.
Fighting began the next morning.
driving the rebel, from their first forlii
cations. There has been heavy fighting
from the 18Th until The present. aud our
skirmishers arc cut all around, watching
their chance to pick The men off in the
forts the batteries are planted in. On
Friday, the 22I, at 5 o'clock, there was
a charge, made On the works Tie il
took The lead at one pout, but was not
supported rightly, and Were nearly nil /
cut down. Some Of .he boys were as
far as the breast works, and had 10 lay
there all night. The regiment los, 12
men, out OF $50 engaged. Our Captain
was wounded. Co. II lost just half IT,
men that went into tie charge. Go.
has / Q men left. Co. c has 81 men
and no commissioned officer. The reg,
imeut lost commissioned officers ~
Killed and wounded, three killed. \ /
charge was to be made last night, buj |
did not come off. The oh has been un-
der fire for 6 days. | had TO carry grub
to the Captain, and had to iun 30 rods
in view OF the Rebs, who're they had a.
tair a chance to sl.oot as they could
want but escaped all their bullets.
| think, from Appearance OF things, /
that we stall lny in line OF bal,le aud
keep them from escaping. They viii
have to give up some lime, for cur line .