The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-06-06
Operations of Grants Army.
In THE REAR OF vIcKsBuRe, J
-. ..LlEH.E Nav "a 1853

"'" May "A, 1868. !
Gen. Grants army is in the rear of vicks-
burg, in a most excellentmilitary position,
the line extending from the upper water
batteries, on Walnut hills, above the city,
around to the heights above Warrenton
and below Vicksburg. The average dis
lance of our main force from the city is two
miles. Our line of skirmishers, however,
Is quite up to the rebel entrenchments-a
Few yards generally measuring The dis
lance between our sharpshooters and the
rebel earthworks.
A detailed account of all the operations;
including the battles and marches by which
the position has been attained, would be too
long for your columns. A briefresunaemust
answer.
A three months campaign in the front.
with the attempts to reach and carry the
enemy's right through Yazoo Pass and
Steele's Bayou, having demonstrated that
the flank could not be turned in that way
the battle of Chickasaw Bayou having
shown that single column could not reach
vlcksDurg by front attack on Walnut
Hills, Haines' and Snyder's Bluffs proving
altogether too strong for the naval flotilla,
and all the canal projects failing, after inn
mense labor, it was determined to attempt
the movement which has so approved sue
cessful. The history of modern warfare fur
nishes few that equal it in boldness and au-
daclty OF conception, and so far, in brilliant,
triumphant execution.
While the 18th Army Corps (Sherman's)
was posted in full force in the immediate
front of Vicksburg. the 18th lMcPherson's
wasmoved by divisions and brigades across
the country from Millikens Bend, fifteen
miles above Sherman's Landing, and en-
camped below and about Carthage. Admit
raj Porter ran the blockade with his iron
clads ana two transports. Avigorous can
nonade from Sherman's casemated batter
les opened the next morning on the town.
-Four other transports followed the Admit
rails fleet. The 18th Army Corps (McCler-
nand 81 followed the 18th across the country
Things being thus prepared, Gen. Sherman,
at midday on the Both Of April moved UP
the Yazoo on a large fleet of transports.
preceded by seven gunboats. Early in the
morning he opened fierce attack upon
Haines' and Snyder's Bluffs. The same
day Porter attacked the rebels at Grand
Gulf. The rebel Generals were completely
deceived. Their main forces were concen-
trated at Vicksburg and Haines' Bluff
Grand Gulf was left with garrison of
about 1000.
On the I'd of May Sherman renewed the
attack on Haines' Bluff, and Porter on
Grand Gulf. The Transports ran the bat
teries below, and two divisions were rapid
ly crossed over the Mississippi. Grand
foothold on the rebel side of the Mississippi.
In the night Sherman returned to Young
Point, and the next day moved his corps
(the 15th) to Grand Gulf, and Joined Grant
In the meantime, Grant had, with Oster-
haus' and Logan's divisions, overtaken the
rebel Bowen's force at Wilson's Hill, COM
pletely routing them, and taking seven
the line of the Big Black river, near Ray
mond, he met the enemy under Gen.
Gregg, and at once attacked and defeated
him, with Logan's division of McPherson's
and Tuttle's of Sherman's corps, cap
turing some two thousand prisoners
Without delay, Sherman's and McPher-
sons corps moved to Jackson capturing
the State Capital, after a short engagement.
On the l4th McClernand's Corps, the head
OF whose column was eight miles in the
rear, was at once ordered to move by Ed
wards 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 Edwards Station, at
Champion Hills, the enemy under Gen.
Tilghman were found posted in very
strong position. Crocker's and Hoveys di-
isions attacked them in front, and very
severe battle took place. Our field was
fought over three times. Therebels finally
gave way as Logan was moving in upon
their flank. Gen. Tilghman was killed
and his army utterly routed. Several pris-
oners and thirty three pieces of artillery
were captured. The army crossed the Big
Black by three columns the next morning,
and moved at once upon the work in the
rear Of Vicksburg. Sherman on the right
Mcpherson in the centre. and McClernand
on the left. The enemy retreated to their
entertainments in the rear of Vicks-
burg, and along the line of Chick
asaw 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 attack
ed in December last-and after hard bat
tie of five hours duration, defeated them.
Our right was thus brought to the heights
above the Yazoo. Haines' and Snyder's
Bluff were captured, with all their ord
nance and stores.
The next day, Gen. Grant ordered an as
sault to be made on the whole line, at 10
o'clock. The assault was delayed until
report from McClernand, that he was not
ready to move. Promptly at two o'clock
Sherman's Corps, and the right of Nc
Pherson's, under Logan, moved to the as
sault. The left of McPherson's corps
waited for the right of McClernand. Nc
Clernand did not move. The assault was
therefore made by the right and right
center. IL was mOSC gallant attaCk. our
men, in the face of a storm of grape and
canister and rifles, charged down hills, up
ravines, and up hills, straight to the enc
my'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 front of
Sherman and Mcpherson, and we were
repulsed. Many brave officers 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, Gen. Sherman,
in person, with small escort of cavalry,
looked up and opened road across Chick
asaw bottom, to the Yazoo, and succeeded
in getting dispatches through to Youngs
Point. Supply boats came up at once, and
the army was fully provided with rations.
This is now our line of supplies, and the
army is well and easily provided with COM
missary and ordnance stores.
At the time of the first assault the enemy
was in the greatest CONSERVATION. All the
~ Vicly churp uara rolaa cod nd