White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1863-07-23

History Of the Operations Against
vicksbure.
Commodore Farragut. after capturing
New Orleans. April 25th. 1852. passed
up the Mississippi river. capturing Nat
chez on the 18th Of May. His feet on
the LIST of June attacked . Confederate
battery of riaed guns At Grand Gull,
Miss, (between Matches and vicksburg J.
but accomplished nothing. Flag Officer
Davis descending the river above ON the
5th of June bombarded Fort Wright,
which was evacusted. The Uuion gun
boats then descended the river, burning
large quantities Of cotton IS they advan.
ced towards Memphis. On the 9th OF
June eight Confederate vessels left Mem.
phis about daylight and attacked our
feet. In one hour they were repulsed
the Confederate vessels being either sunk
or badly crippled. In this action Col.
Charles Elicit was mortally wounded
Flag Officer Davis demanded the sur.
render Of Memphis, which was complied
with, Soon after our troops took pos
session of the town. The next day, June
7th. Flag Officer Fsrrsgut's squadron
arrived of Vicksburg, and Porter's NOR
tar feet descended the river to cooper
ate with Farrsgut in an attack on Vicks-
burg. On the 9Th of June . portion Of
Farragut's feet attacked and silenced the
batteries at Grand Gulf On the 10Th
of June, ten mortar bosts from below
passed Rodney, Miss. on their way to
Join the squadron. On the 28th Of June
portion of the lower Union feet attack
ed and passed the batteries at Vicksburg
under q heavy Ere. Preparations were
now made to isolate the city by cutting
canal across a peninsula opposite the
town. On the 18th of July 5000 slaves
working on this canal at Vicksburg were
confiscated by General Butler.
July 15th.-The Confederate gun
boat Arkansas escspss from Yazoo Riv-
er, runs the gauntlet of the Union feet,
and takes refugs under the guns Of Vicks-
burg.
July 22nd.-The cansl completed, but
owing to the low stage of water it did
not prove success. The seige was then
practically abandoned until after the rise
of the Western waters in the fall.
On the 23d terrific bombardment of
the town by tbs squadron was unsuccess-
ful.
On the 24th the Naval siege was raised
by Com. Faragut. and within . few
days his vessels withdrew.
On the Sd of October, General McCler-
nsnd was appointed to the commsnd Of
a Department created expressly to open
up the Mississippi BY the capture Of
Vicksburg. During the winter months
Porter was engaged in fitting ont feet
Of gunboats for operations upon Vicks-
burg.
On the 26th of December. an ex.
pedition under Gen. Sherman. ascended
the Yazoo river about Is miles. Here
the troops landed. and on the following
day they attacked the advanced works
Of the enemy. extending six miles back
of Vicksburg. Meanwhile the gunboats
attacked the batteries on Haines' Bluff
A portion Of the expedition was also
sent out to dastroy the Vicksburg and
Shreveport Railroad, in order to prevent
the arrival of reinforcements.
On the 9th and 2Sth, after q stub
born contest, the Confederstes were driven
from their first and second lines of de-
fence, and the Federals advanced to with
in two-nnd- shalt miles of the city.
On the 29th. the Confederates having
been heavily reinforced from Granada
and along the railroad. attacked Gen.
Sherman with their whole force. and sue
ceedsd in driving him back to his first
line of defence. Gen. Sherman had
counted upon the cooperation Of General
Grant in the attack. but that General had
been compelled to fall hack from Holly
Springs. which not only made it impos-
sible for him to cooperate with Sher.
man, but had given the Confederates
the opportunity Of throwing in the rein
force ements from Granada.
On the LIST Of January. General Sher-
man was superseded 6y General McCler-
nsnd and on the ID, the expedition with
drew from the neighborhood Of Vieks-
burg.
OPERATIONS OF 1853.
Jan. 22d-The feet from Cairo pas.
scd down the Mississippi, and reached
the scene of operations, to cooperate
with the land forces and prosecute the
siege vigorously.
Jan. 30th-General Grant arrives at
the scene of operations and assumes the
chief command. The enemy plants a
battery on the lower end Of the canal to
retsrd the diggers. and prevent the com
pletion of their work.
Feb. 2d.-Ram Queen of the West,
runs the gauntlet Of the Vicksburg bat.
teries, which poured out . furious can.
nonade. She stopped at Vidalis. op-
posite Natcbez. and then proceeded down
the river. scattering terror amongst the
rebel craft, aud creating panic along the
banks on either side the river. She suc.
ceeded in capturing three rebel gunboats,
and nearly destroyed the Confederate war
steamer City of vicksburg.
Feb. 2d.-Preparstions were made to
open the csnsl. and the work pushed for
ward with the utmost dispatch.
Feb. 1Sth.-The gunboat Indianola
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