Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-09

| day and night, with trains Of mule teams,
| whose number cannot readily be com
puted. At the point where it strikes the
blufs-most happy circumstance 1.-TWO or
three springs of clear water, break out,
and furnish an adequate supply of that
indispensable article; the only drawback
on it being that it is by no means cold.
Having pretty much gone without drink
fer some days, made free use of it.
From hence the road rises rapidly up the
rough hills, urtil after long effort we
reach the top, and from hence for several
miles follow the crests (mere "hogs'
backs'O in all their windings and tucnings,
the route bounded by deep gorges on
! either hand, and then descend into some
what lower grounds, where, after miles of
turnings among ravines, we finally reached
the camp of the 23d Wisconsin, where
most hearty welcome awaited US.
Much of this road is under traitor fire.
and spent balls or fragments of shells not
unfrequently fall in it. Let it be remem-
bered that there is no level country back
of Vicksburg, but high, broken ridges
the country everywhere scarifed by deep
gorges and vertical cuts nothing in Wis.
consin, except the head waters of the La
Crosse, bears any comparis on to it, and
that is tame compared with this The
toughest lands about Blue Mounds are
level by contrast. The wonder here is
not that Vicksburg has not fallen. but
how our army ever reached its present
position. With determined enemy, the
advance might have been delayed for
months. Every ravineis a rife pit; while
every hill is commanded by its neighbor,
each affording perfect screen for sharp
shooters. Let our people take comfort
Johnson cannot relieve Vicksburgh.
In the afterno on, went with Lieut..
Col. Villas, to visit the rifle pits and bat
teries. An incessant cannonade goes on
about all the time, and the roar in the ad-
vance might well disturb a timid mans
nerves. | was duly cautioned to keep
well under cover. The men have knack
of calling out, 'look out there, man was
killed just where you stand, yesterday" or
"the other day." as the case is. AS we
walk along the ditch, the sharp shooters
keep up an incessant fire, and we hear the
sharp whistle of secesh lead. You go up to
embrazures without thinking where you
are, when crash goes off whole battery :;
a great cloud of smoke hides the works
for moment, you put up your head to
peep over, and see a great pile of dirt from
traitor breastwork fly in the air, but you
don't look long. 1t is only rifle range,
and the propensity to ''bob down" is ire
sistabe to a raw hand. Great holes are
torn in their works, and the sharp shoot
ers who line the parallels you see stretch
ing away in front, won't let them fire
cannon, except at long intervals. and then
at proper cost. Ou- men are up within
so yards of their batteries, in one or two
places, and still the ditohing goes on night
and day. There is a whisper-just
whisper-that Gen. Grant will get in, say
about next Sunday. | hope so.
After going long way through the
works, the boys wanted me to get rear
view of the Court House, but the dis
charge of several batteries at the moment
all around me, decided the point; looked
over and saw the steeples, but concluded
it was warmish, and would slightly get
out. We passed into the railroad cut,
keeping closely to the high banks, follow
ing The curve with some care, for partly
silenced battery commands it, and entered
new battery, in which some immense
cannon were being put in position. From
this point we had safer view of the main
rebel works. Our return was through ra-
, vines filled with soldiery, who have liter
ally burrowed into the banks all along the
side nearest the rebel works. My tent is
set up within half mile of rebel battery,
in sheltered spot, so that their hardware
passes over when they fire, and we are
not disturbed by it. On the other side of
the hill, within twenty rods, our batteries
keep up an incessant firing, so much SO
that | have already become so accustomed
E to it as to work up the rolls without the
: least excitement, and while write, the
tent vibrates with the conclusions.
Before leave, want to write you that
Vicksburgh has fallen. The boys are very
comfortable. 1t is much healthier than
: the Mississippi bottoms-the water is toll.
erable-the air clear, cool and bracing so
far, but hot day in these narrow gorges
must be very oppressive. -.aa
June 19th.-I wrote the above two days
ago. Nothing new has occurred. Oul
:: parties hourly gain on the rebel works. L
is definitely ascertained that they are re
duced to nine ounce rations of meal ant
; peas mixed, and that the supply, must b.
5 totally exhausted on or before the 18th o
July. The cannonading goes on uninter
J ruptedly dag and night. I am in ravin
II only half mile from the rebel works
u The way the shells pass over at times can
; be beat. An immense affair came owe
- about an hour ago, and hit the bank o
~ the opposite side from my tent, about tie
. rods off, but did not explode. The boy
\ picked it up, and if l can will bring
d. up / have paid two regiments and ha1
IL Ill ~