Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-05-19
Letter from DR.. j. w. Angel.
PERKINS PLANTATION, VA. q miles
below Vicksburg, april 2Tt '6S.

part OF the kingdom OF Dixie.
We reached this place last evening on
board the steamer Empire State, one Of
the second ira sports that run the block
ade Of Vlcksburg. Our passage on board
was not lengthy, having embarked at one
o'clock yesterday at place known here as
Smiths Plantation, situated about three
miles in direct line west of the Mississip-
| pi on Roundaway Bayuo; but in order to
reach that point required 10 miles Of nayi-
cation through uncultiyaled forests and
over cotton plantations. To give you any
idea of the difficulties of navigating a
steamboat through such narrow channel
as We were obliged to pass, would be more
difficult than interesting, therefore ] will
refer you to the descriptions published in
the New York papers of the SteeFs expe-
dition through the Yazoo pass, which ours
resernbled perfectly. save in distance and
guerrilla raids. We came into the Mis-.
sissippi about ten miles above this place,
and hailed the appearance of the old river
once more, with three as hearty cheers as
ever came from the Threats of any other
one thousand men that ever foated on
| his bosom. We left the river at MIlliken
Bend, % miles above Vickshurg, on the
14th of April, and had made two encamp-
meuts before taking the steamer. Our
route lay through section of country
highly cultivated. and marked by the loca-
ton, at about five miles apart, of planters
prncely residences which were surrounded
with all the evidences of great wealth, and
all the Injuries that wealth can give, or
refined taste desires Attached to each
plantation are the negro cabins arranged
in rows at one side of the planters palace
and all bearing the same style of archi-
lecture, and invariably white-washed.
Their appearance at distance is pictur-
esque, aud gives US the idea of small VII
lage of peaceable citizens on some of our
Northern prairies, for the ground is in
veriably level, low and wet, especially wet
just now. The whole region of country
about here for miles and miles back of the
river, with the exception ola narrow strip
along the Roundaway Bayou (which We fol-
lowed DOWN is now completely overflow.
ed in consequence of our operations at
Lake Providence and at Young's Point.
The road from MilI.ken's Bend along the
levee of the Bayou above mentioned, was,
when we came overit, one complete mud
hole, but our Engineer Corps have begun
operations, and have thrown up turn
pike and covered it with rails and dirt, so
that now it is quite preferable, our di-
vision being the tenth. and the reserve Of
this EXPEDITION. was in the rear Of the two
divisions that had the advance and conse-
quently we found the roads most horri-
Sly cut up. However we managed to
work through, and are being followed by
three or fur more who will have full
as rough roads as we have, notwithstand-
ing the Engineer Corps.
Well. we are down here as said before,
81 miles below Vicksburg, with a pretty
heavy force and with eight gunboats, seven
or eight transports, and our destination is
to attack Grand Gulf, situated on the OPP
posite side of the river about twenty miles
below this; and as | have received orders
from the Medical Director, DIR. McGrew
to be in readinss to march at moments
notice, and TO be well supplied with all
things needful for the care of wounded
men. | presume that the result Of the
whole expedition will be known to you long
before this letter reaches you, if it ever
does. II we succeed in taking Grand Gulf,
Vicksburg will soon be in our possession
and, | think, without further fighting but
if we are repused we shall be in rather
critical position, for we shall be cut off
from retreat the way we came, 10 conse-
quence of the water falling, whichit is now
doing at the rate of six inches day. We
shall then have tc remain here until some
other plan is adopted. But we all have
full confidence in our Generals, and be-
ieve that we shall finally succeed, not
doubling but that General Grant is capa
BILE Of accomplishing whatever be under
takes, especially now that he hos so many
transports and gunboats here, and SO many
men at his command. Gov. Yates is here,
and In his address to the troops assured
them that in less than two weeks every
man OF this army that should be alive,
would be in Vicksburg and in full posses
sion of it. somewhat doubt his prediction
but only as 10 time. The place in which
we now are, is quite an elevation for this
section Of Uncle Sans domain,for it would
be dry underfoot now had it not rained
pretty steadily for the last twenty-four
hours. Our men disembarked last night
IN one Of the heaviest thunder-storms Of
the season, but they were fortunate in find
ing some empty tents close by which shell e
tered them from the storm, while the OH
GERS remained on board.
The 23d Wisconsin has seen and done
some hard fighting and are c,lled by Cen
Burbridge, in whose brigade they are, the
best drilled. disciplined and fighting regl-
ment in the whole division. Col. Guppey
is every inch soldier and a gentleman,
and is almost idolized by every man in the
regiment. 1t. COL Villas and Major Hill
are also highly esteemed by both officers
and men and though from battles, SICK
II. 0oJ Ky,-norssp "a "a