The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-08-22
THE vICKsRURG CAMPAIGN.
BIC BLACK RIVER BRIDGE l
MrSsIssIPPi. Aug. 8, 'b3.

MIS6ISfIFfIs 49, J
TprroR GATE Cry Bat few persd ms
in tho North have any idea of the mag
nltude Of the Nieksburg campaign 1t |
CONNER ced in December last Sorhe idea !
o! its magnitude may be had by locking !
at the map Of Mississippi. Take start
at d lta, eight miles below Helena, and |
trace TIE river to fsTutnsbuFg, nine miles 7
below Grand Gulf, thence diagonally 10
Brook haven, sixty miles south OF JAG K
son, thence little east OF north TO Bran
don, fifteen cast of jackson, thence, via
Grenada, 10 the confluence of the Talia
hatchie and Cyldwater rivers, thence back
10 D.ta. TIE scope of country thus
bounded contains many thousand square
miles, which is now completely at our
command. While our friends at the
North are rejoicing with us over this brill.
liant victory. brief description OF our
trials and and suiferings in it. accom-
piishment might not come amiss IL for no
other purpose than to show the dasardly
irgratltude OF the craven hearted wretch
G who, by their opposition 10 the policy
of the Administration, have been endcr'
ing aid aad comfort TO the enemy IN our
front The historian who in after years
attempts 10 write the account will scarce
Is dare to risk his character for veracity
BY giving plain statement OF facts i
This rs, therefore, placed on recosi while
thousands are alive wh@ean testify to lis
truth.
The account here given will be taken
from the 30th Iowa regiment as stand
point la company with the other regl-
ments We were crowded on transports on
the "a day of December. I2GR.- snd
p'vouaccu Iii the rain, on the 18th we
were m easy range OF the enemy al day,
or Tie 29th under fire five hours and a
hilf without chance to return shot. fell
back at dark, and worn out, threw our
seyes down to rest on beds of eockle
burrs. while cold rain fell in torrents,
NJ shelter over us except the angry sky.
The morning Of the Saith it was apparent
TO every observer that on that night the
seeds OF death had been sown in the hearts
OF many brave fellows. The enemy had
been heavily reinforced and we had to re-
treat. Again we were put on trans ports,
n go up the fazoo and Storm Haines
Bluff We wee deserted by the boa tmen
aud the expedition failed. On the morn
lng OF the q OF January IL was discovered
that there was case ofsmsli pox on Board.
" were then transferred 10 the DECATUR
aud started up the Mississippi for Arkansas
Ioot, where we landed on the 1Oih of Jan
uary aud marched twenty four hours thro'
mud and water, through swAmps from six
lnph2. In ~ Il
but holly contested engagement. We cap.
tured r. Eindman, aud stood guard oven
the prisoners all night on the I2th, ma
king 48 houfs without sleep OnIy part,
OF the troops Were embarked on The might
OF the 18th, when snow fell to the dep,h |
OF six inchrs. On rtbr II Tn wc stf rted
down tho river for Vcksburu. with
40 sick crowded In the cabin. Toadd bor-
ror to this scene Of misery the small pox
broke ou, in our midst, aud all TIRES Of
oar Surgeons were taken sick On, the
I'D landed at Young Point, aud on of
seven hupdfeI and sixty men but one
hundred aud fifty were able TO marchItwo Il
mics to the camp assigned US. We then /
had u build nearly two miles or corduroy
road before we could get our provisions 10 /
US. SICKNESS .lneE4sss ~ h,lrualyiy r, T.,
duty Death had become SO freun.nt
vls'tor that he had lost his terrors f,r ns
Mamps, measles, small pox, pneumonia
aha nearly all the Ills flesh is heir 10 wern
our Constant companions Men se.rrcIo
care promise Tor the morrow. We vpai, 4
kne" iIat when We laid down AZ ,,oh, a.. 4
Lad SEEN for the last time in lts snm. 4
comrade aud friend Pest houses a,d
s'ch.camps were put up in all directions 1!
he ti2ht was made hldeous bp The IL.
alhe cftes OF men crazed by fever. Here
one CA lug on God, there one. In hear.
ieha'nG cries, calling "matherw ..motb
er' Until has voice WIS hushed in dpslh
Inc sttoug nen wepl n children, When
our e5cs were htiei u the (,od of A.
miners 'i,e heavens Sc med brass over our
heads No CLEAN Of il.ht. ma bona ~
comfort From the 25l of Jannpr, ~
the lst OF April il rained thlrty-ooe 4,
The rising river drove u from ~,
to another foating up our dead UNA III
sight of dead bodies became .suil,,, IL
lects La all directions could be sem
heads, hands OF feet above The sor(acc n
the water. The leyee was then used al
buria place until it was strung with crave.
f9r Twelve miles. Teams frcuuentl, su II
,nto the gtaves, dragging up decaylng
II sti and bones. The water still kent
onVius US uEti We were forced ON 10 Tile