The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-12
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT


above the rife-,its long enough at time
% fire at this little band of valiant soldiers.
The storming party looked in vain for
The support which had been promised it.
The brigade which had been ordered to
follow it hesitated. Finally, all but one of
the hundred and fifty got discouraged, and
sought the shelter OF deep ravine. Will
liam Trogden, private of Company B,
9Th Missouri, refused to retrace single
step. He was color-bearer of the storming
party. When his comrades left him, he
dug hole in the ground with his bayonet,
planted his flagstaff in it, within twenty
yards of the enemy's ride-pits, and sat
down by the side of his banner, where he
remained all day. Blair's men finally made
a charge, but we're repulsed with terrible
loss.
Gen. Tuttle's division joined in the as
sault on the right, but shared the fate
which befell the others-was repulsed.
THE RESULT.
I have attempted no heightened descrip-
ton of the carnage near Vicksburg on the
22d, for the reason that nothing occurred
during the day, a description of which
would be more interesting because more
detailed. 1t was nothing more than a
single charge of the enemy's works, which
should have been simultaneous, but was
not. 1t was unsuccessful and disastrous,
whether from bad management or disObe-
dience of orders on the part of those to
whom high commands were intrusted, or
from the dreadful character of the work
to be performed, will not attempt to de-
eide. There appears to have been want
of cooperation between subordinate and
superior officers and commands. Storm
ing parties went CALAMITY forward, but
were left to perish for want Of support.
Regiments and brigades advanced nObly,
but only to be disappointed in their ex-
pectations of receiving success and help.
The result of the battle has been disas-
trous to us in the loss Of nearly two thou
sand brave men. We have lost no ground
and the army is not demoralized, by its
recent failure to take the strongest forti-
fed position in the South The rebels, no
doubt, feel encouraged in their success in
keeping us from their works, and this feel
ing may operate against us in dispelling
the gloom and dependency which could
not but prevail in an army routed for the
fifth successive time, as the rebels were at
Big Black River.
OUR LOSS.
A correct estimate of our loss on the
22d will place the figures at about 1900
killed and wounded. It is impossible to
get an accurate statement so soon after
the engagement. l find disposition on
the part of every command to exaggerate.
At several division hospitals heard yes
terday of thousand killed and wounded,
when less than two hundred would cover
their loss. Our loss on the 22d was much
less than at Champion Hills on the 18th,
but includes large number of field and
company officers, from the fact that the
rebels at Vicksburg hadIa chance to "pick
their men," which they did not have to
such an extent on the 10th, when they
had to meet US on more equal terms.
Under cover of breast-work there was
nothing to hinder the rebels from select
ing the leaders of our infantry columns
as they marched up in face of their deadly
fire.
The rebel loss was trifing, how much 1
cannot say, but probably less than one
fourth of ours. Two companies of the 9TH
Missouri were taken prisoners. This in
cludes all of our captured, believe, ex-
cept those of our wounded who fell into
their hands on the Notifications.
PROSPECTIVE.
A second attempt to take Vicksburg by
assault will not be made, I think. The
place can be reduced in short time, and
at very small sacrifices of life, by regular
approaches, and that plan will probably be
adopted by General Grant. Tostarve out
the garrison would be long and tedious
operation, and the attempt, if made, might
not be successful in the end. The rebels
are reported to have six weeks full supply
in Vicksburg. By putting their men on
short allowance they can make this last
them twelve weeks or longer. There is
not much danger OF an attack in the rear.
A bearer of rebel dispatches was captured
day or two since on his way to jackson,
with message from Pemberton to Gen.
P. G. Lee, advising him not to attack
Grant in the rear with force of less than
$4,000 men. The rebels cannot muster
any such force within three weeks in this
department. Loring has 10000 badly
frightened men at Hazlehurst, and other
small bodies may be collected to make an
aggregate of 10000, but no larger army
than that can be raked outside of Vicks.
burg without Withdrawing troops from
Virginia or Tennessee.
All the seriously wounded in the late
engagement are being sent to Memphis,
where abundant hospital accommodations
will be provided for them.
The negro pioneer corps of Logan's d.
vision, 18th Army Corps, stood fire admir-
ably on the 22d. They worked all day
in front of one of our batteries which was
continually engaged, and exposed to the
fire of rebel artillery and sharpshooters.
Ont of about forty, one was killed and
three wounded. One darkey was struck
on the head, but his Uranium was so hard
that the bullet glanced, producing only
slight wound. He tied his handkerchief
around his frontal turret, and kept on
working as merrily as ever. There was
no evidence of fright or panic exhibited
by any of them during the day.
Gen. Grant had several narrow escapes
from bullets and grapeshot, but exhibited
a total Indifference to miss of three inch
es from his head. He is certainly censur-
able for the manner in which he exposed
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