Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-08-19
Gen. Grants Report OF Operations against
Wick sbnrg.

"eA' "fahi kePert OF Operations against
! SieksbHrg.
The following synopsis of Gen GIANTS of.
iiclal report OF his operations against Vicks-
| burg contains matters Of interest not referred
I to IN the regular telegraphic report:
Gen, Grant states that, from the moment
| ne TOOK the command in person, he became
! satisfied inst Nicksburg could only be turned
from the south side, and in accordance with
| that conviction, sc prosecuted the work on
the canal across tie peninsula on the Louisi-
ana side Of the river. He gives details OF the
| operations on the canal and of the failure in
sending naval expedition through Back
Bayou. From the time the order was given
to occupy New Carthage, and run the army
| by Nicksburg on transports under protection
| OF Porter's fleet, to the landing at Bruinsburg.
| the operations detailed at length Upon
| a call for volunteers for crews for the vessels
about II run by the batteries, Gen. Grant
says that, for this dangerous enterprise, off
GERS and men presented themselves By hun
dreds anxious to undertake the trip.
The march TO Grand Gnlf and thence to
Jackson, and thence to Yicksburg, including
various battles, are also detailed, in which is
| shown Grants knowledge of the enenlv's
forces and position, even to the fact that be-
| fore reaching VickSburE, Joe Johnston had
ordered Pemberton TO come out and attack
Grants army in the rear, which resulted in
| battle of four hours at Edwards Station. de-
| teating the enemy. OF the continued march
| to the front of the enemy's works at Vicks-
burg, nothing is added not known already.
OF the assault on the works, Grant saws
that the assault was gallant in the extreme
on the part of all the troops, but the enemy's
position was too strong, both naturally and
artifcially, to be taken IN that way No one
succeeded in entering the enemy's works but
Sergeant Griffin of the Dist Iowa Regiment
ana some eleven prIyates,-none returning
but one man. 1t was during this assault that
Gen. McClernand sent dispatches to Gen.
Grant that he held two OF the enemy 5 forts
and requesting a diversion by Sherman
Gen. Grant says: " The position occupied bv
me during most of the time Of the assault gave
me better opportunity of seeing what was
going ON in front of the 18th Crops than be-
lieved it possible for a commander to have.
| could not see his possession of the forts nor
necessity tor relntOrcements as represented in
his dispatches, and expressed doubts of their
correctness, which doubts facts subsequently,.
but too late confirmed but, at the time, |
could not thus regard his reiterated state
ments, Tor they might possibly be true, and
that not possible opportunity of CARRYING
the enemy's stronghold should be allowed TO
escape through fault of mine | ordered a di-
version, which was promptly and vigorously
made, and resulted in the increase of our
mortality list full fifty per cent, without ad-
vaneing our position or giving us other advan-
tage."
Gen. Grant details the surrender and saws
that the terms agreed upon he regarded as
more favorable 10 the government than I'M
conditional surrender as it saved the trans
portation, wh.h was limited on the river
then, OF the rebel army, and left his forces to
move on Johnston.
Col. Grierson's raid was made by Grants
Instructions and is regarded by the latter as
the most brilliant of the war
After acknowledging the cooperation of
the navy, the report concludes thus "The
result of this campaign has been the defeat
OF the enemy in five battles outside of Yicks-
burg, the occupation of Jackson the capital
OF the State, and the capture of Nicksburg
its garrison, and munitions of war; a loss 10
the enemy of $4,000 prisoners, among whom
were fifteen general officers; at least 10000
killed and wounded, and among the killed
were Generals Tracy, Tghlman, and Green,
and hundreds and perhaps thousands Of strag-
glers, whe can never be collected and reor-
ganlzed Arms and munitions of war for an
army OF $4,000 men have fallen into our
hands; besides large amount Of other pub
lie property, consisting of railroad locomo-
tives, cars, steamboats, cotton, &c; and much
was destroyed TO prevent its capture. Our
up as follows: Port Gibson, killed $50,
wounded rs, missing ) Fourteen Mile Greek
sl>irmish, killed 4, wounded 4, missing none
Raymond, killed 90, wounded 81, missing 80
Jackson, killed 10, wounded 240, missing 6
Champion Hills, killed 426, wounded / ,S42,
missing 189; Big Black Railroad Bridge,
killed %, wounded 242, missing ,; Vicksburg,
killed 545, wounded 3,GSS missing SOB
Total killed, 1922 wounded, 1895 missing,
OBJ Of the wounded many were but slightly
wounded and continued on duty Many more
required but a few days or weeks for their
recovery. Not more than one-half of the
wounded were permanently disabled.
" In all former reports have failed to make
mention OF Co. A, 18th Illinois Cavalry Vol
untccrs. Capt. l.. ID. 0sband, commanding
this company, has been on duty with me, as
escort, since November, 1861, and in every
engagement l have been in since that time,
rendered invaluable service, attracting gen
eral attention for their exemplary conduct,
soldierly bearing, and promptness. 1t would
not be overstating the merits of this company
to say that many Of them would fill with
credit any position ia cavalry regiments" !