Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-07-10
A Barton Boy before Vicksburg,


VICKsBURG, MISSISSIPPI,
June 9th, 1868.
BRO. JAMES IL wrote to brother
Chase the 9Th Of May, since then we
have been very busily engaged in NOV
ing and fighting. Our Division forms
part of the line which surrounds the
enemy's works We are on the extreme
left, and are on the lines just about l-2
of the time, oil "a hours out Of 48. |
have just come off from the lines, and
avail myself of tie opportunity to write,
hoping it may go up the river in the
course of the week. Grant and his
army have, during the last month, done
all that could be expected He has
taken Ga pieces Of field and siege guns
and 5000 prisoners, and | judge about
20 deserters come over TO our lines daily.
Il speak only of facts. Reports have
il ITO pieces and much larger number
of prisoners. The weather is extreme
Iy warm, averaging about 81 to over 100
degrees midday. The country here-a-
bout is entirely of hills, with now and
then valleys but little wider than road.
The soil is sandy and abound with an
insect. Ct think which is called chin
cores.) They are within the dense cane
brakes, and are about the size Of the
point of sewing needle, covering one
all over with sores. Until day before yes
terday suffered much, and found the
remedy to be sweet oil applied external
ly, in which they can not work. The
lines around this place are Is miles or
more. The army here is probably |
about one-halt what you Eastern people |
think it to be. ] judge with the late re-
Inducements there are no more than
10000 fighting men, and with this num-
Der this place is invested. The rear II
miles distant, at Black water or River
Bridge, other roads and the Yazoo River
is protected, and if the enemy come
down upon US from the East in too great
numbers, what we must do is evident to
US all, however terrible it seems to US
nearly one halt of the troops around this
place and perhaps more must fall in
storming the enemys works. II needs
be, twill be the last resort, and blame
not our Generals. They have acted
wisely and nobly,-Brayely. The fault
is in not putting the drafting law in force
months ago, so that all the old troops
could have been sent to this place, and
the rear protected by new regiments.
In that case, this ungody work of taking
works which have been two years in
construction would not have been neces-
sary,-I still have hopes it will not be
necessary. II Hooker with his 10000
heroes can keep the Virginia rebel army
there, and Washington safe, and Bragg's
army happens to stay where it is, we
will not storm the works otherwise,
am fearful we will. Vicksburg will
be taken anyhow, and have no doubt
they would surrender within two weeks
without such sacrifice on our side il {,
we had men sufficient to protect the
rear and hold the place till their pro- r
visions are exhausted. They are now
living upon pea meal m liked with
corn meal, and one half pound of beef, !,
or one-fourth pound of pork per day to
a man. They have turned loose from
their works towards our lines, all their ,
mules, horses and Nggers. They fully !.
realize the importance of the place to
them, and, | doubt not, will make almost
any sacrifice to save it. The oannona-
ding has been terrible by US at times.
But the rebels live in caves to such ex-
tent that 1t is not believed the place can /,
be taken in that way. You may wonder =,
how the rebels are kept from opening ;;
heir guns and sending grape and can =.
mister shells into our ranks. 1t is done
by our keeping them from loading their
guns, and keeping them from showing
themselves over their works, where we
ire near them, and where our lines are
behind hills, we are in part at their mer- :
y ,leu agaiu, every lime they open )"
upon our lines the gun-boats and mortars q
attend TO them until they cease. We q
are losing but few men, and in all the "a
lights from Grand Gulf to jackson. and 'e
N returning taking Black River Bridge N
md Haines Bluff, the loss of killed and al
wounded was much less than in one of ia
bose battles where they slaughter men
0 no earthly purpose Cd the Rappahan- is
lock every few months. We are in no d"
'ery comfortable condition, as well as I
he enemy, having but one shirt TO our
JACKS, clothes torn, ragged and dirty. er
Without tents, except a few old Aaes gu
gathered up from rebel encampments, ell
md but few cooking utensils and but tn
lille 10 cook. Snn.,;.... -,