Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-06-13
THE SIEGE OF vlCKsBURG.
Incidents Of the Campaign.

From the National Encampmcnt, Walnut
Hill, Vicksburg, May 23, the correspondent
of the Cincinnati Gazette gives an interest
ing narrative of the battles preliminary to
the siege In the following, which is part
of the story of the Black-river battle, he
describes
ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANT CHAR
GEs IN HISTORY.
The rebels held position between us and
the bridge naturally strong, but rendered
hundred times stronger by the skiliul plant
ing of ten guns on the elevation separated
from us by one of these everlasting bayous
peculiar to the country. The fate Of the
bridge hung on the possession ol this eevs
ton. The bayou must be crossed. There
is no way to circumvent it; no way to cross
the river but at this spoint LAWYERS brigade
all honor to it lis ordered to carry the
point. They must cross an open field in
front of the bayou; they must swim or wade
through it, and storm the work on the op
poste side. They appeared on the field
the ten guns opened their murderous fire
many noble fellows fell, but the ranks closed
in again, and the column pressed on. 1t
reached the bayou and plunged in solid mass
into the green and stagnant water. Then
followed q double struggle with death in
horrid shape but God was on the side of
the brave patriots who thus impcriled their
lives for their country's sake, and nine
tenths of the encmy's shots fell harmlessly
into the dark and sulcn waters of the deep
bayou The noble brigade reformed, still
under heavy fire. on the other side of the
bayou and dashed upon the rebel work.
The trench was leaped the face of the work
was covered thick with cambering forms,
each with hands uplifted, carrying the dead
ly bayonct The embrasures of the work
were filed with fire and smoke. Grape
canister, and shrapnel hissed like hail
storm around the heads and forms of these
devoted men. A terrific struggle for life
and mastery. A hundred rebels smitten to
the blood dstained earth II hdeous yell for
mercy from the throats of whole brigade
of rebels, and the terribly ly-contestcd place is
ours.
Meantime, the main body of the rebel
force had left the brigade to its fate crossed
the bridge, and left it in flames. The pri-
soncrs aud guns, together with an ammuni-
ton train supplies, and arms were collect
ed, guarded, and sent to the rear, and that
column of our victorious army to which
belonged LAWYERS brigade pressed on to
kcep ptCc Will lHc l)lOSItSS Vi liC otHClS III
their advance upon Nicksburg.
HEROISM ON THE FLED.
In the correspondence of the Cincinnati
Commercial we find the following:
There were many instances of hcroism in
the battle to-day, which ought to enttlc the
actors to the admiration of the country, and
embalm their memories in the heart of every
patriot. Lieutenant Perry, Of the 4ith
Indiana, was with his company under the
hottest fire of the engagement His regiment
occupied such position that his command
was very much exposed, and was suffering
dreadtully. One of his comrades suggested
to him that he ought to avail himself of a
little cover Immediately in his rear. Perry
looked at him calmly but rcsolutely, and
said mo, sir; the 47th never gives back
an inch!" A moment attcrward he was
shot through the heart, and expired without
a groan. Two of his men, on seeing hin,
tal!, wept like children.
The lieutenant colonel of the 10th Mis-
souri, was shot through the heart while way
ing his sword to urge his men forward to Il
charge, which they executed with splendid
success.
An officer was sent to General Logan tC
inquire how the contest was going on in
his front. Logan sent back word, Tel
General Grant that my division cannot be
whipped by all the rebels this side of hell
We are going ahead, and won't stop till We
get orders"
When our left was giving way before the
overwhelming force OF the enemy, IL few mer
became panic-stricken, and it was feared tho
contagion would spread. The colonel o
Gath Indiana rode 10 the rear, having
wound in the hip. IIg rallied the terror
stricken by few words of encouragement
Don't be discouraged, men. They ar,
driving us now, but we'll whip them IL
an hour. We are taking Nicksburg to-day
boys, and il you all do your duty it's bount
to fall"
On the rebel side, an instance of valO
occurred i'll the conduct of Captain Riddle
of Mississippi battery, who remained b,
the side of his guns after all his horses had
been shot and his comrades killed, wound
ed, or routed. lie staid at his post fighting
against an infantry charge with revolver
until pierced by half Il dozen bullets.
BARBARITY OF TIE REBELS.
, In the battle to-day the rebels did no
depart from their uniform practice of bar
barity to our wounded. In more than
twenty instances they bayonctted dubbed
or shot our wounded, who had fallen into
our hands ! saw two or three men dcat
upon the field, who had been shot in til,
ranks, and attcrward run through the brcas
or abdomen with II bayonet, while fount
lying upon the ground or leaning against
tree. Several OF our officers men were wit
nesscs to these inhuman acts. They saw
!, their comrades butchcred, but dare not re
mOnstrate, lest they themselves should shar,
the same fate. On one occasion II regimen
of rebels ran their bayonets through six o
our wounded, after an unsuccessful charg,
, on one of our batteries
TIE METIIODlSTS IN TIE FIGHT.
The cath Iowa is called Il Methodist rcgi
ment. The colonel and several of the cap
tains are Methodist preachers, and amajorit!
of the soldiers are members of the Mctho
dist church. They did some of the bes
fighting If the day, yesterday. They wen
into the battle full of enthusiasm, and no
one of them tlnched during the engagement
Their major was wounded late in the day
lie walked from the field, ana, on his way
to the hospital, captured stalwart Contcd
crate, and compelled him to carry him Il
tho nrnvnst narshals LrnInuartprS II wny