The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-08-04

Mcphorson was placed by Gen. Grant IN
command Of thu Seventeenth army corps
which embraced three divisions oi lh'
fantry and a brigade Of cavalry IN the
field aud all the forces in the district OF
Corin,h. Dnrinp the remainder OF the
winter he was employed in organizing
this force and in changing us posltoh
from the east to west side OF tho mlss's-
sipp river.
During the month Of March, 1863, Con.
,,oss confirmed tho Presidents appoint.
ncnt of Gen. Mcpherson 10 the rauk OF
major uen. OF volunteers, from Oeto'
her. 1869. On the Goth Of March, 1868,
Grants army began its movements along
Tho western shore of the Mississippi, so
IS To get below vicksburg, aud In short
time Cen. McPherson's corps was at
New Carthage, La, nearly opposite
Grand Gulf Tho march had been per
formed over very hard roads, aud Mt times
il became necessary to drug the wagons
hv hand. In due time the whole army
was pu, into position, and on the 5Oth oi
Aprii, 1863, crossed 10 the NicksDurg
aide of the river. Part Of his forces were
engaged at the battle OF Port ulOsOn,
Nav /. and by indiciOus disposition oi
these troops, under the immediate super
vision OF Gen. McPhcrson'n poSNloh was
soon obtained, giving the UnIoh troops
nm advantage which soor drove the enemy
from that part of the field, TO make no
mrthcr stand south OF Bayou Picrre'
Hinder the direction Of Gen mcfhersoh
The bnyou was brdgcd and crossed ny the
Seventeenth corps, aud the enemy pur
surJ. On the 7th Of May the bdvuhce
wns order d, Gen. McPhcrson's corps
kecpinp tho ruad neurest the Black
river, after which he led the ocVnnce
towards Jacl son, Miss. lie met the en-
my ut Raymond un May l2th, en-, ngeu
him, and after several hours hard hghung
drove him, with heavy loss, towards Jack'
son. He moved tie next day to Clinton
DESTROYED the railrOad nd telegraph, ana
,cnplured =, me important dispatches from
Gen. pcmbcrton. On the ldth he moved
tow ards Jackson. marching about four.
teen miles duringa terrific storm, and
cnunpcJ the r, bcls before that city nt
nb"ut noon. The bulk Of tho rebel force
attacked McPhcrsob's column, and he,
without further AID thnn the moral sup.
porl of having cu.Opcrat ng furce on the
south side, defeated them, with serious
d mugc. Next duy he returned to Ciir-
ton aud moved towards Bolton, wher,
| his pioneer corps reconstructed ihe ruuu
| for the passage Ol the troops. Az Chum
mons Hill, on May 10, all that could he
called bate was fought by Gen. Nc
pherson's corps aud Que other division
after which he pushed on aud crossed the
Black river above The Jackson road. In
the assault upon the works of V cksburgl
IN May ~, McPhcrsons corps gained
great motor s'y ior bravery. The assault
failing, n regular siege was instituted
curing which the splendid engineering
qualities Of General Mcpherson were
brought into play. Tho siege lnstcd I'M
III July 4, 1863, when the place was sur.
rendered, alter having been undermined
and the works partially blownup
When the ofrtr was mude for q
surrender, aud officers were chosen OF
both sides to consider the terms of capi
tuation, General Mcpherson was select
cd by General Grant TO act Ms secon,
with him in the cupilulniion, General A
J. Smith being the thlrd ON the part o
the United States army.
Aenin, when the army of Occupation
WIS formed for the purpose of entering
the city, on July 4,lS63, Gen. Mcpherson
wus the only corps commander that en-
tered vcksLurg with tho troops, The
So oction beng made in consequence q
the superior conduct Of his forces during
the s'egc. He was then placed in com
mamd of new district, donominatcd the
Dislrict al Vicksburg, which embraced .
tract of country having thut citv ~ it'
cnntrc. Here Tor timo he rested after
the orduous labors he had performed dur
ing the siege.
Wuen Gin. Grant recommended hi
various ,fliccrS to the government tu
promotion iurlheir services at Vicksburg
he wrote MS follows about General Nc
PhCrsou
'lIc has brcn with me in every battl,
since the eommencrn ent OF the rebellion
except belmont. At Forts Henry an,
| Donclson, Shiloh aud the siege of Cor
inlh, ns staff ,iliccr aud engineer, hi'
services were conspicuous aud highly
meritorious. At the second battle u
Curnth his skill us soldier was display
ed in successfully carry Ing reinforcement
to the bcsicgcd garrlson,whcn the encm!
was between him aud the point To- b.
reached. In the advance through Cen
trail Mississippi Gen. M,Phcrson com
IN ndcd one wing Of the army with al
ability possible TO show, he having thu
lead in the advance and the rear retiring
In the campaign and siege terminating
with the ia ol Vicasburg, Gen. McPher
son has filed conspi' uous part. Al th'
battle oi Port Gibson il was under his
direction that the enemy was driven, late
in the afternoon, from a position they
had succeeded in holding all day ogains
an obstinate attack, Ills corps, the Gd
vance aloays under his immediate eye
were tho pioneers in the movement iron
Port Gibson 10 llAwkinsou's ferry. From
the North Fork OF the Bayou Pierre 3
Black river II was a constant skirmish
the whole skilfully managed The encm.
was so closely pressed us to be unable L
destroy tleir bridge OF boats after them
From lBWkinsOn's Ferry TO Jaskson III
Seventeenth army corps march roads no
travelled BY any other troops, hghun
the entire battle Of Raymond alone, an
{ the bulk of Johnson's army was Tough
by this corps, entirely under the manage
mcnt OF General Mcpherson. At Cham
lpion'S Hill the Seventeenth corps an
G sersl Mcpherson were conspicuous
Allthat could he termed battle thcr
was fought by the divisions of Gcncrl
McPhersons corps aud General ilovey'
division of the Thirteenth corps, in III
as,ault Of the 22d OF May on the fortio'
tons ofVicksburg, and during the entir
, siege, General Mcpherson aud his con
/ msnd took unlsding laurels. lie Is os
/. Of the a6lesi engineers aud most skiifl
. generals. ! would respectfully, b'
( urgently recommend his promotion
:. the position of Brigadier General in Il
regular army" Il is not TO be wonders
a al, that after so high and distinguished
b. recomme ndation, the appointment
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