The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-27
"reminiscences Of Gen. Elliott and the
late War---No. 4.
nv A SOLDIER OF HIS REGIMENT.

BY A SOLDIER OF HIS REGIMENT
The memorable assault ON the fortifca-
tion of Vicksburg on the 22d of May will
| long live in the recollection of all that vast
army which shared in it and survived it
Flushed with their victorious progress
through Louisiana and Mississippi, in
which the battles of Port Gibson, Cham
pion Hills, Raymond, Black river bridge
and Others had been fought, followed and
fairly won in quick succession, Grant
hitherto invincible column pushed on to
Vicksburg determined to carry that strong
hold also by storm. As they approached,
the enemy's picket line withdrew after ex-
changing few defiant shots, and on the
Dist the army was in position completely
enclosing the doomed city, and the order
was issued for simultaneous and direct as
SAINT on the ensuing day. Elliott was
fresh from the affair at Black river, where
he had been conspicuous in skilfully una
nruyreing a line of skirmishers, and was
AT once sent to the front to reconnoter the
Ground and obtain the most advanced po-
sition possible Alert and active as ever
he succeeded in reaching a point from
which his sharp-shooters had sllenced an
opposing battery by picking off the men
who worked the guns, when on the night
of the 2lst he was informed of the coming
assault and directed to maintain his posi-
ton and divert the attention of the enemy
from the real movement Night came on
and under its cover he made the most or
his opportunity to protect his men as much
as possible by digging rifle pits, and throw
ing up such rude barriers as could be had
anticipating determined effort in the
morning to dislodge him, But he was not
permitted to enjoy the fruit of his labor -
Before the dawn he and his men were re.
heved, for the purpose of taking the right
Of the regiment and leading the charge L.
a distinction sufficiently gratifying to mill
tary pride but not so cheering to those
who wished to survive and enjoy it. 1t was
however an emphatic tribute to the steadl'
ness of his men under fire, and to the gal
lantry of their leader. AS the hour APP
preached for the signal to be given which
should hurl that grand army against the
impregnabe works of the beleagured city,
the busy hum of preparation gradually sank
into portentous and uneasy 81.
lence, broken only by the subdued
voices of officers, or by the click
of the watches, which told Sc
many of their approaching doom. The
command was to move by column W
through narrow ravine which led to open
ground completely exposed to the entllad
ing fire of fortified and invisible enemy
FROM this point, when reached, the charge
was to be made with fixed bayonets II
such order as the nature of the ground
should admit Of The men fell-in, in light
marching order, stripped of every super
Auous Requirement The hour had come
the signal guns were heard along the line,
and following them the quick decisive
words of command, the deadly rattle o
cold iron, at the order FIX bayonets, y
then, everywhere the increasing hustle anc
rush of vast army in motion. Close
upon this the cheers of men, far and near
mingled with the first grand valley OF ar
tillery and musketry announced the shocl
of battle. As the column OF which Elliot
and his company were the head and from
emerged from the ravine. which had hith
erto sheltered them, except from bursting
shells, it was we'll night swept away by thu
terrific fire which it encountered. WAY
ering but for moment, those who wer
still on their feet rallied from the shock
and pushed on through the leaden rain
Elliott foremost, needless of the scream c
shells or screams of comrades, blind to e,
eryth;ng but the murderous flash an
smoke of the guns which slew them. A
every step their numbers were fewer, thei
fate more certain, the fort seemed NOR
r distant, the hope more forlorn, but tn
, few rushed on into the jaws of death.
..Theirs not to reason why,