Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-09-26

was assigned to the task not only o.
exploration, but of the building o.
roads and cutting a way across thii
peninsula for the army to pass. L
was a Herculean piece of work to as
sign any man, but
HICKENLooPER WAS EQUAL TO IT.
For two weeks he lived in boats
"dug-outs" and canoes; at times
wading waist deep in the swamps
forcing his way through the en-.
tangled and poisonous vines, throw
ing pontoOns across the bottomless
bayOus, making miles of corduroy
roads over the miry swamps and mo-
rass, and cutting roads through dense
forests. l can never forget that
toilsome march; nor will 1 ever cease
to wonder at the engineering skill OF
General Hiekenlooper and one or two
others, which made a passage way
for Grants immense army through
those swamps of tanglewood, and
across the innumersbie bayous;
through a country, in fact, that in
some portions had never before
known the presence of man.
ENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENTS
On that fearful march should stand
out in golden and never-fading let
ters, and to the services then render
ed by Hickenlooper did General
Grant owe to a great extent his sue
cess in capturing Vicksburg. And
yet, except in the official reports, and
in the army, this remarkable work
of Hickenlooper's was not known OF
ever heard of. But the soldiers in
that army heard of him, admired
him and knew the importance of the
work he accomplished. In its results
it was greater than winning a battle.
On the SOth of April we reached
Hard Times Landing, a point on the
Louisiana side of the river a few
miles below Grand Gulf. Grand
Gulf, situated at the junction of the
Big Black and Mississippi Rivers,
presented a river front almost as for
midable as Vicksburg, but the steam
transports that had safely passed
Vicksburg, covered by our irOnclads
also passed in safety these fortiica-
tions, and were soon anchored at
Hard Times, and rapidly loading
with troops. Boat load after boat
load of soldiers were ferried across
the river to the little town of Bruins
burg, Miss. All night long, the
night of April 80, did these trans
ports puff and work away, embark
ing and disembaEking troops. Gen.
Bowen, of the rebel army, command
eG a considerable force at Grand
Gulf. Our landing on his left and
in his rear compelled him to evacu-
ate that point and fall back to Port
Gibson. At o'clock in the morning
of May l, the command "Forwardp
was given, and we started again on
the march for Vicksburg. We were
without knapsacks, tents, provisions,
baggage or membranes of any
kind, prepared, in fact, to fight our
way through to Vicksburg, and
while doing so expected to live on
the country. The march had hardly
commenced until the skirmishers
found the enemy, and skirmishing
was kept up until we discovered the
rebels in force on the hills of Port
Gibson, commanded by General
Bowen.
Our Corps, the Thirteenth, became
engaged first, but finding it impossi-
BILE to dislodge the enemy, the Sew
enteenth, under Mcpherson, soon
came to our assistance. General
Hickenlooper says that he was rid
ing out with Mcpherson. They heard
distinctly the roar Of the cannon and
musketry in front,and knew the bat
tie was raging. Just then they en-
countered Generel Grant, and Grant
said to Mcpherson, "Mack, the boys
are pegging away over there, but
don't seem to be making the rifle.
Go over and see what you can do"
''Maek," accompanied by Hicken-
lOoper and staff, soon came up on the dou-
ble quick with division to help US out.
The engagement was severe one, lasting
nearly all day, but the enemy was finally
driven from their position, through the
town and across suspension bridge that
crossed Bayou Pierre. We wentinto camp
for the night. The next day Mcpherson
took the advance. Hickenlooper threw
the PontOOn bridge across Bayou Pierre
and the army passed over. The rebels re-
treated toward Raymond, skirmishing and
making feints. This lasted for two or
three days. On the afternoon Of May 12,
we came up with the rebels, who had taken
a position on a piece of high ground just
south of Raymond.
Mcpherson deplOyed his advance rapid
ly and began to attack. The contest rag
ed for four hours, or until sunset, when
the "rebs" again fell back.
In both these engagements Hickenloo-
per was conspicuous for his daring bravery
and for the skillful manner in which he
placed and managed his artillery. In sp-
he was then but boy, and al
most one in years, and attracted universal
by hissmOOth, youthful face.