The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-17
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Oar Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
rhe slege ana oartnre Of rieksburg.


About the Goth of January 1868. General Grant
stationed a portion OF BIS army-the Fifteenth
Corps and perhaps others-on Young Point, La,
JUS Opposite the city OF NleksDurg. ana on the
morning of the 2Sth We commenced 20 dig what Is
known the Nieksburg canal The writer was
OF the first detail sci TO accomplish that dls-
agreeable task. The enterprise progressed rather
SLOWLY for soldiers are not experts with the spade,
except where there Is danger, and they want 10
construct something 10 protect them rom the enc
my's balls. Then they work with a VIII.
To give the reader a better understanding OF the
situation, 1 viii first give brief description OF
Houng's Point and klel1sburg- Imagine the Point
shaped like a horseshoe. with Nicksburg opposite
the toe. the Mississippi River separating them
the canal which was seven-eightlIs OF a mile in
length extending across the point ut the heel of
theshoe. The distance 10y the river from the mouth
of the canal around this point was about SIX miles
The object Of the canal was TO pass the gunboats
and transports below Viclsburg without subject
ing them 10 the heavy fire of the Confederate bat
teries along the NlcksbuFg shore. Owing To a sud-
den rise OF the river, the Ieyee formed by digging
the canal washed away aier the mann leNeS
was cut TO let the water of the river through the
canal. The break occurred about p. M, ana
the army that camped along the canal had to
tear up camp and move up on the lcvee. the
morning fo6nd us with the river on one SIDE ana
about nine feet of water covering our old camp
ground on the other. Thus the possibility OF get
ting the feet below Viclsburg through the canal
had 10 be given UP. There was but one other way
left. and that to take the main river
and face the tremendous fire of all the bat
teries along the NicisJUrg shore. These batteries
extended from the shore back for about half a
mile. the ground gradually rising Thus, the guns
IN the could shoot over those IN front. Many
of these ssnns nine and eleven inch cailber,
and czasenlaied besides. Thus II would almost
seem utter impossibility for anything short
OF the mOst formidable guBboat 10 stand the re OF
all these guns and that too, ior distance OF about
three miles. But not ONLY did the gunboais OF Por-
ters fleet pass this iicTy ordeal, but seven wooden
transports also.
The first 20 undertake this perilous voyage was
the ram Queen of the West, stern-wheel
transport which had been slightly remodeled and
provided with heavy iron or steel prowi capable
drumming into any wooden boat and sinking 1T, 1t
derived the name OF ram. On or about the LIST OF
April Just about the break of day. she seen to
pas the mouth of the canal and steam along down
the river towards Nicksburs When within range
OF the batteries they opened fire on her. but tlis
only caused her 10 increase her speed, and when
she rounded the Point and WAS in front of the city
and amid the iiercest lire of the batteries. she put
on all the steam she could stand and turned her
prov direct for the Nicksourg a side wheel trans
port which the Jonnies had at the wharf and were
converting into gunboat With full head OF steam
she sent her PROV with crash into the side OF the
Vcsbur. thus completely spelling the calculations
fthe reb,.s far using her for gunboai IN the
near future was concerned Al tins critical juno
ture accident happened which came near put
ting an end to the ram as well TO the helpless
Vicksburg. Asshe struck the Nicksburg the rebels
on board commenced to throw lighted balls of
undertaking Tor something OF the kind saturated
with tuFlDeItlne hoping 10 sci the Nlcsbur on IRE,
and these by some accident set fire TO the cotton
bales which were dashed the side of the
exposed to the batteries. The situation of affairs
became desperate, but brave men were there who
did moi seem to know what fear meant and had no
iBteftion Of falling into the clutches OF the enemy
up 10 swing around IN the current again the
blazing cotton bales cut loose and fell IN the
river and soon she again seen proudly steam
ing down the river, while the heavy shot and shell
went crashing through her side and plunging In
the water all around her. Incredible as IL may
seem. she passed through the whole line of fire,
and WIS below and out OF reach OF the last gun,
with comparatively slight damage. She was only
20 enjoy the freedom a short season. however,
for IN about five days she captured by the Con-
federaie feet below. Thus, the enemy AT Nicsburg,
the strongest fortified point the Mississippi saw,
gunboat, and even transports, above. passing below.
IL the passage had been made then II would have
been Ear less difficult than the 10th follow
ing; for, during this interval with our glasses we
could sec the enemy planting more guns all along
the opposite hillside till the whole earth seemed
alive with men busy erecting more ana stronger
batteries Not only was this done bat they gathered
large piles OF light materials 10 be used as benfres,
20 be fired IN case our men attempted 20 run past
them in the night.
A call for volunteers FROM the army to man the
transports was quickly responded TO, and volun-
unteers enough had been wanted TO run every boat
on the Mississippi River past the Yicksburg bat
teries, they could been found in the army Men
were eager fof the job All things being In rcadi-
ness the euDboats took the lead followed by
transports with cotton bales dashed or tho sides
exposed 10 the IRE TINS was about IL O'Clock
the night of the 10th Of April Not cloud
was TO be seen. The stars shone in the distant
heavens the wind was hushed. and everything
seemed peaceful and tranquil. as this silent line OF
boats ncarcd the spot where the very earth, as It
were, soon to rise Up To forbid their passage.
On they went till the heavy boom of a cannon.
quickly followed by Others. broke the stiffness of
the night. and announced TO both friend and foe
what was abortto take place. When the gunboats
got opposite the rebel batteries they opened with
broadslde after broadside; then the boIsiires were
lighted along the east side Of the river, and the
flames heayenward sHd LIT up the seene 1t
was a spectacle beyond description The hilisides
presented grand sight as iaIae after flame leaped
from the n'smouth, til every gun was brought
20 bear on tie line OF boats The firing was kept
mp incesssastly, the punbo4ts replying they
RlOng. When about half way through cannon
ball passed through the sseanl-ces1 of one trans
and hoGted past the last gun Another-tae Henry
Czy-took fire, bun Oated past ali the batteries and
came up 10 shore little below the canal, where
she burned to the waters edge OF the other six
think bat four were iit for use afterwards. The
number killed on the boats very small Among
the interesting incidents the following: Two
brothers having volunteered 10 pilot one boat took
their sisSions IN the piiot-hoase one AT the wheel
and t< other Just below him. In the HerceSt OF the
fire cannon ball carried away the head of the one
at the wheel, when the other quickly took his
place aad run the boat through.
Shortly after the blockade running the whole of
Grants army broke camp, and marched, by cir
cuitons route southwest from Young's Point by
way Of ~ George Moon Lake, and reached the
Mississippi River at Grand Gulf. point about fifty
miles south Of Nicksburg- Here the noble tralfs-
ports which had run the gauntlet Of fire were
this accomplished. and we found ourselves
marching through Dixie. We headed for Jack
son tne capital OF Mississippi, about forty miles
easa OF kicsburg, which place the rebels evacuated
upon ra9proaeh filling hack towards yicl1sbnrg
Al Champion tiills they made bold stand, secI1T
ing good position. and showed fight, and So stub
b0rnly did they hold their position that il was
with Little difficulty that they were dislodgel
They also showed fight at every opportunity until
finally they driven inside their liIe OF sorti.
cations extending from the river below TO the river
above the doomed city. This think was aboui
the lsth Of May. On the 10Th army charged
the rcbc. line and tried 10 penetrate it, but were
Obliged 10 fall back, losing many killed and
wounded This line OF defense which had beeI
previously built protection 10 the e2ty from
the rear. consisted Of heavy esgfiswoFs, Ia many
places ten feet high with eIbrasurcs Cor the can
non Ia 'front.' was ditch from three 10 if.e fee
deep. and in places ten feet wide. After being
repulscd, fell back to the first range OF hills
and remained there until the I'D, when Genera
Grant, not being satisfied, ordered the second
charge 20 be made. u obeyed a-ith the sacri
flee OF thousands OF as brave y fred
gun. This being also unsuccessful, there was now
but way lcft TO get to Nicksburg, and tina
was by Il regular siege We had tried All tn,
forcible arguments were master of and has
failed. About mile-in sorse places and IL
some less-5ack Of the rebel line another
range OF hills, running parallel with theirs
and tins line formed Ate
erecting posts and breastworks, completed,
hemnling the enemy In, commenced 20 diy
bitches from line 20 theirs, and riae-pits a
every convenient point. thai our sllaTo-shoOter
could keep up slesdy fire Through these ditcbc
we could walk In perfect safety from iins owe
20 theirs So close She edge of their breast
works that coUld hear them talk: SO close /:
fact that they annoyed somewhat by tossln,
over al xix pound shells flied with powder an,
lighted hrecracller stack in them for a fuse
Here wasn't 10 relate ar incident which happene,
my post. As were relieving post on
morning, and while receiving orders one of thes
shells dropped down among u.s. The frecracy el
already kissing, showed Loo plainly that the fir
was IN close proximity to the powder. Some si