The National tribune., 1884-10-02


xolley. but not stopping 10 FIRE until within 10
yards Of the works, when the rebels gave way
and
RAN LIKE A MOB.
2 The Union line poured a murderous volley
into the retrcating horde and climbing across
the obstrnctod ditch gave chase. The enemy
swarmed to a large bri9ge made Of steamboats,
moorod across the stream just below the rail
road bridge The battery on the hills beyond
the river opened FIRE TO cover the retreat; but
il could not check the pursuit. Mct3ernands S
men were now all over the paTapet, taking
prisoners and driving the frightened enemy
into the river. Before the flying host could get
across the bridge some one fired the cotton
with which the steamboats, were laden, and in
3 moment the bridge was in flames and i'm
passabie There was no escape now but by
Swimming and hundreds of Confcderates in
GLIDING Gen Green, lcaped into the river. Nc
Clernand 5 men shot them in the water or halted
them as they crept up the opposite bank, and
compelled them TO swim back and surrender.
Col0ncls and Captains were captured BY private
soldiers and a whole brigade secreted III a
canebrake was found and led ont as prisoners
bya Lieutenant and dozen men. The victory
was decisive and overwhelming; IS pieces of
cannon and 1900 stands of small-arms were
among the trophies The entire loss Of Nc
Clornan1's two divisions was 20 killed and 2i2
wounded Had not the bridge been destroyed,
NlriDEf-an
hours of daylight before them. might have
CHASED pEMBERToN INTO vIcKsBURG,
and captured the citadel before the mob could
have been rallied. As il was, they had TO stop
and work all day, bridging the deep river with
timber from the tresties OF the railroad bridge
The only pontoon train in the army was with
Blairs Division, which had crossed that morn
ing through Edwards Station TO Bridgeport. 10
miles above. where it was then fixing It's boats
for Shcnans Corps to cross upon. 1T was not
until after dark that McCernand and McPher-
son could get their bridge finished, but bri-
pade crossed over In the darkness and occupied
the nights. We said Mcpherson came up too
late 10 render any support 10 McClernand, or
10 participate ia the Eght. This Is true for the
reason that the advance Of Carr and Oster-
haus was premature and without orders and
the charge preclpitated aud the victory won
before be had time 10 arrive upon the scene.
Sherman had reached Bridgeport during the
day. and found Blair there with the pontoOns.
and got two OF his divisions across during the af-
tern0On and evening. Early next morning, the
18th the three corps of Grants army were
again marching toward Nicksburg. Sherman
bore TO the right. came down IN the rear Of
Hainess Bluff on the haz00. found lt evacuated,
with all its heavy guns left in position, and
turning TO the left crosed in upon the defenses
OF Aiuksburg. Mcpherson, holding the Center
took the direct road TO the city, aud closed in
with his corps asfFide the main road TO Jack
son. McClernand, hearing away several miles
TO the left crossed fields and lanes and finally,
later IN the afternoon, found the Baldwins
Ferry road, and, by marching an hour after
dark, struck Pembertsns Outposts two miles
outside OF the deienscs. There the Thirteenth
Corps rested for the night The campaign had
now cEliainated ia the investment Of the rebel
stronghold Five times the enemy had been
defeated, new base Of supplies had been estab-
1ished on the az0o within easy distance
L0ring and Johnston had been cut OF, with the
Big Black between them and cur resr, and the
investment of Kicksburg was complete.
As Gen. Sherman said that morning when
he and Gen. Grant rode along the abandoned
works at Hainess Bluff. and SAW the Union feet
lying al the mouth OF the Hazoo, This cam
paign; this is a 81 ess If We never take the
city" But Grant had
COME TO TAKE THE CITY.
HIS troops though weary with constant march
ing and fighting, their ragged clothing dirty
and stained with rain and dust. and their faces
thin from long and srduOus labor aud insult
cient food were in splendid spirits. and ready
tOr any duty that their commander might as
sign them. II was due 10 all the circumstances
OF the case that vigorous effort be made 10
capture the city without much loss Of time. 1t
was now near the 29th Of May. aad, the hea;
snd dust were already becoming oppressive
Water might fail for the summer along the
rugged bills in rear Of the city. aud more than
al, the victorious army, which had 50 CON-
pietey outIoaght lis enemy in the open field
was la no mood 10 settle down amid heat and
discomfort 10 trench and sap IA d siege that
would probably last until Midsummer. Rel
ance Was placed, TOO. OF the demoTaiized condi.
tiOn IN which the wreck Of Pefnbert0u'E army
had reached Nickshurg. Il was thought prob
able that If The assault was made at once the
works, lormidably they We're, might be car
Tied before the mOna.e and discipline could BIZ
restored. These Here the thoughts of Gen
Grant as Oh fhc evening Of the 18th, he rode
along the Walnut Hills and saw Sherman's
Corps close ~ upon the defeIses Of the city
Orders were issued next morning 10 the three
corps commanders 10 e Push forward carefully 5
and gain positions as close as possible 10 th,
enemy works until , O'Clock .. N. AT thai
hour 60 Gre three rounds from all the artillery
In position. This viii be the signal for a gen
erai charge along the whole line.7 Tuesday
the 18th. the first day Of the investment, wa
one OI the most interesting OF all that Summer
After SIX weary months Of fighting marching
and digging. the men who had dug the cana
and been rePulsod al Chickasaw Bluffs wer
nov within
sIGET OF TIE WORKS
of which they had heard SO much They cam
nof rs q forlorn hope. but as conqRerors an.
every man. from Geu. Grant 10 the hambles
tcanster, felt personal interest in the con
quest of the citadel which had thus far lockca
the Mississippi and held the Confederac
together
At dawn AIeClerRands Corps, biyouaeled j
the rugged valley of q creek which flows soath
ward from the rear of the cry. WAS reused u
and started forward. Osterhaas's I5iyisi0
was il advance As the column climbed II
Out of the raViue il turned a curve in the roa
near large white house, which 2ftcrWard bs
came The center OF a village Of lieid hospital
Rounding this curve. the great line Of defense
was suddeBiy disclosed. For three mics to til
right and left along the whole front the sharJ
cut crest q The uebel iortifeaiiOns formed Il
horizon line. Instinctveiy the men Wheelin
antO view of the scene began 10 cheer mC
1Dent after there was puH of white smok
from t3e distant Iarapet, and q shell, singiu
and shriel-lng tlr00g8 The air. crashed throug
q locust tree IN lrent Of the b0Rse and burie
itself ln The earth. The gan that had fired
was tNo miles away. but in the clear morniu
al u seemed Jess than a mile. The corps the
moved rapidly up, descending into series
rugged raFines that lay between the whi
h0nse amd The cDemys iine and deployed Il
the attack. A. }. Smiths Division took IL
extreme right, extending nearly to junetio
with QuinbYs Division Of McPhCrs0n's Corn
Aegt came Carr. tben 0sterhaas, and Hovey q
the extreme LEFT Tie general position of "a
corps being established. the troops rested
line, wllilc strong skirmish lines were sent 4
over The bills toward the Notifications TO seen
positions from which DIVISION brigade al
reeimental commanders could carefully reco