The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-04
ARMY OF THE GULF.
The FaithfulnesS and Yslor of TIE Army that c.
tured Port Hudson.

tuTed Fort Hudson.
EDITOR NATIoSAL TRrBUSE: For long
time have looked for q contribution to your
columns that would place the Army of the
Gulf somewhere near its proper place among
the armies that made our Nation great and
glorious. At last. in the issue of Nov. IL, / find
a plea from one Of the members of the 2lst Ind.
for a proper recognition of the services of the
Army of the Gulf am not going to take issue
with any Western comrade, but join him in a
demand for justice. Although may not have
served as long a time as he, my mind as re-
CARDS some duty performed at Port Hudson is
very clear.
Comrade Samuels claims that the siege and
surrender of Port Hudson were as important as
the siege and surrender of Vicksburg, and
agree with him. Vicksburg may have been a
more important place in some respects Both
Vicksburg and Port Hudson seemed to be i'm
pregnable to assault, but stronger power than
powder and ball bcsieged them in both places.
Starvation was the strongest enemy Of the gar
risons, so long as it was seconded by Grants
army at Vicksburg and Banks's army at Port
Hudson. While either place was held by the
Confederate army the Mississippi River could
not be used by the Union army as thorough
fare.
Had Port Hudson capitulated on July
instead Of Vicksburg the shoe would have been
on the other foot, and the Union troops at
Vicksburg would have celebrated the 4th OF
July with their gunboats and batteries in honor
of the surrender of Port Hudson with as much
vigor and enthusiasm as we at Port Hudson did
in honor of the surrender of Vicksburg; and
Vicksburg would have surrendered on the 9Th
or sooner because of the prospect of starvation.
Where was the most danger? Perhaps a few
figures will serve TO back up Comrade Samues's
assertion: Never was more patience, heroism
and patriotism displayed by any army than
was witnessed during the AZ days siege Of Port
Hudson: and taking into consideration the
number of men, it was as great an achievement
as that of Vicksburg." The siege Of Vicksburg
began May IS and continued until July 4, 1868
| The Union troops engaged We're the Thirteenth,
| Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps, reinforced
| later by three divisions of the Sixteenth Corps
two divisions of the Ninth Corps and one divis-
ion from the Department of the Missouri, and
assisted by the navy on the Mississippi under
| Admiral Porter. Union troops killed, 5i5
| wounded, 3,6SS; missing, 303; total, 4, 536
The number of Confederates in Vicksburg to
inflict this loss was 81 ,2T. The siege of Port
Hudson began May % and ended July 8, 1863
| The Union troops engaged were FIVE divisions
| of the Nineteenth Corps, assisted by the navy
under Admiral Farragut. Union troops killed
| 500; wounded, $500; total, 5000. The number
of Confederates in Port Hudson to in2ict al
| this loss was 7,20S.
were tue patience anu PaIiioIlsn VI INC Army
of the Gulf all gomez i refer the reader Il
those who responded to the call of our com
mander for stOrming column of 1000 men
| Col. Birge, Of the 18th Conn, volunteered tC
lead the forlorn hope. 1t was not undertaken
because the surrender of Yicksburg relieved
the desperate situation which we appeared to
be in lit was feared that Johnstons army wa;
coming up in our rear.
The regiment to which belonged suffered q
loss on May q In killed and wounded of 107
and on June -, while skirmishing before Port
Hudson, 8. June ii our regiment, 235 strong
engaged in the second assault, and lost in kill
ed and wounded 50, which was fully One-hal
the loss sustained by the brigade to which We
belonged. We entered the campaign with sl(
men, and lost in killed and died of wounds anC
disease, III; discharged for disability. 169
total loss 2S6.-B. F. GATES, Co. i, Goth Conn.
| New London, Conn.