davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-04-27

1872, of negro girl convicted OF drowning
her master infant child, of which she was
the nurse. The town was divided in SEN
timent on the propriety Of the execution.
and, as usual when such is TIE case there
was very feverlsh state of feeling. On
tie night after the hanging, mischievcus
clerk employed by Ben. Morris in his store
where the Brandeburg building now is,
climbed on the roof and through horn
made dismal noise. The people rushed
into the streets, and some of the more SUI
perstitious sort professed to have seen the
executed girl sitting on the steps Of the
jail building.
DISTINGUISHED NAMES.
In 1882, six companies of artillery, serv-
ing as infantry, taken, two each, from the
1st, I'd and 4th regiments of U. s. troops.
arrived in Stanton on their return from
the "Black Hawk" war IN Illinois, and on
their mar Oh back to Fortress Monroe They
marched through Main street from the
West and camped for dinner on the mead
ow where the Valley R'y Depot now is
Oae of the Lieutenants was Jos. E. John
stOn, Afterwards distinguished general
in the Confederate service. Another
Though it does not say whether be was
along or not) Was Maj. Robert Anderson,
who commanded at Fort Sumter in 1861.
The officers dined at the Washington
Tavern kept by Lewis Hartman.
We have given the above condensation
of some of the events in Mr.. Waddell's
Supplement, but the chief contents are
biographies of some of the most promi-
pept families in Augusta which must be
of much personal interest to those connec-
ted with them. The author has evidently
gone to a great deal of trouble to verify
his statements by research, and this Sup
plement will be a fit companion TO the
Annals.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-04-27

Statesmen WANTED to canvass for the sale of
~ Nursery Stock! Steady employment guar
anteed Salary and expenses paid. Apply at once.
stating age. SMELL & ROWLAND.
(Refer to this paper) Rochester, N. y.
ap20-8t
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29
THE LAND FORCE.

Grant had attempted 10 more his land
forces down to Vicksburg by the route before
described as the Yazoo Pass way. The pas
sage was made, as narrated, By some Of the
gunboats that were stopped ct Fort Pember-
ton. This fort was so sdroitly located as 20
command the three rivers. TaIlaha:chie,
YaIIabusha, and Yazoo. Gen Loring had
command Of the Confederate troops here.
March II Ross division Of McClernaDd's
corps appeared before Fort PsnbeFson, 1 900
men in all McPhersons corps was ready
and waiting to follow them, and Grant hoped
from this side 70 be able q: last 70 get into
Vicksburg. Bu. this navigation agaias.
nature, as il were that be had attempted -as
attended with extraordinary difficulties. No
boats could go through TIE Yazoo Pass and
CoIdwater, eTcep. thoss Of very hght sraGght
Moreover, the country was overAo~ed AID
was che svsnp, 20 that there vas 10 resting
place or camping place FOR sa army anywhere
IN ne lovlands above yickxburg.
March II ths Union gunboa-s began their
bornhariment Of Fort Penbe-ton March Il
the land force erected battery ard fred 81
Fort Penbertoa awhile. Finding il could 60
no good, the expedition started back up TIE
TalLzhztcaie. hall way up the river they
net Gen QuirnbT coming 70 reeufo-e tke-a
With brigade al the men be coaid transport
through the difficult passage In tina. Bang
nc senior os3ce-, be ordered tie troops back
70 Fort Perher.oI- TAey retzr1ssi Another
tru3tless sttsgnps was made on he fort March
= QEztubF was About 70 Lsz.d q brf6ze TO
nave ar0u-d ths cas-. side a Fer. Persber-
ton, When, April /. be received orders for the
wsa.e expe@.-sa 20 rssE-a e hsse. -z< .s<.
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29
'-FLANKING PROJECTS.n

In January the Union troops at the mouth
of the Yazoo were sent on an expedition
against Arkansas Post, up White river, to
keep their spirits up. They captured the
post, and returned to the siege of Vicksburg.
Jan. l Gen. John A. McClernand arrived
from Memphis, at the mouth of the Yazoo,
and superseded Sherman in command OF the
troops Jan. Z, 1868, Gen Grant was ordered
by HaIleck, at Washington. o'go in person
to Vicksburg and take command. He did SO,
taking charge of the troops Jan. so. Grants
command was now organized into four corps,
Thirteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seven
tenth. The corps commanders were re-
spectively McClernand, Sherman, Hurlburt
and Mcpherson All of the corps but Hurl-
burt's were already either at Vicksburg or
were Immediately sent there. Hurlburt's
corps operated in the interior.
Gen. John c. Pemberton, the Confederate
commander at Ficksburg during the siege,
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29
SECOND ATTACK ON VlcksBURG.

Nothing more was done against Vicksburg
for many months The Confederates had the
Mississippi, between Baton Rouge and Vicks-
burg, entirely in their own hands. They i'm,
proved the interval by strengthening the bat
teries at Port Hudson, below Vicksburg, and
elsewhere along the river.
In October, 1862, Rear Admiral D. D. Porter
was appointed to the command of the Missis-
sippi squadron. He was to cooperate with
the land forces along the Mississippi, but was
directly responsible only to the secretary OF
the navy.
Gen Grant was by this time in command
of the Army Of the Mississippi, which was
known as the Thirteenth Army corps.
Grant and Porter met at Cairo. In an in
terview, which the admiral in his naval his
tory tells US "lasted Just half an hour these
two soldiers and patriots planned the CAM
paign which, after weary months, was to re-
suit in the downfall of the Gibraltar Of the
Confederacv.
But ere that downfall was accomplished
many plans were TO be tried and were 70 fail
The scheme Grant and Porter formed in their
brief interview was this: Grant would march
from Holly Springs, Miss, TO Grenada, Miss,
in the rear of VickSburg, with an army of CO.,
900. Gen John c. Pemberton was the Confed-
crate commander at Vicksburg. He would
naturally march ont from his citadel to stop
the march of Grant at Grenada he being
thus away from Vicksburg, Sherman and
Porter. coming down the Mississippi by water,
while Grant attacked Grenada, would be able
N attack snd gain possession of NickSburg.
Such was the plan.
The first part of December. 1852, Sherman
and Porter set out on their combined expedi-
ton against Vicksburg. Memphis was the
starting point.
Part of the squadron went first, under SD
pervision of Commander Wake, Of the Ca
rondelet Their destination was the mouth
Of the Yazoo river, above Vicksburg- They
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29

The fighting at Chickasaw Bayou occurred
Dec 81 % and g. On the 2Sth there was
only slight skirnishing as Sherman's men
advanced in four columns. As the troops
formed in line, Steele's division went to the
left, Morgan's came next, on Steele's right,
NJ. L. Smith on Morgan's right On the ex-
IRENE right, and considerably nearer Vicks-
burg than the rest, was Brig. Gen. a. j.
Smiths division Between A. j. Smith and
the others was body of water called the
lake. 1t was an old bed of the Yazoo river
The reader will see the situation from the
map 1.-THE Lake. was near the foot of the
hills which are here sometimes called Chicka-
saw Bluffs.
So the columns advanced on Dec. %, in
the teeth of Confederate batteries so numer-
ously and skillfully planted that they some
times enfiladed with deadly fire the adj
vancing Union lines. On this day Brig.
Gen Morgan L. Smith was severely wounded
in the hip and was carried off the field.
Steeles division had at first advanced on
the left of Chickasaw Bayou. 1t was sub
jected to SO deadly fire that Steele was
ordered to go back to the Yazoo and return
with his division to the fight on the right of
Chickasaw Bayou, somewhat in the rear of
Morgan's division. This movement he COM
pleted late on the night of Dec. %.
Dec % general assault was ordered from
the Union line. Sherman's force was at the
foot of the high bluffs. These fairly
swarmed with Confederate batteries thor
oughly manned. The Confederate defenses
were in charge of Brig. Gen Martin L.
Smith To take Vicksburg it was necessary
to storm these heights and capture them
1t seemed a forlorn undertaking, on the face
OF it. Sherman had hoped 20 surprise Vicks-
burg. But spies all along the Mississippi,
even in Memphis and st. Louis, kept the
Confederate generals informed of every
Union movement.
When, therefore, Sherman, with 90 900
men left Memphis, Dec 90, to attack Vicks-
burg, the Confederates understood his move
ment almost as well as he did himself They
hurried re-enfOrcementS in large numbers
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29

For some time the two fleets lay there,
having not much to do but gaze in wonder
ct the defenseS Of Nicksburg. They ex-
tended a mile and half back from the
river The Union fleet occasionally did some
Smelling Mt the town.
June -, three days before Farragut passed
Vicksburg with his mortar flotilla, the large
vessels of his fleet had landed on the Louisi-
ana shore, opposite Vicksburg, Brig. Gen.
Thomas Williams and 5000 troops. They
had with them two batteries.
On the map it viii be observed that at
Ticksburg there is a very deep bend or curve
in the Mississippi The river makes loop
and almost doubles over upon itself. Between
the ends Of this loop the space is very mar
row. Here Gen. Williams began digging q
canal, the line of which is shown on the ac-
companying map, employing 100 negroes
This canal, when finished, would have made
the space within the horseshoe an island and
would have enabled the Union troops to
cross easily to the Mississippi side Vicks-
burg would thus have been cut off from the
river, which would have been shortened by
so much
So all three parties kept ''peCcing away. in
President Linco,n's honely phrase. for some
weeks At length the Confederate fortifica-
tons reached Grand Gulf, fifteen miles below
EickSburg,
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29

pilot on board TO steer the Queen. he ran
her aground under the guns Of the Confeder-
ate Fort Taylor, on Red river. The fort
opened on the plucky little steamer with
four heavy cannon. A shot cut her steam
pipe, and the scaIding vapor poured through
the boat, fatally burning many OF the crew.
Ellet and the rest Of them jumped int, the
water upon cotton bales and foated down
the river. They boarded the New Era, one
of Ellet's prizes, and made their escape IL
haste.
Some months later, after the capture Of
vicksburg, Col Enet applied for and re-
ceived permission to go home on sick leave.
He died at Bunker Hill, Ills, in October.
Admiral Porter says: "Ellet was a gallant
young fellow, full Of dash aud enterprise
Once more Admiral Porter sent gunboat
down past the Vicksburg batteries. This
was the Indianola, a fine new iron clad, with
two 1f-inch bow guns. She foated down
past Vicksburg in the night, Just in time to
meet the New Era coming up the river with
Col. Ellet on board The Era was chased by
a Confederate ram, the W. b. Webb, frem
Red river The Indianola in turn gave chase,
but the Webb escaped.
Meantime the Confederates had rapidly re-
paired the lOSI queen OF the w cot aIu tuIueA
her against her own people.
Feb. "a the Indianola, in charge Of Lieut..
Commander Brown, who had run the bat
teries with her, was at the mouth Of Big
Black river, forty miles below Vicksburg.
Suddenly the ram Webb and the now Con-
federate Queen of the West came up the
river in pursuit of him. With them were
two steamers cotton clad" so called, that IS
to say they were piled with cotton around
the bows and sides This was perfect pro-
lection against shot, though very uncertain
one against fire.
All four vessels opened on the 1ndianola,
the cotton cladSn attacking with their small
guns, the rams endeavoring TO run the In
dianola down with their iron prows. Both
vessels came together, bows on" said Lieut.
Brown, in his report.
The Indianola received seven crushing
blows from the rams, and began TO sink
rapidly. Then Lieut.. Brown threw his signal
books and his 9-inch guns overheard, disabled
his 11-inch bow guns and surrendered
The Indianola was blown up on the night
Of Feb. 25, ''by Yankee ruse,n as Admiral
Porter calls it. What that ruse was, how
ever, he does not tell in his naval history,
although it is well worth telling.
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29
AT VICkSBURG.
CWenty-ffth Anniversary of the
Great Campaign.
CONFEDERATE GIBRALTAR.
Farragut, Porter, Snerman'and Grant
Try Their Hand.

First Federal Attempt to Capture yicks-
burg Made in May. $62-Attempt Re-
newed in June, and Again in December.
From January, 1868, till March, Grants
Soldiers Fight Mud, Malaria and Mis-
sissippians at the Canal Below yicks-
burg-Yazoo Pass and Steele's Bayou.
With the surrender of Vicksburg and the
battle of Gettysburg, Gen Sherman says the
civil war was practically ended in favor of
the north All that followed was simply
carrying the war into ''the last ditch"
The Importance of the possession of Vicks-
burg to the Union cause was early recog-
nized. Immediately after the capture of New
Orleans, Admiral Farragut proceeded up the
river with a little feet of mortar boats.
But the necessity Of keeping Vicksburg had
been quite as well understood by the south
1t was called the Gibraltar Of the Southern
Confederacy." In April, 1862, New Orleans
had been captured by the north. Memphis,
Island 10, and the chief points on the Missis-
sippi above Nicksburg were already in the
hands of the United States. With Vicks-
burg, the Confederacy would lose its last hold
on the great river. The southern authorities
therefore held to their Gibraltar with death
grip.
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29

some failed to execute their orders. Two
brigades, De Courcey's from Morgan's di-
vision, and Blair's from Steele's division, on
the left, crossed the lake in front of them
and advanced CALAMITY to the Confederate
works under deadly fire. They had obeyed
orders Reaching the heights they looked
back and saw no supporting columns. Cross
fire and front fire were poured into them from
the terrible heights, and they finally fell back
With these two gallant brigades was an Iowa
regiment, and that regiment and the two
brigades lost more than three-quarters of all
the men who fell in this fight Of Chickasaw
Bayou. The Union troops lost in the fighting
of Dec q, IS and %, LES; the Confederates
only 1S7.
Dec so Sherman decided to send 10000
men up the Yazoo river to Haines' Bluff to
try On attack there. He himself meanwhile
was to keep the position be had gained be-
tween the Yazoo river and Walnut Hills.
Admiral Porter agreed to assist in the
Haines' Bluff movement Il was 20 be made
the night of Dec 81. The 10000 troops were
placed on the transports that night ready to
90. Sherman. at the foot Of the bluffs, was
70 wait until he heard firing from the direc
ton Of Haines' Bluff. then be was to renew
the attack against the heights with al posi-
bic vigor.
But nature herself seemed TO decide against
Union success. The rain had been pouring
in torrents till a general food Of the low
lands, where Sherman was encamped, was
threatened. On the river the fog was so
dense that the boats could not move as ap-
pointed The movement to Haines' Bluff
had 10 he put off Til the next night, Jan l,
1865. The night promised to be clear on
that doleful New Years day Of mud and
swamp, but on that day Admiral Porter nap
pened TO remember that the moon would
shine brightly all night. and that the move
ment could only be made in darkness
To wait in the lewlaEds and run the risk Of
being drowned like rats in hole was not
pleasant prospect for Sherman and his men
The whole movement was given up. Jan
? 1853 the Union troops were re-embarked,
and returned TO the mouth of the Yazoo
river.
So ended the second attempt on VickSburg
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29

REAR ADMIRAL Wake. was commanded by
Rear Admiral Wake, a brave and accom-
plished officer, belonging to the generation
that had fought the war with Mexico
In the fight between the Arkansas and the
Carondelet the Union gunboat Taylor, Lieut.
Gwinn commander, assisted the Carondelet
as best she could until that vessel drifted
ashore Then, with all steam on, she
FASTENED toward Farragut's feet. There only
one vessel, the ram Gen Bragg, had seam
up. The whole Union fleet was obliged to
watch the Arkansas slipping safe past them
down toward Vicksburg. The ram Bragg
could indeed have pursued, but her COM
mander waited for special orders before do
ing so, and thus the bold Confederate vessel
escaped.
The fleet poured broadside fire into her
as she passed and did considerable injury.
But she reached Vicksburg in safety. The
Union gunboat, Essex, Commander William
D. Porter, followed her as soon as steam
could be raised, but did no additional harm
to her.
July 10, next day after the Arkansas had
run the fleet, Admiral Farragut went down
the river with his fleet to protect the troops
and transports below Vicksburg. The affair
cation
There was another interchange of shots be-
tween the Vicksburg batteries and the adj
miral as he steamed down past them, but
very little damage was done, Farragut having
five men killed and sixteen wounded The
Arkansas lay safe under the Vicksburg bat
teries as the Union feet passed.
Admiral Farragut had already given it as
his opinion that Vicksburg could not be
taken except by large combined land and
naval force, and long and steady effort.
July 20 he received orders from Washington
to return to New Orleans. A few days later,
July 81, the two Union fleets parted company,
that of Commodore Davis going back up the
river to Cairo, that of Farragut down the
river to the gulf. Gen. Williams likewise
abandoned his canal his troops were loaded
upon the transports and conveyed down to
Baton Rouge, where they and their general
were left for the time, under protection on
the waterside of few gunboats.
So ended the attack on Vicksburg of June,
1862
Aug. Confederate force under Gen.
Breckenridge attacked Gen Williams bri-
gade at Baton Rouge. After hot battle
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29

fdi VI Sc
him, Feb 2, down the river TO destroy the
City OF Vicksburg. The Queen was a wooden
steamboat with long iron bow Cotton
bales were piled around her amidships 10 pro-
tect her machinery from shot
1t had been expected that the Queen q the
West would steal down the river at night
and attack the City OF Ficksburg unawares
In the darkness But she ~as delayed At
sunrise, in fun view OF the Confederate bat
teries, the Queen passed down the river and
made straight al the City Of Vicksburg.
Shot snd shell came thick and fas. from the
batteries The wide guards of the Vicis-
burg prevented the Queen from ramning
her squareIv. Col EIlet therefore began
firing explosive shells at the Vicksburg.
But the shells from the batteries SIT fire TO
the protecting cotton bales, ami Ellst could
do no more. Re therefore passed on down
the river. leaving vicksburg and the City Of
Vicksburg behind hin- A barge of coal
was aoated down to him in The night
EIlet descended the Mississippi 70 the
mouth Of Red river. On the way ne de-
stroved three steamboats, loaded with sup
plies for the Coufederates at Port HUDSON
Thence the Queen OF the " est steamed Up
Ped river, spreading panic az her approach
Bv this time El!et was out Of coal again and
returned 70 Wayrentou. just below Vicks-
burg, to get supply.
Unce more ne went cut 20 Destroy, accom-
panied By the coai tender DeSoso Down
the river be captured two steamers loaded
with Corfederass proTisiocs Further On
be Destroyed wagon train Thee se sArsed
UP Red river. One Of the steamers he lad
Sausursd was the New Era -L.ss tex Ter
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29

ed her short but adventurous career about
this time. The plan had been for her to as
sist in the Confederate attack on Baton
Rouge and attack the Union gunboats. She
failed to come to time, however, being dis
abled up the river. Aug. 6, the morning
after the battle, Commander w. D. Porter,
with his vessel, the Essex, and some other
boats, steamed up the river and opened fire
on the Arkansas. Both her engines were
disabled, one of them by the fire from the
Essex. The commander of the Arkansas ran
her ashore and landed his crew, who took to
the woods Then he set fire to the ram and
turned her adrift. She floated down the
river short distance and blew up.
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29

md 800 land DAVID IT, FAkAAGUr'
troops under Gen. Williams The Confeder-
Rtes meantime We're working with might
md main finishing the earthworks, bomb
proof classmates and batteries that had
been begun about Vicksburg in April,
1862. In Hay Gen. Williams had deemed
them too formidable for him to attack.
BY the last of June, therefore, they had
assumed really Stupendous proportions.
Troops and supplies poured into the town by
rail Commodore c. II. Davis was at that
time flag officer of the Mississippi squadron
above Vicksburg- He had captured Mem
phis from the Confederates. In June, 1862,
he was ordered to proceed down the Missis-
sippi with his feet to Vicllsburg, and there
make a junction with Admiral Farragut,
who was to come up the river from New
Orleans.
June 2S, in the early morning, Farragut
passed the Vicksburg batteries. Shots were
exchanged for two hours, neither side doing
much damage. Then FaTagut passed on
up out of range. July l, Commodore Davis
Joined him with the Upper Mississippi fleet
at Youngs Point, q few miles above Vicks-
burg, but on the Louisiana shore opposite.
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29

sheltered tte Vicksburg heights, and re-
ceived in turn hot fire. A fifty pound shot
killed Lieut.. Commander William Gwinn, of
the Benton, as he stood on the upper deck Of
his vessel giving orders.
Before the attack on Vicksburg A. j.
Smiths division had performed an extra
service on the Louisiana side Of the river
As Shernans expedition came down the
Mississippi A. j. Smiths division was
dropped off on the Louisiana shore at Mill
ken's Bend They were landed in order to
proceed into the interior of the state short
distance and destroy the railroad that
brought supplies to Vicksburg from the west
and across the river. They rejoined the
main force Dec. q.
Wichita eagle., 1888-04-29

stood what be was about. The ram was an
iron clad, well equipped with rifled guns,
and with a long, sword like iron nose that
could pierce the side of any wooden ship sent
against her.
As she advanced the three Union vessels
retreated, firing back at the Arkansas as they
went. The ram pursued them, sending shot
into them from her heavy bow guns and do
ing some damage.
The ram soon came upon the Carondelet,
slow vessel, with the evident intention OF
ramming her, but she kept clear OF the rams
long nose and fired as fast as possible. Then