Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-04-17

east side Of the river, kept pace with
the Union forces In order TO confront
them at the earliest possible moment.
Thus We have it that upon the first
day of May this battle occurred.
Early on the morning Of the I'd the
Union forces moved forward in line Of
battle, expecting every moment to be
engaged. But to our surprise we soon
learned that the Johnnies had ~ske-
daddled" out of Port Gibson and re-
treated back towards Vicksburg; but
they did not forget to burn the bridge
at Port Gibson, across o small river,
the name Of which / have forgotten,
thus compelling our forces TO build a
pontoon bridge before we could pro-
ceed. This was, however, completed
by the middle of the afternoon. In the
meantime General Mcpherson, with
his Seventeenth Corps, came up. Dur
ing these operations our boys were not
idle, but were busy inspecting the city,
and among the curiosities found was a
bank, which they went through, filling
their pockets with Confederate money.
Some of the bills had been filed out,
but most of them were Llank. A great
portion of this money was afterwards
passed back to the Confederates in ex-
change for greenbacks. Before the
crossing could be made and our army
had time to cut off the retreat of the
enemy at Grand Gulf, it was discov-
cred that they had evacuated that city
and joined their comrades in their. re-
treat back to Vicksburg, thus leaving
Grand Gulf in the hands of the Union
forces.
General Grant had thus succeeded
in capturing those two points and was
fairly on his way to Vicksburg; vet he
had not his forces as concentrated and
his supplies as near at hand as he
wished, so decided to call halt, which
he did after about two days march.
Here in camp we remained about three
or four days, during which we we're re-
enforced by the. Fifteenth Corps, under
command of General Sherman, and at
the same time goodly supply of am
munition had been brought up from
Grand Gulf by our supply train. By
this time our rations had run pretty
short, consequently we were compelled
to subsist chiefly on what we could
find by foraging through the country;
and as there had never been an army
in this part Of Dixey the foraging was
pretty good.
1t was while we were in this camp
that good story was told on Gen. A.
J. Smith. 1t appears that two of the,
boys who had been out foraging killed
some porkers. Each man slung pig
upon his shoulder, and with sturdy
steps they were soon Juggling them to
camp. On their way it was necessary
for them to pass near division head
quarters, and while they were making
their way as best they could some lit
tie distance apart, General Smith
stepped out of his tent as if to cross
their path. As the first one came up
the General accosted him thus:
What are you going to do with that
pig?"
He was answered in kind of in
timidated, whining tone :s."I don't know
hardly what will do with it,"
"AThrow it down, sir throw it down."
then said the General.
Down went the pig. The General
turned to his orderly, who stood near
by, and said:
Orderly, take that pig to camp; I
know what to do with it. !"
Presently the other man came up,
and the General put the same question
to him:
"What are you going to do with that
pig, sir?"
The young man, although private
soldier, with all the dignity Of SUI
perior officer turned to the General.
who stood before him in full uniform,
and said:
II am going to eat it, sir! What in
the HI do you suppose am going to
do with it?"
GAIL right. sir; all right"
General Smith, turning himself
about, walked back to his tent, while
the soldier went on his way rejoicing.
It appears that this was character
istic Of General Smith; although at.
times he appeared harsh and cruel
with his men, he was man with a
heart and of noble spirit. and at
such times thought more of a soldier
who would turn upon him and "sass
him back" rather than to have him go
off with his head down as if he was
afraid to call his soul his own. He
thought the latter would make the
best soldier.
HASTINGS, Neb