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

cliffs, frowning down upon the waters
of the great Mississippi, bade defiance
to the army and navy of the Federal
Government.
Early in the winter of '62, while yet
this mighty river was blockaded from
Memphis to New Orleans, an army Of
10000 men, under General Sherman,
was organized and hurled against this
powerful fortress. Up to this time the
Union army had met with great many
defeats, and the people of the North
were getting quite anxious as to the
final outcome of the conflict While
the people of the North wanted to see
a move made against Vicksburg, they
were also fearful of the results. Some
said it was so strongly fortified that it
would be impossible to take it; while
others believed that, under proper gem
eralship, it might be taken. Accord
ingly, about the 18th of December, 1868,
this expedition, comprising about 3d.
900 men, embarked in river steamers
! as, transports, well guarded by iron
clad gunboats, steamed down the river
to the mouth of the Yazoo. They then
fled left and ran up to near Haines'
Bluff, which was at that time the north
end of the strong Notifications in the
rear Of the city. The troops disem-
barked, formed in line, stacked arms,
and laid down for the night. This be-
gan to seem like business, for many Of
us had enlisted but few months before,
and had never yet been in battle, and
now the few hours that should inter
vene between our lying down for rest
and going into battle gave us ample
time for reflection. We thought of the
dear ones at home the father of his
dear wife and children, the young man Of
his father and mother, his brothers and
sisters, and his sweetheart as we'll.
The possibility that we might the next
day be numbered among the slain or
severely wounded were thoughts which
naturally occupied our minds; and, al
though it seemed befitting time for
solemn thoughts, yet many Of the boys
seemed jubilant and full Of life.
About four o'clock in the morning
of the 30th we were all startled by the
report Of heavy siege guns shelling the
woods. The reyeille was then sounded,
and after roll-can and hurried break
fast the army was commanded to fall
into line, right face, and march to
within few hundred yards of the enc
my's works, where they were then
formed in line Of battle. The ball now
opened in earnest.
Four days of hard fighting, with
heavy loss to the Union forces, CON
WINGED Uncle Billy that he was not
equal to the emergency, consequently
on the night of Jan. /, 1868, he with
drew from the scene Of action, marched
back to his transports, embarked,
and steamed down the Yazoo Just in
time to Save his bacon"
This must have been to him sad
day--a sorrowful thought for up to
this time Uncle Billy Sherman was
considered one among the best gener-
ais in the United States.
Thus, having been disappointed and
thwarted in his plans for the capture Of
Vicksburg, the General now turned
his attention northward, steamed back
up the Mississippi River to the mouth
Of the Arkansas, thence up that river
to Arkansas Post, which he captured
with its garrison, and then returned to
Millikens Bend, q point about six miles
up the river from Vicksbufg. Here
the army disembarked and occupied
the ground between that place and
Youngs Point, three miles below.
General Sherman's services now being
required elsewhere, he was called away
and General McClernand took his
place. Here the troops remained until
about the first of May, during which
time they had been joined by General
Grant, who began at once laying his
plans for the downfall Of the doomed
city.
Nearly three decades have passed
away since the occurrence Of this cam
paign, and yet how yividly to the
minds Of the old veterans who yet sur
viye do the scenes Of these actions come
up. The long, weary weeks and months
that passed away while the army lay at
Milliken's Bend and Young's Point,
the sickness md death that occurred