Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-05-30


Gibson and the complete rout Of the
enemy, the chase from that point up
the river on the east side, with Occas-
iOnal fighting the laying Of the siege,
and finally the surrender by Gen.
Pemberton-au these things and more
are still fresh in the minds of every
Union soldier who still lives and
participated In this expedition.
Many of us have since then
dragged out a miserable existence on
account of wounds and diseases con
tracted in the army, and many of US,
like myself, are now languishing upon
beds of sickness, and in the language
Of the poet are
Fading away like the stars OF the morning,
Losing their light in the glorious SUM-
Ever remembered. forever remembered
Ever remembered while the years are roll
Ever remembered, forever remembered,
Ever remembered for what We have done.
But now to our story. We will go
back to YOung's Point and give it in
detail, that our readers may be the
better able to understand it.
The time had now come when Gen.
Grant had decided to move forward;
consequently as we have already
stated, the canal had been dug across
the peninsula about three miles west of
the city, the object of which was to
run the blockade, but this had proven
a failure. So there was nothing left
him but to face the music and take his
chances on running his transports with
his supplies through the blockade.
This was accomplished by first loading
an old condemned barge with boxes
and barrels so IS to make it as cOnspic-
uous as possible, and on one dark night
this boat was sent adrift to float at viii
down the river which it did nObly the
enemy opening fire upon it as soon as
it hove in sight around the bend, but
proudly and nObly she was borne on the
current on a downward course until
she had passed out of range of the last
battery, and although every available
gun had been brought to bear upon
this sham boat, but little if any harm
was done, if my memory serves me
right. This test trial being q accomplish
ed which gave our bOatmen courage, it
was then decided to run our transports
through, which numbered about ten OF
a dozen, which was accomplished by
running with as little light as possible,
each boat keeping its proper distance,
nOiselessly as possible hugging the OPP
pOsite shore, until the last transports
had passed out of the range of the
rebel guns, which had done their utmost
to destroy our feet. Upon examination
it was found that little damage was
done; this was joyful news to Or boys.
The river was now clear as far as Grand
Gulf. Part OF the troops had already
gone, and now that our transports had
run the blockade, by order of our great
commander the remainder of the army
took tic limo 0F = IN
Grand Gulf. This march was attended
with great difficulty on account of
heavy rains and deep mud, our artillery
being able to make but very few
miles each day. However, as time
moved on and rain became less fire.
quent the roads dried up, and the ar
tiIlery was now enabled to go above
ground and hurried on, so that the lat
ter end of this march to Grand Gulf
was hurried one. Consequently, when
the head of the army had reached the
point below Grand Gulf where the
crossing was to be made, the middle
and rear of the army, which had been
held back to guard artillery and sup
ply trains, was now ordered forward
with all possible speed, which made it
indeed forced march, so much so that
we We're compelled to march day and
night, often through heavy rains, with
no covering but our pOnchO blankets
for the night, and with very little rest
until we reached the point. As the
regiment to which I belonged APP
preached the city, we arrived at a point
up the river about three miles, where
We had fine view of a naval engage
ment between our gunbOats and the
enemy's artillery along the shore. This
Innc 10 q
circle at a proper distance from the
enemy's batteries and moving round
and round. When each gunboat came
with her brOadside to the enemy she
fired every shot she was able to, and
moved on to let the next one do like
wise, until the day was finished. This
done, 1t was an easy matter to run the
blockade that night under cover Of
darkness, which was accomplished with
very little damage.
The running Of the blockade at
NieksbUrg on the night of the 29th Of
April 1868, which was witnessed by 3
large portion of the army, viii ever
be remembered by the old boys as one
of the grandest scenes they ever
witnessed. The shrilI screaming of
solid shots, the bursting of bOmbshells
in the air and the incessant roar of
cannon until the last boat had passed
out of reach, all combined to render it
q grand scene in the darkness and an
exciting moment to the Union forces.
To our great surprise, after the trans
ports had been landed, it was discov-
cred that little damage had been done.
The worst, and about the only, dam
age of consequence that we heard of
which I had the privilege Of Witnessing
myself, was that caused by a solid shot
which passed through the wheel house
of the steamer POcahORtas and killed
two horses which were standing In
range in that part of the beat.
Now that our transports with sup
plies were out of danger, the next day
was spent in crossing the Thirteenth
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