Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-12-02


Along the lalxe's western bank the
road wound in front of most delightful
homes, while it's eastern shore was over
hung by noble forest trees, and these had
long festoons of moss hanging gracefully
from their boughs. Many flowers, shrubs
and trees were seen with which Northern
eyes were unfamiliar; these gave the re-
gion half tropical appearance. In this
delightful spot, with the air soft,
balmy and filled with the fragrance OF
flowers, birds singing, and so much to
please the senses, the writer thought he
never had looked upon so much of bloom
ing, sunny, delicious, glorious nature.
1t was, indeed, perfect specimen Of the
Sunny South.
A real little paradise, and rs such was no
doubt regarded by its wealthy residents,
who only few weeks before felt as secure
| from invasion as the residents OF the
| North.
The region being in great degree iso-
| lated, in a low level section OF country that
| had to be protected from overflow by
levees was, particularly in a season re-
markable for high water, deemed safe
| from all invasion, if not indeed proof
| against it.
But the persistent Grant had decreed it
otherwise, and now long and formidable
| columns of energetic and hardy Northern
| ers, were making their way through the
So impenetrable was the locality deemed
| by the Confederates, that Pcmberton it
was said, to the last persisted in the belief
| that the movement was not in force and
was only fcint, and intended as diver.
| sion from n serious attack on Vicksburg
| from some other quarter
The Goth of April the Mississippi was
reached at Hard Times Landing nearly OPP
posite Grand Gulf. Just below the latter
place Is De Shroon's plantation, and thith-
err the coluua marched after short stop
| at Hard Times. The line led in sight Of
| Grand Gulf, into which our gunboats were
seen throwing shells; the firing was very
deliberate, and at the time was not re-
| sponded to by the Confederates. The navy
| however failed to reduce the works.
About 10000 troops belonging to the
Thirteenth Corps had gone aboard trans
| ports at New Carthage, some twenty or
| thirty miles above. A handing place for
i these was sought above Grand Gulf, on the
| Mississippi side, but none being found they
| debarked at Hard Times after night fall,
/ and quietly marched across the peninsula,
on the Louisiana shore, opposite the rebel
/ stronghold.
Meantime the navy engaged the Confed-
/ crate batteries, during which the loaded
transports ran by. The writer's regiment
| was encamped a few miles below, and the
cannonading made terrific noise.
Whether it came from the heavy caliber of
the guns engaged or from the peculiar
state of the atmosphere, the writer can
not say, but never did the terrific din Of
cannonading strike his ears with such
force Every shot, too, seemed to have a
peculiar ringing sound that was piercing
in its effects upon the organs of hearing.
| As before stated, the writer's regiment en-
camped the night of the Goth of April at De
Shroon's plantation below Grand Gulf on
the river
Very early on the morning of April 30 the
gun-boats and transports, both alive with
soldiers, were seen on the river.
These moved over towards the Missis-
sippi shore, and the writer remembers al
most shuddering with fear lest they would
be fred into from the adjoining hills. The
boats all moved down the river about six
miles and landed at Bruinsburg
The hospital department did not go
aboard boat till near nightfall, and, hav-
ing been informed that all would remain
on board over night, the writer, feeling
much fatigued, with a companion stretched
himself upon two cotton bales lying side by
side and slept sweetly till early dawn,
when it was found that the boat, having
dropped down the river during the night,
was then tied up at Bruinsburg.
| Word was received to join the regiment
| at once, then in lin upon the shore and
ready to march inland, whore it was said a
battle was already in progress.