The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-03-26
A WARTIME LETTER.
A Brief Summary CT Part Of the YIsksbarg Cam.
paign.

A Brief Summary CT Part Of the YlekSburg Cam
paign.
Capt. o. II. Ross of the Office OF the Third
Auditor Of the Treasury, and an own cousin Of
Gen. II. 5. Grant, has shown ms an interesting
war relic. in the SHAPE Of letter written by
him ia Gen. Grants e At ia front Of yicksburg,
in June 1863 10 his uncle, Jesse Il, Grant, the
father OF Gen. Grant. IL reads:
4 summary Cf the operations OF the Army Of
the Tennessee since April 3, 1s63, n portion
OF which is personally known to you. may not
De undressing. On April 30 1863 the Army
of tine Tennessee dCjlTicd at BrUinsburc, Miss,
seven miles south OF Grand Gulf. and moved
ont on the road 20 Port Gibson On May Il the
C0Eps OF MCJleTuand and LOANS Division. OF
Mtphcrsou's Corps. defeated the rebel forces,
estimated from $500 to 10000, under Gen.
Bowen In the attic Of Port Gibson The rebel
loss iR killed, wounded and prisoners was not
less than 500 men, with five pieces OF artil-
lgry, besides large numbers OF small arms.
Among the rebel killed WAS Brighten. Tracy.
The Federal loss in killed aud wounded was
about zoo.
Oue OF the immediate results Of this battle
was the evacuation of Grand Gulf May .. and
the abandoning Of II pieces OF artillery, which
fell into our hands.
May Il, after severe skirmishing, McCler-
nand's and Shermln'5 Corps crossed 10 the
north side OF Fourteen Billie Creek, about nine
miles south Of Edwards Depot, and Bolton, on
the Nick5burg * Jackson Railroad, and Iogan'5
aud Quimby's Divisions. the latter under the
command Of Gen. CrDcl.cr,j Of MCphCrsOn's
Corps engaged and defeated the rebels, 5000
strong, under Gen. Gregg in the battle Of Ray
moud, "a place on Fourteen Mile Creek seven
miles east from where Gen. Sherman crossed
and in easy communication with the main
army. The rebel loss in killed, wounded and
prisoners 1000; FEDERAL loss IN killed aud
wounded. zoo.
The rebels, numbering 10000. under COM
mand OF the celebrated Gen. Joe Johnston,
were defeated May Il, in the battle OF Jack
son lthc Capital Of the State Of Mississippi,
which place was entered on the same day by
the CORPS Of sherman and Mcpherson. The bat
tie was principal v fought by McPhcrsOn's Corps
tie enemy having moved ont and met that
corps on the road by which il was advancing
The rebel loss in killed, wounded and prisoners
WAS coo mcu, with II pieces OF artillery, to-
gctAer with a large quantity Of commissary
stores and manufactures Of immense value
Tor the manufacture Of army supplies, a loss
which they cannot soon, if ever. repair.
On the 10th Of the same month was fought
by Netherlands Corps two Divisions OF Nc
PhcrsOu's and Biair's Division Of Sherman'S
C0rJs the bloody aud decisive battle Of Cham
piOn Hills, or Bakers Creek, about five miles
west of Bolton. The rebel forces were from
10000 TO 25GpD strong, under the immediate
command Of Licut.-lion. Peuberton. The
rebel loss in killed wounded and prisoners was
about 5000 men. - pieces Of artillery, and sew
eral thousand stands o smal-aTms Brig Gen.
Lloyd lilghman was among the rebel killed.
The Federal loss ia killed and wounded
am0unt.l 10 about Q 100 One division Of the
rebel army, under the command Of Gen. Tor
Ing, was cut oil IN It's retreat to NicksbuTg aud
passed out in a south casteriy direction, in a
scattered and di-pIgauizcd condition, between
cur forces and Grand Gulf.
The battle of Big Blacl, Bridge was fought
and won oa the 18th. The enemy was about
5000 strong, under Gen. Green, in the fortifi-
cations, defending tho briGgc-head. McCler-
ngHd's Corps was only engaged. The rebel loss,
iu killed, wounded and prisoners, amounted 10
their entire force. 5000, aud as many small
arms, with Il pieces gi artillery. Gen. Green
saved himself from capture By swimming tho
river a. Bridgeport about SIX mi! IS north Of the
big Black Bridge aud between jackson and
Eicksburg. Stce.as and BIair's Divisions Of
shcrman's Corps, crossed 10 the ives. side Of the
river.
The entire army, except the necessary force
for a rear-guaTi. arrived in front Of Vicks.
burg, on the Highlands, on the 18th inst, and
drove away the enemy into his Qualifications.
Early on the morning Of the 10Th our lines were
extended 10 the Mississippi River, north Of the
city, aud communications opened with the
North and our supplies by way OF YazoO River
aud 0hicE1-aw Bayou, aud with Admiral PoT-
ter's Mississippi Squadron.
Haincss Bluff had been evacuated, which,
+ with its armament, Gu-i-tiug OF aiue heavy
gans, fell into orr p0-s-ssi0H. On the same dag
a general assault was made upon the cuomy's
works 30 kickshuTg. bat nothing was gained
except q more advanced ard advantageous p0-
l.HH a.. #..- 0 IA. a
with no better success. Our losses in these
assaults. in killed and wounded, were about
5000
The success OF this campaign, thus FAR, show
the great advantage 20 DO gained by kgepin. an
army close IN hand, aud fighting q superior
against an inferior force. The rebel army for
the defense Of NicEsbuFg and stationed in It's
vicinity numbered, from the lest information,
about $4,000 strong, the moss Of which hal been
defeated in detail and driven, what remains
Of 10 and uusCattcrcd, into the defenscs Of
Nickshurg with a loss OF nearly all its artil-
lcTy. PembcTtOn moved his forces ont Of Nicks-
burg 10 Champion Hills, evidently with the de-
sign Of attacking the rear Of our column and
I destroying aud cutting OF our supplies; but so
well planned and 20 rapid were the movements
Of Gen. Grant, that instead Of meeting our
rear, he met the head Of our advancing column.
with the entire force IN Gloss supporting dis
lance. With the determined bravery Of our
men, AMI tho competency Of their leaders the
result could not have been different.
With the exception Of about four days ra-
tons the army from the lst inst. until its
arrival before NicasblFg, on the 18th inst,
lived of the supplies from the country. The
march was continuous. except only such time
as was necessary COR TeiuiOrccments TO come up
and the men 10 get rest.
We now hold the important points Of Grand
/ Gulf and WarTout0n, below, iiaincs's BLUM,
above tho city, aud the Highlands in front
formerly the rear Of Vicl.sJurg. Tho city is
closely invested, our Amy is strong ia numbers
and enthusiastic aud It's position is one from
which it cannot easily be dislodged. Ycks-
Lurg must ere long fall into our possession.
That such may be the results Of tine bravery
and heroic actions Of the Army Of the Icuues-
see and navy co-opcrltiycly with 1t, that have
thus far, conformity, done SO much aud suffered
50 severely, let the prayers Of the patriotic
and loyal people Of our country go Up to the
God Of Justice, Liberty, aud National Unity.
Attention, 10Th ILL.,!
J. ". Shoaticr, OF Sterling H., has been des-
ignatcd rs Historian Of the 10th III. The mat
ter 20 be embraced Is the uuwrittCu acts, sights
and conduct Of the officers and enlisted men