Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-04-28

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MAP SHOWING SCENE OF OPERATIONS.
rary. Below Young's Point the Missis-
Iippi makes sudden bend, flows north
east four or five miles, when it turns
abruptly and runs the same distance
tssward the southwest BY this curve
marrow peninsula is formed of the
Louisiana shore, which stretches out in
the shape of q tongue little more than a
mile in width. Opposite the lower side
OF the peninsula is the city Of Vicks-
burg, situated on commanding cliffs
that rise abruptly eco feet from the
waters edge. Above the town thisrange
of hills strikes the Yazoo nearly twenty
miles from its mouth and is known as
Walnut Hills.
Between Haynes Bluff, whichis twelve
miles above the town, and WaTenton,
seven miles below, the Confederates had
mounted twenty-eight guns of heavy
caliber along the river front, all Of
which had plunging fire that could
not be returned from gunboats in the
river on account Of the extreme eleva-
ton Rifle pits abounded along the
slope; chains were also stretched and
RATS moored across the Yazoo, SO that
direct assault was impracticable. In the
sear of Vicksburg ravines, creeks and
bayous also presented equally admirable
facilities for defense. At Grand Gulf,
fifty miles below Vicksburg. was an
other fortifcation, and still another was
located at Port Hudson, $50 miles from
the sea. Grants forces at Young's Point
and vicinity consisted of $4,000 men.
The plan assayed by Grant cannot be
more clearly described than in his letter
to Halleck: "Thero is a system of bayous
running from the river near this point
(Young's} that are navigable for large
and small steamers passing around by
Richmond 10 New Carthage. The
dredges are now engaged in cutting a
canal into these bayous. am having
all the coal boats and other barges pre-
pared for carrying troops and artillery
and have written for six tugs to tow
them. With them il will be easy to
carry supplies to New Carthage and any
point south CT that.
My expectation is for some Of the feet
80 run the batteries Of NicEsburg whilo
the army moves through by this new
route. Once there. | will move to
Warrenton or Grand Gulf, probably the
latter From either Of these points there
are good roads to Jackson and the Black
river bridge without crossing Black
siver | will keep my army together and
see to it that am not cut off from my
supplies, or beat in any other way than
fair fight"
Tho plan was so full CT obstacles that
it was bitterly opposed by his intimate
friends and corps commanders, VINO
urged that by thus cutting loose from
his Communications, failure if it result.
ed, meant absolute annihilation. But
Grant was decided. The evaporation
and drainage Of the swamp on the west.
trn side having rendered it possible to
construct road and bridges for dis.
tance of thilty-tiYe miles 10 the point
from which it was proposed to operate
the work was promptly begun and fin.
ishcG. On March 20 McClelnand was
ordered to take the advance.
Meanwhile Grant determined to risk
sending three steamers and ten barges
past the batteries, loaded with rations
md forage, 1t being necessary TO have :
supply oil boats below NicSsburg for the
purpose OF LeIrying the troops across The
2iver Tho night Of Inc 1CtA Of Apr
was selected for the undertaking. While
seven Ok porters ironclads engaged the
batteries the river steamers, protected
by bales of cotton and wet hay and tow
Ing ho bargcs, were TO run the gantle-
Of vWenty-aight guns that commanded
the river for oyer fifteen miles. tn,
tran. ports Wore manned by volunteers
sro,u fine army, tho river crews and cap
ta1,7 being Afraid of tie danger, Porte.
BED the wa
Tho night VAS lark, bat houses set o.
FIRE on Ci,ncr dtCra Li;.ia il ljYn5 as day
Hen at the J. tt@riL5 ana the crowds il
The streets Of Violl5Iurg could be plainly
Seen Every transport was struck, bu
there wero lAen in the holds to pres
cotton bags in the fractures made b,
the shots. Two Of three transports wer
BET On fire and disabled. On the gun
boats 10 one was killed and only eigh
wounded; and within half an hour ate
passing the batteries all Of Porter's ves
sells were ready io" service. On Apr
20 e second fleet Cf Transports and barge
was sent down, Ltlt Of which got safel
by the fortifcatiors Those were quichl
made ready for the purposa3 FOR wlicl
they were intended
Tho Seventeenth corp, under Ma
Pherson, having arrived, Grant nov de
termned to attack the works at Gran,
Gulf. Admiral Porter, with his iron
slals. seven in number, began tho BON
har1mcnt on iko morning Of tho 29th
ana Tor maze t4an no houfs kept up
4 RisaSeaS aae, put Mo RoAs4sa wsa a