The National tribune., 1899-12-14
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Fierce Fighting a. THOMPSON Hill.

| EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The
batlle of Thompson Hill. Miss, or Porl
Hudson, was fought on May 1, 1863. by
the Thirteenth Corps and the Confederates
under Bower and Pemberton. After the
running Of the Eicksburg blockade Gen
Grant attacked the Grand Gulf blockade
Failing TO silence the Confederate guns
he concluded that another blockade mus!
be run. The army disemDarked from the
transports and marched below Grand
| Gull, beng on the opposite side.
Our march was made safely, and we
went INTO camp about dark on the evening
of April 2S. We We're close enough to wit
ness the Grand Gulf batteries open fire on
the passing boats; the transports under full
head of steam came through without much
damage, while the ironclads replied to
the rebels yiciously.
| 1t was an imposing sight. The earth
shook under our feet as volley after volley
was fired with great rapidity. The Mis-
sissippi River was lit up to all appearances
with a great confiagration, the water was
lit up with bursting shells and the flashes
from the heavy guns in impregnable posi-
tions in the bluffs.
Presently our transports came floating
down to camp. which caused loud cheering
from the troops. After them came the
ironclads with battle-fiags floating on the
night breeze.
The next day Gen. Grant ordered us
aboard the transports. All the boats
were loaded full of soldiers Grant headed
the headquarters boat for Grand Gulf, as
if he intended to land under fire. He held
the boats about two hours near the enc
my's batteries, and all at once pointed
downstream, the rest following.
Gunboats and transports loaded with
troops disembarked seven miles below
Grand Gulf, and drew rations. We re-
sumed marching about o'clock, aiming
for the narrow passage leading for the
bluffs back of Grand Gulf, known as
Thompson Hill. A race was made by
rebels and Yankees-we to gain foot
hold; our enemies to prevent us farther
advance.
Grant had misled the rebels as to his
real intentions, and they delayed so long
that we were well under headway beyond
the danger limit before we met their ad-
did meet military movements We're sus-
pended until morning, as further march
ing was dangerous. The new April moon
was receding behind the Mississippi hills
when we laid down our arms, knowing
that the morning light would bring us
face to face with our antagonists.
About o'clock next morning we were
to prepare for battle. This morn
ing found my appetite bad. When the |
bugie sounded we fell in. Our division |
was the center of the battle-array. The |
battle opened early on our right. the rebels |
charging our right wing heavily, but a |
discharge of musketry repelled this charge |
Dur battery (Foster's) threw shot and shell |
obliquely into the lines, scattering them |
back in confusion. The day was hot and |
oppressive. There was a gap between
our right and center. and the 22d Ky.
was ordered to hold this. 1 recollect Col.
Worthington said:
Boys, hold the position: we have shade.
and we must hold it at all hazards" So
We did.
About noon we charged the rebels through
| cane-brake. A bear figured as non
,Ombatant. playing back and forth during
he day. He did not seem to know which
vas the right side-rebel or Union. AS
We were going through the cane-brake
stephen Dehart, of our company, fell
against me, being struck by spent bali
,etween the shoulders. l thought he was
nortally wounded, but upon assisting
lim to his feet found that he was not. The
,attle was now raging fiercely toward
Port Gibson. and by sundown the rebels
we're completely put to fiight-A. J. JA-
OBS, Co. ID, 22d KY, Head of Grassy,
w