The National tribune., 1901-12-19

EuntOdtS. seven OIL lntsS He dSSiSHtu "
the enterprise of running the blockade.
On the night Of April 1G, at 10 o'clock,
the Flagship Benton, Admiral Porter com
manding. took the advance in this great
movement. the other gunbuats following
in the order named; the Lafayette with
the steamer Price lashed 10 her side. the
louisville, Mound City, Pittsburg and
CarOndelCt: the transports Forest Queen,
Silver Wave and Henry Clay followed.
each towing bdrges loaded with coal. The
gunbOat TusCumbia brought up the rear.
was encamped at Richmond, La, and
on this eventful night. about 1880, the
rebel batteries opened fire.
The battery between Vicksburg and
Warrenton began the bombardmcnt firing
across the peninsula around which the
great bend of the river runs. Presently
the Nicksburg batteries opened. It seemed
impossible that the frail steamboats, could
survive so dreadful a tempest of shot and
shell; but soon the seven gunboats began
t. put in their work, running close in
under the bluff and delivering their fire at
short range. BY preconccrt the Confed-
crates set fire to a number of houses in
Vicksburg, and also lighted bonfires on the
opposite side of the river, so that the
whole river was as light as day.
An incessant roar Of heavy artillery
continued for two hours. Every vessel
was struck a number Of times. The
transports Jared badly. The Henry Clay
was disabled, deserted by her crew. set
fire on by a bursting shell, and burned to
the waters edge. The movement of the
vessels in the light of tire burning houses,
the roar of the artillery from the batter
les and from the gunboats and the burst
ing Of shells made a wild scene of war
rarely eXcelled.
ticu. Sherman had caused four yawl-
boats TO be drawn across the point, to be
used for relief in case of emergency. He
WAS amidstream in one of these boats. He
boarded the Benton, and had some talk
with Admiral Porter, and rowed ashore
before reaching the Warrenton batteries.
The Captain of the gunboat Tuscumbia,
sceing that the Forest Queen had been
crippled. went to her relief and towed her
cut Of danger.
The gunboats were practically unin-
iured, but one steamboat was lost. The
other two were promptly repaired for
service. The dangerous experiment Of
passing the batteries was successful, aud
what was remarkable no one on the
transports had been killed.
On the night of April 80 six more
steamers towing II barges loaded with
provisions ran the batteries; five of these
steamers got through; one was sunk
These boats passed the same terrific or
deal of bolabardment, and all the boats
were more or less injured; but the sue
cc>S Of the movement showed the uncer-
tainty of artillery fire against moving yes
scls in the night, when all is excitement
and hurry.
CONCENTRATING AT PEBKISs'S PLASTA-
TIoS.
Gen. Grant had nov seven gunboats
and seven transports below Yicksburg,
and the troops were rapidly concentrating
AZ Perkins's plantation. Mcpherson, with
his Seventeenth Corps, followed McCler-
nalid, and Sherman was to bring up the
rear.
Nc suitable landing being found on the
east bank of the river above Grand Gulf,
on April p the Thirteenth and Seven
tecnth Corps were set in motion for Hard
Times Landing, a point nearly opposite
Grand Gulf. The route. % miles, lay
along the west bank of Lake St. Joseph,
an old bend of the river. The march
was over Il fine road and through a beau
tifully-imprOved country. a few of the
slaves remained OH the plantations, but
all the whites were gone and most OF the
negroes had been taken with them.
The column reached Hard Times On
April -. Gen. Grant was in constant
communication with Admiral Porter. who
liE flapf nf .yIIulpatG and
together. The plan Row was 10 capture
Grand Gulf
McClernand placed 10000 men on the
transports ready to effect a landing and
carry the place 10y assault, when Admiral
Porter with his gunbnats Should silence
the batteries The Admiral entered upon
bis task with great zeal; for five hours he
bombarded tn" forts Of Grand Gulf with
out liSmOunting a gun. The rebel bat
teTieS were placed upon the hill, out Of
reach of the naval guns. The fleet. with
loss Of IS killed and 3G wounded, drew of.
Al. night McClernand, concealed from
the view OF the enemy, landed his troops
on the west bank Of the river aud marched
across the point without discovery. That
night. April ~. the feet of guHboatS and
transports ran past the batteries of Grand
Gulf without serious injury.
Grant now, April -. 1863, had the
fleet and the army both below Grand
Gulf.
Lieut. Gen. John C. Pemberton, Of the
Confederate army, commanded the De
par.ment af Mississippi and East LOuisi-
ara. with headquarters at NickSburg He
conducted the campaign against Gen.
Grant ia central Mississippi aud arrived
at ficksburG ~ December 1862 in time
10 take part in the repuse of Gen Shcr-
mans attack He now had immediate
couiiand of the Nicksburg garrison, and
all troops in the vicinity were under his
orders.
Gen Pemberton had successfully re-
sisted every movement of the Union
forces 10 gain Il foothOid III Mississippi
by way OF the YazoO and its tributaries
but lac had been unable 10 sink the gun
boats and steamers il their passage down
the, river in front Of his ] . miles Of bat
terieS. He could see the movements of
these vessels, but he could not see the
movement of the troops: consequently. the
real plans of Gen. Grant were with Gen.
PeRbertOn 4 matter Of conjecture only.
To make sure Of the defense of Grand
Gulf Gen. Pembcrton sent 5000 men as
II reinforcement. These troops made a
hasty march. and about March - reached
Hankinson'S Ferry on the Big Black
River, Il few miles above Grand Gulf
When Gen. Grant found himself below
Nicksburg with guubuats, transports and
2O,GGo soldiers, he felt that the game was
now with him. but he decided to play
upon the imagination of Cen Pemberton
and to keep him undecided as long as
possible to what his rca! intentions
were.