The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-12-13
HISTORICAL OLD V|CkSDURG
And Her Part in the Great Drama
of 1876.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE CAM PAIGN
The Number of the Troops Engag-
ed in Effort to Get
Possession.
IN ACCOUNT OF THE CAM PAIGN
Something of the National Military
Heroic Valor Displayed by the Ameri-
Soldiers on Both Sides During
That Great Conflict.
(From Vicksburg American

each located upon the scene of one
of the desperate conflicts of the civil
war, have been authorized by the
congress of the United States-not in
honor Of victory or of defeat, but to
commemorate q crucial epoch IN the
history of the Republic and the forti-
tude and heroism of her soldiers on
both sides. The last bill to this end
was approved by President Mckinley
February Fl, 1899, and is entitled can
Act to establish National Military
Park to commemorate the campaign,
siege and defense of Vicksburg."
Following the enacting clause the act
says: THAT, in order to commence
rate the campaign, siege and defense Of
Vicksburg, and to preserve the history
of the battle and operations of the
siege and defense on the ground where
they were fought and were carried on
the battlefield of Vicksburg, in the
state of Mississippi, is declared to be
National Military Park whenever the
title to the same shall have been &C
CURED by the United States,'' etc. Then
follow proximate description of the
area to be acquired, provision for the
appointment of three commissioners to
establish the park under the direction
OF the secretary Of war, and some gen.
eral directions for the work
The campaign that was signaliZed by
the establishment of this park was one
of the most notable during the entire
war, both as to details and results.
Military critics unite in declaring it the
most brilliant operation initiated and
conducted by General Grant. AS for
General Pemberton, while he was clear
ly overmatched i'll strategy, his army
made magnificent fight, as Confed-
crate soldiers always did do. The cap
ture of Vicksburg by the Federal army
was the browning and most important
event IN the great struggle for the con-
troll of the Mississippi river which be-
gan at st. Louis in May, 1861. With
varying fortunes the Federal lines
swept slowly southwark past Cape Cir
ardeau, Birds Point, New Madrid and
Island Number 10, until the capture of
Memphis, June 6, 1862. New Orleans
had fallen in April and all eyes were
now turned to Vicksburg, with it's
dOL lie sweep Of the great river along
miles of high bluffs, as the scene of the
next act in the drama. The Twelfth
Mississippi regiment had been sent to
Vicksburg in February. In March
few guns with ammunition were sent
from Pensacola orIu
General Beauregard drew a project of
fortif1cation requiring about 40 guns
and a garrison of 3 900 men, The work
was begun April Fl, 1862, by Captain
d. B. Harris with a force Of negro la
borers.
Upon the capture of New Orleans,
General Martin L. Smith was dispatch
ed to Vicksburg with five regiments,
under orders to complete the fotifica-
ton with the utmost dispatch. He ar
rived May II, and by working day and
night had six batteries finished and
armed when the advance division of
Farraguts fleet arrived, May IS. The
fleet was accompanied by no land
forces, and after giving Vicksburg it's
first baptism of fire in a desultory
bombardment, returned to New Or
leans about June l. Here Farragut
found the most urgent demand from
the navy department that he should
at once capture the up-river city, then
the only point on the river remaining
in Confederate control. June %, rein
fOrcements bringing the garrison to
about $4,000 began arriving at Vicks-
burg, and, June 28, the city and it's
defenders were placed under command
OF General Van Dorm. June Is Farra-
gut again arrived at Vicksburg with
his fleet, accompanied by mortar ao-
tilla and by Gen Williams and his
brigade Of about 5000 men. Collect
ing force Of some $4,000 blacks, Gen
eraI Williams began work on the cele-
brated canal across the peninsula. To-
eating it upon the line as laid out sew
eral years before when the states Of
Louisiana and Mississippi were in dis
pute as to their boundaries and the
former state determined to dig a canal
which should cut Vicksburg off from
the river. After passing the batteries
and getting into position, Farragut
bombarded the city pretty steadily for
seven days, stating in his official re-
port Of the attack that, while the forts
can be passed as often as required. I
am satisfied it is impossible to take
Vfcksburg without an army of twelve
to fifteen thousand men," The fleet,
however, remained in the vicinity until
July 27-the principal event of this
period being the brilliant dash into
and through the Union vessels by the
Confederate ram Arkansas, which
caused Farragut great cha grin.
Vicksburg now had period of re-
spite, Grants attempt late that fall to
march south from his distant base at
Memphis being frustrated by the cap
ture of the supplies at Holly Springs
without his getting far enough to ex-
cite serious alarm. Then came Sher.
mans December attack on the Chicka :
saw bluffs, where he was seriously
nv n