The National tribune., 1901-11-14

of defeat, but to commemorate crUcIa
epoch in the history of the Republic ans
the fortitude and herOism of her soldiers
on both sides.
by President Mckinley Feb. 81, 1899 an'
is entitled An Act TO establish Il Ma
tional Military Park to commemorate
the campaign, seige and defense of Nicks
burg"
The campaign that was signalized b!
the establishment of this park was ont
of the most notable during the entire
war, both as to details and results. Mill
tary critics unite in declaring it the mos
brilliant operation initiated and con
Quoted by Gen. Grant. As for Gen
PembertOn, while he was clearly over
matched in strategy, his army made /:
magnificent fight.
The capture of Vicksburg by the Fed
eral army was the crOwning and mos
important event in the great struggle fol
the control of the Mississippi River
which began at ST Louis in May, 1861
With varying fortunes the Federal lines
swept slowly southwark past Cape
Girardeau. 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 NickSburg
with its double sweep of the great river
along miles of high bluffs. as the scene
of the next act in the drama. The 18th
Miss. had been sent TO Eicksburg in
February. In March a few guns with
ammunition were sent from Pensacola,
and early in April Gen. Beauregard drew
a project of fOrtiicatiOn requiring about
40 guns and a garrison of 5000 men.
The work was begun April 21, 1862, by
Capt. ID. Il. Harris with force of negro
laborers.
FARRACUT'S OPERATIONS AGAINST YICKs-
BURG.
Upon the capture Of New Orleans. Gen.
Martin L. Smith was dispatched to Nicks-
burg with five regiments, under orders
TO complete GEe fortifcation with the ut
most dispatch He arrived May u. and
by working day and night had six bat
terieS finished and armed when the ad-
vance division Of Farragut's feet arrived
May Is. The fleet was accompanied by
no land forces, and after giving Yicks-
burg its first baptism of fire in a desul-
tory bOmbardment. returned to New
Orleans about June l. Here Farragut
found the most urgent demand from the
Navy Department that he should at once
capture the uD-river city.i then the only
point on the river remaining in Confed-
crate control.
June % reinforcementS bringing the
garrison to about $1,000 began arriving
at Nicksburg, and June 2S the city and
mand of Gen. Van Dorm
June % Farragut again arrived at
Nicksburg with his fleet, accompanied by
a mortar fOtilla and by Gen. Williams
and his brigade of about 5000 men.
Collecting a force Of some 1900
blacks, Gen. Williams began work on the
celebrated canal across the peninsula,
locating it upon the line as laid out sew
eral years before when the States on
Louisiana and Mississippi were in dispute
as to their boundaries and the former
State determined to dig a canal which
should cut Nicksburg off from the river.
After passing the batteries and getting
into position. Farragut bombarded the
city pretty steadily for seven days, stat
ing IN his official report of the attack
that while the forts can be passed as
often as required. / am satisfied it is i'm
possible to take Nicksburg without an
army OF 1900 to 1900 men," The
fleet, however. remained in the vicinity
until July 24-the principal event OF this
period being the brilliant dash into and
through the Union vessels by the Con-
federate ram Arkansas, which caused
FarTagut great chagrin.
SIcksburg now had a period of respite.
Grant 5 attempt late that Fall to march
south from his distant base at Memphis
being frustrated by the capture of the
supplies at Holly Springs without his get
ing lar enough to excite serious alarm.
Then came Sherman's December attack
on the Chickasaw Bluffs, where he was
seriously worSted by Gen. Stephen d.
Lee with a force actually engaged that
was less than one-third of that to which
it was opposed.
CEN. GRANTS vICKsBURG CAMPAIGN.
Two months Of the succeeding Winter
and early Spring Grant devoted to the
bayou expeditions" vainly trying every
conceivable plan to find way to cross
the low land Of the YazOo delta and reach
the high ground beyond the right flank of
the enemy, now commanded by Gen.
Pemberton. Then followed Grants last
and winning effort, which is briefly out
lined in the Record, compiled for the
Park Commission by It's Secretary and
Historian, Gen. J. S. Kountz. and now
given TO the public, as follows:
The Nicksburg Campaign opened
March %. 1869, with Gen. Grants order
for the advance of Gen. OSterhaus's Di-
vision from Milliken's Bend, and closed
July /, 1863. with the surrender of Penn
bert0n's army and the City of Vicksburg
Its course was determined by Gen.
Grants plan Of campaign.
This plan contemplated the march of
his active army from Millikcn's Bend, La,
70 point on the river below Vicksburg
the running OF the batteries at Vicks-
burg by sufficient number of gunboats
and transports. and the transfer of his
army 20 the Mississippi side.
''These points were successfully accom-
plished, and. May !, the first battle of the
campaign was fought uear Port Gibson,
Up 10 this time Gen. Grant had contem-
plated the probability Of uniting the army
of Gen. Banks To his. He then decided
not to wait the arrival Of Banks, but to
make the campaign with his own army.
May II. at Raymond. Logau's Divi.
sion Of Grants army. with Crocker's Di-
VISION III reserve, was engaged with
Gregg's Brigade of Pemberton's army.
Gregg WAS largely Outnumbered. and. af-
ter a stout fight. fell back to jackson.
The same day the left of Grants army.
under McClernand, skirmished at Four
teen Mile Creek with the cavalry and
mounted infantry of Pemberton's army,
supported by BOwen's Division and two
brigades of LOring's Division.
After the battle of Raymond. Sher-
mans and McPherson's Corps of Grants
army moved toward Jackson. They
reached that city May Il. and occupied it
after brief and spirited engagement
with the small force there under Gen.
Joseph +. Johnston. who reached that
place the night Of May 13.
Gen. Grant had now interposed his
army between the armies of Gen. John
Ston and Gen. Pemberton. He left Sher-
man : t0TDs one day at Jackson to COM
plete the destruction Of the stores and as
much rs poSSihle Of the railroads there.
McPherson'S Corps marched from lack
son. May II. towards EickSburg
May 1G, McClernand's and McPher-
sons Corps of Grants army engaged three
divisions of Pemberton's army at Cham
pion'S HILL pemhprton-S forcns yroro