The National tribune., 1902-01-16
Copyrighted. 1901. by the pub


into active use. line of works was con,
structed extending from Haynes's Bluff,
on the Yazoo River, to Vicksburg on the
north, and from thence around Nicksburg
in front of the rebel works and extending
to Warrenton, six miles below Yicksburg.
The Notifications around Haynes's Bluff
inclosed an area sufficient for 10000 men;
these works defended the landing on the
Gazoo River, and were designed by Gen.
Grant as place of retreat for his army
in the event he was forced to raise the
siege of VickSburg. He was determined
to retain his fOothold on the high ground
near NickSburg, come what might. The
gunbOat fleet could keep the IazOo River
.Oper, and thus protect the arrival of rein
forcements and supplies, even though the
siege of Vicksburg should be raised and
Gen. PembertOn's army should be enabled
to march out and escape.
The works Immediately in front Of
VicksEurg erected for the reduction of the
place were well planned and were quite as
strong as were those for its defense. Two
hundred and twenty pieces of artillery
were placed in position; of these there
WIS a heavy battery of naval guns furnish
ed by Admiral Porter. The National artll-
lery was all well protected by strong forti-
fcatiOns.
On the Louisiana side of the river and
within easy range of the city a fleet of
mortar boats was stationed, which threw
200 pound shells. Eight gunboats were
above and seven gunboats below Nicks-
burg cooperating in the siege and watch
full to prevent the escape of PembertonS
army by way of the river. A considerable
force of national troops was stationed at
Millken's Bend, to resist any attack that
might be made from the Louisiana side.
At no point was the Union line more than
600 feet from the Confederate works.
THE SIEGE.
In front of every Confederate battery
the Union forces constructed strong rifle
pits capped with timber, with lOOp-hOleS
for firing; from these works a constant
musketry fire was kept up into every EN-
bsasure; this steady firing practically
silenced many of the guns.
The regiments of each brigade took
turns of ~ hours each in occupying the
works; these changes were made in the
night, so as not to attract the fire of the
enemy as the troops passed from and to
their camps.
Early in June Gen. Quinby was relieved
from the command of the division and as
signed to command at Columbus, ky.r and
Brighten. John Z. Smith. of Illinois, was
assigned to command the division.
During the siege Col Samuel 4.
Holmes, of the 10th Mo-, resigned. | was
next in rank to Col. Holmes, and was as
signed to the command of the Second Bri
gade of Smiths Division; this greatly
added to my duties, in respect to the siege.
Our division was posted to the left of
Logan's Division. A deep ravine ran
parallel to the rebel works and only about
300 feet distant. This rayine headed in
Legan's froht and extended about a miie
along the rebel line, widening out toward
the south. / occupied nearly q half Il
mile Of this ravine. The hillSides were
steep, but upon reaching the brow on
either side the ground slOped gradually for
scme distance. My rife pits were on the
brow of the hill next the rebel fOrtifica
tions. Our artillery was well intrenched
on the hill to our rear, and fired over the
heads of the infantry. The entire line of
besIeging works WAS established Ill an in
credibly short space of time. The work
was pushed day and night until the trOoDs
were under cover. Ammunition for both
arms of the service was brought up from
the landing in great quantities; there was
no stint of ammunition for either muSketS
or cannon.
Day after day and night after night a
storm of lead and iron fell upon that de-
voted city. The infantry fire began at
daylight and continued until dark. The
mortar boats kept up n fire during the
day, but were most active during the
night. The firing of the mOrtars could be
heard along the whole Union line. AT
night as the monster shells were thrown
cate their position. / have seen five shells
at one time rs they trayersed their great
curves, and heard them one by one as they
exploded in different parts of the city.
The naval battery Of big guns was in
Gen. EOgan's works, Immediately to my
right. | have witnessed the firing OF this
battery upon a rebel fort; first the fash,
then the tremendous roar of the cannon,
then the humming sound of the shell as it
passed through the air, then glimpse OF
the shell as il descended in its curved
flight, then the sight of the earth as it
is torn up by the mighty missile, and last
ly the deep defamation OF the bursting
shell. 1t seemed that nothing could with
stand such tremendous blows.
From time to time. when the night was
well advanced, suddenly 220 cannon
would open fire upon the Confederate
works. and for hours the deafening roar
would continue. AT other times, at the
peep Of day the firing would begin, and
shot and shell would be poured upon the
Confederate works and camps until Z or
8 o'clock in the morning.
At other times, while the day would be
full of excitement, the night wonld be
quiet pickets from both sides would be
stationed in the Intervening space between
the works, and by agreement peace would
reign and the Yank and the Johnny with
out fear of bad faith would spend the
night without firing short, and exchange
articles from their haYersackS.
THE EvER-wELCoME PAYMAsTER.
During the siege the Paymasters came.
and the army was paid off. The Paymas-
ters were quartered with commanding Off
GERS, and made the payments in the
camps. But some of them were anxious
to visit the intrenchmentS and have IA
small shock of actual war. | entertained
Paymaster Mai. Richard III. Whiting, of
Illinois. He was a delightful man. very
accommodating, and desirOus of seeing
everything connected with the siege. He
insisted on paying lot of the troops on
the skirmish line; so he packed up lot
of money in yalise and went with me
10 the front.
1t was daylight. and we necessarily ad-
vanced to our works in full view of the
soldiers in the rebel fortificati0n. num-
ber of bullets whizzed past us, but hurry
ing forward we soon reached the covered
way down the hill into the ravne and the
paymaster passed out of the range Of
rebel bullets. But his wish had been
gratified, and he had the opportunity Of
paying j number Of soldiers in the rife
pits.
TURNING ATTENTION TO JOHNSTON.
While the grasp of Gen. Grant was
tightening around the garrison of VicEs-
burg, il became known that there WAS
great activity in the rear. and that Gen.
Johnston was assembling a large force for
the relief of the beSieged. 1t was not
tho naiipy of (.an Grant to rapnaiu idle