The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-08
A Gallant Incident During the Siege
 of Vicksburg, on May 22, 1863.

or V1cksDurg, on May S|, 1000.
 By Lieut.-Gen. S. D. Lee.
 (Copied from Camp Fires of the Con-
 fedeTacy."
 General Grant having crossed the Mis- sssippi River. below VickSburg, defeated small Confederate force near Port Gib- son; then moving to Jackson, Miss, he defeated a small force at that point and also at Raymond. taking possession of the city of Jackson. He then turned and moved directly west toward Vicksburg. fighting the battle of Champion Hills or Bakers Creek, where he also defeated General Pembertons army on the 18th of May driving it within the intrench- ments at Vicksburg. The Confederate army of Pemberton's about 2l,oOo strong, was placed within the intrenchments in line of battle, over eight miles in length, Grants army forming another llne all around the city. General Grant determined to take the city by assault. He gradually pushed his army up to the Confederate lines on the 18th, 18th and 21st of May. crowning the heights with his artillery and sharpshooters and push Ing his infantry to within 150 yards of the Confederate intrenchments, which ne could readily do owing to the rugged character of the hills and valleys in the vicinity of Vicksburg. The situation on the morning of May 22nd was very in teresting one. the Confederate army, about 23.000 effectives, in entrenchment. and Pemberton closely confined in a cir
 
 resting on the river with about hun dred guns in position. and about thirty six heavy guns on the river front. The Union Army, about 50,000 strong. forming circle on the land side parallel to the confederate entrenchments. with at least 175 guns in position; on the river front was the magnificent lron-clad gunboat fleet of Admiral Por.er's. and the mortar boat fleet moving up to within range or the apparently doomed city. About 10 o'clock in the morning the guns of Grants army, as also those of the great fleet on the river. opeled fire on the Con- federate entrenchments and the city of Vicksburg. The cannonading from these hundreds of guns on land and water was terrific and deafening. and the air was alive with screaming shot and bursting shell. The sharpshooterS of Grants army also kept up a continuous fire on every thing visible on the Confederate lines. This terrible ordeal lasted about two hours and half During this time the Confederate artillery and infantry dfd liutlo firing. except to prevent any closer approach than at the beginning of the bombardment but kept closely covered within their works, reserving their strength and ammunitip m for the assault which they knew was coming. otf!ct orders were given that as soon as the cannonading ceased along the Union lines and the Federal troops moved to the as- sauIt, the Confederate troops should rise in their trenches and deliver their fire on the charging Federals. and that the Confederate artillery should use grape and canister also. The progress of the assault and defense was carried out on both sides with great skill and gallantry Suddenly every gun ceased firing along Grants front, except from the covered sharpshooters. who could overshoot the charging Federals. wh1 rose and moved toward the Confederate hnes Tor space