The National tribune., 1902-01-09
Confederate forces were assembled ready
to give battle for the defense of the place.

Confederate forces were assembled ready
to give battle for the defense of the place.
THE SUPREME EFFORT.
AT 10 O'Clock on the morning Of May %,
the Union forces moved promptly TO the
attack; the artillery had already opened
with furious cannonade along the whole
line, and this was promptly responded to
by the Confederate batteries. An active
musketry hire was kept up on both sides
| as the Union forces advanced.
The regiments for the assault were
broken into platoons right in front, and in
stantly, with fixed bayonets, and at dou-
ble-quick, rushed upon the Confederate
works. Along the entire line terrific and
| bloody struggle eRsued.
From their protected position the Con
federate sOldiery poured voley after vol
ley of musketry into the advancing forces.
The National troops rushed forward; in
many places they plunged into the
ditch and mounted the slope, and here a
hand-to-hand conflict ensucd, the COnfed-
crate troops eXcrting every nerve to keep
the Union soldiers out. and the Union sol
dlers IN turn struggling to gain foOthOld
within the works. They planted their
banners upon the parapets and fought
with unsurpassed valOr, but at no point
could lOdSment he made; the defenders
Of the works stood their ground with
splendid ga!lantry and repelIed the attack
with great loss on the part of the Ma
tional troops.
MCLERNAND's MISTAKE.
Upon the left Gen. McClernand's forces
had driven the enemy from two of their
outWorks and occupied them: the General
from his position came to the conclusion |
that he had carried and was holding the |
main works, and so reported by telegraph |
to Gen. Grant. McClcrnand asked for re |
lnlorcements, and urged that the assault |
along the whole line be renewed. to prevent |
the enemy from concentrating upon his |
part of the line. Gen. Quinby's Division |
of the Seventeenth Corps was Immediately |
sent as reinforcement to Gen. McCIer-
nand. Their arrival on the ground was re-
ported to Gen. Grant by telegraph, and n
second assault was ordered.
1T was my fortune to belong TO Ouinby's
Division and to march TO reinforce Gen.
McClernand. The division took part in
the second assault and lost heavily. Col.
Boomer, of the 2Gth Mo-. commanding the
Third Brigade of the division, fell in that
assault.
From the position occupied by Quinby's
Division it was plain to be seen that the
'ebel works carried by McClernand's
.roops during the first assault was an out
work considerable distance in front of.
ma entirely disconnected with the main
inc of works II
Nothing whatever was gained by the
econd assault; upon the contrary, many
lives were lost, and many brave
men seriously wounded as the result.
The discounted troops necessarily with
rev from the immediate front of the Con
ederate fortifcatiOn and took shelter in
he deep ravineS in front of the works.
these positions close up under the rebel
atteries were held to the last.
Ten. Grant now decided upon urosccut-
nS regular siege for the reduction of the | il
ity. +
Suitable positions for encamping the D
f0ops were selected; tents and camD | h
qulpage of every kind were brought up. t
no the whole army established comfort /
bic encampments, as well protected as "
osSlbie from the sight of the enemy. II
And now began the great work of the f,
ampaIgn. Gen. Pemberton had $4,000 if
zen inside of the Nicksburg Notifications.
nd Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, one of the n
bleSt Generals of the Confederate army. ri
as in the neighborhood of Jackson with N
considerable army, which might be re. cI
forced indefinitely by orders from Rich $
lond. while Gen. Grant now had an d,
my of about 10000 men in the rear of 6,
lcksburg. As a military question. it was h,
'rfectly clear that Gen. Johnston's bust Dl
'ss was to whip Grants army and force M
III to raise the siege, and thus save ty
enberton,s forces from capture III
Inc problem with Gen. Grant was TO nj
'osecute the siege and capture Pember- III
ms army, and Mt the same time to de- M
nd himself against any attack that ST
lght be made by Johnston. m
Go be cOntinuedJ