The National tribune., 1905-11-23
BENToN's BRIGADE.
A Story Of Desperate Fighting Before
VicksburH.

BENTON'S BRIGADE.
A Story Of Desperate Fighting Before !
VicksburS.
Editor National Tribune: I have been |
Following you in your narrative Of
Grants Vicksburg campaign with in
tense interest, as my regiment was one
of the -first.eif not the first, infantry
regiment engaged on May /, 1858, at
Magnolia. Hill (called the battle Of Port
GIBSON, which. however, is six miles
OF more distant. and participated in
most OF the battles OF that campaign
and the siege, afso in the taking OF
jackson the second time. From my
recollection Of those events your narra-
tive is remarkable for its faithfulness
In the main: but I must ask your par
don for Offering to supplement some
portions, as serious injustice would
be done some good soldiers to leave ii
as 1t is. AT Big Black. for instance, no
mention is made of the two 30-pound
Parrott guns manned by crews from
the 1st u. s. Inf These guns were
brought in by OK teams. and had come
about 10 miles. and got into action in
time to silence the enemy's artillery on
the bluff across the river, which had
opened fire on us, and one OF whose
shots l saw pass between an officers
horse and tree, cutting the hitch rein
and turning the horse loose. I stood
HSdi thc oV-pOuuUeTS ana WdtCnoQ the
effect OF the shots as they splintered
the beech trees that grew on the river
bluff. These shots evidently precipitat-
ed the enemys movements, as their
battery ceased firing and the next MORN
ing member Of the 8th Ind. found
new Generals uniform that had been
overlooked in the hasty departure The
two PARROT guns were commanded by
a Sergeant, who noticed me, as / was
wearing bandage on my head from a
wound received on May 1, and though
| was private Of volunteers and he an
Acting Orderly-Sergeant OF the Regular
Army, yet an acquaintance and friend
ship sprang up which lasted while we
were In visiting distance. During the
siege Of Vfcksburg Maj. Mallory, COM
niandlng one battalion Of the LIST Regu-
lars, with two more 30-pounders, took
position Immediately in. the rear Of my
regiment. These guns did grand SER
vice. as they could easily throw their
shot and shell into any part of the city.
want especially to speak Of Ben
tons Brigade in the assault Of May %,
at least OF two regiments, which, in all
the accounts I have ever seen seem to
have been given little or no credit.
at least two regiments Of 1t, made the
assault on the fort just north OF the
railroad from Vicksburg to Jackson ST.
multaneous with the 22d Iowa. whom
we could see attacking the fort just
south of the railroad. From our bivouac
we had to approach the fort through q
narrow ravine, which we did in column,
debouching right and left as we reached
open ground. The Goth Ill. led the as
sault, supported by the 18th Ind, to
which belonged. Col. Bailey deployed
his men to the left, where they were
met by heavy fire from both fort and
rifle pit. AS the 18th Ind. advanced up
thew q 81
the 9Sth falling back, with Col. Bailey
seriously wounded. The 18th dashed
Forward to the right, and about 60 Of
them leaped into the ditch, which
lroved to be at least seven feet deep
The rest Of the regiment took position
JEST outside the ditch, and opened fire
ON everything that showed itself above
the fort or breastworks. Those of US
in the ditch found ourselves almost
helpless, as 1t was SO deep that we
could not get out without help, while
the fort lowered Is or Is feet above u.s.
there was a bulkhead OF earth between
us and the rifle pit, the end of which
was full OF the enemy, who were per-
sistently trying to fire down among us,
huddled together like a covy of quails.
To prevent this three of us-all that
could stand abreast in the ditch-kept
watch or the enemy, about Is feet away,
with our guns at our shoulders, and IL
a head. hand or the muzzle OF a gun
was exposed by them 1t Immediately
received bullet. While in this trying
position an incident came into my own
life which left so deep an impression
that 1t probably to some extent fnflu-
cnced my whole after life, and which
you will permit me to relate. I had
myself with a new Enfield rife
from the battlefield at Big Black, which
proved to be very accurate and sound
in every way SO far as knew, but while
standing as one of the three at the head
or the ditch. where to miss shot might
mean life, my gun two or three times
failed to explode the cap. Right behind
me stood big Corp'l-big-hearte Jim
More. turned and said: Jim, ex-
change guns with me-" He answered,
No, step back, and will take your
place" which he did. About minute
later bullet from another direction
passed through his heart. With a faint
cry, he fell at my feet and was dead.
AS looked at his glazing eyes the
thought came to me, as it has many
times since, because OF the weakening
OF the spring in my gun he became my
substitute and died in my stead. III
learned afterwards that he had told
some OF the company that that would
be his last battle. Soon after entering
the ditch two Of the boys drove their
bayonets into the solid wall, by which
ouT COloT-Dearer placed our COlOrS on
the outer slope of the fort; but it was
evident that we could accomplish moth
ing by remaining in the pit, SO we wrote
a note, which we tied to a clod. and
threw out. asking for spade. with
which we soon dug steps and made our
way out-all except our dead. Just
before we got out Capt Lows, of Co. F.
vas killed, think, by hand-grenade.
Soon after we got out some one sug-
gested that we bring up artillery, and
soon brass gun, which I thought be-
!onged to klause's LIST Ind. Battery, was
hauled up by hand and fired many
shots, tearing down the embrasures and
igniting the cotton bales. We held our
position till nearly night, when word |
came that we were to be relieved by
other troops, while we returned to our
bivouac to get something to eat. AS
we formed to go back a body of men
said to be Quinby's Division came up to |
take our places but they had only been |
there short time till the enemy made
determined sortie and drove them
hack with quite heavy loss. Now, COM
rade, this is, as I remember, the move |
nlents Of Benton's Brigade, or OF two |
regiments Of 1t, neither of which is