The National tribune., 1905-11-16

WASHINGTO
ized at that time was the 9th La, which
later became the 9Th U: s: c. H. A.,
der, as Colonel. He had enlisted In
1861 as a private in the 8th ILL.,, and
had risen to be Major of that regiment,
when he was seized with the desire to
elevate the slaves by drilling them as
soldiers, and sought and received a
commission as Colonel of regiment.
He bore himself SO ,gallantly and faith
fully in this work as to receive brevet
of Brigadier-General. There was also
being organized the 1st Miss. HI. A.,
which was subsequently consolidated
with the 9th La. There was also the
the 49th U. s. c. T. Its Colonel was
Edwin w. Chamberlain, who did not
acquit himself with credit in that posi-
ton and resigned shortly afterward.
The 23d Iowa, which had gallantly
led the advance in the battle of Port
led in LAWYERS splendid and decisive
charge at the Black River Bridge,
where it's gallant Colonel, Kinsman,
was among the killed. 1t had been re-
duced by it's hard service to less than
200 men fit for duty, and was there
fore DESIGNATED to guard the prisoners
captured at Champions Hill and Black
River Bridge to Memphis. 1t was re-
turning to it's brigade by the way Of
Milliken's Bend, and was under the
command of Leut.-Col. Samuel L.
Glasgow.
All the troops at Milliken's Bend
were under the command of Brig. Gen.
arIv nj q
30th Ill. The official report says that
he had barely 1,061 effectives. Of whom
the 23d Iowa had 160. Other state
ments give 500 in the 9Th La, 900 in
the 18th La, and $50 in the 1st Miss.
II. A.
Soldiers in a more raw and crude
shape could hardly be imagined than
these negroes but recently gathered
from the plantations, where they had
been familiar only with the hoe and
the plow. They had to be taught ev-
erything that goes to make up SOL
Of arms. Most of the officers had re-
Gently Joined, and had hardly more
than begun the work Of making soldiers
out Of this exceedingly raw material.
Smiths and Taylor's Plans.
1t entered into the plans Of Gems.
Smith and Taylor that IL they could Sc
cure a foothold opposite Vicksburg, to
swim a load Of cattle across as sup
plies for Pembertons army. or to gath
er up boats and enable Pemberton to
cross to their side. It is somewhat
difficult to understand how they could
entertain an idea Of the practicability
of such things, with Porter's feet pa
trolling the river. Yet Porter himself
did not think them impracticable, for
he wrote to Grant that signals were
being made daily and nightly from the
ho al q
the Confederates had boats, flats and
coal-barges enough to ferry Pember-
tons army across the river in six hours.
Nor could he prevent them from seiz-
ing and holding Young's Point. He
would keep the gunboat Usage near
they made the effort. but still 1t was
possible that they could disable her
and accomplish their purpose.
Porter was also having quite time
In picketing the river with boats to
capture men who were trying to slip
into Vicksburg in canoes with supplies
Of percussion caps. 1t was known that
Pemberton had 100000 more car
tridges than he had caps for, and that
the lack Of these prevented great deal
of musketry practice upon our works
that he would have liked to have.
Gen. Taylor came up with a consid-
cradle force to Richmond. La. which
and 10 miles from Milliken's Bend, on
June S, and Immediately began secur-
ing accurate Information as to the
Union positions along the river. He
found that the line of communications
across the peninsula had ceased to be Of
any importance since Grant had estab-
lished his right flank on the Yazoo at
Haynes's Bluff. to which point almost all
of the stores had been removed. AtLake
Providence there were four or five
Union companies. with a large number
Of negroes coming In from the sur
rounding country. From Lake Provi-
dence to Milliken's Bend a number Of
plantations had been put under culti-
walton by agents Of the Treasury De-
partment, to get the cotton for which
the Eastern mills were suffering. Be-
tween Miliken's Bend and Young's
Point, distance Of IL miles, there
were tents scattered In large numbers,
most OF them empty or occupied by
sick and convalescents. From Young's
Point to the point opposite Vicksburg
there were few pickets and some
small bands OF negroes. Taylor or
dered Walkers Division to come on to
Richmond, and it arrived there on the
morning of June 6, without the Union