Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-11-17


the vicksburg National Military Park
commission).
Iowa is abroad in the land! Forty
odd years ago she helped to write
into the annals of our common country
historical chapters of the greatest I'M
portaace. Today she has followed the
great river which washes her eastern
boundary thousand miles southwark
In order that, through her governor
and other authorized representatives
and in the presence of numbers of her
citizens, she might appropriately dedi-
cate enduring memorials to the pa
triotism and heroism of her sons at
that cine upon one of It's eliminating
fields of action. The purpose Of this
paper, therefore, is to describe with
some detail the Vicksburg National
Military park and what the United
States and the individual states have
done and are doing-with especial ref
erence, Of course, to Iowa's grand
share therein, which has Just been for
mally dedicated and transferred into
the care and keeping Of the, general
government. But before doing this, 1t
will not be amiss to give a brief but
comprehensive and historically accur-
ate resume of the chief events of the
campaign and siege Of Vicksburg.
Campaign and Siege Of Vlcksburg.
Possession and control of the Missis-
sippi river was from the beginning OF
the civil war deemed Of first and great
est Importance by north and south
alike. The great struggle to this end
began at st. Louis in 1861, and with
varying fortunes the union lines
swept southwark over one point OF re-
sistance otter another until the cap
ture of Memphis, June 6, 1862. New
Orleans had already fallen, and all
eyes now turned to Vicksburg as the
scene Of the next act Passing the fu-
tile attempts of the fall Of 1862, we
find General Grant in January, 1868.
in the field a short distance above
Vicksburg and on the west side Of the
river, and with an army consisting of
three corps: the thirteenth. General ].
a. McClclnand; fifteenth. General W.
T. Sherman; seventeenth, General j..
B. Mcpherson. After vainly striving
to reach the high ground north of
Vicksburg. through some of the minor
water ways between the Mississippi
and yazoo rivers, then at flood stage,
General Grant, March 20, 1863. began
movement against the confederate
left flank. below Vicksburg-at the
same time requesting Commodore Por-
ter to send some Of his vessels by and
below the Vicksburg batteries to be
ready for later need. The salient fea-
lures Of this initial movement We're:
The march Of the union army from Mil
liken's Bend to the vicinity of Per-
kins' plantation below Vicksburg and
above Grand Gulf; the running of the
Vicksburg batteries by gunboats. trans
ports and barges, April 16 and April
22; the bombardment of the new con-
federate batteries at Grand Gulf April
20; and the crossing of General Grants
army to the Mississippi shore at Bruins-
burg, April 30.
Battle Next Day.
Next dey the first battle of the cam
paign was fought four miles west OF
Fort Gibson. The confederates, under
Gensral John s. Bowen, were greatly
out-numbe1ed, and, after stoutly con
testing the field all day, fell back at
nightfall with loss Of flfty-siX killed
1923 wounded, 341 missing-total 1875
The union loss was l31 killed, us
wounded, 25 missing-tota S75. The
result of this battle compelled the
evacuation Of Grand Gulf, which was
at once occupied by the union forces
The confederates crossed Big Black
river at Hankinson's Ferry, deployef
their forces between Warrenton on the
right and the railroad bridge on the
left, and stood ready to dispute the
passage of General Grants army OF
to interrupt his communications with
his base" on the Mississippi. But
General Grant, after resting and sup
plying his army, moved forward May
at first substantially parallel with the
Big Black river. thereby (and especi
ally severing all connection with {
tbase''), leaving his opponents in I'm
certainty as to his purpose or real OBJ
jective. Other battles and engage
ments quickly followed-always witt
a numerical superiority in favor OF tn,
union army.
Is Found Back.
At Raymond, May IL, the confedel
ate brigade under General Gregg
was forced to fall back on jackson
after losing 70 killed, PSI wounde,
100 missing, total 514. The union los
was Sc killed, 339 wounded, 81 missins
total 442. May 10 the 18th and lit
corps attacked a small garrison
=
Johnson had arrived the night pre-
vious. Only slight resistance was O
fered, and the confederate forces ri
treated without disorganization, losin
IL killed, 81 wounded, 11S missing, t,
tai 199 The union army lost AZ killet
251 wounded, missing, total 300, bl
made important captures of artille
and material The principal battle {
the campaign took place May 16, whe
Pemberton confronted Grant at Chan
pion's Hill. A fierce contest resulte
In the defeat of the former with los
OF much artillery and munitions :
well as $50 killed, 1,01S wounded, 2,4s
missing, total 1851. General Graz
lost 41O killed, 1874 wounded, Is
missing, total 2,241. The retreat of IL
confederates was so hasty that the {
vision of General Loring was thru
aside and compelled to join the force
under General Johnson at or ne;
jackson.