Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-06-26
THE YICKSBURG CAMPAIGN
z. B, HYDE RECALLS STIRRING INCL
DENTS OF THAT SEIGE.
No Drawn Battles by Land Forces hut
Numerous Minor Engagements
Doings Of 18th Wisconsin.


issippi river. The use of that body of
water for the transportation of soldiers
and their supplies was essential TO the
success of the union cause. The Con
federates called it their "Glbralter"
and claimed they were able to hold it
from capture by either our army or
navy, or both. Strong attempts to take
it from the north side had failed, so
Grant adopted plan that was thought
by many to be foolhardy and extremely
hazardous. Ii was to enter Mississippi
below Vicksburg, cut loose from his
base of supplies and march to the rear
of the Notifications. So we landed at
or near Millikens Bend and marched
west of the river through almost inn
passable country, very wet and soft.
Our transports were run past the shore
batteries by volunteers from the army
as the regular boatmen would not risk
such a venture. The boats were under
fire about forty-five minutes, and sever
al of them were badly crippled. When
out Of range below, the disabled ones
were lashed TO those whose machinery
remained manageable, or to some of the
gunboat fleet and were used to convey
the army across the river.
At Grand Bluff, little below Vicks-
burg near the mouth of the Big Black
river, was a little fort with thirty can
non. 1t was necessary to either silence
that fort or to continue our march a
considerable distance farther. While
the fleet of seven gunboats and moni-
tors were bombarding the fort five and
a half hours, the 29th Wisconsin and
several other regiments were on board
of boats ready to land and take possess
ion should the fort be conquered. Part
of the time we were within easy range
Of their guns. 1t seemed to us to be
very inprudent for transports crowded
with soldiers to venture so near a raging
conflict. 1t seemed strange the enemy
should give their entire attention to
ironclads when they could easily have
destroyed hundreds of soldiers on the
unprotected boats. One of our gun
boats was so crippled as to drift down
the stream; and one monitor was put
out of action by its turret being so
bruised it would not revolve. A few
men were killed by shell that entered
a port hole of one of the boats. Two
casemated guns on the fort could not
be sllenced, SO it was a drawn battle.
We disembarked and continued our
ran past the fort. We were ferried
across the river by the transports and
gunboats at Brum's Landing. There
we were loaded with several days ra-
tions and one hundred rounds of am
munition per man; and towards night
of April 30th we marched northeaster-
ly. The principal part of the train, the
heavy baggage and the regimental Off
l. lnH x.f
the river. We marched all night.
While at breakfast early next morning
the enemy began to thrown shells over
and among us. hcir battery WAS too
far off for us TO return the com mphment
at once; but after we had eaten and
rested little we went on toward them.
The country there was very broken and
rough, just as it is near the Mississippi
in this latitude; and it was very hard
marching in line of battle as we had to
do after we got near enough so pru-
dence required. About nalf of the day
we expected a clash on the next hill.
To facilitate hasty movements we left
our knapsacks piled up by the side of
the road and guards with them. They
remained there during that battle and
two or three days following, and were
hauled TO IL while we were resting at
Port Gibson.
Our colonel, Chas. S. Gill, was law
yer from Watertown, strict disciplin-
arian and good soldier: but woe to the
man who he thought merited his dis
pleasure After we had formed in line
Of battle we were hurried forward
through woods, brush and brakes;
we came to a very rough rocky hill and
some of US We're much hindered by an
overhanging ledge; some went around
it making our line very irregular. Com
rade Charley German grabbed grape
vine hanging to sapling and swung
himself from the ledge and happened to
light several feet below astraddle of the
colonel's neck. Expecting a severe re
primand he made vigorous apology.
The colonel cheerfully excused him, for
he liked any man who would do his best
to keep his place regardless of difficult
ties. The skirmish lines kept up con-
tinuous fire and we passed quite num-
ber who had been hit. The day was
hot, water was scarce, the pursuit was
intense But whether we had been
chasing a fleeing army or only their
pickets | never knew. In the heat of
the day we came to where their army
made vigorous resistance. 1t tCoi; about
an hour and half to send them away
from there more rapidly than we were
able to follow. That was the first real
battle of my regiment. In ii the 18th
Wisconsin lost seventy-four men killed
and wounded. Some of the soldiers of
the experienced Indiana regiments had
said the 10Th would run if we got into
a hard scrap After few days they
gave us credit for running in the right
direction every time.
Having left our knapsacks, we had
hard time trying to keep warm those
foggy nights. | and two others took a
turn about several times the first nishv
after the battle trying to keep warm
enough to sleep some, one living in
little ditch and the other two or top.
1t was a pretty tough substitute for
bed, but we slept some and rested
more. In this battle Comrade Eggles-
ton Of Co f. was shot through the right
lung and was carried to the rear and
set against tree. At each beat of his
heart the blood srickled down his
breast. / cOnversed with him about
his young family at hClnt. in Fox Lake.
He was anxious about their welfare
we had no idea he could live more
than a few hours. He was a christian
and not afraid To die. My time with
him was necessarily very short. Up to
last August | had supposed he died on
that battlefield. | was astonished to
meet him in Minneapolis at the g. A.
r. gathering He is a walking skele-
ton and has been an awful sufferer.