The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-01-26
ON TUE LOWER MISSISSIPPI.
Running the Fleet Past the Batteries
at Vicksburg and the Exciting Times
Before the Event.

Running the Fleet Past the Batteries
at Vicksburg and the Exciting Times
Before the Event.
Editor National Tribune: Directly
after the evacuation of Corinth Gen.
Sherman. assisted by Gen. NJ. J.. Smith
was put in command of Memphis, and
prepared for a campaign against Nicks-
burg. In the latter part of November,
1862, the movement began. As Grant
started from Lagrange, Sherman start
ed from Memphis, coming in touch with
each other a few miles west of Holly
Springs. and as we reached the ITALIA
hatchie River we were detained two
days and nights constructing bridge.
We crossed over, went half a day
march and rested easy three or four
days. At this time Gen. Grant devised
a new plan of operation, for he received
word from Gen. Banks that in all prob
ability he would be able to assist in
a short time. Grant ordered Sherman
back to Memphis to descend the river
by boats preparatory to simultaneous
attack by the three armies on Christ
mas Day.
We boarded the boats and started.
We landed at Milliken's Bend on Christ
mas Day. tore up some railroad, and at
night crossed over and camped on the
Yazoo. Not hearing anything from the
other two armies, Gen. Sherman decid-
ed to make the attack alone. After a
day or two of manuvering we found
the Johnnies well intrenched- and Sc
GREETED a few miles below Haynes Bluff,
where Chickasaw Bayou strikes the foot
OF the hills. The assault was made di-
rectly in front by means of a pontoon
bridge across the bayou and the slaugh-
ter of men was terrible, and in all the
several battles fought around Vicks-
burg there were none to compare with
this, considering the number of men
engaged.
The 18th Ohio, which led suffered
the greatest of all, lost its Colonel, half
its Captains and more than half its
men. AT the same time an assault was
made of lesser proportions about half a
mile to the right, in which my regi-
ment, the 9Th Mo-. took the lead. Here
the bayou leaves the bluff for a consid-
cradle distance, and from the nature OF
the ground no artillery could be used
against us, and our casualties were not
SO great. But, still, it was hot place.
At ChicIlasaw Bayou.
The bayou was about 100 yards wide.
but no water, and We were compelled
to cross. The rebels were behind the
levee on the opposite bank, and there
we lay hard up against the works from
noon till night. We made our escape
under darkness. Gen. NJ. L. Smith. our
division commander, was wounded in
the skirmish before the assault, and
got back to us the next October Mean
While Gen. Blair commanded our divi-
sion. AS we were drawn up in line Gen.
Sherman rode up and said: Men, YOU
are going into tight place, and some
of you will be killed. We are sent here
to capture Vicksburg. and 1t would be
cowardice upon our part If We shonld
fail to make the attempt"
Il has always been my belief that If
Gen. Sherman ever made blunder it
was right there. He was severely cen
sured for his rash act By all the leading
newspapers of the land. Gen. Grant
had better judgment than to throw his
entire army into such 4 death trap as
that.
The assault was made Dec. 90, and
two days afterwards we buried our
dead under a flag of truce, and on New
Years Day we boarded our boats snd
slipped out under the corer of the
gunbo@ts. But we didn't go back TO
Memphis as some have stated. We
went up the Arkansas River, and gave
The Johnnies a little surprise party at
Arkansas Post. On Jan. IL we landed
and surrounded the fort, and the next
day 5000 of them surrendered.
We loaded them On the transports
Is thick as they could stand, and gave
them free transportation North. AS we
began TO move down to the Mississippi
there came snow and bitter cold wealth
er, and our sufferings were immense.
and must have been far worse on the
prisoners. About this time we learned
of Grants defeat at Holly Springs. ard
that he was coming down with all his
forces. We dropped leisurely down the