Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-14

The heroes of this gallant deed at
the bastion were John Robb. NJ. L.
Clemens. Alvin Drummond. Hezekiah
Drummond, W. II. Needham, E. l. An
derson. Hugh Sinclair. y. c. Messenger.
William Griffin. Allen Cloud, David Jor
dan and Richard Arthur, besides Grit
fths and Urine. The two Drummonds.
Anderson, Grifiths and Arthur were
killed Colonel Graham declared that
with support at the proper time he
could have captured the fort. He chung
TO the ditch and bastion until dark.
when he and his party were overpOw-
cred by the Texans and captured.
Grant Orders a Fresh Attack.
While the Iowans were fighting their
way to the fort General W. J. Ian
dram's brigade charged upon the flank,
and the Seventy-seventh Illinois plant
ed its flag alongside OF that of Colonel
Graham. When Colonel Stone went to
the rear wounded he told his division
commander that his men were inside
the fort, as. in fact, they were, and
that Landram's brigade and others had
planted flags upon the Confederate
works. He said that with support the
works could be held.
When Grant heard the news from
I the front line he ordered the assault
resumed at all points. Fresh brigades
| went forward from the positions they
! had held all the morning, but in every
/ case met with repulse. AS the troops
| were all in line and more or less en-
gagged with the enemy, there were no
reserves TO draw upon to follow up the
| successes gained by the daring few. A
! division was ordered to REINFORCE Nc
| Clernand and follow up the success of
Lawler and Landram, but did not reach
the scene until nightfall BY that time
the Confederates had rallied to the
danger point, and this attack was also
repulsed.
| Grants assault May 10 cost him
about 1000 men and that of'the 22d
over 5000. Netherlands corps suf-
fered most. and the loss of the
Twenty-second Iowa was the heaviest
of any regiment in the army. OF the
10000 men present for duty all but
5000 were engaged. The assaulted
line actually covered but two and enc
half miles and was held in the morn
ing by two Confederate brigades.
Throughout the day the entire force
of defenders did not exceed 1900 men,
but the nature OF the ground was so
difficult that the works could only be
approached for assault at three points
that is. along the roads indicated
leading to the forts. These points stood
out like salients in advance Of the main
line and protected the intervals be
tween. The forts assailed and the
breastworks alongside would not hold
over 1000 men. The Confederate loss
in repulsing the attacks of Sherman
and Mcpherson was fewer than 100
killed and wounded.
Formal Siege Begun.
With the failure OF the direct assault
Grant began siege of Vicksburg He
estimated the enemy's force greater
THAI his own. which he put down al
$4,000. The Federal navy controlled
the river and during the assault OF the
ODD had bombarded the west front OF
the Confederate works. Vicksburg was
doomed. for the besiegers reached from
the river bluffs above the city to the
bluffs below.
The Confederate line OF defense was
shorter than Grants by several miles
When fully established the opposing
lines were about COO yards apart The
Confederates had the advantage of pc
sition. for the ground around Vicks
burg on the east is admirable for de
Tense. Their line followed the crest Of
ridge and at its most easterly point
was three miles from the city.
Still another advantage which count
ed against Grant was the presence. two
days march east Of him and in bis
rear. OF a Confederate force command
ed by General ]. E. Johnston. John
ston's plan was TO thwart the siege by
attacking Giant in the rear.
a Federal Ironclad Sunk In Battle
During the operations described the
Federal mortar boats in the river wer,
necessarily at work Smelling the Con
federate batteries near the beach and
upon the bluffs. From tine to tim'
the ironclads Joined in the lombard
ment After the failure of the Fedora
infantry to carry the works on the 22C
General Sherman requested Admira
Porter TO rake lengthwtse the enemy
batteries at Fort Hill.
On the 25th the ironcIad Cincinnati
engaged this strong work alone. Will,
four other vessels attacked the batter
ies below. One OF the powerful gun
on the hill was known Is "Whistlinj
Dick owing 10 the peculiar sount
made by fits shells. This heavy sieg
gun made what Is called plunRing flr,
on the Cincinnati and the ironclad wa
shot through ana through her armo
offering little protection against shot
coming downward upon her deck.
After taking the FIRE for half an hou
the ironciad was IN sinking condition
and Eve OF her gups disabled. She wa
run ashore about mile north Of For
Hill ard sank IN three fathons OF wa
, ter within range OF the Contedernt
guns. The loss OF the ship was thirty
six Killed. wounded and drowned. tn
vessel WIS totnl loss.