THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN.
For more than a year the possession of Vicksburg had been the ultimate object of the military and naval operations of the principal forces of the United States in the west, before that object was attained. After the unsuccessful naval and military operations in July, 1862, repeated expeditions had been set on foot, at immense expense to the Government, accompanied with great labor and privation on the part of the patriots engaged in the enterprises, only to be met in turn with disaster and reverse. These operations were under the direction of Major-General Grant, commander-in-chief of the army of West Tennessee, and may take their date about December 1, 1862, at which time the principal forces of General Grant were at La Grange, three miles east of Grand Junction, on the Cairo and New Orleans railroad. General Grant was placed in command of the Department of Tennessee, embracing all the country west of the Tennessee river, and on both shores of the Mississippi river, from Corinth to Louisiana. He was in command of the Thirteenth Army Corps, and his troops fought the famous battles of Iuka and Corinth, although General Grant did not command in person, being at Jackson, Tennessee, his headquarters. In December, 1862, he removed his headquarters to Holly Springs; and on the 22d of that month, his forces having greatly increased, he divided them into four corps, viz.: the Thirteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Corps of the United States Army.
The first expedition, under General Grant, was started in December, 1862. The plan of General Grant was—that General Sherman should take command of the forces in Memphis in Tennessee, and Helena in Arkansas, and descend the river on transports with the gunboat fleet, and make an attack on Vicksburg by the 29th of December; and that General McClernand should take the forces at Cairo and move down to Vicksburg, thus reinforcing General Sherman soon after his attack on the town. Meanwhile, General Grant was to advance rapidly upon the Confederate troops in Mississippi north and east of Vicksburg, which formed the main body of their army, and keep them fully employed, and, if they retreated to Vicksburg, arrive there with them, ready to cooperate with General Sherman.
The Confederate force, now under the command of General Pemberton, retired to the river, and finally fell back beyond Granada. Meanwhile General Grant advanced to Oxford, and on the 20th of December an attack was suddenly made in his rear, by a Confederate force under General Van Dorn, on the garrison under Colonel Murphy at Holly Springs, which surrendered. The prisoners were paroled and the supplies collected there for General Grant’s army were destroyed; also a large quantity of cotton which had been purchased of the people in the vicinity.
The surrender of Holly Springs was a severe blow to General Grant, and the officers in command were severely censured by him. Colonel Murphy, the commander, allowed himself to be taken by surprise, and surrendered all of his command, and an immense quantity of supplies, which had been gathered there for the use of the advancing army.
While General Grant was moving his columns toward the objective point, the enemy were by no means idle. On the same day on which Colonel Murphy surrendered Holly Springs, an attack was made on Davis’s Mills, a post a little farther north, which was bravely repulsed. On the next day, Humboldt was captured, and an attack made on Trenton, while several important stations on the railroad were, in turn, visited by the Confederate raiders, who demolished the equipments of the roads, cut the telegraph lines, and inflicted serious injury, by destroying the communications of General Grant’s army, which compelled him to make a retrograde movement, or fall back on Holly Springs. This left General Pemberton at liberty to concentrate his forces at Vicksburgh against General Sherman, who was then advancing on that place in accordance with General Grant’s plan, while the cooperating forces were removed so far from the scene of action, that there was no hope of their being able to afford any assistance, either by participation or by the diversion of any portion of the enemy’s forces.
Meanwhile General W. T. Sherman, who had been stationed at Memphis, embarked with one division on the 20th of December, and dropped down to Friar’s Point, the place of rendezvous, where he was joined by Admiral Porter with his flagship and two consorts.
The arrangements were completed by the military and naval commanders during the next forenoon, the 22d, and the fleet got under way, and moved down just below the mouth of White river, where it came to, at sunset. On the next day it descended to Gaines’s Landing, and at two P. M. came to anchor, to await the arrival of the transports in the rear, and also a division of troops from Memphis. Half of the town of Gaines’s Landing was destroyed by fire while the army was there. Similar destruction had also been made at Friar’s Point. These acts led to stringent measures on the part of General Sherman.
On the morning of the 25th, the fleet arrived at the mouth of the Yazoo river. The fleet consisted of more than sixty transports, with a number of iron-clad and other gunboats, and several mortar boats. The Yazoo is a deep, narrow, and sluggish stream, formed by the Tallahatchie and Yallobusha rivers, which unite in Carroll county, Mississippi. It runs through an alluvial plain of extreme fertility, about two hundred and ninety miles, and empties into the Mississippi river twelve miles above Vicksburg.
On the 26th, the expedition, under convoy of the gunboats, moved up the Yazoo, and the troops were landed at various points from the junction of Old River with the Yazoo to Johnson’s Farm, a distance of about three miles, without opposition. The distance from Vicksburg was about eight miles. A strong position, known as Haines’s Bluff, some distance above on the river, was held by the Confederate forces, and in the mean while attacked by the gunboats De Kalb, Cincinnati, Louisville, Benton and Lexington. It was the plan of General Sherman to attack Vicksburg in the rear. For this purpose he was engaged, on the 28th, in getting his forces in position.
Vicksburg is situated upon a high bluff, rising nearly a hundred feet above the water. This bluff faces very nearly to the west. The Mississippi in front of Vicksburg runs in a southwesterly course. These bluffs are on its eastern bank, and run off from a point five miles below the city directly inland from the head of the bend in the Mississippi until they strike the Yazoo river, nine miles northeast of Vicksburg in a straight line, and twenty-three miles from the Mississippi by the course of the Yazoo river.
The face of this bluff, throughout its length precipitous and high, furnishes a natural defence against any force attempting to get into the rear of the city from the north. Where the bluffs approach the Yazoo river the rebels had constructed formidable batteries, which prevented the passage of all manner of craft. Just above these batteries, and defended by them, they had placed a heavy raft of timber and iron in the stream, making a most effectual blockade.
Thus it was impossible to flank this range of bluffs. They must be attacked, if attacked at all, full in front. Against this the enemy had guarded themselves by fortifying the entire range, from Vicksburg to Milldale, its upper extremity. These fortifications consisted of abatis in front of the bluffs to a width on the average of a mile. At the foot of the bluff they had rifle pits the entire way. Above the rifle pits, and in the face of the bluff, they had constructed batteries mounting one gun each, at short intervals all the way along. On the summit of the bluffs they had earthworks thrown up, ready to cover field artillery whenever it should be desirable to bring it into action from any of these points. Thus these entire ranges of hills were one complete, bristling fortification, dangerous to approach and difficult to capture.
But, notwithstanding the dangers and difficulties in the way, our brave Western soldiers were not afraid to grapple with them, nor doubtful of their abilities to overcome them.
General Sherman’s army consisted of four divisions, the first of which contained three brigades, under Brigadier-General Geo. W. Morgan; the second, three brigades under Brigadier-General A. J. Smith, and the fourth, four brigades, commanded by Brigadier-General Frederick Steele, whose Brigade-Generals were Frank P. Blair, John M. Thayer, C. E. Hovey, and Colonel Hassendurbel.
The division of General Steele was the largest one on the ground. Blair’s brigade was detached, and after making a landing, pushed forward inland under General Morgan L. Smith.
The rest of the division, under General C. E. Hovey, was sent three miles further up the Yazoo River, to penetrate the rear and get at the railroad near Vicksburg. He landed above Blake’s Bayou, and within two miles, he encountered the heavy guns of the enemy on the high bluffs, in front of a lagoon or bayou which it was impossible to cross without boats or bridges, and he returned to Chickasaw Bayou, where General H. H. Morgan had already landed.
In taking position General A. J. Smith took the right, General Morgan L. Smith the right centre, General Steele the left centre, and General G. W. Morgan the extreme left. The Federal line was formed in this order parallel with the bluffs, and in the edge of the timber that skirted the abatis, bringing it about a mile from the rebel lines. To reach this position from the point of debarkation on the Yazoo River, the forces had to cross a series of bayous, or deep ravines, which were then filled and unfordable. These crossings had to be made by pontoon bridges, the building of which was stoutly resisted by the rebels, occasioning a continual skirmishing throughout the day, though with no very serious results. In addition to this difficulty roads had to be cut in most instances; the old roads—where any existed—having been destroyed by the rebels or blockaded with fallen timber, while in most directions no roads existed at all.
The Confederate batteries opened fire on General Morgan’s position at an early hour on the 29th, which continued for about an hour, with but slight effect.
On Monday morning the great effort was to be made to gain the heights, and all the forces were ordered to move at daylight. The morning dawned with a dense fog upon the face of the country, so thick as to utterly prevent any movement. Lying in the middle of the little narrow Yazoo, it was impossible to distinguish the timber on either shore. Any movement made under such circumstances was, of course, attended with great hazard; any firing was at a venture, and as likely to hit friend as foe. It was eight o’clock before the fog lifted. The gunboats which were to shell the rebel batteries and encampments on the left, at Milldale, having obtained their ranges on the previous day, did not wait for the fog to clear away, but were at work at the appointed time, drawing a brisk response from the enemy.
At various points along the lines, too, field batteries engaged the rebel batteries at a venture, and as the morning advanced this firing increased, until from eight to ten o’clock there was nothing to be heard but one continuous roar of artillery. Upwards of one hundred and fifty pieces, embracing all calibers, from the ordinary 6-pounder field piece to the heavy 10-inch Columbiad on the fortifications and the 11-inch Dahlgrens on the gunboats, united to swell the din, making a roar such as the Valley of the Mississippi never before heard.
This artillery duel lasted half the forenoon, resulting, as such duels usually result, in no great loss of life. The batteries in the face of the bluff became rather too warm for occupancy, and one after another of them was abandoned, the gunners dragging their guns with them to the top of the hill. This apparently left the coast for the advance of the Federal infantry. As the lines began to emerge from the woods, the broad plain extending from the timber to the base of the hills was found to be cut up with gulleys as well as covered with abatis, and these gulleys were filled with the sharpshooters of the enemy, whose skill was soon found to be of no mean order.
Beyond these, at the foot of the bluffs, was the range of rifle-pits, filled with rebel infantry. The right centre division, commanded by General Morgan L. Smith, made an effort to cross the bayou in their front. The Sixth regiment of Missouri Volunteers, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Blood, was detailed for the advance. The enemy’s works were very strong, there being a steep bank of thirty feet high to ascend, fortified with breastworks and rifle-pits, with a heavy force drawn up in line of battle behind them. The only approach was by a road across a sand-bar in the bayou, exposed to a double cross fire from the enemy, and the only way of ascending the bank was by cutting a road. An order was received for two companies to be sent over in advance for the purpose of cutting the road—one with picks and shovels, and the other with muskets to protect the workers from the enemy’s sharpshooters in the rifle-pits over their heads. Company F, Captain Boutell, and Company K, Captain Buck, were the first to volunteer, the peril being so great that Colonel Blood was reluctant to order a detail. Their services were accepted, and the two companies of heroes went across under a most terrific fire, which left more than a tenth of their number stretched upon the sand. On getting across they immediately commenced operations on the bank, and very soon made a large excavation, almost sufficient for the purpose, when the position of the enemy’s forces and batteries were found to be such that the further prosecution of the attempt would be certain destruction to all concerned in it, without accomplishing any thing. In the mean time Lieutenant-Colonel Blood, with the balance of the regiment, had crossed over to their support, but with still greater loss, one-sixth of his force being killed or wounded.
The greater part of the division had now been brought under fire, and after vainly struggling to advance amid a storm of destructive missiles from an unseen enemy, the men hesitated, and were on the point of retreating in confusion, when General Smith, seeing the emergency, rushed to the head to lead the column across in person. Scarcely had he taken his position, and called out a cheering word to the men, when a ball struck him in the thigh, tearing the flesh badly, causing a profuse hemorrhage. He soon became weak from the loss of blood, and was carried from the field. His division being left without a commander fell back to its old position, and under cover of the Federal guns, and favored by approaching darkness and a heavy shower of rain, succeeded in returning without further loss. Private McGee of the Sixth Missouri was shot four times, and thirteen bullets penetrated his clothing. As he lay upon the bar, unable to proceed, the enemy’s balls still came whistling around him, and to protect himself he scooped a hole with his hands in the sand and crawled into it.
General Steele’s division had no bayou to cross, but had in front of it the same broad plain, covered with abatis and cut up with gulleys, in which were concealed the sharpshooters of the enemy. Notwithstanding these obstacles, the column was crowded forward close up to the bluff, securing one of the enemy’s fortifications and a field battery of six guns. But the ground was too hot for them; and they were compelled to retire, but not without taking their trophies with them.
Once again this gallant division was brought up to the work and made a noble charge across the plain, this time making a considerable further advance than on the former occasion. They drove the enemy out of their rifle-pits and pursued them half way up the hill, fighting heroically as they went, receiving galling volleys of musketry at every step, with showers of grape and canister from the field artillery above.
Some regiments of this division actually gained a foothold on the summit of the hill in this charge, but, being unsupported, were compelled to retire. The division labored right nobly to maintain their position, but it could not be done, and again they retired across the plain to the cover of the timber, their lines terribly thinned and shattered by the effort, but carrying with them three more guns captured from the enemy.
On the extreme left General Morgan made a like effort to break the rebel lines and get into the rear of the batteries at Haines’s Bluffs. But he too, after reaching the foot of the hill, was compelled to abandon the attempt.
On the right, General A. J. Smith had a bayou to cross in the midst of the plain, to reach which he had to find his way through a field of abatis, as well as to cross the abatis after reaching the opposite side of the bayou. But these difficulties had but little weight with him. He ordered the Fifty-fourth Ohio to charge across the bridge, which they did most gallantly. They were met on the opposite side by a vastly superior force of the enemy, but were not disposed to surrender or retreat. Most bravely they stood their ground, fighting against vastly superior numbers, until finally they were surrounded and forced to the alternative of surrendering or being annihilated. In this emergency, one of the Union batteries was brought to bear from our side of the bayou, and poured a fire of shell into the contending forces, regardless alike of enemy or friend.
The rebels quickly abandoned the field, leaving many of their number upon the spot. The Ohioans then gathered up their killed and wounded and retired across the field. The Federal shell had killed seven of their number, and wounded twenty or thirty others. But it was not a dear price to pay for the salvation of the regiment. They had made a noble stand, and deserved to be rescued.
After the Fifty-fourth had retired, the gallant Eighth Missouri—the heroes of a dozen battles, and a regiment that was never known to waver or give way—and the Thirteenth Regulars, led the way. The crossing was effected with safety, when the little column filed off to the right to get possession of the road leading to Vicksburg. At this moment a brigade of rebels came charging down the road at a double quick. The little Union column soon wheeled into line and were ready to meet their assailants. A brisk engagement ensued, lasting nearly half an hour, when the rebels gave way in disorder and fled.
This affair terminated the fight for the day. In the edge of the evening the regiments that had maintained themselves across the bayou were recalled, and the entire force rested, after the day’s fight, where they had on the previous night.
General Sherman’s repulse at Vicksburg was complete. The entire force, under General McClernand, who at that time was the superior officer in command of the army, though not present during the engagement, reembarked on the third of January, on transports, closely followed by the rebel advance, which coming in range of the gunboats was driven back with severe loss. The Federal loss was six hundred killed, one thousand five hundred wounded, and one thousand missing.
A council of war was held on the 4th on board the Tigress, which vessel had been temporarily selected by General McClernand as his headquarters. Admiral Porter, Major-Generals Sherman and McClernand, with the Generals of the divisions of the army in Kentucky were present. It was determined at this council that it would be folly to attempt any thing farther against Vicksburg with the available force. The rebels had means of communication by which they were rapidly and heavily reinforced, while the Unionists had no such opportunity or prospect of receiving reinforcements. It was, therefore, deemed expedient that the campaign should be abandoned.
The rebel Generals Pemberton and Price were now in command at Vicksburg, and their army was reinforced to the extent of fifty thousand men. They had an artillery force of one hundred and sixty guns in battery, besides a large number of field-pieces.
CAPTURE OF FORT HINDMAN, ARKANSAS.
January 10–11, 1863.
Shortly after the defeat of Sherman, the whole rebel force of Tennessee was precipitated upon General Rosecrans. On the 31st of December, the battle of Murfreesboro’ ensued, already fully described in this work, and resulted in the defeat of the rebels at that point, thereby securing the western part of Tennessee, and the region between Nashville and the Mississippi river. A few roving bands still infested the region, but as a whole, the specified space was cleared of the rebel forces. And thus opened the year 1863 in the West.
General McClernand, wishing to secure his rear from attack, and knowing that a rebel force existed at Fort Hindman, on the Arkansas river, in conjunction with Rear-Admiral Porter, planned an expedition which resulted in a brilliant success to the Federal arms, and destroyed the hopes of the enemy and their confident anticipations of a victorious campaign—compelling them to assume defensive, instead of offensive operations.
A small settlement surrounds the Fort, which for nearly two hundred years has been known as the “Post of Arkansas.” It is the oldest settlement in the State. Nearly two centuries ago, there was a Spanish town in the immediate vicinity, and also a small Spanish fort. Fort Hindman is situated on the right bank of the Arkansas river, about fifty miles from its mouth, and one hundred and seventeen miles from Little Rock, the capital of the State. It was settled in 1685, by the Acadian French, and was the trading-post for furs from the surrounding country, during the winter and spring. It had now a few stores, and at intervals for a dozen miles along the river bank, there was an occasional house.
The fort was a regular, square-bastioned work, one hundred yards exterior side, with a deep ditch some fifteen feet wide, and a parapet eighteen feet high.
On the 10th of January, the land forces, under command of General McClernand, and the flotilla, under Admiral Porter, ascended the river, and the former disembarked with a view of surrounding the work. During the night, the gunboats fired a few shots at the work, and in the morning, the troops being in position, the work commenced in earnest. The New York Herald correspondent thus describes the attack: