The day after the battle, attempts were made to recover the bodies of those who had fallen; but, as the rebels had command of the field, all of them could not be reached. Toward evening, members of Co. F succeeded, after a long search among the dead men, in finding the bodies of Sergt. Angell and Corp. Champney, and by torchlight laid them quietly to rest under the magnolias near their quarters, beside another of their comrades, Joseph A. Morris, whose body had been recovered early in the day.
It would swell our sketch to an unwieldy size to record the names and good qualities of all those fell on this day, or of the wounded who passed weary months on hospital beds. Those who saw them know how well they did their duty. In another place, will be found a full list of the casualties.
CHAPTER IX.
After the Battle—Great Mail—Burial of the Dead—Remove into the Ravines—Deserters—Fall of Vicksburg—Surrender of Port Hudson—A Disappointment—Stores Plains—Night March to Baton Rouge—Embark for Donaldsville—Dress-Parades—Six Months’ Pay.
ON the 15th, the long-looked for mail arrived, with the letters that had been accumulating at New Orleans for weeks; and then wounds and sickness were momentarily forgotten in the pleasure of again communing with those at home. The letters averaged seven or eight to each man; and some had over a dozen; but it was sad to think how many would be returned unopened, to strike a chill to the hearts of the writers.
The wounded men were sent to Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and the field-hospitals made ready for a new lot of patients; for, notwithstanding the failure of the assault, the siege still went on.
But few of the Union dead had been brought from the field; and four days they laid beneath that summer sun before a truce was arranged, and the bodies buried. Previous to burial, they were placed in rows, to the number of over a hundred; but it was impossible to recognize them, except by some mark on their clothing, or, as was the case with the body of Lieut. Holmes, by articles found in the pockets.