June 1, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

IMPORTANT FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK.

RICHMOND, May 30. The Fredericksburg correspondent of the Examiner says that the indications and intelligence from the enemy’s camps on the Rappahannock, favor the conclusion that the Yankee forces are evacuating the position they have so long held in Stafford county, but their destination is unknown. The Examiner, editorially, says: ‘There is no longer any room for doubt that HOOKER is making some important movement. A gentleman who left Fredericksburg yesterday assures us that he saw upwards 20,000 Yankee troops moving down in the direction of Port Royal.’

The Army of Northern Virginia is to be disbanded into three corps d, commanded respectively by LONGSTREET, EWELL and A. P. HILL.

LATEST FROM VICKSBURG.

JACKSON, May 28. The enemy has retired from the immediate front of the fortifications at Vicksburg, and is reported to be fortifying his present position. It is expected that want of water will force him back to the Big Black. WIRT ADAM’S cavalry have had a spirited skirmish on the Yazoo, killing and wounding some twenty of the enemy.

(Private Despatch.)

MERIDIAN, May 27. News has been received from Vicksburg up to Sunday evening. Fighting has taken place every day. On Saturday a tremendous assault was made by concentrating most of the enemy’s cannon upon one point. Our breast works were broken, and the enemy entered in considerable numbers. They were terribly [continue reading…]

June 1, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

Our telegrams inform us that GRANT, after making seven bloody but fruitless assaults upon our entrenched positions at Vicksburg, has gone to […..] in the rear of the Hilled City. This says the Mobile Advertiser, means regular siege operations and an attempt to starve a garrison that he cannot whip. Meantime he leaves his dead Yankees unburied under our works, without any proffer under flag of truce to give them the decent interment which they are entitled to, at least, at his hands. GRANT evidently thinks that the carcasses of the poor wretches he has sent to slaughter will be no more serviceable to the […..] Government the world ever saw,’ on top of the ground, than under it. Can he starve out Vicksburg? Not in a hurry, certainly. It is well provisioned for some months, and half provisions for double the number. GRANT’S possession of Snyder’s Bluff gives him large advantages in his proposed siege. It enables him to shorten his line of communication with his base of supplies, and avoids the danger of running the batteries on the river front, or the expense and delay of a long transportation around Vicksburg on the Louisiana shore. Meantime the interest of the situation deepens, and the eyes and energies of both the belligerents will, in all probability, be turned and concentrated upon this point. It is not unlikely that the great battle of the war – perhaps, the decisive battle – will be fought within cannon hearing of the Hill City. From the death-like quietude on ROSECRANS’ lines, it is premised that GRANT has been reinforced from the Tennessee army. The Yankees will need great numbers for the work before them, and they will send them. We shall want them, and they are gone and going.

General JOHNSTON is quietly massing a powerful army in GRANT’S rear. Information just received, leads the Advertiser to believe that his numbers are already greater than we have supposed. Confederate will be ready to dispute the sovereignty of the lower Mississippi, and, if victorious, re-establish the freedom of Louisiana.

June 1, 1863, Charleston Mercury

                      With deep regret we announce the destruction, by fire, on the night of the 25th inst., of the paper mill of Messrs. John W. Grady & Co., near this place.  The above mill was used exclusively for the manufacture of writing paper, and its destruction will prove a serious loss and inconvenience to the country.  The loss to the proprietors is estimated at about $30,000, on which there was no insurance.  Messrs. Grady & Co. have, with commendable zeal and industry, already commenced removing the debris of the late fire, for the purpose of rebuilding the mill and resuming operations.  This they hope to be able to do in the course of the next sixty days.  Whilst the machinery has been damaged to a considerable extent, it will not prove a total loss, and can, it is thought, be put again in running order.–Greenville Enterprise.

June 1, 1863, The New York Herald

A despatch received at the Navy Department yesterday from Admiral Porter, near Vicksburg, reports that in the recent attack at Haines’ Bluff three powerful steamers and a ram were destroyed at Yazoo City. The ram was a monster, three hundred and ten feet long, seventy feet beam, to be covered with four inch iron plates. Also that a fine navy yard, with machine shops of all kinds, sawmills, blacksmiths’ shops, &c., were burned up. The property destroyed and captured amounted in all to over two millions of dollars. Unofficial despatches were also received at Washington yesterday from General Grant army, dated on Tuesday last, the 26th ult., which state that no material change had occurred in the condition of affairs there since the day before. The news of that day we have already published, and it will be remembered that it did not report much progress since the Friday previous. On Monday evening, the 25th ult., it is said that General Pemberton asked for and obtained from General Grant a truce of two and a half hours to bury the rebel dead. The fight was renewed on Tuesday, but we have no particulars. Rebel accounts contain various rumors relative to the condition of things at Vicksburg. The Chattanooga Rebel of Friday reports from below Vicksburg that General Banks has crossed the Mississippi with his army at Bayou Sara, that General Grant sent in a flag of truce about his sick and wounded, and that the slaughter of the Union troops was far greater in the assault upon Vicksburg than in any battle during the war. The Mississippian of Tuesday says that Saturday’s battle at Vicksburg was the most stubborn of all.

The Memphis Appeal reports another splendid cavalry raid of Colonel Grierson from [continue reading…]

Sunday, 31st–We camped by the river last night, and early this morning started for Haines’s Bluff. We marched along some fine cornfields. We reached Haines’s Bluff in the afternoon, and went into bivouac to the south of that place. We were as far east as Mechanicsville, forty-two miles from Vicksburg. On this raid we burned some fine plantation houses and other improvements. I saw only one residence left standing, and that was where the family had the courage to remain at home. The weather has been hot and the roads dusty.

31st. Felt better and got up to breakfast. Cleaned up and rode to water with Thede. Capt. N. has been quite sick for several days, bowel complaint principally. Thede called on him. C. G. came over. Walked a little. Wrote a few lines to Fred. Read the Congregationalist. Chaplain preached in the evening. Frequent thunder showers.

May 31st. At three A. M., mortar vessels below still firing upon the rebel batteries at Port Hudson; at 10 o’clock called all hands to muster on the quarter-deck, and performed Divine service; nothing of importance occurred during the remainder of this day. The weather continues pleasant, and occasional guns were heard at Port Hudson and in rear of same.

MAY 31st.—The commissioners, appointed for the purpose, have agreed upon the following schedule of prices for the State of Virginia, under the recent impressment act of Congress; and if a large amount of suppliess be furnished at these prices—which are fifty, sometimes one hundred per cent. lower than the rates private individuals are paying—it will be good proof that all patriotism is not yet extinct :

“Wheat, white, per bushel of 60 pounds, $1.50; flour, superfine, per barrel of 196 pounds, $22.50; corn, white, per bushel of 56 pounds, $4; unshelled corn, white, per bushel of 56 pounds, $3.95; corn-meal, per bushel of 50 pounds, $1.20; rye, per bushel of 56 pounds, $3.20; cleaned oats, per bushel of 32 pounds, $2; wheat-bran, per bushel of 17 pounds, 50 cents; shorts, per bushel of 22 pounds, 70 cents; brown stuff, per bushel of 28 pounds, 90 cents; ship stuff, per bushel of 37 pounds, $1.40; bacon, hoground, per pound, $1; salt pork, per pound, $1 ; lard, per pound, $ ; horses, first class, artillery, etc., average price per head, $350; wool, per pound, $3; peas, per bushel of 60 pounds, $4; beans, per bushel of 69 pounds, $4; potatoes, Irish, per bushel of 69 pounds, $4; potatoes, sweet, per bushel of 69 pounds, $5; onions, per bushel of 60 pounds, $5; dried peaches, peeled, per bushel of 38 pounds, $8; dried peaches, unpeeled, per bushel of 38 pounds, $4.50; dried apples, peeled, per bushel of 28 pounds, $3.”

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd

MAY 31ST.–We were aroused by the bugle call, and in a few minutes on the march again. Halted at noon on a large planta ­tion. This is a capital place to stop, for the negroes are quite busy baking corn-bread and sweet potatoes for us. We have had a grand dinner at the expense of a rich planter now serving in the southern army. Some of the negroes wanted to come with us, but we persuaded them to remain, telling them they would see hard times if they followed us. They showed indications of good treatment, and I presume their master is one of the few who treat their slaves like human beings.

I must say–whether right or wrong–plantation life has had a sort of fascination for me ever since I came south, especially when I visit one like that where we took dinner to-day, and some, also, I visited in Tennessee. I know I should treat my slaves well, and, while giving them a good living, I should buy, but never sell.

We left at three o’clock P. M., and just as the boys were ordered to take with them some of the mules working in the field, where there was a large crop being cultivated, to be used, when gathered, for the maintenance of our enemies. As our boys, ac ­cordingly, were unhitching the mules, some “dutchy” in an officer’s uniform rode up, yelling, “mens! you left dem schackasses alone!” I doubt whether he had authority to give such an order, but whether he had or not he was not obeyed. When we marched off with our corn-bread and “schackasses,” some of the darkies insist ­ed on following. We passed through some rebel works at Haines’ Bluffs, which were built to protect the approach to Vicksburg by way of the Yazoo river. Sherman had taken them on the nine ­teenth instant, when our boats came up the river and delivered rations.

May has now passed, with all its hardships and privations to the army of the west–the absence of camp comforts; open fields for dwelling places; the bare ground for beds; cartridge boxes for pillows, and all the other tribulations of an active campaign. Enduring these troubles, we have given our country willing service. We have passed through some hard-fought battles, where many of our comrades fell, now suffering in hospitals or sleeping, perhaps, in unmarked graves. Well they did their part, and much do we miss them. Their noble deeds shall still incite our emulation, that their proud record may not be sullied by any act of ours.

Camped at dark, tired, dirty and ragged–having had no chance to draw clothes for two months.

May 31, 1863, The New York Herald

The Progress of the Siege of the City.

THE BATTLE AND CAPTURE OF JACKSON.

JACKSON, Miss., May 14, 1863.

IN POSSESSION OF JACKSON.

The Union army have undisturbed possession of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, and the headquarters of the Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana. The federal flag floats gracefully from the dome of the State House, Yankee soldiers are patrolling the streets, prisoners are gathering at the guardhouse, the sick in the hospitals are being paroled, negroes are grinning horribly from the sidewalks, citizens look silently and sullenly at us from behind screens and closed window blinds, and all the details of military government are in full operation.

THE START FROM RAYMOND.

My last was written at Raymond, on the evening after the battle. We encamped there Tuesday night, and early Wednesday morning started for Clinton, a small town on the Vicksburg and Jackson Railroad. It was considered indispensably necessary for the success of our movement upon Vicksburg that we should have possession of the railroad and the city of Jackson. We reached Clinton at nightfall and went into camp. [continue reading…]

May 31, 1863, The New York Herald

There appears to be no later reliable news from Vicksburg than that of Monday last, the 25th inst., which we published yesterday. Despatches from various points – Cincinnati, St. Louis and elsewhere – give many vague reports, out of which may be gathered the fact that no news is known of any fighting later than Monday. General Grant is still represented as prepared for any attack in his rear, and that his army is full of confidence, &c. Our base of supplies on the Yazoo river was not only secure but reinforcements were arriving there rapidly. It is said that the attack on the rebel fortifications on Friday week was not made by the entire line, as reported, but by a force under General Blair, which assaulted the big battery and failed. Whenever the rebels attempted to plant guns, however, they were foiled by our sharpshooters.

We give a map today illustrating all the leading points in the progressing siege of Vicksburg, together with copious accounts of fresh interest, relative to the operations there for some time past, contained both in our correspondence and the rebel statements.

Rumors of a movement of the Army of Cumberland from the vicinity of Murfreesboro find circulation from some sources; but there appears to be no confirmation for them.

There is little doubt, from all the intelligence which reaches us, that the army of General Lee is very actively in motion, and that an attack on General Hooker’s lines is not at all an improbable event. Large masses of the enemy’s troops were traced yesterday on the road to Culpepper and Kelly’s Ford by the clouds of dust which rose in the rear of the [continue reading…]

Saturday, 30th.—Gunboats from below throwing shell every half-hour; mortars throwing shells pretty freely; these mortar shells were about twenty-two inches in diameter, and made more noise than they did execution.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

On the Front Royal Pike at the Shawnee Springs. A fine supply of good cold water. The location was fine and the camp was known as Camp Shawnee. Severe duty began right away. Picket, scouting through the country, working on the fort and rifle pits, with axe, pick, and shovel. The large fort was known as the Star Fort. Many of the boys had never used or handled that kind of tools. It was hard work. After a hard day’s work came the march back to camp, a distance of about four miles. Then clean up and get something to eat. Various duty came to us each day. Made out to get some pleasure out of the life of a soldier as the days passed by.

May 30th. The regiment, with cavalry escort, ordered up the valley. After a march of ten miles came to a halt at Newtown. Muskets stacked along the main street. The cavalry continued to advance with flag of truce. After a few hours’ wait the cavalry returned and with them were some poor people who were ordered out of the rebel lines. They were Union people, mostly women and children. They were nearly famished and were known as refugees. Their faces brightened up when they saw us and the flags. We divided our rations with them and made coffee for them. We guarded them back to Winchester. Later on they were sent North. Not very much change in our line of duty from day to day. Scouting, picket duty, working on the forts and rifle pits which kept us very busy.

May 30, 1863, Standard (Clarksville, Texas)

Camp Butler, Creek Nation,    }
May 12th, 1863.                                        }

Dear Standard:

                      I believe my last was from Fort Arbuckle, written on the night of the 30th April.  On Saturday the second of May, under pressing orders, the Col. with three companies, moved toward this locality.  One Co–B, had to be left to garrison the Post until Capt. Scanland should relieve it; another Co–I, had to be left at Elm Springs until relieved.  Five companies had moved eastward from the Seminole Agency, under Maj. Carroll, three days before.  Capt. Scanland arrived an hour after we left; his men came in the next morning and the next morning a detachment was started to  Elm Springs to relieve Co. I.  Co. B waited until Tuesday morning, and got here, by hard marching, yesterday, one day after our arrival and two days after the arrival of the five first companies.  Co. I with the remainder of the hospital will be here in three days probably; and our detachments to  Red River and Lamar for recruits in a day or two more.  We shall have in a few days, about 800 men in the regiment, though some of these are on detached duty.  Our men are mostly in good health.  We had a most pleasant march from Arbuckle.  The weather was not very warm except one day, and the evening of that day brought with it a heavy rain, lasting an hour or so.  It has surprised me to see how long cool weather has held on in the Spring of the year, in a latitude not more than one degree higher than Clarksville, at Arbuckle–here about two degrees higher.  We left Arbuckle at […..] past A. M. of the 2nd, and encamped that night at a pretty, rocky creek, 6 miles east, where was an abundance of rich grass.  At night, Quarter master’s men, and ordnance Serg’t detained at the Fort, some hours after our departure, came in and brought news of Captain Scanland’s arrival.  Next morning we started early, camped at Blue, 15 miles, early in the evening, and our horses faired sumptuously.–Our train mules which had had to feed the night or morning before starting, and were somewhat ragged the first night, recovered their tone, and came in without weariness on this day.  Blue, at this locality; on the road from Arbuckle to North town, is a deep bed, but scarcely any water, perhaps by this time none.  Mountains were perceptible on the far side of the stream from us, and were […..] morning, shortly after starting, we passed over a spur, from which we had a splendid landscape of mingled hill and dale before us, and then we descended immediately into a valley country.  At the end of ten miles we found Cochran’s on Boggy, a considerable farm, with large stock of cattle, from the pens of 250 milch cows had just been let out, and came up the road meeting us. [continue reading…]

Saturday, 30th–Our expedition started back this morning for Vicksburg. We received orders to burn the buildings along the way and drive in all the cattle we could find. Our road ran along the south side of the Yazoo river, through rich bottom land planted to corn and cotton. The plantations are well improved with fine buildings. This bottom land is from one and one-half to two miles wide and springs in the bluffs pour out excellent water which runs in streams to the river. We got our fill of good water. When we halted at noon for lunch Company E, on rear guard, stopped in the sheds of a cotton gin in order to escape the hot sun. We had been there but a few minutes when some straggler set fire to the cotton, which being very dry and scattered about soon made a big fire, driving us out. The fire burned some sheep, a yoke of oxen and a wagon, besides other articles which we had taken en route.

30th. Rained last night. Eleven prisoners came in at 9 A. M. Pickets captured. Soon after 22 others. Kautz went to the forks before halting. Crossed at 2 A. M. and hastened towards Monticello, sending Detachments to the different fords to capture pickets. “E” and “C” covered the retreat. Skirmished a good deal. 20 to 40 rounds. I feel about the same, quite feverish and chilly at times.

May 30th. Commences with pleasant weather. This morning, early, sent the body of Michael Walsh, marine, on shore for burial; he died at ten o’clock in the evening of yesterday, after a brief illness. During the afternoon of this day the steamer General Price, of upper fleet, came down from Vicksburg, bringing a mail for us, and the information that Major-General Grant is fighting hard at Vicksburg, and gaining ground; at four forty-five P. M., the General Price started back up the river, taking our mail; at eleven fifteen the mortar fleet below opened fire upon Port Hudson.

MAY 30th—The newspapers have a dispatch, to-day, from Jackson, Miss., which says the enemy have fallen back from the position lately occupied by them in front of Vicksburg, It adds, that they will be forced to retire to the Big Black River, for want of water. Gen. G. A. Smith, who is here, and who resigned because he was not made lieutenant-general instead of Pemberton, says he “don’t know how to read this dispatch.” Nevertheless, it is generally believed, and affords much relief to those who appreciate the importance of Vicksburg.

Mr. Botts was offered $500 in Confederate States notes, the other day, for a horse. He said he would sell him for $250 in gold, but would not receive Confederate notes, as the South would certainly be conquered, and it was merely a question of time. This inform­ation was communicated to the Secretary of War to-day, but he will attach no importance to it.

Among the papers sent in by the President, to-day, was a com­munication from Gov. Vance, of North Carolina, inclosing a letter from Augustus S. Montgomery, of Washington City, to Major-Gen. Foster, Newbern, N. C., found in a steamer, captured the other day by our forces, in Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal. It informed Gen. F. that a plan of servile insurrection had been adopted, and urged his co-operation. All the Yankee generals in the South would co-operate: they were to send smart negroes from the camps among the slaves, with instructions to rise simultane ­ously at night on the 1st August. They were to seize and destroy all railroad bridges, cut the telegraph wires, etc., and then retire into the swamps, concealing themselves until relieved by Federal troops. It is said they were to be ordered to shed no blood, ex ­cept in self-defense, and they were not to destroy more private property than should be unavoidable. The writer said the corn would be in the roasting-ear, and the hogs would be running at large, so that the slaves could easily find subsistence.

The President thanked Gov. Vance for this information, and said our generals would be made acquainted with this scheme ; and he commended the matter to the special attention of the Secretary of War, who sent it to Gen. Lee.

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd

MAY 30TH.–Moved this morning at four o’clock back again to ­wards Vicksburg–rather an early start, unless some special business awaits us. A few surmise that there is need for us at the front, but I think it is only a freak of General Frank Blair, who is in command of our excursion party. The day has been hot, and we have been rushed forward as though the salvation of the Union depended upon our forced march. I am not a constitutional grumbler, but I fail to understand why we have been trotted through this sultry Yazoo bottom where pure air seems to be a stranger. Probably our commander wants to get us out of it as soon as posible. A few of the men have been oppressed with the heat, and good water is very scarce. This seems to be a very rich soil, made up no doubt of river deposits. A ridge runs parallel with the river, and it is on that elevation all the planta ­tion buildings are located, overlooking the rich country around. The Yazoo river is a very sluggish stream and said to be quite deep. The darkies claim it is “dun full of cat-fish.” I think we may probably have fresh, fish, but not till we catch Vicksburg, and then only in case we are allowed to take a rest, for I presume there will then turn up some other stronghold for Grant and his army to take, and for which we shall have to be off as soon as this job is ended. We camped at dark, after a severe and long march, and it is now raining very hard.

May 11—Prayers in a. m. I visit 28th Regiment and see Bro. Kennedy.

May 12—Visit 12th, 28th, 20th and 37th Regiments.

May 13—Wife’s birthday. Yesterday, eight years ago, I married her.

May 14—Prayer every morning and evening.

May 15—Visit Col. Christie, of 23rd Regiment. Bro. Ervin, of South Carolina, spends night with me and preaches.

May 16—Four new converts.

Sunday, May 17—Preach at 9 a. m. Baptize A. S. Brown Co, H. and—Alexander Co. K. Prayer meeting in p. m.

May 18—In camp Lieut. Orr presents me with ten dollars. Sundry other officers contribute to buy me a horse.

May 19—Meet chaplains.

May 20—Rev. Dr. W. J. Hoge preaches to our brigade.

May 21—Rev. N. B. Cobb and Rev. J. A. Stradly, of North Carolina, come to Second Regiment.

May 22—Bro. Stradly preaches for 2nd and 30th in a. m., Bro. Cobb in p. m. Prayer meeting in each at night.

May 23—I preach to 2nd and 30th. Several converts.

May 24—I preach twice. Baptize J. A. Underwood. Several converts. Bro. Cobb baptizes one of the 30th and four of 14th Regiments at 5 p. m.

May 25—Examine two candidates for Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. J. H. Colton, Chaplain 53rd Regiment spends night with me. He had been my classmate three years at his father’s school, Summerville, N. C., and three years at Chapel Hill.

May 26—Meet Chaplains. Bro. Stradly preaches for me at night.

May 28—Bro. Howard, of Sampson County, North Carolina, comes to my regiment and preaches for me. The Lord pours out His Spirit. We see twelve penitents and five converts.

May 30—Preaching a. m. and p. m. The Lord is with us.

Sunday, May 31 – Bro. Howard preaches in a. m. and I in p. m. He immerses 8, I baptise 1 by pouring. Eleven converts in last four days

May 30, 1863, The New York Herald

OUR SPECIAL ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.

BRIDGE ACROSS BIG BLACK, May 17, 1863.

The battle of Big Black bridge was fought on Sunday, the 17th, the day after the battle of Champion’s Hill. In this spirited engagement only the Thirteenth army corps was engaged. It is superfluous to add that the troops comprising this corps fought as they always do, excellently well. In the morning, after a night’s bivouac on the hill overlooking the village of Edwards’ Station, the columns, with McClernand at its head, moved towards Black river bridge. The citizens who were questioned on the subject, said the position was most strongly fortified at the crossing and we naturally thought the enemy would make stubborn resistance there. We were not surprised, therefore, to learn that our advance guard was fired upon by the rebel pickets as the column moved towards the river.

The country between Edwards’ Station and the bridge loses that hilly and broken character which distinguishes the region further east, and spreads out into a broad and fertile plain, over which we moved rapidly. There were no commanding hills whence they could pour a deadly fire into our ranks; but there were numerous patches of forest, under the cover and from the edge of which they could easily enfilade the open fields by the roadside. There was such a one a mile east of the intrenchments where the main picket guard was stationed. Here determined resistance was first made. [continue reading…]

May 30, 1863, The New York Herald

Our Hilton Head Correspondence.

HILTON HEAD, S.C., May 24, 1863.

Again I am compelled to employ that stereotyped phrase, “All quiet in the Department of the South.” But little has occurred of interest since my last correspondence, and an earnest and careful search for indications of active operations to come is unrewarded by anything of a promising character enough to hand a hope upon. We are doing nothing and we shall do nothing which promises results. There may be raids between this and fall, but no serious operations. So all reports that may reach the Northern ear of active movements in South Carolina, and especially against Charleston, may be set down as false. It is folly to look for results.

From Folly Island we get no important news. The rebels on Morris Island are very uncommunicative just now, and preserve an extraordinary degree of cautiousness in narrating the military operations out West. We are convinced, however, from the reports of deserters and the stories of rebel pickets, that at least twenty thousand men have been sent by General Beauregard to Vicksburg to aid General Pemberton in his defence against the advance of General Grant. We can only pray that they may not arrive in time to join their forces with the Mississippi army, and re-enact the game played so successfully by Jackson on McClellan’s right before Richmond. North Carolina and Alabama have been drawn upon to swell Pemberton army; and if Grant does not look out sharply, or move with great rapidity and use up his foes in detail, he will be outnumbered [continue reading…]

May 30, 1863, The New York Herald

Despatches from General Grant were received at the War Department yesterday, which are more satisfactory because of an official and reliable character relative to the condition of affairs at Vicksburg. General Grant’s despatches are dated Monday, the 25th instant, three days later than the previous despatches received by the government, and they represent the siege as progressing up to that time, and that General Grant was quite able to maintain the investment of the city and repel any attack in his rear. This is the latest news we have from that quarter. The intelligence to Friday last, the 22d instant, telegraphed from the field on Saturday, was that Grant’s army had been repulsed in all parts of its lines, that the repulse was complete; but the troops were then intrenching themselves and building rifle pits. The final success of the Union army was, however, fully assured. General Grant is reported, by despatches from Memphis, as having captured all the redoubts, taking some of them by means of scaling ladders. Frightful havoc was done by the enemy shells during the storming. A telegraph from Murfreesboro yesterday says that General Grant had made something like a general attack upon the rebel works at Vicksburg since Sunday and failed to carry them; that he had thereupon concluded that the place was too strong to be taken by assault, and had opened a terrible and sustained fire upon it with his artillery. General Johnston had not then attacked General Grant, but was still collecting forces in his rear. He has managed to send word to the garrison that if they should hold out for fifteen days he would raise the siege with an army of one hundred thousand men. He also said he would do this if he abandoned every other point in his department. [continue reading…]

May 30, 1863, The New York Herald

OUR SPECIAL ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.

THREE MILES IN THE REAR OF VICKSBURG, May 20, 1863.

The army crossed the river early on Monday morning over the bridge constructed during the night by General Lee. General Osterhaus’ division first crossed, followed by General A. J. Smith, which in turn was followed by McPherson’s army corps. Sherman had continued north of the railroad from Jackson, striking Big Black river a little west of Bridgeport. Here he crossed on his pontoon bridge, and moved upon the Vicksburg and Haines’ Bluff and Spring Dale roads. McPherson moved out on the main Vicksburg and Jackson road, while McClernand took possession of the Baldwin’s Ferry road.

On the summit of the high bank across the river the column moved through the camp whence the night before the enemy made his hasty exit. On the plateau nearest the river before the hill is reached numerous tents were left standing just as the occupants had hastily left them. They could not be destroyed under the heavy fire of our skirmisher posted on the hither bank of the river. When the hill was reached we found abundant evidence of the demoralization of the enemy. Several piles of gun barrels, with stocks but half consumed, were lying by the roadside. Tents, wagons and gun carriages were in ashes, corn was burning, and officers’ baggage and soldiers’ clothing were scattered all over the camp. The column moved to Bovina, where no evidence of the enemy was seen, save a rebel hospital filled with sick and wounded. Here General Grant was joined by General Dwight from Banks’ army. [continue reading…]