May 27, 1863, The New York Herald

SUCCESS OF ADMIRAL PORTER’S EXPEDITION UP THE YAZOO.

SKETCH OF YAZOO CITY AND VICINITY.

Yazoo City is a post village of Yazoo county, Mississippi, of which county it is the capital. At one time it was a very flourishing place for a Southern inland village, its trade arising in consequence of its being situated on a fine and navigable river of the same name. It is situated about fifty miles from Jackson, in a north-northwesterly direction. It is situated in the heart of a rich cotton growing region, and in times of prosperity about fifty thousand bales were annually received and shipped from this place to New Orleans by steamboats, which were able to navigate the river in all stages of the water. The village contained several churches, and had in 1853 a population of 2,000 persons, supporting two newspapers. The county in which the […..] is located has an area of about 760 square miles, or nearly half a million of acres. The Big Black river forms its southeastern boundary and the Yazoo its western and northwestern. The surface is a level alluvial plain, the soil of which is exceedingly fertile. The population of the county in 1860 was 22, 373, of which only 5,657 were free.

THE YAZOO RIVER, on which the city is situated, is formed by the union of the Tallahatchie and the Yallobusha rivers, which united at Leflore, in Carroll county; it then pursues a nearly southerly course, very tortuous and winding, and empties into the Mississippi river about a dozen miles above the city of Vicksburg. The main stream is two hundred and ninety miles in length, and is deep, narrow and sluggish. It is considered the best stream of its size for navigable properties, perhaps, in the whole world. The Tallahatchie, one of its tributaries, is navigable for over a hundred miles higher up than the junction.

May 27, 1863, The New York Herald

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

OPELOUSAS, La., May 2, 1863.

I shall now attempt to give you some slight account of our operations from Brashear City to this place. We left Brashear City April 11. The advance was under General Weitzel, who, after starting up the bay three miles to where it intersects Bayou Teche, had some firing from a sugar house. On the opposite side of Berwick Bay our little earthwork fort fired a few Parrott shells, and Weitzel had no more trouble. He was followed by our division, General Emory, First brigade, Colonel Ingraham, having the advance, followed by the Second brigade, General Paine, and the Third brigade, Colonel Gooding, bringing up the rear. Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Foster, being the general officer of the day, assumed command of the rear guard and prevented stragglers and pillaging. We found our hands quite full. The One- Hundred and Seventy-fifth New York regiment was detached from the brigade and ordered to embark upon a transport. Meanwhile a long line of wagon trains brought up the rear, and thus we all slowly proceeded to Pattersonville, all the way our cavalry skirmishing with the enemy. Meanwhile the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth New York, on the opposite side of the river, was deployed to guard against batteries in the rear of the main body on our side. A long train of pontoon boats followed in the wake of the steamer towing them. They were landed and made a bridge to cross over the little bayous which intersect everything here. Thus the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth was placed upon the main island or strip of land lying between the Bayou Teche and the [continue reading…]

May 27, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

We have heard of some recent instances of straggling on the part of Confederate troops, while on their way to the post of danger, which call for the reprobation of the people, and punishment, prompt and stern, from the military authorities. In the present position of affairs, the country needs every arm that can strike a blow in its defence, and no pretext can justify a soldier in abandoning his command at the moment when its services are most likely to be required. We trust that the offence that has been committed against military discipline will be visited with a penalty proportioned to the injury that it inflicts upon the cause, and that there may be no more reports of troops ‘at the time of going into action.

May 27, 1863, The New York Herald

There is no official account as yet of the capture of Vicksburg. The latest reliable news is up to Friday evening, the whole details of which we have already published. At the time Vicksburg was not taken. All the facts in connection with the battles fought during the advance of General Grant’s army upon the city are fully confirmed in the despatches which we give today. Rebel accounts from Mobile state that our troops were repulsed at Vicksburg three times on Wednesday last, and admit that Yazoo City was taken by Admiral Porter, the navy yard at that place being destroyed by the rebels. Our maps of the operations around Vicksburg, including all the localities of General Grant’s three weeks’ campaign, and of the enemy works in and around the city, showing the great strength of the place, will illustrate the difficult undertaking which General Grant has in hand. We give, also, another map of the Yazoo river, showing the operations of Admiral Porter.

The latest intelligence from Washington up to ten o’clock last night is that the President has received no later news, and that it is not believed by the government that General Grant himself has recently sent any telegrams to the government respecting his movements.

The President, Secretary of War, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Gen. Halleck and Gen. Hooker held a council at the White House yesterday of several hours’ duration. It was stated that important intelligence had been received to the effect that another line of defences in the rear of Vicksburg has been discovered, which it will be [continue reading…]

May 27, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

(Correspondence of the Mobile Advertiser.)

JACKSON, May 19. – I sit down to write you relative to the stirring events of the last ten days, but without any knowledge of how or when I will be enabled to forward my letter, but trust to good luck.

FROM MOBILE TO JACKSON.

Leaving Mobile on the 15th instant I arrived at […..] Maridian time,’ and the next morning obtained passage on a transport train for Forrest, where our troops were being massed under Gen. Gist. The country was wild with excitement, and Madam Rumor was busy with her thousand tongues. At Lake we were detained until dark on account of returning trains. Here we learned that Jackson had been evacuated. I arrived at Forrest about 8 o’clock, p.m., and luckily met Mr. Flannery, the General Superintendent of the Southwestern Telegraph Company, who took me on his train to Brandon. From Brandon we were to proceed cautiously and reconnoitre. We arrived at Brandon at sunrise Sunday, and walked a mile for breakfast and then returned to the train and started West.

The first evidence we had of the Federals was about eight miles from Jackson, where we found two rails prized up and bent. This was repaired in ten minutes. We then proceeded to the 48 mile post from Vicksburg, and some 2 1/2 to 3 miles of Jackson; here the wires were cut in two places and torn down to the city. Mr. Flannery had them up and in [continue reading…]

May 27, 1863, The New York Herald

The Correspondence of Mr. E.L. Maynard.

HEADQUARTERS, SECOND BRIGADE,
SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION, ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
HELENA, Ark., May 15, 1863.

I informed your readers in my last letter that the authorities had determined to break up the guerilla bands that have caused us so much trouble of late, and for that purpose had sent out Colonel Clayton, of the Fifth Kansas cavalry regiment, in charge of an expedition for that purpose. I did not at that time particularize by giving the number of men in his command or the route that they were expected to take, fearing lest such a statement might possibly fall into the hands of others than those for whom it was intended, thereby defeating a well matured plan of the colonel commanding the expedition.

COLONEL CLAYTON’S EXPEDITION RETURNED – ITS SUCCESS.

The expedition has just returned, having been eminently successful, by far exceeding our general’s most sanguine expectations. It s result (as will be seen as we progress) is greatly due to the bravery and courage of the colonel commanding and other veterans who served in his command.

THE OBJECT OF THE PRESENT EXPEDITION was threefold. First, to drive out of the country or capture the different guerilla bands, supposed to have numbered about six to [continue reading…]

Tuesday, 26.—3 A. M. Ordered to Warrenton Road near river; put in ditches; several prisoners taken by a sortee party.

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

Tuesday, 26th–It was quiet all along the line last night. The rebels came out with a flag of truce, asking permission to bury their dead, killed during the day. Our brigade started towards the right this morning, and arriving at McPherson’s headquarters at the center, we went into bivouac for the night. Our march was over hot and dusty roads. Our guns commenced to shell the rebels again this afternoon.

26th. Charlie came over in the morning. Finished letters home and to Fannie A. Yesterday was birthday of Fred Allen. Wrote him a congratulatory letter according to program. Rode over to town with the letters. Letter from home–Minnie.

July 26.—Spent the day at the hospital. Mr. –– has just received a post chaplaincy from Government, and is assigned to the Officers’ Hospital on Tenth Street. For this we are very thankful, as the performance of the duties of the ministerial office is in all respects congenial to his taste and feeling. I pray that God may give him health and strength for the office!

May 26th. Commences with pleasant weather, and only to find us engaged in shelling the woods around Port Hudson, which proved a big scare to the rebels, so much so that they deserted two fine river steamers they had concealed among the bushes upon what is called (it is a small stream) Thompson’s Creek, and our pickets took possession of them; our shelling continued, at intervals, from twelve to one forty A. M., of this watch, the Albatross participating in it; so there was no sleep last night on board the Hartford; at four o’clock beat to general quarters again, and shelled the woods in rear of Port Hudson; mortar vessels of the lower fleet also engaged shelling the rebel works; at five thirty hove up anchor, got under way, and dropped down to our old anchorage near the port, opposite Port Hudson, and anchored; at ten o’clock sent third cutter to land Mr. Watson, who is going across the point to take our mail for the North, and despatches for the Admiral; between the hours of five and six o’clock, P. M., saw a large fire burning at Port Hudson; sent third cutter, armed, ashore for our messenger.

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd

MAY 26TH.–Up this morning at three o’clock, with orders for three days’ rations in our haversacks and five days’ in the wagons –also to be ready to move at ten o’clock to the rear, in pursuit of Johnston, who was thrusting his bayonets too close to our boys there.

I am not anxious to get away from the front, yet a little march ­ing in the country will be quite a desirable change, and no doubt beneficial to our men. I have been afraid we might be molested in the rear, for we were having our own way too smoothly to last. I think the confederate authorities are making a great mistake in not massing a powerful army in our rear and thus attempting to break our lines and raise the siege. We shall attend to Johnston, for Grant has planted his line so firmly that he can spare half his men to look out for his rear. What a change we notice to-day, from the time spent around the city, where there was no sound except from the zipping bullets and booming cannon; while out here in the country the birds sing as sweetly as if they had not heard of war at all. Here, too, we get an exchange from the smoky atmosphere around Vicksburg, to heaven’s purest breezes.

We have marched to-day over the same ground for which we fought to gain our position near the city. Under these large spreading oaks rest the noble dead who fell so lately for their country. This march has been a surprise to me. It is midnight, and we are still marching.

MAY 26th—Reliable information of hard fighting at Vicksburg; but still, so far as we know, the garrison of the invested city has repulsed every assault made upon it. The enemy’s losses are said to be very heavy. Something decisive must occur there soon, and I hope something calamitous to the enemy.

The President and the cabinet have been in council nearly all day. Can they have intelligence from the West, not yet commu ­nicated to the public?

We learn from Newbern, N. C., that gray-haired old men, women, and children, who refused to take the oath of allegiance, have been driven from their homes, on foot, despoiled of their property. Among these I see the names of the Misses Custis, cousins of my wife. Gen. Daniels, commanding our forces at Kinston, sent out wagons and ambulances to convey them within our lines. They were on foot.

May 26, 1863, The New York Herald

As yet we have no official intelligence confirmatory of the news published yesterday of the actual capture of Vicksburg; but we have an important official despatch from Admiral Porter to the Secretary of the Navy, dated the 20th instant, which fully confirms all the accounts we had previously received of the splendid achievements of Grant and his army, who defeated the rebels at all points and in such a manner as they have never been defeated before. By his rapid Napoleonic movements he outgeneraled Johnston, Loring and Pemberton, preventing their junction, and whipping them separately. According to this despatch, “General Grant had closely invested Vicksburg, had possession of the best commanding points, and in a very short time a general assault would take place.” In fact, the capture of the rebel stronghold was deemed on Wednesday last but “a question of a few hours;” and no doubt the next boat which arrives from Vicksburg at Memphis will bring the news of its surrender or being taken by storm after a terrible battle. The distance between the two cities is five hundred miles, and against the current the time occupied in making the passage even by a swift boat is from two to three days. From Memphis there is telegraphic communication. At any moment, therefore, we may receive the most stirring news, giving official confirmation of yesterday’s report that the flag of the Union floats over the rebel Gibraltar of the West.

How formidable its inner fortifications are may be estimated from what Admiral Porter says of Haines’ Bluff: – “Such a network of defences I never saw. The rebels were a year in constructing them, and all were rendered useless in an hour.” Fourteen of the heaviest kind of mounted eight and ten inch and seven and a half inch rifled guns, with [continue reading…]

May 26, 1863, The New York Herald

The capture of Vicksburg, incalculably more than any other achievement of the war, weakens the armies of the rebellion, and simplifies the work of their subjugation. In recovering the whole line of the Mississippi we not only cut off the rebellious States on the west side of the river from their confederates on the he eastern side, and secure a safe, impregnable and convenient channels of transportation and abase of operations for further aggressive movements east or west, but we re-establish the free navigation of the river to the complete satisfaction of the Northwestern States. The question whether their right of way down this […..] sea” shall be purchased at the price of a capitulation to Jeff. Davis or by a Northwestern coalition with his so called “Confederate States” is settled against both these chimerical ideas, and permanently in favor of the Union. In every point of view the solid advantages gained with the reduction of Vicksburg are such that it is only necessary to follow them up with something of the vigor of General Grant’s operations in order to bring this war to a speedy and triumphant termination.

In this connection, the problem of the Presidential succession looms up into a question of commanding importance. Our reconnoissance the other day has drawn the fire from the batteries of several of our newspaper contemporaries of this city, and their remarks we have considered sufficiently interesting to publish at length in our columns this morning. The New York Sunday Atlas, deep in all the movements and plans of the Albany Regency, boldly brings out Governor Seymour as the Presidential candidate for 1864 of the war democracy. The Sunday Times, a conservative independent democratic journal, strongly leans to the opinion that President Lincoln, as a candidate, might unite the [continue reading…]

May 26, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

A Western correspondent of the Columbia Guardian sums up the results, thus far, of GRANT’S movement against the rear of Vicksburg:

Let us view stern facts and deduct our own conclusions as to the final termination of affairs about Vicksburg and Jackson. First, then, it is a fact that Grant’s army, from thirty to fifty thousand strong, have repulsed us at Grand Gulf, and forced their way through our lines, repulsing us still at every intermediate point at which we offered resistance, and reached and captured Jackson. Secondly, it is certain that our forces under Gens. Stevenson, Loring, Walker, Tilghman, and Lee, Gen. Pemberton being chief in command, with, I will say, 15,000 to 20,000 men, occupy a line between Jackson and Grand Gulf, extending from some distance this side of Big Black River to Warrenton, twelve miles below Vicksburg. Thirdly, it is certain that General Johnston, with the commands of Gens. Bowen and Gregg, retreated from Jackson up the Canton road, expecting to be reinforced by troops arriving via Meridian, and at the same time to communicate and cooperate with Gen. Pemberton about Vicksburg. Fourthly, it is certain that Vicksburg, strongly fortified and defended by thirty to fifty thousand troops, and having supplies for six months, is prepared to resist a most strong and protracted siege.

These are the facts; now let us cursorily consider them. It is evident that the enemy designs the reduction of Vicksburg, and expects to accomplish it by taking Jackson, and thus cutting off our chief means of supplies and reinforcements. But Vicksburg is [continue reading…]

May 26, 1863, The New York Herald

DETAILS OF THE BATTLES.

The Advance on Raymond.

RAYMOND, 18 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JACKSON, MISS.

May 13, 1863.

When I last wrote Gen. McClernand was on the extreme right, with Osterhaus’ division advanced to Rocky Spring. General McPherson at that time lay, with his army corps to the westward, near Hankinson’s Ferry, on a road running nearly parallel to that occupied by McClernand. Gen. Sherman was on the road between Grand Gulf and Gen. McPherson. On Thursday, the 7th inst., Gen. McPherson moved his corps to Rocky Spring also, and his camp was occupied next day by Gen. Sherman. On Saturday McPherson again moved to the eastward, to the village of Utica, crossing the road occupied by McClernand, and leaving the latter on his left. On Sunday morning McClernand marched to Five Mile creek, and encamped on the south bank at noon, on account of broken bridges, which were repaired the same day. Monday morning Sherman’s corps came up, passed McClernand’s and encamped that night at the village of Auburn, about ten miles south of Edwards’ Station, on the railroad from Vicksburg to Jackson. As soon as it passed McClernand’s corps followed a few miles and then took a road going obliquely to the left, leading to Hall’s Ferry, on the Big Black river. Thus, on Monday evening General McClernand was at Hall’s Ferry, General Sherman was at Auburn, six or eight miles to the northeast and General McPherson was about eight miles still further to the northeast a few miles north of Utica. The whole formed an immense [continue reading…]

May 26, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

LATE AND CHEERING NEWS FROM VICKSBURG.

JACKSON, May 23. – Troops are continually arriving here, and Gen. JOHNSTON will soon have a fine army. The city is being fortified. The Mississippian, of Saturday, says: The enemy attacked Vicksburg six times on yesterday, and each time was defeated with immense loss. Gen. STEVENSON says that he can hold Vicksburg indefinitely.

(Later.)

JACKSON, May 24. – Firing was heard until 9 o’clock this morning, but nothing since then. This morning the 20th Mississippi Regiment (mounted) dashed into Raymond, capturing 400 prisoners. Fourteen were brought to this city. The rest, with the sick and wounded, were paroled.

(The Latest.)

JACKSON, May 25 – 10, a.m. – The enemy attacked our left and centre four times. The first attack lasted thirty minutes, the second twenty minutes, the third fifteen minutes, and the fourth […..] minutes. The enemy was each time driven back with great slaughter. Our loss was 80 men. We took four stand of colors. The column of assault was brought up on Wednesday, the officers leading the troops, but the column soon broke under our fire. On Thursday – the enemy was shelling, his dead being still unburied. Warrenton has not been menaced. The Federal line of investment is imperfect. The prisoners we have taken report that General STEELE (Yankee) was killed.

May 26, 1863, The New York Herald

Important Official Despatch of Admiral Porter.

Fleet Captain of the Mississippi Squadron.

FLAGSHIP BLACKHAWK, HAINES’ BLUFF,

YAZOO RIVER, May 20, 1863. Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy: –

On the morning of the 15th I came over to the Yazoo to be ready to co- operate with General Grant. Leaving two of the iron-clads at Red river, one at Grand Gulf, one at Carthage, three at Warrenton and two in the Yazoo, left me a small force. Still I disposed of them to the best advantage.

On the 18th, at meridian, firing was heard in the rear of Vicksburg, which assured me that General Grant was approaching the city. The cannonading was kept up furiously for some time, when by the aid of glasses, I discerned a company of our artillery advancing, taking position and driving the rebels before them. I immediately saw that General Sherman’s division had come on to the left of Snyder’s Bluff, and that the rebels at that place had been cut off from joining the forces in the city. I despatched the DeKalb, Lieutenant Commander Walker; Choctaw, Lieutenant Commander Ramsay; Romeo, Petrel and Forest Rose, all under command of Lieutenant Commander Breese, up the Yazoo to open communication in that way with Generals Grant and Sherman. [continue reading…]

May 26, 1863, Weekly Columbus Enquirer (Georgia)

                      Not long since we heard a young lady say that hereafter she intended to buy none but homespun dresses.  It was a wise conclusion, and we hope every woman in the Confederacy will follow her example, and buy no more of those goods which blockade runners are palming off on the people as from England, when, in reality, they are from Yankeedom, and thus save gold in the country which, by this means, goes into the pockets of the enemy.  This revolution has proved that the women of the South are not mere butterflies of fashion; they have labored cheerfully and made sacrifices unmurmuringly, and have proved themselves worthy of their patriotic husbands who are in the field.  The young ladies have learned lessons of usefulness and economy and will make model wives for our brave young soldiers when they return from the bloody field to peaceful pursuits.

May 26, 1863, The New York Herald

The battles of General Grant in the vicinity of Vicksburg, and the brilliant victories of Admiral Porter on the Yazoo, have to be numbered among the most successful operations of the war. Admiral Porter, in his official despatch, dated from the Yazoo river, on the 20th inst., details the capture of Haines’ Bluff by Lieutenant Walker, of the gunboat DeKalb, who not only drove out the enemy, but secured all their guns, ammunition, camps and equipage. The defences consisted of fourteen forts, and took the enemy twelve months to construct. Admiral Porter destroyed the gun carriages, blew up the magazines, and destroyed the works generally, which he describes as a network of defences such as he never saw before. Admiral Porter, in his official despatch, also describes the close investment of Vicksburg by Gen. Grant’s army, upon which city, he says, he hopes to be able to announce a general assault very soon, and the capture thereof. He says, further, that there has never been a case during the war where the rebels have been so successfully beaten at all points, and that the patience and endurance shown by our army and navy for so many months are about being rewarded.

The news received in Washington yesterday, although it does not embody any official account of the capture of Vicksburg, all tends to the belief that General Grant has by this time become master of the place. The latest intelligence the government appears to have received was up to Friday last, at nine o’clock P.M., when it was supposed that the city must fall on the next day. At that time General McPherson’s force, in the centre, was within one mile of the Court House at Vicksburg, while General Sherman on the right, [continue reading…]

May 26, 1863, The New York Herald

The Battle of Baker’s Creek.

CHAMPION HILLS, TWENTY-SIX MILES EAST OF VICKSBURG,

May 16, 1863.

Early this morning General McClernand’s corps was put in motion. General Hovey’s division was on the main road from Jackson to Vicksburg, but the balance of the corps was a few miles to the south. General Ward was on a parallel road, and General McPherson’ corps followed Hovey’ division closely.

At nine o’clock General Hovey discovered the enemy in front on Champion Hill, to the left of the road, near Baker’s creek, apparently in force. Skirmishers were thrown out, and the division advanced cautiously and slowly to give McPherson advance division under General Logan time to come within supporting distance. General Hovey’s division advanced across the other field at the foot of Champion Hill in line of battle.

At eleven o’clock the battle commenced. The hill itself was covered with timber, and is, in fact, but an abrupt terminus of a high ridge, running north and south, flanked on both sides by deep ravines and gullies, and in many places covered with an impenetrable growth of scrubby white oak brush. The rebel’s appeared deficient in artillery throughout the battle, but opened with rather a heavy fire from a four gun battery of rifled six-pounders, planted about 5400 yards back from the brown of the hill. The woods on [continue reading…]

May 26, 1863, The New York Herald

Our Yorktown Correspondence.

YORKTOWN, May 22 – 2 P.M.

About sunset on Tuesday evening, the 19th inst., the casual observer at Yorktown must have notices the unusual number of persons on what are, par excellence, termed streets. The evening was beautiful and the air fresh, compared with that of a few hours before. The ladies of the fort were in the saddle or luxuriating in the old carriages of departed aristocracy.

I did not tarry long, for the steady column of “Harris Light,” “brave Harris Light”cavalry, soon won their way through clouds of dust. I proceeded with them to the wharf, where they were to cross to Gloucester Point to join the Twelfth Illinois cavalry. Col. Kilpatrick was in command, of the forces. While these movements were taking place with the cavalry, two hundred men of the One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers were embarked on the Winnisinet ferry boat, under command of Major Smith, and two hundred men from the Fourth regiment of Delaware Volunteers, under command of Major La Motte, were embarked on board the Commodore Morris.

These were the arrangements for a raid through Gloucester and Matthews counties, which have from the commencement of the war, besides furnishing a large proportion of men, grain and other materials of the rebels, been infested with a set of guerillas, termed by them “Chesapeake Partison Rangers.” But a short time since a company of them came [continue reading…]

May 26, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

A scouting part from one of our commands near Bluffton, visited Bull Island last week. They report that every house on the island has been burnt; even the fencing has been torn down, made into heaps and consumed. The property was owned by Col. E.M. SEABROOK and a small portion by Mr. BAYARD, and was originally one of the most magnificent estates in our tide water section. The Yankees were in small force, and bivouacked on the island for several days. The fragments of their commissary stores showed that they were well fed; sardine boxes, preserved fruit cans, &c., could be seen near their bivouac. They also slaughtered some cattle. All the valuable machinery has been destroyed in the conflagration.