March 3, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
VICKSBURG, February 20.
Since the commencement of bombarding the city on Wednesday afternoon, the work has been kept up pretty much in the same manner as was done last summer. The enemy labors under the disadvantage, this time, of being exposed to the view and range of our guns. At the first siege, their mortar boats were anchored behind the timber, which sheltered them, and were a good deal closer to the city than now. The timber being cut down, exposes their position; and our hills being well supplied with long range guns, enables us to give them as good as they send.
Yesterday morning opened bright, fair and quiet, and no movements among the enemy could be observed. Quietness prevailed until eleven o’clock, when the mortars again opened on the city, in the same part that underwent the ordeal the day before. The steamer Vicksburg, which was lying in front of Major Ogden’s battery, was supposed to be the object of their aim, under the erroneous impression that she is being fitted up for a gunboat. But it is more likely that their object was a direct shelling of the city, as all the shells reached and exploded in the lower part of the town. Though they throw their shells with a good deal of accuracy, there has yet been no damage done.
Experience has demonstrated that gunboats and mortars are humbugs – that they can neither take nor destroy Vicksburg, and so little fear is manifested at the shelling, that the streets are full of people, including women and children, and every bluff is covered with ladies to witness the grand exhibition. At first the shells were directed to the lower part of the city, in the vicinity of the depot of the Southern Railroad, and yesterday the same spot seemed to engage their attention until the middle of the afternoon, when they ranged their mortars for the higher parts of the city, and have now got to throw their shells as far north as the Washington Hotel.
Their firing averages one shell in about seven minutes, and their fuses are arranged to about eighteen seconds. They have calculated the distance very nicely, and fire with considerable accuracy, and with enormously heavy charges, shaking every building in the city. There are three batteries erected on the levee, and some of the gunboats are constantly cruising around between them and the fleet above. No damage has yet been done to the city, though the rattling of fragments of shells on the roofs of the buildings is quite astonishing to ears unaccustomed to that kind of music. One or two little wooden houses have been struck, but not seriously damaged.
Until about five o’clock in the afternoon our batteries endured the taunting efforts of the enemy, when a few of our guns let loose on them, and the very first shot is supposed to have dismounted their mortar. Another and another shot from guns in rapid succession, and with amazing accuracy, soon silenced the bellowing batteries of the Yankees, and not another shot was fired by them. The splendid shooting of our men drew encomiums of the highest praise from all who witnessed it. It is now demonstrated that our guns will reach the Yankee batteries, and that our gunners know exactly how to handle their pieces.
During the afternoon one of the soldiers had an arm taken off by a piece of a shell in Washington street. This was the first shell that was sent in that direction, and crowds of people were on the street in that vicinity at the time. This is the only accident that has yet occurred, though the town is full of citizens and soldiers, and none seem to have any wholesome fear of bombshells. By this carelessness and indifference, there may be some accidents, which could easily be avoided by a little prudence and discretion. Though it took thirty thousand shells last summer to kill two persons, it is, nevertheless, true that they will kill if one gets in their way.
VICKSBURG, February 21.
After our guns opened on the enemy’s battery on Thursday evening, their firing was silenced, and not another shot has been sent into the city since. The fact that our pieces would reach them in the position which they occupied, probably made it prudent to fire under cover of the darkness. When daylight approached, yesterday morning, all eyes were turned to the spot from which the enemy was hurling his messengers of death into our midst, with the expectation that the work of shelling the devoted city would be resumed at an early hour. But, to the surprise of all, no enemy was to be seen, and no mortar opened its roar.
The fleet above seemed engaged in moving up stream, and the immense display of steam which was visible on the previous night had nearly all disappeared, leaving the impression among many that the fleet was about evacuating the place. Some dozen transports, including storeships and a few gunboats, were still in sight at the old quarterage. All day a sharp look out was kept for another demonstration from the mortar, but no enemy appeared in that quarter. Considerable relief was felt by this immunity from Yankee shells, after the experience of the last two days. No movements of the enemy were noticed all day, that indicated anything different from their former operations.
VICKSBURG, February 23.
Yesterday morning a grand scene presented itself in the distance as the large fleet lay exposed in full view of the naked eye. As they had all withdrawn the previous evening, it was hardly expected that they should all return so soon and so quietly. There was apparently no motion among them, and steam was down, indicating that they must have returned early in the night. It was a confirmation of our convictions that the enemy had not withdrawn, and that instead of leaving, they were only preparing to come with stronger force.
Everything remained quiet, absolutely dull, during the forenoon. The attention of most persons was directed to the lower end of the canal, where the Era No. 5, and another transport from below, were plainly visible. The Era is in behind the woods, where she is excluded from full view, but enough has been seen of her to make her out. The other craft is a sidewheel steamer, and is also lying behind the levee below the mouth of the canal. There is a good deal of mortification expressed at the success of these transports in making the trip safely past our batteries of light artillery below, and the extent of the injuries received, if any, has not yet come to hand.
Jackson Appeal.