June 10, 1863, The New York Herald
Our Vicksburg Correspondence.
NEAR VICKSBURG, May 29, 1863.
The movements on the part of the Union army have been very quiet for the last three days. Cannonading at intervals during the day, and constant and continual firing by our skirmishers whenever any attempt is made to work the rebel guns, constitute the sum total of military movements.
Orders were received late last evening to be ready at six o’clock this morning to bombard the city. Accordingly at that hour every gun along the line was in position, and opened upon the unfortunate city. For a full hour a tremendous cannonade was kept up, the object at which it was directed being the Court House and vicinity. It is impossible to convey anything like an adequate idea of the demonstration. It is impossible that one hundred and fifty guns, all raining at the same moment a terrific storm of fire upon the beleaguered garrison, and all concentrating their efforts in one locality, have failed to produce important results. The next intelligence from Vicksburg will be awaited with considerable anxiety.
During the assault of the 22d inst. some thirty of our soldiers were taken prisoners and carried to Vicksburg, where, after remaining in confinement for two or three days, they were paroled and sent across the river to Young’s Point, under a flag of truce. One of these paroled prisoners returned to his regiment last night by way of Haines’ Bluff.
He reports a distressing condition of affairs in Vicksburg. When our army was approaching from Big Black river all the women and children near the environs of Vicksburg were ordered to come within the lines, under the impression that a greater degree of safety could be had there than without. Experience has proved this impression incorrect. The Union shells are no respecters of persons, and when dropping in the vicinity of peaceful dwellings explode as viciously and as destructively as when in the midst of an armed host. Large numbers of women and children have been killed, he says. The very first shot fired by the mortar boats killed a woman and her child. Latterly the citizens have constructed for themselves caves in the cellars of their dwellings, to which, with their wives and little ones, they retire when the cannonade becomes furious.
My informant tells me that while in the jail with his comrade prisoners and a number of rebel soldiers who were incarcerated there because they refused to fight us a shell from one of our guns entered the building through the roof and passed entirely through the floors and ceilings, until it reached the lower floor, where it exploded with great violence. Fortunately no one was killed, although several were seriously wounded.
The only hope of the rebel garrison is the appearance of General Johnston with a large army in our rear. Assured that their expectations from this quarter would not be realized, they would at once surrender the city. He estimates the troops there at fully thirty thousand men, and says they are already on quarter rations. Horses and mules are turned out of the city, with the exception of those required by officers, to economize the supply of provisions, and because they are mercilessly slaughtered by our shells.
From General Blair and General Osterhaus nothing has been heard for several days. The former is between Big Black and the Yazoo, near Sulphur Springs, and the latter at some of the crossings of the Black. It is impossible that the enemy should make a demonstration in our rear of which we shall not be fully and early apprised.
It is said the gunboats have destroyed a pontoon bridge across Big Black river, nor far from Grand Gulf, evidently constructed by rebel soldiers to aid in the escape of General Pemberton and his army from Vicksburg.
The gunboat Cincinnati was sunk by the upper batteries a day or two since, and now lies in shallow water in sight of our extreme right. She will doubtless be raised again.
Brigadier General Carr thus recounts the part taken by his division in the battle of Big Black Bridge and in the grand assault of the rebel intrenchments on the 22d: –
GENERAL ORDERS – NO. 37.
HEADQUARTERS, FOURTEENTH DIVISION.
THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS, May 25, 1863.
OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE FOURTEENTH DIVISION –
Since the beginning of this month you have made yourselves a name second to no other command in the history of the war.
After your gallant conduct near Port Gibson, and several severe marches, you took the advance after the battle of Champion Hills, pursued the enemy far into the night, and captured Edwards Station.
Your started the next morning at five o’clock, pressed steadily forward, driving the enemy’s pickets and skirmishers till you found him in force and strongly fortified at Black river bridge. Taking only time to develop his position and to form in proper order, you charged and drove him in confusion across the river, capturing eighteen guns, five stand of colors, one thousand four hundred and twenty-one small arms, and one thousand seven hundred and fifty-one prisoners.
It was here that the gallant Colonel Kinsman (Twenty-third Iowa infantry) lost his life. He received a fatal wound in the abdomen, but still kept on till another through the chest brought him to the ground. He said to me, “Tell the boys I died happy. I fell at the head of my regiment, discharging my duty to my country. Bury me on the field of battle.”
On the 22d you made a desperate attack on the defences of Vicksburg. Though you knew their great strength, and that many of you must fall, you obeyed the orders of the officers appointed over you, and moved forward with resolution at the appointed time.
If you had been supported sufficiently, and in time, you would have gone over the works, and the Mississippi would now have been open. As it was, you held on for nine hours under a wasting fire, and only gave up what you had gained when ordered to retire.
Do not forget that the greater part of the brigades of Burbridge and Landrum, of Smith’s division, and Boomer brigade, of Quinby’s division, were with you, and shared your dangers and your glory.
In a former order I attempted to name those who had particularly distinguished themselves. In this it is simply impossible. Almost every man has performed deeds which in ordinary battles, would entitle him to special mention.
Perhaps it would not be amiss to name Sergeant Joseph E. Griffith, Company I, Twenty-second regiment Iowa infantry, who went into the fort attacked by the Second brigade with eleven men, and came out with twelve prisoners though all of his companions were killed; and Lieutenant Colonel Dunlap, Twenty-first Iowa infantry, who, still suffering from a wound received at Fort Gibson, went into this battle and was killed.
We are again called to mourn the loss of our dead and the sufferings of our wounded comrades; but your resolution is still unshaken. Such devotion as yours is sure to give us final triumph; and when those who may survive shall exult in the sight of a foul monster, which is trying to destroy our country, writhing in its last gasp, I believe that the spirits of those who have rendered up their lives will rejoice at their country’s salvation.
E. A. CARR, Brigadier General Commanding.
C. H. DYER, A. A. G.
P. S. – Full lists of killed and wounded will be published.