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being left. The Second Missouri cavalry lost its colonel and more than half its men, and every regiment and company had suffered severely, although the prisoners were exchanged and rejoined us at Demopolis.

In addition, they had lost most of their wagon train and horses, their mess kits and personal property, nearly all their artillery, "everything," as Cockrell exclaimed, like Francis I. of France on a similar occasion, "everything but honor."

CHAPTER XXI.

THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG, MAY 17TH TO JULY 4TH, 1863.

TICKSBURG was regarded as the most important point

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in the Western campaign. The fierceness of the fighting and the protracted struggle which had preceded its occupation and investment, had centered upon it the attention of the country and the interest of both sections. It was looked upon for a considerable period as the point around which clustered the hopes and fortunes of the Confederate cause. Its fall would involve the loss of the whole line of the Mississippi, the isolation of the States of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, and, while opening to the Federal armies the richest portion of the Confederacy, would also give them an outlet to the vast country situated upon its waters.

In proportion to the greatness of the Mississippi and the vastness of the extent and resources of the country upon its waters, were the preparations for the capture of Vicksburg, whose frowning battlements forbade and arrested navigation and commerce.

The city of Vicksburg was neither large nor populous, containing about seven thousand inhabitants, situated on the Mississippi, extending about a mile and a half along its

eastern bank and stretching back a mile or perhaps somewhat farther. It stands upon elevated ground which approaches the river between the mouth of the Yazoo, a few miles to the north, and Black river, a greater distance on the south. Immediately on the river is a bluff, rather gradual in its rise, and as the ascent advances into the town art has leveled the surface and adapted it to the sites of buildings and the passage of streets. The pervading features, however, present hills irregular both in size and conformation. On the lower side of the town a creek empties into the river, winding as it approaches through extensive swamps and bottoms, and rendering entrance from that direction difficult or impracticable. Through the upper portion a small branch runs diagonally, coming from a northeast course, and has considerable bottoms on its margins; while beyond, to the west and northwest, are high hills which extend on the river for a mile above. In the interior and back of the city the ground is generally broken, but exhibits here and there some level spots of no considerable extent.

The native forest consisted chiefly of a vigorous growth of poplar, walnut, and honey-locust, and cane covered most of the slopes and hills, which sometimes reached the height of twelve or fifteen feet, presenting indications of a soil strong and productive.

The Mississippi at this point makes a bend, and forms a peninsula immediately opposite to Vicksburg; and the isthmus connecting this peninsula with the main land, below and to the south of the city, was the point at which the canal was cut through to turn the waters of the river; though they had at different periods and at several points by the force of their own current swept away formidable obstructions and changed their bed, yet human labor and skill were employed in vain to accomplish a similar result. From a point on the river two miles above the city the entrenchments extended in a semi-circular form around the town to the river a mile below, enclosing an area of about six miles in length by two and a half in breadth at the widest part. There were four principal roads running out

of the town and crossing the ramparts at as many points, namely, the Snyder's bluff, Jackson, Baldwin's ferry and Warrenton roads. Near the river north of the town, where the Snyder's bluff road crossed, was a fort mounting six thirty-two pounders and several small pieces. Next to this, situated at convenient distances, were four redans furnished with guns of twelve and twenty-four pound calibre; then came the stockade fort, the half-way point between the Snyder's bluff and Jackson roads, equipped with three pieces of field artillery; three redoubts followed in close succession, armed each with a single gun, including a formidable thirty-two pounder rifle, yclept "Crazy Jane" by the men, on account of the insane noise its projectile made. At the crossing of the Jackson road, near the centre, on a high hill, stood a fort containing four effective guns. Six hundred yards to the right of this, on the highest elevation along the line, was a large redoubt with three heavy guns, and between that and the Baldwin ferry road, two more, mounting six pieces, with a strongly built redan nearly one hundred yards in advance and in an exposed condition, containing two large guns-which three last mentioned forts were manned and defended by the Second Texas infantry.* One hundred and fifty yards farther on was another threegun redoubt, and close to the railroad a regular fort mounting both light and heavy artillery. At the crossing of the Warrenton road was another three-gun defense, and between this and the river a strong work on a high mound, armed with a large mortar and a one-hundred and twentyeight pound rifled piece. Extending along the river front were twenty-four heavy ordnance guns, planted in commanding positions, including in the upper battery a heavy Brooks gun known as "Whistling Dick," and which became nearly as famous as Gilmore's "Swamp Angel."

All these forts, redans, redoubts and batteries were situated on a lofty semi-circular ridge, and its spurs, which looked as if constructed by the Titans, who formed the frame-work of the earth-especially for defensive purposes. Connecting the entire line was a lengthened rifle-pit, run*Covell's Diary, p. 223.

ning in zigzag courses and forming angles of all shapes and sizes, so that when filled with troops, every foot of ground in front of them could be raked and enfiladed by a fire from two or three different directions.

Parallel with this main ridge and in front of it were others swelling up, like the waves of an angry ocean stilled into everlasting hills in the midst of a storm, upon which the enemy commenced digging their approaches. Beneath the surface their sappers and miners delved and bored to undermine our fortifications; every new trench that was opened was filled with additional sharpshooters, who kept up an unceasing fusilade with the deadly Sharpe's and Enfield rifles; every summit and elevation was crowded with redoubts in which were planted siege guns of long range and heavy calibre, that were kept in almost incessant activity during both day and night. In the deep ravines in the rear of both armies burrowed the reserves, patiently waiting, although exposed to constant danger, for the supreme moment of the assault, the defence and the bloody contest.

In this beleaguered city of many hills the weary and war-worn, but brave and undismayed Missourians, of Bowen's division, came to a halt after their protracted and toilsome marches and battles, faced to the front and dressed their lines, sadly thinned out, and many a brave fellow missing forever, but still as correct, prompt and soldierly in formation as the most exacting martinet could require. It was four o'clock on Sunday evening of May 17th, 1863, when they broke ranks and bivouaced near the cemetery, about a mile northeast of the city, with orders to cook one day's rations and be ready to move again at ten o'clock at night.

Before morning the army was posted, with Stevenson's division on the right, a portion of Bowen's in the centre, the rest in reserve, and Smith's on the left. General Forney, with his command, held Snyder's bluffs, and to him orders were dispatched to evacuate that position immediately, and move into the city, destroying all the artillery and munitions he could not transport.

An uneasy and ominous feeling of distrust imbued the

minds of both men and officers, combining a fear of those troops who fled so readily at Baker's Creek and Big Black, and a suspicion of the motives and patriotism of General Pemberton. Many expressed the belief that he had betrayed the army, and that his movements since assuming active command all tended to that result. So firm was this conviction that numbers doffed their dust-begrimed garments and donned their holiday apparel in anticipation of speedy capture, whilst gloomy visions of Northern prisons flitted through their imaginations, But they judged their General wrongly-he was incapable of harboring a thought of treason; he may not have been an able commander, but he was brave and true, and they soon found that he would surrender to nothing but starvation.

The morning of the 18th passed in quiet; about noon General Forney's division arrived and occupied our centre, from which the Second Missouri Brigade was withdrawn, to act as reserve on the right, while the First discharged the the same duty on the left. The position of the Missourians will be appreciated when it is understood that the steadiest and most reliable troops in the army were held as the reserve, and to them was entrusted the safety of every weak point in the defenses. Wherever the danger was most imminent, the charge of the enemy most determined, or the fighting waxed the warmest, there the reserves were rushed at double-quick, to fill the breach and restore the alignment.

Everything remained quiet until three o'clock in the evening, when the enemy made his appearance outside of our fortifications, upon the Jackson road. Our skirmishers. had been thrown out at that point beyond the works, and, after making a brief stand, were driven to their shelter. The enemy kept at a respectful distance, but began now to throw his forces around to our left, and in front of the upper portion of our lines where there were considerable gaps and spaces partially open, at which but slight fortifications had been constructed, and here the demonstration assumed a threatening character. At five o'clock in the evening the fire became quite heavy at this point, and the First Brigade was ordered to the lines there. Upon arriving

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