June 13, 1863

June 13, 1863

---Siege of Vicksburg, Day 22

---Siege of Port Hudson, Day 17

---Second Battle of Winchester, Virginia – Day 1:  Maj. Gen. Robert Milroy, the Federal commander at Winchester, has been given orders to evacuate the town rather than face a Confederate force of overwhelming advantage: the Second (II) Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia: three division under Early, Johnson, and Rodes under the command of Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell.  However, Milroy wants to ignore the order, and he is aided and abetted by his department commander, Gen. Schenk.  Milroy faces two divisions of Rebels with only about 6,900 men of his own.  Farther east is another brigade of 1,800 men under Brig. Gen. McReynolds.  As Ewell approaches Winchester, he sends Rodes and his division to the right to get McReynolds; Early and Johnson’s brigades approach Winchester itself.  South of town, Johnson’s infantry spars with a Federal brigade sent alone by Milroy, who still believed that only Southern cavalry was threatening his position.  McReynolds falls back, escaping Rodes’ trap, and re-joins Milroy’s force.  Rodes pushes on for Martinsburg.

---Charles H. Lynch, of the 18^th Connecticut Infantry Regiment, records his impressions of that first day’s action at Winchester:

I ran to the Colonel’s quarters and heard the report. With a shout the Colonel called out “Fall in, fall in, double quick.” We soon formed in line, ready for orders. Left our camp on double quick time to meet the enemy. They opened fire on us and our camp with a battery well posted on a high hill about one mile from our camp. We held them in check for a while when orders came for us to fall back and take position in the line of battle that had been formed near the town. In the meantime the enemy had taken possession of our camp with all its equipage and our knapsacks that contained all our belongings, making a great loss to every man. The sudden appearance of so large a force was a surprise. We were under fire all day and were obliged to change our position at different points to meet the enemy, who were trying to get into Winchester. It was plainly seen that a large force of Confederates were surrounding the town and that we were in a bad fix, as we could see the gray in all directions and knew that we were more than outnumbered.

---The New York Times publishes this timely editorial about Copperhead meetings and rallies in the rest of the state of New York:

A Peace Meeting in Brooklyn.

A few of the followers of FERNANDO and BEN WOOD are trying hard to get up a “peace meeting” in Brooklyn, after the manner of the one held in New-York, but the organ of the Democracy — the Eagle — throws cold water on the enterprise, and thinks, in view of the prospective rebel raid into the Northern States, they had better postpone it for the presents. The Eagle thinks that, in case the rebels should march, through Pennsylvania to Buffalo, as they propose, if would not look well, while they are waging war in one end of the State, for the Democrats at the other end to hold a peace meeting at Fort Green.

---Assault at Port Hudson -- At Port Huson, Gen. Banks lines up 89 cannons to pound the Confederate fortifications, in addition to navals guns in the river pounding Port Hudson with cannon and mortars.  

U.S. Navy mortar boat on the Mississippi River near Port Hudson

 Late in the afternoon, several divisions are ordered forward, but Banks’ order had been issues so late, the attacks were uncoordinated.  The Federals lose 1,792 men to the Confederate 72. 

June 12, 1863

June 12, 1863

—Virginia: Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell and the II Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia has crossed the Blue Ridge through the gaps and is marching swiftly northward, down the Shenandoah Valley. At Winchester is a small Union force under Maj. Gen. Robert Milroy, a perpetual problem general for the War Department in Washington. To date, his principal distinction is having let Stonewall Jackson surprise and defeat him in the West Virginia town of McDowell over a year ago. He apparently rules with a rather harsh form of martial law in Winchester, imprisoning any woman who insults a Union soldier, reading all of the mail passing in and out of the town, and even declaring all of the slaves in the town to be free (a measure not approved by Washington). He quarters his troops in the homes of the citizens—certainly not the kind of act that would win hearts for the Union cause.

　

Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell, CSA

Milroy’s division at Winchester appears to be a ripe plum for the Rebels to pick, since Ewell is packing three divisions—those of Robert Rodes, Edward Johnson, and the irascible Jubal A. Early. Gen. Halleck back in Washington sends a message to Milroy’s department commander, Gen. Schenk, that the garrison "should" be pulled out of Winchester. But Milroy insists he can hold the town against any move by the enemy. But up to this point, Milroy’s cavalry has been skirmishing only with Rebel cavalry.

　
—The New York Times prints dispatches from its correspondent at the Vicksburg siege, noting the onset of the Southern summer, in rather vivid, poetic terms:

IN REAR OF VICKSBURGH, Saturday, May 30.

The weather, which for the last month has been as cool as one could expect, has suddenly become as hot as the furnace prepared for the three uncompromising Hebrews [Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego]. The air is tremulous with heat; the dust-covered leaves droop and wither; thunders go growling and roaring over the sky toward evening, but bring us no rain, only hot lightnings and hypocritical clouds; the nights are stale with polished skies and a bright moon that instead of light glow with and reflect back the heat which the earth has absorbed during the day. Where yesterday there was a green, placid bayou, there is to-day only a natural canal, on whose steep banks lie rotting dogs and unshapely driftwood, and whose bottom is covered here with oozy, bubbling slime, and there with yawning cracks that seem to open down to the centre of the earth.

Standing upon any one of the higher hills between Ha[y]nes’ Bluff and Vicksburgh, the entire position of our army, its movements and the passage of teams can be correctly guessed at by the spectator, by watching the lines of dust that rise above the ocean of verdure whose leafy swells and hollows stretch away illimitably before him.

The Southern Summer — that Summer with its sweltering heats, its dried-up streams, its nights dripping with unhealthy dews, its dust-malaria, discomforts and death — is upon us.

We are making some progress toward the capture of Vicksburgh, although, just now, operations are so multifarious and extended, that it puzzles one to keep track of them all …

—The Richmond Daily Dispatch publishes the latest dispatches on conditions at Vicksburg. Among other details are these:

Our scouts from the vicinity of Vicksburg report that Grant in hauling water for his troops from the High Black, a distance of eight miles.

His mounted siege guns opened fire to-night. The fire was incessant, our columbiads replying, with a proclamation to the world of the invincible spirit which animates our troops in the works, and that "Vicksburg never surrenders."
 
All eyes are turned towards Kirby Smith, on whose movements depend, perhaps, the fate of Port Hudson and Vicksburg.

[third Dispatch.]
Jackson, June12.
–The heavy firing at Vicksburg continues. Last night it was heavier than any that has yet been heard.

The weather is clean and warm. The thermometer indicates 90 degrees. . . .

—Major Alexander Biddle, commander of the 121^st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, writes home to his wife about his futile attempts to resign from the U.S. Army:

. . . We number now less than 260 men present for duty and many of these are excused from drill — not a command of a Major. I think I therefore might be spared Imbecility which often amounts to cruelty marks the Course of Govt towards this Army, if it is not our Generals doing that we have so much tape to tie us. To get my resignation considered it had to pass through 3 clerks and 3 Generals inspections if indeed the latter ever saw it at all. You now dear wife know my fate for the present — bereft as I am of all hope of happiness which I alone look for here below in your society. I must trust that in a little while I shall have some other opportunity — which I shall most eagerly embrace. I have had no letters from home but yours and dont expect any — strange but so it is. May God bless and keep you in health and strength and happiness soon to be reunited with your ever loving husband,

Alexander
A kiss for Aleck, Harry, Julia, Winny and Louis — when I heard that De Hunter had been with you I was pleased at the dear little boy’s name.

—Lt. Col. Arthur Fremantle, of the British Army, writes in his journal of the time he is spending in Charleston, where he witnesses a slave auction and finally meets General Beauregard, who of course makes a plug for British intervention. This passage reveals interesting nuances from an anti-slavery Englishman (we presume) who nevertheless does not think it is all that bad:

I went to a slave auction at 11; but they had been so quick about it that the whole affair was over before I arrived, although I was only ten minutes late. The negroes—about fifteen men, three women, and three children—were seated on benches, looking perfectly contented and indifferent I saw the buyers opening the mouths and showing the teeth of their new purchases to their friends in a very business-like manner. This was certainly not a very agreeable spectacle to an Englishman, and I know that many Southerners participate in the same feeling; for I have often been told by people that they had never seen a negro sold by auction, and never wished to do so. . . . I am perfectly aware that many influential men in the South feel humiliated and annoyed with several of the incidents connected with slavery; and I think that if the Confederate States were left alone, the system would be much modified and amended, although complete emancipation cannot be expected; for the Southerners believe it to be as impracticable to cultivate cotton on a large scale in the South, without forced black labour, as the British have found it to produce sugar in Jamaica; and they declare that the example the English have set them of sudden emancipation in that island is by no means encouraging. They say that that magnificent colony, formerly so wealthy and prosperous, is now nearly valueless—the land going out of cultivation—the Whites ruined—the Blacks idle, slothful, and supposed to be in a great measure relapsing into their primitive barbarism. . . .

At 1 P.M. I called on General Beauregard, who is a man of middle height, about forty-seven years of age. He would be very youthful in appearance were it not for the colour of his hair, which is much greyer than his earlier photographs represent. Some persons account for the sudden manner in which his hair turned grey by allusions to his cares and anxieties during the last two years; but the real and less romantic reason is to be found in the rigidity of the Yankee blockade, which interrupts the arrival of articles of toilette. He has a long straight nose, handsome brown eyes, and a dark mustache without whiskers, and his manners are extremely polite. He is a New Orleans Creole, and French is his native language.

He was extremely civil to me, and arranged that I should see some of the land fortifications to-morrow. He spoke to me of the inevitable necessity, sooner or later, of a war between the Northern States and Great Britain; and he remarked that, if England would join the South at once, the Southern armies, relieved of the present blockade and enormous Yankee pressure, would be able to march right into the Northern States, and, by occupying their principal cities, would give the Yankees so much employment that they would be unable to spare many men for Canada. . . .

June 11, 1863

June 11, 1863


---Siege of Vicksburg, Day 20

---Siege of Port Hudson, Day 15

—The Richmond Daily Dispatch publishes today this remarkable editorial—not only for the keen awareness the Southerners had of the social turmoil caused by massive immigration in the North, but the stupendous lack of awareness demonstrated by their own lack of self-awareness when it comes to race and creed The editorial essay comments upon the recriminations heaped upon the Federal XI Army Corps, having a large percentage of German regiments in it, and their having given way in the face of Stonewall Jackson’s flank attack at Chancellorsville:
A suggestive item of Yankee news has been published in this paper, which states that the Germans of New York have held a meeting and passed resolutions declaring "the continued abuse of the 11th Army corps, composed of Germans, which stampeded at Chancellorsville, to be chiefly attributed to the feeling of Know Nothingism, which prevails to a great extent in both Northern and Southern States."

The Germans of the North, like the Irish, are beginning to find out that, at the bottom of their hearts, their Yankee taskmasters have no love for them, but only desire to use them for their own base purposes, and would have no hesitation in making them and other foreigners the victims of their intolerance and bigotry if the South were only out of their way. The ridicule heaped upon the retreating Germans at Chancellorsville is a significant indication of the real estimation which they are held in the North. Why is nothing said of the retreating Yankees? Were the Germans the only soldiers whom the resistless charge of our gallant troops drove from the field? So far from this is the fact, that in that battle, as well as every other Yankee defeat, from Manassas down, the Yankees have run not only faster than the Germans, but than any other people under the sun. The German and Irish troops have been the very best in their service, and if these were once out of the way, the Yankees would never be able to make another fair and square stand-up fight with the Southern Confederacy.

The Germans of New York are quite right in attributing the attack upon their soldiery to the feeling of Know Nothingism in the North; but they do not know what they are talking about when they say that it prevails to a great extent in the South as well as the North. It was the South which gave Know Nothingism its quietus, and, which saved the Germans and Irish from political and religious subjugation. That they should permit themselves to be made the instruments of subjugating their deliverers was both a crime and a blunder, and we trust their eyes will, ere long, be awakened to the fact. The South, which they are invading, has never proscribed any man on account of his creed or race; it has never rode priests on rails, or sacked churches or convents; nor does it intend to permit itself to be visited with impunity with outrages and wrongs from which it has protected others.

—David Schenk of Lincoln County, North Carolina, writes this gloomy entry in his diary, fearful of the recent upsurge in desertions from North Carolina regiments as well as the grim outlook for Vicksburg:
"Gloomy Crisis"

June 11th 1863

This crisis in our revolution seems to be the most gloomy, which has yet befallen us – it is true that victory has crowned our arms but but at such fearful loss that like those of Pyrrhus, They would soon destroy us __

Gen Lee still stands threatened by a vastly superior force on the Rappahamock and while battle decimates our army! still another alarming element has exhibited itself – Desertion – news from all quarters is that desertion is progressing to an alarming extent and disloyalty is every where increasing and growing bolder – women and mothers advise their brothers and sons to desert; and protect and harbor them at home. There is no power at home to take them – The militia officers have not the force and are not sustained by the people at home. It has almost fallen into disuse and the country is getting full of deserters _ In the disloyal counties formerly Unionist – in Yadkin and Wilkes They number hundreds and are committing depredations on person and property. This evil has been greatly stimulated by the various decisions of Chief Justice Pearson, who has been discharging conscripts and deserters on almost every pretext; until this class of persons expect (and with some reason) protection from him for every offence __ This evil I say is alarming to every patriot __

Misfortune in Mississippi valley has almost ruined us. Grant by a bold and vigorous campaign has driven Genl Pemberton within the walls of Vicksburg where he is closely besieging him on every side. The enemy have laid the country waste and are inciting the negroes to the most atrocious crimes. Our only hope is in the skill and resources of Genl Jos E. Johnston who is collecting his forces to raise the siege __ The struggle for the great river must soon take place; if we are defeated then nothing but endless war or ruinous submission awaits us. God only knows the event __ He will decide it according to the inscrutable designs of his own counsel and we must abide the issue

Until now I have never doubted our ultimate success but with heavy heart I confess I feel much doubt as to the result. I shall trust in God whatever may be the event __
　
—Jenkin Lloyd Jones, an artilleryman in the 6^th Battery, Wisconsin Artillery, writes in his journal of the daily life of the artillery units in besieging Vicksburg:
Before Vicksburg, Thursday, June 11. Pleasant day. The air light and balmy. Dust settled by the rain of yesterday. Very steady and heavy cannonading all day. A nine-inch gun was brought into position on our right to-day and busily engaged in battering down the rebel wall. Its huge missiles would bury deep in the earth, then explode, tearing up many trees.

June 10, 1863

June 10, 1863

---Union scouts and escaped slaves have found a pattern of information: Gen. Pleasonton is convinced that two of Lee’s infantry corps are at Culpeper, which indicates movement. He passes this on to Hooker to persuade the commanding general that Lee is on the march. Indeed, Gen. Ewell’s II Corps makes a good 15 miles on the march today, toward the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley.

—Gen. Hooker writes to Lincoln, suggesting that if Lee is indeed moving north, then the way to Richmond is open. He asks the President to consider his plan. Lincoln’s answer returns right away:
WASHINGTON, June 10, 1863--6:40 p. m.

Major-General HOOKER:

Your long dispatch of today is just received. If left to me, I would not go south of Rappahannock upon Lee's moving north of it. If you had Richmond invested today, you would not be able to take in it twenty days; meanwhile your communications, and with them your army, would be ruined. I think Lee's army, and not Richmond, is your sure objective point. If he comes toward the Upper Potomac. follow on his flank and on his inside track, shortening your lines while he lengthens his. Fight him, too, when opportunity offers. If he stays where he is, fret him and fret and fret him.

A. LINCOLN
　
—Stephen Minot Weld, of the Army of the Potomac, writes home and gives a rather inflated version of the Battle of Brandy Station:
Yesterday our cavalry had a real hand-to-hand fight with the rebels near Kelly’s Ford. Our men behaved splendidly, and drove the rebels 5 miles. We captured all Stuart’s private papers, and found that he was to have started this morning, with 25 guns and 12,000 cavalry, to make his raid into Pennsylvania.

Confederate cavalryman with his sabre

—The Democrat Party of Ohio nominates the still-exiled Clement Vallandigham for Governor of Ohio.

June 9, 1863

June 9, 1863

Battle of Brandy Station

 

Virginia

 

 

Brandy Station, by Edwin Forbes

　
—The largest cavalry battle in the war, the fight at Brandy Station catches Stuart’s Southern cavaliers unprepared, and scattered in six separate encampments, after the festivities of the previous day, and the Grand Review of the cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia. Stuart commands 9,500 men, and they are almost all here. Two Union columns of cavalry, supported by a couple of brigades of infantry, cross the Rappahannock at Beverly and Kelly’s Fords. On the Union side, Gen. Afred Pleasonton commands the divisions of Duffie, Gregg, and Buford, with some infantry support: in all, about 11,000 men. Buford’s column, which Pleasonton is riding with, has Buford’s division, plus a reserve brigade under Maj. Charles Whiting, and a brigade of infantry from the V Corps, under Brig. Gen. Adelbert Ames. Gregg’s column is made up of his own division, Col. Alfred Duffie’s division, and a brigade of infantry under Brig. Gen. Russell. Buford’s column crosses first, and catches the Rebels by surprise at Fleetwood Hill, and wide, flat-topped eminence just southwest of Beverly Ford. 

　

Buford's Advance
 

Buford’s column quickly kills or disperses the Rebel cavalry pickets at the river and splashes across. The alarm spreads quickly, and by the time Buford deploys, the Confederate Brigades of Jones, Rooney Lee, and Hampton have arrived, many of them undressed and riding bareback; reinforced with artillery, the Rebels form a line on Fleetwood Hill. As Buford strikes the left of this line, Lee’s dismounted troopers take shelter behind a wall, and inflict heavy casualties on the Federals as a murderous firefight develops with carbines. Col. Benjamin Davis, commanding that Federal brigade, is killed outright. The Rebel horse artillery is near St. James Church, and a gallant and costly horseback charge by the 6^th Pennsylvania Cavalry fails to dislodge it.

At about this time, Gregg’s column crosses the river, finding only one brigade, under Beverly Robertson, opposing them. Gregg swings his troopers out to the left, avoiding Robertson, and heads west for Stevensburg and Culpeper, leaving Russell’s infantry to push back at Robertson. Duffie continues on this route, but Gregg takes his division north to threaten Stuart’s left flank. As Gregg arrives with Col. Percy Wyndham’s brigade, and later as Col. Judson Kilpatrick’s brigade lines up on Wyndham’s right, only then do the Confederates realize that their rear is in jeopardy.

Gregg's attack on the Rebel flank

　

　

Buford’s men finally dislodge Lee’s troopers just as the entire Confederate line has to pull back. But counterattacks on Gregg by the Rebels prevent his advancing. As Wyndham is delayed by Chew’s Battery, his brigade finally sweeps up Fleetwood Hill to find Grumble Jones’ Rebels counterattacking; and as Kilpatrick moves up, he finds Hampton’s Carolinians about-facing to take them on. Soon, the battle is in full swing, with several series of charges and countercharges, and fighting with pistol and saber. The crest of the hill, particularly Yew Ridge, changes hands several times. 

On the Confederate left, Rooney Lee leads a charge to stop Buford again, and gets a bullet through his thigh in the action. But Stuart is firming up his line on the hill, and countercharges drive the Yankees back from Brandy Station.

Confederate counterattack in a painting by Don Troiani

Pleasonton decides that his troops have given (and taken) enough punishment, and withdraws towards the fords. The battle is a marginal Confederate victory, Stuart argues, since he still holds the hill, and the Yankees withdraw, but the Southern newspapers blame Stuart for allowing the Yankees for stealing a march on him, and for successfully hitting him with two surprise attacks. An infantry officer confides: ". . . Stuart is blamed very much, but whether or not fairly I am not sufficiently informed to say." The Yankees all consider this a Union victory since, for the first time, Northern cavalrymen have held their own with the Southerners in a pitched battle, and hurt them badly. Stalemate.

Losses: Union, 907 Confederate, 527

—Confederate artilleryman Sergeant George Michael Neese, of Chew’s Battery at Brandy Station, writes in his journal some of his memories and impressions of the battle:
June 9 — We had another grand military display to-day, of a very distinctly different kind from those of a few days ago, however, but not far from the same field. This time the Yanks played a very conspicuous part in it, and there were no friendly charges in it nor sham battle business with blank cartridges, but plenty of bullets, bloody sabers, and screaming shell. West Pointers may know all about the theoretical probabilities and concomitant intricacies of war, but I think that for the last few nights the horse artillery has been permitted to roost a little too near the lion’s lair. As an evidence of that fact, early this morning the Yankees gathered in all the household and kitchen furniture, as well as some of the personal effects, belonging to our major, and came very near capturing some of the horse artillerymen in bed. . . .

Soon after our cavalry fell back into the field the Yankee cavalry made a charge from the woods into the open field. Our courageous cavalry gallantly withstood the enemy’s first determined charge, and the field in front of the woods was covered with a mingled mass, fighting and struggling with pistol and saber like maddened savages.

At that juncture of the fray the warlike scene was fascinatingly grand beyond description, and such as can be produced and acted only by an actual and real combat. Hundreds of glittering sabers instantly leaped from their scabbards, gleamed and flashed in the morning sun, then clashed with metallic ring, searching for human blood, while hundreds of little puffs of white smoke gracefully rose through the balmy June air from discharging firearms all over the field in front of our batteries.

During the first charge in the early morn the artillerymen stood in silent awe gazing on the struggling mass in our immediate front, yet every man was at his post and ready for action at a moment’s notice; and as soon as our cavalry repulsed the enemy and drove them back into the woods, sixteen pieces of our horse artillery opened fire on the woods with a crash and sullen roar that made the morning air tremble and filled the woods with howling shell. . . . Stirring incidents and exciting events followed one another in quick succession, and no sooner was the enemy dislodged in our rear, than a heavy force that had been fighting us all morning advanced on our front, with cavalry and artillery. Their batteries at once opened a severe fire on our position, to which we immediately replied. Then the hardest and liveliest part of the artillery fighting commenced in earnest, and the thunder of the guns roared fiercely and incessantly for several hours.

At one time the Yankee gunners had such perfect range and distance of our position that their shrapnel shell exploded right over our guns, and two or three times I heard the slugs from the exploding shell strike my gun like a shower of iron hail. One shell exploded fearfully close to me and seriously wounded two of my cannoneers and raked the sod all around me. For about three long hours whizzing shot, howling shell, exploding shrapnel, and screaming fragments filled the air that hung over Fleetwood Heights with the music of war. . . .

We were on the field twelve hours, and during that time I fired my faithful gun one hundred and sixty times. This evening just before the battle closed, with the last few shots we fired I saw the fire flash from the cascabel of my gun, and I found that it was disabled forever — burnt entirely out at the breach. . . .

June 8, 1863

June 8, 1863

---Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, Lee’s Chief of Cavalry, is disappointed that his grand review three days previous was not seen by the commanding general.  Today, Lee is available, and Stuart holds another grand review at Brandy Station.  In grand array, in a line 3 miles long, Stuart’s troopers parade before the grandstand, where General Lee, other officers, and civilians witness the cavalcade.  Also in attendance is Gen. Hood’s division, drawn up in formation. 

Stuart and his cavaliers on a raid
 

Meanwhile, Gen. Hooker has asked Gen. Alfred Pleasonton to launch a cavalry strike at Brandy Station, since the Yankees know that Stuart has gathered his whole force here.  Pleasonton divides his force into two columns---one under Brig. Gen. John Buford and his division, which would cross at Beverly Ford, and the other under Brig. Gen. David Gregg, which would cross at Kelly’s Ford.   Added to Gregg’s force will be a brigade on infantry under Brig. Gen. Russell.  Another cavalry division under Alfred Duffie will protect the flank Federal left flank.

Gen. John Buford and his brigade commanders
 

---Sergeant George Michael Neese, of Chew’s Battery in Stuart’s horse artillery, writes of his humorous role at the Grand Review:

June 8 — General Stuart had another grand review to-day on the same field, and similar to the one he had on the fifth, except the artillery did no firing. The troops to-day were reviewed by the great master of war and the famous chieftain of the Confederate Army, General Robert E. Lee.

I was trying to act in the capacity of first sergeant of our battery in the review to-day, and was riding at the head of the horse artillery, mounted on a mule with ears about a foot long. Just before we arrived at the reviewing stand the searching eye of General Stuart spied the waving ears of my mule, and he quickly dispatched one of his aides to Captain Chew, with the urgent request to order the mule and me with it off of the field, which was quickly done with neatness and dispatch. I cared very little about the matter, but the mule looked a little bit surprised, and, I think, felt ashamed of himself and his waving ears, which cost him his prominent position in the grand cavalcade.

---Oliver Willcox Norton, of the 83^rd Pennsylvania Infantry, while on the march in Virginia, writes in his journal of a poignant encounter with a poor woman:

Down on the bank of the river I went into a house and met a young married woman with a baby in her arms. She had been pretty once and it was not age that spoiled her beauty, but care. “Can you sell me a pie, or something good for my dinner?” said I. “A pie! sir.” said she. “Well, now, sir, if I was to tell you that I have not tasted or seen a piece of pie for more than a year, would you believe me?” “I certainly should if you said so. Of course I couldn’t doubt a lady’s word.” “Sir, ‘fore God it is the truth. I have only been married ’bout a year, and my husband, who was an overseer, came on to this place after the fruit was all gone, and I’ve had no fruit. I haven’t seen a bit of sugar, nor coffee, nor tea for nigh eight months, I reckon,” and she went on and gave me such a story of struggles to keep alive, to get enough to keep from starving, as made all the hard times I have ever seen seem like a life of luxury. I did pity her. On such as she, the poor whites of the South, the burden of this war is heaviest. She had but little sympathy for the South or North either. She cared but little how the war ended, so it ended soon. Poor woman, she understood but little of the nature of the contest. She sent a little darky girl to bring in a pan of milk. . . . She gave me some milk, and by the time I had eaten my dinner the colonel came back from the lines, and I mounted my horse and came back to camp.

June 7, 1863

June 7, 1863

---Siege of Vicksburg, Day 16

---Siege of Port Hudson, Day 11

 

Battle of Milliken’s Bend

Louisiana

---Under a plan proposed by the War Department in Richmond, and planned by Gen. Edmund Kirby-Smith, chief of the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department, three columns of Southern infantry marched against three separate points believed to be key to Grant’s supply line at Vicksburg.  (What Richmond did not know---nor apparently did Kirby-Smith---is that Grant no longer maintained a supply line on the west bank of the Mississippi River, and brought his supplies directly by ship to his new base on the Yazoo River near the Vicksburg lines.)  These columns are commanded by Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor, a Louisianian, the son of Gen. (and later President) Zachary Taylor, and veteran of Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign the previous year.  Taylor objects to the plan, arguing that no recent intelligence shows that the Yankees still kept a supply line on the west bank; he believe that his column should attack the scantily-garrisoned New Orleans, since most of Banks’ army is besieging Port Hudson.  But Taylor’s plan is rejected. 

 

John G. Walker, CSA

Taylor has John G. Walker’s division of Texas troops to use for this campaign.  Walker advances from Richmond, Louisiana, and splits his columns.  (One column has already marched on Lake Providence, but never arrived.)  Walker splits his division in two, sending one part toward reaches Young’s Point, just opposite the spot where the Yazoo entered the Mississippi---but these troops find the Union garrison in a cozy fortification, watched over by three Union gunboats.  The third column, a brigade under Henry McCulloough, strikes the supply depot at Milliken’s Bend, garrisoned by a brigade of black troops, ncluding some recently raised regiments of contrabands, ill-trained.  McCullough’s troops surge forward, in the face of stiff volleys from the black men in blue, and were able to flank the Federals, mowing down the Negro troops in large numbers on the exposed levee.  However, in spite of the heavy losses, and their compromised position, the negro troops refuse to back down: they do not break.  Soon, the USS Lexington and Choctaw appear on the river, and begin to shell the Rebels.  The African Brigade is also reinforced by the 23^rd Iowa Infantry Regiment.  The Federals rally, and push the Rebels back inland, and pursue, inflicting scores of casualties on their former assailants.  McCullough withdraws to Walnut Bayou, having captured some Federal troops and a few white officers.  These black are sold into slavery, although Gen. McCullough makes a gift of several of them to one his officers.  There are rumors that the Rebels have massacred some black prisoners, but no firm evidence exists for this.

The Union troops under Col. Lieb suffer over 600 casualties; McCullough’s Texans suffer 185.  Union Victory.

---Sergeant Alexander G. Downing, of the 11^th Iowa Infantry, records in his journal the news about the fight at Milliken’s Bend:

Sunday, 7th—The rebels made an attack on our forces at Duck’s Point, Louisiana, where, it is reported, two negro regiments met the attack and captured two hundred prisoners and five pieces of artillery. Who says that the negro will not fight? I say he will fight! Arm the negroes and let them fight for their liberty! There are some Northern troops with them at Duck’s Point, and together they make a strong garrison.