Weather very warm.
Men engaged in building roads through the ravines to connect the different
camps. Our rations are now all right, getting them by steamer from the North to
Yazoo River, and then teaming them across Chickasaw Bayou to our camps. Men in
good spirits and prefer the spade and pick to charging breastworks.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 17
A large fire in
Vicksburg last night. An attack was made on our left, but easily repulsed.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 17
I was much
interested today in watching a number of Indians that belong to the 14th
Wisconsin, acting as sharpshooters. Every day the best shots are detailed to
act as sharpshooters to keep the enemy from using their cannon on our working
parties and the riflemen from picking the men off. These Indians had fixed
their heads with leaves in such a way that you could not tell them. They would
creep on their bellies a little distance, then keep quiet, then move ahead
until they could get the position they were after, which was generally a log,
behind which they could lie without very much exposure. They silenced the rebel
cannon in front almost entirely.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 17
Messrs. Underwood
and Seeley of the Chicago Board of Trade and Y. M. C. A., arrived from Chicago
today. Visited the rifle pits with them. Battery A, Chicago Light Artillery,
did some firing for them, throwing shells with great precision at the rebel
works. A poor mule was killed at the distance of a mile by a shell.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 17
Siege life can be
made monotonous or otherwise, as you wish. A visit to the outworks is always
interesting, and to see the devices the men use in trying to get a Reb to put
his head above their works, is very amusing. Holding their caps on the end of
their guns or fixing a coat so that the arm can be seen, and the Reb, thinking
it is a Yank, blazes away at him while our boys go for him.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 17
The navy have
several mortar-boats in position on the Mississippi River, and it is a very
interesting sight to watch their shells in the night time go sailing through
the air, sometimes bursting way up high, and at other times just before
reaching the ground. I never appreciated the words of our glorious National
anthem until now, where it says, "And the bombs bursting in air,"
etc.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 17
Had religious
service today. Men are pious when danger threatens, but somewhat lax when it is
passed.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 17
The usual
cannonading; trench work and mining going on. Had a splendid rain on the 10th
which was enjoyed by all. Weather cool and pleasant.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 18
The siege is
progressing slowly but surely. We are making gradual approaches and are now
within one hundred feet of the enemy's works. The work is done by the men
rolling in front of them a large gabion filled with earth so as to keep the
rebel sharp-shooters from picking them off. They then dig a trench throwing the
dirt up on both sides; at times men are killed; one of our men, a sergeant in
Co. B, has just been brought in killed in the advance rifle pit. He was shot
through the head and killed instantly. Such an occurrence makes the men careful
but they soon grow careless again. The Rebs are throwing shells into our camp,
pieces fall in close proximity to our quarters. Their sharp-shooters are
constantly on the watch for a chance to pick us off. I was riding along the
other day to see the works on our left and stopped for a moment, when a bullet
struck at the feet of my horse's front legs and in a second more two or three
others in close proximity. I changed my position. No one can form any idea of
the extent of their works, reaching a distance of eighteen miles, completely
encircling Vicksburg. Quite a number of our wounded men have died since they
have left to go North. The severity of the wounds is proven by the fact that
there were over fifty amputations of arms and legs in our brigade alone.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 18
Nothing of
importance or interest occurred.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 18
Drawn up in line of
battle at 4 o'clock this morning. Heavy cannonading along our whole line of
works. I presume if there had been any chance for a charge we could have had
it. Firing continued about an hour. A rebel deserter was brought into our lines
yesterday and gave some information which may have caused the firing.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 18
Paymaster Frazer
paid the regiment to May 1. This made the men feel good and put us all in good
humor with Uncle Sam. Sutlers are here now with the good things of this life in
the way of canned fruits, cheese, butter, etc., etc., and are doing a thriving
business. Many of the men send all the money they can spare to their families
at home.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 18
Having had some
business with the Colonel of the 12th Wisconsin which is stationed on our
extreme right in Sherman's corps, and as near the river as we can get, he
advised me to go over to where the gun boat Cincinnati was sunk in the
Mississippi and from where you could get a splendid view of Vicksburg. He
offered me his field glass and off I started. There was considerable danger in
going as you have to cross an open plain which exposed you to the fire of the
rebel sharp-shooters if you were on horseback, but if you went on foot the
rifle pits protected you. I went on horseback and was fired at several times
but escaped. I was fully repaid for my trouble and risk and staid over two
hours. The Cincinnati was sunk by the rebel batteries and lies partly submerged
near the shore. I went on board of her and while there a rebel shell struck the
water about ten feet from the boat. Vicksburg was in full view; there laid the
city to gain, and which thousands of lives had been sacrificed, and doubtless
thousands more before we could capture it. I could see General Pemberton's, the
rebel commander's headquarters, their hospitals, the court house and other
public buildings, and had a full sight of their water batteries. I started back
home fully satisfied with my visit, dined with the Colonel and started for camp
at once.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 18
Weather very hot.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 18
For some time
General Logan's division of McPherson's corps had been mining under the rebel
Fort Hill, one of the most prominent works and one capable of doing us a good
deal of mischief. It was decided to explode the mine today and if the breach
was sufficient, to go in as far as possible. We were all drawn up in line of
battle to assist Logan or make a diversion in his favor if need be while all
the batteries were to open on the rebel works to keep them engaged. He had 2200
pounds of powder in barrels in the mine but their fort was a strong one being
at least twenty-four feet thick, of clay and sand. About four o'clock the mine
was fired and was in a measure a success. There was no noise but an immense
cloud of dirt, interspersed with bodies of men, thrown high in the air. At the
same time firing from batteries and rifle pits was tremendous. Our men—the 45th
Illinois—rushed into the breach which was made, but a partition of earth some
three or four feet thick was blown up, over which our men fought all afternoon
and night. Numbers were killed and wounded on both sides, but they held their
ground. At night our regiment was ordered out to the advance works in our
front, and which was not more than 40 feet from their works, where we remained
all night and had two men seriously wounded by their hand grenades. To rest was
impossible, as shells from our own and rebel batteries passed over our heads
every few minutes; sometimes the shells would explode prematurely and the
pieces fly among us; our escape was miraculous. We were in direct range of the
different batteries; for instance: There were batteries planted at four
different corners and we are in the center and the firing at each other, beside
the thousands of minie bullets striking all around us, can give one an idea of
how we were situated. We (Ransom Brigade) are also mining a fort in our front
and will soon have it done. We are some 30 feet under ground now.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, pp. 18-9
Everything quiet;
the assault was not successful. Regiment went out on picket duty on the 29th;
out for 24 hours. Nothing occurred.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 19
Regiment under arms
all afternoon. Logan exploded another mine. He blew up quite a large portion of
their works and a number of rebels—seven lit inside our lines dead; one darky
was alive and says he was blown up three miles. No assault made. Our mine not
yet ready. Everthing indicates another general assault soon. Rumor says it will
be on the 4th of July. Weather exceedingly hot.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 19
Nothing of interest
but all hard at work on their mines and approaches. We are now under their fort
and within ten feet of their lines. We have two pieces of artillery which was
carried by hand up to our fort which is only a few feet from theirs. All are
now expecting to assault.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 19
Great excitemenent.
Rebels hung out flag of truce and General Grant has gone to meet General
Pemberton. All are on the qui-vive to know what the terms are and if Grant will
accept or if Pemberton will decline to accept Grant's; if so, look out for
bloody work. Rumors are that Grant has given Pemberton until tomorrow to decide
on his terms.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 19
Pemberton accepted
Grant's terms which the reader of this must look to some history to see what
they are. Orders came to hold ourselves ready to march into Vicksburg.
Tremendous cheering along the whole line and well there might be, for forty-two
such days I never hope to spend again.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 19
