GENERAL ORDERS, No. 72.
HDQRS. THIRTEENTH ARMY
CORPS,
Battle-field, in
rear of Vicksburg, May 30, 1863.
COMRADES: As your commander, I am proud to congratulate you
upon your constancy, valor, and successes. History affords no more brilliant
example of soldierly qualities. Your victories have followed in such rapid
succession that their echoes have not yet reached the country. They will
challenge its grateful and enthusiastic applause. Yourselves striking out a new
path, your comrades of the Army of the Tennessee followed, and a way was thus
opened for them to redeem previous disappointments. Your march through
Louisiana, from Milliken's Bend to New Carthage and Perkins' plantation, on the
Mississippi River, is one of the most remarkable on record. Bayous and miry
roads, threatened with momentary inundation, obstructed your progress. All
these were overcome by unceasing labor and unflagging energy. The 2,000 feet of
bridging which was hastily improvised out of materials created on the spot, and
over which you passed, must long be remembered as a marvel. Descending the
Mississippi still lower, you were the first to cross the river at Bruin's
Landing and to plant our colors in the State of Mississippi below Warrenton.
Resuming the advance the same day, you pushed on until you came up to the enemy
near Port Gibson. Only restrained by the darkness of night, you hastened to
attack him on the morning of May 1, and by vigorously pressing him at all
points drove him from his position, taking a large number of prisoners and
small-arms and five pieces of cannon. General Logan's division came up in time
to gallantly share in consummating the most valuable victory won since the
capture of Fort Donelson.
Taking the lead on the morning of the 2d, you were the first
to enter Port Gibson and to hasten the retreat of the enemy from the vicinity
of that place. During the ensuing night, as a consequence of the victory at
Port Gibson, the enemy spiked his guns at Grand Gulf and evacuated that place,
retiring upon Vicksburg and Edwards Station. The fall of Grand Gulf was solely
the result of the victory achieved by the land forces at Port Gibson. The
armament and public stores captured there are but the just trophies of that
victory. Hastening to bridge the South Branch of the Bayou Pierre, at Port
Gibson, you crossed on the morning of the 3d, and pushed on to Willow Springs,
Big Sandy, and the main crossing of Fourteen-Mile Creek, 4 miles from Edwards
Station. A detachment of the enemy was immediately driven away from the crossing,
and you advanced, passed over, and rested during the night of the 12th within 3
miles of the enemy, in large force at the station.
On the morning of the 13th, the objective point of the
army's movements having been changed from Edwards Station to Jackson, in
pursuance of an order from the commander of the department, you moved on the
north side of Fourteen-Mile Creek toward Raymond. This delicate and hazardous
movement was executed by a portion of your number under cover of Hovey's
division, which made a feint of attack in line of battle upon Edwards Station.
Too late to harm you, the enemy attacked the rear of that division, but was
promptly and decisively repulsed.
Resting near Raymond that night, on the morning of the 14th
you entered that place, one division moving on to Mississippi Springs, near
Jackson, in support of General Sherman; another to Clinton, in support of
General McPherson; a third remaining at Raymond, and a fourth at Old Auburn, to
bring up the army trains.
On the 15th, you again led the advance toward Edwards
Station, which once more became the objective point. Expelling the enemy's
pickets from Bolton the same day, you secured and held that important position.
On the 16th, you led the advance, in three columns upon
three roads, against Edwards Station. Meeting the enemy on the way in strong
force, you heavily engaged him near Champion's Hill, and after a sanguinary and
obstinate battle, with the assistance of General McPherson's corps, beat and
routed him, taking many prisoners and small-arms and several pieces of cannon.
Continuing to lead the advance, you rapidly pursued the enemy to Edwards
Station, capturing that place, a large quantity of public stores, and many
prisoners. Night only stopped you.
At day-dawn on the 17th, you resumed the advance, and early
coming upon the enemy strongly intrenched in elaborate works, both before and
behind Big Black River, immediately opened with artillery upon him, followed by
a daring and heroic charge at the point of the bayonet, which put him to rout,
leaving eighteen pieces of cannon and more than 1,000 prisoners in your hands.
By an early hour on the 18th, you had constructed a bridge
across the Big Black, and had commenced the advance upon Vicksburg.
On the 19th, 20th, and 21st you continued to reconnoiter and
skirmish until you had gained a near approach to the enemy's works.
On the 22d, in pursuance of the order from the commander of
the department, you assaulted the enemy's defenses in front at 10 a.m., and
within thirty minutes had made a lodgment and planted your colors upon two of
his bastions. This partial success called into exercise the highest heroism,
and was only gained by a bloody and protracted struggle; yet it was gained, and
was the first and largest success achieved anywhere along the whole line of our
army. For nearly eight hours, under a scorching sun and destructive fire, you
firmly held your footing, and only withdrew when the enemy had largely massed
their forces and concentrated their attack upon you. How and why the general
assault failed, it would be useless now to explain. The Thirteenth Army Corps,
acknowledging the good intentions of all, would scorn indulgence in weak
regrets and idle criminations. According justice to all, it would only defend
itself. If, while the enemy was massing to crush it, assistance was asked for
by a diversion at other points, or by re-enforcement, it only asked what in one
case Major-General Grant had specifically and peremptorily ordered, namely, simultaneous
and persistent attack all along our lines until the enemy's outer works should
be carried, and what, in the other, by massing a strong force in time upon a
weakened point, would have probably insured success.
Comrades, you have done much, yet something more remains to
be done. The enemy's odious defenses still block your access to Vicksburg.
Treason still rules that rebellious city, and closes the Mississippi River
against rightful use by the millions who inhabit its sources and the great Northwest.
Shall not our flag float over Vicksburg? Shall not the great Father of Waters
be opened to lawful commerce? Methinks the emphatic response of one and all of
you is, "It shall be so." Then let us rise to the level of a crowning
trial. Let our common sufferings and glories, while uniting as a band of
brothers, rouse us to new and surpassing efforts. Let us resolve upon success,
God helping us.
I join with you, comrades, in your sympathy for the wounded
and sorrow for the dead. May we not trust, nay, is it not so, that history will
associate the martyrs of this sacred struggle for law and order, liberty and
justice, with the honored martyrs of Monmouth and Bunker Hill?
JOHN A. McCLERNAND,
Major-General,
Commanding.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
24, Part 1 (Serial No. 36), p. 159-61
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