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
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