Diary of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Stockton, October 19, 1863

We are at present in the 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 17th Army Corps, General McPherson commanding corps, McArthur's division and Kilby Smith's brigade.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 22

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, Friday, March 20, 1863

I was up at reveille as usual and went down to the ditch. To my surprise I saw a big oak just outside the channel washed up by the roots. The tree was about three feet in diameter. Another of nearly the same size washed out before noon. I went fishing this morning. We can see fish weighing from forty to one hundred pounds, working up against the current. I threw my spear at them, but they were too far off. I saw a laughable incident this evening in front of McPherson's headquarters. Some of the boys were trying to fasten a yawl to a tree and float down to where the fish were showing themselves in an eddy. The first time they missed the tree and went whirlnig into the center of the channel and came very near upsetting. They finally brought it to, and after a good deal of hard work, got it into position for another trial. This time they were successful, caught a projecting limb and pulled themselves into the eddy formed by rushing around the tree. After they had made themselves fast by a long rope, they undertook to get out of the eddy, which proved no easy job, for as soon as one end was pushed into the current the boat would whirl around and back up into its former position. While on the whirl it threw off one man's hat. McPherson and officers and nearly the whole regiment were out watching them, and the cheering was loud enough to raise the dead. It was nearly dark when they got out of their predicament. I worked nearly all day on the company's papers.

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, pp. 46-7

Diary of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Stockton, July 8-11, 1863

McPherson's army corps guard this place (Vicksburg) while Sherman has gone after the rebel General Joe Johnston who is reported as being in the neighborhood of Jackson, Mississippi, with an army. The prisoners here are to be paroled and sent into the Confederacy. My time is taken up with visiting points of interest, particularly the caves in the sides of the hills where the citizens took refuge when they had a bombardment and where many of them slept at night. Many houses show the marks of shells, some being completely riddled, yet I am surprised to see so little damage is done. Some of the caves were made very comfortable, people living in them almost altogether during the whole siege.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 20

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, February 24, 1863

Played ball this forenoon and in the afternoon were detailed to extinguish a fire which destroyed the best part of town. The Post Office, one of the best buildings, was burned. We had dress parade at 4 o'clock. Gen. Logan's address to his troops was read to us. Grant and McPherson were both here today. It is rumored that the "Star of the West" has been captured.

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, p. 41

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, February 28, 1863

We mustered and had regiment inspection this afternoon. Major Peats of Co. K complimented the troops quite highly on their clean guns. The ground is drying off fast. The river is still rising. There is much sickness, and about two burials take place every day. The "Rocket" came up tonight, bringing Gen. McPherson. I heard an adjutant-general say that the Rebs had sunk the "Indianola.”

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, pp. 41-2

Diary of Major Joseph Stockton, June 25, 1863

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

Diary of Major Joseph Stockton, May 15, 1863

Weather warm and roads dusty. Marched over the battlefield of Port Gibson, where McPherson cleaned the rebels out most effectually. Twenty-two miles today.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 14

Diary of Major Joseph Stockton, May 18, 1863

Roads terribly dusty and weather hot. Marched quick time; water scarce, rations reduced, consisting of two pieces of hard tack and half rations of coffee a day since leaving Grand Gulf. Sherman's corps got ahead of us. Reached our long-looked-for destination at last, the rear of Vicksburg. We arrived about dusk a mile outside of the rebel fortifications. Sherman's corps marched to the right of the Jackson Road, the one on which we entered, their right extending to the Mississippi River (north of Vicksburg), McPherson's corps coming next, and Ransom's brigade being in the front. took position on Sherman's left, and McClernand's corps coming in on another road took position on McPherson's left, and at last we had the rebels hemmed in Vicksburg, the goal of our hopes for months past, the object of so many hard marches, the rebel stronghold in the West, the only point that kept the Mississippi River from being free to the North. The 72d Ill. was thrown out as advance guard that night and myself as officer of the guard. Although completely worn out I did not dare to sleep, but kept moving from point to point all night. At one time a party of cavalry came riding along the road on which I had posted some men, and although dressed in our uniform my men would not let them pass until they had sent for me. I recognized one of the officers and permitted them to go through. A large fire was burning in Vicksburg, but we could not discover what it was. We knew there would be bloody work for the morrow, as we would have to assault their works to get into Vicksburg.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 15

Diary of Major Joseph Stockton, April 15, 1863

Landed at Milliken's Bend. General Grant's army is here encamped under the immediate command of General Grant, and under him commanding corps are Generals Sherman, McClernand and McPherson. We are assigned to the latter corps. The camp grounds here are on the plantation, which are only protected by the levees and in the slightest rain are flooded with water. A great deal of sickness among the men, and numerous deaths. The only burial ground is the levee, and you can at almost any hour hear the drum and fife, whose simple music is the only dirge of some poor, brave soldier. I was permitted to go down on the commissary boat on which was General Grant and his staff to witness the running of the Vicksburg batteries of our gunboats. The night was a favorable one, but owing to everything not being ready they did not start. Volunteers were called for to man the transport, and several from our regiment volunteered, but Sergeant Simpson was the only one accepted; there were so many offered.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 12

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, December 24, 1862

On picket guard today. Got my boots half soled. Gen. McPherson passed through here, and Logan's division is coming up and passing through. Our old brigade (Col. Stevenson's) also passed. A train came in a little after dark and was loaded with cotton. The country is stripped of everything and so we are on half rations. All the hogs and live stock have been killed. The Negroes are suffering and I think they would welcome their old masters. There are a great many leaving, a large carload left today. We have poorer fare than at any time since we enlisted.

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, p. 21

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells: November 3, 1862

DUNLAP SPRINGS. We have built a snug log house and last night for the first and probably last time have slept in it; for our company has orders to move down town and act as city guards. There are eight or ten regiments here, some of them new ones from Jackson, Miss. The new regiments, like all new ones, have great confidence in themselves and think the war is to be settled by them and them only. There is an undercurrent of jealousy existing between the old and new troops. The old troops call the new ones "forty dollar men," "bounty men," and "home guards." Last Friday, Oct. 31, we had general review from Gen. McPherson who is here commanding the post. There were twenty regiments, ten thousand men, I should judge, on the field. There is a great forward movement taking place. All the troops started out on the Grand Junction road this morning with the exception of the 43rd, and 17th Ill.. The weather is fine, the days are warm and pleasant, but the nights are very cold and frosty. About once in ten days we have a northeast rainstorm, followed by cold weather and sleet. We are on guard every other day, sometimes every third day.

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, p. 11

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells: November 21, 1862

Our brigade was reviewed by Generals McPherson and Logan this afternoon. Gen. McKean's brigade was reviewed today.

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, p. 13

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells: November 24, 1862

There was grand review this afternoon. Generals McPhesron, Grant and Logan were the review officers. The weather is fine but the nights are very cold.

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, p. 13

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: July 25, 1864

It rained all night! Cloudy and windy to-day.

Gen. Hood corrects his dispatch of Saturday; we captured only 13 guns; but we captured some 18 stand of colors.

HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTA,      

July 23d, 1864.

Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR.

 

The enemy shifted his position on Peach Tree Creek last night, and Gen. Stewart's and Cheatham's corps formed line of battle around the city.

 

Gen. Hardee's corps made a night march, and attacked the enemy's extreme left to-day. About 1 o'clock he drove him from his works, capturing artillery and colors. Gen. Cheatham attacked the enemy, capturing six pieces of artillery.

 

During the engagement we captured about 2000 prisoners.

 

Gen. Wheeler's cavalry routed the enemy in the neighborhood of Decatur, to-day, capturing his camp.

 

Our loss is not yet fully ascertained.

 

Major-Gen. Walker was killed. Brig.-Gens. Smith, Gist, and Mercer were wounded.

 

Prisoners report that Gen. McPherson was killed.

 

Our troops fought with great gallantry.

 

J. B. HOOD, General.

It is certain that a considerable force of the enemy has crossed to the north side of James River; for what purpose is not yet clear.

A detachment of our forces has been defeated near Winchester, by superior numbers, losing 4 guns.

The Dispatch of this morning says:

All accounts received of the engagement at Snicker's represent that the Yankees were badly whipped on that occasion. It is stated that some fifteen hundred of the enemy fell to rise no more, and only six were made prisoners. It is probable that a considerable number were drowned in their attempt to recross the Shenandoah.

Gen. Beauregard wrote to the department a few days ago that the country in the rear of the enemy was filled with their deserters, and suggested that by proclamation or otherwise, desertion should be encouraged. They ought to be welcomed and subsisted, and transported to any point near their own country designated by them. On this the Secretary of War indorsed rather a cold negative. But he went too far—the country must be saved—and the President, while agreeing that no proclamation should be issued, indorsed an emphatic approval of any other means to encourage desertion from the enemy.

My cabbages and turnips (fall) are coming up already.

We had but 13,500 men and 44 pieces artillery in the recent march into Maryland. The enemy say we had 40,000!

Letters are pouring in, denouncing the new schedule of prices, sanctioned by the Secretary, and demanding a prompt modification. The President wrote the Secretary to-day that immediate action is necessary.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 253-5

Lieutenant-General John Bell Hood to James A. Seddon, July 23, 1864

HEADQUARTERS ATLANTA,        

July 23d, 1864

Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretary of War:

The enemy shifted his position on Peach Tree Creek last night, and Gen. Stewart’s and Cheatham’s corps formed line of battle around the city.

Gen. Hardee’s corps made a night march, and attacked the enemy’s extreme left to-day. About one o’clock he drove him from his works, capturing sixteen pieces of artillery and five stands of colors. Gen. Cheatham attacked the enemy, capturing all pieces of artillery.

During the engagement we captured about two thousand prisoners.

Gen. Wheeler’s cavalry routed the enemy in the neighborhood of Decatur to-day, capturing his camp.

Our loss is not yet full ascertained.

Major Gen. Walker was killed. Brig. Gens. Smith, Gist and Mercer were wounded.

Prisoners report that Gen. McPherson was Killed

Our troops fought with great gallantry.

J. B. HOOD, General.

SOURCE: Richmond Dispatch, Richmond Virginia, Monday, July 25, 1864, p. 1

Major-General Edward O. C. Ord to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, July 3, 1863

ORD'S HEADQUARTERS, July 3, 1863.

General GRANT:

In reply to your intimation that if General Pemberton wished an interview he would show a white flag at some specified point, General Bowen stated to General [A. J.] Smith that he knew General Pemberton would be glad to meet General Grant; and General Bowen, on the return of General Smith from you, appointed the point where the Jackson and Vicksburg road crosses the rebel trenches as the place where the white flag would be raised at 3 p.m. This point is in front of General McPherson's. The rebel time is forty eight minutes faster than mine. I will send you my time.

E. O. C. ORD.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 460

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General William T. Sherman, July 3, 1863

GRANT'S HEADQUARTERS, July 3, 1863.

General SHERMAN:

I judge Johnston is not coming to Vicksburg; he must be watched, though. I judge from the fact that I have just received a proposition from Pemberton to appoint three commissioners to arrange terms of capitulation, to save effusion of blood, &c. I reply that the appointment of commissioners is unnecessary, because he could put an end to it by surrender, and be treated with all the respect due prisoners of war. When we go in, I want you to drive Johnston from the Mississippi Central Railroad; destroy bridges as far as Grenada with your cavalry, and do the enemy all the harm possible. You can make your own arrangements and have all the troops of my command, except one corps—McPherson’s, say. I must have some troops to send to Banks, to use against Port Hudson.

U.S. GRANT.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 461

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant: Special Orders, No. 180, July 4, 1863

SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 180.}

HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE TENNESSEE,        

Near Vicksburg, Miss., July 4, 1863.

I. On the surrender of Vicksburg, Major-General Herron will advance one brigade of his division to within the fortifications of the enemy. He will throw out guards to prevent all persons, soldiers or citizens, from entering or leaving the city. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan is assigned temporarily to the command of the city of Vicksburg, and will march his division within the intrenchments of the enemy, to a suitable camp-ground. He will furnish all the guards necessary to prevent the escape of citizens or prisoners from Vicksburg, or the entrance of soldiers and all outside parties into the city. One regiment will be immediately placed on guard in the city, to preserve order, and to prevent pillaging and other destruction of property. Five companies, commanded by a competent field officer, will report at once to Lieut. Col. J. D. Bingham, chief quartermaster, to collect and guard all captured property, and to superintend working parties of such negroes as may be collected and employed in discharging boats, and other labor in the quartermaster's department. No citizens will be permitted to land from steamers until authority may be given hereafter. All the able-bodied negro men in the city will be immediately collected and organized into working parties, under suitable officers. They will at once be set to policing the city and the grounds within the intrenchments. Captain Comstock, chief engineer, will direct the destruction of the outside approaches made to the enemy's works. All necessary details will be made for this purpose by the commander of the Seventeenth Army Corps, either from his pioneer corps, negroes collected, or by details from the ranks. All heavy artillery will be moved into the intrenchments and properly located for defense. Division engineer officers, or, in their absence, division quartermasters, will collect and save all mining-tools belonging to their respective commands.

II. Lieut. Col. William L. Duff, chief of artillery, will immediately collect and take care of all ordnance stores outside of the enemy's works at Vicksburg. He will call on Major-General McPherson and Major-General Herron for such details as he may require in carrying out this order.

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

By order of Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant:

[JNO. A. RAWLINS,]        

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 477

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General James B. McPherson, July 5, 1863

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,        

Near Vicksburg, July 5, 1863.

Maj. Gen. J. B. MCPHERSON,
        Commanding Seventeenth Army Corps:

GENERAL: No enlistment of the negroes captured in Vicksburg will be allowed for the present. All the male negroes we want collected and organized into working parties for the purpose of policing the grounds around the city, unloading steamers, and fitting up the fortifications for our use.

In regard to rebel officers taking their servants with them is one of the conditions, I expressly refused them. After the city was surrendered, however, one of the officers on General Pemberton's staff asked me what I was going to do about servants who were anxious to accompany their masters, remarking that many of them had been raised with their servants, and it was like severing families to part them. I remarked that no compulsory measure would be used to hold negroes. I want the negroes all to understand that they are free men. If they are then anxious to go with their masters, I do not see the necessity of preventing it. Some going might benefit our cause by spreading dissatisfaction among the negroes at a distance by telling that the Yankees set them all free. It is not necessary that you should give yourself any trouble about negroes being enticed away from officers. Every one that loses a negro will insist that he has been enticed off, because otherwise his negro would not leave. As I said before, it was positively refused that the privilege of carrying off private servants should be granted, because I said afterward coercion would not be used to retain servants. It is no reason that the strength of the garrison should be used in preserving a neutrality between our men and the negroes that would enable the Confederate officers [to carry] away their negroes by force.

Forage cannot be issued, at least not more than for one day, to Pemberton’s forces when they leave. A thousand horses, too, looks much more than they could reasonably take under the terms of capitulation.

Very respectfully,

U.S. GRANT.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 479

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General James B. McPherson, July 7, 1863

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,        

Near Vicksburg, July 7, 1863.

Maj. Gen. J. B. MCPHERSON,

        Commanding Seventeenth Army Corps:

Give instruction that no passes are to be given to negroes to accompany their masters in leaving the city. The negroes may be informed that they are free by any one who may choose to give the information, and, if they still wish to go, no force need be used to prevent. In the particular case where I gave the reply that force would not be used to prevent negroes accompanying their masters, the officer said he had a family and children, and could not get along without a nurse; further, that the nurse had been raised in the family and was like one of them, and would take as hard to be separated as would an actual member of the family.

If there is any indication that a suspicious number of blacks are going to accompany the troops out, then all should be turned back except such as are voluntarily accompanying families, not more than one to each family.

Very respectfully,

U. S. GRANT.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 483