SOURCE: Osborn Hamiline Oldroyd, A Soldier's Story of the Siege of Vicksburg, p. 54-5
Monday, November 2, 2020
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 16, 1863
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 17, 1863
I was detailed to the charge of a squad of men to guard rebel prisoners in the corral at Logan's headquarters. They were not hard to guard, for they think themselves in pretty good hands, and surely they seem to get better grub here than in their own lines. Some of them are deserters, and upon such I look with contempt. I am ready to share my rations with an honest prisoner, but have no use for a man who enlists in a cause, and then deserts his comrades when they get into a tight place.
If what they say is true, the garrison over there is already familiar with mule meat and scanty meal rations. If they have had to eat mules such as we have killed in the trenches, I pity them, for they are on a tough job. Several cows which I suppose had served families there with milk, we had to kill for browsing too close to our lines.
I am pretty well convinced Pemberton would not hold out much longer but for the help he expects from Johnston. If that, however, is all the hope they have, they might as well surrender at once, for if Johnston should come, he can not do them any good.
A ball struck a little drummer boy a while ago, and he limped off, whimpering: “I wouldn't care a darn, but my other leg has been shot already.” Some of the boys went to his assistance, and then they had to hurry towards the hospital, for the rebels got range of them and began firing quite briskly.
I was quite amused to see one of the prisoners brought in today, eating his supper. We gave him all he could eat, and that was no small amount. But he was certainly a very hungry man, and if he is a fair sample of those remaining in Vicksburg, Uncle Sam's commissary will have to endure quite a burden, for after the surrender, no doubt, Grant will have to feed them all.
_______________
* This projectile, as shown in No. 1, is composed of a cast-iron body. The expanding portion is a papier-mache wad, which being forced onto the cone, is expanded into the rifling of the bore. On issuing from the bore, the wad is blown to pieces, leaving the projectile entirely unincumbered in its flight through the air (No. 2.)
SOURCE: Osborn Hamiline Oldroyd, A Soldier's Story of the Siege of Vicksburg, p. 55-6
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 18, 1863
Aiming at the Court House. |
The cannon are all pointed towards the town, but some of the shells fall far short of it. When these burst in mid-air, we can see a small round cloud of smoke left behind, and then there is a sharp lookout for fragments to be scattered in every direction. Our artillerymen have had such good practice during the siege, that they can generally drop a shell wherever they want to.
Boys at the front have time for sport which is not to be interrupted even by stray shells. I noticed four of our boys playing euchre, when a shell from the enemy came careering just above their heads; but they treated it with entire indifference. Another group I saw playing “seven-up” under a blanket caught at the four corners in the hammers of muskets stuck in the ground, and thereby forming a very good shelter from the sun. A shell burst right over this group, scattering its fragments all around, but even this failed to disturb the game, further than to call forth the timely comment, “Johnny passes.”
A game of euchre, with a shell for trumps. |
SOURCE: Osborn Hamiline Oldroyd, A Soldier's Story of the Siege of Vicksburg, p. 56-8
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 19, 1863
Whitworth Projectile |
SHELL WITH FUSE.—The fuse is graduated on the outside into equal parts, representing seconds and quarter-seconds. In the bottom of this channel is a smooth layer of a composition of lead and tin, with a piece of wick or yarn underneath it. On this is placed a piece of metal. When ready for firing, the dial is gauged at the proper point at which the fuse is to burn through into the shell.
Then each man has had his peculiar view of how a siege like this ought to be conducted—that is, from the standpoint of rank and file. However, we are all agreed that the quiet man in command of our forces is still able to anticipate the requirements of our situation. I call him quiet, for that is just what he is. There is no dash or glitter about him, but he is marked by a steady nerve, and piercing glance that seems to be always on the alert. Many a second lieutenant has fallen a victim to the sharpshooter because of his fresh uniform, while officers of more experience have escaped under slouched hats and old blouses. There seems to be no limit, however, to the experience of some of them.
A cook of the 96th Ohio happened to be cooking beans the other day, when Gen. A. J. Smith, commanding a division of the 13th Army Corps, came around on camp inspection. After being properly saluted by the cook, the general began a colloquy as follows:
Gen. Smith.— What are you cooking?The Cook. —Beans, sir.
General Smith. —How long do you cook beans?
The Cook. —Four hours, sir.
Gen. Smith (with a look of withering scorn).—Four hours! You cook 'em six hours!
That cook’s beans were tender enough that day.
Rained the rebel quarters,
With scream of shot and burst of shell,
And bellowing of the mortars.”
SOURCE: Osborn Hamiline Oldroyd, A Soldier's Story of the Siege of Vicksburg, p. 58-9
Saturday, October 10, 2020
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 10, 1863
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 11, 1863
SOURCE: Osborn Hamiline Oldroyd, A Soldier's Story of the Siege of Vicksburg, p. 49-50
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 12, 1863
SOURCE: Osborn
Hamiline Oldroyd, A Soldier's Story of the Siege of Vicksburg, p.
50-1
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 13, 1863
Shrapnel.—Containing 80 musket balls, fired at Vicksburg.The conception of this missile is due to Lieut. Gen’l Henry Shrapnel, of the English army. Its velocity is about 1,000 feet per second. |
The siege continues with increased fury, and the boom of cannon announces the sacrifice of more lives. Instead of any cessation the artillery plays upon the city almost every moment throughout the day. The variety of the projectiles becomes greater. The shrapnel, I think, must be most formidable to the enemy. It is a shell filled with eighty small balls, which, when the shell is exploded, scatter in every direction. It makes a fearful buzzing sound as it flies—a warning to seek cover, if such can be found. Besides this there are the parrot, cannister, grape and solid shot. The cannister and grape are also cases wherein are enclosed a number of small balls. But the least fragment from an exploded shell is sufficient to wound or kill.
I have a great curiosity to see the court house at Vicksburg. It stands on a hill, and seems to be the target for many cannon. There is a Confederate flag waving from it defiantly. A proud day it will be when we haul it down and raise in its stead the stars and stripes, never to be displaced again. The buildings in the city must, by this time, be pretty well riddled with shot and shell. The women, it seems, did not all leave the city before the bombardment began, and I suppose they have determined to brave it out. Their sacrifices and privations are worthy of a better cause, and were they but on our side how we would worship them.
I
t is rumored in camp that Grant is getting reinforcements from the eastern army. I have a great desire to see them, for while we have always thought them to be no less brave, they are said to be better clothed and equipped than the western boys. In fact, from the eastern army, during the last year, the standing report among western boys has been merely such catch phrases as “Bull Run,”
Thursday, October 8, 2020
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: Sunday, June 14, 1863
SOURCE: Osborn Hamiline Oldroyd, A Soldier's Story of the Siege of Vicksburg, p. 53-4
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 7, 1863
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 8, 1863
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 9, 1863
Digging a mine under Fort Hill, with a cotton car as protection from the enemy's bullets. |
The Yankee Lookout. |
Sheltered from the sun, but not the enemy's shells. |
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 5, 1863
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 6, 1863
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 4, 1863
I hope we shall be able to spend the coming Fourth in the famous city before us, and to have a glorification there over our victories.
“I offer you this toast: Though you have seen many hardships, let me congratulate you on arriving safely so near Vicksburg. May the besieged city fall in time for you and all our boys to take a glass of lager on the Fourth of July; and may the boys of the Twentieth be the first to taste the article they have duly won.
Sunday, August 9, 2020
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 2, 1863
Receiving supplies at Chickasaw Bayou for the army around Vicksburg. |
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 3, 1863
The Bright Side of Siege Life—Camping in the Rear. |
Friday, July 31, 2020
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: June 1, 1863
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Diary of 5th Sergeant Osborn H. Oldroyd: May 25, 1863
Burying the dead that had lain between the Union and Confederate lines for three days. |