Friday, December 25, 1863
The holiday arrived, but the soldiers were in no condition to celebrate. However, their regimental cooks were resourceful and made pies from dried apples, sprinkled some sugar on toast, and worked some culinary magic on the beef. All things considered, the men enjoyed a respectable army Christmas dinner.
Wednesday, December 23, 1863
When the soldiers first arrived on the peninsula, their duties were relatively light. Their time was spent in skirmish drill by bugle signals, gathering shells, bathing, and fishing with seine nets borrowed from the navy.
Not only did their fishing produce many excellent meals, but it was also exciting for the men from Illinois to discover mysterious sea creatures they had never seen before.
For some reason, soon after their arrival they ran out of rations. But, the peninsula was well stocked with sheep, which they butchered, and lived on almost entirely for eight or ten days.
Not only did their fishing produce many excellent meals, but it was also exciting for the men from Illinois to discover mysterious sea creatures they had never seen before.
For some reason, soon after their arrival they ran out of rations. But, the peninsula was well stocked with sheep, which they butchered, and lived on almost entirely for eight or ten days.
Monday, December 21, 1863
Despite the southern location, the weather was very cold. Life in the tents on the sandy beach was not pleasant. At night the wind would howl across the sandy beach. The only available firewood was water-soaked sticks and chunks that had washed ashore. It was not easy to burn, and it was in short supply.
Saturday, December 19, 1863
The soldiers set up their tents and stowed their gear. They had been issued new shelter tents consisting of a small strip of canvas about 4 feet wide and 7 feet long. Today we would call them pup tents. They were barely large enough for one person. These new tents took the place of the larger Sibley and Bell tents that were shared by several men.
The storm finally broke. The sun came out, but the air was very chilly. The men were in much better spirits, partly due to the sunshine, but also the absence of sea sickness.
The storm finally broke. The sun came out, but the air was very chilly. The men were in much better spirits, partly due to the sunshine, but also the absence of sea sickness.
Friday, December 18, 1863
The 130th Illinois Infantry disembarked on De Crow's Point, Texas, which is the headland of the island located between Matagorda Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The island is about 50 miles long, and from one-fourth of a mile to a full mile wide at various points. Technically, the island is a peninsula, as it connects to the mainland to the northeast.
As the peninsula is only a few few feet above sea level, it becomes completely submerged during high water. This happens frequently during severe storms. During one of these storms a few years after the war the peninsula was completely submerged and all the people on it perished in the Gulf.
The peninsula was almost a barren sand-bar. There was very little vegetation, except wild grass, rushes and a few cactus, which grew to a very large size. On the Gulf side of the peninsula, the wind and the tide formed the sand into large dunes.
Although they were almost surrounded by salt-water, they could find drinking water by digging holes two or three feet into the sand.
As the peninsula is only a few few feet above sea level, it becomes completely submerged during high water. This happens frequently during severe storms. During one of these storms a few years after the war the peninsula was completely submerged and all the people on it perished in the Gulf.
The peninsula was almost a barren sand-bar. There was very little vegetation, except wild grass, rushes and a few cactus, which grew to a very large size. On the Gulf side of the peninsula, the wind and the tide formed the sand into large dunes.
Although they were almost surrounded by salt-water, they could find drinking water by digging holes two or three feet into the sand.
Thursday, December 17, 1863
Finally, the storm subsided and the waters of the Gulf of Mexico calmed. This evening smaller vessels came out from Matagorda Bay and through the mouth of the outer island to the Continental. The steamer St. Mary came along side the Continental and tied off to the larger vessel. The men of the 130th Illinois Infantry boarded the smaller steamer and were transported to the island without incident.
Wednesday, December 16, 1863
There was a great deal of excitement overnight. Early this morning, while it was still dark, the line to the ship's anchor broke. The Continental was at the mercy of the waves until the ship was able to get anchored again.
Tuesday, December 15, 1863
After the stormy passage the steamer arrived in sight of Pass Cavallo. As there was no wharf, pier or dock, the steamer dropped anchor. In ideal conditions smaller boats with shallow drafts would come along side the steamer and transport the men and their supplies to the island.
However, the rough seas made this impossible. And so the "Continental" rolled and pitched in the waves. The men could look out over the gulf and see other transport steamers in the same situation.
Monday, December 14, 1863
As the storm continued, it turned much colder. The number of men suffering from sea-sickness grew throughout the day. There were fewer jokes today.
Sunday, December 13, 1863
Late this morning, the 130th Illinois, along with the 48th Ohio regiment, boarded the steamer "Continental" bound for Matagorda Bay, Texas. Sailing on a large body of water like the Gulf of Mexico was going to be a new experience for many of the men from southern Illinois.
The passage down the Mississippi River from New Orleans to the Gulf was very pleasant. On either shore the soldiers viewed broad plantations, with elegant residences surrounded by orange groves. The weather was delightful. The sun was shining brightly in the clear sky, and there was a gentle breeze blowing from the Gulf.
However, all that changed at 5 o'clock when they reached the Gulf.
Both regiments were on the deck enjoying a ride on the ocean waves, when suddenly the bottom seemed to drop out from under them. The waves grew larger, the skies grew dark, and the wind began to blow hard. In less than an hour the majority of the men had gone below, feeling very sick.
The waves were rolling about twice as high as the ship, which would ride up over the wave and down into the trough, before starting up the next wave.
During the night, the groans from the sea-sick could be heard, along with jokes from those who were not affected by the rough seas. The sailors also found much humor in seeing the men so sick.
Friday, December 11, 1863
At 2:00 o'clock this morning, the regiment crossed Berwick Bay into Brashear City. They boarded a train and reached Algiers, opposite New Orleans, at noon.
Here they learned the division was on its way to Texas by way of the Gulf of Mexico. Their final destination was Pass Cavallo, Texas near Matagorda Island. The island is an "outer bank" or "barrier island" seperating the Gulf of Mexico from Matagorda Bay. It is located on the Texas Gulf Coast, about half way between Galveston and Corpus Christi.
Thursday, December 10, 1863
After two full days and two partial days of marching, the regiment reached Berwick Bay today.
Monday, December 7, 1863
The Western Louisiana Campaign came to an end today. All of the regiments in the Division, including the 130th regiment, received orders to return to New Orleans.
The soldiers of the 130th left today and started marching back along the Bayou Teche.
Thursday, November 26, 1863
Sarah Josepha Hale, a 74-year-old magazine editor, wrote a letter to President Lincoln on September 28, 1863, urging him to make the "day of our annual Thanksgiving a National and fixed Union Festival." In past years several states, particularly those in New England, scheduled their own Thanksgiving holiday. But they were on different dates.
In here letter to the President, Hale continued, "You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritive fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution."
Unlike several of his predecessors who ignored her petitions, President Lincoln responded to Mrs. Hale's request immediately. Lincoln's proclamation set the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise" for the entire nation.
And so today, the first national day of Thanksgiving was observed by many of the Union troops stations at New Iberia. The dinner eaten that day was only slightly better than usual. However, public services were held and most of the troops of the Fourth Division of the Thirteenth Corps participated.
Unlike several of his predecessors who ignored her petitions, President Lincoln responded to Mrs. Hale's request immediately. Lincoln's proclamation set the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise" for the entire nation.
And so today, the first national day of Thanksgiving was observed by many of the Union troops stations at New Iberia. The dinner eaten that day was only slightly better than usual. However, public services were held and most of the troops of the Fourth Division of the Thirteenth Corps participated.
A platform was erected in an open field for the speakers. Instrumental music was played by one of the brass bands in the division. All of the speakers expressed their full confidence in the Union cause and their eventual Union victory.
Charles Johnson shared this memory of the service:
At the close of the service all joined in singing the Doxology, and the air rang with a full chorus made up of thousands of male voices.
Wednesday, November 18, 1863
About this time another change was made in the Division. As now arranged the 1st Brigade was commanded by Colonel W. J. Landram, and consisted of the 19th Kentucky, the 83rd and 96th Ohio, and the 60th and 67th Indiana Regiments, and the 17th Ohio Battery. The 2nd Brigade, commanded by Colonel D. P. Grier, consisted of the 77th, 97th and 130th Illinois and the 48th Ohio Regiments, and the Mercantile Battery of Chicago.
Sunday, November 15, 1863
The Union soldiers stationed in and around New Iberia were frequently assigned to foraging parties. While the term "foraging" might bring images of picking berries, the reality was that the Union troops would take what they wanted from surrounding farms, plantations, and homes.
The prairie around New Iberia was dotted with rich plantations, and corn and fodder was found in abundance. The local plantation owners tried every possible way to be exempt from providing supplies to the Union army. They would produce what they termed "Protection Papers," and claim to be foreign citizens.
The Union Army ignored their claims.
The prairie around New Iberia was dotted with rich plantations, and corn and fodder was found in abundance. The local plantation owners tried every possible way to be exempt from providing supplies to the Union army. They would produce what they termed "Protection Papers," and claim to be foreign citizens.
The Union Army ignored their claims.
Tuesday, November 10, 1863
Private William T. Havil from Company C died today in his hometown of Thebes, Illinois.
Wednesday, November 4, 1863
Despite the attack yesterday, the northern troops enjoyed their time in western Louisiana. The fall weather was delightful. The Indian summer almost made thie region a fairy land.
The white cabins of the slaves were in long rows, like villages. The elegant mansions of
the wealthy, with broad verandas encircling the entire house, were located nearby. The orange groves were at the height of their fruit bearing, with the branches bowing low under the weight. The groves were filled with a wonderful fragrance.
Unfortunately, war was taking its toll on this paradise. The old plantations, with their stately mansions, were falling into disrepair. The fences, gates, and ornaments of all kinds were disappearing as the soldiers re-purposed the resources to their benefit.
The white cabins of the slaves were in long rows, like villages. The elegant mansions of
the wealthy, with broad verandas encircling the entire house, were located nearby. The orange groves were at the height of their fruit bearing, with the branches bowing low under the weight. The groves were filled with a wonderful fragrance.
Unfortunately, war was taking its toll on this paradise. The old plantations, with their stately mansions, were falling into disrepair. The fences, gates, and ornaments of all kinds were disappearing as the soldiers re-purposed the resources to their benefit.
Tuesday, November 3, 1863
The first brigade of the Division, while encamped in advance of the main army at New Iberia, was surprised today by the enemy, just as the paymaster was paying the troops. Nearly half of the brigade was captured. The paymaster barely escaped with his funds.
In the coming days, the false alarms were numerous, due in large part to the payday attack. This forced the troops to be in line of battle at 4 o'clock every morning.
In the coming days, the false alarms were numerous, due in large part to the payday attack. This forced the troops to be in line of battle at 4 o'clock every morning.
Friday, October 30, 1863
Private Thomas Johnson was from Sangamon County and assigned to Company B. He died today at New Orleans.
Thursday, October 29, 1863
Today Corporal David Renfrow died at New Iberia, Louisian. He was from Thebes and assigned to Company C.
Sunday, October 25, 1863
Private Samuel White, Jr. from Company F, from Greenville, died today at New Iberia, Louisiana.
Thursday, October 22, 1863
There was quite a bit of excitement in camp, as there was continuous rumors that New Iberia would be attacked. The Confederates were in force at Vermillion Bayou, just 18 or 20 miles to the west. The Union cavalry were watching their movements.
But with their close proximity to New Iberia, the town was in danger. To strengthen the town defenses as much as possible, an extended line of rifle pits was made, and the citizens of New Iberia were forced to help with the construction.
The Union cavalry surrounded and captured a small group of the Confederate's cavalry. The Confederates were brought into town and many of the Union troops at New Iberia went out to the road to look them over as they passed by.
The prisoners were disarmed and rode their horses, but the reins were held by well-armed Union cavalrymen who rode along side.
But with their close proximity to New Iberia, the town was in danger. To strengthen the town defenses as much as possible, an extended line of rifle pits was made, and the citizens of New Iberia were forced to help with the construction.
The Union cavalry surrounded and captured a small group of the Confederate's cavalry. The Confederates were brought into town and many of the Union troops at New Iberia went out to the road to look them over as they passed by.
The prisoners were disarmed and rode their horses, but the reins were held by well-armed Union cavalrymen who rode along side.
Monday, October 19, 1863
The men of the 130th enjoyed the October days spent at New Iberia. The weather was mild and delightful. The foraging parties found plenty of honey, sweet potatoes, chickens and turkeys. Milk was also plentiful - procured from the local inhabitants. They also enjoyed pecans and the oranges that were ripening in the orchards.
Friday, October 16, 1863
During the latter part of 1863 many Negroes enlisted in the Union Army. The enrollment and organization of these men was especially active in the Department of the Gulf. The African-American soldiers were invariably put under white officers.
These officers came mostly from the ranks of regiments that had seen combat. But to secure a commission in this service a considerable amount of knowledge of military tactics was required, and candidates had to pass a rigid exam before a board of experts. Many ambitious young men, who saw little opportunity for promotion in his own regiment, began to study military tactics. They then went before the examiners and later secured a commission.
While stationed at New Orleans many men left the 130th Illinois Infantry in this way. That trend continued in New Iberia this month and a several of the best men in the regiment were lost to promotion.
These officers came mostly from the ranks of regiments that had seen combat. But to secure a commission in this service a considerable amount of knowledge of military tactics was required, and candidates had to pass a rigid exam before a board of experts. Many ambitious young men, who saw little opportunity for promotion in his own regiment, began to study military tactics. They then went before the examiners and later secured a commission.
While stationed at New Orleans many men left the 130th Illinois Infantry in this way. That trend continued in New Iberia this month and a several of the best men in the regiment were lost to promotion.
Wednesday, October 14, 1863
Private Charles Heck died today at Carrollton, Louisiana. He was from Thebes and assigned to Company C.
Sunday, October 11, 1863
The town of Franklin sat along the river and the regiment stopped here for several days. But soon several regiments, including the 130th, pushed on to New Iberia, another town on the Bayou Teche.
Nearly all the inhabitants of this area were French, and many of them could not speak any English. The soldiers found it amusing and curious to hear the "Negroes" speaking in a foreign language, rather than the "slave-speak" they were accustomed to.
The well-to-do people lived in quaint old houses. Before the war some of them were very wealthy. These French were genuine Creoles.
Nearly all the inhabitants of this area were French, and many of them could not speak any English. The soldiers found it amusing and curious to hear the "Negroes" speaking in a foreign language, rather than the "slave-speak" they were accustomed to.
The well-to-do people lived in quaint old houses. Before the war some of them were very wealthy. These French were genuine Creoles.
Wednesday, October 7, 1863
At one time, on the march, the road led throug a light growth of timber and moved a considerable distance away from the Bayou Teche. The marching soldiers had all but forgotten the waterway. Then, all at once the soldiers looked through some small trees and saw a steamboat moving slowly. It looked like it was moving on land through the timber.
The flat shore and the narrow stream all helped to complete the illusion.
The flat shore and the narrow stream all helped to complete the illusion.
Tuesday, October 6, 1863
The region was very level and the land was very fertile. The cypress fences enclosed huge sugar plantations.
Along the bayou they came upon several sugar mills. Many of these were built with bricks. The mills contained expensive machinery. The mills were built on the banks of the bayou so the sugar was transported to the market with the least possible expense.
The bayou was narrow in many places - so narrow a boat couldn't turn around. There were no hills next to it, and so the bayou seemed like nothing more than a great ditch.
Along the bayou they came upon several sugar mills. Many of these were built with bricks. The mills contained expensive machinery. The mills were built on the banks of the bayou so the sugar was transported to the market with the least possible expense.
The bayou was narrow in many places - so narrow a boat couldn't turn around. There were no hills next to it, and so the bayou seemed like nothing more than a great ditch.
Monday, October 5, 1863
Private John Vira from Company I died today in St. Louis. He was from Springfield.
The 130th regiment started up Bayou Teche today. This country was attractive and many delightful
homes were passed. The houses, half hidden in trees, had wide porches and large windows that reached to the floor.
At this time oranges were ripening and many orchards they passed were bending under the weight of fruit. Nearly all the fences were made of cypress. This wood was split into thin board-like pieces and the posts were also cypress with mortises for the horizontal pieces. The fence was very neat, but must have taken a great deal of time and labor to build.
The division halted tonight for dinner, and every man seized one or more pieces of this fence, and
made a fire to heat their coffee pots and toast their slices of salt pork. Nearly every man carried an old tin can that previously contained fruit or oysters. They filled these cans with water and, when it came to a boil, added ground coffee.
They would toast a thin slice of bacon or salt pork on the end of a stick. The fat that dripped off was caught on a hard cracker this became their butter.
The 130th regiment started up Bayou Teche today. This country was attractive and many delightful
homes were passed. The houses, half hidden in trees, had wide porches and large windows that reached to the floor.
At this time oranges were ripening and many orchards they passed were bending under the weight of fruit. Nearly all the fences were made of cypress. This wood was split into thin board-like pieces and the posts were also cypress with mortises for the horizontal pieces. The fence was very neat, but must have taken a great deal of time and labor to build.
The division halted tonight for dinner, and every man seized one or more pieces of this fence, and
made a fire to heat their coffee pots and toast their slices of salt pork. Nearly every man carried an old tin can that previously contained fruit or oysters. They filled these cans with water and, when it came to a boil, added ground coffee.
They would toast a thin slice of bacon or salt pork on the end of a stick. The fat that dripped off was caught on a hard cracker this became their butter.
Sunday, October 4, 1863
Early this morning the 130th Illinois Infantry and boarded the cars for Brashear City on the New Orleans, Opelousas & Western Railroad. The train was made up of open flat cars. When moving over the rough rails the men had to be extremely careful or risk falling overboard.
The 80 miles of country they covered by train ran through swamps, bayous, lagoons and sluggish creeks. It was heavily timbered, and for most of the way, one vast wilderness. They reached Brashear City late tonight.
The 80 miles of country they covered by train ran through swamps, bayous, lagoons and sluggish creeks. It was heavily timbered, and for most of the way, one vast wilderness. They reached Brashear City late tonight.
Saturday, October 3, 1863
The men of the 130th Illinois Infantry had spent more than a month at Carrollton. They had taken advantage of numerous opportunities to take in the sighs, and underwent two reviews and numerous inspections.
But today it was time to move on and become a part of the Western Louisiana campaign. This evening they took a steamer down the river about 10 miles and landed on the opposite of the river at the railroad station at Algiers.
But today it was time to move on and become a part of the Western Louisiana campaign. This evening they took a steamer down the river about 10 miles and landed on the opposite of the river at the railroad station at Algiers.
Monday, September 28, 1863
Private James Pullen deserted today. He was from Blueville and assigned to Company D.
James M. Clark was from Harrisonville and Company A. He died today in St. Louis.
Wednesday, September 16, 1863
Private Alex C. Dickerson died today at St. Louis. He was from Company B and Sangamon County.
Monday, September 14, 1863
Private Celestine Goffnett died today at Carrollton, Louisiana. He was from Sangamon County and assigned to Company B.
Saturday, September 5, 1863
Corporal John Patterson died today in Carrollton, Louisiana. He was from Greenville and assigned to Company F (same Company as William Fleming).
Friday, September 4, 1863
General Grant reviewed the Thirteenth Army Corps today, along with General Banks and Adjutant General Thomas. It was an imposing display, with at least fifteen thousand troops on review, including infantry, cavalry and artillery. Again, the men assumed this meant they would soon receive orders to march, but they were again happily disappointed.
Thursday, September 3, 1863
Sergeant John R. Cox died today at Carrollton, Louisiana. He was from Harrisonville and assigned to Company A
Wednesday, September 2, 1863
The men of the 130th quickly fell into a routine in the camp at Carrollton and the continued to enjoy their rest and lack of action. Charles Johnson described it this way:
The monotony of camp life at Carrollton was, in part, relieved by frequent visits to the city of New Orleans, with which there was convenient railway connection. Those in command were lenient in this direction, and hence passes were easily procured.The men took in all the points of interest: the battleground where the English forces met with a crushing defeat in 1815, the beautiful parks and cemeteries in and around the city, Lake Pontchartrain, etc. They generally had a good time and at times must have felt like they were on a holiday vacation, rather than in midst of the Civil War.
Saturday, August 29, 1863
Soon after their arrival, the men of the Thirteenth Army Corps received orders to be ready to march on twelve hours' notice. Today they had a review on a small scale before General Banks, and the men of the 130th expected they would soon take up the line of march. However, they were happily disappointed.
Friday, August 21, 1863
Corporal Thomas Reilly, from Waterloo, died todayy at Vicksburg. He was from Company A.
Wednesday, August 19, 1863
After a pleasant trip down the Mississippi River, the 130th Illinois Infantry landed at Carrollton, Louisiana. They set up camp on open plat of land about 5 miles above New Orleans. They expected to rest, recuperate and have a grand review, in preparation of future movements. Most of the troops that had previously been assigned in this vicinity had been sent forward. So, the men of the Thirteenth Army Corps pretty much had the run of the town.
Wednesday, August 19, 1863
Private James Parrott, from Greenville, and assigned to Company F, died today in St. Louis.
Thursday, August 13, 1863
The 130th Illinois Infantry was ordered to New Orleans today. Over the next several days the regiment made preparations and then had an uneventful riverboat ride down the Mississippi River.
Friday, August 7, 1863
The Corps was transferred to
the Department of the Gulf today. This foreshadowed orders that were to come in the next week.
Wednesday, July 29, 1863
Private James A. Cochran, was from Sangamon County and assigned to Company B. He drowned in the Mississippi River today.
Tuesday, July 28, 1863
Private Sylvanus W. Britton, died today in Memphis. He had been assigned to Company H and was from Claremont.
The 13th Army Corps was reorganized, with Major General Ord still in command.
The 130th Illinois was assigned to the Second Brigade of the 4th Division, commanded by General Stephen G. Burbridge. With them were the 77th Illinois, 97th Illinois, 48th Ohio, 19th Kentucky, and the Mercantile Battery of Chicago.
General A.J. Smith, who had been the division commander for over seven months, was sent north to assume new duties. However, he would cross paths with these troops again next year.
The 13th Army Corps was reorganized, with Major General Ord still in command.
The 130th Illinois was assigned to the Second Brigade of the 4th Division, commanded by General Stephen G. Burbridge. With them were the 77th Illinois, 97th Illinois, 48th Ohio, 19th Kentucky, and the Mercantile Battery of Chicago.
General A.J. Smith, who had been the division commander for over seven months, was sent north to assume new duties. However, he would cross paths with these troops again next year.
Monday, July 27, 1863
Corporal James M. Gum from Baden died at Memphis from wounds. He was assigned to Company E.
Sunday, July 26, 1863
Charles Johnson shared an amazing story about an accident on the Vicksburg riverfront:
At the wharf in front of Vicksburg were always a number of steamboats engaged in receiving and discharging cargoes. About 10 A.M. one day a terrific explosion was heard in the direction of Vicksburg, and looking toward the steamboat landing, an immense column of smoke and debris of all kinds was seen rising in the air; in a moment this spread out and looked precisely like a huge mushroom. It was at once conjectured that a
steamboat had blown up, and as a detail of men had been made from our regiment that morning for duty at the wharf, our surgeon at once called for the ambulance, and in this we drove rapidly to the scene of the accident, and upon arriving there found that a steamboat loaded with ammunition had blown up. Part of the ammunition consisted of concussion shells. A case of these, it was supposed, had fallen through the gangway from the deck of the steamer to the bottom of the hold, when an explosion followed that immediately involved all the ammunition on the boat.
Upon the wharf several dead bodies were seen lying upon the pavement, and all around were pieces of the boat and debris of all kinds that at the moment of explosion
had been thrown in every direction. A number were killed outright, some were seriously wounded, others mortally so, and several on the boat were blown out in the river and afterwards swam ashore, and thus escaped with their lives. One man from our regiment was instantly killed, and, although some eight or ten from the same organization were assisting in handling the ammunition, all but the one happened at the moment to be
on shore, and thus escaped.
Saturday, July 25, 1863
The weather was very hot, but the soldiers caught the occasional cool breeze off the nearby river. The men had tents or built small sheds and other shelters to protect them from the hot sun.
Their duties were light compared to the previous several months. Each company had drill at 7 o'clock in the morning, and dress parade at 6 o'clock in the evening. The rest of the time they enjoyed themselves as much as possible.
Their duties were light compared to the previous several months. Each company had drill at 7 o'clock in the morning, and dress parade at 6 o'clock in the evening. The rest of the time they enjoyed themselves as much as possible.
Thursday, July 23, 1863
Soon after their return to Vicksburg, the 130th regiment set up their camp on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, about two miles below the city. After several weeks of intense combat, they were now permitted to rest and recuperate for a time.
Sunday, July 19,1863
The men of the 130th, along with the other Union troops, began their long march back to Vicksburg. However, this time the march was at a much more leisurely pace, as they were not pursing their enemy.
They would again cross much of the same ground they fought for in mid-May, and pay their respects to their fallen comrades.
They would again cross much of the same ground they fought for in mid-May, and pay their respects to their fallen comrades.
Friday, July 17, 1863
The siege of Jackson progressed steadily over the last few days. There was the occasional attack by the Confederates or a charge by some part of the Union line. But the Union lines were drawing closer and closer around the Confederate works.
The Federals believed they would soon have the Confederates surrounded. General Johnston, fearing such a result, took the precaution to evacuate the city last night, and the Confederates crossed the Pearl River on the East and made their escape.
This morning the Union army realized their enemy had fled and so they marched into Jackson, and took formal possession.
The Federals believed they would soon have the Confederates surrounded. General Johnston, fearing such a result, took the precaution to evacuate the city last night, and the Confederates crossed the Pearl River on the East and made their escape.
This morning the Union army realized their enemy had fled and so they marched into Jackson, and took formal possession.
Monday, July 13, 1863
Private William Bentldy, from the 77th Illinois Infantry, described the siege this way:
The siege of Jackson began, properly on the 13th of July, our lines having been established the two preceding days. The Seventy-Seventh occupied a position supporting Gen. Lawler's Brigade. We were within easy range of the rebel guns, and the shells would crash through the trees and burst over our heads, and we would then hear the old familiar sounds, "lay down," "grab a root," etc.
Saturday, July 11, 1863
The Union forces continued to organize their lines around Jackson today. Also, the 130th Illinois Infantry conducted reconnaissance to Pearl River today.
Friday, July 10, 1863
The Union forces continued their pursuit of the Confederates, with an occasional skirmish at the front of the column. But there was no major battle. The Southerners reached Jackson and sought shelter with the city's defenses. Today the Northerners began organize their lines around the city.
Tuesday, July 7, 1863
The march resumed this morning. Soon the soldiers of the 13th Army Corps passed over the battle ground of Champion Hills where many of the regiments suffered heavy casualties just seven weeks earlier. They saw evidence of the May 16th battle from a perspective they could not see during the conflict.
While the 130th Illinois Infantry was not heavily involved in the Champion Hills battle, they surely felt the solemn mood of today's march. All around was evidence of the fierce conflict. Every tree, log and bush was scarred and torn up by the battle.
Many of the soldiers in the other regiments had friends and companions whose graves they searched fior to pay their last respects. All was quiet. The graves were arranged along the summit of the hill.
The battlefield was soaked with the blood of both armies. The Confederates lost nearly 6,000 in killed, wounded and missing. The Union loss was 429 killed, 1,842 wounded and 189 missing.
Tonight the regiments in the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Army Corps formed lines of battle, expecting an engagement in the morning, as the enemy was only a short distance in front of them. The line occupied by the Seventy-Seventh, was in a cornfield. The corn was in good roasting condition, and it was not long before the soldiers were enjoying their meal.
They then cut the corn stalks off at the roots and laid the stalks lengthwise in the furrows. It made a comfortable bed until the skies let loose with a downpour in the middle of the night. The boys of the 77th awoke to find the high water-mark about half-way up their sides. They pulled their bed and bedding out of the furrow and laid them on the corn row ridges where they tried to sleep for the rest of the night.
While the 130th Illinois Infantry was not heavily involved in the Champion Hills battle, they surely felt the solemn mood of today's march. All around was evidence of the fierce conflict. Every tree, log and bush was scarred and torn up by the battle.
Many of the soldiers in the other regiments had friends and companions whose graves they searched fior to pay their last respects. All was quiet. The graves were arranged along the summit of the hill.
The battlefield was soaked with the blood of both armies. The Confederates lost nearly 6,000 in killed, wounded and missing. The Union loss was 429 killed, 1,842 wounded and 189 missing.
Tonight the regiments in the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Army Corps formed lines of battle, expecting an engagement in the morning, as the enemy was only a short distance in front of them. The line occupied by the Seventy-Seventh, was in a cornfield. The corn was in good roasting condition, and it was not long before the soldiers were enjoying their meal.
They then cut the corn stalks off at the roots and laid the stalks lengthwise in the furrows. It made a comfortable bed until the skies let loose with a downpour in the middle of the night. The boys of the 77th awoke to find the high water-mark about half-way up their sides. They pulled their bed and bedding out of the furrow and laid them on the corn row ridges where they tried to sleep for the rest of the night.
Sunday, July 5, 1863
For forty-six long weary days and nights the men of the 130th Illinois Infantry participated in the siege on Vicksburg. They had charged upon the works, dug tunnels under the works, stood on the picket lines and worked in the trenches. Yet these men, along with the whole 9th, 13th, and 15th Army Corps, were not permitted to enter the city.
Instead, they they were again under marching orders. They expected to move yesterday morning at 6 o'clock, but for some reason the forward movement did not begin until this morning. By 8 o'clock the entire column was in motion.
The expedition, commanded by General Sherman, started after Confederate General Joe Johnston who, during the siege, had been threatening Grant from the rear and on the line of the Big Black River.
Under a broiling hot July sun the Union soldiers took up the line of march and followed the Confederates to Jackson, Mississippi. The weather was excessively hot and many of the men fainted and fell out of the column. They were not in marching shape, as they had not done any marching for the past several weeks. Also, water was very scarce.
William Wiley, from the 77th Illinois Infantry, recalled the difficult conditions they faced:
Instead, they they were again under marching orders. They expected to move yesterday morning at 6 o'clock, but for some reason the forward movement did not begin until this morning. By 8 o'clock the entire column was in motion.
The expedition, commanded by General Sherman, started after Confederate General Joe Johnston who, during the siege, had been threatening Grant from the rear and on the line of the Big Black River.
Under a broiling hot July sun the Union soldiers took up the line of march and followed the Confederates to Jackson, Mississippi. The weather was excessively hot and many of the men fainted and fell out of the column. They were not in marching shape, as they had not done any marching for the past several weeks. Also, water was very scarce.
William Wiley, from the 77th Illinois Infantry, recalled the difficult conditions they faced:
We were marched at a very rapid pace as Gen Sherman was trying to steal a march on Gen Johnson before he learned of the fall of Vicksburg. As the day got very hot and the road terribly dusty and water was very scarce and the boys being rather soft on the march after lying in the trenches around Vicksburg so long.The first part of column reached the spot selected for the camp around the middle of the afternoon, and the rest of the column continued to come in until midnight. They would spend tomorrow, July 6th, resting in this camp.
Saturday, July 4, 1863
After a siege of 46 days, Vicksburg surrendered this morning. At the agreed upon time of 10 o'clock, the various Confederate units moved outside and stacked their arms. Logan's division was the first to enter the city, and before noon the Flag of the United States flew over the Vicksburg courthouse.
The work of paroling the prisoners was completed as quickly as possible. The total amount of surrendered people and goods:
31,220 Prisoners captured in Vicksburg
5,000 Citizen Prisoners
1,500 Women and Children
18,000 Prisoners fit for duty
13,220 Sick and wounded Prisoners
188 Siege Guns
150 Field Pieces
300 Rounds of ammunition per gun
35,000 Stands of small arms (good)
30,000 Shot Guns, Squirrel Rifles, etc.
4,000 Tents
1,500 Mules
1,000 Horses
200 Freight Cars
30 Locomotives
The losses of the Union army during the siege, including the assaults on May 19 and 22:
763 killedThe Confederate reports of casualties are incomplete. Returns showed the losses from May 1 to July 3, as 1,260 killed, 3,572 wounded and 4,227 captured, though the whole number was probably close to 12,000.
3,746 wounded
162 missing
The fall of Vicksburg opened the Mississippi River to the Union Armies, and cut the Confederacy in half. Combined with Lee's defeat at Gettysburg today, July 4, 1863 marked the turning point in the fortunes of the Confederacy.
Friday, July 3, 1863
About 10 o'clock this morning white flags were displayed over the Confederate works and the hostilities along that portion of the line ceased. Soon General Bowen and Colonel Montgomery rode under another white flag towards the Union lines. They brought a letter from General Pemberton to General Grant, which proposed a truce and a meeting of three representatives from each army to arrange for the terms of Vicksburg's surrender.
These terms were subsequently modified to permit each brigade of the Confederate army to march to the front of the position occupied by it and stack arms, after which the men were to return to the inside of the works, where they were to remain until all were paroled.
General Grant replied that Pemberton could "stop the useless effusion of blood" at any time, by unconditionally surrendering the city. He guaranteed the Southern soldiers would be treated with all the respect due to prisoners of war. But he noted there was no need for a meeting of representatives to arrange for terms of capitulation, because he had no terms other than unconditional surrender.
With his letter of reply Grant also sent a verbal message, asking Pemberton to meet him between the lines at 3 o'clock, that afternoon.
At 3 o'clock a single shot from the Union batteries was answered by a reply from the rebel works. General Pemberton emerged slowly from his lines, and General Grant rode through an opening in the Union trenches. Other officers present were General McPherson and General A. J. Smith on the Union side and General Bowen and Colonel Montgomery representing the Confederates. At that meeting it was agreed a truce would continue as long as the discussions continued. General Grant promised to give Pemberton his final propositions by 10 o'clock tonight.
After the meeting Grant called his commanders together, and after consultation with them, sent a letter to Pemberton:
"In conformity with agreement of this afternoon I will submit the following proposition for the surrender of the city of Vicksburg, public stores, etc. On your accepting the terms proposed I will march in one division as a guard, and take possession at 8 a.m. tomorrow. As soon as rolls can be made out and paroles signed by officers and men, you will be allowed to march out of our lines, the officers taking with them their side arms and clothing, and the field, staff, and cavalry officers one horse each. The rank and file will be allowed all their clothing, but no other property. If these conditions are accepted, any amount of rations you may deem necessary can be taken from the stores you now have, and also the necessary cooking utensils for preparing them. Thirty wagons also, counting two-horse or mule teams as one, will be allowed to transport such articles as cannot be carried along. The same conditions will be allowed to all sick and wounded officers and soldiers as fast as they become able to travel. The paroles for these latter must be signed, however, whilst officers present are authorized to sign the roll of prisoners."
These terms were subsequently modified to permit each brigade of the Confederate army to march to the front of the position occupied by it and stack arms, after which the men were to return to the inside of the works, where they were to remain until all were paroled.
Wednesday, July 1, 1863
The Union forces exploded a mine today in a tunnel under the Confederate works. But no attempt was made to charge the works.
Rumors of the impending fall of Vicksburg began to spread through the Union lines. As the Fourth of July, the 87th anniversary of American Independence, drew nearer, a grand, final and successful assault would be made on the rebel works.
General Grant had learned from an intercepted message that General Johnston's was to create a diversion on July 7, in order to give the forces at Vicksburg a chance to cut their way out. Grant, therefore began to make plans for a full assault on the 6th.
By this time the covered tunnels had been run up close to the Confederate's works in a number of places. The tunnels were now being widened to permit the Union troops to pass through four abreast. Materials for crossing the ditches were also collected.
All this time a bombardment had been kept up on the city by the gunboats in the Mississippi River.
General Pemberton called on his division commanders today, asking for information "as to the condition of your troops, and their ability to make the marches and undergo the fatigues necessary to accomplish a successful evacuation." Two of the generals were outspoken in favor of surrender, and the other two expressed the opinion that any attempt to evacuate would prove a failure.
Rumors of the impending fall of Vicksburg began to spread through the Union lines. As the Fourth of July, the 87th anniversary of American Independence, drew nearer, a grand, final and successful assault would be made on the rebel works.
General Grant had learned from an intercepted message that General Johnston's was to create a diversion on July 7, in order to give the forces at Vicksburg a chance to cut their way out. Grant, therefore began to make plans for a full assault on the 6th.
By this time the covered tunnels had been run up close to the Confederate's works in a number of places. The tunnels were now being widened to permit the Union troops to pass through four abreast. Materials for crossing the ditches were also collected.
All this time a bombardment had been kept up on the city by the gunboats in the Mississippi River.
General Pemberton called on his division commanders today, asking for information "as to the condition of your troops, and their ability to make the marches and undergo the fatigues necessary to accomplish a successful evacuation." Two of the generals were outspoken in favor of surrender, and the other two expressed the opinion that any attempt to evacuate would prove a failure.
Thursday, June 25, 1863
Today a tunnel under the Confederate works was completed, and a mine was placed at the far end. It was charged with a ton of gun powder. Two regiments were stationed under cover to charge through the breach, and at 3 o'clock the fuse was lit.
The explosion was a success and the two regiments rushed into the crater, which they held for 24 hours. However, they were driven out by hand grenades thrown from behind the second line of works near the rear of the Confederate fort.
One soldier in the 77th Illinois described the day like this:
The explosion was a success and the two regiments rushed into the crater, which they held for 24 hours. However, they were driven out by hand grenades thrown from behind the second line of works near the rear of the Confederate fort.
One soldier in the 77th Illinois described the day like this:
The explosion of the mine was the signal for the opening of the artillery of the entire line. The left Division of Gen. McPherson's Seventeenth, or centre Corps, opened first, and discharges were repeated along the left through Gen. Ord's Thirteenth Corps and Herron's extreme 'left Division,' until the sound struck the ear like the mutterings of distant thunder. Gen. Sherman on the right, also opened his artillery about the same time, and occupied the enemy's attention along his front. Every shell struck the parapet, and bounding over, exploded in the midst of the enemy's forces beyond. The scene at this time was one of the utmost sublimity. The roar of artillery, rattle of small arms, the cheers of the men, flashes of light, wreaths of pale blue smoke over different parts of the field, the bursting of shell, the fierce whistle of solid shot, the deep boom of the mortars, the broadsides of the ships of war, and added to all this, the vigorous replies of the enemy, set up a din which beggars all description.
Tuesday, June 23, 1863
Private William Wiley from the 77th Illinois described the Union efforts to tunnel into the Confederate forts.
Heavy details were mady each day to work in the trenches and do picket duty in the trenches already dug. We soon got our trenches up so near to the rebel forts that they could fire down on our workmen from the top of their works. But our Yankee ingenuity overcame this difficulty by making long rollers or tubes of bamboo canes about as large as sugar hogheads but longer and filling them with cotton and rolling them in front of us as a breast work. Pushed by hand by Union soldiers digging approach trenches, these large, barrel-shaped devices were known as sap rollers.To conserve ammunition, Confederate General Pemberton restricted the firing of rebel cannons. To escape the Union shelling, Vicksburg residents dug caves in the hillside for shelter.
Sunday, June 21, 1863
The mining operations carried on each day with steady success. The mining/tunneling was considered so important that the utmost secrecy was observed. Guards were placed at the entrance leading to the mine, and non one under the rank of general was allowed to pass except the engineers and workmen carrying on the operations. These workmen were experienced miners detailed from the different regiments for the express purpose of tunneling.
Friday, June 19, 1863
Towards the end of the siege, J. W. Spurr, Company B, 145th Illinois Infantry Volunteers, had an amazing adventure. Chalres Johnson told the story:
Spurr somehow managed to get possession of an old Confederate uniform and going to the Mississippi River at the extreme left of our lines went in the water during a heavy rainstorm after night and swam north, past the pickets of both friend and foe. Then, upon going ashore he at once went to some Confederates who were gathered about a campfire and engaged them in conversation. Later he left them and went to a house and asked for something to eat which was refused in consequence of the fact that, at that particular time, eatables in Vicksburg were at a very high premium. Finally, however, with the persuasive influence of a five-dollar bill both food and lodging for the time being were secured.
Young Spurr's hostess was an Irish woman, who was found to be a Union sympathizer, and who proved her fidelity by warning her guest that he was being watched. Consequently, after spending three days in the beleaguered city the daring adventurer, after night, found his way to the river's bank south of the city, went in the water and swam and floated down past the pickets of foe and friend alike, and upon reaching the Union lines was promptly arrested, but upon establishing his identity was as promptly released.
It is, perhaps, not too much to say that this feat had few, if indeed any, parallels in either army during the whole period of the Civil War's four years' history. That an eighteen-year-old boy, on his own intiative and impelled by nothing save curiosity and innate dare-deviltry, should plan, undertake and successfully execute such a) hazardous feat as that of young Spurr, is hard to believe.
Thursday, June 4, 1863
Private Jesse Blount from Blueville died today at Vicksburg. He was from Company D.
Tuesday, June 2, 1863
Private Daniel N. Dodd was killed today in Vicksburg. He was assigned to Company D and from Blueville.
Thursday, May 28, 1863
The Union army began the work of entrenching itself around Vicksburg. During the siege nearly 12 miles of trenches and 89 batteries were constructed. These batteries included 248 cannons.
A few heavy siege-guns were brought up from the gunboats and worked by naval crews.
The terrain between the lines made it easy to dig trenches and construct covered runs up to and even under the enemy's works. They would cover the trenches with cane and heavy logs, which provided cover for the Union soldiers to move.
To provide cover while they advanced the trench, the Union soldiers made "sap rollers" - a large bundle of logs tied together into a roll. This could then be rolled forward as the trench was dug.
In addition to the trenches moving forward towards Vicksburg, fortifications were also built in the rear. This was because Confederate General Joe Johnston was expected from that direction with a large army, in an effort to stop the siege.
To provide cover while they advanced the trench, the Union soldiers made "sap rollers" - a large bundle of logs tied together into a roll. This could then be rolled forward as the trench was dug.
In addition to the trenches moving forward towards Vicksburg, fortifications were also built in the rear. This was because Confederate General Joe Johnston was expected from that direction with a large army, in an effort to stop the siege.
Monday, May 25, 1863
Private Solomon W. Dodd died today. He was from Pocahontas and assigned to Company E. He died at James Plantation, Louisiana.
Sergeant James B. Johnson was from Springfield and assigned to Company B. He died sometime this month after being wounded at Vicksburg.
Saturday, May 23, 1863
After yesterday's assault failed, the Union Army's next option was to being a siege of the city, including tunneling under the enemy.
But first, both sides had the unpleasant task of collecting and burying the dead. Many soldiers from both sides had fallen between the lines. A suspension of hostilities was agreed upon and the men of the two armies met and mingled and chatted on a friendly basis as they gathered their dead comrades. As soon as the work was done, the soldiers returned to their respective lines and the work of war resumed.
Today two more soldiers of the 130th Illinois Infantry died. Private Henry J. Rance, Company B, from Sangamon County died in Vicksburg. Recruit Benjamin S. Banks, Company H, from Bridgeport died in Memphis from his wounds.
Friday, May 22, 1863
Despite the failure of the assault a few days earlier, the Union soldiers believed the Confederate works at Vicksburg could be taken by assault. The preparations for this morning's assault were so complete the corps commanders all set their watches by Grant's so that all would begin at exactly the same moment.
Nearly half the men of the 77th Illinois were either killed or wounded, and all were exhausted from the day's fight. At about six o'clock, the enemy rallied, made a rush with fixed bayonets, and for a few seconds appeared to have the upper hand. The men of the 77th fell back in confusion, but only about 12 feet. Then Colonel Grier, Lieutenant Colonel Webb and Major Hotchkiss of the 77th, and Colonel Niles of the 130th, waved their swords and rallied their men who opened upon the enemy and by a brilliant charge drove them back.
(Editor's Note: There were numerous battles up and down the line today that deserve volumes of commentary. However, my focus will be on the Union assault on the Railroad Redoubt. That is where the 130th Illinois Infantry was at.)
The Railroad Redoubt was a Confederate earthen fortification built to protect a vital entrance to Vicksburg - the Southern Railroad. The tracks ran east from Vicksburg to Jackson, and then to the rest of the South.
The morning weather was clear and calm. But at
eight o'clock the Union artillery opened all along the lines. Additionally, the gunboats on the river began their barrage of the city. It's estimated that at least 800 Federal cannons were firing non-stop between eight and twelve o'clock.
At ten o'clock the entire line was
ordered to charge the rebel works with bayonets fixed. Landram's brigade, which included the 130th Illinois and 77th Illinois regiments was drawn
up in line of battle just behind the brow of a hill over which their charge was
to be made. On the next hill was the Railroad Redoubt. Between the two hills was a deep ravine filled with fallen timber
and thick undergrowth of brush, brambles and cane.
The two hours of cannonading had breached the point of the Railroad Redoubt and partially filled the ditch in front with earth.
The two hours of cannonading had breached the point of the Railroad Redoubt and partially filled the ditch in front with earth.
(Editor's Note: I visited the Railroad Redoubt in September of 2011 and posted some pictures in this album. The pictures don't do the Railroad Redoubt justice. The terrain was much more severe than it it looks: https://picasaweb.google.com/112427832012627024688/20110918CivilWarSites#)
At ten o'clock the order was given to move forward and the men of the 130th, along with the other regiments, moved up and over the brow of the hill. As they crested the brow of the hill they were greeted with a hail storm of muskets and shells from the left, right and front.
They continued down into the ravine filled with fallen
timber and brush, and started up the other side. Still under a tremendous Confederate fire, the Union troops were falling all around. As one soldier in the 77th noted:
Still up the hill we pressed, through the brambles and brush, over the dead and dying -- up, up we struggled, over logs, into ditches, clinging here to a bush to keep from falling backwards, and there to a thorny bramble -- oh! that was an half hour which may God grant we shall not be called upon to experience its like again.
The 77th and 130th were part of Landram's brigade. They were in reserve, and followed Lawler's brigade toward the Railroad Redoubt. Two regiments of Lawlor's brigade, the 21st and 22nd Iowa, charged up the hill and gained the ditch in front of the fort. Sergeant Joseph Griffith, with a small party, entered the works and engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Nearly all of Griffith's men were killed.
The fort was a double work, with a separate inside chamber. The Confederates fell back to the stronger position, rallied, and attacked. The Iowa troops were unable to hold the fort, though the flag of the 22nd waved over the parapet for the rest of the day.
About this same time, the 77th Illinois reached the fort. They were out of breath and had only a portion of their original numbers from just 30 minutes earlier. A dash was made for the fort and some of the men from the 77th went over into the ditch in front of the fort and a few got through a breach in the works.
As the southerners charged from the rear of the fort, the 77th Illinois regiment planted their flag upon the rampart. Fifteen or twenty minutes after reaching the fort, the 48th Ohio and 130th Illinois came to the support of the 77th Illinois. The flag of the 130th Illinois was planted within about 10 feet of the fort. The battle then raged on the rest of the day.
Nearly half the men of the 77th Illinois were either killed or wounded, and all were exhausted from the day's fight. At about six o'clock, the enemy rallied, made a rush with fixed bayonets, and for a few seconds appeared to have the upper hand. The men of the 77th fell back in confusion, but only about 12 feet. Then Colonel Grier, Lieutenant Colonel Webb and Major Hotchkiss of the 77th, and Colonel Niles of the 130th, waved their swords and rallied their men who opened upon the enemy and by a brilliant charge drove them back.
By nightfall, the Union assault had failed up and down the entire line. In fact, the Railroad Redoubt was the only portion of the Confederate line that was breached and occupied by Union soldiers today. Tonight the the Union troops fell back to their original position and prepared for the siege.
Nine soldiers from the 130th Illinois Infantry were killed in today's assault:
Recruit Henry B. Drake, Company E, Greenville
Private William Jones, Company C, Cairo
Private Charles Beverly, Company D, Blueville
Private David Jessup, Company D, Buckhart
Private Peter P. Peters, Company D, Blueville
Private William H. Balch, Company E, Greenville
Private John W. Davis, Company F, Bond County
Captain William M. Colby, Company F, Greenville
Private Thomas W. Hynes, Jr., Company F, Greenville
Thursday, May 21, 1863
This evening regular rations were distributed to the Union troops, many of who had been without bread and coffee for two weeks or more. These came from a base of supplies established on the Yazoo River, on Sherman's right. Initially after the invasion into Mississippi, Warrenton, about six miles below Vicksburg, had been used as a supply base. But this new base upon the Yazoo gave direct communication with the North and its limitless supplies.
Also this evening, General Grant sent the following order to his corps commanders, and in order to insure its prompt execution, it was also communicated to the commanders of divisions and brigades:
Also this evening, General Grant sent the following order to his corps commanders, and in order to insure its prompt execution, it was also communicated to the commanders of divisions and brigades:
HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD
May 21, 1863.
GENERAL: -- A simultaneous attack will be made tomorrow, at 10 o'clock A.M., by all the army corps of this army.
During this day army corps commanders will have examined all practical routes over which troops can possibly pass. They will get in position all the artillery possible, and gain all the ground they can with their infantry and skirmishers.
At an early hour in the morning a vigorous attack will be commenced by artillery and skirmishers. The infantry, with the exception of reserves and skirmishers, will be placed in column of platoons, or by flank if the ground over which they may have to pass, will not admit of a greater front, ready to move forward at the hour designated. Promptly at the hour designated, all will start at quick time, with bayonets fixed, and march immediately upon the enemy, without firing a gun, until the outer works are carried. Skirmishers will advance as soon as possible after heads of column pass them, and scale the walls of such works as may confront them.
By order of
U. S. GRANT
Major General Commanding.
Wednesday, May 20, 1863
Throughout the night the Union troops used their spades to make rifle pits to secure protection from the enemy's bullets During the day there was an occasional skirmish, but both sides seemed content to fortify their positions.
Private James McH Comer died today. He as in Company F and from Bond County. It's unknown if he was killed to day or died from injuries received during yesterday's assault.
Private James McH Comer died today. He as in Company F and from Bond County. It's unknown if he was killed to day or died from injuries received during yesterday's assault.
Tuesday, May 19, 1863
Early this morning the whole command advanced on Vicksburg. In the past month the Confederates had been easily defeated with little or no resistance. And so, the opinion from the Union Army was that Vicksburg would fall, too. In fact, they believed the Southerners were so demoralized they would evacuate via Haines' Bluff and the Yazoo River.
With confidence the Union Army approached the outskirts of Vicksburg, but they found the Confederates there in line of battle. They knew nothing of the Confederate fortifications that lined the east side of Vicksburg. The assumption was that they were not that formidable and could be carried by assault. But still they approached with caution.
Since 8 o'clock this morning, there had been firing along the skirmish lines, and it grew heavier as the sun rose higher. Nearly all of the fighting was to the right (North) where Sherman led the 15th Corps. McPherson was in the center, and McClenarnd led the 13th Corps (and the 130th Illinois Regiment) was on the left.
By noon the firing on the right became very heavy - not only muskets but cannon, too. Soon the firing spread to the left, and by one o'clock the whole line was engaged.
At two o'clock the Union lines had been formed and the order was given to advance slowly until their artillery began firing. Then they were to move quickly into the enemy's works with fixed bayonets. These orders were made before a single piece of artillery was in position. This demonstrated the confidence the Union command had in their ability to walk almost unmolested into Vicksburg, but also their ignorance of the enemy's fortifications and the nature of the approaches to them.
The Illinois 77th Infantry had been in the same brigade of the Illinois 130th Infantry since they left Milliken's Bend. In fact, the two regiments will be side-by-side the rest of the Civil War. Here's the story of this afternoon's assault from the 77th:
Three soldiers from the 130th Illinois Infantry were killed in the battle today. Private William A. Kalb, Company B, was from Sangamon County. Corporal Isaac Thorn, from Greenville and Private Levi A. Clough, from Bethel, were both part of Company F - William Fleming's company. Therefore one could assume that Company F was involved in the assault today.
With confidence the Union Army approached the outskirts of Vicksburg, but they found the Confederates there in line of battle. They knew nothing of the Confederate fortifications that lined the east side of Vicksburg. The assumption was that they were not that formidable and could be carried by assault. But still they approached with caution.
Since 8 o'clock this morning, there had been firing along the skirmish lines, and it grew heavier as the sun rose higher. Nearly all of the fighting was to the right (North) where Sherman led the 15th Corps. McPherson was in the center, and McClenarnd led the 13th Corps (and the 130th Illinois Regiment) was on the left.
By noon the firing on the right became very heavy - not only muskets but cannon, too. Soon the firing spread to the left, and by one o'clock the whole line was engaged.
At two o'clock the Union lines had been formed and the order was given to advance slowly until their artillery began firing. Then they were to move quickly into the enemy's works with fixed bayonets. These orders were made before a single piece of artillery was in position. This demonstrated the confidence the Union command had in their ability to walk almost unmolested into Vicksburg, but also their ignorance of the enemy's fortifications and the nature of the approaches to them.
The Illinois 77th Infantry had been in the same brigade of the Illinois 130th Infantry since they left Milliken's Bend. In fact, the two regiments will be side-by-side the rest of the Civil War. Here's the story of this afternoon's assault from the 77th:
At two o'clock then, the 77th Regiment already formed in a ravine, commenced moving over the hill in their front in line of battle. We had reached the brow of the hill when the rebels from their forts, opened upon our whole line with shell, shrapnell, grape and cannister. Hurrying down into the next ravine we escaped injury. Another high hill was now to be gone over. We went steadily forward up its steep side, in comparative security. When we had reached its brow in full view of the rebel line of works, there poured upon us a shower of shells which made the earth tremble with their terrific explosion. It was on this hill that the loss of our regiment on this day was sustained.
On account of the deep gorges on the Vicksburg side of the hill, we were unable to keep our lines dressed, and the men anxious for the security afforded by the ravine at the bottom, broke down into it in lively confusion. An enormous shell, which exploded in uncomfortable proximity to my own person, sent me hurriedly down through a gorge of the hill, and has left its mark upon my knee, occasioning some stiffness, but not disabling me. Our loss upon the hill just alluded to, was four killed and twelve wounded.
Having reached the ravine above referred to, there was only one more ridge or hill between us and the hill from which the rebel guns thundered, probably six hundred yards off. Finding the enemy strongly entrenched, a halt was ordered for the purpose of bringing forward our artillery to better positions. The idea of an immediate assault was abandoned.While the assault was not successful, it did give the Federal troops an improved position.
Three soldiers from the 130th Illinois Infantry were killed in the battle today. Private William A. Kalb, Company B, was from Sangamon County. Corporal Isaac Thorn, from Greenville and Private Levi A. Clough, from Bethel, were both part of Company F - William Fleming's company. Therefore one could assume that Company F was involved in the assault today.
Monday, May 18, 1863
A temporary bridge was completed at 10 o'clock this morning and the forward movement immediately resumed. Before noon nearly the whole command had crossed the Big Black River and headed for Vicksburg, ten or twelve miles ahead. The scenery along this march way mostly lined with farmhouses.
They marched steadily forward and saw the relics of a panic-stricken army in full retreat. They walked past discarded arms, camp gear, knapsacks, canteens, broken wagons, extra garments, and garrison equipment. The Confederates soldiers didn't slow their disorganized flight until they found refuge behind their works on the hills at Vicksburg.
General Sherman crossed the Big Black and moved his Corps to the northwest against the enemy's position at Walnut hills. General McPherson crossed the river and came up in the rear of Sherman on the same road. General McClernand and the Thirteenth Army Corps crossed the river and turned to the left.
At nightfall the men of the 130th Illinois Infantry were within about four miles of the works that encircled Vicksburg. Orders were given to make fires only in the ravines and there were plenty of those.
For the entire month of May, the Union forces had advanced rapidly and victoriously through Mississippi, meeting and routing the enemy on several battlefields. They were now approaching their prize - Vicksburg. I'm sure many of the soldiers, bolstered by their recent victories, assumed they would be dining in Vicksburg within the week.
By the morning of the 19th the investment of Vicksburg was as complete as could be made with the forces at Grant's command.
They marched steadily forward and saw the relics of a panic-stricken army in full retreat. They walked past discarded arms, camp gear, knapsacks, canteens, broken wagons, extra garments, and garrison equipment. The Confederates soldiers didn't slow their disorganized flight until they found refuge behind their works on the hills at Vicksburg.
General Sherman crossed the Big Black and moved his Corps to the northwest against the enemy's position at Walnut hills. General McPherson crossed the river and came up in the rear of Sherman on the same road. General McClernand and the Thirteenth Army Corps crossed the river and turned to the left.
At nightfall the men of the 130th Illinois Infantry were within about four miles of the works that encircled Vicksburg. Orders were given to make fires only in the ravines and there were plenty of those.
For the entire month of May, the Union forces had advanced rapidly and victoriously through Mississippi, meeting and routing the enemy on several battlefields. They were now approaching their prize - Vicksburg. I'm sure many of the soldiers, bolstered by their recent victories, assumed they would be dining in Vicksburg within the week.
By the morning of the 19th the investment of Vicksburg was as complete as could be made with the forces at Grant's command.
Sunday, May 17, 1863
This morning the Union march was resumed in the direction of Vicksburg, pursing the demoralized and fleeing enemy. Skirmishes continued along the way. A house was passed that had been riddled with cannon balls. The advance moved quickly and before noon the Union forces soon came to the rebel works in front of the Big Black River.
The railroad from Jackson to Vicksburg runs east to west. This was generally the path of the Union's pursuit. The Big Black River at the at the railroad crossing forms a horse-shoe bend. Across this peninsula the Confederates formed their works. They were facing to the East toward the open end of the horseshoe, with the Big Black River to their left, behind them, and to their right. The railroad bridge was behind them.
The rebels had constructed a line of rifle pits, which made a good cover for their infantry. These had been fashioned with cotton bales from the neighboring plantations. They had artillery planted at different points along the line, which extended about a mile north and south across the open end of the horseshoe. They also had artillery batteries planted on the hills on the other side of the river.
While the battle was raging furiously in front, General Lawler took his brigade around to the right and found a narrow opening through the brush. His men threw away their blankets and haversacks, and rushed through the bayou. They suddenly found themselves behind the Confederate lines.
The rebels were surprised, and in a panic started for the bridge across the river. Many tore out little bunches of cotton from the bales and hoisted them upon the points of their bayonets in surrender. The panic spread and the enemy on the bluffs across the river retreated from their line of works. They burned the bridge behind them, preventing the escape of many of their own men, who were taken prisoners.
The spoils of the victory included eighteen artillery guns and 1,700 prisoners. Many of these guns were beautifully finished. Several had painted on them in gilt letters the names of popular Confederate officers, but qualified with the word lady. So there was the "Lady Davis," "Lady Price," "Lady Beauregard," etc.
The Confederates retreated rapidly to Vicksburg. The Union had to construct a bridge to cross the river, and this would be accomplished early tomorrow morning.
The rebels had constructed a line of rifle pits, which made a good cover for their infantry. These had been fashioned with cotton bales from the neighboring plantations. They had artillery planted at different points along the line, which extended about a mile north and south across the open end of the horseshoe. They also had artillery batteries planted on the hills on the other side of the river.
While the battle was raging furiously in front, General Lawler took his brigade around to the right and found a narrow opening through the brush. His men threw away their blankets and haversacks, and rushed through the bayou. They suddenly found themselves behind the Confederate lines.
The rebels were surprised, and in a panic started for the bridge across the river. Many tore out little bunches of cotton from the bales and hoisted them upon the points of their bayonets in surrender. The panic spread and the enemy on the bluffs across the river retreated from their line of works. They burned the bridge behind them, preventing the escape of many of their own men, who were taken prisoners.
The spoils of the victory included eighteen artillery guns and 1,700 prisoners. Many of these guns were beautifully finished. Several had painted on them in gilt letters the names of popular Confederate officers, but qualified with the word lady. So there was the "Lady Davis," "Lady Price," "Lady Beauregard," etc.
The Confederates retreated rapidly to Vicksburg. The Union had to construct a bridge to cross the river, and this would be accomplished early tomorrow morning.
Saturday, May 16, 1863
General A. J. Smith's Division, which included the 130th Illinois Infantry, arose early this morning, and started on the march at sunrise. They turned about again and passed through Raymond and took a road leading in a northwesterly direction.
At 8 o'clock they encountered the enemy at Champion Hill. The battle began almost immediately, and quickly escalated. Like most civil war battles, the skirmishers from each side were the first to be engaged, and then the intensity escalated as the opposing forces organized and moved into position.
Smith's division was on the left, while General Osterhaus' division was to their immediate right. General Hovey was in the center, and General McPherson's 17th Army Corps were on the far right. Behind these were the reserves, soldiers under the command of Generals Blair, Carr and Crocker.
Smith and Blair's Divisions took the road that ran to the south of the elevation, and they found very little resistance. The country on both sides the road was either cultivated fields or open timber. So the advance was unobstructed by thick underbrush or ravines. The rebels did not seem to be in strong force in their front, and so the advance was orderly. Every regiment had its flag unfurled and banner flying, and they all moved forward in a stately manner. This was the "pomp and circumstance of war" without its horrors. But heavy firing off to the right indicated others were not fairing so well. That was the battle of Champion's Hill, an elevation that commanded the whole region.
On the roads to the north, Carr, Osterhaus and Hovey's divisions came into heavy action as they met the enemy in force. For two hours the heavy fire of the Union batteries flew towards the Confederate troops in the depths of the forest. The Confederates first tried to turn the Union forces on the right. Failing that, they turned their attention to the center, massing their forces against Hovey's division. After a desperate, hard-fought battle of four hours, the Confederate army began to retreat.
The Union troops, without waiting to reform, fixed their bayonets and charged into the dense forest after the retreating southerners. The rebel troops were surprised and went into a panic. In this charge men were slaughtered without mercy. The ground was covered with the dead and dying. The rebels scattered in every direction and hurried to join the main Confederate force retreating towards Vicksburg.
At three o'clock in the afternoon the battle of Champion Hill was over.
The Confederates sustained overwhelming defeat, losing nearly 6,000 in killed, wounded and missing. The entire Union loss today was 429 killed, 1,842 wounded and 189 missing. That night the Union force and the men of the 130th Illinois Infantry again slept on their arms.
At 8 o'clock they encountered the enemy at Champion Hill. The battle began almost immediately, and quickly escalated. Like most civil war battles, the skirmishers from each side were the first to be engaged, and then the intensity escalated as the opposing forces organized and moved into position.
Smith's division was on the left, while General Osterhaus' division was to their immediate right. General Hovey was in the center, and General McPherson's 17th Army Corps were on the far right. Behind these were the reserves, soldiers under the command of Generals Blair, Carr and Crocker.
Smith and Blair's Divisions took the road that ran to the south of the elevation, and they found very little resistance. The country on both sides the road was either cultivated fields or open timber. So the advance was unobstructed by thick underbrush or ravines. The rebels did not seem to be in strong force in their front, and so the advance was orderly. Every regiment had its flag unfurled and banner flying, and they all moved forward in a stately manner. This was the "pomp and circumstance of war" without its horrors. But heavy firing off to the right indicated others were not fairing so well. That was the battle of Champion's Hill, an elevation that commanded the whole region.
On the roads to the north, Carr, Osterhaus and Hovey's divisions came into heavy action as they met the enemy in force. For two hours the heavy fire of the Union batteries flew towards the Confederate troops in the depths of the forest. The Confederates first tried to turn the Union forces on the right. Failing that, they turned their attention to the center, massing their forces against Hovey's division. After a desperate, hard-fought battle of four hours, the Confederate army began to retreat.
At three o'clock in the afternoon the battle of Champion Hill was over.
The Confederates sustained overwhelming defeat, losing nearly 6,000 in killed, wounded and missing. The entire Union loss today was 429 killed, 1,842 wounded and 189 missing. That night the Union force and the men of the 130th Illinois Infantry again slept on their arms.
Friday, May 15, 1863
The Thirteenth Army Corps had been moving in a generally northerly direction since leaving Port Gibson. But this morning, after camping north of Fourteen Mile Creek, the division turned around, recrossed the stream, and took a road eastward toward Raymond. They went through the town and around 10 o'clock went into camp east of Raymond.
Thursday, May 14, 1863
The 130th Illinois Infantry, as part of General A. J. Smith's command, moved northward today and crossed Fourteen Mile Creek. They set up camp for the night several miles north of this stream. The rumor in camp was that the enemy was not far off. In fact, they were in force just five miles away, at Edward's Station on the Vicksburg & Jackson Railroad.
Also today the Confederates under Johnston were driven from Jackson and Grant's entire army turned westward toward Vicksburg.
Wednesday, May 13, 1863
Ever since the 130th Illinois regiment left Port Gibson on May 3rd, they had been moving in a northerly direction as part of General A. J. Smith's Division of the Thirteenth Corps. Willow Springs, Rocky Springs, Cayuga and Mount Auburn were some of the towns they passed through and occupied.
The division halted at Cayuga for a day or two. It was dry and dusty, with no nearby streams. The only water available was dipped from stagnant ponds. But first they had to push aside the green scum covering the ponds.
Charles Johnson retold this story about an event here.
While here, towards the middle of a hot sultry day, a division marched by on the dusty road, near which Smith's Division was encamped. Among the moving troops was a Wisconsin regiment which had a pet eagle. A perch was made for him upon a thin board cut in the form of a shield; to this he was chained, and all was borne upon the shoulder of a soldier.
As before said, the day was hot, the roads were dusty, and the eagle, with drooping feathers and a general crestfallen appearance, looked anything but the "Proud Bird" he is supposed to be. Wonderful stories concerning the eagle were, however, in circulation. Among other things it was said that in time of battle, when he was always loosened, he would soar above the men, flap his wings, hover about and scream with delight. The Wisconsin regiment that had this "emblem of its country" became noted as the "Eagle Regiment,"While at Auburn the regiment received word of Union General Hooker's defeat at Chancellorsville the previous week.
Tuesday, May 12, 1863
Today the battle of Raymond was fought twenty miles west of Jackson between troops of the Seventeenth Corps, mainly Logan's Division, and some of General Johnston's command. The Confederates were defeated and returned to Jackson.
Soon after this General Sherman attacked Jackson and Johnson and the troops defending it were driven North.
All this time the Thirteenth Corps was hugging the eastern bank of the Big Black River. McClernand, with the Thirteenth Corps, was thus on the left, McPherson in the center, and Sherman on the right, all facing the to the North.
Saturday, May 9, 1863
General Joseph E. Johnston came to Jackson, the Mississippi state capital, and established his headquarters there. Johnston had under his immediate command ten to fifteen thousand troops. Preventing the merger of these with the force under General Pemberton at Vicksburg became an immediate objective for General Grant.
The Seventeenth Corps under General J. B. McPherson, and the Fifteenth, under General William Tecumseh Sherman, had followed the Thirteenth Corps from Milliken's Bend. Sherman, with his train, arrived at Grand Gulf on the 7th, and the advance was resumed, the line of march being along the Big Black River toward the Vicksburg & Jackson railroad. The goal was to cut off the Jackson forces which Grant had reason to believe were assembling there to move to Pemberton's assistance.
Thursday, May 7, 1863
Private David Hufstedler died today at Cairo, Illinois. He was from Baden and a member of Company E.
Wednesday, May 6, 1863
A few days after leaving Port Gibson rations gave out, and the Union army was directed to live off the country. The region was well-stocked with corn, bacon, sheep, chickens, turkeys, honey, etc. The corn was in cribs. It was taken, shelled and carried to a horse-mill. They would find such a mill on nearly every plantation. There the corn would be gound into meal.
They also found nearly every home had a large and well-filled smoke-house. It was usually a rough, one-room outbuilding without a floor. Many smoke-houses were found filled with bacon; others bore marks of a hasty removal of the contents to some less conspicuous place for safe keeping. Often the meat was buried or put in some spot in the woods, but the hungry Northerners nearly always found the hidden treasure.
Homemade bacon was a favorite with the soldiers, and for a time they enjoyed it with corn bread made from the freshly ground corn meal. Lamb, turkey, chicken and honey were also found.
The trouble with feeding an army off the country in this way was the great improvidence of the soldiers. There was more wasted than eaten. However, for more than two weeks in May, 1863, Grant's army, of thirty to forty thousand men, lived well off the region east and southeast of Vicksburg.
Charles Johnson developed a yearning for fresh milk. He decided he would quench his thirst at the next opportunity:
One day, when on the march, a farm-house was passed, and upon the opposite side of the road were a lot of cows fastened up in the "coppen" (cow-pen), as the Southerners say. I was not long in getting over the fence, nor long in selecting a cow with a fine udder, from which I soon filled my canteen. The fence was again hurriedly clambered over and the regiment overtaken. By and by, when a drink of nice, fresh milk could no longer be postponed, the canteen was turned up, when, horrors! what a bitter taste! Quinine could have been no worse. It was learned soon after from a native that the cows in that season feed upon young cane-shoots, and these give the bitter taste to the milk.
Tuesday, May 5, 1863
The Union troops were now operating in a rough and rugged country. They had left the low, flat and swampy lands of Louisiana. They now saw splendid mansions which, in earlier days, had sheltered the rich aristocrats. Many of these residences would soon be burned to the ground. The advancing and victorious army was not very conscientious, and it is reasonable to assume some overzealous actions were taken, especially when they were short on rations.
Sunday, May 3, 1863
The bridge was completed late yesterday afternoon and so the Union troops began moving late last night. The 130th Illinois Infantry was not at the front of the column, and so they crossed the bridge early this morning. The line of march was taken in a generally northern direction from Port Gibson. It was a beautiful Sunday, and the soldiers marched past many pleasant homes.
Saturday, May 2, 1863
The morning sun came up warm and bright, much to the pleasure of those who slept without their blankets and shelter. The soldiers were making some strong coffee when word came that the Confederates had been defeated and retreated from their front. The orders were to follow them immediately.
Charles Johnson related this story of the morning's events.
At this time a young Confederate soldier turned up, but from just where no one knew. One of our surgeons, however, tapped him on the shoulder, saying: "You are my prisoner." He was "willin'," and was at once turned over to the proper authorities.The army fell into line and began to march along the road to Port Gibson. They saw the place where the Confederates made their last stand, while the rest retreated. It was on the top of a hill. Charles Johnson describe the scene:
By the roadside, near a pile of rails, lay a dead Confederate. He seemed to have been a tall, lanky fellow, a typical specimen, and though the weather was as warm as June in the North, there was yet on his head a heavy fur cap. A little farther on, under a mulberry tree, lay the body of a good-looking young Confederate. He was rotund in figure, and had on what seemed to be a new suit of gray jeans. Already the blue flies were hovering about the dead body; but his late enemies, thus soon becoming familiar with violent forms of death, complacently gathered mulberries from the tree above him. Most of the Confederate dead were said to have been collected before the retreat and buried in a ravine. Those seen were what fell from the few left behind to cover the retreat. Thus, a few scattered dead Federal soldiers by the roadside were seen when coming upon the battlefield eighteen hours before, and now several Confederate dead, fallen by the wayside, were come upon when leaving the field....
At about 9 o'clock they reached Port Gibson. Over several houses flew red flags, indicating the buildings were occupied as hospitals. At the door of one of these was an friendly and talkative enlisted Confederate soldier. The enthusiastic Southerner warned the Union soldiers, "o, you never will take Vicksburg in the world. It will turn out just like your On to Richmond. The South will gain her independence, and Southern Illinois and Southern Indiana will yet become a part of the Confederacy."
This man was dressed in gray jeans and spoke quite intelligently. He did not have a Southern accent but hooted derisively at Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation as utterly futile.
The 13th Army Corps entered Port Gibson in triumph, the. Their enemy had hastily fled the previous night, burning the bridge across the Bayou Pierre in order to slow the pursuit of the Federal. It was therefore necessary for the Union regiments to remain Port Gibson for some time, until a pontoon bridge could be constructed.
With his victory at Port Gibson, General Grant had completely flanked Grand Gulf. That Confederates evacuated Grand Gulf and moved to Vicksburg. As soon as he learned this, General Grant made arrangements for changing his base of supplies from Bruinsburg to Grand Gulf.
This man was dressed in gray jeans and spoke quite intelligently. He did not have a Southern accent but hooted derisively at Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation as utterly futile.
The 13th Army Corps entered Port Gibson in triumph, the. Their enemy had hastily fled the previous night, burning the bridge across the Bayou Pierre in order to slow the pursuit of the Federal. It was therefore necessary for the Union regiments to remain Port Gibson for some time, until a pontoon bridge could be constructed.
With his victory at Port Gibson, General Grant had completely flanked Grand Gulf. That Confederates evacuated Grand Gulf and moved to Vicksburg. As soon as he learned this, General Grant made arrangements for changing his base of supplies from Bruinsburg to Grand Gulf.
Friday, May 1, 1863
The Union Army's objective was Port Gibson, the most important town in that vicinity and located on Bayou Pierre. The Union troops were on the southern side of this stream. The Confederate commander at Grand Gulf, after watching the Union movements down the river, took steps to halt their advance.
To reach them, the Confederate Grand Gulf garrison had to cross the bayou. As the water was high, they had to go far out of their way to the only bridge in the vicinity - the one at Port Gibson. The Union troops hoped to secure the bridge before the arrival of the Confederates. And, the Confederates hoped to meet the invading force at or very near their landing in Bruinsburg. But neither side had its wish granted. The Confederates reached the bridge at Port Gibson, crossed over it and pushed five miles toward Bruinsburg.
At two o'clock this morning, the advance troops of each Army met, and light skirmishes continued throughout the night. At daylight General McClernand reconnoitered the position. The Confederate commander had positioned a large body of troops in the ravines with heavy timber and cane. General McClernand deployed his men and attacked.
A Confederate battery placed upon a hill was annoying the Union troops. Union artillery was quickly set up and the battle of Magnolia Hills began. The Confederates had stationed another battery near Magnolia Church, and there a furious fight continued for some time, with a large number of soldiers on both sides killed or wounded.
The 130th Illinois Infantry was not at the front of the column, nor involved in the early fighting. But soon they began to move forward. Just before starting on the march each man received a little whiskey in his canteen. The regiment had never been in battle, and it was not known if the whiskey was meant to give them extra courage or if the enforced march required stimulants. Whatever the intentions might have been, no good came from the whiskey, and before night several in the regiment were foolishly drunk.
As the sun began to rise, the Illinois boys started off at a brisk pace. For two miles the road ran through the river bottom, then up a long hill of red clay, next by quiet farmhouses and cultivated fields, through pretty wooded groves and up quiet lanes, all bearing the marks of peace, and resting in supposed security from the inroads of invading armies.
The boom of cannon could be heard, and after awhile the rattle of musketry. This excited the men from the 130th, and they marched faster. As the morning advanced it became very warm and many threw away knapsacks, overcoats and anything and everything that impeded progress toward the sounds of battle in front.
Around noon the regiment passed a field hospital along the roadside. A soldier with his arm in the sling, and bright blood oozing through the bandages over a wound on his breast, came and stood by the road and watched the soldiers marching forward. That was the first blood seen by the soldiers, that was caused by a Confederate bullet.
Further down the road they saw fences thrown down, corn fields tracked over, and everything trampled upon - signs that large bodies of men had been deployed and advanced over that ground earlier in the day. A little further ahead they came across broken wheels and dismounted cannons, and now and then a dead soldier or horse, which showed that the advance of the Federals had met with resistance.
Next the road ran down a hill and into the timber. The 130th was ordered to take a short break, make some coffee and have dinner, and then move to the front. After dinner, the knapsacks were piled up and left in care of a guard, and then the command turned to the left of the main road, passed forward through corn fields, and, at last, halted a little way from the top of, and partly down a hill, in a field of growing corn.
Two hundred yards in front of the regiment was a cane-brake and thick timber. The men were resting quietly, facing the cane-brake, when all at once without warning, a volley of bullets struck the ground all around them. Amazingly, only one man was wounded, and it was a minor hand injury.
The volley came from the woods in front of them, and the brigade battery was brought to the top of the hill and was soon throwing grape and canister over the heads of the regiment and into the dense timber.
After a long day of fighting, the Confederates were driven back with considerable loss. Just before nightfall a small force made a stand just two miles from Port Gibson, while the main army retreated. As the last Confederate troops withdrew beyond Bayou Pierre, they burned the bridge behind them.
The Federal troops were told to sleep on their arms, with orders to renew the conflict early in the morning. When morning came, however, it was found there was no enemy near.
And so the men of the 130th Illinois Infantry experienced their first day in battle. They were thankful it was over, but this night would not be a pleasant one. Their knapsacks and blankets had been left behind. Even in the warmest weather, the nights are cool. The men suffered much discomfort due to their lack of covering.
Charles Johnson remembered that first night...
To reach them, the Confederate Grand Gulf garrison had to cross the bayou. As the water was high, they had to go far out of their way to the only bridge in the vicinity - the one at Port Gibson. The Union troops hoped to secure the bridge before the arrival of the Confederates. And, the Confederates hoped to meet the invading force at or very near their landing in Bruinsburg. But neither side had its wish granted. The Confederates reached the bridge at Port Gibson, crossed over it and pushed five miles toward Bruinsburg.At two o'clock this morning, the advance troops of each Army met, and light skirmishes continued throughout the night. At daylight General McClernand reconnoitered the position. The Confederate commander had positioned a large body of troops in the ravines with heavy timber and cane. General McClernand deployed his men and attacked.
A Confederate battery placed upon a hill was annoying the Union troops. Union artillery was quickly set up and the battle of Magnolia Hills began. The Confederates had stationed another battery near Magnolia Church, and there a furious fight continued for some time, with a large number of soldiers on both sides killed or wounded.
The 130th Illinois Infantry was not at the front of the column, nor involved in the early fighting. But soon they began to move forward. Just before starting on the march each man received a little whiskey in his canteen. The regiment had never been in battle, and it was not known if the whiskey was meant to give them extra courage or if the enforced march required stimulants. Whatever the intentions might have been, no good came from the whiskey, and before night several in the regiment were foolishly drunk.
As the sun began to rise, the Illinois boys started off at a brisk pace. For two miles the road ran through the river bottom, then up a long hill of red clay, next by quiet farmhouses and cultivated fields, through pretty wooded groves and up quiet lanes, all bearing the marks of peace, and resting in supposed security from the inroads of invading armies.
The boom of cannon could be heard, and after awhile the rattle of musketry. This excited the men from the 130th, and they marched faster. As the morning advanced it became very warm and many threw away knapsacks, overcoats and anything and everything that impeded progress toward the sounds of battle in front.
Around noon the regiment passed a field hospital along the roadside. A soldier with his arm in the sling, and bright blood oozing through the bandages over a wound on his breast, came and stood by the road and watched the soldiers marching forward. That was the first blood seen by the soldiers, that was caused by a Confederate bullet.
Further down the road they saw fences thrown down, corn fields tracked over, and everything trampled upon - signs that large bodies of men had been deployed and advanced over that ground earlier in the day. A little further ahead they came across broken wheels and dismounted cannons, and now and then a dead soldier or horse, which showed that the advance of the Federals had met with resistance.
Next the road ran down a hill and into the timber. The 130th was ordered to take a short break, make some coffee and have dinner, and then move to the front. After dinner, the knapsacks were piled up and left in care of a guard, and then the command turned to the left of the main road, passed forward through corn fields, and, at last, halted a little way from the top of, and partly down a hill, in a field of growing corn.
Two hundred yards in front of the regiment was a cane-brake and thick timber. The men were resting quietly, facing the cane-brake, when all at once without warning, a volley of bullets struck the ground all around them. Amazingly, only one man was wounded, and it was a minor hand injury.
The volley came from the woods in front of them, and the brigade battery was brought to the top of the hill and was soon throwing grape and canister over the heads of the regiment and into the dense timber.
After a long day of fighting, the Confederates were driven back with considerable loss. Just before nightfall a small force made a stand just two miles from Port Gibson, while the main army retreated. As the last Confederate troops withdrew beyond Bayou Pierre, they burned the bridge behind them.
The Federal troops were told to sleep on their arms, with orders to renew the conflict early in the morning. When morning came, however, it was found there was no enemy near.
And so the men of the 130th Illinois Infantry experienced their first day in battle. They were thankful it was over, but this night would not be a pleasant one. Their knapsacks and blankets had been left behind. Even in the warmest weather, the nights are cool. The men suffered much discomfort due to their lack of covering.
Charles Johnson remembered that first night...
Under the circumstances sleep was broken, and in wakeful hours my mind naturally dwelt upon the horrible in the previous day's history. Thoughts something as follows had free course through my brain: "Well, our regiment for six months has been wanting to be in a battle, and now it's been in one, and not a hard one either; but there is probably not a man but next time will cheerfully take some other fellow's word for it and stay out himself, if he can do so honorably. Then those dead fellows were lying beside the road just like they were slaughtered hogs or sheep! And besides, how piteously the wounded moaned, and how horrible their poor maimed limbs and gaping wounds looked. There may be lots of glory in war, but it isn't so radiant nor very apparent at about 1 o'clock the next morning after a battle."
Thursday, April 30, 1863
The men of the 130th Illinois Infantry rose early this morning at De Shroon's plantation, and ate their hard tack and bacon. The plantation was just below Grand Gulf, on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi River. After breakfast they broke camp and marched back to the north to board transports.
As they marched, they could see gunboats and transports, both filled with soldiers, moving down the river. The Confederate guns at Grand Gulf were silent this morning. The regiment eventually boarded transports, floated down the river past Grand Gulf and disembarked in Bruinsburg, Mississippi.
It took the entire day to get the 13th Army Corps across the Mississippi River on transports. In fact, some of the support units (hospital, supply, etc.) did not cross over until the next morning.
But the troops that landed first immediately began to move in the direction of Port Gibson. The lead regiments marched about six miles and met no opposition. They rested for three hours while they got organized.
At eight o clock at night the column began to move again, and by three o'clock the next morning they had marched another twelve miles.
As they marched, they could see gunboats and transports, both filled with soldiers, moving down the river. The Confederate guns at Grand Gulf were silent this morning. The regiment eventually boarded transports, floated down the river past Grand Gulf and disembarked in Bruinsburg, Mississippi.
It took the entire day to get the 13th Army Corps across the Mississippi River on transports. In fact, some of the support units (hospital, supply, etc.) did not cross over until the next morning.
But the troops that landed first immediately began to move in the direction of Port Gibson. The lead regiments marched about six miles and met no opposition. They rested for three hours while they got organized.
At eight o clock at night the column began to move again, and by three o'clock the next morning they had marched another twelve miles.
Wednesday, April 29, 1863
After Admiral Porter passed the batteries at Vicksburg, General Grant extended his lines to a small place on the Louisiana shore, called Hard Times. This put him about 70 miles from the base of his supplies at Milliken's Bend.
The Union troops marching around St. Joseph Lake reached the Mississippi River today at Hard Times, nearly opposite Grand Gulf. After a short stop at Hard Times, the column marched toward De Shroon's plantation further downriver. However, the day was eventful for the soldiers, as they could see and hear the battle at Grand Gulf.
Earlier in the morning, Admiral Porter left Hard Times with his fleet, and headed down the river followed by three divisions of McClernand's corps in transports. The plan was to land the troops and assault the works at Grand Gulf as soon as the enemy's guns were silenced.
Porter's bombardment began at 8 o'clock and the firing was very deliberate and continued non-stop until 1 o'clock., when the Confederates ceased firing. However, the navy failed to reduce the Confederate works.
The 130th Regiment was encamped a few miles below the battle, and Charles Johnson described it like this:
The Confederates also suffered casualties. However, it was unclear if all the Confederate guns had been destroyed or just some of them. General Grant decided not to risk landing the infantry. So, McClernand moved his men back to Hard Times, where they disembarked and marched across the bend to a point about 3 miles below Grand Gulf, but on the west side of the river.
Later that night Porter renewed the attack on the Grand Gulf batteries. The battery fired on the boats and the boats answered with shell and solid shot. The scene was grand, and the roar was awful. Union troops near the battle could trace the shells from both sides by following the light of the fuse, as they arced through the air. They could then see the shells burst as they struck.
While the battle raged, the troop transports managed to get by without serious injury.
And while this battle raged below Vicksburg. General Sherman sent ten regiments above Vicksburg on the Yazoo River towards Haines' Bluff, as if to attack. At the same time eigh gunboats bombarded it. But the whole demonstration at Haines' Bluff was only a feint intended to confuse the enemy and divert attention from the real point of attack at Grand Gulf.
The Union troops marching around St. Joseph Lake reached the Mississippi River today at Hard Times, nearly opposite Grand Gulf. After a short stop at Hard Times, the column marched toward De Shroon's plantation further downriver. However, the day was eventful for the soldiers, as they could see and hear the battle at Grand Gulf.
Earlier in the morning, Admiral Porter left Hard Times with his fleet, and headed down the river followed by three divisions of McClernand's corps in transports. The plan was to land the troops and assault the works at Grand Gulf as soon as the enemy's guns were silenced.
Porter's bombardment began at 8 o'clock and the firing was very deliberate and continued non-stop until 1 o'clock., when the Confederates ceased firing. However, the navy failed to reduce the Confederate works.
The 130th Regiment was encamped a few miles below the battle, and Charles Johnson described it like this:
...and the cannonading made a terrific noise. Whether it came from the heavy caliber of the guns engaged or from the peculiar state of atmosphere, I cannot say, but never did the terrific din of cannonading strike my ears with such force. Every shot, too, seemed to have a peculiar ringing sound that was piercing in its effects upon the organs of hearing.During the battle Porter lost 19 killed and 56 wounded. Every one of his vessels suffered some damage, especially the Tuscumbia, which was struck 81 times, making her unfit for service.
The Confederates also suffered casualties. However, it was unclear if all the Confederate guns had been destroyed or just some of them. General Grant decided not to risk landing the infantry. So, McClernand moved his men back to Hard Times, where they disembarked and marched across the bend to a point about 3 miles below Grand Gulf, but on the west side of the river.
Later that night Porter renewed the attack on the Grand Gulf batteries. The battery fired on the boats and the boats answered with shell and solid shot. The scene was grand, and the roar was awful. Union troops near the battle could trace the shells from both sides by following the light of the fuse, as they arced through the air. They could then see the shells burst as they struck.
While the battle raged, the troop transports managed to get by without serious injury.
And while this battle raged below Vicksburg. General Sherman sent ten regiments above Vicksburg on the Yazoo River towards Haines' Bluff, as if to attack. At the same time eigh gunboats bombarded it. But the whole demonstration at Haines' Bluff was only a feint intended to confuse the enemy and divert attention from the real point of attack at Grand Gulf.
Tuesday, April 28, 1863
The sun came up bright and warm this morning, which was a welcomed change. The road was still in terrible condition, but it followed close to the western bank of Lake St. Joseph for a long distance. It was a beautiful lake that used to be the bed of the Mississippi River. It was a pleasant distraction for the soldiers.
Along the lake they marched past many fine residences. One of the most prominent was a home owned by a Dr. Bowie. The grounds were beautiful, and the house was richly furnished. The walls were adorned with mirrors and engravings, while an expensive piano and a large library of choice books were seen in the front parlor. Unfortunately, this magnificent home was burned several weeks later by Union troops passing through the region.
The soldiers could see across the lake, where the eastern shore was thickly forested, with thick moss hanging from the branches. Many of the flowers, shrubs and trees were unfamiliar to the soldiers from the North. The area took on a tropical appearance to the soldiers, given the warm, balmy air filled with the fragrance of flowers. Birds were singing and everywhere they looked they saw Spring blooming.
The region was fairly isolated, and the low lands had to be protected from high river water by the levees. Given the season was noted for high water, the region was considered safe from invasion. But General Grant thought otherwise, and long columns of Northerners were making their way through the country.
In fact, the area was considered so impenetrable by the Confederates that General Pemberton believed the Union movement was not an invasion force, but only a feint, intended to be a diversion from a serious attack on Vicksburg from some other direction.
Along the lake they marched past many fine residences. One of the most prominent was a home owned by a Dr. Bowie. The grounds were beautiful, and the house was richly furnished. The walls were adorned with mirrors and engravings, while an expensive piano and a large library of choice books were seen in the front parlor. Unfortunately, this magnificent home was burned several weeks later by Union troops passing through the region.
The soldiers could see across the lake, where the eastern shore was thickly forested, with thick moss hanging from the branches. Many of the flowers, shrubs and trees were unfamiliar to the soldiers from the North. The area took on a tropical appearance to the soldiers, given the warm, balmy air filled with the fragrance of flowers. Birds were singing and everywhere they looked they saw Spring blooming.
The region was fairly isolated, and the low lands had to be protected from high river water by the levees. Given the season was noted for high water, the region was considered safe from invasion. But General Grant thought otherwise, and long columns of Northerners were making their way through the country.
In fact, the area was considered so impenetrable by the Confederates that General Pemberton believed the Union movement was not an invasion force, but only a feint, intended to be a diversion from a serious attack on Vicksburg from some other direction.
Monday, April 27, 1863
The men of the 130th Illinois Infantry did not get much sleep. After halting around 2 o'clock in the morning, they rested for less than three hours. Coffee was made and drank and the march resumed at daylight. It was still raining and the roads were in horrible condition.
The march continued all day, and the weather was overcast with intermittent rain. The bad roads and miserable weather made the day an unpleasant memory for all. Many of the wagons and artillery, along with their horses and mules, were mired down in the muck. They had to be pulled and lifted out by hand.
At last darkness came and the march halted. Coffee, hard bread, and salt pork were the meal that night. The soldiers cut the pork into thin slices and pushed it onto the end of a sharpened stick. They then toasted it over their campfires. In the past this meal was nearly unpalatable. But after marching all day, it was eaten with great enthusiasm.
The march continued all day, and the weather was overcast with intermittent rain. The bad roads and miserable weather made the day an unpleasant memory for all. Many of the wagons and artillery, along with their horses and mules, were mired down in the muck. They had to be pulled and lifted out by hand.
At last darkness came and the march halted. Coffee, hard bread, and salt pork were the meal that night. The soldiers cut the pork into thin slices and pushed it onto the end of a sharpened stick. They then toasted it over their campfires. In the past this meal was nearly unpalatable. But after marching all day, it was eaten with great enthusiasm.
The ground was thoroughly saturated with water. The men broke little boughs off the trees and laid them on the ground. These were covered by rubber and wool blankets. Despite this less than ideal bed, the exhausted soldiers fell asleep quickly and slept soundly through the night.
Sunday, April 26, 1863
While at Smith's plantation, there was a bit of excitement when one of the soldiers was accidentally shot. Even though he was shot in the neck, it proved to be of little danger. The shot was from such a small caliber revolver that it did little damage. It was a warm, sultry day, with the sun alternately shining; bright, then passing behind clouds.
In the early evening, orders came to the regiment: they were to pack up and immediately being to march. The night was extremely dark, and a drizzling rain soon began to fall. Despite this, the men enjoyed themselves by singing, whistling and cracking jokes.
However, the darkness, rain and rough roads soon took the joy out of everyone. The march continued until about 1 or 2 a.m., when the regiment halted by the side of a rail fence.
Saturday, April 25, 1863
After marching all night, the regiment arrived at Smith's plantation at 6 o'clock this morning. They were now about 2.5 miles from New Carthage. The entire division went into camp here. Although they were two or three miles from the river, several steamboats came in on a bayou and were near their camp for a day or so.
Friday, April 24, 1863
General Grant set up his headquarters at Point Clear plantation, a few miles above New Carthage, Louisiana. He originally planned to direct the river crossing from there, but flood waters made it impossible to use New Carthage as a staging area.
Grant's strategic objective was to take Grand Gulf, a small village on the east side of the river. It was situated about 50 miles south of Vicksburg on a high bluff. The Confederates had fortified the bluff with a line of earthworks and two sets of batteries. There was one above and another below the landing, and they were connected by a covered trench.
Today General Grant and Admiral Porter made a reconnaissance of the batteries and decided they were too strong to attack. Grant ordered his command to continue to Hard Times Landing. And so, the men of the 130th Illinois Infantry received marching orders this evening, and about 8 o'clock they got under way.
The roads were rough and the night was dark, which made the footing very uncertain. In the nearby bayous, the alligators made the night hideous with their bellowing.
Wednesday, April 22, 1863
Tonight the transports Tigress, Anglo-Saxon, Cheeseman, Empire City, Horizon and Moderator, all loaded with army supplies, ran the batteries. Five of them were hit by the Vicksburg guns, though the Tigress was the only one sereiously damaged. She received a shot in her hull below the water line. She sank near the Louisiana shore soon after passing beyond the range of the guns.
Tuesday, April 21, 1863
As the Union soldiers marched across Louisiana, they had orders to collect all the supplies they needed, such as corn, cattle and fodder. However, some of the soldiers also ransacked homes. They slashed pictures and portraits, destroyed furniture, and left the homes in shambles. They also found and emptied many wine cellars.
Many of the fine homes were set on fire, often against the direct orders of superiors. Many of General Grant’s classmates at West Point had been southerners. Grant knew one way to beat the proud southern leaders was to break their spirit. Yet it still pained him to see beautiful plantation homes burned for no reason.
Sunday, April 19, 1863
Robert Johnson wrote a letter home today, indicating they were camped out on a plantation owned by General Holmes of the Confederate Army. He wrote:
There are a great many fine plantations through here; indeed, through this part of the country there is nothing else but fine ones. Most of these have from thirty to fifty slave quarters on them. The planter usually lives in a one-story house with porches all around it.
He noted the plantations they passed were mostly deserted. The first union troops arrived in the area just three or four weeks earlier. Before their arrival, the local residents thought they were entirely safe. Yet in less than a month their homes and farms were occupied by the Union army and they had fled.
He also comment on the countryside:
Corn is six inches high and has been plowed once; the forest is as green as it will be this year; roses and nearly all flowers are in full bloom.
Thursday, April 16, 1863
The second day of the march took the men of the 130th to Holmes' plantation, a large tract of land belonging to General Holmes of the Confederate Army. This plantation was 900 acres, and the smallest of four belonging to Holmes. He also owned four steamboats on the Mississippi River.
The Union troops would end up spending several days camped here. However, the day was significant for other reasons.
All day long the Union fleet made final preparations to run downriver past the Vicksburg batteries. The operation began at 10 o’clock on the moonless night. Leaving the mouth of the Yazoo River with no lights showing and with as little noise as possible, the vessels dropped slowly down the river. Admiral Porter led off in the Benton and was followed at 200-yard intervals by five other gunboats: the Lafayette, Louisville, Mound City, Pittsburg and Carondelet. Next came three transports barricaded with cotton bales: the Forest Queen, Silver Wave and Henry Clay. They were all towing barges loaded with coal, while the gunboat Tuscumbia brought up the rear.
About 11 o’clock the first boats had already passed the upper fort when they were discovered. The Vicksburg batteries immediately opened a vigorous fire. The Confederates, who were holding a grand ball at Vicksburg, were startled to hear the hillside guns shattering the quiet night.
A detail of Confederate troops rowed across the river and quickly set fire to a railroad depot and nearby shacks. This was done to give the gunners on the hill a clear shot at the boats silhouetted by the fires.
The battle was an awesome spectacle for the dancers who left the Vicksburg ball. The view began to lose its appeal, however, as each Union gunboat delivered a broadside on the town as it passed, landing shells in the streets. The citizens were forced to flee the city or take refuge in caves.
General Grant didn't miss the show, either. His boat was anchored in the middle of the river, just out of range of the upper batteries. His wife and children, who recently joined him at Milliken's Bend, were also aboard.
And the Union troops marching across the peninsula, from Milliken's Bend to New Carthage, didn't miss it either. They could distinctly hear the thunder of the guns at Vicksburg.
The battle went on for over two hours. The batteries bombarded the slow-moving targets, and the aim of the Confederate gunners was fairly accurate, as every vessel was struck a number of times. But the only one seriously damaged was the Henry Clay: the cotton bales caught fire from a bursting shell, and the panic-stricken crew escaped to the other vessels or the shore. The Henry Clay then burned and sank at the water's edge.
The batteries at Warrenton were passed without difficulty and at 2 a m. on the the morning of the 17th, all of the transports except the Henry Clay safely reached New Carthage. No one had been killed, and only 14 had been wounded.
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