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.
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.
Wednesday, April 15, 1863
After months of fruitless ditch digging and dredging, the army was put in motion, today as the 13th Army Corps took the advance. Today the whole command broke camp and started on the march.
The magnitude of this advance needs to be fully appreciated. Roads had to be constructed, bridges had to be built across the numerous bayous that crossed the line of march, commissary and ordnance stores for a large army had to be transported on wagons, and the army itself had to endure long and weary marches through mud and rain.
During this march the 13th Army Corps built about two thousand feet of bridges. They also constructed a passable wagon road nearly the whole distance, which allowed the wagon to transport the supplies over the soft, soggy roads.
The 130th Illinois Infantry was part of the 2nd Brigade, of the 10th Division, of the 13th Army Corps, commanded by Major General John A. McClernand. Other units assigned to the 2nd Brigade were the 77th Illinois Infantry, the 97th Illinois Infantry, the 19th Kentucky Infantry and the 48th Ohio Infantry. For virtually the rest of the Civil War, these units were no more than a stone's throw from each other.
The 13th Army Corps included the 9th, 10th, 12th, and 14th Divisions. Each of these divisions was made up of two brigades, plus cavalry and artillery units. Each brigade included 5 or 6 infantry regiments. A battery unit was also attached to each brigade. These, when complete, had six cannon and six caissons ammunition wagons to each of which were attached six horses. Every regiment had two or three ambulances to carry the sick or disabled, several wagons to haul tents and other camp equipment.
So, a division, with its men marching in fairly loose ranks, ambulances, wagons, batteries, etc. occupied a huge amount of space on the road. Additionally there was always a train of wagons containing provisions, ammunition and necessary extra supplies.
Most of the section of country they traveled was low, and the roads, when not flooded, were either quite muddy or very rough. In many places the roads had to be made and bridges built. In other places the road ran along the top of the levee.
The first day's march took the command to Richmond, LA, a small town about 22 miles west of Vicksburg.
Private Elias J. Patterson, from Company C and Cairo, died today in Memphis.
Sunday, April 12, 1863
Soon after the reviews came marching orders. But first the sick had to be taken to a hospital boat, which would take them up the river to Memphis. Accordingly, they were put in ambulances and taken to the riverfront.
A train of ambulances, loaded with the sick soldiers, made a dreary procession. Each sick man, when taken aboard, had his name checked and then his name, rank, company, regiment, brigade, etc., were given to the authorities on the boat.
Private Stephen P Austin died today at Milliken's Bend. He was from Mt. Carmel and assigned to Company H.
Thursday, April 9, 1863
Today there was a grand review, with Major General U.S. Grant presiding.
Charles Johnson described the future president like this:
As my place was not then in the ranks, and as I had never seen that officer, I managed to get a good view of him while he sat on his horse, attended by a few staff officers. As each regiment passed the officers presented their swords, and the men their guns, in salutation; and Grant, in recognition, raised his hat. During the following three months General Grant became a familiar figure. At this time he appeared a little heavier than the average man of his height, and was, moreover, a little stoop-shouldered. He wore a short, stubby, slightly reddish-brown beard, and his whole appearance was modest and unassuming.The men of the 130th learned from seasoned troops in other regiments that these reviews meant active service was not far away. They saw this as a good thing…anything was better than the monotonous camp life inside the levee. And between rumors and truth, they knew what this meant…they were soon going to be in a fight for Vicksburg.
Tuesday, April 7, 1863
Today the division was inspected by General A. J. Smith.
While encamped inside the levees, the Union troops used the Mississippi River water for their cooking and drinking needs. Charles Johnson had this to say:
The water used came from the Mississippi, which at the time was very high, and there was so much sediment that a bucket dipped in the current would be filled with water which, after standing for a time, would have more than an inch of "settlings" in the bottom. But the natives insisted Mississippi River water was healthy, and after sedimentation it was certainly pleasant to drink.
Corporal Marion S. Bottoms died today at Milliken's Bend. He was from Cairo and assigned to Company C of the 130th Illinois Infantry.
Monday, April 6, 1863
Using the flatboat they procured yesterday, General Osterhaus and his troops crossed the flooded area and occupied New Carthage. Harrison was forced to retreat to Perkins' plantation in Somerset.
With the land route to New Carthage secure and the flood waters continuing to fall, General Grant was nearly ready to make his combined land and river move. Admiral Porter began to prepare his transports to pass the Vicksburg batteries by lining the decks with bales of cotton and sacks of grain. Barges were loaded with coal, supplies and equipment, and prepared to be towed by the transports.
With the land route to New Carthage secure and the flood waters continuing to fall, General Grant was nearly ready to make his combined land and river move. Admiral Porter began to prepare his transports to pass the Vicksburg batteries by lining the decks with bales of cotton and sacks of grain. Barges were loaded with coal, supplies and equipment, and prepared to be towed by the transports.
Sunday, April 5, 1863
The advance force under General P. J. Osterhaus moved on to New Carthage. Along the way they occupied the Stansbrough house and the Holmes' plantation. The Union troops found that the bayou levee above New Carthage had broken in several places, flooding the road for two miles.
General Osterhaus camped at Smith's Plantation and sent some men with local slaves as guides to seize a flatboat. Major Harrison, who had been chased from Richmond on March 31st, had a force of only a few hundred men. They fired unsuccessfully at Osterhaus' men while they were towing the flatboat back to camp. They were unable to slow the Union advance.
Friday, April 3, 1863
Engineers for the Union Army completed a 200 foot long bridge today across the Roundawy Bayou near Richmond. They tore down log houses and used those materials to construct the bridge.
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