incessant bombardment of the previous days, while the Federal
sharpshooters were able to render dangerous any attempt to work the
artillery in position. Two regiments of sharpshooters were detailed to
creep up to and lie on the exterior slope of the enemy’s breastworks,
while another regiment, each soldier having a hand-grenade besides his
musket, followed. Another regiment followed with bags filled with
cotton, which were to be used to fill up the ditch in front of the
breastworks. The remaining regiments of General Weitzel’s brigade
succeeded, supported by the brigades of Colonel Kimball and Colonel
Morgan. These forces, all under General Weitzel, constituted the right
of attack.
On the left General Paine’s division constituted a separate column. The
whole command was under General Grover, who planned the attack.
It was expected that General Weitzel’s command would make a lodgment
within the enemy’s works, and thus prepare the way for General Paine’s
division.
The advance was made about daylight, through a covered way, to within
three hundred yards of the enemy’s position; then their progress was
retarded by deep gulleys, covered with bush and creeping vines. Under an
incessant fire from the enemy, a part of the skirmishers reached the
ditch, where they were met with an enfilading fire, and hurled back,
while their hand-grenades were caught up by the enemy and thrown back
again into the Union ranks. The assaulting column moved on as rapidly as
possible, and made several gallant and desperate attempts on the enemy’s
works, but found them fully prepared at all points, and every part of
their fortifications lined with dense masses of infantry. At length the
assaulting columns were compelled to fall back under the deadly fire of
the enemy, and the fighting finally ceased at eleven o’clock in the
morning. General Banks’s loss was nearly seven hundred in killed and
wounded.
Meantime the first parallel encircling the outer line of the rebel
defences was pushed forward, and the skirmishers were posted in
rifle-pits so near that skirmishes were of constant occurrence at night.
* * * * *
The withdrawal of General Banks’s force from the west side of the
Mississippi was followed by great activity on the part of the enemy, for
the purpose of recovering the places held by small bodies of Federal
troops, and to cause a diversion from Port Hudson. Opelousas was
reoccupied by a considerable Confederate force; and the west bank of the
Mississippi was lined with squads of the rebels, who fired on every boat
which passed. On the 17th of June, an attack was made on the Federal
pickets at La Fourche, which was repulsed. On the 23d, Brashear City was
captured by a Confederate force under Generals Green and Morton. A camp
of contrabands was attacked by the enemy, and large numbers killed.
Immense quantities of ammunition, several pieces of artillery, three
hundred thousand dollars’ worth of sutler’s goods, sugar, flour, pork,
beef, and medical stores, of vast amount, were also captured. On the
28th, an attack was made on Donaldsonville, and the storming party
succeeded in getting into the fort. But the gunboats opened a flanking
fire above and below the fort, and drove back the supporting party, so
that the enemy broke and fled. Of those who had entered the fort, one
hundred and twenty were captured and nearly one hundred killed.
Other movements on the part of the enemy were made at this time, which
indicated great activity, and enabled them to destroy much Federal
property. No embarrassment however was caused to the position of General
Banks. The enemy, in short, recovered the La Fourche, Teche, Attakapas,
and Opelousas country, and captured Brashear, with fifteen hundred
prisoners, a large number of slaves, and nearly all the confiscated
cotton.
* * * * *
After the two attempts to reduce Port Hudson by a land assault, on the
27th of May and the 14th of June, the purpose to make another was given
up General Banks, until he had fully invested the place by a series of
irresistible approaches. He was thus engaged in pushing forward his
works when Vicksburg was surrendered. Information of this surrender was
sent to General Banks, and it was the occasion for firing salutes and a
general excitement in his camp, which attracted the attention of the
enemy, to whom the surrender was communicated. General Gardner, upon
receiving the information, sent by flag of truce, about midnight of the
7th, the following note to General Banks:
“HEADQUARTERS, PORT HUDSON, LA., JULY 7th, 1863.
“To Major-General BANKS, commanding United States forces near Port
Hudson:
“GENERAL: Having received information from your troops that Vicksburg
has been surrendered, I make this communication to request you to give
me the official assurance whether this is true or not, and if true, I
ask for a cessation of hostilities, with a view to the consideration
of terms for surrendering this position.
“I am, General, very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
FRANK GARDNER, Major-General.”
To which General Banks thus replied
“HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, }
BEFORE PORT HUDSON, JULY 8th, 1863. }
“To Major-General FRANK GARDNER, commanding C. S. forces, Port Hudson:
“GENERAL: In reply to your communication, dated the 7th instant, by
flag of truce, received a few moments since, I have the honor to
inform you that I received, yesterday morning, July 7th, at 10.45, by
the gunboat General Price, an official despatch from Major-General
Ulysses S. Grant, United States Army, whereof the following is a true
extract:
“‘HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, }
NEAR VICKSBURG, JULY 4th, 1863. }
“‘Major-General N. P. BANKS, commanding Department of the Gulf:
“‘GENERAL: The garrison of Vicksburg surrendered this morning. The
number of prisoners, as given by the officer, is twenty-seven
thousand, field artillery one hundred and twenty-eight pieces, and a
large number of siege guns, probably not less than eighty.
“‘Your obedient servant, U. S. Grant, Major-General.’”
“I regret to say, that under present circumstances, I cannot,
consistently with my duty, consent to a cessation of hostilities for
the purpose you indicate.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
N. P. BANKS.”
The following further correspondence then took place:
“PORT HUDSON, JULY 8th, 1863.
“GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
communication of this date, giving a copy of an official communication
from Major-General U. S. Grant, United States Army, announcing the
surrender of Vicksburg.
“Having defended this position as long as I deem my duty requires, I
am willing to surrender to you, and will appoint a commission of three
officers to meet a similar commission appointed by yourself, at nine
o’clock this morning, for the purpose of agreeing upon and drawing up
the terms of the surrender, and for that purpose I ask for a cessation
of hostilities.
“Will you please to designate a point outside of my breastworks, where
the meeting shall be held for this purpose?
“I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
FRANK GARDNER, Commanding C. S. Forces.”
“HEADQUARTERS, U. S. FORCES, BEFORE }
PORT HUDSON, JULY 8th, 1863. }
“To Major-General FRANK GARDNER, commanding Confederate States forces,
Port Hudson:
“GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
communication of this date, stating that you are willing to surrender
the garrison under your command to the forces under my command, and
that you will appoint a commission of three officers to meet a similar
commission appointed by me, at nine o’clock this morning, for the
purpose of agreeing upon and drawing up the terms of the surrender.
“In reply, I have the honor to state that I have designated
Brigadier-General Charles P. Stone, Colonel Henry W. Birge, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Richard B. Irwin, as the officers to meet the
commission appointed by you.
“They will meet your officers at the hour designated, at a point where
the flag of truce was received this morning. I will direct that active
hostilities shall entirely cease on my part until further notice, for
the purpose stated.
“Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
“N. P. BANKS, Major-General Commanding.”
CAMP SCENES.
[Illustration: ASSORTING THE MAIL.]
[Illustration: THE NEWS DEPOT.]
The following are the articles of capitulation mutually agreed upon and
adopted:
ART. 1. Major-General Frank Gardner surrenders to the United States
forces under Major-General Banks, the place of Port Hudson and its
dependencies, with its garrison, armaments, munitions, public funds, and
materials of war, in the condition, as nearly as may be, in which they
were at the hour of cessation of hostilities, namely, 6 o’clock A. M.,
July 8, 1863.
ART. 2. The surrender stipulated in article one is qualified by no
condition, save that the officers and enlisted men comprising the
garrison shall receive the treatment due to prisoners of war, according
to the usages of civilized warfare.
ART. 3. All private property of officers and enlisted men shall be
respected, and left to their respective owners.
ART. 4. The position of Port Hudson shall be occupied to-morrow, at 7
o’clock A. M., by the forces of the United States, and its garrison
received as prisoners of war by such general officers of the United
States service as may be designated by Major-General Banks, with the
ordinary formalities of rendition. The Confederate troops will be drawn
up in line, officers in their positions, the right of the line resting
on the edge of the prairie south of the railroad depot; the left
extending in the direction of the village of Port Hudson. The arms and
colors will be piled conveniently, and will be received by the officers
of the United States.
ART. 5. The sick and wounded of the garrison will be cared for by the
authorities of the United States, assisted if desired by either party,
by the medical officers of the garrison.
The formal surrender was made on the 9th of July. General Andrews,
Chief-of-Staff of General Banks, with Colonel Birge leading his column,
followed by two picked regiments from each division, with Holcombe’s and
Rowle’s batteries of light artillery, and the gunners of the naval
battery, entered the fortifications. The enemy were drawn up in line,
with their officers in front of them, on one side of the road, with
their backs to the river. The Federal troops were drawn up in two lines
on the opposite side of the road, with their officers in front of them.
General Gardner then advanced, and offered to surrender his sword with
Port Hudson. In appreciation of his bravery, he was desired to retain
it. He then said: “General, I will now formally surrender my command to
you, and for that purpose will give the order to ground arms.” The order
was given, and the arms grounded. The surrender comprised, besides the
position, more than six thousand two hundred and thirty-three prisoners,
fifty-one pieces of artillery, two steamers, four thousand four hundred
pounds of canon powder, five thousand small arms, and one hundred and
fifty thousand rounds of ammunition. The loss of General Banks from the
twenty-third to the thirtieth of May was about one thousand. The village
of Port Hudson consisted of a few houses and a small church, which had
been nearly destroyed by the cannonade. The wounded and sick of the
garrison suffered most from want of medical stores. The provisions of
the garrison were nearly exhausted.
* * * * *
A short period of inactivity succeeded the heavy campaign of General
Banks’s army, which culminated in the capture of Port Hudson, on the 9th
of July, 1863. But the plans of the commanding officers were maturing
for new expeditions, in more remote regions, where the flag of rebellion
was still floating defiantly, and where the machinations of European
powers were striving covertly to give aid to the Confederate cause, and
to establish an unfriendly Government on the Federal confines, if not on
American soil.
Rear-Admiral David D. Porter arrived at New Orleans on the 1st of
August, 1863, and resumed command of the gunboats on the Mississippi.
About the same time Major-General Franklin, formerly a corps commander
in the Army of the Potomac, arrived at the same place, and reported for
duty.
A naval expedition to the mouth of the Sabine river, in Texas, was
undertaken by General Banks, who dispatched General Franklin with four
thousand men in four army transports, to capture the forts at Sabine
Pass, at the mouth of the river, which forms the boundary line between
Texas and Louisiana. The armed steamers employed were the Clifton,
Sachem, Arizona, and Granite City, and the naval forces were commanded
by Lieutenant Crocker.
Early on the morning of September 8th, the Clifton stood in the bay and
opened on the fort, to which no reply was made. At 9 A. M. the Sachem,
Arizona, and Granite City, followed by the transports, stood over the
bar, and, with much difficulty, owing to the low water, reached an
anchorage about two miles from the fort at 11 A. M. About the middle of
the afternoon the Sachem, followed by the Arizona, advanced up the
eastern channel to draw the fire of the forts, while the Clifton
advanced up the western channel. The Granite City remained to cover the
landing of a division of troops under General Weitzel. No reply was made
to the fire of the gunboats until they were abreast of the forts, when
eight guns opened fire upon them. Three of these were rifled. Almost at
the same moment the Clifton and Sachem were struck in their boilers and
both vessels enveloped in steam. The Arizona, not having room to pass
the Sachem, then backed down the channel until she grounded by the
stern, when the ebb-tide caught her bows and swung her across the
channel. White flags were raised on the Clifton and Sachem, and within
twenty minutes they were taken in tow by the enemy. The naval force of
the expedition being thus disabled, the transports moved out of the bay.
The Arizona was got afloat during the night, and followed. The
expedition then returned to Brashear City. The officers and crews of the
Clifton and Sachem, and about ninety sharpshooters who were on board
were captured, and the loss in killed and wounded was about thirty.
After remaining at Brashear City some time, the military force moved to
Franklin and Vermillionville.
On the 27th of October an expedition under General Banks put to sea from
New Orleans. It consisted of about twenty vessels, accompanied by the
gunboats Owasco, Virginia, and Monongahela, which sailed to the mouth of
the Rio Grande river, the boundary between Texas and Mexico. Brownsville
was occupied by Federal troops, which did much to check the designs of
the French Emperor. An American army was now placed on the frontier,
prepared to check any open demonstration of sympathy between the armies
of Davis and Napoleon.
Western Louisiana was again the scene of military operations in the
Teche district, where General Washburn’s command was attacked on the 5th
of November, and after a severe struggle, he succeeded in beating off
the enemy with a loss of one hundred killed and two hundred prisoners.
The Federal loss was forty killed.
NAVAL OPERATIONS IN 1863.
The most important operations of the navy during the year were those on
the Mississippi river, and before Charleston, which have been already
described in connection with army movements.
The work of building vessels for naval purposes was carried on
vigorously during the year, and, inclusive of vessels purchased, and
those captured from the enemy, fifty-eight vessels, mounting four
hundred and fifty-two guns, with a tonnage of fifty thousand tons, were
added; while the loss for the same period was thirty-four vessels of
about sixteen thousand tons, including the iron-clads Monitor and
Weehawken, which foundered in stormy weather. The number of seamen on
the register was about thirty-four thousand.
At daylight on January 29, an iron propeller named Princess Royal
attempted to enter Charleston harbor, but was captured by the gunboat
Unadilla. This was one of the most valuable prizes taken during the war.
The cargo would have been of great service to the enemy, who immediately
set on foot a daring scheme to recover her. Accordingly, before daylight
on the 31st, two rebel rams, the Palmetto State and the Chicora, under
Commodore Ingraham, came down the channel, and surprised the smaller
vessels of the blockading squadron, which lay close in shore. The
Mercedita was the first vessel attacked, which was rendered helpless by
the explosion of a 7-inch shell from the Palmetto State in her port
boiler, and surrendered. The Keystone State was then attacked by both
rams, and made a most gallant defence, but being disabled, she was
compelled to pull down her flag, but re-hoisted it when she found the
enemy did not discontinue his fire. Other vessels making their
appearance, the rams soon after discontinued the attack, and both the
disabled Federal vessels were taken in tow by their consorts.
It was claimed by General Beauregard and Flag-officer Ingraham that the
blockade had been raised in accordance with the laws of war, as there
were no Federal vessels in sight from Charleston at daylight on the 1st
of February; and the foreign consular agents in Charleston were induced
to indorse this claim, but the assumption remained unnoticed by foreign
governments.
On January 30, the Federal gunboat Isaac Smith, Lieutenant Conover, was
captured on Stono river, S. C., by masked shore batteries, after losing
twenty-four men in killed and wounded.
On the 27th of February, the Montauk monitor destroyed the rebel steamer
Nashville, under the guns of Fort McAllister.
On December 17th, the steamer Chesapeake, plying between New York and
Portland, was seized on her passage to the latter place, when about
twenty miles northeast of Cape Cod, by sixteen of her passengers, who
represented themselves as belonging to the Confederate States. The
captain was put in irons, one of the engineers killed and thrown
overboard, and the first mate wounded. The crew and passengers, with the
exception of the first engineer, retained to manage the steamer, were
subsequently put ashore in a boat, and the Chesapeake sailed to the
eastward. Upon the reception of the news in the United States, a fleet
of cruisers started in pursuit, and on the 17th the Chesapeake was
captured by the Ella and Anna, in Sambro harbor, Nova Scotia, and, with
a portion of her crew, was carried to Halifax and delivered to the
authorities. The prisoners were released by a mob, but the Chesapeake
was subsequently restored to her American owners by an order of the
chief colonial tribunal.
The number of vessels captured by the several squadrons, from the
commencement of the war to November 1, 1863, was one thousand and
forty-five, valued at thirteen millions of dollars. During the same
period the rebels had destroyed or captured one hundred and eighty-four
Federal vessels, valued at fifteen millions of dollars.
THE FIELD OF OPERATIONS IN 1864.
At the beginning of the year 1864, the authority of the United States
Government—established by the dauntless courage and determined valor of
the armies of the Union—extended over a very large portion of the
territory which had been controlled by the rebellion. The capture of
Vicksburg and Port Hudson had opened the navigation of the Mississippi
river. The State of Missouri had been redeemed, and the rebel power had
been broken in Arkansas. From Kentucky and Tennessee the rebel flag had
been driven out, by the victorious banner of the Republic. In Florida,
in the Carolinas, and in Southern Virginia, the arms of the Union had
effected a permanent lodgment. The mouth of the Rio Grande had been
closed, thus cutting off an important channel of rebel communication
with foreign markets, and with disloyal traders at the North. In
Louisiana the power of the Government was growing stronger, day by day.
Victory, moreover, had strengthened the hands and hearts of the patriots
at the North, soldiers as well as civilians. The army and the navy were
in excellent condition, and the War Department felt justified in making
a reduction of upwards of two millions of dollars, in its estimate of
military and naval expenditure for the next year. Thus, in every
particular, the condition of the country seemed much improved, while the
prospects for the future were full of comfort and promise. Important
work yet remained to be done: sacrifices were yet to be made. But the
work was enjoined by a sacred sense of duty, and the loyal people of the
United Slates were ready to make any and every sacrifice that might be
required for its suitable and thorough performance.
The positions of the various armies, at the beginning of 1864, should
here be noted. General Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, was
posted near Culpepper Court House, in Virginia, whither he had arrived,
after a variety of manœuvres, in the latter part of 1863. General Lee
confronted him with the finest army of the rebellion. The Union forces
occupied Winchester, Martinsburg, and Harper’s Ferry, and held the line
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, thus blocking all possible advance
of the rebels up the Shenandoah valley. A rebel force, however, was in
the valley, led on by General Jubal Early, whose headquarters were at
Staunton. General Bragg’s rebel forces were massed in the vicinity of
Dalton, Georgia, opposed by the Union armies under General Grant, in
front of Chattanooga, Tennessee. General Burnside—whose resignation had
not yet been given in—was at Knoxville, and not far to the eastward of
that point was General Longstreet’s division of the rebel army. General
Banks held command in New Orleans, and had detachments of troops in
Texas. General Rosecrans was at the head of a small force in Missouri.
General Steele commanded the Union troops at Little Rock, in Arkansas.
Military fortifications were established, all along the Mississippi
river. The United States had about six hundred thousand men in the
field: the Confederates about four hundred thousand. General Lee’s
forces, in Virginia and North Carolina, numbered at least one hundred
and ten thousand. The other great army of the Confederacy was commanded
by General J. C. Johnston, whose department included Georgia, Alabama,
and Mississippi. The rebel troops at Mobile were commanded by Generals
Maury and Clairborne.
The great operations of the year 1864 were, Sherman’s march from Atlanta
to Savannah—including, of course, the preliminary manœuvres and battles,
which prepared his way—and General Grant’s advance on Richmond, by way
of the Wilderness. Before describing these, however, a considerable
space must be devoted to miscellaneous operations in various parts of
the country.
SHERMAN’S EXPEDITION AGAINST MERIDIAN, MISS.
FEBRUARY 3, 1864.
After participating in the battles around Chattanooga, and raising the
siege of Knoxville to relieve General Burnside, General Sherman withdrew
to Vicksburg, to take command of an expedition which left that city on
the 3rd of February, 1864, and proceeded in the direction of Meridian,
in Alabama. The force under General Sherman numbered about thirty
thousand men, and consisted of the two corps under General McPherson and
General Hurlbut, with sixty pieces of light artillery. After much
skirmishing by the way, in which the enemy was constantly overcome.
General Sherman reached Meridian on the 7th of February. The object of
this expedition was the destruction of several railroads which are
specified in the following order, issued after the Union force had been
one week in Meridian.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, }
MERIDIAN, Miss., February, 15, 1864. }