Identifier: battlefieldscamp00abbo (find matches)
Title: Battle fields and camp fires. A narrative of the principle military operations of the civil war from the removal of McClellan to the accession of Grant. (1862-1863)
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Abbot, Willis J(ohn), 1863-1934. (from old catalog)
Subjects:
Publisher: New York, Dodd, Mead & co
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
p the river, but though all the guns on the VicksburgblufTs roared and flamed, the ironclads passed in safety, and one trans-port only was sunk. But though the actual casualties were thustrivial, the exploit seemed so hazardous when first proposed that noneof the regular officers or crews of the river steamers that werepressed into service for transports dared to undertake it. Volunteerswere called for, and among the regiments enlisted along the banks ofthe great rivers were found men enough, who were well versed in theart of river navigation, to man all the vessels. Having established his army on the western bank of the riveropposite Grand Gulf, Grant requested Porter to attack the Confederatebatteries on the bluffs, intending to send a force across the river assoon as the Confederate fire showed signs of weakening. But by this * For an account of the part taken by the navy in the siege of Vicksburjj, seeHhie Jackets of 6i, by Willis J. Abbot. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company,1886.
Text Appearing After Image:
RUNNING THE VICKSBURG BATTERIES. BATTLE FIELDS AND CAMP FIRES. 275 time the Confederates had made of Grand Gulf a stronghold scarcelysecond to Vicksburg, and though Porters eight gunboats hurled shellsagainst their solid earthworks for five hours and a half, the guns on thehill-tops still responded spitefully, and the io,ooo men whom Grant hadput on board the transports to be ready to cross the river as soon asan opportunity offered, were forced to march ashore again. Seventy-four men were lost by the navy in this engagement. General Grantnow concluded that it was hopeless to attempt to gain a footholdon the eastern bank of the river at Grand Gulf, and accordinglymarched his troops three miles further down the river, while the trans-ports slipped past the Grand Gulf batteries at night, under cover ofa heavy bombardment by the fleet, and made their way to the samepoint. One of the intelligent contrabands who were always on handto help the Union Generals in moments of perplexity, came t

Note About Images