Saturday, May 29, 2010

Sunday [May] 31 [1863]

Quiet -- Mortar fire severe
at intervals through the
day & night

Sunday [May] 30 [1863]

Remarkably quiet all
day. At 3 at night fierce
bombardment of city by
Parrrott guns -- their line
of fire about 2 miles --
much injury done to the
houses, --comparatively little
loss of life thereby.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Friday [May] 29 [1863]

Heavy artillery fire, of
Parrott guns, at daylight,
has more effect on the town
than the works. Numbers
of animals killed since the
siege, in and outside of town --
carcasses are dragged to river
daily. Mortar firing severe
at intervals. Courier from
Genl. Johnston -- he will come
to our relief as soon as he
can collect a sufficient
force -- Come Joe! Come
quickly!

Thursday [May] 28 [1863]

Enemies busy in making bat-
teries and trenches -- completing
their line of circumvallation.
Firing not very vigorous
until late in afternoon,
when they open with artillery --
very heavy on the left --
They bombard severely with mor-
tars till dark -- continue
through the night firing
at intervals of 1/2 hour.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Wednesday [May] 27 [1863]

the day commenced with the
habitual sharp shooting &
artillery fire. From the first
their sharp shooters have
been so numerous & the
fire so accurate that on
any limb being exposed 'twas
certain to be struck. About
9 o'c the gunboats below
moved up and opened on
lower works -- mortars bom-
bard furiously. The Cin-
cinnati, a turreted gunboat,
largest class, attacked upper
batteries and was sunk after
3/4 hour engagement. Lower
boats driven off --
After this it was quite quiet. Engin-
eers at work as usual, at
night, repairing and improving
the works.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Tuesday [May] 26 [1863]

The firing of the enemy continues
throughout the day without in-
termission, but with not much
vigor -- Heavy bombardment
at night from mortars. Works
on river front and Warrenton
road pushed ahead rapidly.
Rumors of fighting being heard
towards Big Black. Nothing
positive from without.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Monday [May] 25 [1863]

Enemy appears in force on War-
renton & Hall's Ferry roads. Firing
kept up till 6 o'clock -- when flag
of truce is sent to allow them
to bury dead of Friday's fight.
Working party sent to obstruct
flat on our fight, below town --
guard captures 100 prisoners --
enemy prevents the work.
Nothing from outside world.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Sunday [May] 24 [1863]

Firing of the enemy unusually
slack nearly all day -- artillery
heavy just before dark. Mortar
boats bombard fiercely all day.
Enemy attempts to sap out-
work on Jackson road -- are
run out by hand grenades.
Engineers at work at night
throughout the line strengthening
and repairing. No assault
attempted. rumors of John-
ston's approach current --
obtained from Yankee prisoners.
Prospect brightens.

Saturday [May] 23 [1863

Unusually quiet. Not much
arty fire until late in eve-
ning -- sharpshooters more
cautious. Enemy evidently
staggered by yesterday's repulse --
many of their dead lying in
sight of our trenches -- Mor-
tar boats still bombard
the city day & night -- Engineers
at work at night repairing
Moore's Hiberts & Lee's works --
which are much shattered.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Friday [May] 22 [1863]

Enemy's fire of artillery &
sharpshooters incessant &
heavy until noon, when it
slackened. Gunboats
make an attack -- no im-
portant result. Enemy makes
determined assaults in force
on Moore's, Hébert's and Lee's
lines -- reach the entrench-
ments & gain the parapet
at some points but are
repulsed with heavy loss.
We take some stands
of colors & some few
prisoners. At 4 o'c as-
sault made on Genl Smith --
handsomely repulsed.
Heavy bombardment of
mortars - considerable in-
jury to town

Brig. Gen. John C. Moore
Brig. Gen. Louis Hébert
Brig. Gen. Stephen D. Lee
Brig. Gen. Morgan L. Smith

Thursday [May] 21st [1863]

Enemy continues incessant
fire of artillery & musketry
on our lines -- we rarely
reply -- hoarding our am-
munition. several of our
guns dismounted -- our
casualties considerable.
Cols Ivy, Hall & Patton
wounded. In afternoon mortar boats and gunboats
open on the city -- fire
scattered all over town --
women & children pretty
generally "caved in". No
perceptible progress as yet
towards reduction. Nothing
from Genl Johnston

Colonels Edward Ivy and Isaac W. Patton of the 21st Louisiana ?
Colonel Winchester Hall of the 26th Louisiana?

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Wednesday [May] 20 [1863]

enemy continues to move
towards our right -- heavy
cannonading kept up from
the left -- to the R.R. -- several
of our guns disabled &
some loss incurred, chiefly
officers. Shelling begins
from the mortar boats upon the city. No as
saults --

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Tuesday [May] 19 [1863]

Heavy skirmishing on the
left of centre, on Graveyard
road -- brisk artillery fire
kept up by enemy all
day -- assaults made on
Smith's right and Forney's
left -- repulsed with severe
loss -- Sharpshooters
& arty open on Jackson and
Baldwin's Ferry roads.

Major General John Horace Forney (1829-1902)

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Monday [May] 18 [1863]

Troops placed in trenches --
Everything put in readiness
for a siege. Enemy reported,
about noon, on Jackson
road -- skirmishing commenced
on the Brown's ridge and Grave
yard road. Exterior line
of works left by Genl
Smith, by order, the interior
line being much stronger --
Enemy much elated by this
next morning.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Fight opened early at Big
Black bridge -- Our troops
shamefully abandon the
trenches, about 9 o'c, leaving
15 pieces arty in hands of
the enemy. Enemy stopped
at the river -- both bridges
burnt --- We fall back to
Vicksburg -- army shockingly
demoralized.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Saturday [May] 16 [1863]

"Battle of Baker's Creek"
Enemy's skirmishers open
early on our right -- near Mrs.
Ellliston's house. Line of
battle formed between two
Raymond roads, on cross
road. Battle fairly opened
on left about midday.
Enemy flanks our position
by vastly superior numbers,
and forces us to retire
about 4 p.m. Tilghman
killed late in the action --
Loring covers retreat -- is
cut off -- carries his command
to Jackson.

General Lloyd Tilghman (1816-1863)
General William Wing Loring (1818-1886)

Friday [May] 15 [1863]

Army moved from Eds
Depot on the Clinton road
in afternoon -- cross to
Raymond road -- encamp
on cross road and Ray-
mond road -- Head of
column near Mrs. Elliston's
house on the latter.
March much confused
by bad road and darkness
of night.

Thursday [May] 14 [1863]

Army drawn up in line
of battle at Edwards
Depot -- Raining all
day -- Bakers Creek
reported swimming on
the Raymond road -- Several
prisoners captured by our
pickets report Smith's
Division near Dillons --
and it is gleaned from
them that Grant has been
reinforced from Rosecrans

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Wednesday [May] 13 [1863]

Jackson taken by the enemy.
Genl Johnston with about
6000 men falls back
towards Canton. Army
moves from Big Black
to Edward's Depot. This
move made by P. in o-
bedience to instructions -- con-
sidered by himself "suici-
dal" -- all his general
officers were in favor of
the movement.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Tuesday [May] 12 [1863]

Main part of army ordered
towards Big Black bridge.
Genl P. goes to Bovina.
Genl Gregg falls back
before the enemy, who
is pressing him, towards
Jackson.

Monday [May] 11 [1863]

"Battle of Raymond"
Genl Gregg with one brigade
fights Logan's Division
near Raymond - has to fall
back towards Jackson -
Few reinforcements arriving
at Jackson - under Gist
and Walker

Brigadier General John Gregg (1828-1864) Later killed during Grant's Overland Campaign.

Major General John A."Black Jack" Logan (1826-1886) later a Congressman and Senator for Illinois and unsuccessful candidate for Vice President in the election of 1884.

General States Rights Gist (1831-1864) After Vicksburg he was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee and was killed in the Battle of Franklin during Hood's invasion of Tennessee.

Major General William Henry Talbot Walker (1816-1864) Later killed in the battle for Atlanta.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Sunday [May] 10 [1863]

All quiet in front of
Vicksburg. Enemy moving
towards Raymond -- they
appear at Halls and
Baldwins Ferries.
Line of battle still kept
in Warrenton road. For-
tifying on Signal Hill &
Smedes[?] point.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

[May] 6th [1863]

From this date until the fight
at Raymond nothing of im-
portance transpired -- all were
busy making preparations
for meeting the enemy at
Big Black bridge and along
the Warrenton road.
Reconnaissances are made
in all directions, but
little information can be
gained of the movements
of enemy on account of
great deficiency in cavalry.
Greatest mistake that was
ever made -- depriving us
of our cavalry in this dept.
as well take the arms off
a man and expect him
to defend himself.
Wirt Adams' cavalry regiment
watching enemy's line of
March towards Raymond &
Jackson
We are anxiously expect-
ing reinforcements from the
East.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

[May] 5th [1863]

Our army still
in line along the Warrenton
and Baldwin's Ferry road.
Enemy still reported moving
towards Raymond & Jackson
in large force and in several
columns.

[May] 4th [1863]

In statu quo. Enemy reported
moving on the Rocky Springs
road and crossing in small
parties at the lower Big Black
Ferries.

Monday, May 3, 2010

[May] 3rd [1863]

Our army takes line of
the Big Black, covering
the Ferries. Bowen at
Big Black bridge. Loring
at Edward's Depot --
Forney & Smith at V'burg
and Snyder's Mill.

[May] 2nd [1863]

Loring joins Bowen and
they continue to retire to
Big Black. Genl Pemberton
goes to Vicksburg. Our troops
reach Hankinson's Ferry
and cross on bridge of boats.
Enemy does not pursue.

Lt. General John C. Pemberton (1814-1881)

May 1st [1863]

Bowen sends Flag of Truce
to bury his dead -- permis
sion not granted by the
enemy -- Loring and Steven
son on way to reinforce
Bowen. He falls back, before
they arrive, in direction of
Hankinsons's Ferry, Big Black
river

General William Wing Loring (1818-1886) who had lost at arm in the Mexican War and was known as "Old Blizzards" after an engagement on March 16 at Fort Pemberton, Greenwood, Miss., in which he stood on a parapet shouting "Give them blizzards boys."
General Carter Littlepage Stevnson, Jr. (1817-1888)