Posted on 07/22/2023 6:32:27 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
CAIRO, Monday, July 20.
From D.F. PARKER, who Left Vicksburgh on the 15th, we get the following:
Yazoo City, which was held by about 800 rebels, was captured by the Federals, under Gen. HERRON, on the 13th. Two hundred and fifty prisoners were captured. The gunboat DeKalb, which accompanied the expedition, was blown up by torpedoes, and sunk in shallow water. She will be raised. No lives were lost. The rebels burned three transports lying above the city, and some eight or ten large steamers up the Yazoo.
Gen. LAUMAN has been relieved of his command by Gen. SHERMAN, it is stated for disobedience of orders, and prematurely attacking Jackson. He made the attack on the 13th, and was repulsed with a loss of 300 killed and wounded.
Gen. SHERMAN is besieging JOHNSTON at Jackson, who is supposed to have 30,000 men. It is said that Johnston cannot escape.
A steamer was loading at Vicksburgh with rebel sick and wounded for Mobile via New-Orleans.
A large fleet of transports, convoyed by gunboats, has gone up the Red River, under command of Gen. RANSOM. When he returns he is to take command at Natchez.
Our forces at Milliken's Bend and Lake Providence, it is reported, are suffering considerably from sickness.
REPORT TO THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, July 21.
The Secretary of the Navy to-night received the following:
U.S MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAG-SHIP BLACK HAWK, OFF VICKSBURGH, JULY 14 via CAIRO, July 21.
Hon. GIDEON WELLES -- Sir: Hearing that Gen. JOHNSTON was fortifying Yazoo City with heavy guns, and gathering troops there for the purpose of obtaining supplies for his army from the Yazoo country; also that the remainder of the enemy's best transports were then showing a possibility of his attempt to escape,
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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Important from Vicksburgh: Yazoo City Again Captured, with 250 Prisoners – 2-3
The Surrender of Port Hudson: Gen. Gardner Determines to Surrender Upon Hearing of the Fall of Vicksburgh – 3
The Attack on Charleston: A Battle Progressing on Friday – 3
Morgan’s Last Raid: His Command Cornered and Captured after an Hour’s Fight – 3-4
Movements of Lee’s Army: A Report that it is Brought to a Stand at Bunker Hill – 4
News from the South: An Important Proclamation from Jeff. Davis – 4-6
Bragg’s Army: Demoralization of the Rebels - 6
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 6
Editorial: The New Campaign in Virginia – 6-7
Editorial: The Last Shriek of the Rebels – 7
What Next? – 7
The Last Ditch Again – 7
Good Advice to the Rioters – 7
Foreigners in Dixie – 7
Editorial: The Conscription Law – 8
The Rebels and the Rioters – 8
Life Insurance Companies and the Rioters – 8
If ever you visit Vicksburg, this is a must see stop. From here, it is evident just how important Vicksburg was to control of the Mississippi River.
VICKSBURG BATTLEFIELD TOUR STOP 9: FORT HILL
Fort Hill marks the northern flank of the Confederate defenses, and it is the first stop on the Vicksburg National Military Park Battlefield Tour’s northern loop that deals with the Confederates at Vicksburg. The view high on the bluff above what used to be the Mississippi River gives you a good idea as to why Vicksburg was a strategically important city. From up here, Confederate guns could fire upon any Union ships that tried to pass. Ships were not very fast in the 1800s and made easy targets for artillery. Only the iron platting on the new ironclads gave running the gauntlet of Confederate guns much of a chance, and even then it was risky.
No land attack was ever mounted against Fort Hill, though Union gunboats often traded shots from the river with the Confederate gunners at the fort. On May 27, 1863, the ironclad USS Cincinnati (sister ship of the Cairo) was sunk by a barrage of fire from Fort Hill and a water battery located where the National Cemetery is today. This was the second time the Cincinnati had been sunk. After the siege, the ship raised and put back into service and was able to finish out the war.
The water you see today is a Yazoo River diversion canal, not the Mississippi River. The Mississippi changed course after a flood in 1876. The river was the original border between Mississippi and Louisiana, but if you look at a map today you will find that the border no longer matches up with the river in a number of places. This is all due to the river naturally changing its course over the years.
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