May 19th Attacks

[mt155]

Grant arrived on May 19th believing that one more push would do in the Rebs. After all they had been fighting, losing and retreating for weeks. Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, 14 Mile Creek, Jackson, Champion Hill and Big Black River had all been defeats. One of the places Grant attacked on the 19th was here at the Stockade Redan which covered the Graveyard Rd entrance to Vicksburg. The attacks were repulsed with heavy losses, there was fight left in the Confederates.

The view is looking east towards the Union position. It was taken from on top of the redan.

This is just south of the redan. The Graveyard Rd runs east to west in the pic and the redan is on the left.

Inside the redan.

 

[DixieRifles]

I think that was where more Medal of Honors were awarded for one battle and one day than any other time in US history.
One was one of the youngest---- a drummer boy who ran to get ammo and was killed.

Is that right?

 

[bdtex]

I have not been there yet,but that looks like a helluva defensive position. Great pics.

 

[jackt62]

Great photos and another site I need to visit.

 

[Championhilz]

I think that was where more Medal of Honors were awarded for one battle and one day than any other time in US history.
One was one of the youngest---- a drummer boy who ran to get ammo and was killed.

Is that right?

Orion P. Howe, 55th Illinois Infantry - wounded not killed

 

[James N.]

An overly-dramatized but effective representation of the assault titled First at Vicksburg painted for the U.S. Army by H. Charles McBarron depicts the 13th U.S. Infantry; in reality they didn't get as far as shown, though the title comes from the fact they reputedly planted their colors closest to the Confederate works.

 

[Tompre]

Grant arrived on May 19th believing that one more push would do in the Rebs. After all they had been fighting, losing and retreating for weeks. Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, 14 Mile Creek, Jackson, Champion Hill and Big Black River had all been defeats. One of the places Grant attacked on the 19th was here at the Stockade Redan which covered the Graveyard Rd entrance to Vicksburg. The attacks were repulsed with heavy losses, there was fight left in the Confederates.

The view is looking east towards the Union position. It was taken from on top of the redan.

This is just south of the redan. The Graveyard Rd runs east to west in the pic and the redan is on the left.

Inside the redan.

Stockade Redan was manned by the 36th Ms, my GG Grandfathers regiment, on the day of the assault. The regiment had come from Snyder's Bluff and had not been in the preceding battles.

 

[DixieRifles]

the assault titled First at Vicksburg painted for the U.S. Army by H. Charles McBarron depicts the 13th U.S. Infantry;

Who was their commander on this date?
The 13 Regulars became Sherman's guard and was escort for Willie's funeral procession in Memohis in October. At battle of Collierville, they were ~250 in strength and lead by Capt Charles Smith, as I recall.

 

[James N.]

Who was their commander on this date?
The 13 Regulars became Sherman's guard and was escort for Willie's funeral procession in Memohis in October. At battle of Collierville, they were ~250 in strength and lead by Capt Charles Smith, as I recall.

Unfortunately all I know is from the caption on the margins of the print when I had a copy of it hanging in my bedroom at home fifty years ago back in the 1960's, and it didn't say. I'm certain there's a marker or tablet for them at the park with that information on it, similar to this one above there for Battery Benton at the U.S. Navy Circle. I imagine the NPS office there could provide you with the text like they did for me at Chickamauga when I was researching my ancestor's regiment in Wood's Brigade. There was a ring binder in the park office that had the text of all the markers on separate leaves and a ranger was kind enough to make me Xerox copies of the 5 Wood's Brigade markers like the one below, even one that had disappeared decades ago! The 13th U.S. might not have their own individual marker but would surely be included on the one for the brigade to which they belonged.

 

[DixieRifles]

m certain there's a marker or tablet for them at the park with that information on it, similar to this one above there for Battery Benton at the U.S. Navy Circle. I imagine the NPS

Yes There is a marker for the 13 US and the NPS website lets you view the marker for every regiment.
My question is asking specifically who led them in this charge I would also like know what Capf Smith did on this day.
I have a copy (Googk books) of history of 13 Illinois which probably has this info.

 

[James N.]

Yes There is a marker for the 13 US and the NPS website lets you view the marker for every regiment.
My question is asking specifically who led them in this charge I would also like know what Capf Smith did on this day.
I have a copy (Googk books) of history of 13 Illinois which probably has this info.

Dixie, you've confused me - you do know these are two different units, right? That's good to know about the NPS website, though!

 

[DixieRifles]

I do get confused at times --- and I'm no expert on Union regiments.
The 13 US Regulars was originally the 13th Illinois. But there was another 13 Illinois Regt. The park does have a unit marker for both units as they were both there. Going on memory, now, I recall the marker for the 13 US is one of the first you pass while driving the route from the Visitors Center.
I haven't had time to pull out my CD but I have 2 unit histories and both are for the same unit. The title is the 13th Illinois.
I will try to find the Link to a previous discussion but feel free to enlighten me.

Here are links to Google Books unit histories for the two regiments.

"Military History and Reminiscences of the Thirteenth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry"
Publisher: Woman's Temperance Publishing Asscn, 1892.
Link: https://books.google.com/books?id=U...iment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry"&f=false


"History of the Thirteenth Regiment United States Infantry" by Ulysses Grant McAlexander
Publisher: Regimental Press, Thirteenth Infantry, 1905
Link: https://books.google.com/books?id=k...nfantry" by Ulysses Grant McAlexander&f=false

 

[DixieRifles]

This is some excerpts from that second reference.

Note the Title added to bottom of battle honors: First At Vicksburg.