Remember May 22, 1863

We are coming up on the anniversary of Grant's massive assault against the Vicksburg fortifications, all of which were a smashing defeat and bloodbath. Grant never could defeat Pemberton when he was defending behind prepared fortifications. Pemberton planned to advance and cut Grant's supply line, while Johnston attacked from the direction of Jackson. But Johnston peremptorily ordered Pemberton to come out from his prepared works near Edwards Station and link up with him north of Edwards, which is when Grant struck Pemberton's army as it tried to move north, near Champion Hill. Thus the retreat back to the Vicksburg fortifications, and the stage set for May 19 and 22 assaults, both bloody failures for Grant. My gggreat uncles fought at the 2nd Texas Lunette, one was killed May 22, the other endured the 47 day siege, unsurpassed for heroism and devotion to duty. Neither lived to marry, have a family, and so on, so I honor their sacrifice this way.
I like the quote from Thomason, on the Texas monument: (if I can remember it correctly)

"For these men believed in something. They considered life a light thing to lay down in the faith they bore. They were terrible in battle. They were generous in victory. They rose up from defeat to fight again, and while they lived, they were formidable."

3199 casualties on that one day (Federal), Confederate casualties do not exceed 500.
Bumping this thread for the big Anniversary of May 22, 1863, a day which will be long remembered for the courage and fortitude exhibited by both sides! The very best of the American character was on display that day!

Here are the eloquent words of Col. John Thomason, from the Introduction to his novel Lone Star Preacher, the italicized language (immortal words) were used on the Texas Monument at Vicksburg:

"It was never a homogeneous army. The Tidewater regiments of Virginia with … their cavalier dash were not quite the same as the sturdy blue-light soldiers from the Valley whom Stonewall Jackson led down to First Manassas. They were plain and simple men from the hill farms of North Carolina and Tennessee … who hardened under fire as steel in a furnace. South Carolina sent high-nosed heroes … hard-dying men in any company. In the hearts of Alabama and Georgia soldiers there smouldered always an angry hell, burning brightest in battle. From Texas and Mississippi and Arkansas came the tall hunters who broke the cane and bridled the western waters; bear killers and Indian fighters regarded as savage and dreadful by civilized patriots called to arms out of rock-fenced New England pastures. Louisiana sent those famous cosmopolitan Zouaves called the Louisiana Tigers … and there were Florida troops who, undismayed in fire, stampeded the night after Fredericksburg, when the Aurora Borealis snapped and crackled over that field of the frozen dead hard by the Rappahannock …
"One thing they had in common a belief in Southern rights. That one of those rights involved the dark institution of chattel slavery is not pertinent because few of them owned slaves or hoped to own them. That tariff and free trade entered into it is not pertinent, either: These were pastorals, and their economics were bounded by their fields and woodlots … Those men believed in something. They counted life a light thing to lay down in the faith they bore. They were terrible in battle. They were generous in victory. They rose up from defeat to fight again, and while they lived they were formidable. There were not enough of them. That is all."

In Memoriam N.W.W. 1840-1863

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