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Military. Ancient Colonial Houses

Military

Military. Portrait and tomb of the general.

Civil War Drawings Collection. Published in Frank Leslie's The Civil War In The United States, 1896.

Civil War Drawings Collection.

Civil War Drawings Collection. Engraved for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper in January 1865 with the title "Reception of General Sherman by General Foster on Board the Revenue Cutter Nemaha, in the Ogeechee River, Georgia, December 14, 1864" by our Special Artist, (XIX:484):241 Sherman described this meeting in a letter to General Grant on 16 December 1864. GENERAL: I received, day before yesterday, at the hands of Lieutenant Dunn, your letter of December 3, and last night, at the hands of Colonel Babcock, that of December 6. I had previously made you a hasty scrawl from the tug-boat Dandelion, in Ogeechee River, advising you that the army had reached the sea-coast, destroying all railroads across the State of Georgia and investing closely the city of Savannah, and had made connection with the fleet. Since writing that note I have in person met and conferred with General Foster and Admiral Dahlgren, and made all the arrangements which I deemed essential to reducing the city of Savannah to our possession. But since the receipt of yours of the 6th I have initiated measures looking principally to coming to you with 50,000 or 60,000 infantry, and, incidentally, to take Savannah, if time will allow. At the time we carried Fort McAllister by assault so handsomely, with its 22 guns and entire garrison, I was hardly aware of its importance; but since passing down the river with General Foster and up with Admiral Dahlgren I realize how admirably adapted are Ossabaw Sound and Ogeechee River to supply an army operating against Savannah. Sea-going vessels can easily come to King's Bridge, a point on Ogeechee River, fourteen and a half miles due west of Savannah, from which point we have roads leading to all our camps. The country is low and sandy, and cut up with marshes, which, in wet weather, will be very bad; but we have been so favored with weather that they are all now comparatively good, and heavy details are constantly employed in double corduroying the marshes, so that I have no fears even of bad weather. Fortunately, also, by liberal and judicious foraging, we reached the sea-coast abundantly supplied with forage and provisions, needing nothing on arrival except bread; of this we started from Atlanta provided with from eight to twenty days' supply per corps, and some of the troops only had one days' issue of bread during the trip of thirty days; and yet they did not want, for sweet potatoes were very abundant, as well as corn meal, and our soldiers took to them naturally....

Civil War Drawings Collection. Siege of Vicksburg. From the diary of The Diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd, 20th Ohio Infantry, A Soldier's Story of the Siege of Vicksburg: "THE FOURTH OF JULY! The siege is at last ended. Behold the white flag now waving over the rebel ramparts. Vicksburg has at length surrendered. Speed the glad news to our loved ones at the North, who, during our long trial, have helped us with their prayers. Speed it to the entire forces of the Union, that they may all take courage and move again. We are all full of rejoicing, as the event will no doubt prove a death-blow to the rebellion in the Southwest. Vicksburg has been the boast of the enemy, who thought it to be impregnable, and they confidently defied the Army of the West to take it. But by the untiring energy, skill and forecast of our gallant leader, U. S. Grant, aided by the willing and brave hearts about him, Vicksburg has been taken, and over it the stars and stripes now float proudly in all their majestic beauty. How glad I am that I have been one of those who have endured the trials requisite to plant our banner there. And while rejoicing over our success, let us not forget those who have died on these fields of honor. While we surviving raise Liberty's ensign over Vicksburg, let us remember the graves at Raymond and Champion Hills.… We rejoice not less over our triumph to-day because it was consummated upon the glorious Fourth. And while we rejoice for our country, we show no unworthy exultation over the fallen, to whom we extend the sympathy of victors. Our division, under its commander, General Logan, marched into the city in triumph, and there took command and completed the long desired event-raising the star spangled banner over the court house cupola."

Civil War Drawings Collection. The Siege of Vicksburg. After a series of failed assaults, Grant realized that he would have to isolate Vicksburg from its supply lines, so settled into a siege. Late in the siege, Union troops tunneled under the 3rd Louisiana Redan and packed the mine with 2,200 pounds of gunpowder. The explosion blew apart the Confederate lines on 25 June , while an infantry attack followed the blast. The 45th Illinois Regiment charged into the deep crater with ease, but were stopped by recovering Confederate infantry. The Union soldiers became pinned down while the defenders rolled artillery shells with short fuses into the pit with deadly results. Union engineers worked to set up a casement in the crater in order to extricate the infantry, and the soldiers fell back to a new defensive line. From the crater left by the explosion on 25 June, Union miners worked to dig a new tunnel to the south. On 1 July , the mine was detonated but no infantry attack followed. Miners worked throughout 2 July, and 3 July to widen the initial crater for an infantry column of four to pass through for future anticipated assaults. However, events the following day negated the need for any further assaults.