ed to McClernand's corps； taking part with it in the battle of Champion Hills； but on the 17th it was ordered by General Grant across to Bridgeport； to join me there。
Just beyond Bolton there was a small hewn…log house； standing back in a yard； in which was a well； at this some of our soldiers were drawing water。 I rode in to get a drink； and； seeing a book on the ground； asked some soldier to hand it to me。 It was a volume of the Constitution of the United States； and on the title…page was written the name of Jefferson Davis。 On inquiry of a negro； I learned that the place belonged to the then President of the Southern Confederation。 His brother Joe Davis's plantation was not far off； one of my staff…officers went there； with a few soldiers； and took a pair of carriage…horses； without my knowledge at the time。 He found Joe Davis at home； an old man； attended by a young and affectionate niece； but they were overwhelmed with grief to see their country overran and swarming with Federal troops。
We pushed on； and reached the Big Black early； Blair's troops having preceded us by an hour or so。 I found General Blair in person； and he reported that there was no bridge across the Big Black； that it was swimming…deep； and that there was a rebel force on the opposite side； intrenched。 He had ordered a detachment of the Thirteenth United States Regulars； under Captain Charles Ewing； to strip some artillery…horses； mount the men； and swim the river above the ferry； to attack and drive away the party on the opposite bank。 I did not approve of this risky attempt； but crept down close to the brink of the river… bank； behind a corn…crib belonging to a plantation house near by； and saw the parapet on the opposite bank。 Ordering a section of guns to be brought forward by hand behind this corn…crib； a few well…directed shells brought out of their holes the little party that was covering the crossing； viz。； a lieutenant and ten men； who came down to the river…bank and surrendered。 Blair's pon… toon…train was brought up； consisting of India…rubber boats； one of which was inflated； used as a boat； and brought over the prisoners。 A pontoon…bridge was at once begun； finished by night； and the troops began the passage。 After dark； the whole scene was lit up with fires of pitch…pine。 General Grant joined me there； and we sat on a log； looking at the passage of the troops by the light of those fires； the bridge swayed to and fro under the passing feet； and made a fine war…picture。 At daybreak we moved on； ascending the ridge； and by 10 a。m。 the head of my column； long drawn out； reached the Benton road； and gave us command of the peninsula between the Yazoo and Big Black。 I dispatched Colonel Swan； of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry； to Haines's Bluff； to capture that battery from the rear； and he afterward reported that he found it abandoned； its garrison having hastily retreated into Vicksburg； leaving their guns partially disabled； a magazine full of ammunition； and a hospital full of wounded and sick men。 Colonel Swan saw one of our gunboats lying about two miles below in the Yazoo； to which he signaled。 She steamed up； and to its commander the cavalry turned over the battery at Haines's Bluff； and rejoined me in front of Vicksburg。 Allowing a couple of hours for rest and to close up the column； I resumed the march straight on Vicksburg。 About two miles before reaching the forts； the road forked； the left was the main Jackson road； and the right was the 〃graveyard〃 road； which entered Vicksburg near a large cemetery。 General Grant in person directed me to take the right…hand road； but； as McPherson had not yet got up from the direction of the railroad…bridge at Big Black； I sent the Eighth Missouri on the main Jackson road； to push the rebel skirmishers into town； and to remain until relieved by McPherson's advance； which happened late that evening； May 18th。 The battalion of the Thirteenth United States Regulars； commanded by Captain Washington； was at the head of the column on the right…hand road； and pushed the rebels close behind their parapets； one of my staff； Captain Pitzman； receiving a dangerous wound in the hip； which apparently disabled him for life。 By night Blair's whole division had closed up against the defenses of Vicksburg； which were found to be strong and well manned； and； on General Steele's head of column arriving； I turned it still more to the right； with orders to work its way down the bluff； so as to make connection with our fleet in the Mississippi River。 There was a good deal of desultory fighting that evening； and a man was killed by the aide of General Grant and myself； as we sat by the road…side looking at Steele's division passing to the right。 General Steele's men reached the road which led from Vicksburg up to Haines's Bluff； which road lay at the foot of the hills； and intercepted some prisoners and wagons which were coming down from Haines's Bluff。
All that night McPherson's troops were arriving by the main Jackson road； and McClernand'a by another near the railroad； deploying forward as fast as they struck the rebel works。 My corps （the Fifteenth） had the right of the line of investment； McPherson's （the Seventeenth） the centre； and McClernand's （the Thirteenth） the left； reaching from the river above to the railroad below。 Our lines connected； and invested about three…quarters of the land…front of the fortifications of Vicksburg。 On the supposition that the garrison of Vicksburg was demoralized by the defeats at Champion Hills and at the railroad crossing of the Big Black； General Grant ordered an assault at our respective fronts on the 19th。 My troops reached the top of the parapet； but could not cross over。 The rebel parapets were strongly manned； and the enemy fought hard and well。 My loss was pretty heavy； falling chiefly on the Thirteenth Regulars； whose commanding officer； Captain Washington； was killed； and several other regiments were pretty badly cut up。 We； however； held the ground up to the ditch till night； and then drew back only a short distance； and began to counter…trench。 On the graveyard road； our parapet was within less than fifty yards of the rebel ditch。
On the 20th of May； General Grant called the three corps commanders together； viz。； McClernand； McPherson； and Sherman。 We compared notes； and agreed that the assault of the day before had failed； by reason of the natural strength of the position； and because we were forced by the nature of the ground to limit our attacks to the strongest parts of the enemy's line； viz。； where the three principal roads entered the city。
It was not a council of war； but a mere consultation； resulting in orders from General Grant for us to make all possible preparations for a renewed assault on the 22d； simultaneously； at 10 a。m。 I reconnoitred my front thoroughly in person； from right to left； and concluded to make my real attack at the right flank of the bastion； where the graveyard road entered the enemy's intrenchments； and at another point in the curtain about a hundred yards to its right （our left）； also to make a strong demonstration by Steele's division； about a mile to our right； toward the river。 All our field batteries were put in position； and were covered by good epaulements； the troops were brought forward； in easy support； concealed by the shape of the ground； and to the： minute； viz。； 10 a。m。 of May 22d； the troops sprang to the assault。 A small party； that might be called a forlorn hope； provided with plank to cross the ditch； advanced at a run； up to the very ditch； the lines of infantry sprang from cover； and advanced rapidly in line of battle。 I took a position within two hundred yards of the rebel parapet； on the off slope of a spur of ground； where by advancing two or three steps I could see every thing。 The rebel line； concealed by the parapet； showed no sign of unusual activity； but as our troops came in fair view； the enemy rose behind their parapet and poured a furious fire upon our lines； and； for about two hours； we had a severe and bloody battle； but at every point we were repulsed。 In the very midst of this； when shell and shot fell furious and fast； occurred that little episode which has been celebrated in song and story； of the boy Orion P。 Howe； badly wounded； bearing me a message for cartridges； calibre 54； described in my letter to the Hon。 E。 M。 Stanton； Secretary of War。 This boy was afterward appointed a cadet to the United States Naval Academy； at Annapolis； but he could not graduate； and I do not now know what has become of him。
After our men had been fairly beaten back from off the parapet； and had got cover behind the spurs of ground close up to the rebel works； General Grant came to where I was； on foot； having left his horse some distance to the rear。 I pointed out to him the rebel works； admitted that my assault had failed； and he said the result with McPherson and McClernand was about the name。 While he was with me； an orderly or staff…officer came and handed him a piece of paper； which he read and handed to me。 I think the writing was in pencil； on a loose piece of paper； and was in General McClernand's handwriting； to the effect that 〃his troops had captured the rebel parapet