Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/375

 HISTOEY OF RICHLAND COUNTY

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��ber, it moved down the Mississippi to the mouth of the Yazoo River; thence up the Yazoo to Johnson's Landing, and there de- barked preparatory to an attack on the line of fortifications defending Vicksburg. The fruit- lessness of the attack on Vicksburg from the Yazoo being recognized, the National forces were withdrawn and taken on transports to Milliken's Bend, on the Mississippi River, where Maj. Gren. McClernand assumed com- mand. The bad water of the Yazoo River, exposure to the recent storms, close confine- ment on crowded steamboats and poorly pre- pared food, here made its mark to such extent that more than one-half the number reported "present" were unfit for active service. The movement against Arkansas Post now began. The regiment was in position on the extreme left of the line, along the river bank below Fort Hindman. At 4 o'clock, P. M., a charge was ordered on the left. The brigades of Bur- bridge and Landreau charged upon the outer fortifications, while the One Hundred and Twentieth charged directly upon the fort. The enemy, finding further resistance futile, dis- played the white flag. The One Hundred and Twentieth, it is claimed, was the first regiment of the National forces to enter Fort Hindman, Sergeant Wallace, of Company C, color-bearer of the regiment, having gallantly scaled the parapet of the fort and planted the colors of his regiment, an act which shortl}^ afterward brought him a lieutenant's commission.

In the month of February, the army was re- organized, Gren. Grant assuming command. The One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment was assigned to the Third Brigade. Ninth Division, and Thirteenth Army Corps. About the mid- dle of March, the corps moved to Milliken's Bend, and, on the 1st of April, marched to occupy New Carthage. Having reached there, the corps proceeded to Parker's plantation, on the west side of the Mississippi, twenty-five miles below Vicksburg. On the 29th of April,

��the Thirteenth Corps dropped down to Hard Times Landing, about three miles from Grand Gulf Bruinsburg was the next point of debark- ation. Having landed, the troops marched at once in pursuit of the rebels under Gen. Green. At midnight of April 20, the National forces caught up with the rebels, who occupied a strong position on Thompson's Hill, near Port Gibson, Miss., where a severe battle followed. The loss of the One Hundred and Twentieth in this action was one for every eight of the num- ber engaged.

The -regiment joined the main army, in the rear of Vicksburg, on the morning of the 1 9th of Ma}^, and the same da}' joined in a deter- mined assault on the enemy's fortification. It also took part in a more determined eflfort on the 22d of Ma}-. On the 24th, the division was ordered to Black River Bridge, remaining there until the fiill of Vicksburg. In the expedition against Jackson, Miss., the Thirteenth Corps formed the right wing of the army. During the investment, the regiment's casualties of officers were, Col. Spiegel and Lieut. Spear severely, and Lieut. Totten mortally, wounded.

The regiment returned with the army to Black River Bridge, and from there to Vicks- burg, where it went into camp. n the 8th of August, the Thirteenth Army Corps left Vicks- burg for New Orleans. On the 5th of Septem- ber the corps moved to Berwick City, and thence to Opelouse, returning to Berwick City on the 9th of September. Soon after, the regi- ment, in company with the Forty-second Ohio and Twenty-second Kentuck}', was sent to Plaquemine, one hundred and ten miles above New Orleans, remaining until the 23d of March, 1864, when it moved up to Baton Rouge.

On the 1st of May, the regiment embarked on the City Belle, with orders to report to Gen. McClernand. At Alexandria, at 4 P. M., while the transport bearing the regiment was turning a bend in Red River, a short distance above Snaggy Point, about five thousand of

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