Page:McClure's Magazine v9 n3 to v10 no2.djvu/539

Rh geon, who examined his case, but said it was hopeless. He had been shot through the head, so that the bullet cut off the optic nerve of both eyes. He could never see again. Before morning he died.



After the battle of Champion's Hill, Pemberton started towards Vicksburg, but made a stand at the Big Black bridge. On the 17th he was routed from there and retreated rapidly into Vicksburg. Grant was not long after him. By the evening of the 18th he had his army behind the town, and by the 20th his investment was so complete that I telegraphed Mr. Stanton:

"Probably the town will be carried to-day."

The assault expected was not made until the morning of the 22d. It failed, but without heavy loss. At two, however, McClernand, who was on the left of our lines, reported that he was in possession of two forts of the rebel line, was hard pressed, and in great need of reinforcements. Not doubting that he had really succeeded in taking and holding the works he pretended to hold, General Grant sent a division to his support, and at the same time ordered Sherman and McPherson to make new attacks. McClernand's report was false, for although a few of his men had broken through in one place, he had not taken a single fort, and the result of the second assault was disastrous: we were repulsed, losing quite heavily, when but for his error the total loss of the day would have been inconsiderable.

The failure of the 22d convinced Grant of the necessity of a regular siege, and immediately the army settled down to that. We were in an incomparable position for a siege as regarded the health and comfort of our men. The high wooded hills afforded pure air and shade, and the deep ravines abounded in springs of excellent water, and if they failed it was easy to bring it from the Mississippi. Our line of supplies was beyond the reach of the enemy, and there was an abundance of fruit all about us. I frequently met soldiers coming into camp with buckets full of mulberries, blackberries, and red and yellow wild plums.

The army was deployed at this time in the following order: The right of the besieging force was held by General Sherman, whose forces ran from the river