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Gentlemen! On this day, 156 years ago, General Grant hurled his entire force against the Confederates manning the defenses around Vicksburg. All along the line, stories of valor and carnage were written by the men who witnessed it.
For this particular effort next May, we will man the same positions held by the 42nd Ohio on that fateful part of the line. This will afford you a great opportunity to take in the immense gravity of charge made by the men of Lindsay's Brigade, as they attempted to capture the Railroad Redoubt.
Join us next May for this unique endeavor of preservation!
Lastly, here are the words of a witness in the 42nd OVI:
"Ten o'clock a.m., of the 22d was therefore announced as the hour for the grand assault. The artillery was to open vigorously at an early hour, breach the works if possible, and dismount such guns as were exposed through embrasures. The infantry was to advance from the nearest cover in column of platoons, moving at quick time, with only canteens, ammunition and one days rations; not a gun was to be fired until the outer works had been stormed, and between the columns strong lines of skirmishers were to advance and scale the intervening parapets.
The momentous day came, and at dawn the artillery opened. The Forty-Second bore an interesting part in the events of that day. At ten o'clock, the Brigade, headed by the Sixteenth Ohio, moved up the valley to the assault. It was arranged that the Sixteenth Ohio should mount the hill to the left at the head of the ravine [the Railroad Redoubt], the Forty-Second should take the center, the Twenty-Second Kentucky the right, while the Forty-Fourth Indiana should act as support.
The experience of the Forty-Second was similar, except that its advance was checked by the experience of the Sixteenth. Marching quickly across the exposed place in the valley, the Forty-Second climbed the hill, meeting just such a fire as had checked the Sixteenth. The skirmishers rushed out upon the exposed ground, but were instantly covered and hidden by the dust raised round them by the terrible rain from the enemy's artillery. The parapet in Linday's front was manned by Wall's legion of Texas troops, one of the finest divisions in the Confederate service, and they were o massed that by exchanging places they were able to pour down a continuous fire.
The Regiment lay down behind the crest of the ridge and awaited new orders. It held the point all day under the hot sun, keeping up a sharp fire whenever a Rebel head appeared, and meeting considerable loss. The assault, which at several points was renewed in the afternoon, failed along the whole line. The enemy's works were of immense strength, the difficulties of approach were too great for any courage or discipline to surmount... It only remained, therefore, to hold what ground had been gained and conquer Vicksburgh by siege."
- Pvt. Frank H. Mason, Co. A, 42nd OVI
Battle of Vicksburg - Harpers.jpg
For this particular effort next May, we will man the same positions held by the 42nd Ohio on that fateful part of the line. This will afford you a great opportunity to take in the immense gravity of charge made by the men of Lindsay's Brigade, as they attempted to capture the Railroad Redoubt.
Join us next May for this unique endeavor of preservation!
Lastly, here are the words of a witness in the 42nd OVI:
"Ten o'clock a.m., of the 22d was therefore announced as the hour for the grand assault. The artillery was to open vigorously at an early hour, breach the works if possible, and dismount such guns as were exposed through embrasures. The infantry was to advance from the nearest cover in column of platoons, moving at quick time, with only canteens, ammunition and one days rations; not a gun was to be fired until the outer works had been stormed, and between the columns strong lines of skirmishers were to advance and scale the intervening parapets.
The momentous day came, and at dawn the artillery opened. The Forty-Second bore an interesting part in the events of that day. At ten o'clock, the Brigade, headed by the Sixteenth Ohio, moved up the valley to the assault. It was arranged that the Sixteenth Ohio should mount the hill to the left at the head of the ravine [the Railroad Redoubt], the Forty-Second should take the center, the Twenty-Second Kentucky the right, while the Forty-Fourth Indiana should act as support.
The experience of the Forty-Second was similar, except that its advance was checked by the experience of the Sixteenth. Marching quickly across the exposed place in the valley, the Forty-Second climbed the hill, meeting just such a fire as had checked the Sixteenth. The skirmishers rushed out upon the exposed ground, but were instantly covered and hidden by the dust raised round them by the terrible rain from the enemy's artillery. The parapet in Linday's front was manned by Wall's legion of Texas troops, one of the finest divisions in the Confederate service, and they were o massed that by exchanging places they were able to pour down a continuous fire.
The Regiment lay down behind the crest of the ridge and awaited new orders. It held the point all day under the hot sun, keeping up a sharp fire whenever a Rebel head appeared, and meeting considerable loss. The assault, which at several points was renewed in the afternoon, failed along the whole line. The enemy's works were of immense strength, the difficulties of approach were too great for any courage or discipline to surmount... It only remained, therefore, to hold what ground had been gained and conquer Vicksburgh by siege."
- Pvt. Frank H. Mason, Co. A, 42nd OVI
Battle of Vicksburg - Harpers.jpg