Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[209] be equally satisfactory to know that this lovely spirit of humanity and chivalry does not exist alone at Richmond, but among the chivalrous cut-throats of Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. The rebels hung Colonel Montgomery in Texas recently, and Colonel Davis nearly escaped the same fate. If it be argued that these men were deserters, pray what is Gardner himself? We feast their officers with liberty and champagne. Which code of etiquette is the right one our military authorities must determine; but, in the name of common-sense, let the rule be uniform and reciprocal.

After the two attempts made to reduce Port Hudson by a land assault, or rather the reconnoissances in force to that effect, on the twenty-seventh May and fourteenth June, General Banks showed great judgment and humanity in not attempting it again until he had fully invested the place by a series of irresistible approaches.

His wisdom in this matter is proved not only by the very difficult nature of the ground we found within the fortification — full of deep and impenetrable ravines, where a very small force could oppose a large one--but by the testimony of Gardner himself. It is really pleasurable to look back now and see how much blood has been saved that might have been uselessly shed.

General Gardner says (and I give you this as no idle gossip, but I know to be so)--that Vicksburgh only made a difference to him of three days. That he had made up his mind to surrender at the expiration of that time, and that any serious demonstration would have brought out a flag at any moment. We learn from this, that the glory of Port Hudson is not to be hidden in the larger but fuller one of Vicksburgh; but must stand upon its own intrinsic individuality; a result of certain irresistible combination, and not the mere sequence of a previous disaster to the rebels.

General Gardner also says that the very day our lines closed in on him--May twenty--fourth--brought him, by a courier who came through safely, a positive order from General Johnston to evacuate the post. This shows the wonderful rapidity and dexterity with which General Banks wheeled his army round from Alexandria and Baton Rouge upon the unsuspecting rebel chief, and should never be lost sight of in forming a fair estimate of this very brilliant military movement.

Two grand things are taught us by both Vicksburgh and Port Hudson--(so like in their aim, details and results, that Colonel Smith, of General Grant's staff, while riding along our intrenchments, said he. could not help “fancying he was at Vicksburgh” )--and those are: First, that there is nothing like dash and determined, rapid aggressive movement against the enemy we are contending with; and second, that there is no hole now in which he can hide himself, from which we cannot — with time and proper appliances — dislodge him, as surely as a ferret upon the track of a rat.

The fleet.

This great arm of our service, which has hitherto reaped the far greater share of glory in positive successes, and which, on the first grand attack upon Port Hudson, had the honor all to itself, cannot on this last occasion claim but a secondary part. The army has really done the work; aided by the navy, of course, to some extent, but not materially.

Owing to the excessive fall in the river, which left Port Hudson perched high upon its impregnable cliffs, the cannonading from the fleet did little more than bother and harass them with perpetual noise; but causing — so they all declare — very little damage. It was the terrific potency of our land-batteries they dreaded; the horrible skirmishers and sharp-shooters who, night and day, were perpetually popping away at every head that showed itself at the breastworks during the entire week; and — worse than all — it was that entire cutting him off from all supplies and communication — literally walling them in by fire — which brought them to at last.

Still, we must not forget that in this work on land the sailors took a very important part. The marine battery, directed by Lieutenant Terry, of the Richmond — the same who so conspicuously distinguished himself in the grand attack upon Port Hudson — and the gallant crew under him, did their work so effectively, soon after they began, that they had no gun to stand against them.

At this juncture came out General Banks's call for a storming party of one thousand. Lieutenant Terry was among the foremost of the volunteers. Owing, however, to the assault being delayed, and Captain Alden, of the Richmond, having left on account of ill-health, Lieutenant Terry was commanded to return to his vessel. Though disappointed in his aim, his bravery was none the less conspicuous.

Nothing can be more amusing than the notion the rebels seem to have of their utter invincibility. I mentioned before how my quondam friend, the captain, said he did not believe, even then, that Vicksburgh had capitulated. Another amusing instance came to my knowledge. News having reached us on the seventh instant of the fall of Vicksburgh, Colonel Nelson, commanding the colored regiment on our right, received official intelligence of the same from his commander, General Grover.

It appears that Colonel Nelson's approaches upon the enemy had got so very close-only twenty feet apart — that, by mutual concession, they had stopped the murderous work of perpetually shooting at each other, and the officers and men used to come out from the opposite sides and have quite a pleasant confab. This had gone on for three days, hourly expecting the order for an assault.

When Nelson got his delightful information, happening to meet a rebel colonel, he told him the fact and showed him the document. “I'm not a betting man,” said the colonel, “and don't ”