Review of the campaign against Vicksburg
The enemy landed seventy-five thousand strong at
Grand Gulf on the 27th of April, and was attacked by
Generals Bowen's,
Gregg's, and
Tracy's brigades, who fell back after a gallant resistance.
The enemy then advanced in the direction of
Jackson.
Our forces fought them on the 12th and 13th of May, at
Clinton and
Mississippi Springs.
The enemy occupied
Jackson on the 14th, sacked the place, and evacuated it on the 16th.
On the 22d
Gen. Pemberton gave battle at
Baker's Creek.
His forces fell back, and the attack was renewed on the 23d at Big Black Bridge.
They were again forced to retire, losing a number of guns.
On the 24th
Grant laid siege to
Vicksburg, and on the 29th made an assault on the works, and was repulsed every time with immense slaughter.
On the 30th of May he renewed the assault, with the same success.
On the 31st his troops refused to renew the assault, and the idea of taking the place by storm was abandoned.
He is now ditching, and by sieges and parallels has at present gotten within three hundred yards of our outer works and mounted siege pieces, with which he has opened fire, but without doing any damage so far. Our loss in the series of attacks is about six thousand.
Grant's present force does not exceed sixty thousand, notwithstanding heavy reinforcements have reached him. Numbers have been swept off by sickness and desertion.
No fears are felt with regard to the subsisting of our garrison.
The following is a statement of the daily rations now issued: "One quarter pound of bacon, half pound of beef, five-eighths quart of meal, besides an allowance of peas, rice, sugar, and molasses."
