The following letter was published in the March 7, 1863 edition of the Chelsea (Mass.) Telegraph & Pioneer, and has been provided for publication by Thomas Hayes.
FIRST BATTLE OF VICKSBURG, [A participant, writing to his friends in Chelsea, gives the following account of this gallant affair:]
AND ARKANSAS POSTWe attacked Vicksburg from the Yazoo side, in the face of a chain of natural and artificial fortifications of the most impregnable description. We made the attempt with 35,000 men to take the place, and for five days fought them most desperately and bloodily, and were then withdrawn in splendid style in the face of over 100,000 of the enemy. The fierce cannonading of the artillery, the gallant and desperate charges of infantry, and all the deeds of that battle will be handed down in history. Vicksburg, for the time, was safe; but we are again thundering at her iron doors, and this time we are going in. After loading on the boats, we started up the river. We ascended about 220 miles, entered the mouth of the Arkansas river fifty miles, to take Fort Arkansas Post; landed one Saturday morning, drove the rebels during the day through two lines of works, and into the Fort itself, which was of the strongest description. On Sunday morning our lines were thrown all around the Fort, which extended for over a mile; and then the gunboats and field batteries opened fire, and finally the rebels answered it. The cannonading shook the earth, and the reverberation sounded like the roar of a mighty tempest. For an hour or more we kept it up, then ceased. Again from the rear of the batteries, with loud yells our gallant fellows charged through the iron storm upon the works. The batteries were moved to the flanks, and again opened fire. The infantry gained the ditch in front of the work. We kept a shower of shells falling into the Fort, and the gunboats did the same. The infantry charged up the works, were driven back, charged again, and after fours hours' desperate fighting the rebels gave in; and the white flag was hoisted all along their lines. Such a cheer as rang out from our throats was good to hear. In less than half an hour we were in the Fort, gaily chatting with the very men we were trying to kill a few minutes before. Such is civil war. We took 7,000 prisoners, mostly Texans; 10,000 stand of arms; a large amount of artillery; a great quantity of quartermaster and commissary stores, &c., &c. So much for Arkansas Post. I was through the thickest of both the Vicksburg fight, and at the "Post;" yet by God's Providence I am safe.
E. C.
Additional newspaper accounts and letters from Massachusetts soldiers, sailors and civilians during this time period can be found at the LETTERS OF THE CIVIL WAR web site.
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