Oxford Times, July 8, 1863
Chickasaw Bayou, June 11th 1863
Editor of the Times: It is reported that Gen. Bragg has left his position in front of Rosecranz and is marching to attack Gen. Grant in the rear, but we will be read for them, so let them come. Fourteen Steamboats have passed here today loaded with troops from the North, they are landed at Haine's Bluff and the troops that are already there are throwing up breastworks from the Yazoo to the Black River. there are several cannon laying on the bank here that were taken from the Rebels since our Army crossed the River below Vicksburg. The most of them are 12 pound Howitzers. There is one 20 pound Parrott gun (the lady Bowen), they are all ready for use, but our men have plenty of them in the field and do not want these there.
12th: I went down to Young's Point today on business for the Captain, there is nothing going on at that place. I had a talk with one of our paroled men,. He was taken prisoner just back of the convalescent camp below Young's Point. He said the rebels came in sight of the Camp and saw so many tents pitched that they thought we had a large force there and they retreated back to Richmond without firing a shot, and there they paroled their prisoners. This fellow sold his canteen to a Reb for $2.00 in silver and a pocket inkstand for one dollar in Greenback, and a few minutes after that, they were all searched and their canteens and pocket knives were taken from them. He said it would be a great place for a sutler among the rebs. They had plenty of green backs and Confederate Script.
14th: I went out to Gen Grant's headquarters on business for the Capt., met Parsons and one of our boys. They were well, and we took a drink to get the dust out of our throats. The Rebs have got a Mortar planted inside of their fortifications and shell our men with it. They have hurt no one yet. As I was going out, I met a deserter from the Rebels at Vicksburg. He says they have been living on half rations ever since Grant got them surrounded night before last. Over 100 deserters came to our lines from Vicksburg.
15th: There is no later news from the front and nothing from Bragg. It rained some this forenoon. Yesterday I was talking with an Officer in one of the Negro Regts. that was in the fight at Milliken's Bend. He said that when the Rebs come in there they cried "and quarter to the d....d Black Abolition sons," and that they killed every wounded negro they came to, and when the negroes got them turned, they were like tigers (the Nigs). They charged on the Rebs taking no prisoners but killing every one they came to, and the Officers could not stop them. I say bully for the Nigs. Them's my sentiments. I had just as like have a negro put up for a target for a Reb as to see a white man there, and a little more so. I was talking with an Engineer on this boat the other day and I got him almost angry. He said he did not think it was right for a negro to be a soldier. I told him that if some of these folks that didn't want a negro to fight would go and fight for themselves, they might change their opinion on the negro soldier question. I had him right where Kelsey had the Hun, and he has not said a word about negro soldiers since, in my hearing at least, he was very mad at the time and talked pretty plain, but he could not scare me.
21st: I was out to the front on the 17th. The Rebs have got excellent range on Gen. Logan's headquarters with their mortar. Yesterday and day before, the Rebs were firing their mortar every 15 minutes, and they struck all around the Gens quarters. there was over 20 holes where the 10 inch shells had struck within 10 rods of the Gen's tent. On Friday one struck right in Major Stoibrand's tent. He is chief of Artillery of Logan's Division and his tent is about two rods from Logan's, and blew the major's papers and tent all over. The major was standing in the tent door and he saw the shell coming and got out of the way, and yesterday he put up a new one and before he got the -?- on there was a piece of shell about 6 lbs weight went right through the top of the tent. We can see the smoke when the Rebs fire their mortar and then have a chance to watch for the shell which we can see over 1/2 mile off and can have a chance to get up and dust which they all do without orders. One struck near the table that the Orderlies had just commenced eating dinner on, someone told them the shell was coming and they vacated immediately and the shell struck and threw so much dirt in their dinner that they had to throw it away. Several shells struck right there yesterday while I was there and a piece of one of them hit Parson's horse on the chin and would have hit P. if he had not backed up his horse just as he did. Another one went through a shed and buried itself within two feet of a horse and burst, but did not hit the horse. It scared him so he died.
It is just about 1300 yards by measurement from the Rebel mortar to Gen Loga's quarters and the rebels have to fire their shells very straight in the air to have it fall at so short a distance, and the shells bury themselves so deep in the ground that what few pieces do come out when it bursts go up in the air. We can look out for them when they fall. I have not heard of a single one being killed yet by their mortar shells. Shells from a small Howitzer are more dangerous for you can't see them. Our men yesterday planted one gun within 200 yards of the Rebel mortar and threw canister and shells at them, but could not silence it. It was down in a hollow where a shell or canister can't get to them. The reason the rebs direct all the fire of their mortars at Gen. Logan is because he has got two 9-inch guns within 5 rods of his tent and they annoy the rebels a little. Our men are mining on the outside of the rebel fortifications and have dug a trench for the sharpshooters and planted a gun there. They say it is 30-feet across the breastworks there. They had dug in 15 or 20 feet yesterday. The rebels can't shoot the men that are at work for we have got sharpshooters only a few rods back that pick them off if they show themselves, and have got a battery within 50 yards of them. Our men got a Vicksburg paper of the 18th the other day. It was printed on the blank side of wall paper. They spoke of one of the Yankee shells coming into their office and bursting in the basement and not doing much damage. They think that they will get help from the outside in a few days. W.
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