Campaign, Siege and Defense of Vicksburg, 1863.

Campaign, Siege and Defense of Vicksburg, 1863.. Operations of the Union Navy, March 29 — July 4.. , The Vicksburg Campaign would not have been planned and could not have been conducted on the lines on which it was successfully made without the assistance of the Navy. About 26 gunboats and light-draughts of the Mississippi Squadron, with necessary attendants, acting Rear Admiral David D. Porter commanding, and, during part of the time, the Mississippi Marine brigade, Brig. Gen. Alfred W. Ellet commanding, co-operated with the Army in the operations of the campaign and siege., The night of April 16, 1863, 8 gunboats, including the ram “General Price,” and 3 transports passed the Confederate batteries on the river line at Vicksburg and at Warrenton. 1 transport sunk. Six days later 5 additional transports passed down without material damage and 1 was sunk by the fire of the Confederate batteries. The gunboats below Vicksburg bombarded the Confederate batteries at Grand Gulf, April 29, without effectively silencing them. They and the 7 transports ran past these batteries that night and, during the two following days, carried 6 divisions of the Army across the river, landing them at Bruinsburg on the Mississippi side. The other divisions of General Grant’s Army were carried across the river at later dates. , At the beginning of the investment the gunboats below the city attacked the lower Confederate batteries, May 19, May 20, May 21, May 22, and May 27. On the last named day the gunboat “Cincinnati” attacked the upper batteries from above the city and was disabled and sunk. During the siege detachments from the squadron co-operated by making the investment on the river side as complete as possible and by shelling the Confederate batteries and entrenchments; served 7 mortars on mortar boats anchored behind the peninsula opposite the city and, during the latter part of the siege, 3 heavy guns on scows behind the peninsula and at the left –north- of the mortar boats, made expeditions up the Yazoo River and its tributaries and co-operated in the repulse of the Confederate attacks at Young’s Point, Milliken’s Bend and Goodrich’s Landing. 13 heavy guns from the squadron mounted on the investment line in 8 batteries., Detachments from the Marine brigade were engaged at Richmond, Louisiana, June 15. Casualties, wounded 3, co-operated in the repulse of the Confederate attack at Goodrich’s Landing, casualties, 1 officer killed; and served 3 guns on the peninsula opposite the city during the latter part of the siege. Reported casualties in the squadron , including the infantry regiments detailed for service on gunboats , in the campaign and siege: killed 23, drowned 14, wounded 102, missing 1, total 140, 1 officer killed.