Vicksburg National Military Park in Warren County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Benton's Brigade: Assault, May 22, 1863

Union Position Tablet

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 11, 2016

1. Benton's Brigade: Assault, May 22, 1863 Marker

Inscription. This brigade advanced by the right flank at 10 A.M., to assault the Confederate lunette on the Baldwin’s Ferry Road, through the ravine that debouches on that road immediately in front of the left face of that lunette. In order from right to left as follows: 99th Illinois, 33rd Illinois, 8th Indiana, 18th Indiana. The regiments encountered a very severe fire as they successively approached the head of the ravine and the brigade took position in front of both faces of the Confederate lunette and the curtain south of it — the 99th Illinois around the salient angle of the lunette, the 18th Indiana on its right, the 33rd Illinois on the left of the 99th Illinois, and the 8th Indiana still farther to the left. Detachments of the two last named regiments crossed the railroad and took position in front of the Confederate railroad redoubt. The positions gained were held either until detachments of the brigade were relieved by Sanborn’s brigade or until after dark, when all the detachments not previously relieved retired. This tablet marks the right of the 99th Illinois as that regiment first formed, under fire, around the Confederate

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lunette, and the point where its right substantially remained until the brigade was relieved. Casualties: 33rd Illinois, killed 13, wounded 59, total 72; 99th Illinois, killed 19, wounded 77, missing 6, total 102, Lieut. Thomas J. Kinman killed, Capt. Eli R. Smith and Lieut. William Gray mortally wounded; 8th Indiana, killed 22, wounded 95, total 117, Capts. Andrew O’Daniel, Frederick S. Wysong and Hiram T. Vandevender killed; 18th Indiana, killed 7, wounded 39, missing 1, total 47, Major John C. Jenks and Lieut. John L. Lowes mortally wounded; 1st United States (serving siege guns), wounded 3; aggregate, killed 61, wounded 273, missing 7, total 341.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 22, 1863.

Location. 32° 20.734′ N, 90° 51.216′ W. Marker is in Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi, in Warren County. It is on Confederate Avenue one mile south of Pemberton Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Vicksburg MS 39183, United

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 11, 2016

2. Benton's Brigade: Assault, May 22, 1863 Marker

States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Natchez Trace Corridor

and in Greater Jackson.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Burbridge's Brigade: Assault, May 22, 1863 (a few steps from this marker); U.S. Chicago Mercantile Battery; (within shouting distance of this marker); Temple Anshe Chesed Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); C S Missouri (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); C.S. Company B, (about 500 feet away); Anshe Chesed Congregation (about 500 feet away); Iowa 5th Infantry (about 600 feet away); U S Missouri 26th Infantry (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers

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in Vicksburg National Military Park.

Also see . . . The Fall of Vicksburg.

Col. George Bailey’s 99th Illinois heads Benton’s column as it emerges from the ravine fronting today’s visitor center and crosses Baldwin’s Ferry Road. Bailey strides along in his shirtsleeves. Alongside him is one of his color bearers, Cpl. Thomas J. Higgins. Higgins rushes into the Rebel fire and doesn’t look back. He goes into the foe’s works and Texas Capt. A.J. Hurley pulls him in, grabs his chest, and inquires, “Are you wearing a bulletproof vest? My men are good shots. They were shooting at you.” Higgins looks around. Where in the hell are his friends? He looks to the rear and sees that Bailey and the rest of the 99th have gone to ground. But on come many more Yanks and after a desperate struggle finally gain the ditch fronting Second Texas Lunette...

(Submitted on January 7, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 345 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 7, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.