VICKSBURG.

THE dawn of the succeeding day brought with it the usual activity of the campaign, and early in the morning we were moving, in line of battle against the huge fortifications in our front. Companies "A" and "I" were thrown forward as skirmishers, and soon encountered those of the enemy, who fell back slowly, surely, and evidently with reluctance, before our victorious lines. At length we succeeded in driving them within their works, and then ensued a scene of fearful grandeur and sublimity a scene which must be witnessed to be realized. As we reached the brow of a hill some six or eight hundred yards from the rebel works, a shower of shot and shell, of grape and cannister, greeted us, decimating our ranks and throwing our lines into momentary confusion. The men rushed with eager haste to the bottom of the ravine beyond, and after reforming the lines, advanced to the top of the succeeding hill. This position was maintained during the afternoon, and at night we fell back to the ravine and went into camp, sleeping on our arms.
        During the next two days nothing of importance occurred. The sharp rattle of musketry on the picket line, and the occasional boom of artillery, alone varied the monotony of camp-life. But this lull in the storm was only a prelude to a fiercer and deadlier strife. We could not, if we would, give up the contest at this stage of our operations. Vicksburg was before us -- Vicksburg, with its ample fortifications and frowning guns -- with its thousands of glittering bayonets and its garrison, the flower of the rebel army in the southwest. The prize was worth contending for. But more than this, the eyes of the world were upon us, the Government was looking on with intense interest and hopes of ultimate success. Each man felt himself a hero, upon whom depended more or less responsibility for the success or failure of the campaign.
        On the 21st of May, Gen. Grant sent the following order to his corps commanders, and in order to insure its prompt execution, it was also communicated to the commanders of divisions and brigades:

HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD
May 21, 1863.

        GENERAL: -- A simultaneous attack will be made tomorrow, at 10 o'clock A.M., by all the army corps of this army.
        During this day army corps commanders will have examined all practical routes over which troops can possibly pass. They will get in position all the artillery possible, and gain all the ground they can with their infantry and skirmishers.
        At an early hour in the morning a vigorous attack will be commenced by artillery and skirmishers. The infantry, with the exception of reserves and skirmishers, will be placed in column of platoons, or by flank if the ground over which they may have to pass, will not admit of a greater front, ready to move forward at the hour designated. Promptly at the hour designated, all will start at quick time, with bayonets fixed, and march immediately upon the enemy, without firing a gun, until the outer works are carried. Skirmishers will advance as soon as possible after heads of column pass them, and scale the walls of such works as may confront them.

By order of

U. S. GRANT
Major General Commanding.

        The stirring events of those days were so graphically described by our lamented Lieut. Col. Webb, in his correspondence to the Peoria Daily Transcript, that no apology is needed for its insertion here:

BEFORE VICKSBURG,
May 24, 1863.

        EDITOR OF THE TRANSCRIPT: -- It is with a sad and heavy heart that I sit down to write you, and through you to the friends of the 77th Regiment, once more. The enclosed list will tell, more eloquently than I can write it, the gloomy tale of terrible scenes through which we have been called upon to pass. Since our regiment crossed the Mississippi river twenty-five days ago, we have been in action five times; first at Magnolia Hills, near Port Gibson; then at Champion Hills, between Raymond and Edwards Depot; then at Black River Bridge; then in advance upon Vicksburg six days ago, and lastly, in the grand assault of the 22d. Only in the last two affairs did we suffer any loss of consequence, and about these only do I propose to write you, although the other battles, in their importance to the country, are not less interesting, but I have not time to describe the part we took in them.
        After the battle of Black River Bridge, our division took the advance, the 77th at the head of the 2d brigade. The enemy had been completely routed, and had made a hasty retreat towards Vicksburg, either abandoning or destroying everything except their small arms. The prevailing opinion was, that they were so demoralized by successive defeats, that they would make no stand in Vicksburg, but would evacuate via Haines' Bluff and the Yazoo River. At about one o'clock, on Monday afternoon last, our skirmishers came up with those of the enemy, about one mile and a half from their fortifications in the rear of Vicksburg. None of us knew anything about these fortifications, except through the commonly accepted opinion that they were not formidable, and could be easily carried by assault. At two o'clock our lines had been formed. The order was to advance slowly until our artillery opened, and then move on the double quick into the enemy's works with fixed bayonets. These orders, and this movement, made before we had a single piece of artillery in position to do any execution, unless it were among our own ranks, demonstrate not only the confidence which our Generals had in their ability to walk almost unmolested into Vicksburg, but their entire ignorance of the character of the enemy's fortifications and the nature of the approaches to them.
        At two o'clock then, the 77th Regiment already formed in a ravine, commenced moving over the hill in their front in line of battle. We had reached the brow of the hill when the rebels from their forts, opened upon our whole line with shell, shrapnell, grape and cannister. Hurrying down into the next ravine we escaped injury. Another high hill was now to be gone over. We went steadily forward up its steep side, in comparative security. When we had reached its brow in full view of the rebel line of works, there poured upon us a shower of shells which made the earth tremble with their terrific explosion. It was on this hill that the loss of our regiment on this day was sustained. On account of the deep gorges on the Vicksburg side of the hill, we were unable to keep our lines dressed, and the men anxious for the security afforded by the ravine at the bottom, broke down into it in lively confusion. An enormous shell, which exploded in uncomfortable proximity to my own person, sent me hurriedly down through a gorge of the hill, and has left its mark upon my knee, occasioning some stiffness, but not disabling me. Our loss upon the hill just alluded to, was four killed and twelve wounded. Their names will be found in the list enclosed.
        Having reached the ravine above referred to, there was only one more ridge or hill between us and the hill from which the rebel guns thundered, probably six hundred yards off. Finding the enemy strongly entrenched, a halt was ordered for the purpose of bringing forward our artillery to better positions. The idea of an immediate assault was abandoned. From Monday afternoon until Friday morning the army rested, at night sleeping upon their arms, our artillery in the meantime having been put in excellent positions.
        Friday morning the day broke clear and calm. At eight o'clock the artillery opened all around our lines, the gunboats and mortars in front, our numerous batteries in rear of Vicksburg. Not less, probably, than eight hundred of our cannon were, between the hours of eight and twelve, belching forth their iron missiles. At ten o'clock our whole line was ordered to charge the rebel works with bayonets fixed. Our Regiment was drawn up in line of battle just behind the brow of the hill over which our charge was to be made. On the next hill frowned the rebel fort, up into the face of which it was our duty to go. Between us was a deep ravine filled with fallen timber and thick undergrowth of brush, brambles and cane. Ten o'clock, the hour we had so anxiously waited for, finally came. "Forward the Seventy-Seventh," was the word. The men sprang to their arms, and moved up and over the brow of the hill. Ten or fifteen feet over the brow the storm opened upon us terribly from the right, left and front, making sad havoc in our ranks. Down into the abattis of fallen timber and brush we went, and commenced the struggle of the ascent, our comrades failing thickly on all sides of us. Still up the hill we pressed, through the brambles and brush, over the dead and dying -- up, up we struggled, over logs, into ditches, clinging here to a bush to keep from falling backwards, and there to a thorny bramble -- oh! that was an half hour which may God grant we shall not be called upon to experience its like again. Finally the fort is reached. Panting for breath, and with only a fragment of the regiment for their support, a dauntless dash was made for the fort. A part of our men went over into the ditch surrounding the fort, a few got through a port-hole upon the inside.
        The fort was a double work. The rebels broke from the front portion to the rear and rallied. "Plant our colors upon the ramparts," Colonel Grier shouted; and they were planted amid the shouts of our men -- the first and only Union colors planted upon the enemy's ramparts along the whole line. Fifteen or twenty minutes after reaching the fort, the 48th Ohio and 130th Illinois of our brigade came to our support, but in the mean time the enemy had been reenforced at that point, and we were too weak to attempt to carry their inner work. Unsupported for ten hours we kept up the fight amid the enfilading fire of rebel cannon and musketry. I wish it were in my power to do justice to the immortal heroism of the noble men and officers of the 77th Regiment, upon whom fell the principal brunt of the fight, who, during those ten thrilling hours, defended the position which they had, after such a fearful struggle obtained. Comrade after comrade fell around us; hotter and hotter grew the rebel fire as regiment after regiment came to their support, but we would not give back. Reënforcements were promised us, and most anxiously, but in vain, we watched for them.
        Nearly half our men were either killed or wounded, and all of us nearly exhausted by the day's fight, when, at about six o'clock, the enemy rallied in force, made a rush with fixed bayonets, and for a few seconds we thought all was lost. Our men fell back in confusion, but only some twelve feet. I think the prompt action of the officers of the regiment saved it from rout and slaughter. We rallied the men, checked the advance of the rebels and held our own. They captured our regimental banner in the sortie, which had floated all day over their fort and had been shot to shreds. The staff of the regimental flag presented us by Mrs. Cockle, was shot off, the flag falling into the ditch, where it was buried in the earth by some of our wounded men, when they saw the rebel rush. We are in hopes to get it yet. This sortie also cost us a few prisoners -- men who were in the ditch and could not get out.
        We lay upon our arms about two hours after dark, holding the enemy in check in order to afford an opportunity to retire quietly and in order, and for the purpose of getting our wounded to the rear. Several of our dead we were unable to bring away.
        The 77th Regiment crossed the Mississippi River with about 420 men. Company "B," Captain Stevison, was not in Friday's fight, it having been detailed for guard duty. We made the assault with 275 men. Of this number we lost 114 in killed, wounded and prisoners.
        I would like to add more, but have not time to do so. Yours truly,

L. R. W.

        In confirmation of what has been said about the operations on May 19th and 22d, we extract a few passages from the official report of Col. W. J. Landram, commanding the brigade of which the Seventy-Seventh formed a part.
        "The advance was conducted in fine style and the men fought bravely. The loss in killed and wounded on this day (May 19th) was sixty-three. On the 20th the 19th Kentucky relieved the 77th Illinois, and together with the 97th and 130th Illinois, skirmished with the enemy during that day. On the 21st the brigade was relieved, and on the 22d was ordered to act as a reserve for the Brigade of General Lawler, of General Carr's Division, which was ordered to storm the enemy's works at ten o'clock A.M. The 77th Illinois and 48th Ohio were ordered to follow the two regiments of General Lawler's Brigade that advanced on his right, and the 19th Kentucky to follow the 97th Illinois which was ordered to report to General Lawler on the left. This movement of the Reserve in columns closed upon the advance, was not in accordance with the plan I had proposed, but being ordered by General Lawler, who had the front, was obeyed.
        "The Reserve in moving over rough and rugged ground closed upon the advance, was exposed to a constant fire which it could not return, whereas if it had been kept in reserve distance, in rifle range of the enemy's works, it could have covered the advance of General Lawler by a well-directed fire which would have annoyed the enemy and saved the lives of many men, besides being in a position to go to the support of the Brigade in front in proper time.
        "As it was, all the men were rushed forward in haste, were much wearied, and compelled to stand for nine hours under the hottest fire I ever witnessed. All the troops of the Brigade, with the exception of a few skulkers, behaved with the greatest gallantry. The flag of the 77th Illinois (Col. D. P. Grier) was the first raised upon the large fort in our front, and the two flags of that Regiment, together with that of the 48th Ohio, were the only ones raised upon the fort. The flag of the 130th Illinois was planted in the ground within about ten feet of the fort. I am confident that no troops ever fought better or behaved more nobly than those of this Brigade.
        "Late in the afternoon the enemy massed their forces in our front and made a desperate effort to dislodge us from our position, which was close to the works, part of the men being inside of the fort, For a moment the men were surprised and wavered, but Col. Grier, Lieut. Col. Webb and Major Hotchkiss of the 77th, and Col. Niles, of the 130th Illinois, waved their swords and rallied their men who opened upon the enemy and by a brilliant charge drove them again from the fort.
        "The artillery in the rear at that moment rendered the most valuable assistance, in throwing a well-directed and vigorous fire into the enemy's works. I cannot speak too highly in praise of Colonel Grier and his noble Regiment. Their loss was 114 in killed and wounded in a single day. By this determined resistance we were enabled to hold the ground we occupied at the fort until ten o'clock at night, when we were ordered to withdraw."
        In order to give an impartial account of this day's work, and that both sides may be allowed to testify, we quote a passage from a southern source. E. A. Pollard, in his "Third Year of the War," gives a glowing account of the assault and repulse. But we must say that he draws largely on the imagination when he says that we "precipitately retreated." Here is what he says:
        "On the 22d, the fire from the enemy's artillery and sharpshooters in the rear was heavy and incessant until noon, when his gunboats opened upon the city, while a determined assault was made along Moore's, Hebert's and Lee's lines. At about one o'clock P.M., a heavy force moved out to the assault on the lines of General Lee, making a gallant charge. They were allowed to approach unmolested to within good musket range, when every available gun was opened upon them with grape and cannister, and the men, rising in the trenches, poured into their ranks volley after volley, with so deadly an effect that, leaving the ground literally covered in some places with their dead and wounded, they precipitately retreated. The angle of one of our redoubts having been breached by their artillery previous to the assault, when the repulse occurred a party of about sixty of the enemy, under the command of a Lieutenant Colonel, made a rush, succeeded in effecting a lodgment in the ditch at the foot of the redoubt, and planted two colors on the parapet.
        "It was of vital importance to drive them out, and upon a call for volunteers for that purpose, two companies of Waul's Texas Legion, commanded respectively by Captain Bradley and Lieutenant Hogue, accompanied by the gallant and chivalrous Colonel E. W. Pettus, of the Twentieth Alabama regiment, musket in hand promptly presented themselves for the hazardous service. The preparations were quietly and quickly made, but the enemy seemed at once to divine our purpose, and opened upon the angle a terrific fire of shot, shell and musketry. Undaunted, this little band, its chivalrous commander at its head, rushed upon the work, and in less time than it requires to describe it, it and the flags were in our possession. Preparations were then quickly made for the use of our handgrenades, when the enemy in the ditch, being informed of the purpose, immediately surrendered."
        We failed to carry the formidable works of the enemy, not for any lack of courage, or want of discipline in the army. On the contrary this check -- for it was not a defeat -- only inspired the men to endure any hardships and suffer any losses for the accomplishment of their darling object -- the reduction of Vicksburg. Our losses were great, but not irreparable. Our failure was not so disheartening as might have been supposed. In fact, the prospect of final success was brighter than it was when we crossed the Mississippi. At all events, there seemed to be a stronger determination than ever to succeed, and when night -- never more welcome to the weary soldier -- closed over the scene of the day's conflict, we retired to our camps to sleep and dream of absent friends.
        The following is the list of killed, wounded and missing in the Seventy-Seventh Illinois Volunteers, in the engagements near Vicksburg, May 19th and 22d, 1863, as officially reported by Col. D. P. Grier:

N. B. -- We have reason to fear that many of those reported missing are dead, though we have been unable to secure their bodies. (Official.)

D. P. GRIER,
Col. Commanding 77th Reg't Ill. Volunteers.

 
        Before proceeding further with this narrative, let us look at our losses in these engagements. On the morning of May 16th, when the Regiment was drawn up in line of battle at Champion Hills, Adjutant Henry P. Ayres walked along the line and counted the men in the Regiment at that time, and they numbered three hundred and forty-nine. If we deduct our losses up to the night of May 22d we have an aggregate strength of two hundred and nineteen at the close of that fatal day. It is true that many of the men reported lost were but slightly wounded, and soon returned to duty. But when we remember that we left Peoria less than eight months before with nearly nine hundred men, the contrast is alarming, and shows something of the fearful ravages of war.
        It now became very evident that the works at Vicksburg could not be carried by storm. We had made two attempts and had failed in both. It would be a criminal sacrifice of human life to try again. There was but one resource left, and that was to dig them out. Unpleasant as this conviction was, it was the only alternative, and we must cheerfully submit. Henceforth spades would be trumps. But many of our comrades had fallen between the lines and were now festering in the sun, threatening pestilence to the city and the camps. To prevent this it became our mournful duty to bury the dead.  For this purpose a suspension of hostilities was agreed upon, and the men of the two armies met and mingled and conversed on friendly terms. But this social gathering, this friendly picnic, was of short duration. As soon as the work in hand was completed the besiegers and besieged retired within their respective lines, and the work of death was renewed.
        Our lines extended several miles. General Sherman, with his Corps, occupied the right, Gen. McPherson the centre, and Gen. McClernand the left, and each corps went to work vigorously digging trenches and pushing their saps and covered ways in the direction of the works in front. In addition to this labor we had to build fortifications in the rear, as Gen. Joe Johnston was expected from that direction with a large army for the purpose of raising the siege. Gen. Grant, having taken these precautions, and having sent north for reënforcements, the work of digging went rapidly forward.