Campaigns and Battles - V

V:  Vache Grass, Arkansas, to Volney, Kentucky

Source: The Union Army, Vol. VI. Madison, Wisconsin: Federal Publishing Company, 1908.


Vache Grass, Arkansas, September 26, 1864. 14th Kansas Cavalry.


Valley Road, Tennessee, October 2, 1863. Detachment of 4th Indiana Cavalry. During Wheeler and Roddey's raid, a Federal wagon train under escort of a portion of the 4th Ind., cavalry was attacked, captured and destroyed by the Confederates on the Valley road. No casualties were reported. Valley Station, Colorado Territory, October 10, 1864. 3d Colorado Cavalry. Colonel John M. Chivington, commanding the district of Colorado, reported to Major-General S. R. Curtis on October 10: "Captain Nichols, 3d Colonel volunteer cavalry, surprised and killed 10 Indians, Cheyennes; captured n ponies and 1 mule this morning near Valley Station."


Valley Station, Colorado Territory, January 7, 1865. U. S. Troops of District of Colorado. A large force of Indians, variously estimated at from 500 to 1,500 attacked two stages on the Platte route, one at Valley Station and the other at Julesburg. The first fight resulted in the killing of some 12 of the' escort and the burning of the stage. At Julesburg the Indians were driven off, each side losing 2 killed.


Valley Station, Colorado Territory, January 15-29, 1865. 1st Colorado Cavalry. The rear-guard of the 1st Colonel was attacked as it was going into camp about a mile from Valley Station by a band of Indians. About the same time an attack was made on the American (or Morrison's) and the Wisconsin ranches. All the inmates of the American ranch, 8 in number, were killed. Troops from Valley Station rescued the inmates of the Wisconsin ranch. On the 28th the Indians burned 100 tons of hay and ran off 650 head of government cattle near Valley Station. The 20 men sent out to disperse the marauders were surrounded and compelled to cut their way out, killing 10 Indians in doing so. Next morning the red men were surprised in their camp and 400 of the stolen cattle were recovered. In the last engagement 20 Indians were killed.


Valverde, New Mexico, February 21, 1862. Troops commanded by Colonel E. R. S. Canby. On the morning of February 21 the Confederate advance under General H. H. Sibley, numbering 3,000 men, moved up a ravine in the valley of Rio Grande some 4 or 5 miles above Fort Craig. There were two fords in the immediate vicinity, and it was apparently the enemy's intention to cross at the upper ford and descend upon the fort, where the Union garrison consisted of detachments of the 1st, 2nd, 3d, 4th, and 5th New Mexico infantry, detachments of the 1st, 2nd and 3d U. S. cavalry, detachments Page 887 of the 5th, 7th and 10th U. S. infantry, Graydon's N. Mexico company and Dodd's Colonel company, all under command of Colonel Canby. About 8 a. m. Colonel B. S. Roberts, with all the available cavalry, was sent to hold the upper ford. His support was McRae's battery (provisional), made up of two companies from the regular cavalry. After a 2 hours' fight the Confederates were driven from the ford. The Union cavalry and artillery immediately crossed the river and took up a new position on the enemy's front. A direct attack on the Confederate line being out of the question, Canby attempted to turn their left. With this object in view an assault was made upon that flank which succeeded in driving the enemy from his position behind the first range of sandhills. But at the same moment a cavalry charge was made from the right of the Confederate .line upon the Union left, consisting of a section of McRae's battery and the N. Mexico infantry. The latter became panic stricken and fled in confusion, and the artillerymen, after a severe fight in which half their number were killed or wounded, abandoned their guns and withdrew. Confederate reinforcements came up just at this time and Canby withdrew in an orderly retreat to Fort Craig. The Union losses were 68 killed, 160 wounded and 35 missing. Over 100 men of the New Mexico regiments deserted on the field. The Confederate casualties were heavier.


Van Buren, Arkansas, December 28, 1862. Army of the Frontier. Brigadier-General James G. Blunt with 8,000 men and 30 pieces of artillery started from camp at Prairie Grove on the morning of the 27th and at 10 a. m. of the 28th two regiments of Confederate cavalry were encountered at Dripping Springs. Blunt's cavalry charged and in a running fight drove the Confederates into and through Van Buren, resulting in the capture of all their transportation, some 40 wagons, camp and garrison equipage, ammunition, etc., and 100 prisoners. Four steamers attempting to get away down the river were also captured. Later in the day the Confederates opened with artillery from the opposite bank of the river, but they were driven away by the Federal guns. Blunt's loss was 6 wounded, and although the Confederate casualties were not reported they were undoubtedly heavier.


Van Buren, Arkansas, February 10, 1863. Detachment of 10th Illinois Cavalry. During a scout from Fayetteville to the Arkansas river the detachment under Lieut.-Colonel James Stuart, was attacked by about 100 Confederate cavalry at a point 8 miles from Van Buren, but a charge of 50 men quickly dispersed the enemy. No casualties were reported.


Van Buren, Arkansas, August 12, 1864. 2nd and 6th Kansas Cavalry.


Van Buren, Arkansas, April 2, 1865. Detachment of 1st Arkansas Cavalry. A band of 20 Confederates came within 2 miles of Van Buren and robbed a number of citizens. Eight mounted men were immediately started in pursuit and came upon the marauders a few miles from town. In the skirmish which ensued 2 Confederates were killed. No loss on the Federal side.


Van Buren, Missouri, August 12, 1862. 24th Missouri Infantry. Colonel Sempronius H. Boyd, with his regiment, surprised 6 Confederates at Van Buren, killed 2 and captured 3. The other 1 escaped. Boyd's command suffered no loss.


Van Buren, Missouri, October 22, 1862. Missouri State Militia Cavalry. A Federal detachment under Colonel B. F. Lazear attacked 450 mounted Confederates near Van Buren, drove them from their camp and through the town. The Confederate loss was not reported, but Lazear had 1 man killed.


Vanceburg, Kentucky, October 29, 1864. Kentucky Home Guards. On the morning of the 20th some 40 Confederates under Captain John P. Williams Page 888 attacked Vanceburg. The citizens were organized by Lieut.-Colonel Lewis M. Clark and after a sharp fight the enemy was completely routed and driven for a distance of 20 miles. No casualties were reported.


Vanderburgh's House, Virginia, August 31, 1861. (See Munson's Hill.)


Van Dusen's Creek, California, April 14-15, 1861. Detachment of 6th U. S. Infantry. Lieut. J. B. Collins of the 4th U. S. infantry, in command of a detachment of the 6th U. S. infantry, attacked a band of Indians on Van Dusen's creek near Mad river on the afternoon of the 14th and killed 15 or 20 of them. Next morning he again attacked, killing 6 and wounding 3. One soldier was wounded.


Van Dusen's Creek, California, July 2, 1862. (See Cutterback's House.)


Van Wert, Georgia, October 9-10, 1864. Cavalry Corps of the Department of the Cumberland. During the northern movement of Hood from the vicinity of Atlanta into Alabama and Tennessee, the 3d cavalry division under Brigadier-General Judson Kilpatrick was attacked by the Confederate cavalry under Ferguson and after a severe fight succeeded in repulsing the enemy. Next morning Kilpatrick again met Ferguson, reinforced by Ross, on the mountains a mile and a half from town. The 3d Kentucky charged the pickets and drove them through the town, but was finally obliged to fall back on the main body of the division, which had just reached the top of the mountain. At 2:30 p. m. the Confederates attacked Kilpatrick, but were repulsed and a countercharge of the 3d brigade drove them in confusion. The casualties were not reported.


Varnell's Station, Georgia, February 22, 1864. (See Dalton, Palmer's Demonstration on.)


Varnell's Station, Georgia, May 7, 1864. Cavalry, Army of the Cumberland and Army of the Ohio. Early on the morning of this date, while General Sherman's forces were concentrating for the advance on Atlanta, General Stoneman relieved McCook's pickets and soon afterward the enemy drove in the Union outposts on the Cleveland and Dalton pike. Stoneman established a line extending from Varnell's station along the ridge to the west of the railroad, and this position was held until 2:30 p. m., when a large body of infantry gained the Ringgold road, forcing back Stoneman's left. Colonel La Grange, commanding the 2nd brigade of McCook's division, came up with a detachment of the 2nd Ind. cavalry, drove the enemy some distance beyond the town and encamped there for the night. The only casualties reported were in the 2nd Ind. viz.: One captain, 1 lieutenant and 46 men captured, and 2 men wounded and taken prisoners.


Varnell's Station, Georgia, May 9, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. The brigade, commanded by Colonel O. H. La Grange, was ordered to move forward on the Cleveland and Dalton road to develop the position and strength of the enemy. About 2 miles from Varnell's station the Confederate pickets were driven in for about a mile, when their reserve, consisting of three brigades of cavalry and a division of infantry, was found drawn up in line of battle. Part of the 4th Ind. had been dismounted as skirmishers and these were being pressed back, when a battalion of the 2nd Ind. came up on the left of the dismounted men and checked the enemy's advance. Seeing the enemy were massing their superior numbers against him La Grange ordered the recall sounded, when the Confederates made a rush, capturing a large part of the command and driving the remainder in some confusion to the woods in the rear. La Grange was captured after having two horses shot from under him. Lieut.-Colonel Stewart assumed command and retired with the brigade to Varnell's station. Casualties reported: 5 killed, 42 wounded and 93 missing.


Varnell's Station, Georgia, May 12, 1864. Confederate Generals Johnston Page 889 and Wheeler give an account in their reports of the defeat of a body of Federal cavalry and the destruction of a large number of wagons near Varnell’s station on this date, but no mention of the affair is made in the Union reports.


Vaughan Road, Virginia, September 29—October 1, 1864. (See Poplar Springs Church.)


Vaughan Road, Virginia, October 27, 1864. (See Hatcher's Run, same date.)


Vaughan Road, Virginia, February 5-7, 1865. (See Hatcher's Run.)


Vaughan Road, Virginia, March 29, 1865. (See Five Forks.)


Vaughn, Mississippi, May 12, 1864. 1th, 72nd, and 76th Illinois Infantry; expedition to Yazoo City.


Vaught's Hill, Tennessee, March 20, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 5th Division, 14th Army Corps. Colonel Albert S. Hall, while operating with his brigade in the vicinity of Murfreesboro, learned that a large Confederate force under Morgan was also in the neighborhood and would in all probability attack him on the morning of the 20th and accordingly he took position on Vaught's hill 3 miles from Milton. Twenty minutes afterward the enemy's advance was seen coming along the pike and was quickly scattered by a shell. The contour of the ground was such that the Confederates were enabled to again approach and it became necessary for Hall to draw his whole command back, converging his flank regiments to a line with his center along the top of the hillock. The enemy's cavalry was meantime moving around on both sides and it was not long before Hall was completely surrounded. One of the 2 pieces of artillery was posted on the crest of the hill and swinging as on a pivot was successful in pouring a fire on every part of the Confederate line; the other gun was placed on the turnpike and also did effective service. Several times the enemy assaulted, but each time he was repulsed. From 11:30 a. m. until 2:15 p. m. the unequal contest was continued, when, finding the efforts to break the circle were futile, the Confederate cavalry was withdrawn, leaving only enough on the flanks to support the artillery. About 4:30 the whole force retired and a little later Hall was reinforced. The Union loss was 6 killed, 42 wounded and 8 captured or missing. The Confederate casualties were not definitely given, but were estimated by a Confederate captain at 125 killed and wounded.


Velasco, Texas, August 11, 1862. A report from Colonel Bates of the 13th Texas infantry (Confederate), commanding the post of Velasco, states that a steam vessel of 800 tons burden entered the harbor and opened fire on the battery, which promptly responded. After a short time the vessel withdrew out of range. Union reports make no mention of the affair.


Velasco, Texas, March 21, 1864. Captain W. S. Herndon (Confederate), commanding the post of Velasco, in a report to Colonel Joseph Bates stated that on the afternoon of the 21st the Federal blockading vessel off Velasco came close in and commenced firing at the batteries. The latter immediately replied and the duel was kept up for several hours. No casualties were reported.


Venus Point, Georgia, February 15, 1862. Detachment of 3d Rhode Island Artillery. Four Confederate gunboats attempted to pass the Federal battery at Venus Point near Savannah, but after an engagement of half an hour they were driven back, one of the vessels being disabled. The Union battery was manned by the 3d R I. artillery.


Vera Cruz, Missouri, November 3, 1864. One company of the 46th Missouri Infantry.


Verdon, Virginia, July 22, 1862. A Confederate report contains mention of an attack by Federal cavalry on a cavalry camp near Verdon. The Union men drove the enemy out, destroyed everything of value, and then retired. No casualties were reported.


Vermillion Bayou, Louisiana, November 11, 1863. (See Carrion Crow Bayou, same date)


Vermillionville, Louisiana, October 10, 1863. Detachments of 13th and 19th Army Corps. During operations in the Teche country of Louisiana the Federal cavalry and a section of Nims' battery crossed Vermillion bayou. Two shells scattered the Confederates drawn up near Vermillionville and the cavalry pursued a mile and a half beyond the town. The casualties were not reported.


Vermillionville, Louisiana, October 16, 1863. Detachment of 19th Army Corps. Major-General W. B. Franklin reported from Vermillionville at 3:40 p. m. on the 16th: "The enemy made an attack on our pickets about 10 o'clock, but without any result. My casualties: None killed, 6 wounded."


Vernon, Indiana, July 12, 1863. Indiana Minute Men; Morgan's raid.


Vernon River, Georgia, December 14-21, 1864. (See Fort Beaulieu.)


Verona, Mississippi, December 25, 1864. Cavalry Division, Department of the Mississippi. In the course of an expedition from Memphis to destroy the Mobile & Ohio railroad Brigadier-General Benjamin H. Grierson surprised Forrest's dismounted camp at Verona. Twenty-six men were captured, the remainder dispersed, and 2 trains of 16 cars each loaded with supplies, 300 wagons, 4,000 stands of arms, and a large amount of ordnance stores, etc., were destroyed.


Versailles, Missouri, July 13, 1864. Citizen Guards. Brigadier-General Egbert B. Brown reported that "on Wednesday night, 13th instant, Gregg's band of 30 men attempted to rob Versailles, Morgan county. Were attacked and driven off by the citizen guards of that place." Via's House, Virginia, June 3, 1864. (See Haw's Shop.)


Vicksburg, Mississippi, June 26-29, 1862. U. S. Fleet, commanded by Commodore D. G. Farragut. Vicksburg, Mississippi, Siege of. May 18 to July 4, 1863. Army of the Tennessee and the Mississippi Flotilla. By the reduction of New Madrid, the surrender of Island No. 10, the evacuation of Forts Pillow and Randolph, and the destruction of the Confederate fleet in front of Memphis the Mississippi river was opened to Vicksburg, which place presented a more formidable opposition than any of the points that had been overcome. The first campaign against Vicksburg was planned in the fall of 1862. Sherman was to move down the Mississippi from Memphis with the right wing of the Army of the Tennessee, while Grant, with the left wing, was to attack from the east. Grant established a depot of supplies at Holly Springs, but his stores there were surrendered to the enemy by Colonel Murphy on December 20, and about the same time Forrest made a raid through northern Mississippi, cutting Grant's communications with the north. These unfortunate events prevented Grant from carrying out his part of the programme, as he was compelled to fall back and open up communication with Memphis. Sherman, unadvised of what had happened to the left wing, went ahead and fought the battle of Chickasaw bluffs, which ended disastrously for the Federal arms. Thus the combined attack, partly by water and party by land, against the Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi, ended in a complete failure. Vicksburg is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi, upon a range of bluffs about 200 feet high. On the western side of the river is a low bottom and directly opposite is a long, narrow peninsula, formed by an abrupt bend of the river a short distance above the city. On this, peninsula, at the time of the operations against Vicksburg, stood the little town of De Soto, the terminus of the Shreveport & Vicksburg railroad. At the bend referred to the bluffs trend away from the river into a range called Walnut hills, leaving a lowland through which flow the Yazoo river and numerous bayous. Near Warrenton, some 7 or 8 miles Page 891 below Vicksburg, the bluffs again recede from the river, making the natural location one well suited for defense. Protected on three sides by the river and its low bottoms, it required only a line of intrenchments from the Warrenton ridge on the south to the Walnut hills on the north, to guard against an attack from the eastward, to render the position almost impregnable to assault. Added to these advantages was the fact that the plateau formed by the bluffs was full of deep ravines, which made it impossible to maneuver troops there with any degree of success. After the failure of the first campaign Grant moved his army to Memphis, and thence down the river to Young's point, 9 miles above Vicksburg on the Louisiana side of the river, where he arrived and assumed command on February 2, 1863. The army in the Vicksburg campaign consisted of the 9th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th army corps, respectively commanded by Major-Generals John G. Parke, John A McClernand, William T. Sherman, Cadwallader C. Washburn and James B. McPherson, and two brigades from the District of Northeast Louisiana under the command of Brigadier-General Elias S. Dennis. During the operations General McClernand was superseded in the command of the 13th corps by Major-General E. O. C. Ord. The 9th corps was composed of the 1st and 2nd divisions, commanded by Brigadier-Generals Thomas Welsh and Robert B. Potter. In the 13th corps the 9th division was commanded by Brigadier-General Peter J. Osterhaus, the 10th by Brigadier-General Andrew J. Smith, the 12th by Brigadier-General Alvin P. Hovey, and the 14th by Brigadier-General Eugene A. Carr. The 15th corps was composed of the 1st, 2nd and 3d divisions, commanded by Brigadier Generals Frederick Steele, Frank P. Blair and James M. Tuttle. The 16th corps included the 1st, 4th and provisional divisions, commanded by Brigadier-Generals William Sooy Smith, Jacob Lauman and Nathan Kimball. From May 13 to 20 Lauman's division was temporarily attached to the 15th corps. The 17th corps contained four divisions, the 3d, 6th and 7th, and one commanded by Brigadier-General Francis J. Herron. The 3d division was commanded by Brigadier-General John A. Logan, the 6th by Brigadier-General John McArthur, and the 7th by Brigadier-Generals Isaac F. Quinby, Marcellus M. Crocker and John E. Smith, successively. At the beginning of the campaign the Union army numbered about 43,000 men, but it was increased by reinforcements until at the close of operations Grant had 75,000 men about the city and its environs. A valuable adjunct to the army in the reduction of Vicksburg was the Mississippi Flotilla, under the command of Rear-Adm. David D. Porter. It was composed of the flag-ship Benton; the gunboat Essex; the ironclads DeKalb (former the St. Louis), Cairo, Carondelet, Cincinnati, Louisville, Mound City, Pittsburg, Choctaw, Lafayette, Chillicothe, Indianola and Tuscumbia; the Rodgers gunboats Conestoga, Lexington and Tyler; the Ellet rams Fulton, Horner, Lancaster, Lioness, Mingo, Monarch, Queen of the West, Sampson and Switzerland; the tinclads Brilliant, Cricket, Forest Rose, Glide, Juliet, Linden, Marmora, Petrel, Rattler, Romeo and Signal; the mortar boats Abraham, Clara Dolsen, General Lyon, Grampus, Great Western, Judge Torrence, New National and Red Rover, and the despatch boat William H. Brown. On March 14-15 the following vessels, belonging to the West Gulf Squadron and commanded by Rear-Adm. David G. Farragut, passed the batteries at Port Hudson and assisted in the siege of Vicksburg: Hartford (flagship), Mississippi, Monongahela, Richmond, Genesee, Kineo, Albatross, Estrella and Arizona. In addition to these vessels various gunboats participated in some of the operations, viz.: Alexandria, Argosy, Black Hawk, Champion, Covington, Curlew, Hastings, Exchange, Key West, Kenwood, Moose, New Era, Naumkeag, Pawpaw, Peosta, Prairie Bird, Queen City, Reindeer, St. Clair, Silver Cloud, Silver Lake, Springfield, Tawah and Page 892 Victory. Opposed to this force was the Confederate army under the command of Lieut.-General John C. Pemberton, consisting of the divisions of Major-Generals W. W. Loring, Carter L. Stevenson, John H. Forney, Martin L. Smith and John S. Bowen, the river batteries, commanded by Col . Edward Higgins, and some unattached troops. The strength of the Confederate forces at Vicksburg has been variously estimated at from 40,000 to 60,000 men, the latter figure being Grant's estimate. Pemberton, in his report, says that when he moved within the defenses of Vicksburg his available force aggregated about 28,000 men, but as over 31,000 were surrendered as prisoners of war after a siege of nearly two months, it is evident that his statement of his force is too low. The battle of Chickasaw bluffs had demonstrated the strength of the Confederate works on the north side of the city, and Grant decided to gain a foothold below and attack from the south. To do this it was necessary to transport the army and its supplies to some point down the river. The Queen of the West ran past the batteries in front of Vicksburg on the night of February 2, and the Indianola on the night of the 13th. Although these single vessels had passed safely, it was regarded as too hazardous an undertaking to attempt the passage with a large number of transports loaded with men and supplies, and a channel for the boats was sought elsewhere. Three routes presented themselves for consideration. One was the canal that had been excavated by General Williams across the southern part of the peninsula opposite the city, in June, 1862; the second was to connect Lake Providence near the Arkansas line, with the Mississippi by a canal about a mile long and send the fleet through Louisiana via the Tensas, Black and Red rivers to a point on the Mississippi below Natchez; the third was the Yazoo pass route on the eastern side of the river. Work was commenced on the Williams canal early in February, its course being changed to insure a better current, and its construction was pushed vigorously. Rainy weather set in and continued until March 7, just as the canal was about completed, when the levee gave way, inundating the canal and the camps west of it, and forcing the abandonment of the enterprise. Attention was then turned to the Lake Providence route, which had been examined by engineers and pronounced practicable, and by March 16 a canal was completed connecting the lake with the river, but before it was turned to any account Grant determined to try the route via the Yazoo pass, the Coldwater and Tallahatchie rivers, in the hope of gaining the high ground on the Yazoo above Haynes' bluff. Yazoo pass was a bayou, connecting the Mississippi, through Moon lake, with the Coldwater river, nearly opposite Helena, Arkansas. In early times it had been used for the passage of boats from Memphis to Yazoo City, but some years before the beginning of the war it had been closed by a strong levee to reclaim a large tract of land subject to overflow. This route had been under consideration from the first. On February 3 the levee was blown up by a mine and four days later a gunboat entered the pass. The Confederate spies and pickets had kept Pemberton well informed regarding every movement Grant made, and when it was learned that the Federals were preparing to advance by the Yazoo, steps were taken to offset the movement. Yazoo pass, as well as the Coldwater river, ran through a forest. The Confederates felled a large number of trees into the water, thus impeding the progress of the vessel and causing a tedious delay in removing the obstructions, the Coldwater not being reached until the 21st, when the 13th division of McClernand's corps, Brigadier General Leonard F. Ross commanding, was ordered to pass through to test the availability of the route for a larger body of troops. Ross was delayed in procuring boats and did not reach the Coldwater until March Page 893 2. On the 5th Grant ordered McPherson to move his whole corps, about 30,000 men, down to Yazoo City and there effect a lodgment, while two divisions of cavalry were to move to the eastward and cut the enemy's communications. Pemberton in the meantime had sent Loring, with about 2,000 men and 8 heavy guns to the mouth of the Yallabusha to dispute the passage of the Yazoo. About 5 miles below the mouth of the Yallabusha, where the waters of the Yazoo and Tallahatchie are brought within a short distance of each other by a sharp bend, Loring constructed a line of works, to which he gave the name of Fort Pemberton. The delay encountered by the Federals in clearing the streams above gave Loring plenty of time to get the fort in a good state of defense, and when the gunboats and transports with Ross' division arrived before the fort on March 11, they found the Confederates prepared to give battle. As the ground in front of the fort was under water a charge on the works was out of the question, and the only thing that could be done was for the gunboats to try to silence the enemy's guns. On the 12th a land battery was established about 800 yards from the fort and the next day the bombardment was continued, but without any perceptible injury to the fort. Ross moved back up the Tallahatchie until he met Quinby's division. Quinby, being the senior officer, assumed command and ordered the whole expedition back to Fort Pemberton, where, after a short bombardment on the 23d, he determined to send to Helena for a pontoon bridge, by means of which he could cross the Yallabusha, gain the rear of the fort, and by cutting off communications compel its surrender, but before the movement could be executed a despatch was received from Grant, ordering the entire force to return to the Mississippi. While Ross was working his way down the Tallahatchie Grant was informed that Loring was being reinforced from Vicksburg and, fearing that Ross might be surrounded and captured, planned an expedition to relieve him and at the same time reach the Yazoo above Haynes' bluff. The route selected was up the Yazoo to Steele's bayou; thence up that bayou for about 40 miles to Black bayou; through that to Deer creek; up Deer creek for about 30 miles; then through a cross stream known as Rolling Fork to the Sunflower river, and down that stream to the Yazoo. Porter, with the Pittsburg, Louisville, Mound City, Cincinnati and Carondelet, four mortar boats and two tugs, accompanied by Sherman, with one division of his corps, started up the Yazoo on March 16, preceded by the 8th Missouri to remove trees, etc., from the streams. On the evening of the 18th Porter was within a few miles of Rolling Fork, and it began to look as if this expedition was to be successful. But the enemy had learned of the movement and sent a brigade of infantry, with several pieces of artillery, up the Sunflower to head it off. A battery was planted at the mouth of the Rolling Fork and an attempt made to get in the rear of Porter, with a view to cutting off his retreat and capturing his gunboats. Porter sent word to Sherman, who hurried forward his troops and on the 21st he had a sharp skirmish with the Confederates, driving them back and extricating Porter from his predicament . The expedition now turned back and on the 27th reached the Mississippi, adding another failure to the efforts to gain a position on Pemberton's flank. Two months had now been spent in futile efforts to find a way by which the army could be transferred to a point below or in the rear of Vicksburg. Although somewhat disappointed, Grant was not altogether discouraged. The situation was carefully canvassed and but three plans presented themselves as being at all feasible: 1st, a direct assault on the enemy's works; 2nd, to return to Memphis and reopen a campaign in the rear of Vicksburg; or 3d, to find a way through the bayous and Page 894 swamps on the western side of the Mississippi, cross that river and move against the city from the south in accordance with the original scheme. The idea of a direct assault was rejected as too hazardous, defeat being almost certain. Sherman urged the adoption of the second method as the one most practicable, but the press and the public at the north were clamoring for aggressive action, Grant was being daily characterized as a failure, and many were urging the president to relieve him of the command of the army. To return to Memphis would look like a retreat. Probably for this reason, more than any other, Grant resolved to try the third plan. It was full of risk; failure meant the destruction of his army, but if it succeeded at all the success would be overwhelming. A route was reconnoitered from Milliken's bend and Young's point via Richmond, Louisiana, to New Carthage, about 30 miles below Vicksburg. It was found that, by excavating a canal about 2 miles long a short distance below Duckport, the Mississippi could be connected with Walnut bayou; thence by the sinuous course of that stream and Roundaway bayou a passage could be opened for light draft boats, by means of which the troops and supplies could be conveyed to New Carthage, but the gunboats and heavy transports would have to run the gauntlet of the Vicksburg batteries. The canal was opened and one steamboat and several barges passed through the channel, when the river began to fall rapidly, rendering the route useless. It was no longer needed, however, for with the receding of the waters it became possible to march an army across the country. Even while the canal was under construction Osterhaus' division moved over the route, occupying Richmond on March 31, after a short skirmish, and arriving at New Carthage on April 6. On the night of April 16 the fleet ran past the batteries at Vicksburg. Porter, with the flag-ship Benton, was in the lead. Then followed, in the order named, the Lafayette, Louisville, Mound City, Pittsburg and Carondelet. Next came three transports, the Forest Queen, Silver Wave and Henry Clay, barricaded with cotton bales, while the gunboat Tuscumbia brought up the rear. Leaving the mouth of the Yazoo at 10 o'clock, the vessels dropped slowly down the river and about an hour later came within range of the Confederate guns, which immediately opened a vigorous fire. As the gunboats went by each one delivered a broadside on the town. The aim of the Confederate gunners was fairly accurate as every vessel was struck a number of times, but the only one seriously damaged was the Henry Clay, on which the cotton was fired by a bursting shell, and the crew becoming panic-stricken escaped to the other vessels or the shore, allowing her to burn to the water's edge. The batteries at Warrenton were passed without difficulty and at 2 a. m. on the 17th the fleet landed at New Carthage. On that day Grant started Grierson on a cavalry raid from La Grange, Tennessee, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a diversion, and to prevent reinforcements from being sent to Pemberton. (See Grierson's raid). On the night of the 22nd the transports Tigress, Anglo-Saxon, Cheeseman, Empire City, Horizon and Moderator, loaded with army supplies, ran the batteries. Five of them were more or less damaged. The Tigress received a shot in her hull below the water line, but she was run to the Louisiana shore, where she sank soon after passing beyond the range of the guns. Grant's objective point was Grand Gulf, a small village on the east side of the river on the first bluff south of Vicksburg, and about 50 miles from that city. The enemy had fortified the bluff by a strong line of earthworks, in two sets of batteries, one above and another below the landing, the two being connected by a covered trench. On April 24 Grant and Porter made a reconnaissance of the batteries and decided them too strong to attack from the position then occupied some 20 miles Page 895 up the river. Accordingly the line was extended to Hard Times landing, about 3 miles above Grand Gulf, and on the 29th everything was in readiness for the assault. At 7 a. m. Porter left Hard Times with his fleet, and proceeded down the river followed by three divisions of McClernand's corps in transports, with instructions to land and carry the works by assault as soon as the enemy's guns were silenced. The bombardment began at 8 a. m. and continued without cessation until 1 p. m., when the Confederates ceased firing. In the action Porter' lost 19 killed and 56 wounded. Every one of his vessels had suffered to some extent, the Tuscumbia having been struck 81 times, a number of the shells penetrating her armor and bursting on the inside, damaging her so much that for some time she was unfit for service. The enemy lost 3 killed and 15 wounded. Although the batteries were silenced Grant regarded it as a feint and refused to land his infantry. McClernand moved his men back to Hard Times, where they were disembarked and marched across the bend to a point about 3 miles below Grand Gulf, but on the opposite side of the river. That night Porter renewed the attack on the batteries and while it was in progress the transports managed to get by without being seriously injured. At daylight the next morning McClernand commenced ferrying his troops across the Mississippi, and by noon his entire corps, numbering 18,000 men, was on Mississippi soil at Bruinsburg, about 8 miles below Grand Gulf. McPherson's corps soon followed, three days' rations were issued to the men, and at 4 o'clock that afternoon the advance was begun on Port Gibson, where the enemy was met and overcome the next day. Grierson's raid had kept Pemberton from sending reinforcements to Grand Gulf, and on the night of May 2 the garrison evacuated that place, retiring toward Vicksburg. Porter took possession on the morning of the 3d and later in the day Grant rode over from Bruinsburg to make preparations for the establishment of his base. At the beginning of the campaign the purpose was to have Major-General N. P. Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf, cooperate with Grant in the capture of Port Hudson, after which their combined forces would move against Vicksburg. While Grant was at Grand Gulf on the 3d he received word from Banks, who was then on the Red river, announcing that he would be unable to reach Port Hudson until about the middle of May, and then with a much smaller force than originally intended. This news changed the whole current of Grant's plans. He was in the heart of the enemy's country, and to wait for Banks would only give Pemberton an opportunity to strengthen his position at Vicksburg, making the problem all the harder to solve. It was known that reinforcements were moving to Pemberton's support, and Grant determined by prompt and energetic action to strike the Confederate forces in detail before they could be concentrated at Vicksburg. While the main body of the army was moving toward Grand Gulf, Sherman had been left to make a demonstration against Haynes' bluff. On May 1 he received orders to cease his operations there and push his whole corps toward Hard Times. When Grant received the communication from Banks he immediately sent orders to Sherman to organize a train of 120 wagons and bring them to Grand Gulf, where they were to be loaded with rations from the transports. This supply, with the rations already issued to McClernand's and McPherson's men, gave enough to last the whole army for five days, and was the last received from the government stores until a base was established at Chickasaw Bluffs nearly a month later. During that time the troops subsisted off of the country. Sherman, with his train, arrived at Grand Gulf on the 7th and the advance was resumed, the line of march being along the Big Black river toward the Page 896 Vicksburg & Jackson railroad, the object being to cut off the forces which Grant had reason to believe were assembling there to move to Pemberton's assistance. On the 12th McPherson's corps fought the battle of Raymond. Two days later the Confederates under Johnston were driven from Jackson and Grant's entire army turned westward toward Vicksburg. Pemberton had moved out to meet the Federals, but was defeated in the engagements at Champion's Hill on the 16th, Big Black river bridge and Bridgeport on the 17th, and forced to retire within his works. Sherman crossed the Big Black at Bridgeport on the morning of the 18th and moved on the Bridgeport road against the enemy's position on Walnut hills. McPherson crossed the river above the Jackson road and came up in the rear of Sherman on the same road. McClernand, after crossing the river followed the Jackson road to Mount Albans, where he turned to the left to reach the road leading to Baldwin's ferry. By the morning of the 19th the investment of Vicksburg was as complete as could be made with the forces at Grant's command. During the forenoon of the 19th, while the Union troops were getting into better position, there was constant skirmishing along the lines. Knowing that the enemy had been demoralized by his recent defeats, Grant was of the opinion that the Confederates would make but a feeble effort in defense of Vicksburg, and at 2 p. m. ordered an assault . But the enemy put up a more stubborn resistance than was anticipated, and the only advantage gained was to secure more advanced positions, where the men were covered from the fire of the Confederate batteries. The next two days were spent in strengthening these positions and in opening roads to the Yazoo river, where Grant had established a depot of supplies. On the evening of the 21st regular rations were distributed among the men, many of whom had been without bread and coffee for two weeks or more. The Fort Hill road left Vicksburg on the north side, ran for some distance parallel with the river, then turned east along the crest of the ridge overlooking the Mint Spring bayou. Farther east a road ran out past a cemetery and united with the Fort Hill road about a mile and a half from the city. This was known as the Graveyard road. Near the northeast corner of Vicksburg a ridge ran eastward and along the summit of this ridge was the Jackson road, one of the principal thoroughfares entering the town. South of the Jackson road was the road leading to Baldwin's ferry. Running southeastwardly was the Hall's Ferry road, while the road to Warrenton followed the edge of the bluff down the river. A line of earthworks extended from the Fort Hill road on the north to the Warrenton road on the south, and was manned as follows: Martin L. Smith's division was along the Fort Hill road, with Vaughn's brigade on the extreme left; between the Graveyard and Baldwin's Ferry roads lay Forney's division; south of the Baldwin's Ferry road was Stevenson's division, Barton's brigade forming the extreme right. This line was defended by 128 pieces of artillery, 36 of which were siege guns of heavy caliber, while along the river front were a number of batteries in charge of Colonel Higgins. Sherman's corps occupied the Union right and extended from the river to the Graveyard road. Next came McPherson, his left resting near the Baldwin's Ferry road. South of McPherson was McClernand, with a gap of over 3 miles between his left and the river. This was subsequently filled by Lauman's and Herron's divisions. Notwithstanding the failure of the 19th, opinion was prevalent among the rank and file of the army that the works could be carried by assault. Orders were accordingly issued on the evening of the 21st for a general attack along the whole line at 10 o'clock on the following morning. So Page 897 complete were the arrangements for this movement that the corps commanders all set their watches by Grant's so that all should begin at exactly the same moment. Precisely at the time designated the three corps advanced to the attack. Sherman had planted four batteries so as to concentrate their fire on the bastion of the fort in his front, and formed a storming party of 150 to carry materials for throwing a rough bridge across the ditch. At the given signal the storming party rushed forward, closely followed by Ewing's brigade. As the line advanced Hebert's brigade arose inside the parapet and opened a terrific fire on their assailants. But the storming party made a rush, crossed the ditch and planted their flag on the parapet, where it was maintained until nightfall in spite of several attempts of the enemy to capture it. The majority of the storming party were killed, and the supporting troops forced to seek the shelter of a friendly ravine about 70 yards from the fort. From this position they kept up the fight until dark. The right of McPherson's line was in a position where any attempt to advance would have been met by a cross-fire, and all that could be done by Quinby's and Logan's divisions was to make a strong demonstration to keep Forney from sending reinforcements to other parts of the line. On the left J. E. Smith's and Stevenson's brigades made a gallant charge up the slope against the fort north of the Baldwin's Ferry road. Smith was checked by a galling fire, but Stevenson pressed on to the foot of the works, where the 7th Missouri planted their colors, but after losing six standard bearers in quick succession fell back about 200 yards to a more sheltered position. In McClernand's corps Carr's division occupied the right, with Benton's brigade on the Baldwin's Ferry road and Lawless just south of the Jackson railroad, with A. J. Smith's division in support. Osterhaus came next and one brigade of Hovey's division was on the extreme left, the other having been left at Big Black river bridge. As the line advanced Osterhaus and Hovey were checked by a murderous cross-fire from a square fort on their left, and though they held their position were unable to approach any nearer the enemy's works. Benton and Lawler advanced, the latter's attack being directed against a fort on a hill near the railroad. Two regiments, the 21st and 22nd la., charged up the hill and gained the ditch in front of the fort. Sergt. Joseph Griffith, with a small party, entered the work and engaged in a hand-to-hand fight, in which nearly all of Griffith's men were killed. The fort was abandoned by the Confederates, but it was commanded by a stronger work a short distance in the rear the Iowa troops were unable to hold it, though the flag of the 22nd waved over the parapet for the rest of the day. Benton's brigade also reached the ditch in their front and planted their colors on the parapet, while Landram's brigade, of A. J. Smith's division, joined Lawler, the colors of the 77th Illinois being planted by the side of those of the 22nd la. In repulsing the attacks of Benton and Lawler the Confederates used hand grenades with terrible effect. At 10:30 a. m. several Union flags were floating over the outer line of works, but further progress seemed to be impossible. Toward noon McClernand sent a message to Grant, stating that he had part possession of two of the enemy's forts, and asking that McPherson strike a vigorous blow to cause a diversion in his favor. This despatch was shown to Sherman, who sent Tuttle forward to the assistance of Blair, and ordered Giles Smith to join his brigade with that of Ransom, of McPherson's command, in an attack on the works near Graveyard road. Logan's division again advanced, but was forced back with heavy loss. Regarding this part of the action, and the despatches sent by McClernand, Grant says in his report: "The position occupied by me during most of the time of the assault gave me a better opportunity of seeing what was Page 898 going on in front of the Thirteenth Army Corps than I believe it possible for the commander of it to have. I could not see his possession of forts nor necessity for reinforcements, as represented in his despatches, up to the time I left it, which was between 12 m. and 1 p. m., and I expressed doubts of their correctness, which doubts the facts subsequently, but too late, confirmed. At the time I could not disregard his reiterated statements, for they might possibly be true; and that no possible opportunity of carrying the enemy's stronghold should be allowed to escape through fault of mine, I ordered Quinby's division, which was all of McPherson's corps then present but four brigades, to report to McClernand, and notified him of the order. I showed his despatches to McPherson, as I had to Sherman, to satisfy him of the necessity of an active diversion on their part to hold as much force in their fronts as possible. The diversion was promptly and vigorously made, and resulted in the increase of our mortality list fully 50 per cent., without advancing our position or giving us other advantages." McClernand had probably gained an erroneous idea of what had been accomplished in his front from the slight success achieved by Griffith and his little body of Iowans, but as late as 3:50 p. m. he sent a despatch to Grant, expressing his faith in his ability to force his way through as soon as McArthur and Quinby arrived to aid him. The conduct of McClernand on this occasion led to his being superseded by Major-General Ord in command of the 13th corps soon afterward. The assault failed and that night the Union troops fell back to their original position for the siege. To conduct the siege successfully and the same time guard against an attack in the rear by the forces under Johnston, Grant called for reinforcements. These were promptly sent to him and at the close of the siege he had about 75,000 men about Vicksburg, the 9th and 16th corps and Herron's division having been added to his army. Johnston did begin the work of organizing an army at Canton for the relief of Vicksburg, but he spent so much time in correspondence with the Confederate authorities at Richmond, and was otherwise so slow in his movements, that he was not ready to begin his advance until July 1, and before be reached Vicksburg Pemberton had surrendered. On May 13 the Union army began the work of intrenching itself. During the siege nearly 12 miles of trenches and 89 batteries were constructed. These batteries mounted 248 guns, mostly field pieces. In the absence of mortars wooden coehorns were made from tough logs, banded with iron, and were used for throwing 6 and 12 pound shells into the Confederate trenches. A few heavy siege-guns were brought up from the gunboats and worked by naval crews. The character of the ground between the lines made it easy to run covered ways up to and even under the enemy's works. Materials for gabions and sap-rollers were found in abundance in the cane and undergrowth of the ravines. Saps were run from three points on the Jackson road to the fort just north of it, and on June 25 the mine was ready. It was charged with a ton of powder, two regiments were stationed under cover to charge through the breach, and at 3 p. m. the fuse was lighted. The explosion was a success, the two regiments rushed into the crater, which they held for 24 hours, when they were driven out with hand grenades from a second line of works which the Confederates had in the meantime thrown up in the rear of the parapet destroyed. A second mine was exploded on July 1, but no attempt was made to charge the works. About this time a despatch from Johnston to Pemberton was intercepted. From it Grant learned that it was Johnston's intention to create a diversion on July 7, in order to give the forces at Vicksburg a chance to cut their way out. Grant, therefore ordered another assault for the 6th. By this time the covered Page 899 galleries had been run close up to the enemy's works in a number of places. They were now widened to permit the troops to pass through four abreast, and materials were collected for crossing the ditches. All this time a bombardment had been kept up on the city by the gunboats. Some days before Johnston's despatch was intercepted a report reached Grant to the effect that Pemberton was preparing to escape under cover of darkness to the western side of the Mississippi. Porter was directed to keep a close watch upon the river, batteries were planted on the Louisiana shore, and brushwood was arranged for firing, to light up the river in case the attempt was made. When the Union troops entered Vicksburg they found a large number of rudely constructed boats, showing that there was no doubt some truth in the report. A number of houses had been pulled down to furnish the materials for the construction of these boats. A communication under the caption "Appeal for Help," and signed "Many Soldiers," was sent to Pemberton from the trenches. It was dated June 28, and the following extract shows the feeling that existed at that time in the Confederate ranks. "If you can't feed us, you had better surrender us, horrible as the idea is, than suffer this noble army to disgrace themselves by desertion. I tell you plainly men are not going to lie here and perish; if they do love their country, self preservation is the first law of nature, and hunger will compel a man to do almost anything. You had better heed a warning voice, though it is the voice of a private soldier. This army is now ripe for mutiny unless it can be fed." On July 1 Pemberton called on his division commanders for information "as to the condition of your troops, and their ability to make the marches and undergo the fatigues necessary to accomplish a successful evacuation." Two of the generals were outspoken in favor of surrender, and the other two expressed the opinion that any attempt to evacuate would prove a failure. About 10 o'clock on the morning of the 3d white flags were displayed on the enemy's works and hostilities along that portion of the line ceased. A little later General Bowen and Colonel Montgomery were seen coming under another white flag toward the Union lines. Montgomery bore a letter from Pemberton to Grant, proposing an armistice and the appointment of three commissioners from each army to arrange terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg, and stating that he made the proposition to save the further effusion of blood. To this letter Grant replied as follows: " * * * The useless effusion of blood you propose stopping by this course can be ended at any time you may choose, by the unconditional surrender of the city and garrison. Men who have shown so much endurance and courage as those now in Vicksburg will always challenge the respect of an adversary, and I can assure you will be treated with all the respect due to prisoners of war. I do not favor the proposition of appointing commissioners to arrange terms of capitulation, because I have no terms other than those indicated above." With this letter Grant sent a verbal message, asking Pemberton to meet him at a given point between the lines at 3 o'clock that afternoon. At that meeting it was agreed that hostilities should cease until the correspondence was ended, and Grant promised to give Pemberton his final propositions by 10 o'clock that night. After the conference Grant called together his corps commanders, and after consultation with them sent the following letter to Pemberton: "In conformity with agreement of this afternoon I will submit the following proposition for the surrender of the city of Vicksburg, public stores, etc. On your accepting the terms proposed I will march in one division as a guard, and take possession at 8 a. m. tomorrow. As soon as rolls can be made out and paroles signed Page 900 by officers and men, you will be allowed to march out of our lines, the officers taking with them their side arms and clothing; and the field, staff, and cavalry officers one horse each. The rank and file will be allowed all their clothing, but no other property. If these conditions are accepted, any amount of rations you may deem necessary can be takes from the stores you now have, and also the necessary cooking utensils for preparing them. Thirty wagons also, counting two-horse or mule teams as one, will be allowed to transport such articles as cannot be carried along. The same conditions will be allowed to all sick and wounded officers and soldiers as fast as they become able to travel. The paroles for these latter must be signed, however, whilst officers present are authorized to sign the roll of prisoners." These terms were subsequently modified to permit each brigade of the Confederate army to march to the front of the position occupied (by it and stack arms, after which the men were to return to the inside of the works, where they were to remain until all were paroled. Accordingly at 10 a. m. on the 4th the various commands moved outside and stacked their arms. Logan's division was the first to enter the city, and before noon the national colors floated over the court-house. The work of paroling the prisoners was hurried forward as rapidly as possible, the number of prisoners surrendered being 31,600, together with 172 pieces of artillery, 60,000 muskets and a large quantity of ammunition. The losses of the Union army during the siege, including the assaults on May 19 and 22, were 763 killed, 3,746 wounded, and 162 missing. The Confederate reports of casualties are imperfect. Incomplete returns show the losses from May 1 to July 3 to have been 1,260 killed, 3,572 wounded and 4,227 captured, though the whole number was probably not far from 12,000. The fall of Vicksburg opened the Mississippi to the Federal armies and coming just at the same time as Lee's defeat at Gettysburg the two victories marked the turning point in the fortunes of the Confederacy. (For the campaign in the rear of Vicksburg see Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion's Hill and Big Black River Bridge.)


Vicksburg, Mississippi, August 27, 1863. 5th U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery.


Vidalia, Louisiana, September 14, 1863. Detachments of 30th and 35th Missouri Infantry and 2nd Mississippi Heavy Artillery (Colored). On the morning of the 14th a party of 150 or 200 Confederates cut its way through the negro pickets of the Federal camp at Vidalia and commenced firing into the men and loosing the mules. The firing aroused the men of the 30th Missouri, 40 in number, who advanced and attacked the enemy, driving him from the camp and compelling him to abandon the mules he had captured. A detachment sent over the river from Natchez followed, skirmishing for a distance of 16 miles, and then came upon the enemy's main body 800 strong. Three Federals were killed, 2 wounded and 9 captured or missing. The Confederate casualties were not ascertained, but were undoubtedly heavier.


Vidalia, Louisiana, February 7, 1864. 2nd Mississippi Heavy Artillery, African descent. Lieut.-Colonel Hubert A. McCaleb with a detachment of 432 men was sent to reinforce Colonel Farrar who was being hard pressed by the enemy at Vidalia. Upon his arrival there McCaleb deployed his men and had no sooner taken position that the Confederates advanced. The Federals waited until the enemy was within 200 yards and then poured in a volley which checked his advance. Another volley sent the Confederates flying in confusion, with a loss of 1 man killed and 5 wounded. Not a man of the Federal command sustained any injury.


Vidalia, Louisiana, July 22, 1864. 6th U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery. Vienna, Alabama, July 8, 1864. Detachment of 12th Indiana Cavalry. Company B of this regiment, while scouting in the vicinity of Vienna, Page 901 when about 3 miles from that place, was fired upon and dispersed. The guide was killed and 8 men were wounded.


Vienna, Virginia , June 17, 1861. 1st Ohio Volunteers. Brigadier-General Robert C. Schenck with some 270 men left the Federal camp and took passage on a train for the purpose of guarding the railroad bridge at Vienna. As the train was rounding a curve just before entering Vienna it was fired upon by a masked battery of 3 guns and before it could be stopped several men were killed or wounded. Upon disembarking, the troops retired to the right and left of the train through the woods, but finding the battery supported by a regiment of cavalry and another of infantry, Schenck withdrew along the railroad to a point 5 miles distant . The Union loss in this affair was 8 killed and 4 wounded; the Confederates sustained no casualties.


Vienna, Virginia, November 26, 1861. Detachment of 3d Pennsylvania Cavalry. Captain Charles A. Bell with about 100 men was sent on a reconnaissance from Camp Marcy through Vienna toward Hunter's mill. Just after passing Vienna the rear-guard was attacked and became panic stricken. The confusion spread to the remainder of the detachment and a precipitate retreat was made. Bell did not report his losses, but a Confederate report puts them at 1 killed, 6 wounded and 26 taken prisoners. The enemy suffered no loss.


Vienna, Virginia, February 22, 1862. Reconnaissance by the 1st Minnesota Infantry. 


Village Creek, Arkansas, June 12, 1862. (See Waddell's Farm, same date.)


Vincent's Creek, South Carolina, August 4, 1863. Detachment of 100th New York Infantry. A Confederate command composed of men from the navy and the 25th South Carolina infantry attacked and broke up the Federal picket stationed at an unfinished battery at the mouth of Vincent's creek, capturing 10 men, 4 of whom were wounded.


Vincent's Cross-Roads, Mississippi, October 26, 1863. 1st Alabama Cavalry. A Confederate detachment under Brigadier-General S. W. Ferguson came upon about 500 men of the 1st Alabama cavalry drawn up in line of battle at Vincent's cross-roads near Bay Springs. After a fight of some hours the Confederates were victorious, suffering a loss of 2 killed and 11 wounded. Union reports make no mention of casualties, but Ferguson says 20 were killed, 9 wounded and 29 captured.


Vine Prairie, Arkansas, February 2, 1863. Detachment of 1st Arkansas Cavalry. This affair was a sharp skirmish between 82 Federals and a Confederate force said to number 180. The enemy was first encountered by the advance, which fell back to the main column, when the Confederate charged, but were checked, and after 30 minutes of fighting were driven from the field with a loss of 8 killed and 15 or 20 wounded,  according to the Federal report. The Union casualties amounted to 1 man wounded.


Vining Station, Georgia, July 5, 1864. 3d Division, 4th Army Corps. After the Confederates evacuated their works at Smyrna camp ground on the night of the 4th the pursuit was taken up by the 4th corps on the 5th, with slight skirmishing along the route. At Vining Station Wood's skirmishers encountered a brigade of cavalry dismounted, behind a rail barricade at right angles to the road leading to Pace's ferry on the Chattahoochee river. Wood pushed forward the whole division and drove the enemy from his position, but the cavalry mounted and retreated by a river road not known to the Union troops and thus escaped captures. Wood then occupied the high banks overlooking Pace's ferry. No casualties reported.


Vining Station, Georgia, July 9, 1864. 21st Ohio Infantry. The Ohio Page 902 regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Arnold McMahan, made an attack on a line of rifle-pits occupied by the 4th Mississippi and 54th Louisiana infantry, drove them out of their trenches and back to the main line of works with a loss of several in killed and wounded and 17 prisoners. McMahan held the rifle-pits, from which he annoyed the enemy behind the main breastworks. That night the Confederates withdrew across the Chattahoochee river, leaving the Federals in possession of the station. The Union loss in this affair was 15 killed, 39 wounded and 1 missing.


Volney, Kentucky, October 22, 1863. Detachments of 26th Kentucky and 6th New Hampshire Mounted Infantry and 3d Kentucky Cavalry. This force under Colonel Cicero Maxwell overtook a band of guerrillas at Volney and fired at them. The outlaws fled without returning the lire and were pursued for a distance of 30 miles. Several were captured, together with their horses and booty. One Federal soldier was wounded. Waddell's Farm, Ark, June 12, 1862. 9th Illinois Cavalry. A train of 36 wagons was sent out by Colonel Albert G. Brackett , under an escort of four companies of the 9th Illinois, for the purpose of obtaining supplies. Later in the day Major Humphrey, commanding the escort, reported that he had been attacked by a superior force and needed help. Brackett took the remainder of the regiment and went to his aid. He found Humphrey holding his position at Waddell's farm near Village creek. Brackett brought 2 howitzers to bear and then charged, scattering the enemy in every direction with a loss (according to the Federal report) of 28 in killed, wounded and prisoners. One man captured and 12 wounded was the loss sustained by the 9th Illinois.