The war continues...
On January 13, 1863, the Twenty-sixth Iowa moved down the river to Young's Point, Louisiana four miles above Vicksburg, where they camped until the April 2nd. During this period, the regiment worked at building the canal, through which General Grant had expected to divert the course of the Mississippi River, but the undertaking did not accomplish the desired result. The sick list of the regiment rapidly increased and the number of officers and men able for duty was less than one-half the number shown upon the rolls. On 2 April 1863 the regiment, proceeded to Greenville, Mississippi where the troops landed and marched into the interior. The object of the expedition was to divert the attention of the enemy from the movements of General Grant's main army, but it accomplished more than that, in the capture of large quantities rebel troop supplies garrisoned at Vicksburg. The regiment was engaged in the skirmishes at Deer Creek and Black Bayou. The regiment returned to the vicinity of Vicksburg in the advanced column moving upon Jackson, Mississippi, during which they were engaged in the skirmish at Walnut hills and the assault of Vicksburg on May 22, 1863, losing nearly one-fourth of the number engaged.[1]
[1] Abraham and George Newkirk, American Civil War Regiments. Ancestry.com [database on-line]. Accessed 8 November 2012; Abraham and George Newkirk, Roster and Record of Iowa Troops In the Rebellion, Vol. 3 By Guy E. Logan on-line http://www.ancestry.com data downloaded 7 November 2012.
On January 13, 1863, the Twenty-sixth Iowa moved down the river to Young's Point, Louisiana four miles above Vicksburg, where they camped until the April 2nd. During this period, the regiment worked at building the canal, through which General Grant had expected to divert the course of the Mississippi River, but the undertaking did not accomplish the desired result. The sick list of the regiment rapidly increased and the number of officers and men able for duty was less than one-half the number shown upon the rolls. On 2 April 1863 the regiment, proceeded to Greenville, Mississippi where the troops landed and marched into the interior. The object of the expedition was to divert the attention of the enemy from the movements of General Grant's main army, but it accomplished more than that, in the capture of large quantities rebel troop supplies garrisoned at Vicksburg. The regiment was engaged in the skirmishes at Deer Creek and Black Bayou. The regiment returned to the vicinity of Vicksburg in the advanced column moving upon Jackson, Mississippi, during which they were engaged in the skirmish at Walnut hills and the assault of Vicksburg on May 22, 1863, losing nearly one-fourth of the number engaged.[1]
[1] Abraham and George Newkirk, American Civil War Regiments. Ancestry.com [database on-line]. Accessed 8 November 2012; Abraham and George Newkirk, Roster and Record of Iowa Troops In the Rebellion, Vol. 3 By Guy E. Logan on-line http://www.ancestry.com data downloaded 7 November 2012.
I like the picture!
ReplyDeleteI love old pictures like this. I can just imaging Abraham going for a walk with his great-grand daughter.
DeleteGreat information! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThank you Abbie.
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