June 30th. At eight in the morning the steamer St. Maurice came down the river with a load of contrabands,—men, women and children,—which she got off of some plantation near Red river. Brisk artillery and musketry firing heard in rear of Port Hudson all this day. At three thirty in the afternoon received a mail on board from the lower fleet.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
June 30 — Some picket fighting done last night to our right. Sharp shooting as usual today. 10 o’clock a.m. — pretty heavy cannonading to our right at this hour. We lie in the trenches every night. The sun has now set beneath the western horizon for the last time in June, ’63 and we are still in possession of Vicksburg. W.R.C.
Colonel Lyons.
Fort Donelson, June 30,1863.—Yesterday noon we had a terrific thunder storm. The building occupied by Lieut. Becker, of the artillery, in which was a large quantity of powder and loaded shell, was struck with lightning, the fluid tearing a gun to pieces within six inches of several barrels of powder. Had the powder ignited, the loss of life would have been fearful, as it is right in the midst of our camp. The escape was almost miraculous. Several men belonging to Flood’s Battery were knocked over, and one is seriously injured. He will probably lose his eyesight. Our magazine is now nearly done and we shall very soon have all our ammunition in it.
The troops at Fort Heiman have had a reverse. Lieut.Colonel Henry, the commander, took about 300 of his cavalry—nearly all he had—about a week ago, and went out on a scout. He got beyond Lexington, 70 or 80 miles from Fort Heiman, when he was attacked by a large force of rebels and his command was nearly all killed or captured. The Lieut.-Colonel of the 4th Missouri Cavalry was killed, and Lieut-Colonel Henry probably captured. Of course, when the remnant of the force at Fort Heiman heard of it they had a big scare and thought the rebels would be right on them. I sent Colonel McConnell over there Tuesday night with six bundred men and four pieces of artillery; but the scouts found no enemy near them, and the Colonel is marching back now, I suppose. How natural all this comes to the 13th, march, march, march—and no fight! Aren’t you sorry?
The guerillas don’t trouble us any, although we hear of them twenty, thirty and forty miles off. As they are living on their friends I don’t chase them. The rebel citizens are getting very sick of these fellows and beg us to send out forces after them. I tell them that they are only reaping the bitter fruits of their own folly, for they all encouraged the organization of these gangs.
[June 30th]
The enemy are making a bold effort and devastating a wide stretch of country. I trust this will prove our chance for ending the rebellion by utterly routing them. Weather very hot; remained all day in bivouac, awaiting orders. During the day the lame ducks came up and rejoined their colors.
This evening we hear Hooker has been relieved of the command, and that General Meade from the Fifth corps is appointed in his place. There is not an officer in the army, I think, who does not rejoice at the news. We saw enough of Hooker at Chancellorsville to assure us he was not capable of commanding an army like this.
by John Beauchamp Jones
JUNE 30TH.—Dispatches from the West show that we still held Vicksburg at the last dates; and, moreover, Gen. Taylor (son of Zachary Taylor) had stormed and taken the enemy’s fortifications at Berwick’s Bay, with the bayonet. We took 1000 prisoners, 10 large cannon, and many stores. Also that we had taken Thibbodauxville, and have thus cut off Banks from New Orleans.
5 O’CLOCK P. M.—The city is now in good humor, but not wild with exultation. We have what seems pretty authentic intelligence of the taking of HARRISBURG, the capital of Pennsylvania, the City of YORK, etc. etc. This comes on the flag of truce boat, and is derived from the enemy themselves. Lee will not descend to the retaliation instigated by petty malice; but proclaim to the inhabitants that all we desire is PEACE, not conquest.
From Vicksburg we have further information that, in springing his mine, Grant destroyed hundreds of his own men, and did us no injury. Also that a battery we have above Vicksburg had fired into some passing transports, doing great damage to life and boats. The troops landed, and failed to take the battery by assault, losing hundreds in addition.
Tuesday, 30th.—Very hot weather; nothing to protect us from the burning sun as we lie in ditches, except blankets stretched up, and they have to be very low to keep them from being shot to pieces.
