Port Hudson Artillery

   In touring the Port Hudson battlefield recently I discovered what appears to be  cannons on display that matches disabled cannons in photos taken shortly after the surrender of Port Hudson.

Stamped on the 32-pounder: FPF No. 229 422.04

Stamped on the 8-in: 171  62  2  12

   There are similar defects in both cannons, but they are not exact matches.  It is possible that some repair work was done in an attempt to make the guns once again usable. Or additional damage occurred after the photos were taken.  In the one hundred plus years that intervened between the Battle of Port Hudson and the opening of the Port Hudson State Park many things could have happened to these guns.
   Most of the battlefield of Port Hudson remains in private ownership.  The only public part, outside the State Park, is the Port Hudson National Cemetery.

Carlos Alexander and his second wife, Elizabeth Jane Jarrell.

They were married 21 August 1889 so the picture dates from

sometime later. Photo courtesy Helen Clunie

Carlos F. Alexander:

 Born 1842, died 1920 in Poplarville, Mississippi, Buried Juniper Grove Cemetery, Poplarville



Father: Francis (Francisco) Alexander
Mother: Anna Rester
Married 1st: Mary Elizabeth Cooper, 26 May 1864
Children:

• Lemuel
• Jane
• Turner
• Louisa Elizabeth
• Mazaline
• George Rayburn
• James

Married 2nd: Elizabeth Jarrell 21 August 1889 (1900 census shows they had been married 11 years)

Civil War Record:

   Enlisted in Gainesville Volunteers at Shieldsboro in October 1861. Present on muster roll for July/August 1862; present October/November 1862; present January/February1863; absent without leave since May 17 1863 on July/August 1863 return.
   May 17th is the day after the Battle of Champion Hill (Baker's Creek).  Carlos may have been one of the 72 members of The Third Mississippi Infantry inside Vicksburg during the siege.  However, there is no record of his being paroled following the surrender of Vicksburg.  Family tradition holds that Carlos was wounded and came home to recover.  I have been unable to find any record that Carlos ever returned to his unit.

Raymond Battlefield, Part 3

Brig. Gen. Gregg  began to realize in the afternoon that his forces were greatly outnumbered and ordered the troops to pull back toward Jackson.  The citizens of Raymond offered assistance to the wounded of  both sides.  Those who had died were buried in the fields around Fourteen Mile Creek.
   The Union dead were later moved to the National Cemetery in Vicksburg and the Confederate dead were moved to Raymond where a Confederate Cemetery was established.  Most of the confederates were from the Seventh Texas and Third Tennessee.

The remains of several of the soldiers were never identified and they are buried with a marker that reads: "Unknown Confederate Soldier."

Also buried in this cemetery is Serg. Joseph Fairchild, Co. K, 3rd Miss Infantry.  The Third did not fight at Raymond.  The date of death on the marker is April 20, 1862, a full year before the Battle of Raymond.

Pictured above is the Confederate monument and its inscription.  The monument is located on the grounds of the Raymond Courthouse.











Raymond Battlefield, Part 2

   The focal point of the Battle of Raymond was the bridge and a short section of Fourteen Mile Creek.  The banks of the creek were steep and one soldier reported that retreat was out of the question because the Confederataes would shoot them down as they tried to climb the steep bank.  The banks of the creek were made even more slippery by the retreat of the wounded.  Another soldier reported how the creek ran red with the blood of the combatants.

View from the bridge in the morning hours of April 28, 2012.  Note how the banks still appear much as they did on the day of the battle.

A sketch of the two forces shooting at each other across the creek.  I am unaware of the source of the sketch.  It was photographed from the interpretive sign along Fourteen Mile Creek.

   A slight ridge, south of Fourteen Mile Creek has become known as McPherson's Ridge or Artillery Ridge.  McPherson deployed his main battery along this ridge in support of the troops advancing toward the creek across a freshly plowed field.

The preservation group has obtained a number of rebuilt carriages and replica cannons.  These are deployed along the ridge line facing Fourteen Mile Creek.  The power lines in the distance are along Mississippi Highway 18, south of Raymond.

Deployment of the Union and Confederate forces at the Battle of Raymond.  Notice how the 7th Texas and 3rd Tennessee led the way. (Photo taken from interpretive sign at Raymond Military Park.)









Raymond Battlefield, part 1

  Following several failed attampts to attack Vicksburg, General Grant hit upon the idea of marching his army past Vicksburg on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi River.  After crossing the river below Port Gibson and several fierce battle against small Confederate forces Grant's army was moving to the east of Vicksburg.  Grant had sent Maj. Gen. James McPherson and his troops on the Utica -- Raymond Road toward Jackson while the rest of his force moved north, west of Bolton and Edwards.
   Confederate  Brig. Gen. John Gregg had arrived in Raymond on May 11, 1863 with orders from  Pemberton to contain the right flank of the Union army and determine where it was heading.  Gregg devised a good plan of attack that probably would have worked if the Confederates had outnumbered the Union forces, as Gregg was led to believe.  He thought he was facing about 1600 troops rather than a Corps under Maj. Gen. McPherson.
   After a fierce all-day battle, Gregg was forced to withdraw to Jackson.  Although the Confederates lost the battle, it caused Grant to change his plans and move toward Jackson before attacking Vicksburg.  Grant concluded that he was facing two armies.  One in Jackson under the direction of Joseph Johnston and the other in Vicksburg, commanded by Pemberton.
   Efforts are continuing in Raymond today to preserve the battlefield.  A short walking trail has been constructed with interpretive signs at key locations.  Because the battle occurred in a rural area, much of the battlefield still looks much like it did on May 12, 1863.  And the preservation group, Friends of Raymond, have recently added another 66 acres of the original battlefield and are working to include this in the tour area.

The park is located a few hundred yards off Highway 18, south of Raymond, Mississippi.  Highway 18 actually runs through the orginal battlefield.

Gregg's Battle Plan

(Photo was taken from the interpretive sign at the entrance to the park)

. 

   A view of the battlefield look south toward Fourteen Mile Creek.  The creek is located in the tree-line in the distace.  The Confederates charged across this field led by the 7th Texas and 3rd Tennessee.

   A rebuilt carriage and smoothbore replica cannon guards the bridge of the old Utica Road today.
   An illustration by artist-journalist Theodore Davis is featured on the interpretive sign at this location.  The engraved illustration was published in Harper's Weekly newspaper, and shows the same view toward the bridge as we see today.  Of course, the bridge has been rebuilt since the battle and now sports more concrete than wood.
   The interpretive sign seen in the left center is where another cannon was placed.  In all, six guns of the 8th Michigan wer "unlimbered" and "went into battery."  Confederate artillery was shelling the Union column and DeGloyer's Battery opened fire on the confederate battery about a thousand yards to the north.











Hancock Rebels

In late summer and early fall of 1861 a group of young men from Hancock County joined forces in Shieldsboro, Mississippi to fight for their state and the Confederate cause.  This group became known as the "Gainesville  Volunteers" of the 3rd Regiment Mississippi Infantry.  As this unit was marching off to war to defend Vicksburg, another unit of older men were organizing in Hobolochitto, Mississippi. On March 25, 1 862, the unit known as the "Hancock Rebels" of the 38th Regiment Mississippi Infantry was organized and sent to Jackson, Mississippi for training.  They were soon at Corinth, Iuka, and the second battle of Corinth before arriving in Vicksburg.  This coming Sunday marks the 150th anniversity of their enlistment.  By the way, Hobolochitto is now known as Picayune, home of the 2011 5A State Football Champs.  Some of the players on this football team may count some of the Hancock Rebels as family.

Thoughts and comments

   With the new year a month old and Spring just around the corner my thoughts have turned to the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh.  I  began making plans to attend the events and logged on to the National Park Service Shiloh website.  Most of the events planned for April 6 and 7 are hiking events.  Anything from 1 mile to 4 -- 5 miles.  Also encouraged to bring  lunch, snacks, and water as some of the hikes are long and difficult.  My 70 year old body is very willing, however, my seemingly 90 year old legs have already begun to hurt.  Maybe if I begin to train now, by April I will be able to endure a 3 mile hike through difficult terrain. 
   Shiloh was great-grandfather James M. Polk's first battle and I am sure he got a real good look at the elephant in this bloody battle.  He managed to keep his head down and be in the right place at the right time to avoid getting shot or captured until the Battle of Franklin.  Great-grandfather was one of the many captured at Franklin and sent to prisoner of war camp until released at the end of the war.

Time to Return

It has been several months since I was able to write anything on this blog.  I have had several doctor appointments and an ear surgery but it appears that most of these are now in the past.  I plan to return to comments, etc. in the next day or so -- please stay tuned.