The Mississippi in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Guns lost at Champion Hill and BBB

I hope I haven't stuck my nose into a hornet's nest. This has been a very enlightning day. Although I'm not done snooping I have made some conclusions from what I've discovered in the O.R.

1. There was an "Old Sacramento"
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Report of Brig. Gen. James S. Rains, commanding Eighth Division, Missouri State Guard.

HDQRS. EIGHTH DIVISION, MISSOURI STATE GUARD,
March 20, 1862.

About 10 a. m. we were ordered forward in double-quick time, and ascended a steep hill on the left, up which our artillery was rapidly rolled by the infantry, who there displayed the eagerness with which they pushed forward to meet the foe. By this movement we reached the same plateau upon which the enemy were posted, and our battery was brought into action under command of Lieutenant [C. W.] Higgins, but assisted by Colonel [H. M.] Bledsoe, of the Sixth Infantry, who had been in charge of it since the commencement of the war, and who had so signally distinguished himself as a brave officer and skillful field artillerist. Here our favorite old piece “Sacramento” found herself sustained by others, commanded by those who proved themselves during the day to be brave and gallant soldiers.

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2. There were officially only two Whitworth Guns assigned the command of General Pemberton
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HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WESTERN LOUISIANA,
Bayou Teclie, November 10, 1862.
Lient. Gen. J. C. PEMBERTON,
Commanding Department, Jackson, Miss.:

GENERAL: I seize the first opportunity to write you concerning the condition of affairs in this locality...the State of Mississippi, was unable to get out before the enemy’s gunboats got into the bay. I shall endeavor, however, at the earliest moment possible to have this salt transported by land to a point on the Atchafalaya where it may be reshipped and forwarded to its destination.

If by any means you can spare me the two Whitworth guns now at Vicksburg, with a sufficient supply of ammunition, I think I can drive the enemy from Berwick Bay and recover the entire control of the Atchafalaya.

I am informed that there are some siege guns at Vicksburg Can. you spare a few of them? I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. TAYLOR,
Major- General.

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3. These two guns were accounted for and in the control of Hebert's Brigade
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Early in the day Col. Isaac W. Patton received orders directly from the lieutenant-general commanding to return to Snyder's Mill, for the purpose of disposing of the guns and stores left there. These orders relieved Lieutenant-Colonel [J. T.] Plattsmier of the duty I had assigned him, and I have, therefore, no report to make of what was really finally abandoned at Snyder's Mill.

Colonel Patton, having received his orders directly from the lieutenant-general commanding, made me no report on his return to Vicksburg on May 19. I am not aware that he has made any report to department headquarters.

On May 17, several wagon loads of ammunition were sent from Snyder's Mill to Vicksburg. The amount sent in was known by my chief of ordnance, but this officer was, unfortunately, killed before he had sent in his report. I would estimate that at least one-half of the powder and cartridges, and perhaps one-half of the fixed ammunition, were brought into Vicksburg. I have reason to believe that the two 30-pounder Parrotts, one 24-pounder smooth-bore, the Whitworth gun, and the two 12-pounder howitzers (field brass pieces), given in the list, were brought into Vicksburg by Colonel Patton on May 18 or 19. I know of no ordnance or ordnance stores lost of my command during the siege of Vicksburg, and, therefore, have no statement to make for that period of time.
I remain, respectfully, your obedient servant,
LOUIS HÉBERT,
Brigadier-General.
P. S.--It may be proper to state that at the surrender, on July 4, I stacked on my line, or left in the trenches, about 2,075 serviceable small-arms and five pieces of serviceable light artillery. One-fourth of the enlisted men had two pieces small-arms--one musket and one rifle. All other artillery was at the time unserviceable.
List of ordnance left at Snyder's Mill, May 17, 1863.

List of ordnance left at Snyder's Mill, May 17, 1863.
10-inch columbiads 2
8-inch columbiads 3
42-pounder smooth-bore 1
32-pounder rifles (banded) 2
32-pounder rifles (not banded) 2
32-pounder smooth-bore 1
32-pounder Navy 2
30-pounder Parrotts 2
24-pounder rifle 1
24-pounder smooth-bore 1
Whitworth gun 1
12-pounder howitzers, without caissons (field brass pieces) 2
Total number of guns 20

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4. The Whitworth Gun brought to Vicksburg burst.

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Report of Brig. Gen. W. E. Baldwin, C. S. Army, Commanding First Brigade.
MAY 19-JULY 4, 1863. HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, SMITH'S DIVISION,
Vicksburg, July 10, 1863 RIES I--VOLUME XXIV/2 [S# 37]
On Monday, the 18th instant, at 10 a.m., two of my regiments were moved back to their old camping ground near the graveyard, on the north of the city....

...During the day the following pieces of light artillery were placed in position on my line: One 30-pounder Parrott gun, manned by a detachment from a Missouri battery (this gun burst on the evening of Friday, and was replaced by a 32-pounder smooth-bore, served by a detachment from Captain [J. P.] Lynch's company, First Tennessee Artillery); one Whitworth gun, which also burst the first day; one 24-pounder howitzer, two 12.pounder howitzers, two 6-pounder guns, and two 3.inch rifled guns, served by Wofford's company, Withers' regiment light artillery, and three 6-pounder guns, served by a detachment of Guibor's artillery company, the whole under the immediate direction of Captain [J. L.] Wofford as chief of artillery for the brigade.

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Also the O.R. states that Bledsoe's Battery had a detachment assigned to Hebert's Brigade, that served at Snyder's Mill and Fort Pemberton, where these Whitworths are reported being used from March through May.

These men maybe the detachment 'from a Missouri battery' that either help man or was near the Whitworth when it burst in the trenches of Vicksburg.

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More to come.

____________________________
David Upton

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