Determined to Conquer or Die: With the 24th Indiana at Champion Hill
The ultimate triumph of Grant’s Vicksburg campaign in July 1863 in a way masks the hard fighting that it took for the Federals to take the Confederate bastion. The price for Vicksburg included not just the siege itself, but tough engagements at Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, and Big Black River that allowed the Federal army to approach Vicksburg from behind and encircle the town. For Captain Francis Redburn of the 24th Indiana the toll in casualties and personal loss proved staggering. At just the Battle of Champion Hill alone, his regiment lost 201 men killed and wounded while Redburn’s own company lost 21 men of that total.
“I crossed the Mississippi River
on the 30th of April with 54 men and since that time I have lost 25
men killed and wounded,” he wrote. “While we rejoice on account of our great
victories, let us not forget to remember that we are called on to mourn the
loss of the gallant dead. Those comrades were all dear to me. We have been
associated together and had shared in common all the hardships and privations incident
to civil war for two long years. These are strong bonds of friendship.”
In the
following letter written to the editor of the Princeton Clarion, Captain
Redburn provides a detailed account of his regiment’s part in the Battle of
Champion Hill, a decisive if costly victory on the road to Vicksburg. During
the Vicksburg campaign, the 24th Indiana was part of General George
F. McGinnis’ First Brigade of General Alvin P. Hovey’s 12th Division
of the 13th Army Corps. The 24th Indiana served alongside
the 11th Indiana, 34th Indiana, 46th Indiana,
and 29th Wisconsin in McGinnis’ brigade.
Captain Redburn’s account of the fight at Champion Hill originally was published in the July 25, 1863, edition of the Princeton Clarion.
Headquarters, 24th Regiment Indiana Volunteers
Near Vicksburg, Mississippi
June 14, 1863
Early on the
16th of May we took up our line of march from Bolton’s Station on
the road leading to Edward’s Depot. General Hovey’s division had the advance
and the 24th had the advance of the division. About 10 a.m. we found
the enemy in position on Champion Hill. The hill is very high and steep and, on
either side, it is broken by narrow and deep ravines which reach about halfway
up its sides. These ravines afforded the most excellent position for the enemy.
The hill was covered with heavy timber and thick underbrush- upon the whole it
was the strongest natural position for defensive operations I ever saw.
When the line
of battle was formed, the 24th Indiana occupied the right in an open
field. Companies A, G, and K were immediately thrown out as skirmishers. We had
to advance about 300 yards across an open field and attack the enemy on his own
ground and under cover. We very cautiously approached near the wood and then by
rapid and hard fighting we drove the enemy from his first position and thus
gained shelter which enabled us to operate more successfully. We continued to
drive the enemy’s skirmishers until we had possession of the greater part of
the right side of the hill when we were ordered to report to the regiment which
had advanced to the woods. We promptly obeyed, this being the most hazardous
skirmishing I ever did.
The whole line
now advanced and the 29th Wisconsin made a gallant charge directly
up the hill, the 24th Indiana sweeping the hill on the right. This
charge was conducted in gallant style and was a complete success resulting in
the capture of two pieces of artillery, 250 prisoners, one stand of colors, and
one colonel. [This initial engagement for control of Champion Hill was waged
against the Georgia regiments of General Alfred Cumming’s brigade.]
Just after this, we received
orders to move to the left to support the 11th Indiana which was
heavily pressed. We moved at a double quick about 300 yards to the left when we
became engaged with an overwhelming force which we stood and fought for nearly
one hour within 50 yards of the enemy’s main line while exposed to the most
desperate and destructive fire I ever witnessed.
Colonel William T. Spicely 24th Indiana Infantry |
Our support on either side was
driven back yet still we stood and fought five times our number but were soon
flanked on either side and compelled to fall back or surrender. This was a
terrible hour for the 24th. Officers and men were falling fast along
the whole line and the enemy was within 30 yards pouring a galling fire on us,
still there was no panic and the men moved back slowly, loading, and firing as
they went. When we had fallen back about 50 yards we railed and stood about 15
minutes when we were driven back then made a second stand about 75 yards
further back and fought there about 20 minutes when we were again forced to fall
back. [The 24th Indiana was repeatedly attacked by Francis M. Cockrell’s
Missouri brigade after their initial triumph at Champion Hill.]
The third and last stand was
made on the summit of the hill where we railed the men of the various regiments
in one common line to make the final stand. At this time, we were reinforced by
two regiments of General Quimby’s division. To hold the summit of this hill was
the last and only hope of the 12th Division. Immediately to our rear
was a large open field; a rout, not a retreat, across that field would have
been certain destruction. There we fought and continued to rally and fight for
one terrible hour. Finally, victory crowned out efforts and the hill was ours.
No troops ever behaved more gallantly or exhibited better courage than the 12th
Division did on this occasion- every man seemed determined to conquer or die.
I hope and trust that I may
never witness another such scene. The ground on which we fought was literally
covered with the dead and wounded and it was truly a bloody field. The 24th
Indiana lost 201 killed and wounded while the loss of the division was over
1,400. Our brigade was left behind to take care of the wounded and bury the
dead. This required several days labor and as soon as we had accomplished the
work assigned us and paroled all the wounded Rebels in the vicinity, we moved
on to the line in front of the enemy’s works at Vicksburg.
This army during the past two
months has undergone many hardships and privations. We have now been in the
field 60 days with no shelter but a gum blanket; we had not even a second short
with us and are often short of rations. I have seen men march through mud and
rain all day and night with nothing to eat and scarcely a complaint was to be
heard. The boys felt, as they would say, that they were putting down the
rebellion. This was the reason that they were so cheerful and contented under
such circumstances. They are enthusiastic in their praise of General Grant and
fully believe that wherever he leads they are sure of victory.
Captain Redburn noted that his men "are enthusiastic in their praise of General Grant and fully believe that wherever he leads they are sure of victory." |
I crossed the Mississippi River
on the 30th of April with 54 men and since that time I have lost 25
men killed and wounded. While we rejoice on account of our great victories, let
us not forget to remember that we are called on to mourn the loss of the gallant
dead. No one can sympathize more deeply with the friends of those who perished
on that terrible field that I can: those comrades were all dear to me. We have
been associated together and had shared in common all the hardships and
privations incident to civil war for two long years. We had stood side by side
in more than one hard-fought battle. These are strong bonds of friendship. We
have the consolation to know that they were engaged in a noble cause and that
they fell bravely fighting under the flag of their country in defense of civil
and religious liberty.
I herewith submit a list of
casualties; in that list will be found the name of my second lieutenant whose
valuable services I am and will be deprived of for some time. He was severely
wounded at Champion Hill while gallantly discharging his duty and afterwards
was captured and paroled by the enemy.
Killed:
Corporal William H. Kirk, Privates William Phillips, Joseph S. Wasson
Wounded:
Second Lieutenant E. Roberts, severely;. R. Lagrange who have
since died, Conrad Keppler, arm, since died;
Severely wounded: J.H. Canniff, leg; Moses J. Colern, Robert
J. Falls, John Burns, Thomas S. Fisher, James Oliphant, James P. Swain, Sam H. Shannon,
E. Williams
Slightly wounded: Corporal James Coats, John J. Cunningham,
John Hornbrook, Alex D. McRoberts, James Tolbert
Prisoner: Isaac P. Laffe
Source:
Letter from Captain Francis M. Redburn, Co. K, 24th
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Princeton Clarion (Indiana), July 25, 1863,
pg. 1
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