Guarding Vicksburg's Back Door with the 46th Ohio

While most of the focus at Vicksburg was on Grant’s army that surrounded the city, a detachment of his army was given the delicate task of guarding the army’s rear from any offensive launched by General Joseph E. Johnston to break Grant’s siege. Among the troops tasked with this important (if unexciting) duty was the 46th Ohio which took up a position upon Snyder’s Bluff near the Yazoo River in early June and patiently awaited Johnston’s arrival.

“We are now on fighting ground and feel the importance of our position for if Johnston wishes to reach the rear of General Grant’s force at Vicksburg, he will likely try it through this way,” noted First Lieutenant Emanuel Giesy. “It would be poor generalship to leave a live general in so good a position to flank him and cut off his retreat. And should he, on the other hand, attack us, I think he will find General W.S. Smith at home ready to attend their call. In addition, General Sherman is not far off ready to cheer on the boys to greater deeds of glory.”

Lieutenant Giesy’s description of this seldom heard about portion of the Vicksburg campaign first saw publication in the July 2, 1863, edition of the Weekly Lancaster Gazette. 


46th Ohio colors

Snyder’s Bluff, back of Vicksburg, Mississippi

June 14, 1863

Messers Editors,

          My time at home was so short and arrangements so pressing that I had to forego the pleasure of calling upon you in your sanctum, but I trust that the visit I now propose to make will atone for the seeming neglect. I apprehend that to your readers it will be like the politician’s favors, small one thankfully received and large one in proportion.

          I write not so much at this time for you as I do the many friends of the boys in the regiment who, having heard by this time, that we have moved to the fighting army about Vicksburg and will be anxious to know the immediate position of their own kit and kind.

          I reached Lagrange, Tennessee on the morning of June 4 with marching orders that had preceded me but a few hours. I was truly glad to be on hand at so important a time as the breaking up of an old camp which is only slightly foreshadowed by the 1st of April in home circles. We marched to Memphis, 52 miles, in a day and a quarter and by evening of Sunday, June 6, 1863, we were safely on board the steamer Crescent City.

          The brigade is now commanded by Colonel Stephen G. Hicks of the 40th Illinois, formerly in the Mexican War and consists of the 46th Ohio, 40th Illinois, and the 15th Michigan. At daylight of Tuesday, we cast cables and were off for Vicksburg in good spirits and high hopes. Nothing of importance occurred on the way down except the usual incidents of river travel. I might branch out on the beauties of the sunset on the broad bosom of the Father of Waters, but these descriptions have been made by others who wield so much stronger pens that I shrink from the attempt and will therefore only say that it was to the fullest extent what the lady meant when ravished with delight at the sight below her feet, she cried from the depth of her heart, “Oh, how picturesque!”


46th Ohio monument at Vicksburg

          On Thursday noon, we reached Snyder’s Bluff, one of the chain of Haines’ Bluffs. We are now on fighting ground and feel the importance of our position for if Johnston wishes to reach the rear of General Grant’s force at Vicksburg, he will likely try it through this way. It would be poor generalship to leave a live general in so good a position to flank him and cut off his retreat. And should he, on the other hand, attack us, I think he will find General W.S. Smith at home ready to attend their call. In addition, General Sherman is not far off ready to cheer on the boys to greater deeds of glory. As yet, I have not been permitted to see the general but learn he is daily engaged in skirmishing with the enemy.

          The sun is burning hot but then the breeze is strong throughout the whole day, and the nights are not only cool, but actually cold before morning. The water of the river is very injurious to those who use it without boiling, but we have in the hollow springs running water and at other places by digging wells, we get a plentiful supply of pure, healthy water so that I think we are safe in saying that our position is not only strong by nature, but made stronger and more comfortable by the labor of willing hands. We trust with cheerful dispositions that the health of the army will continue as good as at our old home at Lagrange.

Lieutenant Emanuel Giesy's younger brother Henry H. Giesy served as Co. F's captain before being promoted to the rank of major. He was mortally wounded near Dallas, Georgia on May 28, 1864, and died the following day. 

          Since we reached here, one of our number has been laid in the clods of the valley. He was from Van Wert and should have been left in Memphis, but the hurry of the march left no time to make out the necessary papers to be made for the soldier’s own protection, so it was concluded to bring him along.

          Yesterday, the gunboat Baron De Kalb carried beyond the lines another installment of the St. Louis Rebel workmen. Thus, they realize the fulfillment of David’s declaration, “the way of the transgressor is hard.” Having now given the friends our position so that they may know where to look for us in case of any serious action. I leave you for the present, hoping that the young editor may soon find the “gray goose” (referred to sometime ago by Harry Comer) with whom to pass the rough road of life and aid in holding up his hands in supporting our own great and good government.

Source:

Letter from First Lieutenant Emanuel Giesy, Co. C, 46th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Weekly Lancaster Gazette (Ohio), July 2, 1863, pg. 1


Comments

  1. Streetwise ProfessorJune 29, 2024 at 1:02 PM

    Thanks very much for this post, Dan. I very much appreciate the hard work you do to uncover the gems hidden in contemporary newspapers.

    This one is of particular interest to me because I had 2 ancestors in the 46th. I wrote about them on my blog:

    https://streetwiseprofessor.com/wounded-in-the-georgia-woods-160-years-ago-today/

    Ironically, one was severely wounded at Dallas, GA the day before then-Major Giesy was mortally wounded.

    Have you unearthed any other 46th-related articles that you haven't yet shared? It would be great to see them. Ditto the 92nd Ohio in which another ancestor served.

    Thanks again for your hard work in enriching our knowledge about the stories of the combatants in the war.

    Craig Pirrong AKA The Streetwise Professor

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dan MastersJune 29, 2024 at 2:39 PM

      Craig, thanks for the note. As a matter of fact, yes, I have unearthed a total of 27 wartime 46th Ohio letters, all of which were published in the pages of the Lancaster Gazette which (fortunately) has been digitized and is available through Chronicling America. If you drop me an email at columbianarsenal@gmail.com, I will be glad to send the list along to you.

      Delete
    2. Dan MastersJune 29, 2024 at 2:42 PM

      92nd Ohio material has been a little harder to come by; outside of checking out the sources listed in Lance Stevens Ohio in the War website for the 92nd, I can't add much. Check out: https://www.ohiocivilwar.com/cw92.html

      Delete
  2. Streetwise ProfessorJuly 2, 2024 at 8:55 PM

    Thanks Don. I'll be in touch!

    ReplyDelete

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