The Siege of Port Hudson

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          Sketches by special artist Mr. Hamilton, and by a volunteer contributor in the Unites States Navy. The picture Bombardment of Port Hudson from the deck of the United States steamer Richmond. The author of the sketch writes:

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          "In the fore-ground our blue jackets are busy with the 100-pound Parrott rifle. We are about two miles below the rebel batteries, which extend about three miles along the east bank of the river. With this gun we can reach their centre and most formidable works with ease, while with their 10-inch Comumbiads they occasionally succeed in dashing the water up about us, few of their shots taking effect among our little fleet."

 

          The other picture by the same artist shows us a mortar schooner in action. The accompanying letter says:

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          Port Hudson, June 14, 1863

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          "There are six mortar schooners here, and since the 8th of May not a night has passed but what they have made the welkin thunder with guns. And they have several times been subjected to pretty severe firing from the enemy, but have always come out of the scratch with flying colors.

          "On the 10th ult. the rebels tried to drive them and the Essex away from their position. And during the night of the 9th, while the sconce kettles were playing upon the rebel works, they quietly placed into position about eight guns within easy range of the schooners. At daybreak they opened with a vim that was creditable, but no sooner did the brave mortar boys discover their position than they lessened the long range charge of powder which they had been using fully two-thirds, dropping their shells with the nicest precision directly among the flashes from the bushes. This seemed to astonish Secesh, as we have since heard their men remark. We got under way, steaming up quietly enjoying the exciting scene, and throwing a 100-pound shell from our pet Parrott as often as possible. The rebels shot threw the water up in fine style about our vessels. A few of their rifled shot came whizzing through our rigging. When just above the Essex, we let them have a broadside which knocked the dust about their ears in such a style that they concluded it best to close the action. We rounded to with our guns loaded for a second broadside, but waited in vain for intimation of the wherabouts of the enemy. The conduct of the mortar schooners on this occasion, as indeed on all others, was deserving of the greatest admiration - they fired with the coolness and precision of ordinary target practice. They had been signalized by the Essex (who exercises a motherly charge over them) to drop down if the firing became too hot - their answer was - they were not the dropping kind."

 

          Of the third picture, which shows us the scene of the assault on Port Hudson on 14th, the Times correspondent writes;

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          It was as late as 10pm of Saturday, June 13, that General Auger, who had just returned from the headquarters of General Banks, told his staff that they were to be in motion at 3am of the next day. We all immediately hurried off to snatch a few hours' rest, and when I awoke at 8 o'clock I found the General and his staff already at breakfast. In half an hour afterward they were all off to the field, whither I speedily followed them.

          Before dawn the most terrific cannonading commenced along our whole line that ever stunned mortal ears. The shells bursting over Port Hudson, mingled with their own firing and that of our fleet, and the dense clouds of our artillery, gave the place the appearance of one vast conflagration just about to burst into flame.

          After two hours of this dreadful cannonading there was a comparative lull, and the sharp and continuous rattle of musketry told where the work of death was going on most furiously. This was at the right, where General Grover's division was placed, and under him those gallant and fearless soldiers, Generals Weitzel and Paine.

          If Weitzel had the larger share in the work of the 27th, that duty seemed to-day to fall upon the command immediately under General Paine.

          The forces of the latter consisted of the Eighth New Hampshire, Capt. Barrett, and Fourth Wisconsin, under Capt. Moore, who were in advance as skirmishers. Behind these came five  companies of the Fourth Massachusetts and the One hundred and Tenth New York, under Capt. Bartlett, followed by four companies of the Third brigade. Closely upon these came the Third brigade, under Col. Gooding, and composed of the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts, Col. Kimball; One Hundred and Seventy-fifth New York, Col. Bryan, who was killed. The the Second brigade, under Col. a. Fearing, and composed of the One Hundred and Thirty-third New York, Col. Currier, and the One Hundred and Seventy-third New York, Maj. Galway; the rest of this brigade being detailed as skirmishers. After the Second came the First brigade, under Col. Ferris, of the Twenty-eighth Connecticut, The Ffourth Massachusetts, Col. Wlaker, and four companies of the Onew Hundred and Tenth New York, under Maj. Hamilton. these were all followed up by the necessary numbers of pioneers, and Nimm's Massachusetts battery.

          At 3:30am of Sunday, June 14, the column formed on the Clinton road, and commenced moving. At about 4am the skirmishers moved right up to the scene of action - Gen. Paine being with them in advancing, and the deadly work commenced - the enemy pouring in upon them the most terrible volleys, and our dauntless men combating their way right up to the enemy's breastworks. For hours the carnage continued furiously - our determined soldiers, in spite of their General being seriously wounded, and in spite of the fearful odds against them of fighting against men snugly screened behind their barriers, keeping up the fight with the most indomitable bravery. It was impossible for any men, under their circumstances, to show more reckless disregard of death.

          But Port Hudson was destined not to be carried this time - at that point, at any rate. Owing to the horrible inequalities of the ground, and the impediments which the overwhelming slaughter of our advance had created, the whole column was not able to come up as expected, and late in the afternoon out troops had to be withdrawn. During the intensest part of the struggle, it is only fair to say that Col. Kimball, of the Fifty-third, and Col. Currier, of the One Hundred and Thirty-third New York advanced most gallantly with their men to reinforce those in front.

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