by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid, . I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves

within said designated States and parts of States, are and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons. And I further declare and make known, that such persons, of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States, to garrison forts, positions, stations and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service. And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God."

In the early part of the year 1863, the third year of the rebellion, the organization of negro troops began at Lake Providence, in accordance with the policy of the Government thus declared. Adjutant General Thomas came on a mission from Washington to inaugurate the new movement, and arrived at Lake Providence at an early day for the purpose of commissioning and mustering the new colored regiments organizing there into the United States service. Several regiments were raised in a short space of time, and officered by

men taken from the white troops. The Ninety-fifth furnished a number of commissioned and non-commissioned officers for this purpose, and these colored regiments thus formed were prepared in a few weeks to do important service in the operations which were then going on against Vicksburg.

While the regiment was at Lake Providence the resignation of Colonel L. S. Church was received, and subsequently Lt. Col. Thomas W. Humphrey was advanced to that rank. Since the time Colonel Church was obliged to leave the regiment at Columbus, Kentucky, his health had improved but little, and the prospect of his ever being permitted to rejoin his command became more and more discouraging. Much against his own wishes, and to the universal regret of his officers and men, he resigned his commission in the army. Attended with good health, he must have proven a leading man in the war against the rebellion. Character, talents and influence would have won for him high estimation and rank among military men.

In the month of April, 1863, General Grant assembled his whole army at and near Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, for a grand forward movement across the State, with the intention of striking the Mississippi river at “ Hard Times Landing," crossing it near Grand Gulf, and thence around to the rear of Vicksburg.

This was the final experiment originated by him for accomplishing the grand object of the campaign. The attempts to gain a foothold and base of operations up the Yazoo river, and to make the canals at Young's Point and Lake Providence feasible lines of commucation, had been tried and given up, but this last one was destined to be crowned with complete success, and to result in all those glorious consequences which followed in the campaign.

Prior to moving his army by land at this time, the trial of running a number of river transports and gunboats by the numerous batteries which were planted on the bluffs at Vicksburg, was daringly and successfully performed. These steamers were manned by men from different infantry regiments, who volunteered to accompany the boats through the fiery, perilous gauntlet, and who afterward received honorable rewards for their courage and daring, from General Grant and from the Government. The Federal army, which had so long encamped at Lake Providence, commenced embarking on steamers and moving down the river to Milliken's Bend, sixty miles distant, in the latter part of April, 1863, and Colonel Deitzler's brigade, of General McArthur's division, was left at the former place to garrison that post. The Ninetyfifth was subsequently ordered by the division com

mander from Lake Providence, to take part in the active campaign now opening from Milliken's Bend. It arrived there about the first of May, and the army having moved forward, it immediately pushed on through Richmond, Louisiana, to Smith's Plantation, where General Mc'Arthur's division was then halting. It was here assigned to Brigadier General T. E. G. Ransom's brigade, 6th Division, 17th Army Corps. This brigade was now one of the strongest and best in the whole army, being composed of the Eleventh, Seventy-second and Ninety-fifth Illinois, the Fourteenth and Seventeenth Wisconsin Infantry, and Battery "F," 2nd Illinois Artillery, commanded by Captain J. W. Powell. On the 10th of May the brigade resumed the march, by the way of Perkins' Plantation and Lake St. Joseph, and arrived at "Hard Times Landing" on the 12th. The transports which had successfully passed the batteries at Vicksburg were in readiness at this point to convey the troops across the river to Grand Gulf, and on the same day the regiments of General Ransom's brigade embarked and crossed over to Grand Gulf, which strong rebel position had been recently taken by the advance of General Grant's army. Thus in a few days the whole army of the Tennessee was transferred, by the great military genius directing affairs, to the east side of the

Mississippi, sixty miles below Vicksburg, and was now ready to march rapidly to the rear and to the very gates of that fortress. The line of march from Grand Gulf was by way of Bowl's Creek, Big Sandy and Raymond, where the Ninety-fifth arrived on the 16th of May, the day the great and decisive battle was being fought at Champion Hills and Baker's Creek. General Ransom's brigade pushed forward to take part in the terrible contest there being waged, and arrived on the field just as the Federal army had carried the day and swept everything before it to the Big Black. The regiment took part in the general pursuit which ensued, crossed the Big Black river on the 18th of May, and hurrying on twelve miles farther, camped the same night three-quarters of a mile from the enemy's earth-works in the rear of Vicksburg. The various army corps moved forward with enthusiasm, on different roads, and by sunset of that day the rebel lines around the place were thoroughly invested and all avenues of escape effectually closed. These rapid events necessitated the speedy evacuation by the rebels of Haines' Bluff. The Federal gunboats and transports simultaneously moved up the Yazoo, and here secured a permanent base of supplies, and convenient to the army investing the city.

The following day, May 19th, was to be a busy,