position at the same time on my right, and the two brigades moved together to the charge. The enemy had, in the meantime, massed troops behind his works in our front, and poured into my ranks one continuous blaze of musketry, while the artillery on my left threw enfilading shot and shell into my columns with deadly effect. Almost at the first fire, two of my leading colonels fell, Colonel Nevins, of the 11th Illinois, killed, and Colonel Humphrey, of the 95th Illinois Infantry, stunned by the concussion of a shell."

The charge of the 22nd of May was, therefore, another failure to accomplish the object desired, and similar results were experienced all along the Federal lines. No portion of the enemy's works had been taken and held, and no point in them was even possessed by our forces at any time during the assault. Great bravery, daring and determination had been everywhere exhibited by the charging columns. They had met with repulse, still they were neither discouraged nor whipped.

Nor was the invincible Grant downcast, or fearful of the consequences. It was only a part of the series of his great attempts by which he finally wrung victory from a stubborn foe. If he failed in one undertaking, he immediately resorted to another; if in that, to a

third, and so on, until he accomplished his object. The word failure has never been written in his military vocabulary, and the motto, "Perseverantia vincit omnia," has carried him wonderfully and steadily forward to the accomplishment of great deeds, and won for him a renown unequaled in history.

After the unsuccessful charges on the 19th and 22nd of May, satisfied that the rebel works could not be carried by assault without great slaughter, General Grant set his whole army at work digging and entrenching, determined to reduce the city by seige. The experience of the past few days had proved it to be in much stronger condition of defense than was anticipated. The necessary delay of the Federal army in crossing the Big Black river, after the battle of Champion Hills, had allowed the enemy, under Pemberton, to collect his forces at Vicksburg, recover partially from recent disaster, and make important preparations on the natural fortifications surrounding the city to receive the advancing Union columns.

The great seige now began, and was prosecuted vigorously; all through the sultry days of May and June, 1863, our lines were gradually advanced toward the enemy's works. Each morning presented some new parallel and newly made forts, from which our artillery could play with nearer and deadlier effect than before.

The regiments of General Ransom's brigade and Captain Powell's artillery, all performed their full share of this long, tedious, but well-rewarded labor, taking important part in constructing the forts, and digging approaches to the enemy's fortifications. By the 3rd of July, the day on which the Confederate garrison surrendered, this brigade had carried its trenches under one of the main forts on the rebel line, and had a mine located there, ready for explosion, when news of the capitulation was announced, and hostilities at once ceased.

On the 4th day of July, 1863, the Ninety-fifth was among the first regiments to enter and take possession of the city. With the victorious stars and stripes unfurled, and with music playing the national airs, these dusty, scarred and war-worn battalions, keeping step to the music of the Union, marched through the streets of Vicksburg, and thence to camps assigned around the city. Soon after the fall of Vicksburg, Port Hudson was surrendered to General Banks, and thus the Mississippi was cleared of rebel obstructions and blockades from Cairo to the Gulf.

On the 12th day of July, General Ransom's brigade was ordered to embark at Vicksburg and proceed to Natchez, for the purpose of occupying that point. It arrived there on the following day, and effected a

landing without opposition. The citizens were surprised at this sudden appearance of Federal troops among them, and in a short time after arriving, the place was strongly occupied, and all avenues leading into the city well picketed. Twenty rebel officers and soldiers were captured while attempting to escape. A large Confederate force, under the rebel Colonel Logan, was then stationed in that vicinity to watch the movements of our forces, and to guard the large droves of cattle which were being shipped from Texas through this post, to Johnston's army in the East. It was soon ascertained by General Ransom that a large number of these cattle were then pasturing a few miles east of the city. An expedition was immediately organized of mounted infantry, and started in quest of them. Having advanced about four miles, an immense herd of five thousand Texas cattle was found, and a small rebel guard over them having been put to flight, they were captured, driven back to Natchez, and subsequently shipped to Vicksburg. Information was also received that within a few days one hundred and fifty wagons loaded with ordnance stores for Kirby Smith, had been ferried across at Natchez to the Louisiana shore. Another force of mounted infantry accordingly was sent in pursuit, overtook the train fif teen miles out, captured the rear-guard, consisting of

a lieutenant and a few men, and brought back three hundred and twelve new Austrian muskets, two hundred and three thousand rounds of cartridges, eleven boxes of artillery ammunition, and destroyed a large quantity of ammunition which could not be moved. This force of mounted infantry was made up from the several regiments of the brigade, using such spare horses as were found in the vicinity, and all placed under command of Major Asa Worden, of the 14th Wisconsin Infantry. That portion of it which represented the Ninety-fifth was in charge of Captain Charles B. Loop. There being no regular cavalry furnished General Ransom at this place, he was obliged to organize a band of this kind for scouting and other purposes around Natchez, and on many occasions it rendered the Government very efficient service. On the 22nd of July, Major Worden's mounted command (two hundred strong,) started from Natchez on a two days' scout in the country east of the city, making a circuit through Washington, Woodville and Kingston. During this scout the party destroyed two hundred and seven thousand rounds of infantry ammunition, found concealed in a ravine, and fifty-six boxes of artillery ammunition. They also found large quantities of "C. S. A." cotton.

On the 26th, it was again sent out in the direction