Free Republic
Browse · Search
VetsCoR
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Siege of Port Hudson - 1863 - Feb. 18th, 2003
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/71hudson/71hudson.htm ^

Posted on 02/18/2003 5:34:30 AM PST by SAMWolf

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.



To list previous Foxhole Threads
or
to add The Foxhole to your sidebar
Click on the Logo

Resource Links For Veterans


Click on the pix

The Siege of Port Hudson:
"Forty Days and Nights in the Wilderness of Death"


We eat all the meat and bread in the fort...eat all the beef--all the mules--all the Dogs--and all the Rats around us.

So wrote a soldier who had been inside the Confederate defenses at Port Hudson, Louisiana, during one of the longest sieges in American military history. For 48 days in 1863, he and his fellow troops defended a fort that stood on top of a bluff above the Mississippi River; for all of those 48 days, Federal soldiers pummeled the Southerners with cannon shot and rifle fire.

Finally, just five days after the Confederates were defeated at Vicksburg, Port Hudson surrendered to the Union. With these two victories, the North could finally claim undisputed control of the Mississippi River. Though the Civil War would rage on for almost two more years, the siege at Port Hudson, and the battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg--which all occurred the same week--together struck a blow from which the South never recovered.



From the time the Civil War started in April 1861, both the North and South made controlling the Mississippi River a major part of their strategy. The Confederacy wanted to keep using the river to transport needed supplies; the Union wanted to stop this supply route and drive a wedge that would divide Confederate states and territories. Particularly important to the South was the stretch of the Mississippi that included the mouth of the Red River. The Red was the Confederacy's primary route for moving vital supplies between east and west: salt, cattle, and horses traveled downstream from the Trans-Mississippi West; in the opposite direction flowed men and munitions from the east.

In the spring of 1862, the Union took control of New Orleans and Memphis. To make sure it could continue to use the middle section of the river, the South fortified positions at Vicksburg, Mississippi and Port Hudson, Louisiana.

The Setting for the Siege


In May 1863, Union land and naval forces began a campaign they hoped would give them control of the full length of the Mississippi River. One army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant commenced operations against the Confederacy's fortified position at Vicksburg, Mississippi, at the northern end of the stretch of the river still in Southern hands. At about the same time, another army under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks moved against Port Hudson, which stood at the southern end. By May 23, Banks's forces, which numbered between 30,000 and 40,000 men at their strongest, had surrounded the Port Hudson defenses. Banks hoped to overrun the entrenchments quickly, then take his army northward to assist Grant at Vicksburg.


Major-General Franklin Gardner, C.S.A.


Within the Confederate fortifications at Port Hudson were approximately 6,800 men. Their commander was Maj. Gen. Franklin Gardner, a New Yorker by birth. His goals were to have his men defend their positions as long as possible in order to prevent Banks' troops from joining Grant, and to keep Confederate control of this part of the Mississippi.

On the morning of May 27, 1863, under Maj. Gen. Banks, the Union army launched ferocious assaults against the lengthy Confederate fortifications. Among the attackers were two regiments of African-American soldiers, the 1st and 3rd Louisiana Native Guards. They were the first black soldiers committed to combat in the Civil War. The attacks were uncoordinated, and the defenders easily turned them back causing heavy Northern casualties. Banks' troops made a second, similarly haphazard assault on June 14. Again they were repulsed, suffering even more dead and wounded soldiers.

These actions constituted some of the bloodiest fighting of the Civil War. The Confederates began building their defenses in 1862, and by now had an elaborate series of earthworks. One of their officers provided the following description of the line of these barriers, which, as their name suggested, were made mainly from hard-packed dirt:


Major General Nathaniel P. Banks, USA


For about three-quarters of a mile from the river the line crossed a broken series of ridges, plateaus and ravines, taking advantage of high ground in some places and in others extending down a steep declivity; for the next mile and a quarter it traversed Gibbon's and Slaughter's fields where a wide level plain seemed formed on purpose for a battlefield; another quarter of a mile carried it through deep and irregular gullies, and for three-quarters of a mile more it led through fields and over hills to a deep gorge, in the bosom of which lay Sandy creek.

The elaborate defenses they built and difficult terrain in the area assisted the Confederates in keeping this part of the Mississippi under their control. The Federals had no choice but to besiege Port Hudson to obtain win access to the full length of the Mississippi.


Confederate fortifications at Port Hudson. Union line is right behind, in the foreground.


For more than 2,000 years, armies unable to storm strongly defended positions--cities, for example, or forts or castles--had instead surrounded their enemies. A siege, as one of these blockades was called, might end in a number of ways. The defenders would lose if their opponents found a way to break through their defenses or if, because they were cut off from the rest of the world, they ran out of supplies. On the other hand, if the defenders could hold out long enough, their allies might appear and drive off the enemy, or the attacking army might eventually give up due to heavy casualties or lack of supplies.

This type of warfare changed significantly with the introduction of gunpowder during the Middle Ages. Both sides involved in a siege had always shot objects at the other: stones and spears and even pots of fire. These weapons quickly became obsolete, however, when gunpowder allowed armies to use powerful artillery like cannons. The new shells they fired were could knock down previously impenetrable fortifications, and so besieging armies now relied on artillery as their main weapon. Defenders also had artillery, which they used to destroy their attackers' large guns and the attackers themselves.

The fighting at Port Hudson illustrated how artillery affected the conduct of a siege. The Union Army combined artillery fire with sharpshooting riflemen as it attempted to keep the defenders from getting supplies of food or other necessities; the Union Navy added their big guns to the bombardment. The Confederates responded by firing their rifles and artillery at the Union forces. Recognizing how dangerous this type of fighting could be, each side also built elaborate earthworks to protect themselves.


Confederate "rat holes" (dug-out caves) within the defensive lines. There was a Federal artillery position along the tree line in the distance.


The siege created hardships and deprivations for both the North and South, but by early July the Confederates were in much worse shape. They had exhausted practically all of their food supplies and ammunition, and fighting and disease had greatly reduced the number of men able to defend the trenches. When Maj. Gen. Gardner learned that Vicksburg had surrendered, he realized that his situation was hopeless and that nothing could be gained by continuing. The terms of surrender were negotiated, and on July 9, 1863, the Confederates lay down their weapons, ending 48 days of continuous fighting.

The siege of Port Hudson affected the Civil War and the men who fought there in a number of ways. The surrender gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, cutting off important states such as Arkansas and Texas. Both sides suffered heavy casualties: about 5,000 Union men were killed or wounded, and an additional 4,000 fell prey to disease or sunstroke; Gardner's forces suffered around 700 casualties, several hundred of whom died of disease. And on both sides, even many of those who survived found their view of war permanently changed.

The Mule Diet at Port Hudson


New York native Howard C. Wright was a newspaperman in New Orleans, Louisiana, when the Civil War began. He joined the 30th Louisiana Infantry Regiment when it was formed in 1862 and became a lieutenant. Captured at the surrender of Port Hudson, he was imprisoned with other officers in New Orleans. He wrote an account of the siege which was originally serialized as Port Hudson: Its History from an Interior Point of View in the Daily True Delta less than a month after the surrender. Wright's account was printed in book form for the first time in 1937 by the editor of the St. Francisville Democrat and republished in 1978 by The Eagle Press, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The following excerpt is taken from that printing (p. 51).

The last quarter ration of beef had been given out to the troops on the 29th of June. On the 1st of July, at the request of many officers, a wounded mule was killed and cut up for experimental eating. All those who partook of it spoke highly of the dish. The flesh of mules is of a darker color than beef, of a finer grain, quite tender and juicy, and has a flavor something between that of beef and venison. There was an immediate demand for this kind of food, and the number of mules killed by the commissariat daily increased. Some horses were also slaughtered, and their flesh was found to be very good eating, but not equal to mule. Rats, of which there were plenty about the deserted camps, were also caught by many officers and men, and were found to be quite a luxury--superior, in the opinion of those who eat them, to spring chicken; and if a philosopher of the Celestial Empire could have visited Port Hudson at the time, he would have marvelled at the progress of the barbarians there toward the refinements of his own people.


A Union artillery battery at Port Hudson. The white material in the foreground is cotton, bales of which were used to protect the cannoneers from Confederate fire.


Mule meat was regularly served out in rations to the troops from and after the 4th of July, and there were very few among the garrison whose natural prejudices were so strong as to prevent them from cooking and eating their share. The stock of corn was getting very low, and besides that nothing was left but peas, sugar and molasses. These peas were the most indigestible and unwholesome articles that were ever given to soldiers to eat, and the reason that such a large quantity was left on hand was probably accounted for by the fact that most of the troops would not have them on any consideration. To save corn they were issued out to horses and mules, and killed a great many of these animals. All of the horses and mules which were not needed for hauling or other imperative duties, had been turned out to graze, where numbers of them were killed or disabled by the enemy's cannonade and rain of Minie balls, and the rest nearly starved to death.

The sugar and molasses was put to good use by the troops in making a weak description of beer, which was constantly kept at the lines by the barrel-full, and drank by the soldiers in preference to the miserable water with which they were generally supplied. This was a very pleasant and healthful beverage, and went far to recompense the men for the lack of almost every other comfort or luxury. In the same way, after the stock of tobacco had given out, they substituted sumac leaves, which grew wild in the woods. It had always been smoked by the Indians under the name of killickenick, and, when properly prepared for the pipe, is a tolerably good substitute for tobacco.



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: civilwar; freeperfoxhole; louisiana; porthudson; veterans; warbetweenstates
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last
To: AntiJen; SAMWolf; E.G.C.; MistyCA; CholeraJoe; All
No BTTT!!!!! for us today? ;-)

It's late, and I wasn't able to read much futher then right here, but it was a great post. By all means this is for all of you here in the FReeper Foxhole.

BTTT!!!!!

61 posted on 02/18/2003 11:20:06 PM PST by The Real Deal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: AntiJen
Comwatch, you may want to post a message about this on the IL board.

Thanks for the suggestion. I curious what Ross will list as his film credits. I don't want to steer someone to a liberal media monster. Benefit of the doubt for now.

62 posted on 02/18/2003 11:34:38 PM PST by comwatch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: The Real Deal
BTTT!!!!!
63 posted on 02/19/2003 3:03:29 AM PST by E.G.C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: PhilDragoo
BTTT!!!!!
64 posted on 02/19/2003 3:04:28 AM PST by E.G.C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: AntiJen; comwatch; RedWing9; SJackson; Chi-townChief; SAMWolf
Is there a Chicago area FR Chapter?

Pinging Chicagoland FR Chapter and Illinois ping lists.

I'm looking specifically for folks in the Chicago area who might consider a role in this project, who have participated or support our Support our Troop and Commander in Chief demonstrations.

Original request in the Freeper Foxhole.

See next reply as well.

65 posted on 02/19/2003 6:28:05 AM PST by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: SAMWolf
Thank You So Much SamWolf,

Because of U.S. Grant being in Vicksburg, this story is seldom told. Even though Port Hudson held a higher strategic value.

My 3rd Great Grandfather, Private Riley G. Rush served with Co. A, 1st Regiment, Alabama Volunteer Army (CSA) from the beginning of the war.

He was wounded at Port Hudson on 27 May 1863 (the first assault) and died from those wounds on 6 June 1863.

To this day, he is buried in an un-marked grave near the Port Hudson Battlefield, along with many other Confederate Soldiers.

In honor of all soldiers, North and South, for fighting for their beliefs, I Salute You!!!!
66 posted on 02/19/2003 7:45:55 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AlabamaRebel
Your're Welcome Alabama Rebel. Thanks for the lead on this storey and Thanks to your 3rd Great Grandfather for his service.
67 posted on 02/19/2003 7:48:51 AM PST by SAMWolf (To look into the eyes of the wolf is to see your soul)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: SAMWolf
Thanks to Freeper AlabamaRebel for the lead and research on this story.

My family and I thank you Sam for running the story.

68 posted on 02/19/2003 7:50:55 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: AntiJen
Thank you AlabamaRebel for the thread idea and for assisting SAMWolf with the research!!!

I have always felt that this battle was more important the Gettysburg, but then I am biased of course :)

69 posted on 02/19/2003 7:53:28 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: AntiJen
War Hero's Widow Gets Reprieve; Eviction on hold after fund set up to spare 70-year-old

I read this story when it happened, I am very happy to hear she will be saved.

70 posted on 02/19/2003 7:56:02 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: billbears
Held off the d#mn yankees for 48 days did they? God bless them bump

Damn good job against superior forces wouldn't you say?

71 posted on 02/19/2003 7:58:29 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: coteblanche
Some think the 54th Mass. was the first Black Regiment.

But these at Port Hudson were.

Great post.
72 posted on 02/19/2003 8:00:29 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: SAMWolf
This is the attack that the movie "Glory" profiled.

Actually, No Wolf.

The movie Glory was about the 54th Mass. and the attack on Battery Wagner in South Carolina. And I believe it was a year later.

73 posted on 02/19/2003 8:02:40 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: AlabamaRebel
Thanks AlabamaRebel.

You're right,I stand corrected, I should have checked before I posted.
74 posted on 02/19/2003 8:07:56 AM PST by SAMWolf (To look into the eyes of the wolf is to see your soul)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: AntiJen
"Louisiana" Native Guards on the side of the Union/Federals/North? Gee, I didn't know that.

Actually you will find a 1st Alabama Cavalry (USA) and a 1st Alabama Cavarly (CSA).

Many states supplied troops to both sides of the war.

Hence the name "War of Brother Against Brother"

75 posted on 02/19/2003 8:10:13 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: SAMWolf
That's alright Sam,

I'm a history buff in general, and a civil war buff mostly :)
76 posted on 02/19/2003 8:13:48 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: AlabamaRebel
OH! Thanks for that info. I must've slept through American History classes. I'm so thankful for our Foxhole and to be able to learn from SAMWolf and all the other FReepers who post here.
77 posted on 02/19/2003 8:21:02 AM PST by Jen (FALL IN to the FReeper Foxhole! (VetsCoR Forum))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: AntiJen
Any Time.

Glad I could be of service.

My wife says I have not been re-incarnated, she says I just refused to die the first time around and I'm actually 159 years old.

Her reasoning here is that now one could know as much about the Civil War as I do by reading books, so I must have been alive back then, and went through it :)
78 posted on 02/19/2003 8:46:44 AM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: AlabamaRebel
Her reasoning here is that now one could know as much about the Civil War as I do by reading books, so I must have been alive back then, and went through it :)

Smart wife ... I can see why you married her. :)

Be Well - Be Armed - Be Safe - Molon Labe!

79 posted on 02/20/2003 12:48:36 PM PST by blackie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: blackie
She can't be too smart, she married me :)
80 posted on 02/20/2003 5:39:32 PM PST by AlabamaRebel (Sergeant, US Army 1978-1985)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
VetsCoR
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson