10 August 1863

Dargan, Edmund Strother, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: probably to Jefferson Davis

States that there is strong public opposition to General John C. Pemberton. Informs Davis that both Pemberton's own troops and the citizens of Alabama and Mississippi have turned against Pemberton, following his recent surrender at Vicksburg. Believes this negative public opposition will decrease his ability to be an effective military commander. Expresses his personal opinion that he believes in Pemberton, but thinks he may have to be replaced to appease public opinion.

GLC03065

27 June 1863

Swords, J. M., fl. 1863

Newspaper

Title: The Daily Citizen. [June 27, 1863]

This document is a copy of The Daily Citizen issued during the siege of Vicksburg, in Vicksburg. Reports on a new phase of the war with a rebel offensive movement. The document is indecipherable in places due to blurry typeset. Printed on splotchy wallpaper with blue and green flowers, this pattern is evident on verso.

GLC02820

13 May 1863

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Tecumseh Sherman

General Grant transmits orders to General Sherman, Commander of the 15th Corps, Army of the Tennessee, during March-July 1863 operations against Vicksburg. Instructs Sherman to "Move directly towards Jackson starting at early dawn in the morning." Referring to General James Birdseye McPherson, Commander of the 17th Corps, Army of the Tennessee, writes "McPherson will start at early dawn from Clinton which place he reached at 3 p.m. to-day without difficulty." Referring to General John Alexander McClernand, Commander of the 13th Corps, Army of the Tennessee, writes "Two of McClernands…

GLC03241

25 May 1863

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

Written at Headquarters of the Department of the Tennessee near Vicksburg, Mississippi. Grant writes to Sherman in the early days of the siege of Vicksburg. Relates he ordered Colonel Johnson to ascertain the number of Confederate troops north of the Black River, and to burn a bridge over the river, leaving Haynes' Bluff without a garrison. Writes "I deem that point of so much importance that I am willing to weaken our force here rather that to leave it unoccupied." Orders Sherman to send a brigade to assist in fortifying the bluff. Endorsed by Sherman, who orders Tuttle (possibly General…

GLC03512

7 July 1863

Vaughn, John Crawford, 1824-1875

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsement on parole for Confederate Prisoner of War captured at Vicksburg]

Partially printed document created at Vicksburg, indicating that Confederate Daniel C. Staley vows not to take up arms against the United States. Signed 8 July by Captain and paroling officer William [Demean?]. Confederate General Vaughn's endorsement is written on verso. Vaughn signs across a notice created by Colonel John A. Rowan. Rowan's notice, written 21 July 1863, states that Staley is furloughed for 30 days to meet at a location specified by James Seddon, the Confederate Secretary of War. Includes calculations written in pencil on verso.

GLC03822

27 July 1863

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Printed document

Title: [General order congratulating officers and soldiers of the 15th Army Corps after the fall of Vicksburg]

Major General Sherman issues General Orders from the Department of the Tennessee, camped on the Black River. Declares "Your Commander, in thus briefly reciting the events of the past seven months, thinks, in them, every officer and man has good reason to flatter himself that in producing this Grand Result, he has borne a part. In after years it will be the subject of pride to himself and children, and we know how our fellow countrymen were wild with joy when the telegraph spread the good tidings that the Mississippi was again made free by the courage and perseverance of their Brave…

GLC03828

22 April 1863

Maitland, Joseph M., 1836-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [William Grier Maitland]

Reports on the condition of his regiment, camped near Young's Point. Relates that they will travel to Vicksburg, Mississippi 23 April 1863. States that on 21 April, his division attended a parade to welcome General [Lorenzo] Thomas, "here for the purpose of organizing a couple of negro Regts. for the service. the officers to be selected from Each Regt of our Division." States that his fellow soldier Dan Coleman attempted to gain captaincy of an African American company and failed. Referring to the selection of captains for African American soldiers, states "for my part if I could not…

GLC03523.10.063

5 July 1863

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Birdseye McPherson

Written near Vicksburg, Mississippi at Headquarters of the Department of the Tennessee. Grant, Commander of the Army and Department of the Tennessee, writes to General McPherson, commanding the 17th Corps one day after Vicksburg was seized by the Union. Writes "When families of Officers or Citizens wish to leave the City, either with or after the Confederate Army leaves, and have private carriages of their own they may be permitted to do so..." Directs McPherson to instruct his quartermaster to deliver a horse to Colonel Dockery, because the Colonel's horse was one captured from Champion…

GLC03633

1862-1863

Baker, T. Otis, 1844-1910

Header Record

Title: [Collection of T. Otis Baker, B company, 10th regiment, Mississippi, infantry] [Decimalized .01- .03]

Lieutenant T. Otis Baker served in Co. B, 10th Mississippi Infantry, C.S.A. The diary covers 9 October 1862 -2 August 1863. Diary is primarily written in pencil and has some touch-ups. In addition to the diary, this collection includes one photograph and one calling card. The diary contains entries for the period 24 June-14 July 1863, covering Rosecrans' Tullahoma campaign and its aftermath.

GLC03134

1862-1864

Buntly, G.W., fl. 1862-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of G. W. Buntly, A company, 41st regiment, Tennessee, infantry] [Decimalized .01-.11]

The George W. Buntly collection of Civil War correspondence is primarily composed of letters written by Confederate infantryman Buntly to his brothers, William and Jacob. For most of the war both brothers are located in Lincoln County, Tennessee, but towards the end of the war it seems that Jacob was either drafted or enlisted. Though the letters in the collection begin when he is at camp in Kentucky, Buntly was stationed in lower south for the majority of the war, including southern Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. Buntly saw action during Grant's first offensive against…

GLC04190

1863

Buntly, G.W., fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Reports on fighting at Vicksburg, Mississippi.]

Reports on fighting at Vicksburg, Mississippi.

GLC04190.10

31 May 1863

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Dixon Porter

Written from Headquarters, Department of the Tennessee, near Vicksburg, Mississippi. Grant orders Admiral Porter to direct the Marine Brigade to debark at Haynes' Bluff, Mississippi, and to send as many steamers as possible to obtain reinforcements from Memphis, Tennessee.

GLC04464

12 August 1863

Soule, Pierre, 1801-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin DeLeon

Marked confidential at the top. Soule writes to DeLeon, Confederate Envoy to France 1862-1864. Relates, "I came to the confederacy by the way of Nassau & Charleston. Before leaving Nassau, we had the news of a great battle fought at Gettysburg, of a glorious victory won, and of fourty thousand prisoners taken from the enemy. Upon our landing at Charleston, we learned that the affair at Gettysburg had been a last reserve to our arms, and that Vicksburg & Port-hudson had fallen. The effect which these disasters had produced upon the country were visible in the dejected countenances…

GLC04570

1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: "Castle Fort" fronting the river and commanding the city of Vicksburg

A print of a photograph of Civil War-era defensive fortifications. Full title from inscription on recto: "Castle Fort" fronting the river and commanding the City of Vicksburg. Built after the end of the Siege of Vicksburg (July 4th, 1863). 15 Guns. Height above the river 1,000 feet." A number of artillery pieces [32-pounder Seacoast Parrot Rifles] facing in different directions out of the fort. An United States flag flies in the center of the image. "Castle Fort," also called "Fort Castle," had been the site of fortifications since 1631 when it was orginally called "The Castle." In 1692,…

GLC05111.01.0085

1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: Fort near Vicksburg

A print of a photograph of two artillery pieces [Seacoast Parrot Rifles] behind fortress walls. The fort has a similar construction to "Castle Fort," which also had Seacoast guns of the the same size. Title from graphite inscription beneath print. Stamped on rear "Kean Archives, Phila."

GLC05111.01.0086

June 1865

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: Scene in front of Vicksburg

A print of a photograph showing the Mississippi River as seen from the town of Vickburg, MS. Title from inscription on recto: "Scene in front of Vicksburg. "Desota" [De Soto] under water. 7 feet. Iron clads & tin clads in the Mississippi 1865." Inscription on verso: "Gun boats assembled June 1865." Also stamped "Kean Archives, Phila." The "De Soto," [a small U.S. army tug] after losing its rudder in the mud, was burned by its officers to keep it out of Confederate hands. In the inscription, "7 feet" may refer to depth at which the "De Soto" lies under water. The river has overflowed its…

GLC05111.01.0087

1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: One of the parks of captured artillery Vicksburg captured after surrender

A print of a photograph of several artillery pieces [Parrott Rifles] and many limbers. The cannon in the center foreground has been spiked with a solid shot. Several soldiers are posed at various places amongst caissons. A large road passes through the middle from bottom left to middle right. Some houses or other structures can be seen in the background. Written on front: "973.7344." Title from ink inscription on back, also stamped "12244."

GLC05111.01.0088

1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: [Confederate four gun battery in Vicksburg]

A print of a photograph taken of Confederate defenses near Vicksburg, MS. Full title from inscription on verso: "The lower rebel 4 gun battery Vicksburg about 200 yards from and commanding the river." Image of four entrenched heavy artillery guns and a large encampment in the distance. The artillery trenches are stocked with ammunition and powder. There is also a large structure on the far left of the image. A soldier and a civilian pose in front of guns to the right. The soldier appears to be Union suggesting the photograph was taken after the Confederate surrender of Vicksburg on 4 July…

GLC05111.01.0089

1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: [Artillery park in Vicksburg captured at its surrender with Methodist and Catholic Churchs behind]

A print of a photograph taken near Vicksburg, MS in 1863 after Confederate loss of the city to the Union Army. Inscription on verso: "One of the parks of artillery Vicksburg captured at its surrender Methodist Church in the front Catholic Church rear with high steeple." Photograph shows many artillery pieces and associated carts for transporting amunition and powder. Two large churches can be seen in the background along with a handful of other structures.

GLC05111.01.0090

1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: [Fort Hill after the capture of Vicksburg]

A print of a photograph showing a small group of Union soldiers stand on the fort's parapet. Much of the photograph shows the dirt, ground, and devastated vegetation on the hill. Lengthy inscription on verso: "Position of Fort Hill (Rebel) blown up and assaulted June 25th 1863 by the 45th Ill. Infy. vols. In this assault which was successful Lt. Col. Melathon Smith [and] Major Leander B. Fisk were killed. Col. J. A. Maltby, adjutant W. T. Frohock [illegible] 6 line officers were wounded and over one third the enlisted men were either killed or wounded. The 45th were supported by the 31st,…

GLC05111.01.0092

1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: R.R. Depot, Vicksburg, Miss

A print of a photograph showing two trains running on tracks through a railroad depot near Vicksburg, MS. Title taken from inscription on recto. This depot is on the Vicksburg & Jackson line. Until Gen. Grant cut off the rail link, this was the destination of the supplies the Confederates stockpiled to resist the Federal seige. Stamp of French & Co. on recto. On verso graphite inscription reads "RR depot" and is stamped "Kean Archives, Phila."

GLC05111.01.0093

1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: Courthouse showing the [illegible] marks recieved by it during the Siege

A print of a photograph of the Old Courthouse of Warren County, in Vicksburg, MS. Title taken from inscription on recto. A group of emancipated enslaved people are gathered near a brick structure to the left of the court house. Union soldiers, cavalry, and an artillery gun can be seen surrounding the court house. Stamp of "French & Co., photographers, Vicksburg, Miss." on recto. Despite the claims of the title, there is very little damage present on the building itself. The building is still standing as of 2017 and is preserved as a museum.

GLC05111.01.0095

1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: Camp 20th Miss (Col) Regt [illegible] Vicksburg below the City 1863

A print of a photograph of a camp of Confederate soldiers near Vicksburg, MS. Title taken from inscription on recto. Stamp of "French & Co., photographers, Vicksburg, Miss." Soldiers visible throughout camp, some in small formations, others standing individually. Entrenchments and shebangs are visible in the foreground. Soldiers' barracks in background and river is visible to the left. The 20th Mississippi was stationed at Vicksburg for most of the siege.

GLC05111.01.0096

1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: Barracks 52nd USCI

An albumen print of a small encampment of union soldiers. Title from inscription below photorgraph. The 52nd United States Colored Infantry Regiment was garrisoned at Vicksburg after the battle. Row of four wooden barracks visible with tents in front. Entrenchments in the foreground. Some of the troops are visible lined up in front of the barracks. Stamp of "French & Co., photographers, Vicksburg, Miss."

GLC05111.01.0097

circa 1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: [Front of court house. Vicksburg company U.S. artillery in front]

Image of Vicksburg company posed in front of Warren County Court House. Title taken from inscription on recto. Stamp of "French & Co., photographers, Vicksburg, Miss." also visible on lower right corner of image. A highly visible structure throughout the county, the Warren County Court House became a popular visitation site for Federal soldiers who had set seige to Vicksburg for months. Some soldiers are wearing infantry sack coats, not artillery, and have black felt hats (called "Hardee hats"), common among Western Federal troops. Others in the group are wearing the regulation artillery…

GLC05111.01.0098