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French & Co. [Fort Hill after the capture of Vicksburg]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05111.01.0092 Author/Creator: French & Co. Place Written: Vicksburg, Mississippi Type: Photograph Date: 1863 Pagination: 1 albumen print Height: 24.4 cm, Width: 29.5 cm Order a Copy

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, 20th and 124th Ill. Rents and the 23rd Indiana who suffered considerably. The works were rebuilt as they now appear by the Federal forces after the surrender." The 45th Ill. was also known as the "Washburne Lead Mine Regiment"."

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