U. S. Civil War Photographs - Vicksburg

U. S. CIVIL WAR
PHOTOGRAPHS

VICKSBURG
(PAGE 6 OF 10)

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SECOND TEXAS LUNETTE

C. S. A. President Jefferson Davis Monument
at the Second Texas Lunette

The Second Texas Lunette, named after the Second Texas Volunteer Infantry that garrisoned it, was a Confederate Fort designed to guard the Baldwin Ferry Road to Vicksburg. On May 22 the Lunette was the subject of repeated Union assaults. After the assaults, the Second Texas Commander said that the bodies lay so thick that you could walk two hundred yards down the road without ever touching the ground. The Federals started mining operations against the Lunette but had not completed them at the time of the surrender.

FORT GARROTT

Col. Isham W. Garrott Plaque

View from Fort Garrott

FORT GARROTT ON RIGHT OF LEE'S BRIGADE

This work and the line immediately on its left were held by the
20th Alabama. No direct assault was made on it May 22, 1863, by
the Union force, but the fire from this work materially aided in
repulsing the assault of Osterhaus's division on the line to its left.
Col. Isham W. Garrott was killed June 17, on duty in this fort, and
Lieut. Col. E. W. Pettus commanded the regiment from that time, until
the end of the defense. Two countermines against the Union approach
were prepared, but not fired. The casualties in the 20th Alabama during
the defense cannot be accurately stated.

N. P. S. Sign at Fort Garrott

HOVEY'S APPROACH
(UNION TRENCHES TO FORT GARROTT)

Hovey's Approach - Union Trenches to Fort Garrott
(Opposite the "Fort Garrott view" photograph, above.)

Brig. Gen. Alvin Hovey commanded the Union forces opposing Fort Garrott. His infantrymen, working under cover of darkness, dug two approach trenches which joined near the Fort. After connecting the two approaches, the diggers inched forward behind sap rollers (giant barrels covered with cane) to within 10 yards of the fort before the surrender of the city ended all action.

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