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"The sociability between the rival soldiers is the wonder of the ages. Many of the Confederates hoped this [Vicksburg] would be their last campaign. Some said if it were not for the conscription acts they would not be there, others said they were fighting for the South, and would be there so long as any fighting was to be done. Alabamians and Carolinians were mostly in our front.
"During the siege [43] there was a perfect amicability between the picket lines, when not disturbed by necessary orders. When we received orders to advance our picket line, we had to necessarily lap over that of our adversary which would create a friction for a while. However, occasions of this kind were soon healed over. Then our boys would explain that we were advancing towards the fort and we must obey orders. If they drove us back it was all right, but we came to stay. They had to abide by the result. Many times it almost came to a fight between the pickets, but we always had a strong reserve in case of trouble."
Jones, Lt. S.C., “Reminiscences of the Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry,” (1907), pp. 42-3. Link : https://archive.org/stream/reminisce...ge/42/mode/1up
The 22nd Iowa of Landram's Brigade / A.J. Smith's Division / McClernand's 13th Corps attacked the Railroad Redoubt and was one of the five or so regiments which posted colors on the redoubt. The colors were there for many hours until the Alabamians plus Waul's Texans finally drove them from the lip of the redoubt.
"During the siege [43] there was a perfect amicability between the picket lines, when not disturbed by necessary orders. When we received orders to advance our picket line, we had to necessarily lap over that of our adversary which would create a friction for a while. However, occasions of this kind were soon healed over. Then our boys would explain that we were advancing towards the fort and we must obey orders. If they drove us back it was all right, but we came to stay. They had to abide by the result. Many times it almost came to a fight between the pickets, but we always had a strong reserve in case of trouble."
Jones, Lt. S.C., “Reminiscences of the Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry,” (1907), pp. 42-3. Link : https://archive.org/stream/reminisce...ge/42/mode/1up
The 22nd Iowa of Landram's Brigade / A.J. Smith's Division / McClernand's 13th Corps attacked the Railroad Redoubt and was one of the five or so regiments which posted colors on the redoubt. The colors were there for many hours until the Alabamians plus Waul's Texans finally drove them from the lip of the redoubt.
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