Maps of Vicksburg

United States War Department. “Atlas of the war of the Rebellion giving Union and Confederate armies by actual surveys by the Union and Confederate engineers, and approved by the officers in command, of all the maps herein published.” Plate XXXVI. 1 Atlas ([3] Leaves, 40 Folded Plates, [14] Leaves): Ill. Folded Col. Maps, Plans New York: Atlas Pub. Co., 1892. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division. http://www.loc.gov/item/2009581111 (accessed August 31, 2013).

Maps of Vicksburg

Vicksburg was a big problem for the North because you came along and around the bend and were pelted with artillery. It was a gauntlet. Below is a depiction of the Revetments on the river where they fired on the ships. The Mississippi River flows differently today, the river has moved since the Civil War and parts of the river back then are now lakes.

Bombproof Huts in the Civil War

O'Sullivan, Timothy H., 1840-1882, photographer. "Bombproof huts in the front line before Petersburg, August 10, 1864." 1 photographic print on card mount : half stereograph, albumen.. 1864 Aug. Printed between 1880 and 1889. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2012646253/ (Accessed 11/13/2013)

Bombproof Huts in the Civil War

Bombproof huts close to the front lines, made to withstand a bombardment. Bombproof Huts for "Colored" Troops, are basically a board over a ditch. Not much protection but generally the bombardment was towards the front lines so you would position the boards to deflect debris. Unfortunately if you were under this, and they were shelling you directly, it is not much cover.

Train Wreck

Russell, Andrew J., photographer. “Derailed train, Manassas, Va.” 1 photographic print on card mount : gelatin silver. Photographed between 1861 and 1865, printed later. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington; Brady-Handy Collection http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2012649985/ (Accessed 11/06/2013).

Train Wreck

Pictures of a derailed train, a destroyed bridge and a self propelled car on a bridge.

O'Sullivan, Timothy H., 1840-1882, photographer. "Destruction of a railroad bridge." 1 photographic print on stereo card : albumen ; 4 x 7 in. Hartford, Conn. : War Photograph & Exhibition Company, [photographed May 26, 1864, printed later] Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/92503706/ (Accessed 11/05/2013)

Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway. "Bridge over Running Water Creek destroyed during the Civil War; [Self-propelled coach]." 1 photographic print on card mount : gelatin silver. Photographed between 1861 and 1865, printed between 1880 and 1889. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2012649843/ (Accessed 11/6/2013)

Three years In the C.S. Army (P.A.C.S) A Diary of a Confederate Soldier by Jerry Pepper and Richard Lauren McClung
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00FR2MT7I

http://civil-war-diary.blogspot.com/2013/11/train-wreck.html

8 Inch Brooke Rifle in Revetment

Browne, William Frank, photographer. “Same gun, as shown in no. 1015, with Hurdle Revertment (i.e. revetment) and Epaulement - unfinished battery.” Stereograph showing a soldier facing the cannon in a trench fortified with gabions. James River in the background. 1 photographic print on stereo card : albumen ; 8 x 17 cm. Washington, DC : Philp & Solomons, 1865. Library of Congress Civil War Photograph Collection. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2011646191/ ( Accessed 10/28/2013)

8 Inch Brooke Rifle in Revetment

This Rifle weighed 21,987 lbs., and the Revetment was made using grape vine Cambions rolled out to hold the dirt in place. In this picture you can see the position is built up above the lay of the land with the ability to shoot at ships on the river. This particular Revetment is on the James River and it shows the techniques used at the time.

Here is the position before the dirt and sand was filled in.

Browne, William Frank, photographer. “Eight inch Brooke rifled gun, weighing 21,987 lbs., in unfinished battery wood-hurdle revertment (i.e. revetment), anchored by grape vines.” Stereograph showing a soldier standing next to a mounted cannon on the James River above Dutch Gap Canal. 1 photographic print on stereo card: albumen ; 8 x 17 cm. Washington, DC : Philp & Solomons, between 1861 and 1865. Part of series: View of Confederate Water Batteries on James River. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division; Civil War Photograph Collection. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2011646163/ ( Accessed 9/28/2013).

Three years In the C.S. Army (P.A.C.S) A Diary of a Confederate Soldier by Jerry Pepper and Richard Lauren McClung

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00FR2MT7I

http://civil-war-diary.blogspot.com/2013/10/8-inch-brooke-rifle-in-revetment.html

Breastworks (Trenches)

“Rebel breastworks in front of Petersburgh (i.e. Petersburg). The small mounds with chimneys are the soldiers' quarters, under ground.” 1 photographic print on stereo card : albumen ; 8 x 18 cm. New York : E. & H.T. Anthony & Co., American and Foreign Stereoscopic Emporium, 501 Broadway, 1865 April 3. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Civil War Photograph Collection Part of series: The War for the Union. Photographic History. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2011649170/ (Accessed 10/28/2013).

Breastworks (Trenches)

They used Gambions which war basically wicker barrels filled with sand to create Breastworks and revetments for guns. The soldiers would live inside of these positions and they could quickly be made with the Gambions which look like barrels in some photographs but are actually a quick method of building a fortification that can withstand an artillery attack.

So when Richard talks about sighting the enemy from the Breastworks, he is talking about this type of structure.

Fort Henry Guns

"Dutch Gap Canal, James River, Virginia. A 10-inch Columbiad gun on the James River above Dutch Gap Canal." 1 negative : glass, stereograph, wet collodion ; 4 x 10 in.1865 Apr. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/cwp2003006042/PP/ (Accessed 10/23/2013)

Fort Henry Guns

Fort Henry had two big guns, the 10 in Columbiad (depicted above) and a 24 inch Rifled Gun, and 32 pounder smooth bores. The 32 pounders were from naval ships and were mounted in forts all over the Confederacy. Unfortunately most of them were under water when the Union Navy showed up to fire at close range on the fortress. A 24 pounder rifled gun is depicted in the picture below as the gun with the crew and the gun in the foreground is a 32 pounder.

Battle of Fort Donelson

Kurz & Allison. “Battle of Fort Donelson--Capture of Generals S.B. Buckner and his army, February 16th 1862.” lithograph, color. Chicago: 1887. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/91482118/ (accessed 8/26/2013).

Battle of Fort Donelson

Richard's depiction of this battle says it all. This image gives a very glorified depiction of the battle and it is interesting because you see a lot of officers standing up in the midst of battle. You see this in other prints made in the day.

“Battle of Fort Donelson.” Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003664149/ (accessed 8/27/2013).