Vicksburg Diary: The Journal of Gabriel M. Killgore

VICKSBURG DIARY: The Journal of Gabriel M. Killgore Edited by Douglas Maynard When Ulysses S. Grant's formidable Union forces moved decisively against the mighty Confederate citadel of Vicksburg in December, 1862, among die defenders was a company of Louisiana soldiers from Claiborne Parish, which lay on the nordiern border of that state a scant hundred miles west of the city. Known, eloquently enough, as the "Claiborne Invincibles," the unit had been raised in October, 1861. Its charter officers included Second Lieutenant Gabriel M. Killgore, a local planter. From November to February, 1862, the company was in camp near New Orleans. After a brief period of detached duty it took part in the April slaughter at Shiloh, Tennessee, where its captain was severely wounded and incapacitated for further service. A Union flotilla from New Orleans was approaching Vicksburg, and on May 7 die Invincibles were ordered to that city and reorganized.1 Elected as its new captain was Gabriel Killgore. Under his command the unit thereafter served with the garrison until Vicksburg fell to the Federal besiegers on July 4, 1863. Killgore's diary is a company commander's view of the struggle to defend the important Mississippi River stronghold. His words offer a unique picture of camp life during the mondis in which the Union cordon tightened about the city, montiis characterized by rumors, hopes, and increasing despair. The diary also possesses its own individual human drama in relating the closing scenes in the life of a "noble and gallant officer," as Killgore was remembered, "a self-sacrificing martyr" whose "devotion to duty never relaxed until deadi."1 The journal opens as Captain Killgore, having been home in northwest Louisiana to recruit men for his company, begins an uncertain rail journey back to the beleaguered city. 1 The Claiborne Invincibles became Company H of the 17th Louisiana Infantry Regiment. 2 D. W. Harris and B. M. Hülse (eds.), The History of Chibóme Parish, Louisiana (New Orleans, 1886), pp. 211-212. 33 34CIVIL WAB HISTOB Y 1863 February—Minden [Louisiana] 13di At night in Minden waiting for the stage—cloudy with rain. I am uncertain how I will cross the Mississippi river but "still must I on." 14ÜS Travelled all last night through rain and mud and it rained occasionally during die day the roads very bad 15di We got widiin 10 miles of Trenton last night and stopped as the weadier and roads were too bad to travelCame on to Monroe this morning enlisted Mat Nicholson and M. M. Blackman in my company and take diem along widi me I will probably start down the river to-morrow I write this on die terminus of the Railroad bridge It is rumored diat die canal at Vicksburg is a failure3 if [indecipherable word] die expedition is a failure 16th Raining—the Boat still delays and will probably not get off today — 17di A dark rainy morning—I have determined now to go by Delhi Evening We learn that a dispatch has come announcing 3 federal Gunboats in Black river coming up4 18th Started to Delhi on train got diere and found no chance to cross to Vicksburg from that place Started back to Monroe at 1, o,clock Saw many of my acquaintances 19tii A clear day sent back Nicholson and Simon and Blackman to ClaiborneNews has just come in that our batteries have captured die "Queen of the West" on the Red River and caused die Yankees to bum the "De Soto" 20th A clear spring-like morning—Still waiting for transportationCotton on die 5di inst wordi in New York 96 cents per lbGold 158«21st A hard rain in the morning—I am sick with fever—Met S. Y. McDonald who is on his way home—No news from across the river 22nd Still sick. I can go neither back home or towards Vicksburg These are unpleasant days to me 23rd Still lying here at Trenton—got two recruits this morning Grigsby & Moore 3 The Federal army was trying to build a canal which would permit traffic flowing up and down the river to bypass Vicksburg. 4 On the Red River near the mouth of the...