SIEGE OF JACKSON - DAY 3

On this day, the 16th Ohio continued to hold its position on the siege line at Jackson, Mississippi. Cpl Theodore Wolbach describes the day:

On the 12th the firing increased as the morning hours advanced, reaching at one time the magnitude of a battle. While the skirmishers of the 16th were being relieved, the exposure of the men drew a severe fire of cannon and musketry over toward us and made us hunt our holes suddenly. Levi Feeman, of Co. H, had his left arm almost torn off by a fragment of shell. He bore the hurt manfully but died within a few hours. Capt. Hamilton Richeson got a rifle shot in the shoulder and was carried to the rear. Capt. E.W. Botsford was struck on the wrist but stayed at his post of duty. Several more got thumps and scratches though not sufficiently serious to take them from the field. We were glad when the fierceness of the fire subsided and we could take a long breath with safety.

It should be noted that records indicate Cpl. Levi Feeman, Company H, actually survived 23 days until August 4, 1863. It is believed he was sent back to a military hospital in Vicksburg where he died of his wounds.

Pvt. Newt Gorsuch records:

Shell their works for several hours. Col. Speigle of 120th Ohio Regt. wounded by the bursting of one of our shells. Man of Co. H got arm shot off.

* Gorsuch quote taken from Civil War Diaries and Selected Letters of Pvt. Robert Newton Gorsuch, Company B, recently published in book form by Newt Gorsuch's great grandson, Everett Gorsuch Smith, Jr. The book is available for purchase from various Internet sources.

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Period military map showing the approximate position (see red star) of the 16th Ohio, part of Gen. Osterhaus' Ninth Division, at Jackson, Mississippi, July 12, 1863, when Union troops began the siege of that city:

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Modern day map showing the approximate position of the 16th Ohio in position outside Rebel works at Jackson, Mississippi, on July 12, 1863

Blue pin - approximate position of 16th Ohio with Gen. Osterhaus' Ninth Division from June 24 to July 6, 1863, while guarding Grant's siege at Vicksburg from attack by Confederate General Joe Johnston.
Red pin - approximate campsite of 16th Ohio the night of July 6, 1863, after marching east from Bovina Station.
Green pin - Near Bolton Station, Mississippi, approximate campsite of 16th Ohio the night of July 7, 1863, after marching east from Edwards Depot.
Yellow pin - a point about four miles past Bolton, Mississippi, where the 16th Ohio camped the night of July 8, 1863.
Purple pin - a point about four miles east of Jackson, Mississippi, where the 16th Ohio camped the night of July 9, 1863.
Aqua pin - the approximate position of the 16th Ohio after taking up positions outside the Confederate fortifications at Jackson, Mississippi, on July 10, 1863.
Red pushpin - site of Mississippi State Capitol during the Civil War; Gen. Osterhaus' division and the 16th Ohio were positioned 1 1/2 miles due west of here.