Affair of the Crater; June 25-26, 1863.

At the head of Logan’s Approach to the Third Louisiana redan, a mine was begun on June 23, completed on the forenoon of June 25, and charged with 2200 pounds of powder. Leggett's 1st Brigade of Logan’s 3D Division, 17th Corps, occupied the trenches under orders to assault. The mine was fired about 3:30 p.m., and before the smoke had cleared, the 45th Illinois, leading the column, occupied the crater created by the explosion and opened fire on Confederates behind the parapet across the gorge of the redan. The 20th Illinois relieved the 45th and was relieved by the 31st Illinois; the 56th Illinois relieved the 31st and was relieved by the 23d Indiana; the 17th Iowa relieved the 23D Indiana and was relieved by the 31st Illinois at 2 a.m. on the 26th. The 45th Illinois relieved the 31st at daylight and was relieved by the 124th Illinois at 10 a.m.; that regiment held the position until 5 p.m., when fighting in the crater ceased. Hand grenades were used freely on both sides, and Confederate shells with lighted fuses used as grenades were in some cases thrown back before exploding. Casualties were 20th Illinois, 2 killed and 7 wounded, total 9; 31st Illinois, 7 killed and 27 wounded, total 34, with Lieut. Col. John D. Rees and Capt. Levi B. Casey mortally wounded; 45th Illinois, 8 killed and 62 wounded, total 70, with Capt. Leander B. Fisk, acting Major, killed and Lieut. Col. Melancthon Smith mortally wounded; 124th Illinois, 6 killed and 49 wounded, total 55, with Lieut. Julius A. Pratt killed; 23D Indiana, 8 killed and 31 wounded, total 39, with Capt. William M. Darrough mortally wounded; the aggregate in the First Brigade, Third Division, from May 23 to July 4 inclusive was 31 killed and 176 wounded, total 207, largely in the crater, with all officers named except Capt. Darrough killed or mortally wounded in that affair. The 56th Illinois lost 4 killed and 13 wounded, total 17, with Lieut. Andrew E. Walbright killed; the 17th Iowa lost 3 killed and 34 wounded, total 37; and the aggregate in the Second Brigade, Seventh Division, was 7 killed and 47 wounded, total 54, all in the crater.

Vicksburg, Mississippi · United States