Railroad Redoubt facts for kids

The Railroad Redoubt was a small fort made of earth during the American Civil War. It was also sometimes called "Fort Beauregard" after the war. This fort was built to help protect the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, from attacks by the Union Army. It got its name because it was located right next to a main railroad track that led into Vicksburg.

The Railroad Redoubt: A Key Civil War Fort

On May 22, 1863, the Union Army's XIII Corps, led by Major General John Alexander McClernand, launched an attack on this part of Vicksburg's defenses. The attack began at 10:00 a.m. Within an hour, soldiers were fighting fiercely near the ditch in front of the fort.

The Attack on May 22, 1863

One group of soldiers, the 22nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment, along with close help from the 21st Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment, the 11th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and the 77th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, found a weak spot in the Redoubt. This weak spot was created by artillery fire. About a dozen members of the 22nd Iowa managed to get inside the fort's defenses. These brave soldiers held a part of the fort for several hours. However, they didn't get enough help, and as night fell, the attackers who weren't killed or wounded had to retreat.

A Soldier's Account of the Battle

A soldier from the 22nd Iowa, an adjutant, wrote about the attack on May 22, 1863. He described how the enemy was ready for them. As the Union flags appeared over the hill, many bayonets (knives on rifles) gleamed from the fort's walls.

The fort itself was very strong. It covered about half an acre of land. Its walls were about fifteen feet high, and it had a ditch ten feet wide around it. There were also smaller trenches, called rifle pits, that connected to the fort. These pits were set up so that soldiers could fire along the length of the approach to other parts of the defense, making it very dangerous for attackers.

The 22nd Iowa regiment managed to reach a tough obstacle course of chopped trees and branches, called an "abatis," about forty yards from the fort. They were under heavy fire from cannons and rifles. They had to regroup because the men got separated while crossing these obstacles. They quickly gathered around their flag and charged again.

A few officers and about fifty men reached the ditch around the fort. But they didn't have ladders to climb the high walls. Sergeant Joseph E. Griffith of the 22nd Iowa, with about fifteen or twenty men, found a way in. They helped each other climb the wall and managed to capture some enemy soldiers. However, they were under heavy fire from the enemy's rifle pits behind the fort and didn't get the reinforcements they needed. This made it impossible for them to hold their position. Only Sergeant Griffith and David Trine of Company I survived this incredibly brave act.

Aftermath and Legacy

Only two men from the 22nd Iowa who entered the fort survived the attack. This was the last time anyone tried a direct frontal attack on Fort Beauregard. After this, Vicksburg was eventually defeated using a long-term siege, which means surrounding the city and cutting off its supplies until it surrendered.

The 22nd Iowa suffered many losses at the Railroad Redoubt. Out of 200 soldiers who took part in the attack, 42 were killed or died from their injuries, 128 were wounded, and 19 were captured. This was the highest number of casualties for any regiment in General Grant's army during the entire siege of Vicksburg.

Sergeant Leonidas M. Godley of Company E was badly wounded during the attack but survived. In 1894, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his brave actions during the assault.

In the end, the Confederate soldiers successfully held their position at the Railroad Redoubt. This led to the long and difficult Siege of Vicksburg.