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As June wore on, Grant pressed the siege with vigor. Johnston tried to help Pemberton, but could not. Grant proceeded to mine under some of the Confederate works to blow them up. One of these, known as Fort Hill Bastion, was in front of McPherson, ad on the afternoon of June 25 it was exploded with terrible effect, making a great breach, at which a fierce struggle ensued.

Blowing Up Fort Hill Bastion

As June wore on, Grant pressed the siege with vigor. Johnston tried to help Pemberton, but could not.…

"Destruction of the Confederate ironclad steamer <em>Merrimac</em>, blown up by its commander, on the morning of May 11th, 1862. The abandonment of Norfolk compelled the evacuation of the Confederate positions at Sewell's Point and at Crany Island, and on May 11th, 1862, the <em>Merrimac</em> was blown up to prevent her falling into the hands of the Federals. The Federal officers who witnessed the burning and blowing up of the <em>Merrimac</em> described the scene as one of the grandest imaginable. For nearly an hour before the explosion the roof was red hot, and at short intervals the guns would discharge themselves, solemnly breking in upon the stillness of the night. Just at the first dawn of daylight the whole black mass heaved upward, then came the report, so terrific as to shake houses at a distance of eight miles. With a flash, an unearthly hissing sound, and the great monster, the <em>Merrimac</em>, ceased to exist." &mdash;Leslie, 1896

Destruction of Merrimac

"Destruction of the Confederate ironclad steamer Merrimac, blown up by its commander, on the…

Passage of the second division of the Federal Squadron past Fort St. Philip. On April 24, 1862 at three o'clock in the morning, the greater part of Commodore Farragut's squadron passed the forts through one of the most terrible fires ever known. It consisted of five sloops of war and nine gunboats. The mortar flotilla and eight war steamers remained below, thus putting the forts between two fires, and cutting off all communication with New Orleans. General Duncan surrendered the forts unconditionally to Captain Porter, on Monday, April 28. There were found about seven hundred men in each fort.

The Great Naval Battle of the Mississippi

Passage of the second division of the Federal Squadron past Fort St. Philip. On April 24, 1862 at three…

The torpedoes used by the Confederates were various in form and construction. The most efficient ones were the galvanic and percussion. The percussion or "sensitive" ones exploded by the act of forcible contact. Some of these were made in the form of a double cone, with percussion tubes arranged around the cylinder thus formed, at the point of contact of the bases of the cones.

Percussion Torpedo

The torpedoes used by the Confederates were various in form and construction. The most efficient ones…

"A cartridge containing shot instead of a bullet, and intended to serve various purposes. a, copper case; b, primer; c, wooden capsule filled with shot; e, powder charge; d, paper partition between the rear end of the capsule and the powder." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Short Cartridge - Copper Case

"A cartridge containing shot instead of a bullet, and intended to serve various purposes. a, copper…

The steam-vessels were protected by torpedo-nets formed of ropes weighted with iron or lead, and furnished with hooks to catch the little submarine mines. These nets were hung from spars placed athwart the bowsprit in front of the vessel, and sometimes in like manner along its sides.

Torpedo Net

The steam-vessels were protected by torpedo-nets formed of ropes weighted with iron or lead, and furnished…

"Siege of Vicksburg- the fight in the crater of Fort Hill after the explosion, June 27th, 1863. Our sketch shows the crater in its relative position to the surrounding works, and the city of Vicksburg in the distance. The entire crest, with the exception of this point, was held by the Confederates, although unable to use artillery on it in consequence of the bearing of the Federal guns upon it, as shown by the effect of two shots to right and left of the crater. The sharpshooters were protected by gabions filled with earth, on top of which were placed heavy logs, with small portholes, through which they kept up a continuous fire. This decided the siege. The key of the Confederate works had been arried, and Pemberton, after a fruitless endeavor to obtain terms, surrendered on the 4th of July."&mdash; Frank Leslie, 1896

Siege of Vicksburg

"Siege of Vicksburg- the fight in the crater of Fort Hill after the explosion, June 27th, 1863. Our…