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Captain Patrick H. White Vicksburg Campaign After being promoted to Captain of the Chicago Mercantile Battery on February 28, 1863, Patrick White led his new troops to participate in several Union's successes prior to Vicksburg. The Battery actively contributed to victories at the battles of Port Gibson, Big Black River, and Champion Hill. During the latter battle, the Chicago Mercantile Battery was involved in a fierce artillery duel on the afternoon of May 16th. White's artillerists' successfully attacked the Confederates, led by General Lloyd Tilghman who was killed there by shrapnel from the Mercantile Battery. On May 22, 1863, General US Grant conducted his first major assault against the Confederate defenses of Vicksburg, Mississippi. In the midst of Grant's en echelon attack, General A. J. Smith sought an artillery commander to take on a particularly dangerous assignment. Smith turned to Patrick H. White who accepted his request to pull a six-pound cannon down a steep hill and then up another to fire point blank into a Rebel stronghold. The Confederate target was the Second Texas Lunette, a fort from which the Confederate soldiers were tenaciously fighting to prevent Smith’s men from obtaining access to Hawkins Ferry Road, one of the major entrances into Vicksburg. White and his small band of artillerists were joined by some infantrymen from the 23rd Wisconsin who helped them to pull their cannon through the ravine up to the Confederate fort. Today, the leader of the 23rd Wisconsin (Colonel William F. Vilas) and White both have monuments at the battle site in recognition for their gallant assault. Captain White and five of his men also received the prestigious Medal of Honor in 1896. |
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