As a vital element of General U.S. Grant’s April encroachment inland into Mississippi below Vicksburg, the Chicago Mercantile Battery was immediately called into the front lines at Port Gibson where it became actively engaged. At Champion Hill on May 16^th, the Mercantile Battery entered into what became a famous artillery duel with Cowan’s First Regiment of the Mississippi Light Artillery (Vicksburg Artillery) alongside the Coker House. The Battery from Chicago was victorious and shrapnel from one of its shots killed Confederate General Lloyd Tilghman.

After the successful battle of Big Black River, the Chicago Mercantile Battery played a key role in the siege against Vicksburg. On May 22^nd, Captain Patrick H. White and several of his Battery team pulled one their guns by hand up a steep ravine to within about 20 feet of the Second Texas Lunette, a Rebel stronghold that had been built and fortified at the crest of one of the major roads into Vicksburg. Firing their cannon point blank into the Confederate fort, the valiant members of the Chicago Mercantile Battery created considerable havoc for their opponents. They also spent a dangerous afternoon withstanding a brutal retaliation from the Texans who were dropping hand grenades onto the Union artillerists who held their ground just below the Confederate fort. For their heroism, Captain White and five of his comrades received the distinguished Medal of Honor. The Chicago Mercantile Battery left Vicksburg after its surrender on July 4, 1863 and supported General Sherman’s attack to dislodge the Rebels at Jackson, Mississippi who were being led by General Joseph Johnston.

Sources: "Report of the Illinois Adjutant General, Volume VIII," revised by Brig. Gen. J. N. Reece, 1901; and "Patriotism of Illinois," by T. M. Eddy, D. D.

• Before Vicksburg

• Vicksburg Campaign

• Red River Campaign

• Red River to New Orleans

• Camp Ford, Tyler, TX

• The Return to Chicago