Gone for Soldiers: Willet Orlando "Richard" or "Dick" Worden (1843 - 1912), Soldier, U.S. - Part 5

In my last post about Dick Worden I focused on his participation in the bloody battle at Champion Hill on May 16, 1863, where his regiment, the 24th Iowa Volunteer Infantry

"proved the equal of any regiment engaged. At one time it advanced unsupported charged a battery of 5 guns that was creating havoc, fairly ran over the men at the guns, and drove the supporting infantry in wild confusion, but was compelled by over-whelming numbers to fall back. Forty-three were killed, 40 mortally wounded and nearly 30 maimed for life, the total loss in killed, wounded and captured being 195 out of 417 engaged."*

[Big Black River, Miss. Battlefield of May 17, 1863.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.]

The day after their loss at Champion Hill as the main force of the Confederate army retreated back toward Vicksburg, they halted to await the arrival of the remainder of their troops at Big Black River** where the Federal army attacked and defeated them a second time in as many days. But Dick Worden as part of the 24th Iowa did not take part in this battle as it had

"marched with its brigade from the battlefield of Champion's Hill to Black River Bridge, but did not arrive there in time to participate in the battle in which the Twenty-first and Twenty-third Iowa regiments won such distinguished honor. Remaining at Black River for a few days, the regiment continued its march to Vicksburg, where it arrived on the 24th of May and at once took its position on the line of investment in the center of General Hovey's division, where for the succeeding forty days it endured the hardships, dangers and privations incident to the siege of the rebel stronghold."***

The Civil War Trust has an excellent web page about Vicksburg, including an animated battle map.

[The siege of Vicksburg - Major General U.S. Grant, commanding / sketched by A.E. Mathews, 31st O.V.I. ; Middleton Strobridge, & Co. Lith. Cin. O. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.]

[Confederate fortifications in rear of Vicksburg, Miss

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.]

[Approaches to Vicksburg, Miss. & Rebel defences.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.]

*From The Union Army: States and regiments, Volume IV; Federal Publishing Company, 1908. Page 162 (available as a free ebook here)
**They waited in vain--those forces, commanded by General William Loring, were on their way east to join Johnston's army near Jackson, Mississippi.
***Quoted from the History of the Twenty-Fourth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry.


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