They suffered 21 killed, 45 wounded during the siege May 18 - July 4
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXIV/2 [S# 37] pp. 353-
MAY 19-JULY 4, 1863.--The Siege of Vicksburg, Miss.
No. 80.--Report of Maj. George W. Mathieson, Thirty-first Alabama Infantry.
ENTERPRISE, MISS., July 21, 1863.
CAPTAIN: In compliance with a circular issued from brigade headquarters this evening, requiring regimental commanders to furnish a report of the part taken during the siege of Vicksburg by their respective commands, and as I was commanding the Thirty-first Alabama Regiment the greater portion of the time, I have the honor, very respectfully, to forward you this as my report.
On May 18, we took our position in the trenches on the right of the railroad, occupying the third redoubt, with Colonel [F. K.] Beck's regiment (Twenty-third Alabama) on my right and Colonel [Charles M.] Shelley's (Thirtieth Alabama) on my left. Nothing occurred during that day and night to interrupt us.
On the 19th, about 12 o'clock, the enemy began to take a position in my front, and opened a severe fire from his sharpshooters. During the following night he planted several pieces of artillery, and on the morning of the 20th began a heavy cannonade, which continued throughout the day and a portion of the ensuing night. It annoyed us very much, but did very little damage. A continuous fire was kept up by his sharpshooters and cannoneers until the day of May 22, when a heavy column of infantry appeared in front, and attempted to charge my position. The men of my command poured a heavy fire into their ranks for about an hour, when the main body retired, but continued the sharp-shooting and cannonading until dark. His killed and wounded lay thick on the field, and he was evidently badly crippled. I do not know the precise amount of his loss, but think it must have been 150 or 200 in killed and wounded. Our loss was very small. We had 1 man killed near the redoubt. In the redoubt we had one 12-pounder howitzer, which did good service during the charge. The enemy permitted his dead and wounded to remain on the field until the evening of the 25th, when there was a truce of a few hours to allow his dead to be buried. A constant fire was continued from day to day until the morning of July 4, when the city was surrendered.
The officers and men of my command submitted to the hardships and privations of the siege with great endurance and patience. The strength of the regiment during the time we remained in the trenches ranged from 220 to 250 men.
Below I give you a list of the killed and wounded in the command: Killed, 21; wounded, 37.
Respectfully submitted.
G. W. MATHIESON,
Major, Commanding Thirty-first Alabama.
Capt. WILLIAM ELLIOTT,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Brigade.