The Civil War has been called a war of brother against brother or even father against son. Probably nowhere in the Confederacy was this more true than in Tennessee. The vote to join the Confederacy was marginal at best. Some even felt that the people of Tennessee voted against joining the Confederacy but that results of the vote were changed by election officials who were in sympathy with the rebel cause. In almost every county companies were organized for both the Union and Confederate Armies. Jacob Kinser served in the 62nd Tennessee Mounted Infantry.
The 62nd was formed in Monroe County, Tennessee and almost immediately after being mustered into service marched South to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Generals of the both armies recognized the importance of Vicksburg as a port for shipping Confederate Army men and supplies up and down the Mississippi River. Both armies moved quickly. The Confederates to place men in and around the city to defend it and the Union to surround and capture the city or at least render it ineffective to the Confederate cause.
The Union Army had further to travel in moving and equipping an effective force into the area. The Confederacy arrived first with men and equipment and met the Union soldiers as they attempted to surround the city. The 62nd Mounted Infantry was one of the units that delayed for several months the Union troops as they maneuvered to place the city under siege.
For much of this time rail and riverboat service into the city continued almost normally. Soldiers and civilians traveled in and out at will and life in the city changed little, however as the noose was slowly drawn tighter shortages began to appear and travel slowed to a trickle. The Confederate land forces retreated slowly to the outskirts of the city and dug in for a long
siege.
The Union army was not able to force entry into the city but the Union cannon began to bombard the city at intervals. The citizens of Vicksburg made adjustments and as far as possible retained the Southern lifestyle. The soil and topography of the city allowed caves to be quickly and easily dug into the hillsides. These caves and tunnels were prepared and often outfitted almost as second homes. Life in the city streets seemed little effected but when the Union cannon roared city life moved quickly underground to continue with a minimum of
interruption.
One evening as the siege of the city continued a tornado touched down within the circle of Confederate troops defending the city. Jacob Kinser and several of his comrades took shelter in a grove of large trees. The wind ripped into the protecting grove and a large branch ripped from one of trees fell onto the company of soldiers. The limb hit Jacob fracturing his skull and breaking the bones of one shoulder. His friends placed him on a litter and carried him to the hospital. The doctor who examined Jacob gave them little hope that he would live but he survived. His recovery was long and never complete. He remained in the hospital until the city was forced to surrender months later. He then accepted parole from the Union army and returned home, one of the many casualties of war due to illness and injury other than bullet wounds. Many men died in combat but the records show that far more succumbed to disease and other injuries than actually died in battle.
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