Ed Bearss On Mines and T.J. Higgins "If I Had Known What I Know Now"

The 45th Illinois was known as the Leadminer regiment.  At the Siege of Vicksburg they supervised and dug a mine under the redan of the 3rd Louisiana and exploded it.  However, compared to the mine explosion at Petersburg, the one at Vicksburg was just a pimple.

The one at Vicksburg was 45-feet deep, compared to the 505 foot depth at Petersburg.

The 99th Illinois was also famous in the XIII Corps, especially because of one incident at Vicksburg when Grant's Army attacked the Confederate defenses.  The regiment's color bearer, T.J. Higgins carried the flag at a run  toward the enemy lines.  Of course, color bearers always received heavy fire, but he never wavered.  On he came, waving the flag and exhorting his regiment and the other supporting troops to follow.

What he didn't know, however, was that everyone else had halted and fallen back.  He was a one-man charge.  He did not become aware of his solo attack until at the Confederate lines when he was captured.  When asked why he had made the solo attack, he replied, "If I had known what I know now."

--Old Secesh