CHAPTER XI.
OPERATIONS PREVIOUS TO OUR ARRIVAL - CROSS THE RIVER AT WARRENTON - TAKE OUR POSITION WITH THE BESIEGING FORCES - ON DUTY IN THE RIFLE PITS - UNSUCCESSFUL ASSAULT BY THE SEVENTEENTH CORPS - CAPITULATION OF THE GARRISON - TERMS OF SURRENDER - ENTERING THE WORKS - APPEARANCE OF THE CITY - MULE MEAT - FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION - HUNTING A CAMP.
Immediately on assuming command in person of the Army of the Department of the Tennessee, then operating against Vicksburg, Gen. GRANT was convinced that this place could only be approached successfully on the south side, and he accordingly prosecuted the work on the canal projected by Brig. Gen. WILLIAMS across the peninsula on the Louisiana side of the river, hoping thereby to secure a channel by which transports could pass the enemy's batteries, with supplies for his new base of operations. The task proved more difficult than was anticipated, on account of the incessant rain which fell during the whole time this work was in progress. The rapid rise of the river, also, added to the difficulties of the undertaking - requiring an immense expenditure of labor to prevent crevasses in the levee - by the occurrence of which his camps would have been inundated - and also to keep the water out of the unfinished canal.
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Notwithstanding his efforts, however, on the 8th of March the pressure of water against the dam protecting the canal, caused it to give way, when the water rushed in torrents through the low lands, completely seperating his camps on the north and south shores of the peninsula. After some ineffectual efforts to repair damages, this mode of getting transports past the batteries was abandoned, and Capt. F. E. PRIME, Chief Engineer, and Col. G. G. PRIDE, of Gen. GRANT'S staff, prospected another route through the bayous which run from near Milliken's Bend through Roundaway Bayou into the Tansas River. By the assistance of three dredge boats this route was soon opened, and a small steamer with several barges were taken through at once, but the river falling rapidly about the 15th of April, and the roads becoming passably good for marching from Milliken's Bend to New Carthage, water communication was rendered unnecessary, and the route abandoned. Other channels had in the meantime been cut by Gen. GRANT; one from the Mississippi river into Lake Providence; another from the Mississippi into Coldwater by way of Yazoo Pass; and another prospected by way of Lake Providence through Bayou Baxter and Bayou Macon, by which he hoped to reach the Mississippi below by passing through the Tansas, Wachita, and Red Rivers. This route if it had been successful would have enabled him to reach and cooperate with Gen. BANKS against Port Hudson. While Gen. GRANT'S forces were busily engaged opening one end of the Yazoo Pass, the enemy,
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he says, "were diligently at work closing the other," by which they gained time to strongly fortify Greenwood, below the confluence of the Tallahatchie and Yallobusha, strengthen Fort Pemberton and completely checkmate his operations in this quarter. Gen. GRANT then determined to adopt the base of operations previously contemplated, and move his army by land, thereby securing a position at New Carthage, a point on the river nearly opposite Warrenton. Accordingly the army under Gen. QUIMBY, which was still operating against Fort Pemberton on the Yazoo, near Greenwood, was ordered to report at Milliken's Bend, where all the forces were concentrated on the 25th of March.
On the 29th the 13th Army Corps, under Gen. McCLERNAND, took up its line of march, followed soon after by the 15th and 17th. On arriving at Smith's Plantation, two miles in rear of New Carthage, the water being at a high stage was found to have broken the levee in several places, thus leaving the latter place an island, which could not be reached without vessels. Much time was consumed in collecting such small boats as could be found in the different bayous in the vicinity for the purpose of crossing the troops, but the process was found too tedious, and after several days spent in the undertaking, a new route was determined upon, by which a further march of twelve miles around Vidal, to Perkins' Plantation, became necessary.
At the time the move to New Carthage was commenced, it was determined to make an attempt to run
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the transports past the Vicksburg batteries, accompanied by Admiral PORTER'S gunboat fleet. Accordingly on the night of April 16th the transports Silver Wave, Forest Queen, and Henry Clay, accompanied by the gunboats, ran past the batteries, but were all badly damaged - one, the Henry Clay, being lost. This success in passing the batteries induced Gen. GRANT to make another attempt, and on the night of the 22nd the transports Tigress, Anglo Saxon, Cheeseman, Empire City, Horizonia, and Moderator, were despatched. Only five of them, however, succeeded in going by. The Tigress received a shot in her hull after passing the last battery and sunk on the Louisiana side of the river. The crews of nearly all the transports were composed of volunteers from the army.
The 13th Army Corps was then put on board the transports, and moved down the river on the 29th of April, landing a short distance above Grand Gulf. After an unsuccessful attempt by the gunboat fleet to silence the enemy's batteries at that point, the army was again put in motion, marching to a point opposite Bruinsburg, sixteen miles below - where they crossed the river on such of the transports as had in the meantime succeeded in running past the enemy's batteries at Grand Gulf. After crossing the river, the 13th, followed soon afterwards by all the other army corps, advanced in the direction of Port Gibson. Then followed in rapid succession the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, and Warrenton, in all of
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which the enemy were defeated, and the army on the 18th of May had commenced the investment of Vicksburg in the rear - with lines extending from Haines' Bluff, (which was held by Gen. SHERMAN,) on the north, to the first line of bluffs above Warrenton on the south - a distance of fourteen miles. Approaches on the enemy's works were immediately commenced by constructing lines of rifle pits. An unsuccessful attempt to capture the works by storming was made conjointly by the three army corps on the 22nd of May. After this failure, which resulted in great loss, Gen. GRANT decided upon a regular siege, which was in progress at the time of our arrival on the 11th of June.
After this contest the rebel general Pemberton, owing to previous imputations against his loyalty to the Confederate cause, issued the following address to his garrison:
"You have heard that I was incompetent and a traitor, and that it was my intention to sell Vicksburg. Follow me, and you will see the cost. at which I will sell Vicksburg. When the last pound of beef, bacon and flour, the last grain of corn, the last cow and hog, horse and dog, shall have been consumed, and the last man shall have perished in the trenches, then, and not till then, will I sell Vicksburg."
After disembarking at Young's Point, our division marched back of the levee, and bivouacked in an old cotton field some half mile distant from the river. We remained here until 2 o'clock P. M. on the following day, when we marched some four miles through a dense
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forest, and came again on the river bank, five miles below Vicksburg, opposite Warrenton, where we again halted. From this position we first caught a glimpse of Gen. GRANT'S forces in the rear of the city, whose movements however, owing to the timber on the opposite bank, could not be seen at this distance. There were two large iron clad gunboats lying opposite us in the river, which were engaging a rebel battery situated on a commanding eminence below the city. Close by the battery stood a remarkably tall tree, which, from its extreme height, attracted our attention, and we gave the rebel works near it the name of the "Lone Tree Battery." This "Lone Tree Battery" occupied the left of the rebel forts, and was one of their very strongest positions, as we afterwards learned by experience. It was garrisoned by a division of Georgia troops.
We remained here until the following day, June 13th, when we crossed the river on the Empire City at 12 o'clock, and landed at Warrenton, six miles below the city.
After disembarking at Warrenton, we marched a short distance north of the town and bivouacked in a beautiful shady grove beside the Vicksburg road, where we slept soundly notwithstanding the incessant thunders of artillery, and consciousness that on the morrow we too should probably join in the desperate strife then raging so near us.
The next morning (June 14th) being Sunday, our usual company inspection was attended to and ammunition
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distributed, when we moved some two miles in a south-west direction - halting in a ravine, where we rested beneath the shade of a magnificent grove of Magnolias, then in full bloom, and enjoyed a rich repast on blackberries which grew in great abundance in the vicinity. After the lapse of an hour we resumed the march - passing a few fine plantations, which now, however, bore the impress of desolating war. Our route lay through a succession of ravines and bold hills, and we passed a great number of deserted rifle pits and redoubts from which the enemy had been driven on the approach of General GRANT'S army. After marching four miles in a direction east from Warrenton, we again halted - this time in a cotton field, at the base of a range of hills running nearly east and west, and which intervened between us and the rebel line of works on the north. There were a number of deep ravines which opened in front of us toward Vicksburg, through which we caught glimpses of the rebel fortifications. We here pitched our tents and again slept under the discordant music of musketry and roar of artillery.
Our division had now arrived in rear of the ground we were to occupy during the siege - being on the extreme left of the besieging army. On our right was Gen. LAUMAN'S division which connected on the east with the 17th army corps under Gen. MCPHERSON, who come. manded the centre of the besieging forces; the ground east of the 17th corps to the Yazoo River was held by a portion Gen. SHERMAN'S corps - the 15th. The left
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wing of Gen. HERRON's Army rested on the high bluff overlooking the Mississippi, and our operations were directed against the rebel works here defended exclusively by Georgia troops, to whose stubborn resistance we can bear witness. The ground intervening between the bluff and river being low and marshy was not occupied by our picket line - the position of the gunboats lying at anchor opposite our left being perhaps deemed a sufficient protection at this point; yet these grounds were constantly patrolled by parties sent out from our division for that purpose.
We were up early on the following morning, and after eating breakfast marched up towards the front through a ravine, halting on the summit of a hill from which a plain view of the rebel lines was obtained. Our advent on the hill was probably the first intimation the enemy had of the presence of troops in that vicinity, and they at once opened fire upon us from a number of small howitzers, followed by a shot from a larger gun, which went hissing and roaring through the air far overhead, exploding some distance in the rear. This was the first occasion on which one of these immense shells had greeted us, and we involuntarily shrunk from the supposed track of the howling monster - lying down behind the crest of the hill. This shell came from a very large gun mounted at the upper water-batteries, and known as "Whistling Dick." We soon became familiar with the peculiar sound accompanying shots from this gun however, but could never
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entirely overcome our inclination to hunt a safe place when we heard one of them coming.
While the attention of the rebel gunners was directed to our regiment several field-pieces were brought up and put into position on the right and left, and earthworks hastily thrown up to protect them. This work was completed without molestation from the rebel batteries, and the regiment, with the exception of Companies E and I, returned to camp. These two companies remained a short time longer to support the guns which had been mounted, and then being relieved by a picket line sent out from our division, they also returned to camp. At the moment they withdrew from their position, the rebels seemed to become aware of the presence of the guns which had been placed in position, and immediately opened on them with great fury - shots flying thick and fast about us through all parts of the timber, but very few of them striking near our batteries. We succeeded, however, in reaching camp without meeting with any casualties.
Companies C and G were sent out the same evening to occupy the rifle-pits - being the first companies from our regiment which performed this duty.
Our time during the progress of the siege was spent either on fatigue duty digging rifle pits or building earth-works for the protection of siege guns; supporting batteries; on picket duty, and occupying rifle pits. These various duties were constant; immediately on being relieved from one we were called upon to perform another.
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Sometimes after spending twenty-four hours in the rifle pits on reporting back at camp, were at once sent off to work all night strengthening redoubts. But notwithstanding these incessant labors, added to exposure in the hot sun, scarcity of wholesome rations, and bad quality of the water, sickness increased but little.
Our rifle pits were constructed by making an excavation in the earth from three to five feet deep, three feet wide, and usually of a length sufficient to accommodate two hundred men. They were placed on such grounds as afforded the best security against the enemy's sharp-shooters, and the most commanding view of the pits occupied by the rebels. The loose dirt obtained in digging the pits was thrown up on the side facing the enemy, through which the men cut small embrasures out of which they were enabled to fire without exposing themselves. Owing to the vigilance of the enemy, and necessary exposure of our bodies in entering the pits, we usually went into them after nightfall and remained there until the following night.
The weather being exceedingly warm, we suffered very much while in the pits from a want of water, which it was impossible to procure during the day. Each man filled his canteen therefore previous to entering the pit, but the water after being exposed to the hot rays of the sun a few hours became too hot for use. Very little water, aside from what was procured from surface springs, could be obtained in the vicinity, and we were frequently without it for the space of twenty-four hours. Black-
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berries, however, being abundant, furnished a good substitute, and were better relished than the brackish water obtained from the surface springs.
Happening to be off duty on the 16th, in company with our chaplain, we took a stroll along the picket line. While walking across a wide plateau of level ground which intervened between our rifle pits and battery in the rear, and which had formerly been the site of a rebel camp, we observed Generals LAUMAN, MCPHERSON, LOGAN, HERRON, VANDEVER, and other officers, walking leisurely towards the battery, conversing earnestly, and occasionally stopping to look towards the rebel redoubts near the "Lone Tree." During one of these pauses a howitzer was fired from the rebel works. The shot struck about thirty yards in rear of the group and, richochetting, passed immediately over their heads. Some of the party, with a greater display of prudence than dignity, made an unceremonious dash for the embankment in front of the battery, behind which they took refuge. Gens. LAUMAN and HERRON, however, coolly turned about, and after looking at the spot where the shot struck, leisurely pursued their walk and conversation. The indifference manifested by these two officers, checked a strong disposition on our part to imitate the example of the more prudent party behind the battery - but failed to deter us from getting out of the vicinity as quickly as possible.
On the afternoon of June 25th, "Fort Beauregard," in front of MCPHERSON'S Corps, having been previously
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mined, was blown up, and a heavy assault made by the troops in that vicinity. But the enemy having previously become aware that mining was in progress, had taken the precaution to countermine, and also throw up other defences inside their outer line of works; they had also massed a heavy force of troops at this point, and were in position to offer more resistance than was anticipated. The assault therefore terminated disastrously to our troops, who were repulsed after losing heavily. During the contest at this point a brisk firing was kept up along our lines of rifle pits, and late in the afternoon the 94th Illinois, of our division, made a charge on the rebel pits in their front, which they captured, with a few prisoners; but were in turn driven back a few minutes later. After the repulse of the 94th a heavy force of rebels came outside their works and threatened the pits held by the 20th Iowa and 26th Indiana regiments, but after a few minutes sharp firing, they again withdrew until a late hour at night, when they again came out and charged up to within a short distance of us. A heavy reserve force, however, had been sent out early in the evening from our division, to support the picket line, and by their assistance the rebels were repulsed after a few minutes sharp fighting.
Some anxiety was felt at this time by reason of a large force of rebels, under Gen. JOHNSTON, threatening
our rear at Black River, which stream they crossed in some force about the 23rd of June. The forces required to operate against Johnston were one division each
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from the 13th, 15th and 17th Army Corps, and LAUMAN'S Division - the whole under command of Major Gen. W. T. SHERMAN. A heavy attack being anticipated in this quarter about the 25th, the 20th Iowa, with other regiments, were ordered on the evening of the 22nd to hold themselves in readiness to march at any moment to the assistance of Sherman. Johnston not attacking, however, Gen. GRANT made dispositions for a general assault on the works at Vicksburg, which was to take place at daybreak on the morning of July 6th, and at the same time ordered Sherman to be prepared in case the assault proved successful, to make an immediate attack on Johnston. We remained idle during the 23rd, awaiting orders to move, but the order was countermanded in the evening, when we re-occupied the rifle pits.
On the following day Company B of our regiment was sent out on a foraging expedition, and succeeded in bringing in a number of cattle, which supplied us with a small amount of rations of fresh meat - the first we had received since leaving Missouri.
The afternoon of June 27th was characterized by a desperate attempt on the part of the rebels to demolish the batteries of our division - using all the guns they had in the vicinity for the purpose. Some of our gun carriages were struck several times, and much injury done to the earthworks and casemates around them. But the damage was all repaired during the succeeding night. During the cannonading in this attack many
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large shells and solid shot passed through our camp, compelling us to move our tents further to the rear.
At 11 o'clock A. M., July 3rd, our picket line was notified that a cessation of firing was ordered until 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and this information was soon followed by a general mingling of our own and the rebel pickets, who indulged in friendly conversation. A rumor had been circulated since the cessation of firing, that negotiations between Gens. GRANT and Pemberton for the surrender of the city was pending, but the rebel soldiers indignantly denied that any such intention was meditated by them, and declared their intention to hold the works "as long as mule meat or pea flour lasted" - and at any rate "there should be no d__d Yankee Fourth of July celebration in Vicksburg that year." In reply, our boys assured them that they had no particular desire that the city should be surrendered for a few days longer, as "preparations for a grand celebration had already been made, and that among the various pyrotechnic entertainments on the occasion was to be a fine display of red hot shot, from the effects of which a magnificent conflagration was to be gotten up by firing the entire city, thus smoking them (the rebs) out of their badger holes - or, what would be equally as entertaining, roasting them inside."Precisely at 5 o'clock this singular interview was terminated by orders on both sides to re-occupy the rifle pits.
On the following morning an official announcement was made from Gen, HERRON'S headquarters that terms
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of capitulation had been agreed upon and that our division was selected as one of the three to march in and occupy the works at 10 o'clock A. M., same day. Some of the regiments composing our division manifested a desire to receive the announcement with cheers, which was promptly suppressed by their officers, and all such demonstrations forbidden.
The following correspondence had passed between Gens. GRANT and PEMBERTON on the previous afternoon - the first communication from the rebel general being brought outside their lines by Maj. Gen. J. B. Bowen, of the Confederate army:
HEADQUARTERS, VICKSBURG, July 3, 1863.
GENERAL - I have the honor to propose to you an armistice for hours, with a view to arranging terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg. To this end, if agreeable to you, I will appoint three commissioners to meet a like number named by yourself at such place and hour today as you may find convenient. I make this proposition to save the further effusion of blood, which must otherwise be shed to a frightful extent, feeling myself fully able to maintain my position for a yet indefinite period.
This communication will be handed you under flag of truce, by Major General J. B. Bowen.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON, Lieut. General.
To Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, com'd'g U. S. forces, &c.
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To which Gen. GRANT returned the following reply:
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, In field near Vicksburg, Miss., July 3, 1863.
GENERAL -YOUR note of this date is just received, proposing an armistice for several hours for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation through commissioners to be appointed, &c.
The useless effusion of blood you propose stopping by this course can be ended at any time you may choose, by an unconditional surrender of the city and garrison. Men who have shown so much endurance and courage as those now in Vicksburg, will always challenge the respect of an adversary, and I can assure you, will be treated with all the respect due to prisoners of war.
I do not favor the proposition of appointing commissioners to arrange terms of capitulation, because I have no terms other than those indicated above.
I am, General, very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Maj. General.
To Lt. Gen. J. C. Pemberton, comd'g Conf. forces, &c.
During the early part of the night Gen. GRANT drew up and transmitted to the rebel general the following proposition
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, Near Vicksburg, July 3, 1863.
GENERAL - In conformity with agreement of this afternoon, I will submit the following proposition for the surrender of the city of Vicksburg, public stores, &c.
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On your accepting the terms proposed; I will march one division as a guard, and take possession at 8 A. M. tomorrow. As soon as rolls can be made out, and paroles signed by officers and men, you will be allowed to march out of our lines, the officers taking with them their side arms and clothing, and the field, staff and cavalry officers one horse each; the rank and file will be allowed all their clothing, but no other property. If these conditions are accepted, any amount of rations you may deem necessary can be taken from the stores you now have, and also the necessary cooking utensils for preparing them. Thirty wagons, also, two two horse or mule teams as one, will be allowed to transport such articles as cannot be carried along.
The same conditions will be allowed to all sick and wounded officers and soldiers as fast as they become able to travel. The paroles for these latter must be signed, however, whilst officers are present authorized to sign the roll of prisoners.
I am, General, very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Maj. General.
To Lt. Gen. J. C. Pemberton, comd'g Conf. forces, &c.
Gen. Pemberberton after consultation with his officers soon afterwards returned the following answer, partially acceding to the terms proposed:
HEADQUARTERS, Vicksburg, July 3.
GENERAL - I have the honor to acknowledge the re-
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ceipt of your communication of this date, proposing terms of capitulation for this garrison and post.
In the main your terms are accepted; but in justice both to the honor and spirit of my troops manifested in the defense of Vicksburg, I have to submit the following amendments, which, if acceded to by you, will perfect the agreement between us:
At 10 o'clock A. M., I propose to evacuate the works in and around Vicksburg, and to surrender the city and garrison under my command by marching out with my colors and arms, stacking them in front of my present lines, after which you will take possession.
Officers to retain their side arms and personal property, and the rights and property of citizens to be respected.
I am, General, very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON, Lieut. General.
To Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, comd'g U. S. forces, &c.
Gen. GRANT replied promptly, rejecting a part of the Confederate general's stipulations, and intimating that the conference was becoming irksome. The following communication, therefore, closed negotiations on his part:
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, Before Vicksburg, July 4, 1863.
GENERAL - I have
the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of 3rd
July. The amendment proposed by you cannot be acceded to in full. It
will be necessary to furnish every officer and man with a
parole
signed by himself, which, after the completion of
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the roll of prisoners, will necessarily take some time. Again, I can make no stipulations with regard to the treatment of citizens and their private property. While I do not propose to cause them any undue annoyance or loss, I cannot consent to leave myself under any restraint by stipulation. The property which officers will be allowed to take with them will be as stated in my proposition last evening, that is, officers will be allowed their private baggage and side arms, and mounted officers one horse each.
If you mean by your proposition for each brigade to march to the front of the lines now occupied by it and stack arms at 10 o'clock A. M., and then return to the inside and there remain as prisoners until properly paroled, I will make no objection to it.
Should no notification be received of your acceptance of my terms by 9 o'clock A. M., I shall regard them as having been rejected, and shall act accordingly.
Should these terms be accepted white flags should be displayed along your lines to prevent such of my troops as may not have been notified, from firing on your men.
I am, General, very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Maj. General.
To Lt. Gen. J. C. Pemberton, comd'g Conf. forces, &c.
Only a few minutes elapsed after receipt of this until Gen. Pemberton signified his acceptance of the terms proposed, as follows:
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HEADQUARTERS, Vicksburg, July 4, 1863.
GENERAL - I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this day, and in reply to say that the terms proposed by you are accepted.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON, Lieut. General.
To Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, comd'g U. S. forces.
At 10 o'clock, accordingly, on the morning of July 4th, our division was formed and advanced to the first line of works on the left, where we halted while the garrison marched out and stacked their arms in front of their earthworks, which duty they performed with much apparent reluctance. After stacking arms they faced about and re-entered the works, and the flag of the 20th Iowa was immediately hoisted on the breastworks. Our bands then struck up national airs, and we proceeded to enter the works. As we passed through the first line of defences and arrived on the inside, we encountered large numbers of rebel soldiers, who ranged themselves along on either side of the road, gazing on us as we marched past with no very friendly expression of countenance. On our side, I confess, we were much surprised at the wretched appearance of these men, whose clothing was not only filthy with dirt, but hanging in ragged festoons from their bodies - their feet bare, or wrapped about with rags, and their whole appearance denoting the sufferings which had been endured by them from an insufficient supply of rations. They made no concealment of the fact that mule meat had been issued to them, but on the
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contrary complained that this was furnished in insufficient quantities. There appeared to be a feud existing between the Mississippi and Georgia troops - the former charging the latter with injustice on account of over charges for mules, while the latter retorted by charging the former with a want of patriotism, and also with cowardice. It appeared from complaints made by the Mississippians that the Georgia troops had a large number of mules, and when rations became scarce in the city, instead of sharing with their less fortunate comrades, had opened a meat market, where the highest prices were exacted from such customers as were able to indulge in the luxury of mule meat - "steaks," "sirloins," "chops," or the more delicate "stew" - prices ranging in this Assinine market from forty to sixty cents per pound.
Advancing further into the city we observed those innumerable casemated hiding places of which we had previously heard. They were dug in the sides and at the base of the hills, and served as protection against fragments from bursting shells. The hillsides were perfectly honey-combed by these excavations, whose compartments afforded shelter alike to soldiers, citizens, women and children. The entrance to them was small, but still sufficiently large to require but a slight stoop in entering. The inside was in shape of the letter L, and contained room sufficient to accommodate the parties who had constructed it - whether a large family or single individual.
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The following extracts from letters written by persons who were in the city and occupying these caves during the continuance of the siege may serve to show the state of alarm and suffering endured by the citizens. A lady writer says:
"Sitting in, my cave one evening, I heard the most heartrending shrieks and groans, and upon making inquiry learned that a mother had taken her child into a cave about a hundred yards from us, and having laid it on its bed, as the poor woman thought, in safety, she took her seat near the entrance. A mortar shell came rushing through the air and fell upon the cave, and bursting in the ground entered the cave; a fragment of the shell crushed the head of the infant, leaving the mother to pierce the heavens with her cries of agony."
A gentleman who was also in the city, speaking of the terror inspired by the fierce bombardment among the women and children, says: "The terror of the women and children, their constant screams and wailings over the dead bodies of their friends, mingled as they were with the shrieks of bursting shell, and the pitiful groans of the dying, was enough to appal the stoutest heart."
The following is perhaps a fair specimen of cave life experienced by non-combattants during the siege:
"I was sitting near the entrance of my cave about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, when the bombardment commenced more furiously than usual, the shells falling thickly around us, causing vast columns of earth to fly upward, mingled with smoke. As usual, I was uncertain
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whether to remain within, or to run out. As the rocking and trembling of the earth was distinctly felt, and the explosions alarmingly near, I stood within the mouth of the cave ready to make my escape should one chance to fall above our domicile. In my anxiety I was startled by the shouts of the servants, and a most fearful jar and rocking of the earth, followed by a deafening explosion, such as I had never heard before. The cave filled instantly with dust and smoke, I stood there, with a tickling, prickling sensation in my head, hands and feet, and with confused brain. Yet alive! was the first glad thought that came to me - child, servants, all here, and saved! I stepped out and found a group of persons before my cave, looking anxiously for me, and lying all around were freshly torn rose bushes, arborvitae trees, large clods of earth, splinters and pieces of plank. A mortar shell had struck the corner of the cave, fortunately so near the brow of the hill that it had gone obliquely into the earth, exploding as it went, breaking large masses from the side of the hill - tearing away the fence, the shrubbery and the flowers - sweeping all like an avalanche down near the entrance of my cave. At another time, I sat reading in safety, as I imagined, when the unmistakable whizzing of parrott shells told us that the battery we so much dreaded had opened from the entrenchments. I ran to the entrance to call the servants in. Immediately after they entered a shell struck the earth a few feet from the entrance, burying itself without exploding. A man came in much fright-
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ened and asked permission to remain until the danger was over. He had been there but a short time when a parrott shell came whistling in at the entrance and fell in the centre of the cave before us, and lay there - the fuse still smoking. Our eyes were fastened upon that terrible missile of death as by the fascination of a serpent, while we expected every moment that the terrific explosion would take place. I pressed my child closer to my heart and drew nearer to the wall. Our fate seemed certain - our doom sealed. Just at this dreadful moment, George, a negro boy, rushed forward, seized the shell, and threw it into the street, then ran swiftly in the opposite direction. Fortunately the fuse became extinguished, and the shell fell harmless to the ground, and is still looked upon as a monument of terror."
The city, in every part, bore unmistakable evidence to the long continued and fierce bombardment to which it had been subjected by our forces. But few houses could be seen which had not been perforated by cannon balls - and many of them entirely demolished. The streets were barricaded and also ditched across for rifle pits. Many of the houses were pierced for rifles, and no doubt intended to be used by sharpshooters in ease the place was entered by assault.
The greater number of the citizens hailed our advent into the place with demonstration of satisfaction, not perhaps from motives of loyalty to the federal government, but because it enabled them to remove their families out of the caves, and again walk in the clear sunlight, breath-
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ing the pure air, unrestrained by apprehensions from bursting shells and whistling bullets.
During the afternoon our customary celebration of the National Anniversary took place. It consisted of a very fine display of fireworks, and salutes fired from all the land batteries and gunboats.
The universal anxiety of the public mind in regard to the movements of Gen. GRANT against Vicksburg - on the successful result of which depended the fate of a stupendous campaign, in which was involved a vast amount of war material as well as the flower of the great northwestern army - was shared equally at the Capital. The announcement of his success, therefore, was hailed with enthusiastic demonstrations of joy by the loyal people all over the 'and, and was the occasion of the following autograph letter from the President:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 13th, 1863. To Maj. Gen. GRANT:
MY DEAR GENERAL - I do not remember that you and I ever met personally. I write this now as a grateful acknowledgement for the almost inestimable service you have done the country. I wish to say a word further. When you first reached the vicinity of Vicksburg I thought you should do what you finally did - march the troops across the neck, run the batteries with the transports, and thus go below; and I never had any faith, except a general hope that you knew better than I,
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that the Yazoo Pass expedition and the like could succeed. When you got below and took Port Gibson, Grand Gulf and vicinity, I thought you should go down the river and join Banks; and when you turned northward, east of the Big Black, I feared it was a mistake. I now wish to make a personal acknowledgement that you were right and I was wrong.
Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN.
Upon entering the works our regiment, instead of making a halt at some convenient point, continued its march - sometimes in one direction, then another. At one time a bold move was made towards the centre of the city, but before reaching the streets we were intercepted by a ravine and our course turned to the right, when we followed the ravine until our further progress on this route was suddenly terminated by an impassable ditch, which we flanked by a dexterous move to the right, and then charged past a rebel camp, through a slaughter yard, scrambling up a precipitous hillside near the outer works, where we halted on the narrow crest of a hill near the spot of our first entry into the works. The ground here had been arranged as an abattis, being covered by fallen timber. Having now thoroughly explored the vicinity without finding a place for encamping, Col. DYE established regimental headquarters temporarily on a large stump, where we awaited further orders from Gen. VANDEVER which would enable us to find an encampment or direct us in the route of our further wanderings. After
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remaining here until near sunset, our impatience was relieved by the appearance of this officer who rode up to Col. DYE and propounded a question which we had been all the afternoon endeavoring to solve - viz : "Why the d__l don't this regiment get into camp?" After a few minutes spent in angry altercation the general left, dropping hints of "court-martial," "want of respect to superior officers," &c. An orderly soon returned, however, with the necessary instructions, and after another march of two miles we encamped on another hilltop two miles northeast of the city, where there was less brush and logs, but this deficiency in discomfort was more than counterbalanced by dust.
In concluding his official report, Gen. GRANT made the following allusion to our own and other troops who had participated in the siege:
"For the brilliant achievments recounted in this report, the Army of the Tennessee, their comrades of the 9th Corps, HERRON'S Division of the Army of the Frontier, and the Navy co-operating with them, deserve the highest honors their country can award."
The advantages secured by the capture of Vicksburg, aside from the bearing it had on the general aspects of the war in the southwest by opening navigation on the Mississippi, was a loss to the enemy of one of their very strongest works; all its immense stores of army supplies, and munitions of war; 37,000 prisoners - among whom were fifteen general officers - and 10,000 killed and
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wounded. Among the killed were Gens. Tracy, Tilghman, and Green.
The success, however, had cost us a heavy loss. Since the opening of the campaign we had lost, in killed, 1,243; 7,095 wounded, and 545 missing; making a total of 8,845.