New-York daily tribune., 1863-07-17
FROM VICKsBURG.
The surrender-Further md Interesiing
Particulars.
From Our Special Correspondent

Particulars.
From Our Special Correspondent
IS YIcKsBrRG. July 1863
The incidents and circumstances connected with
the capitulston Of this the Rebel stronghold Of the
West, are Of such great and peculiar interest that
have thought fit to transmit to you a complete his
tory Of the whole affair with which have been
fortunate enough to become acquainted.
Last night, your correspondent though laboring
under the inconvenience of "a lame horse and u
slight illness accompanied the always gallant Col.
GcAtee tour along the night wing Of our army.
II was quite dark at the time, but with the dis
,ipctly marked line Of our intrenchments for q
guide, no difficulty was found in making way
along the works. These need not be described, as
their general features are already familiar to the
readers Of TBE TRIBUNE. Shells from our mortar
boats were crelipg through tie air at regular inter
vsls and guns and mortars within the Rebel works
replied with equal regularity. Those things were
pothug unusual, but are mentioned only as init
msiely connected with the great event which have
" record.
1t was O'Clock Activity and expectation were
both apparent along our lIne and there WAS that
kind OF feeling very evident, which ID neither sesn
nor heard but is psreuthetically called in printed
,peeches "sensaioD." The cause of this wac a
general understanding that our artillery TO open
On the Rete works al midnight and that to-day the
Rebel line would be forced at the point Of tho
bsyonet.
Half.past niAs-At stated periods shells came blus-
ter ng over our heads with the se Of aerial dog
fght. Presently heavy booming sound, which
Jared the ground, came rumbling through the hills
Our miners had blown up another Of the Rebel
works, and the breach was now complete. Three
Of the Rebel Notifications had been rendered un
iehable by this meaus. AT this junc,ure a bright
light Wac seen in the city, and true to my proies-
rioua instincts, / climbed tree to discover it,
cause. congaiulating myself on the fine view oi
the scene my position afforded. leveled field
gass at the oonhagrslon, when a shot from q
Rebel cannon to the utter CONSERVATION Of my
horse Billy, who was standing below, struck the
tree solidly about ten feet below me. With com
mendsble celerity your correspondent sought the
ground. have since learned that al incendary
shell from one Of guns had laid the foundation
for extensive FIRE, which the Rebels speedily ex-
tnguished for fear our gunners might use the light
thus given to improve the accuracy Of their aim.
Ten oclock.-The firing at about this hour ceased
excep: from the mortsr-bosis. A rumor passed ooIe
;be Lines that the Rebel, had proposed TO capuste
and 10 ii proved. The men and officers, relieved
from the prospect Of the bloody work that they we,
anticipating laid down and slept the fret quiet sleei
they had enjoyed for months. Tired soldiers css
tleir cares 70 the winds and strewed tbem,elve
about upon the same ground they had just been 81
wrs,hfully striding.
At daylight the various rumors that were cureu
during the night, and which were by many though
too good 70 be true, were confirmed by the complete
silence that reigned along our line. There coulC
now be no doubt that our relations toward the be-
teged city were about TO be changed. At 10 clocA
a. N. the terms Of capitulaton were agreed upon
ind when it was known for certain throughout th,
amy that VicksbuIg had surrendered, u shout, louC
and loDg-continued went up 10 heaven, such as Lal
seldom been heard before, and the cheer Of each in
divdusl soldier was prayer Of Thanksgiving t.
God for the great victory with which their arm,
Lad been blessed.
Jumping Oh board the first transport that left the
landing at Haines Bluff for the city wharf, the
ape oi about III hour and half found me stand
ns GA tue wharf al Vicksburg. 1t seemed strapg'
70 ee thefe-it hard TO realize, but it was true
Aho our brave troops were then occupying the Rebe
"OfAs ana The town. The National colors were
streaming from the cupOls of tho Court House, anC
aEofe OF TWO ot blue-coats were standing on Tie
Oalcohy surrounding II. Unarmed Rebels were
warming IKE bees about the streets, among whom
me lew oi our own men who had been brought "a
| The city were mixing indiscriuins,ely.
Many reports have been circulated 10 the effect
mat the families here were living in caves dug IN the
ground. In passing through some Of the principal
n'es's foand this to be literally true. The frs,
"feet below the Court-House, and Immediately op.
H's thai editee, is an excavation, with perpendc-
u'sf noes OF come twenty feet or more. In these
noes are cut quite number Of Gothic doors, upon
.ueii's which you find an underground chamber,
"'0s u sizs from tour isst by ok to probably