Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-07-24
PROM THE THIRTY.FIRST IOWA.
Letter rom Capt. Speer. s''.''' az

Letter from Capt. Speer.
VIcEsDuRo, MISSISSIPPI,
7----sa- 6, July 18TH ls6S.
Assrs EIkors Nothing ,ranspired
near. Vicksbur5 that would interest the Rad
ers Of the GAzSrrh from the date Of my last
lettersuntl thsi4 inst, when Gen. Pelnber.
ton, commanding the department! of vcks.
burg, was superseded by Gen. Grant The
gallant Pemberton is not wanting in those
qualities which enable US to distinguish the
Southern Gentleman from our Northern
citizens or the people of other nations -bu,
he certainly lacked peas and mule. meat
without which the most efficient and bes,
disciplined Southern army would soon be.
come mob. a4Ii'Hrta u la 80 'frss
Not only Fcderals but rebels believe that
Grant is more able general than Pe,nber.
ton; and am Of the opinion, after convers.
ing with many rebels in this city, that the
late change in affairs here will give universal
satisfaction except among Northern Copper.
heads. Pemberton surrendered to General
Grant 81 400 men, who have been earoled.
They have been furnished with supplies or
rations for eight days, and marched yesterday
towards Jackson. When they go hey ond
our lines they will be disbanded and return
to their homes. Rebel officers still talk
"fight," but the common soldiers arc per.
fectly sick Of the var Wecaptured at this
place thirty siege guns, one hundred and
eight pieces Of heavy artillery, and one hun.
dred and thirty pieces Of light artillery; also
sixty thousand stand Of small arms aud
large quantities Of ammunition. Our gun
ners were ordered to save the city as much
as possible and we And that it has been but
little damaged. A large number Of negroes
are now cleaning streets, store rooms, etc
More than one hundred steamers are lying at
the wharf Suffers are arriving with large
quantities Of goods and in few days this
city will look like the vicksburg "of other
years" Gen, McPherson's corps will hold
the city and works, and patrol the river as
far up as Greenylle and as far down Us Grand
Gulf. On the 4th inst. the 9th army corps,
General Sherman's corps, and General Ord's
corps, were ordered to march at . o'clock
A. N. Of the 9Th, towards Black river and give
Johnston battle or drive him beyond Jack
son. The whole force marched at day light.
Gen. Grant has established his headquarters
in Vicksburg. ,,53g Of. w. g..
Gen. Sherman commands the army which
is in apursuit of Johnston, and Gen. Steel
commands Shernan's corps. After slow
marching and considerable skirmishing Sher-
man arrived at jackson on the 18th inst,
and commenced another seige, which hope
will be short. The city is now strongly for.
tilted, and Johnston has $4,000 men.
have been sick during the past week but am
now better and will start tomorrow in com.
pany with sixty or seventy convaescents Of
our regiment, for Jackson At the time
Vicksburg fell into our hands, very MANY
soldiers in Grants army had become unfit
for duty through fatigue and exposure, but
they are recovering rapidly and reporting
for duty. IA eng" t'Is. na .'"'E. III
Port Hudson surrendered on the 10th
inst. Gen. Banks captured about 5000 pris-
oners, who will be parolcd immediately
The Mississippi river is rising and is ours
and open from Minneapolis to New Orleans.
The troops under General Heron started up
the Yazoo river yesterday to retake Yazoo
City. The task will be an easy one. The
news from Meade, Rosccrans and Helena,
fills our cup of joy The gods are smiling
upon US and ruin hangs over the Southern
confederacy. Soon may it fall. ~t'.'
r. P. g..