Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-07-24
THE PURPOSE OF THE NATION.
Marching into VIcksburx.

The correspondent of the New York Times
says:
The band in advance entered the enemy's
works, and penetrated some distance, playing
"Dixie." AS our troops marched into the city
the rebels crOwed the sides of the road to wit
ness the movements. Although our men were
in the highest spirits no remarks deropatory to
their vanquished enemies were made-nor did
hear any from the rebel side The most perfect
order prevailed The day was very hot one,
and the dust on the road over which they had to
pass was fully four inches deep-entirely envel-
oping our men in its clouds. The head of the
column entered the public square at 2 o'clock,
and as soon our boys got sight of and in front
of the tattered flag of the Forty fifth, their
thusiasm lost all bounds. As each regiment
came in front of the Court house, they halted,
and then came such cheers and shouts as only
vctors can utter.
The air was perfectly black with hats; nor
were they content with this demonstration of
their joy, but they flung even their muskets,
canteens and other accoutrements into the air,
and many of them danced about in the wildness
| of their Joy. On entering the jackson road, af-
ter crossing the enemys works, we found the
banks on the side of the road perfectly cut to
pieces by caves and excavations. This road
runs southwest, and for the greater part of the
way is cut through high hills, leaving perpen-
+ dicular bluffs on either side. The soil is of
yellowish cast and very solid There excava-
tions are for the most part cut in the shape of
arch large enoughto admit the bodies OF two or
more persons in sitting posture. Manyof them
are cut deep into the hills forming passage to
caves and chambers of dimensions large enough
to live n all of which were used as a protection
against our shells. About half mile in toward
the city on the right of the road is valley of
great depth and area, where large number of
Regiments were encamped, being out of range of
most of our artillery.
| Tho ritv tookad pnuch d;lapidakad nc fhara
were but few houses which were not perforated
with solid shot shells-nearly all of which
were tenantless. But few of the citizens ven
! tured to live above ground during the siege
Some had deserted their dwellings entirely, and
{ huddled themselves in caves on the outskirts Of
the city at points least exposed to the fire of
: heavy guns and mortars from the feet while
Others dug caves in underneath their houses or
took refuge in the cellars. A great many houses
were torn to pieces on the inside, where shells
had gone through the roofs and exploded after
IenterIng. As our troops moved in, however. the
citizens began to crawl out of their holes and
resume life above ground,
, The condition of the rebel soldiers and citizens
was most deplorable. Nearly all worn down by
disease and starvation. The most extravagent
D and improbable stories heretofore reported of
their condition, proved to be more than true
e All had been living for week after week upon
S four ounces OF Hour and piece of beef or bacon
h as big as ones three fingers, which morsel had
to serve them through the "a hours, and the last
t few days they received mule meat in rations.
The number of citizens killed and wounded
by our shot and shell since the siege commen-
: ced, large proportion Of whom were women
was about 260. The belle of Mississippi,
learn, Miss Holly of Holly Springs, had her
head taken off her shoulders by one ofour Shells
1t was reported a short time since that General
a Pemberton's wife had been killed by the ex-
: lplosion of shell from our works, but this has
7 proved to be untrue. She is unhurt