Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-07-21
The Surrender of Vicksburg.

THE CAUSES OF THE SURRENDER OF THE
GARRISON AND PEoPLE-IloRRoRs OF THE
BoMBARDMENT.
We extract the following passages from the
Vicksburg correspondence Of the New York Worid
Of Wednesday. The letter is dated on July 4
"The prime cause Of the rebel defeat lies with
the War Department 10 Richmond, 10 draining
the South to sustain the Virginia army. The sec
ond cause was mistake in yenturing beyond the
Big Black river to give battle. Th, was Penn
berton's bluuder. The next fault is chargeable TO
Johnston. Asa military man he should have
known the utmos, limit OF resistance which th.
garrison could reach, aud should have relieved it
without fail. Had be attempted it be would GER
tainly have failed, aud thus il proves that what
Gen. Grant remarked after the battle OF Champion
Hills was true. Vicksburg was virtually won then,
and the great battle decisive OF the fate Of the
Mississippi valley was ten delivered aud won by
our Western troops.
The stock Of provisions was getting short Al
ready they were reduced to the offsl and dregs OF
their commisariss. Mule meat, while not eaten
as necessity, had become preferable 10 their
picked beef. Pork was all gone, -four used up,
corn, unground for the most part, was len in Inn
tied supply. But the worst difficulty was that Of
ammunition. Only ten percussion caps to the
man we're found in their pouches. Originally
short, they had received forty.,wo thousand thro'
the lines since the Investment. OF cartridges they
had very few
Their medicines were scanty. Nearly six thous.
and men in hospital and continually exposed to
the dangers OF plunging shells delicate women
aud tender children crying for bread and waiting
for the loss Of friend, around them. II must have
been strong heart that could have held out lon
ger.
One cause for determining the time was un'
doubtedly the apprehension that on the Fourth
Gen. Grant would attack. The result would be
the sack aud pilngs of the city aud great slaugh'
ter. The capiIula,ion avoided oil wi hout loss o.
honor.
OF public property there is little Of any value
beyond the cannon and ammunition. Thirty
siege guns, hundred aud two field pieces, and
6ty thousand stand of arms aud equipments are
among the captures. Eighty stand Of color'
most Of which, we regret TO say, have been seized
and torn to shreds as trophies by the excited
troops. OF ammunition there is about hundred
rounds for each heavy gun, and twelve for gh'
field pieces. OF cartridges there is a limited guam
tity. Some of the guns are very superior one
an English gun, l-2 inch diameter, riasd. An
other 8 81, Brooks gun Of great range, besides
the old fashioned l0-inoh columbiad. II is sur
prisng that there are so few heavy guns but thi'
is explained BY the rebels in the loss OF grea
number a, Grand Gulf Haines' Bluff, Fort Penn
berlon and Big Black. Two O. their heavy guns
have burst during this siege, and many Of thei
a n ..s.... a.. Mad hv nnr .hnt
A considerable quantity OF moa'ses, sugar ant
tobacco was discovered but OF all other th'
quantity was quite limited.
Pemberton, as is well known, isa Philadelphia
by birth, who early in life married southern Ia
dy and has since cast his lot 10 that section. H'
has been a trusted friend Of jeff Davis aud wa
by him inlrusted with the special defense OF Vicks
| burg lie denies having made the speech attrib
uted to him abou, the last dog, 60 1t mus
have been invented by Johnston aud published Il
raise the hopes OF bis army.
The appearance OF the city after such an unpsr
alleled bombardment was naturally point o
much curiosity. We expected to see awful hsso
from shells and mortar bombs. The hrst sight !
disappointment. The place !, not damaged a
much as might have been expected. Nearly ever
house has been shot through, il is true, but hol
made bys cannon ball Is comparatively but
small matter. Here and there were building
with corner blown out, and some With bulg
in the walls. Huge eraters were to be seen IN tn
streets, where the thirteen.inch shells had burs
the pillars Of house porches split and shattered
splnters. There Is not, perhaps, whole pane
glass within Eve miles Of the courthouse. On
church was rddled, while another near BY wa
only scratched. Hospital flags we're stuck up o
houses all over the city. There are not less tha
three hundred houses occupied as hospitals.