Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-07-30

i A Vieksburg correspondent Of th
Cleveland Herald gives the fOIlowin,
interesting description of the operation
of General Grant against Yicksburg:
+ "Let us climb the psrapet and Sc,
the seige By moonlight In front of us
beyond the enemy's works. but hidder
, from US. lies the city Of Vicksburg.-
Look carefully and you can distinguish
the court house, and sthe spires Of two
or threa churches. The rebels had 3
signsl station on the former when ",
came, but our shells made it too warm fol
them. and they withdrew. The nor.
tars are playing gto.night. snd she} (
well worth seeing. We watch q %
ment, and in the direction Of Young 1
Point. beyond the city, suddenly up
shoots a fash of light. and in 9 mo-
ment the ponderous shell. with its fuse
glowing and sparkling. rises slowly
from behind the bluffs; up. up Il comes
toward us. down through its fight ira
jectory into the city. aud explodes with
shock that jars the ground for miles.
There are women and tender chill
dren where those shells fall, but war is
war. --e
Sherman's eight-inch monsters are
grumbling far away on the right
Nearer. McPherson's too are playing
we can even see the csnnoneers beside
them at each fash. Ours will open at
midnight; then there will be music to,
our hearts content. Meanwhile, let
US go to the front. A hundred yards
to the right Of where we now are we
enter deep trench. Following this.
as it winds down around the hill, we
reach the opening of cave or mine.-
The air within is damp and close. like
that of vault. Candles are burning
dimly at intervals. and We hear hum
OF voices far within and out of sight
We proceed. and presently meet two
men carrying a barrow OF earth. for
our boys are at work night and day
This is the main approach on this part
Of the line. Finally we reach the
moonlight again. and emerge into
wide, deep trench, cut across the line
Of the covered way. This is open and
filed with troops, who protect the
working party. A heavy parapet OF
cotton bales and earth is built on the
side towards the enemy, and we must
mount the bernie to look over.
We are now within soeiable distance
of the shivalry, Those men lying on
.he ground twenty or thifty yards
from us. are our boys, our advance
pickets; but that gray fellow. with the
bright musket which glistens so, a few
steps beyond. is a "reb," long haired
and hot blooded, one Of Wallis famous
Texas Legion--a bulldog to fight, you
nav be sure.
Now jump down and enter the
mouth of the other mine, which leads
forward toward the salient Of the
snemy's work. Stumbling along we
reach the end where the men are dig =
ying. The candle burns very dimly- !
he air is almost sitting. Never mind, ,
ct us watch them. See that slender,
bright looking fellow swinging that
,ick. Great beaded drops of perspira-
ion trickIe down his face; there is not
/ dry thread in his coarse gray shirt,
,ut no matter; the pick swings, and
ZACH stroke slices down six inches Of the
ough subsoil of Mississippi. That
elbow was "Jim," once a tender-hand-
ID, smooth-faced, nice young man,
whose livery. stable, billiard and segar
bills were a sore trial to his worthy +.
governor. Jim says that he used to !;
wear gloves and "store clothes" and /,
hat girls called him good looking, but
hats played out now; he is gong for
Uncle Sam.
But we return to the fresh air.
Look over the parapet again, towards
he turrette, where we saw the rebel !
picket. Do you see the litth gray :,
mounds which cover the hillside SO :.
twenty, thirty, TOu can
.ount on few square rods. Ah, my =
riend, that is sacred ground you are
ookipg upon. There our gallant boys :
there they were slain 10 heaps !,
,ut they pressed on and leaped into !,
he ditch. They climbed the parapet
md rolled back into eternity. Others
ollowed them; their flag was planted.
md they sprang over 10 meet heir GER T
ain death. An hour passed. and one
The rest were dead"