The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1863-07-23
FROM THE ARMY.


MrssRs CLARK i MILFORD:
When l last wrote to you, we were stu
in rear of Vicksburg We had exploded
one mine and preparing another; the
second one was exploded July LIST about
] o'clock p. H., creating an immense
breach in the enemy's works, and blow
ing several "secesh" into our line. One
negro came through aud lived, the rest
we're dead Cuffy struck on his head
and of course it did not hurt him. He
vas INTERCEPTED as to what he had been
doing, and how far north he had travel
I'd his answer was, "You see massa, We
dem, we're huntin' for dc powduh, when
i kun, aud went up about free mile,
artaiu." The second explosion was
omplete success. Our infantry made
10 demonstration, but our artillery kept
Up a heavy fire, in spite of which, the
rbels piled shovel and spade, to repair
the damage in their works; but all was
i, vain, the dirt was loosened and one
sell destroyed faster than 100 shovels
would repair; through the breach we
had range and could rake them, which
we did all day Of the I'd, and at 10 o'clock
a. m. of the Sd flag Of truce was sent
in. asking that commissioners be ap-
pointed to draft terms of capitulation.-
! Gen. Grant replied that "uuconditional
surrender and the garrison to be treated
az prisoners of war" were his terms, and
he gave them until = clock for consid'
Grafton. At , p. m, Major Gems Grant
and Mcpherson, Brig Gen. John +.
Smith and Lit. COL Rawlins, A. A G.,
met 1t. Gen Pemberton, Major Gen.
Bowen aud Col. Montgomery, A. 4. e.
The conference lasted about one hour,
the officers sitting on the ground and
consulting, about 30 yards from the fort,
upon which guards Of both armies were
posted to prevent general movements.
The conference produced 20 final answer,
and Gen. Grant extended the time till
10 o'clock p. N. At that time he agreed
to aroe officers and men at once, send
ing them home; the result was ct 10
o'clock a. m. on the 4th, white flags
decked the rebel lines 10 token of sur
render, and at l o'clock p. m. our flag
was floating from the court house, while
the troops of the 18th Army Corps were
sending up cseer after cheer from the
streets below To attempt description
of the excitement would be futile and
useless !; the boys had calculated to ccle-
brate the 4th, but to celebrate it in so
glorious manner, was beyond human
expectation, and to those who were for
tunate enough to enter Vicksburgh on
the 18th of July, 1868, that day will be,
always, cause for double rejoicing -
While you in the North were celebrating
day, upon which our National indie
pendcnce was declared, we the soldiers
of the North, we're celebrating that day
in the once Wanted rebel stronghold Of
the South, and rejoicing that we had
rivited another link in the chain, which
is to bind our nation to unity and pcrpe-
tui'y.
Wick burg has never held more than
5000 Inhabitants, and judging from the
buildings, neither wealth nor refnemen,
reigned supreme, yet there are some fine
residences. 1t is situated on the high
est range Of the Chickasaw Bluffs.
I When we entered, we became masters
Of II, 4G prisoncrs-feld aud staff. rank
and file. The Inhabitants (who were
sca,ce) were very strong in tteir looks
of dislike, but wien they found that We
would feed them, why says they, "Goc
bless you, | have been wishing for 20,
this many day Soldiers and citizen
have pale, care worn look, which full,
indicates their sufFerings, and when
tel! you that the whole country, is full O
caves, in which they have been living
while they dined on the luxurious steal
of good Old mule, you will not wonde
that they are sickIy looking. Some 0
the soldiers rejoice that we have come
and want TO take the oath and be sen
North; others are sul!en ; the officer
want to take them into camps for parole
r prisoners Gin the South,) but they u
, say they first 60 home. According t
, the terms of capitulation, "oN are to /
r paroled and sent to their homes" of tn
d the privates are informed by U. S. of
GERS appointed for the purpose, aud viii
$ we are in duty and honor bound
t see them out of our lines, yet when on'
:. out. no paroled officer can control then
S and they can 90 where they please, and
assure you of this they are informed
d Some may dispute the wisdom Of Gener
t. Grant in paroling, but let me explain
Is If We do not parole, we at our own e:
Is pcnse send the prisoners North, fc'
J. them for several months, and eventual
1t fight them again; if We parole, and S
n that after they leave our lines, they la
e fair chance to get home, the conscrif
m ed and dissatisfied, say catch me if y
t. can; their army is demora|ized and I
duceI more than one half, and We are
- no expense. In behalf of the latter p
icy, l would say, that, when they lea
- our lines, they are between US and &c
'e Sherman, the roads extend in every {
n rcction, there are no rebel troops t
IS C. S. A. officers are powerless to cnfor
- their commands, and the soldier 90