American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-02-27
Asa and Klubs seeth sights at yleksburg

Have you been to Vicksburg ? Vicks-
burg, where the small boys do not sell
newspapers where The houses are taste
fully and artis,ically ventilated with can
non balls where he women and children
go a shopping whilst the veniillating
process is working. where the - house
dispenses fare So exqnisiiely and infer
na!ly mean that if an Alb. general should
take up his quarters in it. he would evac-
uafe or starye in four days and a half
Vicksburg-a small sized Confederate
cypher which the Yankees sigh for dolor-
ously and daily where our TROOPS" are
always enjoying the very best of spirits
and the meanest OF whiskey where a
mysterious play constantly being perfect
ed which will turn up side down and
play special and everlasting smash with
all Yankee afmies. after the cutoff is
made that will leave little Wick in the
woods Vicksburg-where the cannon
capped hills lately trembled with thunder.
Just because double breasted steamboat
loaded with cotton. passed down the riv-
err, (as If boat with a similar cargo,
hadn't done the same thing in the weak
piping times" of several years ago J
Have you been there?
Asa HartZ has.
Got special permit from uncle j. C.
and climed skywards TO the highest prac-
ticable elevation. Saw Vicksburg above.
l-Vicksburg below. yicksburg across the
river. and Vicksburg. Tried to get a
view of the canal diggers of the other
side. Hazy weather-prospect dim and
murky, and as uncertain as the authority
of provost marshal. Tod Hubs il was
a bad go. Hubs suggested that glass
of the right sort-would aid vision. an
initiate distance, and give distinctness of
feature to far off objects. Sent him for
one and got IT, Elevated it to The forty
fifth angle and then looked. Improve
ment-perceptib mprovement--but
not sufficient for the purpose. Hubs
thought stronger glass might do the
business. Told him to get a stronger
one Rubbed the bottom of it with a
solution of seventeen cents worth of brown
sugar, elevated it as before and then
looked again. First rate. Mist cleared
away. Saw the army plainly. Looked
like rail fence standing on uncle Gid's
side of ditch.
Effects of the glass considerably weak
the bottom Of it with solution as before.
Orbs wonderfully improved. Looked
again and could distinguish the officers
from The men. They were evidently en-
gagged 10 little game. Spades were
lrumps. Told Hubs of it and he became
agitated. Hubs get glass for him
self and looked. He grew calmer after
ward. and got another glass. Another
glass made it all clear to X. and he con-
fiientially and confidently assured me il
was all right that the only thing our
folks wanted was that the enemy would
dig a new canal for the river. 1t would
drop them all into a nice little trap which
he had fixed for them. When they are
all bageed-said Klubs-don't you see
the cut off will be useful TO US for steam
boats that are running ION time 7"-
Agreed with Klubs. knowing that he
was one of the .official circle" and was
posted relative to all the plans. and got
another glass. Klubs proposed another
glass and we both looked through it.
Wonderful change! Rail fence near
the ditch had changed to two rail fences
the ditch to two bitches Two gun
boats in each ditch. Rail fence dissolved.
broke up into individual rails-each rail
on its own hook. railing at every other
rail- Knew something was wrong
Hubs got another glass and looked again.
Went into spasmodic laughter. Swore
it was all right-ihat the army had be-
come demoralized the rails woulin Z
fight and wouldn't dig-and the very
prince of rail maulers couldn't make
them do it.
4 The last glass Hubs looked through
was evidently too strong Ii affected
his brain. Asa Hartz grew alarmed
especially when his right-bower began TO
vent his Joy in loud language in equiv
ocal meaning: "Hurrah for JEFF Lin
coin Hurrah for the Feathern Con-
suderacy Hurrah for the Hon. Simon
Vallandigham He couldn't buy old
G.. l.. Cameron to vote Pennsylvania
Bower into the Jackson city council
Hurrah for Abe Stephens Hurrah for
the Exemption bill and the spreem court. Z"
Something else, in which the only words
distinguishable were swhistling Dick. y
ended his hurrahs. and Klubs. my bow
err. sunk victim TO the two powerful in
fluence Of the glasses he lad looked
through.
Turned sorrowfully from the spot and
left him there Met a sergeant of the Lap
stone Rangers. who asked if was non
combatant. Told him yes lie was
glad to meet me /; be was promulgasing
an order: ''All the women. children.
non -combatants- and partisan rangers.
! must Immediately move back City miles
into the woods-out of danger-there is
going to be fight in the neighborhood
of Vickburg in less than seven months
ASA HARTZ-
Jackson, Feb. 1863
T The man who made an impression on