Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-07-25
TIE RELATIVE 10. sEs.
SCENES IN vICKsBURG.
rHR ARMIES yRArERMzSG oosorrIoS OF THE CITY


The following interesting description Of scenes in
yickSblrg, after the surrende is copied from letter
In the New York Tribune, dated 9th instant:
The rebel sci ers instead of LING elise 10 their
trenches roaming about the city ularmed in unre-
strained but amcable intercourse with those OF
army who have been permitted TO enter the town. Gay
III orms of grey cloth, ric bed zeped with gold lace
and pr0usely decked With and bright trimmings,
are in close juxtapason with the holiday attire of
shoulder strapped frends-a strange morGirg sight
for Vicksburg. The women and children have had a
quiet nights rest in their beds at homea thing which
has ,urred before for forty-tight days Guards
in blue uni stationed at the entrance Of the
stores and other pl where goods Of any kind
deposited. Near hundred STEAMBOATS, lying at the
wharf, sight which the people here rejoice at more
than any otler Where, yesterday morning, starvation
was staring men and women in the face, plenty now
regns.
THE ARMIES fRArERSIzSG.
To-day both armies seem to have discarded every
feeling of personal bitterness, and to have cognized
the quarrel in which they have been fighting as pure
ly public thatougbt not to interfere with friendly
personal IelICns. Wherever you turn in the streets
of VlcksbuTg and on whatever transport you 60 you
will find Union officers aud soldiers treating rebel Of
6cerS and soldiers to the best eatabes ard drinks
army Afford ifthey old friends just met after
long epIration Cordially and good feeling prevail
throughout the city.
am C0nndent lnat tnere mas not Deen snge
in lance where any officer or soldier OF oar army has
INDUCED in any unseemly exulaton the fallen foe
men, We have refrained from cheering. and moth
ng-absolutely no hinghas been done to adj humila
ton TO the cup of which the rebels have been
compel ed to drink OF course this universal preva-
lence OF good feeling has tempted tie of DO h
armies to resoro moral suasion and argument for vim
dcaon OF their respective positions a. beigerents.
have listened attentively to many discussions Of the
of the war, bad the street aud every
ham, hiuhuvn nf
ance and recrmination. Bur, to my surprise, have
elsewhere heard these conversational controyer
sizes about the and its causes and ends calmly
aud mildly conducted since the commencement OF our
National troubles.
CONDITION OF Tx CITY.
What near view of Vicksburg would disclose, afer
being long subjected rain of shot and SHE'LL has
a theme of much speculation in army and else
where. Those who have Witnessed the siege cannot il
be surprised that there is anything lett Of the town
but ruins. But We have, it seems yet something to
learn of the endurance OF town well as OF men,
But few buildings in Vcksburg are totally demolished
None have been completely ruined by the bombardmen
On of the principal streets the river, and run
ming parallel with it, there are remains OF block OF
buildings which burned about the time of the fight
at Champion Hills In the block mill and store
house, in which stored considerable quantity OF
four-200 barrels and upward-which was burned at
the same time. The budir gs were fired by a crowd OF
incensed rebel soldiers and citizens punishment due
some heartles and extortonlt spectators who had
bought up the -four to be enabled to get siege prices
for il.
There are few other houses scattered about that
but heaps OF rubbish The great majority OF the build
ings, both public and private, can be by repairs de
"as good as new"
The streets are barrcadsd TO a limited extent, and
have been poughed up by shells. la walking along the
paVemen one must be careful not to tumble nto pit
dug for him by projectie from ach mortar or from
Psrrott gun The yards, gardens and open lots are
also cut up with shell holes profnson Of LeiutifUl
shrubberv has heretofore rendered Vlcksburg very
handsome town. but the broken and torn fencing, and
havoc incident 70 the presence OF an army anywhere
have greatly diminished the beauties of the place
Nearly every gate in the city is adorned with une1-
poded 3inch shells placed atop Of each post The
pOrches and piazzis uearly every house has cn)
also adorned with collections OF shot aud shells
that have fallen in the yadt IL said that there
some houses in the city that have escaped unscathed
but in my rambes through The streets could not find
them
entered perhaps, twenty bulldogs in all and found
fHghul looking holes 10 the walls and floors of every
one The house occupied BY Gen. Pemberton as his
headqu has hole in the first room you enter on
the left side OF the hall which mule could craS
through without difficulty the publisher OF the Vicks
burg Citizen invited into bis residence, and inter-
spersed his remarks, while showing around, with
frequent cautions not 10 tread here and there for fear
shattered piece of flooring would let ME through into
the ceilIr And so it is all the place. The north
ern portion of the city suff,re most and cannot
vey any idea of the damage sustained better than by
saying it has been smashed
Notwithstanding the evidence everywhere visible of
the terrible ordeal through which the people and city
have passed. the 1icksburgers persiseny assert that
they have not been much damaged hat shells are
comparatively innocent thngs-"nothng when you get
used to them !" that hey could have held year if
they had had provisions &C. They also claim to have
learned how to dodge Shells and say that those fred
from the mortars had become fivortes with the peo a
Shots from Parrot guns so popular.
The mcss noticeable feature of the city Is the group
Of every bill eide. Ia theso caves the women
and children we're sheltered during the nights and oc
cAsionaly in day lime when the firing was very severe
The excavations branch out in various directions alter
passing the entrance should not Imagine them very
desirable bedchambers but they seem TO have
very good purpose. In one or two instances 'ne"'