The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1863-07-18

FickSburg correspondent OF the Cleveland Herald
gives the following interesting description OF the
operations of General Grant before licksburg
Let US climb the parapet and see the siege by
moonlight. In front OF us beyond the enemv's
works bnt hidden from us, lies the city of Ficks-
burg. Look carefully, and you can distinguish
the court house, and the spires of two or three
churches. The rebels had signal station on the
former when We came, but our shells made 1t too
warm for them, and they withdrew. The mortarss
are playing might, and they are well worth see
ing. We watch moment and in the direction OF
Young's Point, beyond the cit, suddenly up
shoots flash of light and in moment the pom
derous shell. with its fuse glowing and sparkling,
rises slowly from behind the bluffs up, mp it goes,
as though mounting to the zenith; over 1t comes
towards US. down through its fight trajectory into
the city, and explodes with shock that jars the
ground for miles. There are women and tender
children where those shells fall, but war is war.
Sherman's eight inch monsters are grunbling
far away on the right Nearer, Mcf hersoD's too
are play ing. We can even see the cannoneers
beside them at every fash. Ours Will open Ct
midnight then will be music to our heart con-
tent Meanwhile let US 60 to the front. A hun
dred 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 q vault. Candles are burning dimly at
intervals, and we hear o hem of voices far within,
and out of sight We proceed, and presently
meet two men carrying barrow of earth, for our
boys are at work night and day. This is the main
app.oach on this part of the line. Finally We
reach the moonlight again and emerge into wide,
deep trench cut across the line fths 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 en-
emy, and we must mount the BERN to look over.
We are now within sociable distance Of the
chivary. Those men lying on the ground twenty
or thirty yards from US, are our boys, our advance
pickets but that gray fellow. with the bright mus
ket which gl;stens so, a few steps beyond is IA
ssreb, long haired and hot blooded, one of Wall
famous Texas Legion-a bulldog to fight, yoa
may be sure.
Now, jump down and enter the mouth of the
other mine, which leads forward toward the salient
of the enemy's work. Stumbling along we reach
the end where the men are digging. The candle
burnsvery dimly-the air isalnost sitting. Never
mind, let MS watch them. See that slender, bright
looking fellow swinging that pick Great beaded
drops of perspiration trckled down his face there
is not dry thread in his coarse gray shirt, but no
matter the pick swings and each stroke slices
down six inches of the tough subsoil Of MississiP-
ri. That fellow was "Jim, once tender handed
smooth-faccd nice young man, whose livery-stabie>
billiard and cigar bills were sore trial to his wor-
thy governor.
jim says that he used to wear gloves and estore
clothes'' and that girls called him good looking,
but that played out now he is going for Uncle
Sam.
But we return to the fresh air. Look over the
parapet again. towards the turrette, where We saFs
the rebel picket, Do YOU see the little gray
mounds which cover tie rill-side so thiekly ten,
twenty thirty, you can count On few square rods,
All, my friend, that is sacred ground you are look
ing upon. There our gallant boys charged they
were sfan in heaps; but they pressed on and leap.
cd into the ditch They climed the paHapet and
rolled back into eternity. Others followed them ;
their flag was planted, and they sprang over to
meet their certain death. An hoar passed, and
one returned. The rest were dead.'a