The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-07-29

MIR JACOBS Permit me through you
paper to make a brief statement of my tril
to Vicksburg, with Sanitary Stores and provis
ions for our men now in the field. I started
with ~ hundred pounds. Paid 20 cts a hun
bred from New London, to ColumbGs 35 cts
a hundred from there to Cincinnatlj SO cents
a hundrEd from there to Memphis, Tenn, on
board a steam boat, and one dollar per hun
dred from there to Vicksburg. L had a pleas,
ant trip on the way down, meeting with nc
Instructions, and landed at the wharf at Vicks
burg ON the 18th of July at II o'clock, a. Nj
just TWO hours after our army had marched
in and boosted the stars aud stripes on the
Court House, that had so long been the rest
ing place of the hated rebel flag As we
saied down and rounded to seventy massive
steamers loaded down to the waters edge, with
flags flying, there went up 0 e universal
shout for the Union, from Union aud Rebel
soldiers that would make the heart f any
American swell with great pride. Thirty
Thousand iiebel soldiers with what Union men
were IN the wharf crowded the entire space
with une entire mass OF human beings The
rebels looked care worn and starved, and st I'd
watching our beats with intense admiratio..
and desire, for from them the breae aud mea
was to come TO satisfy their hunger, and as
they have lived Tor forty days ON quarter ra-
rIuns, and the last two days on hird quarters
ot miserable starved nu es. you may rest as
sured they were hungry. | know they did sub
sist ON mule meat fer | saw them eat it aud
saw the front parts OF the mules .along the
levy. Our boats soon discharged enough to
satisfy all, and then you might have heard an
other universal Queer for the old Union aud
flag from nearly every private, and eursing OF
remherion and the Southern Confectionery
I he rebel soldiers mixed freely with our men
and in my opsnirn the rebel Government will
never be able tn get FIVE thousand Of these
men into tie s .rvice again.
Their ciCthin. was much better than | have
been in The habit Of sceing on rebel soldiers
generally About one hail. of all the army at
Vicksburg were French and Creoles. The
town showd every mark of a beseis.d City
Streets barlacaded and full Of trenches. Houses
luil of cannon bules-roums all Ell PITY. All
the hills AMI high knewls have holes dug in
for prsiee. n # families and 50 dicrs. To
the rear OF i sburg Tor SIX miles is no,hin.
but u CO nti = o s line of orIhcatiQns and r.f,
pits. Ma ure has made V,cksburg one ri the
most difficult points to take. properly fortified
and bravely defended IN the w1rld. But We
have it now in our possession, and let all IA
triotic men r, joice that our brave army has
been able to subdue this Srvastapol of Amer
lea. | visited a great portion of the army
aud found them in pretty good health and fine
spir Is | carried the goods after five days de-
lay at Vicksburg, to BIZ. Black, where | found
skeleton Of the 42d, 10th and 10Th Reg
iments. with their tents, and delivered the
goods and letters to the respective companies
TO be distributed to their comrades when they
from Jackson, where all the well ones
had gone to whip Johnson. l could not fol-
any further for want of tIaDsportatIon.-l
l found none of our men seriously sick, al
a great many have aeue and diarrhea
The country is lull of ripe fruit md corn, SO
that the men are well off when in camp where
they can bake soft bread, and they all seem TO
knew how to build OUT ovens and bake good
The climate while | was there was
not much different from our own. Those who
are aclimatrd will feel no Inconvenience from
heat. l can see nothing our troops would
need now so much as check SHIRTS. These
would be a great luxury TO them l visited
many of Tie hospitals in the f, Id at MeIhplls
mo other plate s and must cnnfess thar | vas
deceived in the maDner in whi;h they
are conducted; greatly improved over last year
The Mississippi River is now completely
open and the rebellion has received its death
blow in opening this liver. Let US hope the
oaiance of the States and parcels of States
nay be speedily compelled TO obey the terms
Vi the GOVERNMENT, and he restored tn their
,lace under the Constitution Let all unite
n sustailIng the army and the work will be
done.
Respectfully yours,
D. s. SAMPSEL.
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