Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-05-25
LETTER FROM MISSISSIPPI.
Yieksburg and its surroundings.

EDITOR CHRoNICLE.-Vicksburg, or
| the city of "a thousand hills as it is
called, is the first city of importance in
Mississippi, and became quite famous
during ''the late unpleasantness, as the
Southern people term the last war. 1t is
said that hardly a house escaped injury
from the cannon of the Federals; but it is
fast recovering, and is destined to be-
come n of the largest cities of the
South. The Pacific Railroad, which is
to run along the sd parallel, will cross
the Mississippi at this point.
GRANTS CUT OFF,
Is still an object of curiosity, and every
n visiting the city should go and see
it. All excursionists stop at the upper
end. The river makes a sharp bend
above the city, and running almost north
it comes around a sharp point and runs
in a southeast course, and by cutting a
canal less than two miles long, the gun
boats which were lying six ailes above
the city, could pass through this chan
mel and form communications with the
army below the city.
GREENS MAsroDoN
Comes in for its share Of attention at the
present time. 1t is about four miles
from the city, and was discovered last
September. The bones are in a good
state of preservation, but are on the
farm of a man who will not allow them
to be disinterred, as he is in deb and is
afraid the sheriff will levy on them. He
has thrown back the dirt from the skull
and the fore shoulder and placed a shed
over the concern. lie charged the mod
est sum of two bits" to see this relic of
the past. The animal had evidently lain
down in a ravine with its head up the
hill and its back in the lowest part, and
could not get up again, and the dirt had
been carried there by the water until the
bones were several feet under ground
Its tusks are between six and seven feet
longand twenty-f0ur inches in diameter.
The rOots of the teeth are eighteen inches
long. 1t is nine feet from ear to ear
over the top of the skull. The animal
when living was not less than twenty
feet in length.
THE NATIONAL CEMETERY,
Among the places of resort, probably at
tracts the most attention. 1t is situated
on the river two miles above the CITY.
Probably not a more suitable place
could have been found in all the South
ern States. Ii is on the banks of the
Mississippi, and near the second city of
Importance in the South. Thirty thous-
and men people this silent city. The
dead of each State lie side by side; com
rades in arms in life, they are now COM
panions in death. 1t is no doubt with
feelings of sorrow that the friends of
these soldiers who live in the North think
of them, their SONS and brothers, buried
SO far away. But the protecting arm of
u great and good government is thrown
around this sleepingh host, and is making
beautiful this their last long camping
ground. Beautiful walks are being
made among the mounds, so that each
grave will be accessible, and friends
coming here will have no trouble in
finding where the ashes of his or her
soldier is lying. Splendid carriage
drives are being made from the bottom
of the bluff to the top, and the whole
work is under the immediate supervis-
ion of a competent engineer. Flowers
are planted here and there, and in this
genial climate will bloom most of tine
year. The name, regiment and compa-
ny of all those that are known are kept
in a register in The office, which is on the
top of the bluff. Some lie down in the
valley, with the father of waters flowing
silently past. others farther above ON the
hillside, and from their resting place
can be seen the fertile valley of the Mis-
sissippi; while others are buried ON the
top Of the bluff, where once stood the
frOwning battlements that hurried them
ON to death, and within sight of the
bloody battle field of Champion Hills,
whore hundreds OF them fought their
last fight and won a martyrs crown.
Every boat which stops at the landing
plays a dirge to the memory of the de-
parted. But to look upon the keepsakes
that were taken from the bodies, is the
saddest part of all. They are kept in a
large glass case in the office, each one
labeled with as full a description of the
owner as can be given. | saw but one
package that belonged to an Ohio soldier,
and il consisted Ofa milestone, inkstand
and knife. This package is the only
link of the chain to guide his friends to
the resting place of their soldier. He
belonged to the 30th o. V. L.-name and
company unknown. The mementoes
consist of watches, rings, knives, money,
and pictures of friends these last num-
Der more than all of the rest, and all are
pictures of females. One OF a little girl,
one Of an old lady, and the rest of ladies
from 20 to 40 years of age. Some little
child chung around its father1s neck for
the last time I; some fond wife laid her
head upon her husbands manly breast
in anguish, who knows not where his
ashes lie. Some promised bride dropped
a silent tear when her soldier marched
away and never saw him more. And
that poor old mother gave the staff of her
declining years to her country, and sent
up prsyer after prayer for his safe re-
turn, which aas Va answered. But
they are now the Nations treasure, sud
right regally is she Reautifring their last
resting place. The number OF unknown
is very large, and Is not confined to the
rank and file, but you see head-boards
marked unknown Captain, /" unknown
Major" and / saw one which read "un-
known Colonel"
My visit was short, as 1 was with an
excursion party. But l intend to visit
the cemetery again and examine the
Register closely and sea if 7 can find any
Trumbul county boys. Capt. Clark, Of
General Garfield's immortal 42d, has
visited the graves of the dead of his Reg
iment, on the day appointed for National
decoration for the last two years. And
it is our intention to put flowers on the
graves of all the Northern Ohio boys
this year. If we do so l will send a list
of the names of the Trumbull county
boys, y.
-+E<GF.
Edinburgh keVieS.
From the Republication office OF the
Leonard Scott Publishing Co., 40 Full