The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-07-10
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.
The Place Independence Day Holds
IN Amer can History-SOme
thing More to Celebrate
than the Declaration
Of Independence.

Ine greel, u mPOF-SlL ohy- a UAFSOIt
While there is not a day through
cut the year but has attached to ii
historic attraction, the fourth day OF
July Justly holds the foremost place
in the chronology of important
events on American soil. Some
of the most important scenes
of strife took placeon this
date. In 1854, Washington,
after a days defense of Fort Neces-
sity. at Great Meadows, surrendered
to the French, and many times sub
sequentIy did the day find the peo-
Die of our nation in the midst OF the
horrors Of war. Especially was this
so during our last great conflict In
the cause Of red, white. blue and
black. In 1861. at HarpeT's Ferry
and Matthias Point, While our Con-
gress convened in special and
solemn session. In 1862 1000 rebels
were captured or fell at White Oak
Swamp, and on the same day Peck,
Franklin, Couch, SlOcum, Smith and
SedgWick received their commits
sionS as heterogeneous. One year
later, July 4th, 1863, took place the
grandest acts in the drama Of our
civil war. On the night Of that day
every loyal heart thanked God and
Grant and praised Porter and Prem
tice for tn ir deeds. Lees shat
tered army was rapidly retreating
from the spot WheFe he had acknowl-
edged the supremacy Of Meade, and
the upper shenandoah Valley,
Mar land and Pennsylvania were
again free from secession's servants.
And now Tennessee was evacuated,
Vicksburg had fallen, and Helena
was ours. 1t may not be amisS to
present to the readers of the E0en-
ing Hail a summary of the great
campaign which so gloTiously Gull
minated on this, the anniversary OF
our Declaration of independence.
THE YICKsBURG CAMPAIGN,
Or rather its history, may be briefly
summed up as follows: January Y,
1861, the governor Of Mississippi
sent artillery to fortify Vicksburg,
and erected a series of forts miles in
extent. May II, 1882, the Union
force opened the siege Of the city,
Flag Officer Farragut demanding
the surrender Of the forts. June Z
the Union feet pass Vicksburg.
June s, the Union gunboats silence
the Confederate batteries at Grand
Gulf. June %, General Grant as
Sumed command of the troops
threatening Mississippi. June q,
Union gunboats shell Vicksburg,
continuing the bombardment at in
terYals until July 15, when the rebel
ram arkansas ran by the feet and
lay in front of the city. This ram
was destroyed later by the federal
fleet. July a, Admiral Farragut
raises the naval siege. December %,
Grants army organized into four
corps, viz: Kill, commanded by
General McClernand; XIV, by Gen
eral Sherman; XVI, by General
XVII, by General Nc
Pherson. December %, General
Sherman advanced upon Vicksburg.
but was repulsed with heavy loss.
January ?, 1868, General Sherman
retired from Vicksburg. January
Is, the land forces were started from
and Memphis, and landed
at Young'S Point and Milliken's
Bend on the west side of the river,
above Vicksburg. February 2, the
queen Of the West ran the Vicks-
burg batteries. February 4, General
Grant arrived and assumed COM
mand Of the land forces. February
10, the mortar boats took up their
position and the bOmbardmento of the
city opened. March ii, Admiral
attaked Port Hudson and
in running the batteries
to WarrentOR and communicating
with the feet above. Admiral Por-
ter shortly afterward ran some of
his feet down to the assistance OF
Admiral Farragut, and important |
naval operations commenced be-
tween Vicksburg and Port Hudson. |
off the Confederate COM
munications. March %, two gunboats |
run past Vicksburg. April IA. fire |
opened from the peninsula batteries. |
April 80, Admiral Porter attacked |
Grand Gulf to cover the landing IF !
Grants troops. April 80, General
Grant with three corps d'dT4nee
crossed from the Louisiana side of
The river to Bruinsburg, Miss, thus
Grand Gulf. May /, he ell
gagged and defeated the enemy mean
Fort Gibson, and again, on May 8.
near Fourteen Mile Greek. Grant
hen moved his force by rapid
marches towards the north, in order
20 separate the garrison of Vicks-
lurg from the army of Johnston.
This movement was followed by
he battle of Raymond, May II; of
Jackson, May "A; of Champions
Hill, May 1G; and Big Black Bridge,
DAY II, in all of which Grants
rmy were signally victorious. May
o, Vicksburg invested on all sides,
he Union troops forming a semi
;iTcle, with both TANKS resting on
he river. May 81 and %, those
.wful assaults! May %, Grant com
nenced the regular siege operations,
While Porter bOmbal ded the city
ay and night. July 8, in an inter
lew with Grant, Pemberton agrees
0 an
SURRENDER OF
THE CITY.
ToDaroI NTnDborCO,, ,.yo.o;--o1 IL | d.