National Republican., 1883-07-09
TWENTY YEARS AGO.
A Retrospect-The July OF Is63-what
Has Happened Since.
NetO York Sun, bily 4.

Neto York Sun, July 4.
A friendly visit which tho Lexington
cadets are about to pay to New York for the
purpose of restoring the captured colors of a
regiment of union volunteers will impress
many minds with tho contrast between tho
country as it is to-day and as it was in the
carly days of July, 1863.
Exactly twenty years ago to-day tho war
for the union reached its turning point
Those whose memories do not go back to
that epoch cannot realize the anxiety that
pervaded 1t; and, indeed, few who passed
through it fully appreciated at the time its
decisive influence upon the result of tho
struggle. The calm retrospect of later years
was needed to disclose its true Importance.
The first half of the year 1863, both at the
east and the west, had left the contest doubt
full, and in some respects ominous for the
north. The sanguinary repulse of Sherman
at Vicksburg toward the close of 1862 had
been succeeded by months of costly effort on
the part Of Grant 10 approach aud capture
this stronghold, all ending in failure. In
Tennessee, the tremendous engagement at
Stone River or Murfreesboro, which linked
tho old year with the new in lit obstinate
grapple, had left both combatants weakened
and no further advance of consequence had
since been made by the union arms in that
quarter. In Virginia, Hooker, who had boon
relied upon TO atone for the overwhelming
defeat of Burnside at Fredericksburg, was
himself driven back early in May, with great
loss, at Charlottesville.
Under these gloomy circumstances tho
years campaign opened. But there were
other sources of anxiety for the government
besides checks and disasters in the field. A
conscription law had at last been passed by
congress- draft ordered, and it remained
to be seen how this new measure, foreign to
the customs and experience of the northern
people, would be received on the attempt to
enforce 1t. With the financial burdens of the
country, the pressure of direct taxation, the
temporary removal of some safeguards Of
individual liberty, and this prospect of fore
ing great part Of the able-bodied popula-
tion into the ranks of the army, came decided
indications that European interference in tho
struggle might be expected on any great
misfortune to the federal cause. To precipi-
tate such a disaster, if possible, while Grant
was still struggling at Vicksburg, Lee in
vaded Pennsylvania.
How the simultaneous triumphs at Gettys-
burg and Vicksburg destroyed confederate
hopes and relieved the union from its accu-
mulated perils is a matter of history. 1t was
on the third day of July that Gen. Bowen
came with flag of truce to the besieging
lines at Vicksburg, and few hours afterward
Grant and Pemberton talked over, under a
UTtO uildJ bUOOu WlJnln u stones Throw oil the
confederate outworks, the terms of surrender
ing the city. On the morning of the fourth
the white flag on these works told that the
terms were accepted, and the same day the
army of Pemberton, aggregating 10000 men,
marched out as prisoners, while Logan's d-
vision marched in. Four days after, Port
Hudson surrendered, as an inevitable conse-
quence; and the Missssippiriver being now re-
conquered, on the sixteenth of July the first
vessel that had come from Cairo since tho
spring of 1861 reached New Orleans.
On the evening of that same third of July
also, after great battle at Gettysburg, ex-
tending through three days, the confederate
army drew back from it's desperate attempts
to carry Cemetery ridge, and Lees invasion
of the north was ended. On the fourth he
sent his trains to the rear, and at night OF
that day began. to fall back to the Potomac.
President Lincoln issued on the national On =
niversary proclamation announcing that the
invasion of the north was checked. All
fears of the overthrow Of tho Army of the
Potomac and the resulting capture Of Wash
ington then vanished, aud with them all ac-
compauying fears of an uncomfortable out
break at the north. tEE
These were the events that mnde the first
days of July, 1868. forever memorable. Much
blood had to be shed afterward, and many
repulses were endured by the union forces
but the great question of military superiority
between the combatants was settled.
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