Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-07-03

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: 4.
VENING, JULY 3, 1883.
first half Of the siege was devoted to tho
construction Of earthworks, rifle pits, and
approaches, with their attendant skir.
mishes, battles and artillery duels. AT.
ter this was accomplished q chain of
strong works stretched about the city
from the river above to the river below,
while the gunboat feet guarded the
water side Of the city. The enemy was
completely surrounded. Desperate efforts
were made to cut through the union
lines, but every attempt ended in a
bloody repulse. Thus for forty.seven
days and nights the siege continued. On
the third Of July the frstI symptoms of
the end became apparent. It was during
the afternoon of that day that flag Of
truce appeared upon the parapet of Fort
Hill and conference was asked. Con
eral Grant responded in person and un.
der large live oak tree midway between
the lines he met General Pemberton, the
commander of the rebel forces. The
consultation was long one and
its result was not known to the army
that night. The soldiers were, however,
instructed to cease firing until further
orders.
Extensive preparations had been made
on the union side for celebration of the
Fourth on the coming day, on scale
OF magnitude which can hardly be at.
tanned in these piping times of peace.
Three hundred rounds of ammunition
had been issued to each piece of artill.
cry on the line with instructions to send
it all into vicksburg between sunrise
and sunset on the Fourth. There we're
three hundred guns in the union
works and it was apparent
that the celebration would be a noisy
one. But the dawn of day revealed a
new order of things. Along the rebel
works, at intervals of dozen rods or SO,
tiuttered the small white flags which be-
tokened surrender, and the army knew
that during the night Grant and Penn.
berton had arranged the terms of
capitulation and that Vicksburg was the
Fourth of July gift of the victorious
general to the nation.
Those who sat upon the blood stained
works on that morning, twenty years
ago, and watched tho long
grey column as it filed through
an opening in the rebel Notifications,
with furled colors and arms reversed
those who saw the defeated representa-
tives of the confederacy stack their guns
upon tho ground which had for weeks
been the scene of sanguinary strife
those whose eyes rested upon the silken
banner of their country as it slowly rose
above the parapet of Fort Hill, and flut-
tered reioicingly in the morning sunlight,
will never be eable to give expression to the
feelings within them. There was shout.
ing and hand shaking. There were tears
on the grimed cheeks of war worn vet.
Grams. There was the light of rejoicing
in every eye and proud exultation in
every heart. There was never another
such a Fourth of July as that which
dawned and faded upon the ramparts of
Vicksburg. upon that eighty.seventh
anniversary of the nations birth, two
decades back in the lifetime of tho gen.
GRAFTON which fought the good fight.
The writer yields to the temptation tc
close this anniversary paper with an
extract from time soiled diary. The
words were jotted down by him on the
day Of the surrender:
"July 4, 1863-Pemberton has surren.
dered Vicksburg and all it contains
to the federal forces. The capitulation
was agreed upon between Grant and
Pemberton last evening at ten O'Clock
the conference taking place midway be
tween the two lines, under large live
oak tree. Unconditional surrender are
the terms, Penberton having no alterna
tive, as there are no rations in his camp
His men have been subsisting on mule
meat for q week past. This morning the
whole rebel force marched outside and
stacked their guns and colors in front o
their works, while our bands played ma
tional airs and along the fedora
lines rang loud and oontin
uous cheers of rejoising. III,
invincible army of the Vest ha,
gained another important victory ant
the achievement of to-day will adorn th,
pages of history. Well may we fee
gers necessary to its accomplishment ar,
all forgotten IN the triumph of the hou
and each heart swells with thankfulnes
over the event which seems too great TO
sudden comprehension. A brigade o
troops from Logan's division took forma
possession of the city to-day. They en-
tered the rebel works at the base of For
Hill, with flying colors, preceded by
band playing Yankee Doodle. Dixie, Th
Star Spangled Banner and The Bonni
Blue Flag. We are to move in tomorrow
GETTYSBURG.
Measure two decades from the past an,
this national anniversary day will mar
as memorable an event as yet recorded il
the annals of our country's history-th