The National tribune., 1884-04-10
AFTER THE SIEGE.
An Illinois Soldiers Account OF Ramble Tlirougl
Yicksburg.

An Illinois Soldiers Account OF Ramble Through
Yicksburg.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
During the siege of Viclzsburg my regiment
was stationed directly east of the court house.
and about three-quarters of mile to the right,
or north, OF Fort Hell, and on the morning of
July 4-about 8 o'clock, or perhaps near 81
was standing on our works. where two 40-pound
Parrott guns were mounted, watching the gun
ners sighting aud getting ready to FIRE. There
were several officers present aud among the
rest Lieutenant-Coonel Eldridge. of my regi-
ment-the Firth Ill. V. I.-wilo was also watch
ing the artillerymen. Suddenly there appeared
white flags all along the enemy line Of works,
and Immediately we noticed the color-b bearers
OF different regiments starting for the vicinity
OF the white flags with the stars and stripes
At that Col. Eldrdge asked ME where our own
color-h bearer was, and being told that ne was
sick ordered the writer to run over To his tent
and get the flag and plant it on the enemy's
works as quickly as possible. If ! ever made
quick time in my life, it was then, when /
had secured tho lag and was on the way to the
rebel works. At any rate, soon had the sec
ond or third flag floating over the works in
that vicinity. / stuck the staff firmly in the
earth and piling some pieces of shell and can
non balls about it, jumped over among the
Johnnies and started for town as fast as could
run. / had great curiosity to see the place
from the interior, as | bad seen il from dis
lance for such a long time.
SOME QUEER SIGHTS.
Ali the previous winter we had lain at
Young's Point in front of it and for the last
forty-six days had been in the rear. and this,
thought, would be as good chance as ! might
ever have to see the city. So, as had received
no orders to stay with the flag or return to
camp, on / went as fast as my legs could carry
rr,a fill he
street past the courthouse, when I began to
slow down to a walk and take in the sights.
This was in less than an hour from the time of
the surrender. What first attracted my atten-
ton was the little children who had Just run
out of their holes in the ground and were
capering about like SO many cats. They were
having jolly time after being pent up in the
ground SO long but they al had very pale faces
The women also looked pale and wan. The
non-combafants had all, indeed made excava-
tons IN the banks along the streets and taken
up their abodes therein to avoid the bursting
shells which had been dropping about the city
at short intervals during this long siege and
for some time previous. AS | was sauntering
along, gaping at everything that came in
sight, saw on the opposite side Of the street
an old negro emerging from the mouth of
cave with a wheeibarrow load of household
goods. On looking up, he saw me, and down
went the wheclbarrow. He stood amazed for
second, and then, poking his woolly head back
into the cave he called out: g Come dis way,
Missy, quick. H'yars Yank, sho's yer born.'
Sure enought, and live one, too. and the
Yank went straight over to the old darkey,
who lifted his old hat aud bowed and scraped
| said: Never mind, Uncle, you will see
hundreds of us fellows here soon," at which he
began TO grin, and just then Missy" put in
her appearance, and extended her hand with
smile OF welcome. She babe me take look at
her novel home, which was nothing but
large excavation in the bank and saw that it
was quite well furnished with the necessary
articles for housekeeping, which she was about
to have removed to the building she had pre-
viously occupied. She seemed glad that the
siege was ended and the city once more under
the Federal authority. Indeed, she was Union
in sentiment, or proiessed TO be.
THE WORK oF UNION SHELLS
Going further on down the street, passed
many others who were emerging from the
bowels of the earth to enjoy daylight once
more, and on reaching the lower part of town
saw many large brick buildings which once
had been filed with goods, but which now were
deserted-stores empty, doors open, walls
shattered, and some already tumbIed down. In
many of the buildings there were large holes
from roof TO cellar which our bombshels
had made in descending. Other bombshells
bad fallen in the streets and then bufsted
sending pieces of iron through the windows,
doors and fronts of the deserted buildings 1t
was indeed strange contrast to the scenes
presented in our Northern cities. Passing on
still further, soon came TO the wharf or land
ing. There / found some of the water bat
teries, and behind and underneath the case
mates could see the heavy siege guns which
had hurled shot and shell at the feet as it ran
this gauntlet Of fire. These guns were deserted
now-not a man was in sight. While thus
strolling abont / heard martial music and
soon saw the advance column Of our troops
entering the city. 1t was if my memory
serves me right, the 45th Illinois volunteer
infantry, and the time Of day must have been
not FAR from noon. These were the first Union
troops | had seen since / jumped over the
Johnnics' works after planting nay flag, and I
can't see how any could have been ahead of me
unless they were better runners than j, and at
that time was a good one"
WM. A. SIMMONS,
NEIGH, NEB. Co. B, I27th Ill. VI.