The National tribune., 1884-10-09


gether. talked over the situation afnicahly, and
arreed not 70 fire upon each other at night
without first giving warning. This suited the
besiegers immensely; but, as they were adj
rancine all the time, and needed to push the
Eonfederaics about 35 feet further back each
succeeding night. the
HA7MoNIor8 RELATIONS WERE NOT PRE-
SERVED
without great tact and diplomacy on the part
OF the Union seDtinels and officers On several
occasions. when crowded TOO far the Confeder-
ate officers swore they would no longer submit
t0 such orerbearing aggression. gave notice of
b0stiltics. aud withdrew within their works.
At such times the Union soldiers retired within
their advanced trenches let the rebs blaze
away foT a time, gave them as good as they sent,
taking good care that the enemy gained moth
ineby such peevishness. The policy was adopt
ed of concentrating all our batteries within
RANGE upon such portions of the rebel line as
showed such pecvishness, and several highly
spiIifed and picturesque bombaraments enSued
= from these causes, In which the rebels invaria-
bly, got the worst Of it. They lost many in
killed aud wounded; their men were prevent
ed from cooking or sleeping by night. ana,
more than all. nothing was gained-the per-
sistent Yankees kept on digging and advanc-
ing as before. As each evening came on the
Federal pickets would emerge from the front
trenches and advance until they met the rebel
line Lying down within few yards OF each
other they discussed various questions: the
origin OF the war, the emancipation proclama-
tion, the battles Of the May campaign, the
probabilities Of the siege, exchanged news
papers swapped tobacco for the toothsome
"hard-tack" etc. etc Hot disputes some-
times arose. but no serious collisions resulted.
On the narrow belt of neutral grouRd between
the two lines the officers Of both armies met
wEsT POINT CLASSMATES
in blue and gray chatted over school-boy remi-
niscences and agreed il was mOnstrous pity
for two such armies Of the same race kith and
kin to be cutting each others throats.
Ever since the siege began every intelligent
soldier in Grants army knew that the greatest
danger threatening them was not In front, but
IN the rear. Gen. Joe Johnston. one of the
ablest and most subtle Of Confederate Generals.
was at Carthage, q few miles north Of Jackson,
in the midst Of rich country, collecting and
crssanizing az army with which to fall upon
Gen. Grants rear and raise the siege
On the 10th OF june prisoners captured by
small force OF cavalry which Gen. Grant kept
accommodating beyond the Big Black River
had reported thai Johnst0ns army already
amounted to 10000 infantry, six field batteries
and 2000 cavalry. OF this force 10000 were
veteran troops from Bragg's army in Tennes-
see and garrisons of Mobile. Port Hudson and
varions other places had been reduced to the
smallest safe proportions 10 fit out this army
to save Nieks5urg, or at least to extricate Its
garrison.
GEN. GRANTS TATCHFUL EYE
had not failed to note carefully the progress Of
Johnstons preparations. Our re-enforcements
that had come down the river during the siege,
intending two divisions of the Ninth Corps
under Gen. Parke. had been sent TO confront
this army in the rear. On the I'D of June, 35
days after the investment, positive information
was received that Johnston. with heavy force,
was approaching the Big Blark. 0sterhaus's
Division was Immediately detached from the
Thirteenth Corps. and marched on the after
noon Of that DAY to Black River Bridge the
point at which McClernand aud Mcpherson
had crossed on the 18th oi May The division
reached the railroad bridge al 10 O'Clock Ia the
evening and having a high bluff bank from
which to guard the crossing of deep river
with low ground beyond, Osterhsus's position
was one of great strength. The country was,
moreover, pleasant and healthy and the divis-
Jon was not regretful at being out of the broil-
ing treHches and where duty did not occupy
two-thirds Of their time. All felt that
vTcEsBuRc WAS SURELY OURS,
and, after al, there was slight pang of regret
in the thought that after al the hard fighting
and fatiguing marching of the past six months
our division should not be in al the death bat
the consciousness Of guarding the Big Black,
the most important approach by which the
cnns0led OsteThaus's Division for giving up It's
share in the siege. Gen sherman had mean
while been detached fEasn his corps and sent
back 70 take command Of this army in the rear.
HIS command included Gen. Parke's two divis-
sons Of the Ninth CORPS. reaching from Haines's
Bind 70 the Benton or Ridge road Tuttle's Di-
VISION OF tile 1ltteHnth Corps. then McArthur's
Division OF the Seventeenth Corps. and finally,
DsterhaDss Division OF The Thirteenth Corps
al Black River Bricge-fye divisions in all
among the finest troops in the service. line
Of riae-Fsss. armed with several field batteries
was Row quickly cut across the neck of land
between the Big Black aud the Yazoo eight
miles wide, and occupied by Sherman's COM
IDand- BlaTs Division went on the 2Gth and
destroyed ali the food and forage through the
country between the two rivers for distance
of o. or 20 miles 70 the northeast. Johnston
could not march an army IN by that route
without hauling hissBhsistence and that Grant
was certain he could not do. After that Mon
rOe's Brigade was sent up the Tazo0 River 10
Eechaniesbare 10 watch the crossing there and
st Bridgeport On the Big Black, aud to obstruct
she roads
Osterhaus. finding that Johnston had not
come. crossed the Big Black with a strong force
gathered cattle and forage, destroyed what he
could not bring away and osstrueted the roads
This done. he remained on the defensive, and
his men. in their pleasant and bealthful camps,
took occasion to wash their clothing free from
the red earth which had been ground into it
during their days and nights in the trenches
~ kicksbgrg
On the 3isf the monotony Of camp life was
raised By the report Of hot skirmish between
osterhauss cavalry across the river and a force
OF Confederate cavalry, il which the latter
were routed and driven Thus the DAYS wore
On until the night Of July B, when courier
came with the news that negotiations looking
90 the
sURREyDER OF vIcKsBURG
were II progress, and that it was expected that
the formal surrender would take place on the
morrow THIS was great IEews-all the greater
Al that the eapitElation WAS 10 be consumnated
On independence Day. Tie telegraph along
fhe railroad had been repaired back 70 the city,
and we had regular reports
Il was happy, glorious day. Not a moment
was lost u Idle rejoicsags. Gen. Grant was no,
ever present when the Confederate army
marched out and
STACKED IT'S ARMS.
He was in his tent debating instructions tc
Gen. sherman 10 Immediately cross the Big
Black, defeat Johnston and drive him from the
State. For this purpose there was 20 be sent u
his support the remaining three divisions O
the Thirteenth Corps, 70 which was also al.
taehed LaHmans Division and the remaining
two divisions of Sherman's own Cor,1s-ths
Fifteenth.
On the 18th of June, while stil in the sieg.
Of kieksbnrg Gen. McClernand was relieved
4 81,