Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-04-19

ReesIIessssn. 81 an Ex.Csafeaeraae
cap1afn.

Captain.
Est. Lgais Rspablican-
The snesay ssstled down 20 regular
siege. He increased his force Of sk1r-
misbsrs. enlarged his RTE pits, erected
uss batteries and opsued steAdy are
ai01a tks eziire Ina Of works. De
made no attenlpt TO barry the brave fel-
I0ws that gave up their lives - the
charge. and sitter two days the bodies
uf ais dead became % 0fsasive that az
Last he Sas compelled 10 grant txuce
Of q few hcafs TO perform this set Of
humanity. Ibis w0Ek done tie firing
wss resumed and kept up By the enemy
dag and night for about six weeks. bis
fores was % great a1d his advantages
/ By land and water % many that be vas
abls, By Esliefs and reinforcements. 10
keep upa continuous IRE 90 Vicksoarg
from ali points. Alright the lombard
ment from the mortar feet vas fearful
Large shells we're thrown into the air,
where their lighted fuses Ioeked like
large sky-rookess. Then they weuid
burst like q clap Of thander, and the
/ fragments would be hurled down into
the plsee, frequently killing and sound
/ ing the men. Others would piuo9e
down into tbs streets and explode after
esterinR the ground, tearing up the
earth and leaving immense holes
Shells Weald tear through houses, oa1s
| ing dreadful destruction. Hospitals
we're struck time and again. and many
of the sick and wounded killed. Not
githstaadinQ the dreadful situation the
bombardmeni By land and water was
kept az.
TIE pKFKxDKks wKkE BKTxEaLxKD.
During the first week our rations were
issued in the usual quantities. Aftei
that they we're cut down 70 fourteen
ounces Of food daily. This nc last was
changed when our beef and baoon gave
out and mule meat was substituted
For several days 10 was hard 10 get the
| troops to touch IL, bat hunger requires
no sauce. Sickness prevailed 30 an
alarming extent. Famine and want
we're ever present. We hoped against
hops for Joe Johnston's command to re
lieve ms. We heard 90 much Of the
grapevine route" about the mighty
| army under Johnston that had been or.
ganizsd at Jackson, bow Lee asd BraRs
| had sent on their veterans TO rescue Us
| ID kept up our hearts and hopes, and
every day We expected to hear theil
guns.
The enemy, ia the meantime, had
| drawn his line closer and closer, until
ONLY q few yards separated us. He in
vented about this time q devils mortar
made Of wood and bound with iron- II
held lust enough powder to throw
shell over our works, when u would
burst right in our midst, killing AND
L zstl q 70
sponded with hand -erenades, and learn
ed, after the siege, with the same deadly
effect upon the enemy. Nevertheless
this wooden mortar was q terror to rs
Then We nined and could hear thu
enemy In their tunnels at the sams
work. This CONT ned until the IRIS
day Of July at noon, when an immenss
nine was exploded in front of ths
Sixth Missouri, Colonel Sentiny. II
seemed as II hell itself had joined tn.
effort Of the enemy TO dislodge as
The ground about as fairly trembled
clouds of earth we're thrown high intt
the air with an appalling roar. Th,
dreadful loss of life IL entaiIed and th.
deafening roar Of fifty pieces Of thu
eneny's artillery concentrated on thil
spot, Il was thought would make sul
troops abandon this point. On tn
contrary, they stood armer than ever
We moved into that awful breach, sup
porting the gallant Second Missouri
Colonel Cockrill, who rushed TO tn,
front of bis regiment, saying: "All o
us must die here before this point i
carried. Mea of Missouri, stand firm
she fate Of Vickssurg depends on ysu.'
We answered him with cheer 'Stan,
TO your ground, Colonel, the First Mis-
souTi will die with YOU, too" Gu
Colonel, Rely. was at his side in mo
ment. 70 assure him of our help. Fo
two hours those two regiments lay II
that breach. with
BURSTING SHELLS AND Kissing BULLET
All around rs. The wounded from th
explosion, and those buried In the ruin
we're dug out under this dreadful fire
II was horrible to loe X upon the black
ened and mutilated bodies taken ont o
this place. Tho wounded we're cares
| for AZ tenderly as possible. All thi
time We were expecting Q charge, bat !
was not made.
| At dark this part Of the line was re
paired, and the following morning th,
line presented a very good defense
During the day We understood Johnston
had arrived at Big Black river. and VA
lighting bis way towards us. Great ex
element prevailed, and the treops Dc
sired 10 be led over the works and cu
oar way TO Johnston's command.
The next morning. July Sd, abou
nine o'clock. dag Of truce was sent on
BY General Pemberton. The frin,
CEASED, and shortly after General BoveI
and Colonel Montgomery passed out o
the works. The interview that was hels
was not satisfactory, for they resurnes
about an hour later and the firing VA
resumed. About the middle OF %,
afternoon snother truce took place
Generals Pemherton and Bowen ans
Colonel Montgomery went out and hels
another interview with Generals Grant
McPherson and others in plain view o
the regiment. Il was then eettled ans
vieksburg vas surrendered.
The fermai surrender was 10 tab,
place the following day. The storu
had passed and quiet reianed that night
tie hrst In almost tifty, and 10 pauset
amidst the horrors Of war. The silenc,
sas 81 frst 20 unusual that ID hccam,
In manner painful, and pso9uoed !,
feeling OF rsstlessuess. This IN tin,
lpassed away and We sieps thai nigh
without danger. About noon the mex
day, July Alb, The troops marched on
and stacked arms In front OF the works
We retarped 10 cur former position
and the Federal forces marched tn In 3
division and took formal possession Of
he city.
Abeaf . week after the surrrndss ",
uere ready for tho march. paroles hal
been furnished 70 ell. and we bid adler
70 our eapiors, who treated Ne royalty
indeed. There was nothing too good
for The defenders Of VicksburR. We
trafeFnfzed as readily - II no trouble
bad ever existed between us.
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