The National tribune., 1885-06-18

army threw out ltS plckelS, the soluleis
lying upon the ground so near to each other
that they could carry on conversation.
"We won't fire if you won't" shouted
Confederate
Agreed"
Provisions were getting scarce in Vicks'
burg.
"How do you like mule steak?" was the
banter of the Union soldier.
They talked of the war: of Abraham Lin
coin, JEFF Davis, the Emancipation Procla-
nation; exchanged newspapers, traded coffee
and tobacco Officers met old acquaintance
and shook hands in the darkness, but when
morning dawned the Union pickets returned
to the trenches, the Confederates to the
forts.
SINKING OF THE CINCINNATI.
The gunboats and mortar RATS opened fire
at 10 o'clock, Wednesday, May q. While
the gunboats below the city sent their shells
up stream, the Cincinnati, which was above
the city, came round the bend of the river,
ran out her guns and delivered terrific fire
upon the batteries at the foot of the bluff.
At the top of the bluff was an eight-inch
rified cannon which the Confederate soldiers
named Whistling Dick. They could always
tell when Dick was at work from the shrill
the Cincinnati that it could send a plunging
shot down upon its deck. The gunner OBJ
tanned the exact range and sent shot which
crashed through the thin iron plating, max
ing sad havoc on board the boat Another,
a third, crashed through the plating. The
vessel was rapidly leaking, and before the
officers could get out of range it ran aground
upon a sand bar and was utterly disabled.
oF lo- l.
tissue short rations" was the order of
Msj.-Gen Stevenson, who had charge of the
Confederate food department. This was
what the soldiers had to eat each day: four
ounces of flour, four of bacon, one and one
half of rice, two of peas, three of sugar. The
peas were wormy, the bacon rancid. 1t was
less than one-quarter of a regular ration.
The Confederate soldiers had hard time.
They could not show themselves above the
breastworks, coul6 not walk around, but must
lie all day in the broiling sun or pelting
rain without shelter. They could not leave
their posts to wash or obtain water. All
through the days the Union solid shot were
tearing through the embankments or shells
were bursting among them.
UNION M0RTARs.
The Union artillerymen wanted small
mortars. To obtain them they cut down the
great oak trees, sawed them into short logs,
about three feet long, mortised a round hole
in one end large enough to take in shell,
bound the logs with iron bands, placed them
In the trenches. loaded with small charges
and tossed shells into the Confederate
trenches
The Confederate soldiers were animated
with the hope and expectation that Johnston
would soon have great army and would
fall on Grants rear and compel him to
abandon the siege.
mot the slightest fear" writes Confed-
crate, "was expressed Of the city ever falling
into the hands of the enemy; not man,
woman or child believed such an event at
all likely to occur, but all anticipated the
defeat and destruction of Grants army as
soon as Johnston arrived with $4,000 men
he was reported to have under his command"
IN THE CITY.
Famine was staring the people of Vicks-
burg in the face Many families had eaten
the last R1outhful of food and were supplied
from the military stores. Those who were
rich scorned the idea of living on commissary
supplies so long as any food was to be had.
The few provision dealers who had -four,
meal or bacon, charged So for pound of flour
or 81 900 barrel meal; was $40 per bushel,
molasses S12 per gallon, and beef $3.50 per
pound.
We are to remember that their prices are
in Confederate money, which was getting to
be of little value in the estimation of the
people.
Some of the citizens were very generous,
and refused TO take advantage Of the neces-
sites Of others, handing over all their sup
plies to the committee who looked after the
wants of the people
THE UNION WORKS.
The shovellers were busy day and night
throwing up breastworks and undermining
the Confederate forts. The negroes which
6Ocked to the Union army were set to
work. During the month of May ~ miles
of trenches were eXcavated, SO batteries
constructed, and 300 guns placed in position,
each gun opening fire upon the Confederate
lines.
One Of the principal Confederate forts was
near the Jackson road. The Union engineers
determined TO undermine it. The trench
was carried beneath the fort; ton of powder
was tamped into the earth. On June % all
was ready-the fuse laid and fired. There
Is heavy jar, a roar, and the air is filled
with earth, timber, cannon and men. The
Union troops rush in, hold it for day, but
are driven out by the terrible fire poured
upon them from the interior works. Other
mines are fired. Nearer day by day worked
the Union trenches Gen. Pemberton sees
that the end is not far distant He hears
nothing from Johnston. No courier can get
through the Union lines. He hears no sound
of battle in Grants rear. There is no hope
of relief from Johnston, for Sherman, with
large force, has thrown up a line in the
rear, and is holding the position so securely
that Johnston sees that he has no chance for
breaking the line.
CONFEDERATE Discomfort
1t is the continual dropping that wears
the stone at last The Confederates are
brave. Day and night for six weeks they
have held the intrenchments against all
assaults. Day and night the terrible storm
OF shot, shell and mimic bullets has swept
over them. The Confederate cannon have
been dismantled; they have seen their COM
rades blown into the air; they have lived
on One-fourth rations, and have had little
sleep. Physical strength is failing, ability
to endure has gone, hope of relief faded.
They have little confidence in their COM
mander. The inevitable hour is approach
ing. Every soldier knows it just as well as
Pemberton.
1t is a curious letter which Pemberton re-
eeives June g, dated "In the trenches u
and signed Many Soldiers" Thus it reads:
Everybody admits that we have all COW
cred ourselves with glory; but, alas! alas!
General q crisis has arrived in the midst of
-, ~. l.. 4.