The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-04
VANOUISHINGVICKSBURG
CContinucd from first pagel
left, to get on the road that led from Bald
wins Ferry

left, to get on the road that led from Bald
wins Ferry
To THE STRONGHOLD.
/ recall the movement well, and that we
thought we might as we'll keep straight
ahead into the city.
While we were doing this Sherman kept
on the road from Bridgeport to Walnut Hills
and Vicksburg, which may be termed the
northern Jackson road. After him-when
he had crossed the river and reached point
where he could do so-McPherson followed.
BY $50 o'clock of the 18th Of May Sherman
had struck the Benton road three and half
miles from YicksbuTg. The Yazoo River
was now under his control He had cut the
line between the enemy in Yicksburg and in
the forts farther up this river. He and Grant
climbed the farthest hight of Walnut Hills,
which gave them n view Of the Yazoo and
Sherman's former battlefield. A yolley had
greeted them, sent by the retreating rebels,
but they were now on the commanding crest
unmOlested. venture to give here an ex-
tract from the Epic Yicksburg" describing
the scene:
And first the ready Sherman struck the bluffs
Against whose base long months before had dashed
His host Of heroes like the surging sea;
And on the hight that then defiant loomed
Aud hurled its wrath in solid blaze Of fire,
To be endured, not conquered. stood this Chief.
Below him in their silent sleep did lie
The brave, true who sought in vain this crest
That now his proud foot trod. Not theirs to win
But die. Their comrades' not TO die but win;
And yet 10 die most. While thus he stood,
Unchecked the strong emotions swept their tide
OF triumph DER his soul.
supremer still
The moment than he guessed, whose eyes saw not,
And yet did see from that tall cliff afar,
The deep AtlanIic's restless ebb and flow.
Nor soon did speech the solemn silence break,
Tender with memories. and yet sublime
With Grandest deeds accomplished, but ut last
The lofty, generous soul within him stirred.
sherman % Grant, who by his side had stood
Calm as the hight that held them. turned and
spake:
Until this moment came I never thought
Your expedition a SUGGEST The end
/ Ine'er could clearly see till now Bat this,
This - success, this campaign, IL ne'er
We take the town"
And calm and silent stiu
He heard, whose plan but formed and all untried,
Had been yet one with plan accomplished full,
And answered not, but passed to other lines.
After resting here till his columns could
close up, Sherman had advanced to within
some two miles Of the forts of Vicksburg
Here he took the right-hand road, which led
by the graveyard, and left the main road
open for McPherson's approach. In the lat
ter's delay the 18th Regulars was dispatched
along the road, and
PUSHED UP CLOSE TO THE REBEL LINES.
McPherson relieved these troops late in the
day. Sherman himself advanced as near the
Qualifications as was prudent, aud sent Steele
still farther to the right, to get to the Mis-
sissippi River and communicate with our
fleet.
As this division passed along Grant and
Sherman sat in the evening twilight and
watched their progress. There was some
firing part Of the time, and a man was killed
near where they sat. Reaching the wagon
road at the foot Of the bluffs, which led to
Haines Bluff, Steele intercepted a number
Of prisoners and wagons coming to Yicks-
burg from the latter place.
Sherman had already sent Col. Swan, Of
the 4th Iowa Cav, TO Haines Bluff to take
it from the rear. But he says that it was
even then abandoned, the garrison having
retreated to Yicksburg. The ColoflsI sig
nailed one of our gunboats and turned the
place over to the navy. 1t took possession
and destroyed everything it could.
Says Greeley in his history: "It would
hardly be credited on other testimony than
| his own that our Admiral proceeded to de-
strOy this inestimable material Of war, with
the full knowledge that Grants triumphant