The National tribune., 1892-04-14
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Continued from first page.)

no intense longing TO make tne cnarge, even
now. But we saw that our trenches were
SO near to the enemy's fortifications that 1t
| would be easy to get into his lines and break
his defense, and so we should have gone into
the assault with the utmost confidence Of
! success.
The different mines under the rebel forts
were all to be fired at the same time. The
grandlyt terrific explosion would be the pre-
lminary to the bloody and victorious
charge.
| A few days of preparation seemed still to
be necessary. The trenches were dug down
in places toward the enemy, so that we
could get out on an easy slope at least four
abreast, and sometimes with broader front.
The trenches themselves were go widened
where necessary that columns could move
in them rapidly from point to point.
Ominously our boys were set to bringing
planks to convenient localities, upon which
we might, in our dash, cross the rebel ditch.
This was from four to 10 feet deep. Bags
packed close with cotton, till indeed they
were, while light, exceedingly solid, and
to fill it up were carried to our front. Thus
everything indicated the charge. If the
days were in other respects monotonously
the same, yet now they grew heavy with
| signs of the coming storm. Whether pre-
pairing the trenches, fixing the mines, or
gathering material TO fill the ditch, they in
dicated, like the atmosphere before the
burst of the tempest
THE DREAD EXPERIENCE AT HAND.
The day of the charge, when army should
be hurled against breastwork and army,
was near-the bloody day when Vicksburg
should fall, taken by storm!
We now await wars last stern order,
when look There's white flag yonder
it front of Smiths Division. Are you sure?
No! Yes! There is no doubt whatever
that two officers have come out Of their
lines to ours under flag of truce. 1t can
mean but one thing, surrender! How grand
a triumph! What an hour to reach! Yet
we have waited so long that it is hard to
take in the good news. The day shouldn't
be so much like all the others. Well, don't
be so sure that the city has surrendered!
There's nothing certain about it yet! Never
theless, we feel as though there is some
thing in it. Thus the waves of hope and
doubt swept the lines Both Sides how
ever, are unusually quiet.
Al sunset the men of both armies in Carr's
front (ours) are on their breastworks, talk
ing to each other across the interval. The
subject is not always the surrender, but the
belief of it has set them thus openly in view,
and nobody thinks of firing gun. No,
that's mistake! Listen to that monster
shell from the river! As sure as you are
alive it is going TO fall right in the midst of
the men we are talking to, just opposite to
us,
1t does fall with an awful sound. But
itseems To have struck behind them. We
are not to blame for it, and the talk contin-
ues.
IT IS THE LAST SHE'LL THROWN INTO
yICKsBURG
What pity somebody didn't pick it up
and keep it! / think it did not explode.
We believe the city is ours! In the morn
ing, however, we are again uncertain. Our
artillery has opened early ON the foe. Then
the surrender was all a mistake! Hold on !!
Notice the sound of that cannonading!
Those batteries are firing blank cartridges
Count They are firing the National salute!
1t is the Fourth of July! And Vicksburg
is ours
Now We have the statement in plain
Ill.
their arms in front OF their Notifications.
Ten o'clock? Why, it is just 10 o'clock
now. The men go up to see. l stagger to
the top of the hill. I feel deathly sick, and
it is hard work to get there, but / am deter
mined to see the final surrender if / die for
il.
Yes they come out and their arms are
stacked before US. How they glitter in the
sun, And the colors shine, but now are
folded and laid across the line OF stacked
muskets See that fellow throw bis gun
down. He don't surrender gracefully! Now
these men go marching back to their lines,
prisoners Of war!
II is enough to make sick man well
Even comforting sort of feeling does sift
down through ali my dizzy feyerishness
Now, ye Copperheads of the North we have
taken Yicksburg! You said we couldn't do
it. Now, Jefferson Davis, we have captured
your Gibraltar. You said we couldn't do it,
/ wish John were here to talk it over with
me, but he has gone North, and must be
better by this time. I must write home
about it.
Here come some of the boys in gray, |
struggling over to our lines. We set before |
them the best our larder affords, and they
have
WHAT THEY CALL SQUARE MEAL.
They tell us of their miserable rations; talk |
of their preference for the Western soldier; |
propose that we form a confederacy against |
the East; they always did like us, and they |
always hated the Yankee! +
One is a lad about my own age We talk |
OF the siege, then Of the charge. | speak of |
their conversation which overheard on that |
afternoon when their reinforcements rushed |
finally into all their line. He says he was |
one in the fort above me ut that time His |
eyes kindle as he describes how they de- |
feated us! He goes on to tell how, in that |
last dash, he shot one through the embrasure |
and \
Hold, Mr.. Rebel; that's enough! We have |
fed you, but we're not quite ready to en-