The National tribune., 1894-09-06
THE END OF 1T.
What a Comrade Saw the Day ViclSsburg
Was Surrendered.

Was Surrendered.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: About 3
o'clock D. m. on the Sd of July, 1868, the
camps at Vicksburg were electrified by re-
ports from the trenches that white flags had
| Just been hoisted all along the enemy g
works. "What could it mean?" we asked
one another. as Pemberton about to sur
render?n All hoped he was. AT any rate,
the men went up to every point whence the
works could be viewed. Sure enough, there
the flags were, at intervals, to the right and
left. as far as we could see. They were evil
IDENTIFY white Observation-Disclosures fastened
to short sticks and set in the top of the
breastwOrks.
All night men sat up and discussed the
situation. All hoped the incessant strain OF
fighting, ditch digging, mining and gabl0n-
making was at last over, and the citadel
of Vicksburg ours.
The morning of the glorious Fourth of
July dawned aud the flags were still there.
The troops were now aware that negota-
tions were entered upon for the surrender of
the stronghold. About eight in the morn
ing orders came that the city would be in
our possession in a couple of hours more,
but if not, then firing was TO be renewed
with increased yigor.
ing, obtained permission of the Colonel to
g0-into the city at the earliest opportunity.
Supplying my haversack with days ration,
went out TO our works. The trenches of
the two armies were quite close to each
other and the men on duty were chatting
one another good naturedly, and having lois
of fun.
At 10 o'clock, however, the Confederate
officers called Attention !" all along the
line, and then Fall in Fall in! Take
arms! Right dressi" and all the other com
mands necessary to the formation of COM
papies and regiments. Presently they came,
swarming over their intrenchments, on
either hand, regiment after regiment, to the
number of 10000 men and officers, and
stacked their arms between the lines. 1t
was glorious spectacle, yet our men never
gave any shout or sign of eXultatiOn over
the fallen foe They were brave men. and
we'll had they defended the city. Brave
men, too. are never insulting.
As soon as they turned back, / started
after them, and presently caught up with an
Arkansas regiment, and accOsting the Lieu
tenant in charge, walked by his side to the
outskirts OF the city, mile distant from the
intrenchments. We halted at his tent, and
while he was looking after his men | went
to house near by TO look at some Grape
myrtle trees in full bloom. They were the
first / ever saw, and each was magnificent
bouquet
While standing by the yard fence Con-
federate Major General and staff passed by.
They were on horseback, and were in
brilliant uniforms. / lifted my cap to
them. The young staff officers stared at
me, but none returned my salute, though l
ehor Gbar-
man, however, would return the salute of a
private.
After admiring the flowers awhile went
down to the quarters of my Arkansas friend.
Ii was dinner-time. His black servant set
cut some cornbread, Southern beans and fat
pork. ! added the contents of my haver-
sack-butter, coffee, sardines, hardtack and
bologna. ] gave them everything had in
my baversack. 1t was no contemplate
dinner.
After we had dined O number Of men from
| q Missouri Confederate regiment came with
letters, asking me to mail them. They said
they had not heard from home for months.
Their families lived within our lines
Read them," they said. "You will find
! nothing reasonable in them"
l replied: "No; whatever may be in them
can do 10 harm. l will mail them" And
did.
The Lieutenant accompanied me to show
the sights The mills on the sides of which
the city is built were hOneycombed with
caves 10 protect the citizens from our shot.
A number Of houses showed the effects of
the bonn bardmeBt. A shell had struck the
| Courthouse and damaged cne corner As a
whole, however, the city was not much the
wore for the siege. Being on the hillside
we in the trenches overshot the place. and
the feet above and below the city were too
| far away.
The real sights after ALL were in the bat
teries and impregnable earthworks, in the
hospitals and IL the graveyards. Every
| thing in connection with these told how
! dread ul had been the conflict. The ap-
paTently innumerable headboards at the
rows Of graves behind the trenches expressed
with awful emphasis how terrible and des-
perate had been the attack and defense.
| The town was nothing compared with these.
A number of our gunboats had reached
the levee, and few Transports Men were
| taking down the store-shutters and COM
mencing business anew. Logan's Division
was In the city, ard already provost-guards
were being stationed in all the streets. The
| Confederate batterymen were yet in their
works, but the immense cannon were in
possession of our artillery.
Many of the Confederates, especially those
| from Missouri, said they were tired of war
| They averred that if Yicksburg could not
be held no other fortress could and, for their
| part, they were going home. L applauded
their resolution, saying they would not find
! it difficult TO reach north Missouri, where
! they chiefly lived.
Vicksburg did not look to be very de-
sirable city IN which to live. l did not see
a residence that would care to own. What
] saw of the people were rejoicing that the
| Yankees were at last in town; they could
now eat and sleep to their hearts content
without the awful roar Of an iucessant bonn
| bardment.
Toward night returned to camp and found
the men having good time. A little after
dark, however, the regiment was called into
line, and precisely al midnight we started in
pursuit Of the army OF Gen. Joe Johnston
| which was in fnll retreat upon Jackson, the
Capital of ssissippi-EDwARD b. HEA.
| TON, Both Iowa, Pastor NJ. L. Church, Alton
| Iowa.
GAR. ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT.