The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-06-07
AGAIN IN VICKSBURG.
A Northern Comrade Goes South and Wan
ders Over the Old Ground.

AGAIN IN VICKSBURG.
A Northern Comrade Goes South and Wan.
ders Over the Old Ground.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Perhaps
| the comrades would be interested to hear
| from this place, once the Gibraltar of the
South; for hardly was there State in the
| Union but what had some of her soldiers in
the Vicksburg campaign.
Illinois had so different commands here
| Ohio, SO; Missouri, 25; Iowa, "a Indiana,
| IS; Wisconsin, Is; Michigan, eight; Penn
sylvania, six; Kentucky, four; Massachu-
sets, three; New York, four; New Hamp-
shire, three; Minnesota, four; Rhode Island,
one; West Virginia, one; Kansas, one
United States, three; Louisiana, five; Mis-
sissippi two, and Arkansas, one.
Anyone who was here will remember that
the position of the army was in a semlclrcle
around the city, in area of about IL miles,
with Gen. Steele's Division right resting on
the river north of the city. The ground
occupied by the extreme right of this divis-
ion is now part of the National Cemetery,
where nearly 1900 Union dead are buried,
and nice marble slab marks their last rest
ing-place. This is one of the finest ceme-
teries the Nation owns.
To VIM. H. Bleything, Co. F, 30th Iowa /;
Capt Chas. Kettle, of the 51st Ohio, and M.
E. Herman, of the 41st Ill.,, l am under
many obligations for information. After
leaving the National Cemetery, following
up Steele's lines to the rebel stockade Cot
ton-bale Fort. Graveyard Fort, locate south
side of Graveyard road, down into hollows,
up hills, we reach the lines of the Seven
teenth Corps, on the Jackson road, where
Gen. Logan blew up the fort, and was work
ing his way to serve Fort Pemberton like
wise.
few yards south of Jackson road stands
a cannon monument marking the spot where
PemberOn walked out of the fort bearing
his name and met Grant under the oak tree
to agree on terms of surrender.
At first there had been a marble monu-
ment erected, but the relic hunter could not
keep his hands off of this, and it was Clipped
so badly that the authorities had to remove
what was left to high knob in the National
Cemetery to save the remnants. short
distance up the road stands the Shirley
House, which received the balls from all
sides, and bears the evidence of having
passed through great battle.
Leaving this, bearing on to the Union left,
down into hol ows, up hills again we go I'M
til the river is reached. One of our party
remarked that these hills were the largest
and finest sweet potato rows he ever saw.
The last two forts guarding the river are
immense; yet, with few exceptions, these
forts and breastw orks, as occupied by the
Confederates, are better now than the day
the city surrendered. One can in travelling
over the ground pick up many relics.
The river there ran from Young's Point,
La, made sharp bend around Kings Point
to the north for over FIVE mi 'es then made
a regular horseshoe bend to the south, swept
past Gen. Steees right and passed in front
OF the city. But short distance sout b from
this on a high point of land called the
Devils Back bone" stood The famous Con-
federate gun call =" Whistling Dick" which
was terror TO The Union feet.
In 1875 the Father of Waters got tired of
going long way around to get short dis
tance across. With the aid of few charges
of dynamite in the hands of unknown par
ties il started in direct east course from
Youngs Point, cutting the peninsula at the
base in twain making a lake OF part of it's
original north course and filing up the
south course In front of the city completely,
shortening uD its route about 10 miles.
Since this the Government has spent great
deal of money in trying to maintain serv-
iceable cana, which can only be used in high
stages of water.
Old soldiers and others have been led to
believe that Grants canal is the present
river bed. This canal was to commence
from its mouth, just east of Young's Point,
La, run east or south toward Warrington a
distance of about four miles. Had the river
followed this canal the city of Vicksburg
would have been about six miles from the
river. The canal is about as good as ever
not even wild ducks find water enough in it
To make it interesting.
Vieksburg Post, z, has membership in
good Standing OF 35. Among them is Judge
Frederick Speed, Senior Vice D partment
Commander, and some pretty lively old vets
they are. They are hustlers, as usual.
The color line is to be regretted in all
quarters, brought into existence by the blum
der of an ex Department Commander. While
no member here wishes to see the colored
soldier shorn of any of his loyalty to his
country, its flag, and devotion to the Union
in time of danger, all the white Posts will
insist upon wiping out this fraud placed
upon them, and they tend TO close up the
ranks, march elbow to elbow with the same
vIgor they did in time Of war until right
and honesty shall triumph. There are many
questions that enter into r. matters in
the South that Northern Posts should Judge
with some allowance.-E. II. ~, Co. D,
IL