The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-07-11

The successful celebration IN TINS city
on July Fourth is reminder of a eel
ebration in 1863 long to be re-
m embered by all participants. For
weeks our army had toiled day and
night before Nicksburg in the intense
heat and on the plalnest of ratIOns.
The enemies line had been approached
so close that for amusement ] have seen
Jumps of dirt tossed over into their
works and they returning the cOmph
ment. Our cooking was done some two
miles in the rear, the place many Ofour
regiment meyer saw for the reason of
being on continuous duty. Coffee was
brought us once a day, and generally
boiled salt beef and sometimes boiled
beans and "hard tack made up the
bill of fare day in and day out We
quenched our thirst at pit holes sunk in
the earth near a swamp, the water of
which proved more destructive to life
in the end than the enemies bullets.
The city was so completely surround
ed and guarded that dog could not
have escaped without detection. 1t was
quite q common occurrence for our
picket to hear a low call in the stiffness
of night "halloa Yank" and a reply
would 90 back what is it JOhnnie?' or
communication would be opened up by
a reQuSt in writing attached to q stone
or stick and thrown over into our lines
s.r.sl . n..RX.s We being ,.set,2Sned in the
airy truce was established between these
posts, of course with out the knowledge
or approval of the officers. At these
meetings an exchange of eatable was
most always made, they had tobacco
and sugar, while We had pork, beef and
crackers and after talking as long az
practicable each would return to their
respective posts alter pronouncing
warning woe to the one on either side
exposing their person to the rifle shot
of the other. So the siege continued I'M
til about the first of July, when a ru-
NOR gained credence, that it was Gen.
Grants intention to celebrate July 4th
within the city of Nicksburg. We were
aware that this meant an assault of the
works, and we knew that some of the
the troops farther around the line had
had some sad experiences in an at
tempt to carry the works in their front.
We all desired to hold a celebration
within the city but we preferred a more
peaceable way of gaining admittance.
and | can safely say that We did not
look upon the approaching Fourth as
the boys and girls did last week. Word
got to the enemy of Grants intentions
ates, and 1 have always thought that
these rumors true or not had the effect
OF Fastening the negotiations, for on
July Sd flag OF truce appeared and for
a time We supposed that all was settled
and II was with much disappointment
that orders were received to resume
hostuues and again the boom of the
cannon and the crack of the rifle was
heard. and the morrow was looked for
ward to with sad hearts Oh this the eve
OF the Fourth Of July.
The next morning dawned clear and
hot, and also with Us a faint hone that
We might yet enter the city without
further shedding of blood and loss of
life. " hlle in this state of mind we
heard shout that the city had surrcn-
dered. The men rushed TO the ton of
the hills against the orders of the of
ticer5 and oh, what glorious SIGHT,
Down came ilag after flag of the enemy
and long lines of gray filed out of their
works and stacked their arms. LAYING
their reglmental colors upon their
stacks and then up went the stars and
stripes and then our JOY knew no
bounds, and shout after shout went nm
from thousands of Threats, though or
dcrcd not To make any demonstration
Joy was full and running over. Soon
We SAW 4 long line of blue MARCHING
into the city, Gen. Logan and his CORPS,
then orders were received for US also
TO move and We entered the city amidst
long lines of COntederates which were
gathered on each side of the road and
l hungry looking otthev were. but our
troops were equal TO the occasion. for
each man willingly gave Of such as he
had. With hear JOHNNY went
crackers and meat as we passed alone
and IN that manner the thousands OF
Coniederates were feed before the GOV
eminent could get relief to them. Be
fore We really got into the citv lone
lines OF transports were diSchareinr
their carCOes OF provision, and Fourth Of
July night around the camp fire each
mess had an equa. number of confed-
crates sitting up until late hours talking
over their experiences during the seice.
Onr forefathers on July 9Th 1915 pro-
mulEated to the world their declaration
OF principle amid great Joy and demon
stTatIon AMI we celebrate in Commen.-
Grafton of the event. Among these
principles they declared that I'VE hold
that all men are created equal, thatthev
are endowed by their creator with Ger
tain inherent iuaIeinable rights. and
that among these are life liberty
and the pursuit of happiness etc" We
cannot say that the man in black eniov-
ed these God given rights, and not un-
Il! the taking effect Of the proclamation
Of emancipation did our armies meet
with general success ard not until july
tth l>ti5 did these principles become a
living fact and reality. So We hold
the Fourth of July douhly sacred for on
this day in '76 our fathers declared,
while on July 18th 1863 the declarations
were made good and preserved by the
successful termination Of the battle Of
Gettysburg ana ~ the siege Of Nirks-
jurg-the turning points ofthe war.
! Boy N TIE Army.