The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-12-10
SHERMAN'S MEMOIRS.
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OllIN lulAiV ~ Vu uLVlOAANOs
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farm known as Parson Fox's, l heard
that the family Of Mr.. Wilkinson. of
New Orleans, was refugeeing" at
house near by. / rode up, inquired, and
found two young girls Of that name, who
said they were the children of Gen.
Wilkinson, of louisiana, and that their
brother had been at the Military School
at Alexandria. Inquiring for their
mother, was told she was spending the
day at Parson Fox's. As this house
was on my route, l rode there, went
through large gate into the yard, fol-
lowed by my staff and escort, and found
quite number of ladies sitting on the
porch. / rode up and inquired if that
were Parson Fox's. The parson, fine
looking, venerable old man, rose and
said that he was Parson Fox. then
inquired for Mrs. Wilkinson, when an
elderly lady answered that she was the
person. / asked her if she were from
Plaquemine Parish, La, and she said
she was. then inquired if she had
SON who had been cadet at Alexandria
when Gen. Sherman was Superintendent,
| and she answered yes. l then an
nounced myself, inquired after the boy,
and she said he was inside of Vicksburg,
an artillery Lieutenant. / then asked
about her husband, whom / had known,
when she burst into tears, and cried out
in agony: +" You killed him at Bull
Run, where he was fighting for his
country!" / disclained killing any
body at Bull Run, but all the women
present (nearly dozen) burst into loud
lamentations, which made it most I'M
comfortable for me, and l rode away.
On the Sd of July, as | sat at my
bivouac by the roadside near Tribes,
I saw poor, miserable horse, carrying
lady, and led by a little negro boy,
coming across cotton-feld towards me.
As they approached I recognized poor
Mrs Wilkinson, and helped her to dis
mount. / inquired what lad brought
her to me in that style, and she
answered that she knew Vicksburg
was going to surrender, and she wanted
to go right away to gee her boy. / had
a telegraph wire to Gen. Grants Head
quarters, and had heard that there were
symptoms of surrender, but as yet nothing
definite. tried to console and dissuade
her, but she was resolved, and l could
not help giving her letter to Gen.
Grant, explaining to him who she was,
and asking him to give her the earliest
opportunity to see her son. The distance
was fully 20 miles, but off she started,
and afterward learned that my letter
had enabled her to see her son, who had
escaped unharmed. Later in the day
got by telegraph Gen. Grants notice Of
the negotiations for surrender; and, by
his directions, gave general orders te
my troops to be ready at moments
notice to cross the Big Black, and
GO FOR JOE JOHNSTON.
| The next day (July a, 1869 Vicks
burg surrendered, and orders were given
for at once attacking Gen. Johnston
The Thirteenth Corps (Gen. Ord wa:
ordered to march rapidly, and cross the
Big Black at the railroad bridge; the
Fifteenth by Messinger's, and the Ninth
(Gen. Parkes) by Birdsong's Ferry-al
to converge on Bolton. My corps crossed
the Big Black during the 9th and 9Th
of July, and marched for Bolton, where
we came in with Gen. Ord's troops; but
the Ninth Corps was delayed in crossing
at Birdsong's. Johnston received timely
notice Of Pemberton's surrender, and wa
, in full retreat for. jackson. On the 8tl
all our troops reached the neighborhoot
of Clinton, the weather fearfully hot
and water scarce. Johnston had marched
rapidly, and in retreating had causet
!, cattle, hogs, and sheep to be driven int
the ponds of water, and there shot down
so that we had to haul their dead ant
f sinking carcasses out to use the water
On the 10th of July we had driven tn
. rebel army into jackson, where it turne'
at bay behind the intrenchments, whic
had been enlarged and strengthene'
i, since our former visit in May. w
, closed our lines about jackson; m
corps efficiently held the center. ez
) tending from the Clinton to the Ray
mond road; Ord's CThirteenth) on th
: right, reaching Pearl River below tn
, town, and Parkes's Ointh) the lef
above the town.
~, +Lo ~ ,ye ,,roocnd cIOSe In an