The National tribune., 1900-11-22

The night of June 90 our regiment was
taken out of the works confronting NlckS-
burg. and with many other regiments was
assigned TO the army af observation Oh
the Big Black. All sorts. of rumors were
in circulation. One was that Joe John
ston, in command of an army, was adj
vancing from jackson. for the purpose of
raising the siege Of NickShurg.
The days following in succession from
juno 20 were filled with earnest words
directed TO Gen. Grants Lieutenants. To
Mcpherson: There is every indication
that the enemy under Johnston will at
tack within 30 hours. Notify Logan 10
be ready to move at n moments notice.
The greatest vigilance must he observed
all along our front. as the Nicksburg gar
rison may also make an attack. To Ord:
THE utmost vigilance must be observed
in watching the crossings of the Big
Black. Keep your command under arms
ready for an engagement ut any moment.
Hold your command in readiness to keep
the enemy from masSing on McPherson.'
The early morning of June % found
us 10 miles from Nicksburg, where we
remained until June 81, when we marched
TO Boyina, on the railrnad, one mile from
the Big Black. We stayed there until
Sunday, July u.
July Paymaster come down from
Haine's Bluff, and our regiment received
two months pay. This circumstance
made us feel happy; yet there was very
little use we could find for money unless
TO engage in game of "chuck-aluck.
Col. X. X Scott called the PaymasterS
attention to the fact that "a of the regi-
ment, sick and wounded, were in camp
near Nicksburg, and unable to be present,
and arrangements were made by which
our absent comrades could be paid. The
comrades were vouched for by the COM
pany officers, and Lieut.. l.. W. Richard
son. Co. q, was selected to carry the
money to our comrades at Vicksburg.
THE SURRENDER.
l will now leave our regiment in the
woods near the Big Black, and follow
Lieut.. Richardson 10 Vicksburg. When the
morning of July 3 began to dawn over
the hills of Nicksburg n scene was re-
vealed long to be remembered by those
who were present and participated in the
long and trying siege. The whole Confed-
crate line was alive. White flags were
floating all along the enemys works. 1t
soon began to be whispered about us that
the armistice was of unusual interest to
both the blue and the gray, as n meeting
was soon to be held between Gen. Grant
and Gen. Pemberton, the object of which
was the surrender of Nicksburg
The place of the meeting was midway
between the lines and under the shadow
of an oak tree, which stood just opposite
where Logan's Division, of which our re-
iment was a part, held the line during
the siege.
\ number of comrades made an effort
to get as near to the two chiefs as the
rules of military etiquet would permit.
They were not close enough to hear the
conversation, but had a fair view of
all who were present at the conference,
which lasted less than half an hour Bur
in that short period terms were agreed
upon by which the formal surrender
would take place on the following day,
the day of our Nations birth.
st 10 o'clock the morning of July 1
Gen. Grant and staff. escorted by Logan's
Division, rode into the city. This occa-
sion gave the men an opportunity to view
the situation as it existed at the time of
the surrender, and to converse with the