The National tribune., 1901-11-21

, mined TO leave it inland.
/ We passed by Vicksburg about a mile
west of the old channel, about midway
between where the point was in 1858 and
the Grant canal. and landed away below
Nicksburg. and had to take c0nveyanceS
from the boat TO the city.
! NIJKSGUEGS NATIONAL CEMETERY.
. Vicksburg We found to lie live, grow
ing city of about 1000 inhabitants.
Much of the old wartime" city has been
/; rebuilt. fne brick and stone structures
taking the place of the frame buildings
we used 10 know.
The morning of Oct. so we visited the
National Cemetery, where sleep 1G,TS2 of
Cur comrades; 12.Tti3 Of their hcadStones
are marked ''uullnown:' only 4,019 bear
the names Of the departed. The cemetery
is the finest / have ever seen. 1t is a
slightly place on the highest point, just
at the bend where the hill falls away from
the Mississippi to form the bluff facing
the 1azoo 1t was originally high,
rugged point, almost separated from the
range of hills running down back Of
EickSburg by deep ravine, but it has
been terraced from bottom TO top sOdded,
oTnamented with trees, such as the mag
nola. the swect-gum sycamore, naples
and hve-oaks.
! The highest point in the cemetery is
surmounted by the Grant-PembertOn
Monument, which originally stood on the
spot where the surrender of Ficksburg
was arranged for, but as relic-hunters
were fast destroying it, it has been moved
to the cemetery for protection, and there
it stands, not only the monument to the
great event which it was designed TO per-
petuate, but a sad and ruined reminder
of the work of the vandals who have dis
figured it almost beyond recognition.
After visiting the cemetery our party
assembled at the graves of two comrades
whose tombstones H".e their names, to-
wit, John Fried, Co. A, and w. I. Da-
Wis, 46th Ind. and after decorating their
| graves with roses. Comrade Thomas Cary
| offered a most impressive prayer, Z. NJ.
Parker read The BivOuac of the Dead,
by Theodore O'Hana, several comrades
made appropriate remarks, and we bade
4 last goOd-by to our sleeping comrades
resting place.
That afternoon we visited the old line
of works. Our boys had little difficulty
in locating their old positions The main
forts are clearly discernible, though the
rife-pits and smaller works have long
since disappeared, while relics such as
shots, bullets and shell are very scarce
now. Our boys found several reminders
in the shape Of minie-balls, pieces of
| shells. etc.
| The point of surrender is now marked t
/ by huge Columbiad stood on end, with |
/ its breech in the ground.
The old Shirley House. that stood at
Shermans right, now just in the rear
Of the cemetery, still stands, riddled with |
bullet and shell, a mute reminder of the
| terrible conflict that there ragged.
The next day we visited Port Gibson. |
| We went back TO the creek, where we
| stopped for breakfast on that eventful |
| day, May |, 1863, and advanced over the
same lines till we came up TO Old Mag |
nOlia Church. What thrilling memories |
overCame us as we looked at that his |
toric building. How our hearts throbbed |
as we recalled the scenes of our former
| visit there. the dead and wounded stTeWn !
about, the church riddled with bullets, the |
holes still remaining, though covered with |
/ little pieces of tin.
! The country has changed materially, as |
the ground is everywhere washed and |
/ quilted ont of all sembance of its former /
| condition. The old cornfield east of the
church, where we rallied after the charge
has grown up to woods and brush; but /
we had little difficulty in locating our
selves on our old line of battle.
After partaking of a basket dinner in
! the shade of the old church, we drove |
back to the town Of Port Gibson. now
| thriving town, bearing every evidence Of
prosperity and no traces of war.
CHAMPIONS HILL.
On Friday, Nov 1, we went to Jack
son, returning early Saturday morning to
Edwards Edwards Station we used to
call it,, and from there we drove out to
Champions Hill, five miles distant. We
went direct to the spot formerly the site
Of the residence of s. $. Champion. At
that place, or near there, we 0Ioyey's Di-
vision first formed line of battle pre-
paratory to our advance on the enemy.
The Champion House was also the site
: near the site, of our field hospital
How changed now! The old house long
since burned down, and a negro church
now occupies the site From there we
I n 10 al Ilgtt icb
we found very much changed, hardly rec
ogniZable. 1t is washed and quilted trees
have grown up where formerly corn grew,
and cotton now grows where formerly
heavy timber stood. Yet we were able
to locate ourselves by the valuable aid of
whom served in the Confederate army.
To them and Col. w. A. Montgomery,
Of Edwards, we are under lasting Obliga-
tions for courtesies shown us.
A most enjoyable feature Of our visit
TO Champions Hill was a call we made
upon Mrs NJ. NJ. Champion. who was the
mistress Of the Champion House in 1865.
She is now in her I4th year, but bright,
active and entertaining, and a most de-
IiShtful lady to meet She gave us a
hearty welcome, and entertained us with
much information that we could not have
secured elsewhere.
After partaking Of our basket dinner
under magnificent live-oak near where
the old Champion House formerly stood
securing many relics. such canes, bui-
lets and pieces Of shell, while preparing
10 take our final leave. we went up onto
the hill where the Confederate White
Horse Battery stood, which McGinniss
Brigade captured, and there with uncov-
cred heads our memories carried US back
to our other visit there, near 40 years
ago.
| at was a lovely day in May,
When the world was warm with Sum
mer.
And the earth with flowers gay.
Peace and beauty all about us,
Death and danger Just ahead
On our faces careless courage
In our hearts a sOnibre dread.
Then the skirmish line went forward
And the only sound We heard
Was the hum Of droning insects
And the carol of bird
It'll n far-of flash Of fire
And little cloud went BY
Like an angels mantle hanging down
From out Summers SKY.
| Then shell went screaming DER us,
And the air at once was rife
! With million deadly missiles.
Each one searching for life.