The National tribune., 1902-12-11

this wafer is not diverted or the clay pro-
tected, the rains of a few Summers cut the
entire surface into deep, narrow ravines
with sharp, steep peaks between. | saw
some of these watcr-c,It rayineS 100 feet
deep though such depth is an exception.
Such wash outs are general throughout
the hiIly lands Of the State. Where such
land is cultivated care must be taken to
protect the surface from the washing
caused by the heavy falls of rain which ac-
company the Summer storms in the South.
''Our route was by the Baldwin's Ferry
road, unit! we arrived at the line OF the
Confederate works, then south by way
of n makeshift road. until the square fort
was reached. This fort was called the
Big Fort by our boys, and was imme-
dately in front of the line occupied by
Hoycy's Division and was one of the prin-
cipal objects of attack and approaches by
our division Here we left our wagon and
took a general survey of the grounds; first
OF the walls of earth behind which the
boys in gray fought and resisted our ad-
vance for over six weeks. Here they
lived, slept, ate, fought. and not a few of
them died. They seldom left the trenches;
their meals were cooked in the ravlnes IN
their rear and brought up to them. Here.
these men i'll gray, under incessant fire
from the front during the day. from the
mortar boats in the rear during the night.
beset with constant apprehension of an
assault. without proper food or protection
from the weather-fought and resisted
one of the best armies of the North for
Al days. They commanded our sympathy;
then enforced our admiration; they We're
American soldiers.
''THE LINE OF CONFEDERATE DE-
FENSEs
occupied the summit of steep ridge. or
rather series of ridges of high ground,
200 to 800 feet above the river, and ex-
tended in an irregular line, in crescent
shape, nearly 10 miles long, from point
on the Mississippi just north of the city
to near Warrenton on the south, and end
ing OH the river just below the city. The
average distance from the courthouse was
not over two miles. The lines of ap-
proaeh of the Union army were through
rayines and over the steep spurs and
peaks outside the Confederate defenses,
and distant therefrom 4 half to three
quarters of a mile ut first, but by digging
trenches and saps the Union line ap-
preached the enemy's fort and outwOrks
so closely that, on the day of surrender.
in many places, but few feet interviewed
between the cOntending forces.
"a surc-foOted horse had been brought
along for Gen. kountZ, and he accom-
panied us on our tramp, up and down hill.
through rayine, brush and weeds, with
the skill of a mountaineer. We walked
all along 'Hovey's firing iine,' could trace
the approach to the Square fort, but an
other approach made by portion of the
command Oh the extreme right could not
be so definitely located. The changes
made BY the filling up in some places. by
the washing out in others, the great SINH
larity in the spurs jutting out from the
main ridge, the sameness in the ravines
between these spurs rendered absolute
Identification of this particular point inn
possible.
Our party started to locate the camp
occupied by Slack's brigade during the
greater part of the siege. This we did
successfully. and the spot was marked
by numbered metal stakes and duly re-
corded.
"The Vicksburg National Park Com
mission was authorized by act of Con-
gress in 1899. and under that authority
Gen. Alger then Secretary of War, ap-
pointed as members of the Commission:
Gen Stephen ID. Lee, Of the Confederate
army; Capt. Everest, of Chicago, and
Capt. William r. Rigby. of Iowa, also
John $. KountZ. of Toledo, o.. as Secre-
tary and Historian. This selection was
made 10 comply with the act, which re-
auired the Secretary of War 10 appoint
only those who had been engaged III the
siege. dHu dl itstSt OHt VI Nhom
have been ON the Confederate side. The
Commission has accumulated II great
mass of valuable information. most of it
the work of Capt. Rigby and Gen.
Kountz. Capt. Rigby spends all of his
time at Vicksburg. where the Commission
has very nice and comfortable quarters.
1.-The Commission laid ont the plans for
their work and have them we'll under way.
They have about completed the rcstora-