The National tribune., 1902-12-11

IS monuments costing 1,500 each. exciu-
siye of the base, to be placed along the
roadway, and nearest the spot occupied by
these several commands during the siege.
In addition to the restoration of the works
it is proposed to restore the artillery in
position.
The next day. Wednesday, was spent
in visiting the
BATTLE GEoUND OF CHAMPIONS HILL.
1--WE drove out from Bolton in the early
morning over the road on which Hovey's
Division marched on the morning of May
16. 1863. The country does not present
the same appearance now as then, but
many spots could be recognized, especial
ly the place where the bees from over
turned hives drove the soldiers from the
road and caused them to run faster than
the .JOhnnies' ever did. A mile or two
further on we recognized the place where
the Confederate pickets We're found:
where HOvey deplOyed his division to the
right and left of the road. and then be-
gan, for the troops engaged. one of the
fiercest battles of the war. The battle was
fought on the Union side mainly by
Hoyey's Division of the Thirteenth Corps,
Logan's Division and Boomers Brigade
of the Seventeenth Corps. OF the entire
loss in Grants army, HOyey's Division
suffered within 80 of one-half. This bat
tie in reality settled the fate of Vicksburs.
Ii drove Pemberton within the intrench-
ments of that city, and entailed loss to
his effective force of not less than l2.OoO
to 1000 men, including. of course. Lor-
ing's Division. which. although not cap
tured. lost all its artillery and wagons.
and did not again join Pemberton's army.
Il had 10 trouble in tracing out the
route over which our division advanced.
and readily found the cornfield in which
more than 100 of my own brave boys
poured out their blood for the country
they loved so well. This particular ground
is now an abandoned field, but presents
nearly the same general appearance now
that it did at the time of the battle. But
the condtions-ho different! Then the
roar of cannon, the rattle of musketry,
the cheers and yells. the action and life
and. more than all. the death. AS l stood
on the field. the memory of that day and
the scenes then enacted came vividly fresh
to my mind. ] seemed to see the lines
of gray and brown across by the fence.
and in scattered squads TO our left. and
the thin line of blue advancing on them.
I could see the set. determined faces of
our boys. the anxious, peering eyes. and
as the line moves ON the occasional half
halt to reload, then the rush to the front
to fire. the occasional dropping of form
here and there. the cOnvulsive clutchng
of the hands. the quivering of the writh-
ing body, and more than once l saw again
from the stricken ones that mute. appeal
ing look for help and protection which
the soldier learns to expect from his COM
mander. The memory of these events af-
fected me more deeply now than did tho
reality when they were enacted nearly
40 years ago. Then there was no time
for sentiment or thoight-but. in the
midst of the most mOmentous duties such
scenes were instantaneously burned into
ones brain.
almost upon the site of the old Cham
piOn house ROW stands a building used on
Sunday as church for the negroes. and
on week days as a school for colored chill
dren--a very fitting cOnSecration. and q
monument for one of the most important
battles of the war, that brought freedom
TO that race.
'Thc remaining days of the week were
devoted TO visiting the city, the National
Cemetery. and the work in progress un-
der the plans Of the Park Commission. the
spot where the terms of surrender We're
accepted. and Gen. Grants headquarters.
The Vicksburg National Cemetery is sit
Uated at the extreme north end just out
side the city limits. 1t is one of the most
magnificent. cemeteries ever devoted to the
dead soldiers of any nation. 1t contains
the remains of more Union soldiers than
any other of tie National Cemeteries The
total list il 16.6lS, Of whom nearly 49,
900 are unknown. The bodies have been
brought here from all the camps and bat
tleiields in and aboat the city. and here
they sleep. on plateaus and terraces borf-
erred with flowers and shrnbbery. through
which wind broad avenues lined with mag
noliaS. Spanish oak and tropical plants.
Ii is kept in most excellent order under the
superintendent of Capt. O'Shea.'