The National tribune., 1903-08-27
SURRENDER OF VlCKSBURG.
Marching Into the City or the Glorious
Fourth. 1868.

SURRENDER OF vlCKSBURG.
Marching Into the City or the Glorious
Fourth. 1868.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Permit
me to reply to the article by ID. l.. Well
man, of the 18th Mimi, published in The
National Tribune Feb. D, 1908.
The beautiful moon of Saturday, July
4, 1868, dawned gloriously, when Gen
Pemberton communicated his acceptance
of the terms proposed, by Gen. Grant. AT
| 10 o'clock the Confederate garrison march.
ed out Of the citadel they had so bravely
defended, stacked arms, and marched back
again as prisoners of war. Nearly $1,000
men, 172 cannon, G0,GOO stands of arms,
with a large quantity of ammunition and
ordnance stores were surrendered.
The most complete and unparalleled
capture was achieved by the invincible
Army of the Tennessee under Grant.
| Just before 10 o'clock that morning the
124th III. heard the command, Fall in, "
and in a few moments every man able for
duty was in his place, shoulder to shoulder,
as they had often been before, but never
with such a feeling, never so proud of
each other as now. A few moments later
our brigade band, one of the best, being
hidden from us by the Shirley house, on
our left, startled US. We had not thought
of or heard any music for SO long, only
now and then a bUgie CALL and the deaf
ming rattle of musketry; now the beautiful
strains of Hail Columbia burst out so
unexpectedly and welled out so exultingly
that men who had marched up to the can
mons mouth and met uDflinching.y and
fearlessly the shock of battle, and the fiery
Onsets of the fercest charge, were touched
and the chords OF their hearts were swept
Inv rho tnuSip and Of tbrs. hrat-
strong men were moved to tears. Then
followed the stirring and inspiring strains
of THE Star Spangled Banner" Then
the order rang out, "Forward-Marchr'
and the gallant First Brigade. composed
of the Goth, 31st, 45th, 124th H., and the
23d Ind, Gen. NJ. ID. Leggett command
ing, of Logan's fighting Third Division,
the 45th III. leading, took up its line of
march into Vicksburg. When the troops
arrived at the Court House, the battle
flag of the 4Jth III. was thrown to the
breeze from the cupola of the Court
House. The sight of the beautiful starry
banner floating gracefully over the city
caused the boys TO shout Justify; their wild
huzZas rent the air; they shouted as they
had never done before, and as they never
can again. When Vicksburg fell the Joy
of the Nation was complete. AS one has
said. PLUCK no laurels from Logan's
Third Division" There is "gIory enough
for air. of the Union troops who won that
matchless victory, and We're at the sur
render of Vicksburg and took part in the
royal celebration of that day. Every year
that victorious army has two Fourths to
celebrate, one for our National birth, and
one for Nicksburg
On May -, during the siege, an assault
was made upon the enemy's works, which
resulted IN an advance all along the line
by the entire army. The battle became
fierce and furious everywhere; men rushed
up to the enemy's works. climbed up the
exterior slope, planted their flags upon
them; then a fierce and terrible struggle
ensued; but they could not enter. The
rebel lire was concentrated ON points
where the nature of the ground would ad-
INIT of an assault to be made only by small
bodies OF troops, and as the head of col
umn would pass the exposed points while
assaultlng they would be swept by ter
rlfc fire so severe that nothing living could
stand before it; they would reel and fall.
The enemy's works were naturally and
artificially so strong they could not be
taken in that way, and the nature of the
ground was such that only small columns
could be used in making the assault. But
Logan's Division was so far advanced that
we were located nearest the rebel works
of any possibly on the line until the sur
render. The 18th Ill. occupied Shirley's
peach orchard, with our left resting on his
house, or the white house." as it was
called. Mr.. Shirley was at home, and
claimed to be Union man. The 45th
LII. used the rear of the house for head
quarters; the front side could not be safe
ly used; it was full of bullet holes, and
was hit nearly every day. Lieut. Foster,
or "Coonskin," had his observatory near
this house. After building forts and rifle
pits, we made covered way which reach
ed clear to the enemy's works. There
were a number of coal miners in the 10Th
ILL.,, and some lead miners in the 10th Ill.
We mined under Fort Hill and blew it up
June %; loo pounds of powder placed
under it, lifted part of the fort into the
air. The falling earth had formed Il new
line of defense for the rebels. and had
left a large basin, or oval space, into which
our brave men poured. This place became
Il slaughter pen," or crater" as it was
called, and many of our noble soldiers and
officers fell in that bloody and fearful pen.
Other mines and sarS were run, and on
July l Fort Hill was again blown UP into
the air. This was quite successful; much
damage and loss sustained by the enemy,
with no loss to us. Six persons were
blown into our lines; three of them were
cOlored, and one of them, named "Abe."
II. s.,
Of Harper's Weekly, sketched him on the
spot, all dirt and tatters as he was He
said he went up two miles, saw stars, met
his master-who was one Of the white men
down, ETC.; part of which
seeing stars-was doubliess true The |
colored man WAS the hero of the hour. and
seemed to enjoy it greatly. 1t was said |
that after the blowing up of the fort the |
second time, the Confederate officers found |
it difficult to get soldiers to man that part |
Of their line. Gen. Mcpherson promised |
each of the boys that mined the fort |
new suit of clothes and one of the first fur
lOughs home after the surrender. Several |
Of my company, with n number of others,
received the promised gifts when the siege
ended. The accomplished. gallant and
brave commander. Gen. Mcpherson, was
honor bright in all his dealings with men. |
He was one of the brightest stars in all |
the galaxy of Union Generals. In his |
death America lost Il splendid soldier. For |
proof of the above facts. see Grants |
Gen. McPherson's request to |
Gen. Rawlins, Grants Chief Of Staff; Nc