The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-05-23
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V(KSBUQG
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w THILE in every rod of the Fed
wv eral and Confederate lines,
from the extreme right to the
left. there Is spot Of historical inter
est on the battlefield Of Vicksburg,
where the chiefest Of the nations mill
tary parks Is located, only few can
be given special mention just now.
"Take good look at the upright
siege gum" said Captain Rigby. presi-
dent of the national commission hav-
ing in charge the making of the Vicks-
burg Military park. who was our guide
during the two days along the two
lines of battle-the Federal and Con-
federate-and better could not have
been given us, for he lives In Vicks-
burg and has been on duty there from
the beginning of the park. 'There. on
the ground occupied by the foundation
for that cannon monument. Generals
Grant and PembertOn stood July 3,
1853. when they talked over the terms
of surrender offered by the Union COM
mander."
At that time a considerable tree
stood near the spot. Very soon after
ward the tree, its limbs, bark and
roots were cut into small pieces and
on their way North, some by letter,
some by express. and some by wound
ed men sent North. Bits Of that tree
can be found in thousands Of homes
souvenirs of high value. Soon after
the war the government erected
plain monument to mark the place OF
In FOL IN
go as the old tree had gone when It
was transferred to a slightly point IN
the National cemetery. When 1t was
Mt the place Of surrender hundreds of
visitors Clipped OFF chunks Of marble
to carry home. Men and women,
strange as 1t may seem. armed them
selves With small hammers for use In
battering off souvenirs. But 1t is safe
in the cemetery. where the superin-
tendent keeps 1t in mind and view
when the crowds come. Its four white
corners resemble a big-toothed saw in
an old-time lumber mill.
General Grant said but few words
that faraway day. but there was deep
meaning in them, and he wouldn't take
them back, much us General Pember-
ton desired that he do so, and that is
why, on that never to be forgotten
Fourth of July. 29.672 Confederate SOL
diers, lieutenant general, several ma
jor generals, and many brigadiers. 3D.
500 stands Of arms, over 200 cannon,
numerous transports, great quantity
of ammunition, and much other mate
rial were surrendered.
AS our party fixed their eyes upon
the brown cannon we thought OF the
excitement resulting from the victory
"a victory for the civilized world. and
an especial and n precious victory for
the South. for from that day all pos
sible chance of her setting up sepa-
rate government of even a small de-
gree of permanency vanished forever.
Some of the younger editors. You
mans and Glennon among them, re-
membered. as boys, the wild rejoicing
of the North. remembered the cheers
of the Army Of the Potomac, right af-
ter Gettysburg. when the news Of the
great Vicksburg surrender was read
to the men.
Not far from this cannon monu-
ment the two lines of works were SO
close together that loud whisper
could be heard from one side to the
other.
It was dust-covered. hungry, rag
ged Confederate who, when the white
flag Of surrender was displayed.
sprang to the top Of the brenstwork
and called cut, "why, dang me II you
uns and we uns didn't en- most git
right on top Of each other"
And the brave young Johnny was