Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1918-05-24
ON FIELDgf
VlCKSBURG
&Lie,&.Col. u
= JAWofro1ts.USA
THILE In every rod of the Fed
N eral and Confederate lines,
from the extreme right to the

from the extreme right to the
left. there is a spot of historical inter
est on the battlefield of Vicksburg,
where the chlefest Of the nations mill
tary parks is located, only a few can
be given special mention just now.
"Take a good look at The upright
siege gun" said Captain Rigby, presi-
dent OF the national commission hav-
ing in charge the making Of h Vicks-
burg Military park, who was our guide
during the two days along he two
lines OF battle-the Federal and Con
federate-and n better could not have
been given us, for he lives in Nicks-
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,
1863, when they talked over the terms
of surrender offered by the Union com
mander."
At that time n considerable tree
stood neal the spot. Very soon after
ward the tree, its limbs, bark and
roots were cut into small pieces n
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 var the government erected a
plain monume to mark the place OF
surrender. It was in a fair way to
20 as the old tree had gone when 1t
was transferred to a slightly point In
the National cemetery. When 1t was
nj the place OF surrender hundreds OF
visitors Clipped OF 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 It in mind and view
when the crowds ONE Its four white
corners resemble a blg-tOothed saw In
an old-tlme 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 as 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, a lieutenant general, several ma
for generals, and many b~rigadiers, 81
500 stands Of arms, over 200 cannon,
numerous transports, a great quantity
Of ammunition, and much other mate
rial were surrendered.
AS u party fixed thelg eyes upon
the brown cannon we thought OF the
excitement resulting from the victory
, "a victory for the civilized world, and
an especial and a precious victory FOL
the South, for from that day all pos
sible chance Of her setting up a sepa
rate government Of ever 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 rejOlcini
of the North. ] remembered the cheer
Of the Army Of the Potomac, right al
ter Gettysburg, when the news Of tn.
great Vicksburg surrender was reat
to the men.
( Not far from this annOn mOnu
ment the two lines Of works were s
l. close together that a loud whlspe
s could be heard from one side to tn
l. other.
e II was a dust-covered, hungry, ral
d ged Confederate who, when the whit
y flag OF surrender was displayed
n sprang to the top Of the breastwor
1. and called out, "Why, dang me II 20
5. uns and we uns didn't en- a most g
d right on top Of each other"
10 And the brave young Johnny wa
right about 1t. strange as II scenes