The Cordova daily times., 1918-05-28
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 from the extreme right to the left, there is a 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 a good look at the upright siege gun" said Captain Rigby, presi. dent of the national commission hay ing In charge the making of the Vlcks- burg Military park, who was our guide during the two days along the two lines of battle-the Federal and Con- federate-and a 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 8, 1863, 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 can be found in thousands of hOmes- souvenirs of high value. Soon after the war the government erected a plain monument to mark the place of surrender. It was In a fair way to go as the old tree had gone when 1t was transferred to a slightly point In the National cemetery. When 1t was at 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 it 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 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, lieutenant general, several ma jor generals, and many brigadiers 31,- 800 stands of arms, over 200 cannon, numerous transports, a 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 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. I 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 a dust-covered, hungry, rag ged Confederate who when the white flag of surrender was displayed. sprang to the top of the breastwork  and called out, "Why, dang me if you uns and we uns didn't e'n most git right on top of each other"
 And the brave young Johnny was right about 1t. strange as 1t seemed
 When the battle lines get so close together that both sides can stab sol diers with bayOnets the warfare be- comes awfully strenuous. That was the condition of things at Vieksburg at number of places.
 That is Grant avenue, and wonder is where his headquarters were throughout the siege" The location was within easy range of several Con- federate batteries, and 1t often oc- cured that the commander in chiefs staff got good shaking up from shes And shot