CHAPTER III.

FOURTH OF JULY AT VICKSBURG.

EVERY few days brought news of the progress of the great siege, while the nation, both North and South, listened eagerly or fearfully for the final announcement. No one could well doubt its character, for the triumphant march to Vicksburg, and the resolute valor of General Grant had confirmed the people's faith in his success; and the bravado of the insurgents was heard fainter and less often than it had been. Other officers caught something of his spirit; demonstrations on the part of the rebels, which up to this time had been "winked at," were now noted, and the offenders made to feel the power they had insulted. Even the guerrillas of the Southwest were restrained by the presence of a victorious army; or if now and

then our river boats were molested, an order was immediately issued, as in the case of Austin, Miss., to raze the town nearest the scene of their outrages; and the commands were promptly executed.

The children scanned the newspapers, and visited the post-office daily for the letter which should announce the surrender. Meanwhile, Fourth of July came; when the boys sets off whole packs of crackers at once, and were indulged in an unusual display of fireworks "in honor of the siege of Vicksburg," they said; for if the place were not already taken, it surely would be very soon. Naturally, then they were greatly delighted to read the telegram, and afterward Horace's letter, announcing the entry of the Union troops into Vicksburg that very day!

Horace wrote as follows:

"JACKSON, MISS., July, 1863.

"The last and greatest Gibraltar of the Confederacy has fallen, thank God! The 'Queen City of the River,' with fettered limbs, and head bowed in

the dust, has yielded herself captive; or, speaking more truly, and without figure, we have rescued her from the power of traitors, and restored her to her own honorable place under a just, free government. What will the Confederate rulers say now, do you think? Everything has gone against them out here; the Mississippi campaign has proved a complete and wondrous success, and by far the heaviest stroke yet aimed against the planters' would-be nation is the siege and triumph of Vicksburg. The Confederacy is now cut in twain; its days are certainly numbered; Davis's followers may contrive for awhile some show of resistance, yet they nevertheless know as well as we that the only prospect before them is one of utter ruin. Within their defences, no amount of exertion, nor long-continued endurance availed against the terrible Yankees, once thought to be 'vile' and 'contemptible,' who have swarmed over their entrenchments, blown up their forts, and demoralized their entire army by sturdy, successful work. Nearly every house in the city is scarred and rent by our missiles; the people burrowed like moles underground, venturing forth occasionally for a glimpse of sunlight, only to return to their dismal retreats at the warning: 'Rats, to your holes!' when the bombardment was begun anew; at least it is rumored that such was the order of the grayback sentinels. But not seldom would our shells find their way in

to the caves, putting many a defenceless woman and innocent child to death. Moreover, the people had grown gaunt with hunger; starving beasts were killed to feed starving families; horses fed on mulberry leaves and sugar-cane tops; the streets echoed with moans and howls from famishing dogs, who had learned the danger of an exploding shell. Flour was not to be bought for less than two hundred dollars a barrel. How, then, could the six thousand hospital patients receive proper food or care? Such was the reign of horror in this Confederate 'city of a hundred hills.'"

"Our history describes places in which the people were as badly straitened as these, but they were besieged ever so long ago, in the Dark Ages. It's hard to believe that such things happen in this century, and this country," said Frank.

"Many a fugitive from slavery has endured sufferings like these-hunger, concealment, alarm," added the father, "in fleeing from the cruelties of these very people. The woe of the bondsman has overtaken the oppressor. What does he say of the surrender, wife ?"

"We lay in the trenches forty-five days after the place was invested. On the third of July, Pemberberton, the rebel general, proposed an armistice, with a view to an arrangement of terms for capitulation; but unconditional surrender' was the only answer he could get to his proposal. In the afternoon the two generals held a parley, and before nightfall a dispatch from Grant, containing his terms, which we think sufficiently generous, was sent to rebel headquarters. Officers and men to be paroled, the former allowed personal clothing, and those of certain grades a horse each; the rank and file only their clothing. Necessary rations, utensils, wagons, etc., were also granted. But Pemberton, like many another traitor, proposed amendments to the terms, and found our general what his wife is said to have declared him to be-'a very obstinate man!'. Accordingly, early on the glorious Fourth, Grant and McPherson rode in to receive the surrender; and before the sun had climbed the zenith we men, watching outside, beheld our stars, a sign of peace in the heavens, waving over the city, while beneath it a multitude, with uncovered heads and uplifted voices, sang Rally Round the Flag.' It was a grand celebration of our holiday. In the afternoon all the public property was confided to the care of Union soldiers, while Pemberton's garrison waited, with hungry eagerness, for a present of three days' rations from our commissariat. We