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years' vengeance for this stroke; we, however, see, if it were possible, five years taken from the length of the war at a single blow.
We have seen no conflict between the two parties, the victors and the vanquished, as yet. All day to-day and yesterday, the knots of soldiers have been busily engaged in discussing the merits of their respective battles, and the old, old issue of the right of their rebellion.
Many of our men are offering their haversacks and canteens to the rebels.
Many of the steamboat men recognize old acquaintances.
Here are loyal and disloyal Missourians fraternizing, (and in one case fighting,) and a few brothers and cousins are greeting each other with a strange sense of their relationship.
Upon one point the rebel officers are complaining.
In their negotiations they show the anxiety to save their negro servants as “personal property,” but this our leader could not yield.
No sooner were we in, than the recruiting officers commenced their unique system of recruiting, much to the chagrin of the rebels.
In one or two cases, appeals have been made to General Grant, who replies that these men are free to go or remain, upon a fair understanding of their new state in life.
V. The campaign in the South-West.
The first grand result of this step is the consequent fall of Port Hudson and the reestablishment of the supremacy of our arms the entire length of the Mississippi. General Grant has some days since despatched an offer of assistance to General Banks in anticipation of this result. It is probable that a few days more will see a fleet of transports moving toward that point if the news does not sooner reach us that it has shared the same fate as Vicksburgh. Every effort of the enemy thus far to interrupt the line of communication by the river has failed. Our magnificent transports still steam proudly up and down in almost the same security as before. The guerrillas have proved to be a humbug, and there is now a probability that they will unite their numbers and cross to the east side to help out the desperate fortunes of Johnston. At any rate we can now spare leisure and force to assail them. The next business in hand is to drive off Johnston, and already Sherman is on the way to meet him with a strong army. We entertain no doubt but that Johnston will be obliged to fall back beyond Canton. All the rolling stock now collected between Jackson and Panola must fall into our hands or be destroyed. The six locomotives and fifty cars captured at Vicksburgh will be put to use, and it would not be astonishing if Jackson were held. After Port Hudson shall have fallen, Mobile will probably be invested from the land side. Rosecrans by that time may have reached the Tennessee River; the area of the rebellion will thereby be reduced to one third of its dimensions. Johnston is shown to be an ordinary mortal, and Sherman is quite able to take care of him. The conclusion of so brilliant a campaign naturally suggests the idea that it is due in great part to. the superior management and energy of the superior commander. It is true that General Grant is one of the steadiest and hardest workers in the army. For two years he has been almost constantly in the field, and, in the last twelve months has had no respite, not having been further north than Cairo. His pushing, resolute qualities, together with the invincible bravery of his troops, have given him victory over his enemy, where more cautious and more finished officers would have faltered. He is deservedly high in the esteem of the entire army. He has been ably seconded in his efforts by Generals Sherman and McPherson, the former by his tireless brain and the latter by his executive dash. The navy, under Admiral Porter, has always cooperated with him when asked to do so. It does not appear, however, that the opportunities for distinction have been so favorable as during the command of the lamented Admiral Foote.Diary of a citizen in Vicksburgh during the siege.
Sunday, May seventeenth, 1863, opened on Vicksburgh with a forbidding and threatening aspect.
On the day previous the Federal forces had overthrown General Pemberton's army, and driven it back to the trenches immediately in the rear of Vicksburgh.
Great consternation prevailed among the inhabitants of the city of a hundred hills, as the defeated and demoralized remnant of the confederate army was straggling back to town in disorder and confusion, dismayed, and discouraged.
Their loss had been heavy, having suffered from a continued series of disasters since the landing of the Federal army.
They had been on a continued march, and had gone through a succession of fights for the two preceding weeks, fatigued, disheartened, suffering from hunger and from the want of water.
As General Pemberton, with his escort, arrived in town from the battle-field at Big Black, a general feeling of distrust was expressed in his competency, and the place was regarded as lost.
Every one expected General Grant's army to march into Vicksburgh that night, while there was no means of defence and no spirit in the troops.
General Pemberton set to work in reorganizing the army for the last desperate struggle.
General Baldwin went out to review the line of defences, and discovering that the first assault would be made on the left wing, he petitioned the Commanding General to be assigned to hold that position with his veteran troops, upon whose fidelity and courage he could depend, and with whom he felt fully confident of holding the point, and was accordingly assigned to that position.
Monday, June 18.--It was in this deplorable condition that the morning of the anniversary which first brought the enemy under Admiral Farragut in sight of the city one year ago, found us on this occasion.
Things did not look encouraging in the least — the enemy was
