When
Saragossa made her last, unrivaled defence against the hosts of
Napoleon, the Cortez in gratitude for her heroism and her sufferings, decreed that she should henceforth be styled.
In all public documents, ‘"the very heroic city of
Saragossa;"’ and thus she is styled to this day. If it were the custom of this country to bestow similar takens of approbation, we should propose to Congress to append some such compliment to the corporate style of
Vicksburg.
Saragossa herself scarcely deserved it better.
As soon as we saw the answer of the
Mayor of
Vicksburg to the summons of the
Yankee commander, we thought to use
Hamlet's expression, ‘"Marry, this is
lavishing malice; it means mischief."’ We were not at all acquainted with the
Mayor, but we know
Vicksburg and the people thereof.
They are the most fighting race on the face of the earth.--We say this without intending any disparagement to any other people of any country or city.
Let them come from where they may, and be they what they may, they will not fail to find their match, and more, in the people of
Vicksburg.
We concede much to the fine talents and steady courage of Van-
Dorn.
He was the very man to deal with such a people.
Still, if that people had been less determined, they might have cost him a vast deal of trouble.
As it was, he met with congenial spirits in a whole population.
He could not go amiss.
He faced them which ever way he turned.
The example of
Vicksburg proves how much can be done in the way of defence when the population of a town is resolute and prepared to sustain the garrison in everything.
Had the population of
Vicksburg been timid and irresolute,
Van Dorn would hardly have persevered so long in defending it. But it was exactly the reverse.
When summoned he gave the
Spartan's answer: ‘"If you want our arms, come and take them."’ From that moment there was no extremity it was not prepared for, no suffering which it was not ready to undergo.
To it was entrusted the keys of the
Mississippi, and she proved herself worthy to wear them.--
Saragossa proved the turning point in
Napoleon's career;
Vicksburg may prove the turning point in the fortunes of this war.
