Swift as the lightning's ray, Thundering upon his path, With his red battle wrath; All his great heart, as vain Writhed the fierce foe, the chain Tighter and tighter round, Till the reward was found Till the dread work was doneTill the grand wreath was won. Triumph is ours! Hurrah! CHAPTER XVII. The Eastern Army-Port Hudson falls-The "Father of Waters" open. Joe Johnston pursued-Jeff. Davis's Library found-Jackson surren ders-General Grant's care of his Soldiers-His Politics-AnecdotesLooks after his Department-Mrs. Grant visits him-General Grant goes to Memphis-A splendid Reception. 租 EANWHILE, the battle was raging in the East. There, too, the army was covered with glory. Almost the very hour that Vicksburg falls, General Meade, at the head of his battal ions, beats back the most threatening tide of secession, under Lee, which had ever overswept the bor der of the Free States. The terrific and glorious field of Gettysburg, Pa., is won, the national honor saved, and the invader sent, stunned and bleeding, back within his lines. Memorable Fourth of July indeed to the war-scarred land! The country was wild with joy amid showers of tears for the slain. But let us look down the Mississippi again. The morning sun of July 7th floods the "Father of Waters." Hark! how the naval lions roar on the bright waters! Peal after peal reverberates along the green shores. The rebel garrison of Port Hudson, whose guns are silent, wonder at the sound, the interludes of which were cheers of wildest rejoicing. They listen all day, and, as the evening approaches, their curiosity could endure the strange demonstration no longer. At one of the points, where the armies were within speaking distance, a rebel officer cailed out: "What are you making all that noise about?' Union officer. "We have taken Vicksburg.". Union officer. "What will convince you?" Rebel. "Nothing but the copy of the despatch, or some reliable authority." Union officer. "Well, I'll get a copy, and pass the parapet." it over Rebel. "If you'll do that, and vouch for its genuineness on your honor as a gentleman and a soldier, I'll be lieve it." The Union man soon furnished the evidence required, copied in his own hand. The rebel took it, and read it, saying: "I am satisfied. It is useless for us to hold out longer." Meanwhile, General Grant had managed to have a message to General Banks intercepted by the enemy, conveying the same intelligence. General Frank Gardiner sent to the latter to know if it were true that Vicksburg had surrendered. When assured it was, he, too, pulled, down the rebel flag, and ours was run up instead. This cleared the Mississippi, from its head waters to the Gulf of Mexico. But what, meanwhile, has Johnston been doing, whom we left hovering in the distance around Vicksburg, impa tient to help the beleaguered army? Foiled in his designs by the sleepless vigilance of General Grant, he had chafed like a caged lion in the toils, quite as thoroughly besieged in the open field as his fellow traitors within the city. And now General Sherman, by General Grant's order, moved toward him, animated by the recent victories. The desperate and startled general expressed his alarm in the following proclamation : FELLOW SOLDIERS: An insolent foe, flushed with hope by his recent success at Vicksburg, confronts you, threatening the people, whose homes and liberty you are here to protect, with plunder and conquest. Their guns may even now be heard as they advance. The enemy it is at once the duty and the mission of you, brave men, to chastise and expel from the soil of Mississippi. The commanding general confidently relies on you to sustain his pledge, which he makes in advance, and he will be with you in the good work, even unto the end. The rebel general reoccupied Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, and waited for Sherman's advance. On, freedom's volunteers swept, till they reached Pearl River, running through the city; and, extending the lines in a broad curve, they nearly encircled the city with walls of armed men. July 11th, troops detailed to forage in the country near-i. e., seek supplies on the enemy's soil-accidentally found in an old building, carefully packed away, a large library, and various mementos of friendship. A glance revealed the owner. A gold-headed cane bore the inscription, "To Jefferson Davis from Franklin Pierce." Precious plunder! The arch traitor has hidden in the quiet country, and in a place which could awaken no suspicion, his valuable library, correspondence, and articles of cherished regard. The excited troopers soon get into the book pile, and volumes, heaps of letters, and handsome canes, are borne as trophies (a new kind of forage) to headquarters. Secession is discussed in many letters, by Northern friends of the treasonable leader, and his right to that proud distinction freely granted. Added to this capture, the railways on every side of the city were destroyed, and hundreds of cars taken from the Confederacy. The twilight hour of July 16th brought to a projection of the works rebel bands of music, insulting our troops with "Bonnie Blue Flag," "My Maryland," "Dixie's Land," and other airs perverted to the service of treason. The next morning's dawn gave signs of a retreating foe. The "fighting Joe Johnston" had stolen away, leaving all over Jackson the marks of ruin. The day before-July 15th-the President issued a proclamation for national thanksgiving on the 6th day of August, for the recent victories, |