July 4, 1863
---Siege
of Vicksburg, Day 43
---Siege of Port Hudson, Day
38
---Vicksburg Surrenders!
– On this date, Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton surrenders his Army of Mississippi
and the city of Vicksburg to Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. The Confederate surrender 29,491 men, 172
pieces of artillery, 50,000 muskets and 600,000 rounds of ammunition. Even though Confederate Secretary of War
James Seddon had given orders to Joseph Johnston to attack Grant to relieve
Vicksburg, Johnston (for reasons that are yet unclear) had chosen to disregard
them. Seddon's letter says:
Vicksburg must not be lost without a
desperate struggle. The interest and honor of the Confederacy forbid it. I rely
on you still to avert the loss. If better resources do not offer, you must
hazard attack. It may be made in concert with the garrison, if practicable, but
otherwise, without-by day or night, as you think best.
As a result
of Johnston’s inaction, Pemberton decides that in order to avert further
bloodshed and suffering he should surrender the city. His troops are so malnourished, they are in
no condition to fight even if Johnston did attack the Union lines to assist with
a breakout.
---A Unionist woman in Vicksburg records her
impressions of the victorious Federal troops marching into conquered Vicksburg:
July 4th. – It is evening. All is
still. Silence and night are once more united. I can sit at the table in the
parlor and write. Two candles are lighted. I would like a dozen. We have had
wheat supper and wheat bread once more. … [The author relates the history of
the past 24 hours, including the stars and stripes being raised at the
courthouse and federal transport boats coming around the bend full of provisions.]
Towards five Mr. J– passed again. “Keep on the lookout,” he said; “the army of
occupation is coming along,” and in a few minutes the head of the column
appeared. What a contrast to the suffering creatures we had seen so long were
these stalwart, well-fed men, so splendidly set up and accoutered. Sleek
horses, polished arms, bright plumes, – this was the pride and panoply of war.
Civilization, discipline, and order seemed to enter with the measured tramp of
those marching columns; and the heart turned with throbs of added pity to the
worn men in gray, who were being blindly dashed against this embodiment of
modern power. And now this “silence that is golden” indeed is over all, and my
limbs are unhurt, and I suppose if I were Catholic, in my fervent gratitude, I
would hie me with a rich offering to the shrine of “our Lady of Mercy.”
The Gettysburg Campaign
---Gen.
Robert E. Lee, uncertain of Meade’s attentions, gives orders for the withdrawal
of his army. Johnson’s division pulls
back from the base of Culp’s Hill, and Early’s division fall back from the town
of Gettysburg to Seminary Ridge. As a
heavy rain begins to fall, Gen. Imboden’s cavalry brigade heads for
Chambersburg, along with the ambulance and supply trains for the Army of
Northern Virginia. Also this evening,
Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill and his III Corps begin to pull out of line and march
towards Chambersburg.
---Gen.
Meade orders his cavalry to probe towards Fairfield, Cashtown, and Emmitsburg
in the hope of cutting off any Confederate escape routes. Troops from the XI Corps enter Gettysburg
unopposed.
---Sergeant
James T. Odem of the 5th New Jersey Infantry Regiment writes home to
his wife from Westminster, Maryland, where his regiment was on guard duty. He passes on what information he is getting
from Gettysburg, and comments on the depredations of the Rebels in northern
country---as well as on Yankee depredations amongst the local farmers:
Westminster, Maryland July 4th 1863
My wife: I again pen a few lines for
Your Entertainment and perusal. Well here I am Sitting In the wagon to keep out
of the rain which is falling in torrents, the first heavy rain that we have had
for Some days, and of Course very acceptable, although it is very bad for the
troops who are Now Wounded, or fighting upon the Battlefield. there has been
Some very hard fighting at Gettysburg Pa. within the last few days and the Loss
is heavy on both Sides. Our forces have Captured Several thousand Rebels that I
have Seen and I have been talking with Some of the Rebs which talk as Poison as
the bite of a Rattler Snake. they Say they will fight us as long as they have a
man Left. this town is part Secesh, but Many of the Ladies are Caring for our
wounded that are brought here. We are not far from the State Line, yet I am
Some 25 Miles from where the fighting is going on. Our trains are mostly all
parked here, out of the way of the Enemy, for fear of Capture as the Rebel
Cavalry are all over the Country and was in this place Last Monday, when they Sacked
all the Stores and destroying what they did not care to carry off, besides
Stealing about 4,000 horses from the farmers, and Robbing Private houses and insulting the females, but they are
Paying very dearly for their Crimes just Now. Our forces are whipping them at
all points here we have traveled Some 300 miles but Now we have Come to a halt
for awhile, and I believe that before we Leave again for Virginia, that the Rebel
army which is here in Maryland and Pennsylvania will pretty much all be
Killed Or Captured, as the water in the Potomac is So high that they cannot
Escape. . . . The wheat Looks good, but I tell you that the army is doing Much
Mischief to the farmers destroying trees and Crops but Buy what Hay and grain as
victuals they take away. . . . I would Like to have been home to spend the 4th
with you, yet I am doing well to what Many poor Souls are. Please give My love
and Compliments to Christian and family.
Likewise to you and the Children. Good by from your Husband
James T. Odem
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