MORAL SUBLIMITY. 339 become soldiers ob de blessed Redeemer, and you are safe; safe when de battle rages, safe when de chills ob death come, safe when de world's on fire." One of the men, desirous of changing the conversation, said: "Uncle, are you Uncle, are you blind?" He replied: "Oh no, bless de Lord, I am not blind to de tings ob de spirit. I see by an eye ob faith my blessed Saviour sitting at de right hand ob God, and I'll soon see Him more clearly, for Jesus loves dis old blind darkie, and will soon take him home." Now, when we talk of moral sublimity we are apt to point to Alexander conquering the world, to Hannibal surmounting the Alps, to Cæsar crossing the Rubicon, or to Lawrence wrapping himself in the American flag and crying "Don't give up the ship!" But in my opinion here was a specimen of moral sublimity equal to anything that ever graced the pages of history or was ever exhibited upon a battle-field-a poor old, blind, palsied slave, resting upon the "Rock of Ages," while the waves of affliction dashed like mountains at his feet; yet, looking up to heaven, and trusting in the great and precious promises, he gave glory to God, and triumphed over pain and disease, rejoicing even in tribulation. While the old slave was talking to the soldiers a number of young darkies came forward, and when the conversation ceased they all struck up 340 CONTRABAND JUBILEE. the following piece, and sang it with good effect: Oh, praise an' tanks! De Lord he come To set de people free; An' massa tink it day ob doom, An' we ob jubilee. De Lord dat heap de Red Sea waves, He jes' as strong as den; He say de word-we las' night slaves, To-day de Lord's free men. CHORUS-De yam will grow, de cotton blow, O nebber you fear if nebber you hear Ole massa on his trabbles gone He lebe de land behind; De Lord's breff blow him furder on, We own de hoe, we own de plow, CHORUS-De yam will grow, etc, We know de promise nebber fail, We waited for de Lord. CHORUS-De yam will grow, etc. Then a collection was taken up among the sol. diers and presented to the old blind colored man, who wept with delight as he received it, for said he-"I hab no home, no money, an' no friend, but de Lord Jesus." CHAPTER XXVII. ARRIVAL AT VICKSBURG-ITS SURROUNDINGS-GRANT'S ARMYASSAULT ON THE REBEL WORKS-THE SEVEN COLOR-BEARERS -PEMBERTON'S HARANGUE-IN THE TRENCHES-SUFFERINGS OF THE WOUnded-pemBERTON'S PROPOSED CAPITULATIONGRANT'S REPLY-TERMS Of surrender-OCCUPATION of the CITY-LOSS OF THE ENEMY-COMPLIMENTARY LETTERGRANT'S SUCCESS-ATTACHMENT OF HIS SOLDIERS-“ FIGHTING DICK "-GOLD LACE-REBEL SUFFERINGS-SIGHTS IN VICKSBURG-INCIDENTS OF THE SIEGE-CAVE LIFE. OUR UR troops at length joined General Grant's army near Vicksburg, where those veterans had been digging and fighting so many weeks. The city of Vicksburg is nestled among numerous terraced hills, and would under other circumstances present a magnificent and romantic appearance; but I could not at that time realize its beauty, for the knowledge of the sufferings and distress of thousands within its walls detracted materially from its outward grandeur. The enemy's works had consisted of a series of redoubts extending from Haines' Bluff to the Warrenton road, a distance of some ten miles. It was a vast plateau, upon which a multitude of little hills seemed to have been sown broadcast, giving the enemy a position from which it could sweep 342 PEMBERTON'S HARANGUE. every neighboring crest and enfilade every approach. But the rebels had already been driven from this position after a severe struggle. On the twenty-second of May, at two o'clock in the morning, heavy guns were opened upon the rebel works, and continued until ten o'clock, when a desperate assault was made by three corps moving simultaneously. After a severe engagement and heavy loss the flag of the Seventh Missouri was planted on one of the rebel parapets, after seven color-bearers had been shot down. After this contest the rebel general, Pemberton, addressed his men as follows: "You have heard that I was incompetent and a traitor, and that it was my intention to sell Vicksburg. Follow me, and you will see the cost at which I will sell Vicksburg. When the last pound of beef, bacon and flour, the last grain of corn, the last cow and hog, horse and dog shall have been consumed, and the last man shall have perished in the trenches, then, and not till then, will I sell Vicksburg." It became evident that the works could not be carried by assault, and that nothing but a regular siege could reduce the fortifications. While the sige was in progress our soldiers endured hardships, privations and sufferings which words can but inadequately express. Our men were closely packed in the trenches, often in water to the knees, and not daring to lift their heads above the brow of the rifle pits, as the rebel sharp PEMBERTON'S PROPOSAL. 343 shooters lost no time in saluting every unfortunate head which made its appearance above ground. The sufferings of the wounded were extreme. Those who were wounded during the day in the trenches nearest the city could not be removed until the curtain of night fell upon the scene and screened them from the vigilant eye of the enemy. General Grant steadily approached the doomed city by means of saps and mines, and continued to blow up their defenses, until it was evident that another day's work would complete the capture of the city. Such was the position of affairs on the third of July, when General Pemberton proposed an ar mistice and capitulation. Major General Bowen, of the Confederate army, was the bearer of a despatch to General Grant, under a flag of truce, proposing the surrender of the city, which was as follows: HEADQUARTERS, VICKSBURG, Major General Grant, commanding United States forces: GENERAL-I have the honor to propose to you an armistice for hours, with a view of arranging terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg. To this end, if agreeable to you, I will appoint three commissioners to meet a like number to be named by yourself, at such place and hour to-day as you may find convenient. I make this proposition to |