and the two succeeding days were spent in making the necessary preparations. At 10 o'clock on the morning of the 22d the 3d corps, Sherman's on the right, McPherson's in the centre, and McClernand's on the left, moved forward, but such was the nature of the ground that only narrow fronts could be brought into action. The garrison reserved its fire till the storming force were in close range, when they opened with the most deadly effect. Many turned back as if from instant destruction, but others, disdaining to retire, pushed on, and portions of each corps succeeded in reaching the breastworks. Conspicuous in McPherson's corps, was the brigade of Gen. Ransom, containing the 11th, 72d, 95th and 116th Illinois. The brigade sprang forward with a shout when the order was given to advanee. At the distance of a few paces a storm of grape and cannister tore through the different regiments disabling Col. Humphrey of the 95th, killing Col. Nevins of the 11th, and for a short time checking the advance. At this juncture Gen. Ransom rushed forward to the head of the brigade and, seizing the colors of the 95th, and waving them overhead, shouted, “Forward men, we must and will get into the fort. Who will follow?" The column again moved forward directly in the face of the wasting volleys, and, on reaching the works, fought for half an hour to effect an entrance. Finding at length this was impossible, the regiments were reformed and marched back without the slightest confusion or the appearance of a single struggle. Within 15 minutes after the charge was ordered, Gens. Lawler's and Landrum's brigades, the latter containing the 97th, 108th and 131st Illinois, were at the works. Twelve men entered a bastion, 11 of whom were killed, while the survivor, aided by sharp-shooters on the parapet, captured and brought out 12 rebels. It being instant death to the force within to expose themselves above the works, they lit the fuse of shells and threw them among the federals who coolly picked them up and threw them back in time to explode. The Mercantile battery of Chicago, approached within a few feet. and fired into an embrasure, and as a reward for their bravery Gen. McClernand presented them with two Napoleon guns captured at Black river. No permanent entrance could be effected and at night the forces were recalled.

Grant, now concluding that the position of the enemy was too strong, both by nature and art, to be carried by storm, sat down before it in regular siege.

Grierson's Raid.-Leaving the beleagured stronghold to the care of the investing army, we will now relate one of the most brilliant episodes of the war, the raid of Gen. B. H. Grierson. While Grant was closing round Vicksburg with his gallant troopers, he was dashing through Mississippi to destroy the railroads and prevent the enemy from sending forward supplies and reinforcements.

On the 17th of April with 3 regiments of cavalry, the 6th and 7th Illinois, and the 2d Iowa, he left Lagrange Tennessee. Arriv ing at Houston on the 20th, Col. Hatch with the 2nd Iowa was sent to Columbus to destroy a portion of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, and if able to capture the town. On the way he was attacked by 800 rebel cavalry, which he repulsed, and at night reached the railroad at Okalona. Having burnt the depot, barracks

and hospital, he started on his homeward march. Before going far, a force of cavalry made a dash at his rear, and again he overthrew them, inflicting on them a loss of 26 men while his own sustained little injury. The remainder of the march was without opposition and the regiments arrived in Lagrange with 20 prisoners, 50 negroes and 500 horses and mules.

Col. Grierson was now left with only the Illinois regiments to cope with the numerous forces of rebel cavalry which were scouring the country in every direction to intercept him. Their opposition and the attending dangers, however, instead of discourag ing him and his brave followers, only gave zest to the enterprise which they now proposed to finish by a headlong dash to Baton Rouge, through the heart of Mississippi. To divert attention from their principal movements and damage the enemy, Capt. Forbes, with 35 men, were sent on a detour eastward to destroy the telegraph and another portion of the M. and O. R. R. at Macon. They left their comrades with stout hearts but little hope of seeing them again, as they would have to pass through a country swarming with enemies and march at least 50 miles farther than the main force. Capt. Graham, with a battalion was also sent to burn a shoe factory in the neighborhood, and succeeded in destroying a large amount of leather and several thousand boots, shoes, hats and caps, besides capturing a quartermaster, who had come to get supplies for the rebel army at Port Hudson.

With these preliminary arrangements, Col. Grierson pushed forward for Pearl river bridge, the reaching of which was now an object of vital importance. Hostile bands of cavalry were on the alert, and should their scouts who preceeded him destroy it, the result would be fatal. With an earnestness, therefore, commensurate with the risk involved, they urged their way forward. Grierson with his kindling eye and thoughtful face, leading the van. Nearing the bridge and hearing the sound of persons engaged in its destruction, they drove spurs into their foaming chargers to increase their speed, and swooping down on the destroyers as an eagle in pursuit of his prey, quickly dispersed them. The entire party reaching the opposite shore in safety, again dashed forward, and on the 24th reached Newton Station on M. & O. R. R. Here they captured 75 rebels, tore up the railroad track, burnt 4 car loads of ammunition and 2 warehouses filled with commissary stores, and destroyed the bridges on the west side of the station. Tarrying only long enough to complete the work of destruction, they were again on the wing, and after an exhausting ride by way of Garlandville, Raleigh and Westville, were ready to recross the river at Georgetown ferry. Gaining the ferry, as in case of the bridge, was a matter of life or death; for although they moved with great rapidity, the news of their exploits usualy preceded them, and it was believed that the citizens were now arming to stop their progress. Arriving at the river the proprietor of the ferry made his appearance, and in a careless way, asked if they wanted to cross, supposing them to be a force of Alabama cavalry which was expected in the neighborhood. Col. Prince of the 7th, imitating his provincial vernacu lar, replied in the affirmative, and added that "it took more time to wake up his negro ferryman than to catch the d-d conscripts."

Thoroughly deceived by his Yankee interlocutor, and apologizing for their detention, he awoke his negroes, who ferried them over, and then with true southern hospitality, invited them to breakfast, believing he was entertaining the 1st regiment of Alabama cavalry. As soon as the repast was over the party resumed their march and shortly afterward captured a courier, flying with the startling intelligence that the Yankees were coming and that the ferry must be destroyed. At Hazlehurst on the New Orleans and Jackson railroad, the next place visited, a large number of cars were destroyed, containing powder, shell and other supplies for the confederate army.

At this point Capt. Forbes sent to destroy the railroad at Macon rejoined them. In his return he unwittingly became the hero of a daring adventure. Entering Newton station where he expected to meet with the men under Grierson he was astonished to find himself in the midst of 3000 rebels in the act of debarking from the cars. With remarkable presence of mind he hoisted a flag of truce, and, boldly riding up, demanded the surrender of the force, in the name of Col. Grierson. The rebel officer in command, supposing Grierson's whole force which rumor had magnified to a mighthy host, was close at hand, asked an hour to consider the demand. Forbes granted the request with feigned reluctance, and started for the pretended troops in reserve to whom the confederate was to send his reply at the expiration of the time. The raiders, amused at the sell, dashed away, giving the enemy a long time to consult in regard to terms of the capitulation, and a long distance to travel before they could make them known. The entire command left Hazlehurst on the 27th and, pushing along the N. O. & J. R. R., through the stations of Bahala, Brookhaven and Summit, tore up the railroad destroyed its rolling stock, and immense quantities of commissary's stores and munitions on the way to Vicksburg, Port Hudson and Grand Gulf. On leaving the railroad they reached Baton Rouge on the 2d of May, the objective point of the expedition. Within the last 30 hours without eating or sleeping, they had ridden 80 miles, destroyed a number of bridges and large quantities of military stores, swam one river, had three skirmishes with the enemy, and took 42 prisoners. So exhausted were the men that they slept on their horses till the report of carbines roused them to action, and when the fray was over again relapsed into slumber.

A resume of their operations shows that in the brief interval of 16 days they had ridden from the northern to the southern part of Mississippi, and, although operating between two great rebel lines of communication, the Mobile & Ohio and New Orleans and Jackson railroads, by skillful manoeuvers, usually succeeded in eluding the enemy. In their march of 800 miles they took 500 prisoners, destroyed from 50 to 60 miles of railroad, 2 locomotives, 200 cars and military stores, and other property valued at $40,000; while they crossed into the Union lines with 1,200 horses and mules and 500 negroes.

The most determined efforts were made to capture them. A thousand cavalrymen from south of Port Hudson, 1,300 from Mobile, and 2,000 from the vicinity of Columbia, were sent for this purpose, but Grierson's strategy rendered their efforts abortive. Their safe arrival in Baton Rouge, whither the story of

their adventure had preceded them, created the greatest enthusiasm and rejoicing. Many refused to believe what they had heard till they saw the men and listened to a recital of their feats. So iminent were the dangers and so complete the success, it seems more like a feat of romance than an occurrence of actual life. The rebels were taught, notwithstanding the efficiency of their cavalry, they could be "outrode, outwitted and out fought," and hence the moral results achieved were no less important than the physical.

Siege and Surrender of Vicksburg. From the investment of the city till the surrender, little occurred to diversify the routine of duty performed by the investing army. On the 22d of June, the rebels in a sortie drove the 14th Illinois from their trenches which, as a working party, they were engaged in excavating round the city. The succeeding night the 41st Illinois and some other forces, were ordered to the same trenches and the rebels again sallied forth and demanded their surrender. The colonel of the 41st instantly ordered the artillery to open and in a severe fight the rebels were driven back to their works.

On the 25th the miners of McPherson's corps blew up the rebel Fort Hill. Having deposited a ton of powder in an excavation under the fort, and selected the 45th Illinois to occupy the breach, the mine was sprung. Almost noiselessly the ground was lifted up as if some subterranean monster had suddenly risen from his lair and tossed aside his covering of earth. A yawning erater some 20 feet in width was opened, and hardly had the cloud of white smoke which issued from it cleared away, before the battle-scarred veterans of the 45th were at their post. The rebels crowded up to the breach with great rapidity, and the fight on both sides was one of desperation. For want of room the federal regiments subsequently engaged, went in one at a time, and as each exhausted its amunition another took its place. In this manner the 23d, 25th, 39th, 31st, 46th, 56th and 124th, Illinois, successively entered the vortex of fire and struggled like demi-gods to quench its flames.

The object of these mining operations was to possess important points in the enemy's line of defenses and thereby press him back toward the river. When, however, it became evident that the garrison was short of provisions, the excavations of parrallels and mines was discontinued. was discontinued. The supply of food, though it had been carefully husbanded, and the flesh of mules extensively used, was now nearly exhausted. A failure of amunition also ensued, the ardor of the garrison was dampened by protracted pri vations, and the citizens living in caves to avoid danger, found their suffering too great to longer continue the siege.

Induced by these stringent necessities, Pemberton, on the 2d of July, displayed a white flag on the ramparts in view of the investing army, and an officer being sent to ascertain its meaning learned that he wished to confer in regard to terms of capitulation. Correspondence was interchanged, resulting in a personal interview between the two chiefs of the contending forces, and finally in the unconditional surrender of the city and confederate army. So great was the number of prisoners to avoid the expense of their maintainance and transportation to northern prisons, they were parolled. It was also believed that the demoralization consequent

upon their return home after defeat, would more than counterbalance the efforts of those who might be again induced to take up arms. The stars and stripes were hoisted over the conquered stronghold, thus symbolizing the nation's majesty in the presence of her erring and rebellious children.

Only three days after the fall of Vicksburg, as the immediate result of the victory, Port Hudson surrendered to the besieging force under Banks. The campaigns for the opening of the Mississippi were now at an end. To Illinois far more than to any other State, the nation is indebted for this successful termination. Her representatives in the long list of bloody battles and brilliant victories were the 8th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 17th,20th,23d, 25th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32d, 33d, 35th, 38th, 41st, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th, 51st, 53d, 55th, 57th, 63d, 72d, 75th, 76th, 77th, 81st, 93d, 94th, 95th, 97th, 99th, 108th, 113th, 114th, 116th, 118th, 120th, 124th, 126th, 127th and 131st regiments of infantry, Willard's Peoria and the Chicago and Mercantile battery, the 6th, 7th and portions of the 23d, 15th and Thielman's cavalry.

Step by step they had hewed their way toward the gulf, stronghold after stronghold had fallen beneath their stalwart blows, and now the last fetter which treason had forged to bind the Father of Waters, was riven asunder. No victory of the war was so decisive in its results as the capture of Vicksburg. It has been truthfully said that the possession of the Mississippi valley is the possession of America. Had the Richmond government been able to maintain the power it set up in the lower part of the great valley, the upper portion would have gravitated into the confederacy as naturally as its waters fall into the gulf. Furthermore the river not only served as a means of defense but was the dividing line between two great sections of the revolted territory. That lying on the west, although less important than the Atlantic region, was nevertheless the vast storehouse whence supplies had been drawn for the support of the armies in Virginia and Tennessee. Now isolated Texas could no longer contribute her vast herds of cattle, Arkansas her serials and Louisiana her sugar. With a fleet of federal gunboats patrolling the river, concert in the military operations of the severed States was impossible, and in those of the west the war was virtually at an end.

To the material effects of the blow the moral must be added to fully appreciate the extent of the damage sustained by the confederacy. The surprise and consternation consequent upon the Mississippi disaster fell like a thunderbolt from a clear sky on the people of the south. The spirit of their high vaulting chivalry was broken, and gloomy doubts brooded in the minds of many as to the possibility of ever realizing the success of their cause. The confederate authorities were early convinced of the importance of the Mississippi. At the time Grant commenced his descent against Vicksburg, Jefferson Davis harangued the people of Jackson on the necessity of preserving the Mississippi, as the great artery of the country and the only means of securing the perpetuity of the new government. Pollard in referring to its loss, says: "It compelled as its necessary consequence, the surrender of other posts on the Mississippi and cut the confederacy in twain. Its defense had worked exposure and weakness in other quarters. It had about stripped Charleston of troops; it had taken many thousand