[Vicksburg surrenders to the Union on July 4th! Supposedly the city didn’t celebrate the 4th of July for another 80-some years out of pique.]
Vicksburg July 4 1863
Dear Anna
At last I date my letter at the far famed city of Vicksburg. This morning at two oclock the Rebels surrendered and we have been celebrating the fourth gloriously. I have been over the entire City, visiting all their works +C and must say that it is the strongest fortified place I ever saw. I noticed that scarcely a house had escaped having a shell put through them and in some cases some Houses were entirely demolished. I visited a great many of their caves dug in the Hills and found them full of women + children [p2] We have captured a great quantity of Arms Cannons +C and about Twenty five thousand prisoners. The latter are all to be paroled and will go into camp somewhere down here until exchanged. Taking the whole thing through since we crossed the Mississippi River this Army have had a great many victories and glorious ones. I think it will pay up for the disgrace our Eastern folks are undergoing. We have received orders, this evening to march in the morning with all our Baggage. Our whole Army have received the same orders excepting some two or three divisions to hold this place
our destination is for the Black River, to give Gen Joe Johnson as good a whipping as he has ever received. I think we shall have to follow him to Jackson and very probably he will not stop [p3] there. I do not think we will follow him further than that place. I do not Know where we will go after this is settled, but I really hope we shall be allowed to go into camp somewhere as I am about worn out and would like some rest. I think by the time this affair is settled with Johnson that it will be about the time I am to come home, and I shall certainly make my appearance then at the appointed time so look out for me and be sure and be ready –
We are having very noisy times here to night. The Soldiers are celebrating the 4th and the taking of Vicksburg by a grand display of Fire Works. I wish you would write to me very often – direct to Vicksburg and the Letters will be sure to follow the Regiment. We are going to have an awful hot time marching, and I expect [p4] to see the men suffer terribly with the dust and heat. I will have to write you a short letter this evening as I have a great deal to do before I go in the way of packing up +C Do dear Anna write me soon + often and believe me as ever
Yours only
DPGrier
