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point threatened。 From the best information we could gather； General Johnston had about thirty or forty thousand men。 I took post near a plantation of one Trible； near Markham's； and frequently reconnoitred the whole line； and could see the enemy engaged in like manner； on the east aide of Big Black； but he never attempted actually to cross over； except with some cavalry； just above Bear Creek； which was easily driven back。 I was there from June 20th to the 4th of July。 In a small log…house near Markham's was the family of Mr。 Klein； whose wife was the daughter of Mrs。 Day； of New Orleans； who in turn was the sister of Judge T。 W。 Bartley； my brother…in…law。 I used frequently to drop in and take a meal with them； and Mrs。 Klein was generally known as the general's cousin； which doubtless saved her and her family from molestation； too common on the part of our men。
One day； as I was riding the line near a farm known as Parson Fog's； I heard that the family of a Mr。 Wilkinson； of New Orleans； was 〃refugeeing〃 at a house near by。 I rode up； inquired； and found two young girls of that name； who said they were the children of General Wilkinson； of Louisiana； and that their brother had been at the Military School at Alexandria。 Inquiring for their mother； I was told she was spending the day at Parson Fox's。 As this house was on my route； I rode there； went through a large gate into the yard； followed by my staff and escort； and found quite a number of ladies sitting on the porch。 I rode up and inquired if that were Parson Fox's。 The parson； a fine…looking； venerable old man； rose； and said that he was Parson Fox。 I then inquired for Mrs。 Wilkinson； when an elderly lady answered that she was the person。 I asked her if she were from Plaquemine Parish； Louisiana； and she said she was。 I then inquired if she had a son who had been a cadet at Alexandria when General Sherman was superintendent； and she answered yes。 I then announced myself； inquired after the boy； and she said he was inside of Vicksburg； an artillery lieutenant。 I then asked about her husband； whom I had known； when she burst into tears； and cried out in agony； 〃You killed him at Bull Run； where he was fighting for his country！〃 I disclaimed killing anybody at Bull Run； but all the women present （nearly a dozen） burst into loud lamentations； which made it most uncomfortable for me； and I rode away。 On the 3d of July； as I sat at my bivouac by the road…side near Trible's； I saw a poor； miserable horse； carrying a lady； and led by a little negro boy； coming across a cotton…field toward me； as they approached I recognized poor Mrs。 Wilkinson； and helped her to dismount。 I inquired what had brought her to me in that style； and she answered that she knew Vicksburg； was going to surrender； and she wanted to go right away to see her boy。 I had a telegraph…wire to General Grant's headquarters； and had heard that there were symptoms of surrender； but as yet nothing definite。 I tried to console and dissuade her； but she was resolved； and I could not help giving her a letter to General Grant； explaining to him who she was； and asking him to give her the earliest opportunity to see her son。 The distance was fully twenty miles； but off she started； and I afterward learned that my letter had enabled her to see her son； who had escaped unharmed。 Later in the day I got by telegraph General Grant's notice of the negotiations for surrender； and； by his directions； gave general orders to my troops to be ready at a moment's notice to cross the Big Black； and go for Joe Johnston。
The next day （July 4； 1863） Vicksburg surrendered； and orders were given for at once attacking General Johnston。 The Thirteenth Corps （General Ord） was ordered to march rapidly； and cross the Big Black at the railroad…bridge； the Fifteenth by Mesainger's； and the Ninth （General Parker） by Birdsong's Ferry…all to converge on Bolton。 My corps crossed the Big Black during the 5th and 6th of July； and marched for Bolton； where we came in with General Ord's troops； but the Ninth Corps was delayed in crossing at Birdsong's。 Johnston had received timely notice of Pemberton's surrender； and was in full retreat for Jackson。 On the 8th all our troops reached the neighborhood of Clinton； the weather fearfully hot； and water scarce。 Johnston had marched rapidly； and in retreating had caused cattle； hogs； and sheep； to be driven into the ponds of water； and there shot down； so that we had to haul their dead and stinking carcasses out to use the water。 On the l0th of July we had driven the rebel army into Jackson； where it turned at bay behind the intrenchments； which had been enlarged and strengthened since our former visit in May。 We closed our lines about Jackson； my corps （Fifteenth） held the centre； extending from the Clinton to the Raymond road； Ord's （Thirteenth） on the right； reaching Pearl River below the town； and Parker's （Ninth） the left； above the town。
On the 11th we pressed close in； and shelled the town from every direction。 One of Ords brigades （Lauman's） got too close； and was very roughly handled and driven back in disorder。 General Ord accused the commander （General Lauman） of having disregarded his orders； and attributed to him personally the disaster and heavy loss of men。 He requested his relief； which I granted； and General Lauman went to the rear； and never regained his division。 He died after the war； in Iowa； much respected； as before that time he had been universally esteemed a most gallant and excellent officer。 The weather was fearfully hot； but we continued to press the siege day and night； using our artillery pretty freely； and on the morning of July 17th the place was found evacuated。 General Steele's division was sent in pursuit as far as Brandon （fourteen miles）； but General Johnston had carried his army safely off； and pursuit in that hot weather would have been fatal to my command。
Reporting the fact to General Grant； he ordered me to return； to send General Parkes's corps to Haines's Bluff； General Ord's back to Vicksburg； and he consented that I should encamp my whole corps near the Big Black； pretty much on the same ground we had occupied before the movement； and with the prospect of a period of rest for the remainder of the summer。 We reached our camps on the 27th of July。
Meantime； a division of troops； commanded by Brigadier…General W。 Sooy Smith； had been added to my corps。 General Smith applied for and received a sick…leave on the 20th of July； Brigadier…General Hugh Ewing was assigned to its command； and from that time it constituted the Fourth Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps。
Port Hudson had surrendered to General Banks on the 8th of July （a necessary consequence of the fall of Vicksburg）； and thus terminated probably the most important enterprise of the civil war… …the recovery of the complete control of the Mississippi River； from its source to its mouthor； in the language of Mr。 Lincoln； the Mississippi went 〃unvexed to the sea。〃
I put my four divisions into handsome； clean camps； looking to health and comfort alone； and had my headquarters in a beautiful grove near the house of that same Parson Fox where I had found the crowd