class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">XIV.

Dogs—Horses—Descent of a Shell through a Cave—A Mother’s Cries—Deserted Homes—Silence, 78 XV. An Excitement—Sinking of the Cincinnati—Sky Parlor Hill—Moving Prospects, 84 XVI. Fall of a Shell at the Corner of my Cave—Music—Casualties of the Day, 89 XVII. Ride to the Fortifications—Number of Caves along the Road—Appearance of the New Home—Change of Missiles, 94 XVIII. Morning—Charge of General Burbridge—Horrors of War—An Important Discovery, 99 XIX. An Acceptable Present—Hunger—Half Rations—In the Rifle Pits, 105 XX. A Rainy Morning—A Waterspout—Dismal Experience—Brighter Prospects—An Unfortunate Sleeper, 109 XXI. Weary—The Couriers from General Johnston—Dangerous Pasturage—Mule Meat—Local Songs—Missed by a Minié Ball, 114 XXII. A Wounded Horse—Shrapnell Shells—Charge on the Intrenchments—Fearful Firing, 122 XXIII. An Unhappy Accident—The Unfortunate Ladies of Vicksburg—Approach of Mortar Shells near the Intrenchments, 128 XXIV. Death of a Faithful Servant—Blowing up of a Fort—Loss of Prominent Officers—Surrender of Vicksburg, 135 XXV. A Fright—George my Protector—A Polite Soldier gets the Tent Fly, 143   Letters of Trial and Travel, 147

 

 

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MY CAVE LIFE IN VICKSBURG.

 

 

MY CAVE LIFE IN VICKSBURG.

 

 

CHAPTER I.

It has been said that the peasants of the Campagna, in their semi-annual visits to the Pontine marshes, arrive piping and dancing; but it is seldom they return in the same merry mood, the malaria fever being sure to affect them more or less. Although I did not leave Jackson on the night of the 15th piping and dancing, yet it was with a very happy heart and very little foreboding of evil that I set off with a party of friends for a pleasant visit to Vicksburg. Like the peasants, I returned more serious and with a dismal experience. How little do we know with what rapidity our feelings may change! We had been planning a visit to Vicksburg for some weeks, and anticipating pleasure in meeting our friends. How gladly, in a few days, we left it, with the explosions of bombs still sounding in our ears! How beautiful was this evening: the sun glowed and warmed into mellow tints over the rough forest trees; over the long moss that swung in slow and stately dignity, like old-time dancers, scorning the quick and tripping movements of the present day! Glowing and warming over all, this evening sun, this mellow, pleasant light, breaking in warm tints over the rugged ground of the plantation, showed us the home scenes as we passed; the sober and motherly cows going home for