340 ZJCFIff ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
This man had kept a diary during—sb: weeks? No, only the
first six days. The first day, eight close pages; the second, five; the
third, one—loosely written; the fourth, three or four lines; a line or
two the fifth and sixth days; seventh day? diary abandoned; life in
terrific Vieksbuig having now become commonplace and matter of
course.
The war history of Vicksburg has more about it to interest the
general reader than that of any other of the river-towns. It is full of
variety, full of incident, full of the picturesque. Vicksburg held out
longer than any other important river-town, and saw warfare in all
its phases, both land and water—the siege, the mine, the assault, the
repulse, the bombardment, sickness, captivity, famine.
The most beautiful of all the national cemeteries is here. Over
the great gateway is this inscription—
'HEBE BEST IK PEACE 16,600 WHO DEED FOB THETE COUNTEY
IN THE YEABS 1861 TO 1865.'
The grounds are nobly situated; being very high and commanding
a wide prospect of land and river. They are tastefully laid out in
bxoad terraces, with winding roads and paths; and there is profuse
adornment in the way of semi-tropical shrubs and flowers; and in
one part is a piece of native wild-wood, left just as it grew, and,
therefore, perfect in its charm. Everything about this cemetery
suggests the hand of the national Government. The Government's
work is always conspicuous for excellence, solidity, thoroughness,
neatness. The Government does its work well in the first place, and
then takes care of it.
By winding-roads—which were often cut to so great a depth
between perpendicular walls that they were mere roofless tunnels—
we drove out a mile or two and visited the monument which stands
mpon the scene of the surrender of Vicksburg to General Grant by
General Pemberton, Its metal will preserve it from the hackings
and chippings which so defaced its predecessor, which was of marble;
but the brick foundations are crumbling, and it will tumble down by-
wad-bye. It overlooks a picturesque region of wooded mia and
ravines; and is not tmpicturesque itself, being well smothered in