Some months ago, thinking it might be useful, I obtained
from the consul of my birthplace, by sending to another town, a passport for
foreign parts. H––– said if we went out to the lines we might be permitted to
get through on that. So we packed the trunks, got a carriage, and on the 30th
drove out there. General V––– offered us seats in his tent. The rifle-bullets
were whizzing so zip, zip from the sharp-shooters on the Federal lines
that involuntarily I moved on my chair. He said, “Don't be alarmed; you are out
of range. They are firing at our mules yonder.” His horse, tied by the tent door,
was quivering all over, the most intense exhibition of fear I'd ever seen in an
animal. General V––– sent out a flag of truce to the Federal headquarters, and
while we waited wrote on a piece of silk paper a few words. Then he said, “My
wife is in Tennessee. If you get through the lines, send her this. They will
search you, so I will put it in this toothpick.” He crammed the silk paper into
a quill toothpick, and handed it to H–––. It was completely concealed. The flag-of-truce
officer came back flushed and angry. “General Grant says no human being shall pass
out of Vicksburg; but the lady may feel sure danger will soon be over. Vicksburg
will surrender on the 4th.”
“Is that so, general?” inquired H–––.
“Are arrangements for surrender made?”
“We know nothing of the kind. Vicksburg will not surrender.”
“Those were General Grant's exact words, sir,” said the
flag-officer. “Of course it is nothing but their brag.”
We went back sadly enough, but to-day H––– says he will
cross the river to General Porter's lines and try there; I shall not be
disappointed.
SOURCE: George W. Cable, “A Woman's Diary Of The Siege Of
Vicksburg”, The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXX, No.
5, September 1885, p. 773
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