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| Burying the dead that had lain between the Union and Confederate lines for three days. |
Pemberton sent a flag of truce to Grant at two P. M., and
the cessation of hostilities thus agreed on, lasted till eight o'clock in the
evening. It made us happy, for we fancied it was a sign they wanted to
surrender—but no such good luck. It was simply to give both sides a chance to
bury their dead, which had been lying exposed since the twenty-second. Both
armies issued from their respective fortifications and pits, and mingled
together in various sports, apparently with much enjoyment. Here a group of
four played cards—two Yanks and two Rebs. There, others were jumping, while
everywhere blue and gray mingled in conversation over the scenes which had
transpired since our visit to the neighborhood. I talked with a very sensible
rebel, who said he was satisfied we should not only take Vicksburg, but drive
the forces of the south all over their territory, at last compelling them to
surrender; still, he said, he had gone into the fight, and was resolved not to
back out. He said they had great hope of dissension in the north, to such an
extent as might strengthen their cause. There have been grounds for this hope,
I am sorry to say, and such dissensions at the north must prolong the war, if
our peace party should succeed in materially obstructing the war measures of
government. From the remarks of some of the rebels, I judged that their supply
of provisions was getting low, and that they had no source from which to draw
more. We gave them from our own rations some fat meat, crackers, coffee and so
forth, in order to make them as happy as we could. We could see plainly that
their officers watched our communications closely.
SOURCE: Osborn Hamiline Oldroyd, A Soldier's Story
of the Siege of Vicksburg, p. 35-7
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