VICKSBURG, July 6,
1863.
DEAR FATHER, —
Vicksburg has at last surrendered after a siege of over forty days. The
surrender took place on the morning of the 4th of July. I found I had
continuously underestimated the force of the enemy both in men and Artillery.
The number of prisoners surrendered was thirty thousand and too hundred. The
process of parolling is so tedious, however, that many who are desirous of
getting to their homes will escape before the paroling officers get around to
them. The Arms taken is about 180 pieces of Artillery and over 30,000 stand of
small Arms. The enemy still had about four days rations of flour and meat and a
large quantity of sugar.
The weather now is
excessively warm and the roads intolerably dusty. It cannot be expected
under these circumstances that the health of this command can keep up
as it has done. My troops were not allowed one hour's idle time after the
surrender but were at once started after other game.
My health has
continued very good during the campaign which has just closed. Remember me to
all at home.
ULYSSES.
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