Siege of Vicksburg
Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, unsuccessful thus far in capturing Vicksburg, Mississippi, today gives up assaulting the city and orders his commanders to deploy siege tactics. Thus begins a month-long plus effort to force the city to surrender.
Meanwhile, readers of North Carolina Baptists’ Biblical Recorder learn of a good report from the Confederate army camps of East Tennessee and North Carolina.
Elder J. Ammons writes from Zollieoffer, East Tenneesse:
“I have visited three regiments stationed at and near this place, and distributed 4,170 pages of tracts, and preached one sermon. The soldiers were glad to meet me every where, and while I was engaged in distributing tracts they would gather around me, saying, ‘Give me one, please, sir,’. ‘Give me some for my mess,’ &C.–There are very few Testaments and no Hymn-books in these camps, and the troops are wanting them very much. I met with many good warm-hearted christian men whom it appeared to please very much to see a minister in camp.”
Rev. S. W. Howerton, now Chaplain of the 15th N. C. Regiment, writes:
“It has never failed to swell my heart with joy to see the eagerness with which both officers and men have received our tracts, hymn-books and Testaments. A great many tell me that after they have read their tracts they fold them up in their letters and send them to their friends at home. All the books and tracts you furnished me have been distributed. I have been received and treated with the utmost kindness and courtesy. All seem to be anxious that a christian influence be exerted over the army. Whilst I labored as colporteur, General Cook very kindly gave me rations and transportation, as if I belonged to his Brigade. We have worship three times a week. Our congregations are very large, attentive and serious. I have found here some bright and shining christians, and many who said they enjoyed religion at home, but in the army surrounded by so much wickedness, and deprived of all religious influence, they have become lukewarm.”
Sources: “The Campaign for Vicksburg,” National Park Service (link); N.B.C., “News From our Army Colporteurs,” Biblical Recorder, May 20, 1863 (link); image from Harper’s Weekly, July 25 (link)
