ing as best they could towards the direction of the hospitals in Vicksburg. Public buildings were completely filled, many residences were converted into hospitals, but even there, there weren’t any medications that could be provided to them. Each day, dead wagons as they were called, made the rounds of the hospitals and the dead brought out in everyday increasing numbers. They were laid to rest in the city cemetery, north of town. As May eventually faded into June, Grant moved up his infantry and artillery, first within 300 yards, then 200 yards, then 100 yards. The object was to get as close to the enemy as possible. So if an attack was ordered, all they had to do was get out of their man-made ditched, over the parapet and among the enemy. This would help cut down on casualties and help the troops strengthen which would vacate the enemy. An option was to tunnel underneath the enemy, hollow out rooms, fill them with black powder and destroy the fortifications of Vicksburg. Union soldiers excavated 13 approaches. Of the 13, the most popular was called Logan’s approach, situated along the Jackson Road, here in the center of the Confederate line. They excavated a trench 7 feet deep and 8 feet wide. On June 25th, 2,200 pounds of black powder was placed into the mine. At 3 p.m., the fuse was lit. Tense moments passed then the ground gave way and a column of flame and dirt touched the sky. Before the dust could settle, Union soldiers ran into the crater in an attempt to secure the breach. This battle lasted for 26 hours. The confederates at the point of bayonet sealed the breach. The Union planned had failed. In early July, Pemperton and Grant began negotiations for the conditions of surrender. On July 4th, 1863, the Confederates surrendered. Grant road horseback along the Jackson Road and down to the Warren County Courthouse, where he watched the stars and the stripes be placed on top of the building....
