Again and yet again he tried and failed. Indeed he
failed so often that people began to clamour for his recall. But
President Lincoln turned a deaf ear to the clamour and decided
always to "try him a little longer" and still a little longer. And
Grant justified his trust.
Finding it impossible to take Vicksburg by assault he determined
to besiege it. In a brilliant campaign of less than a fortnight he
marched a hundred and fifty miles, and fought four battles. Then he
sat down with his victorious army before Vicksburg, and a regular
siege began.
Vicksburg was now completely surrounded. On the river the fleet
kept watch, so that no boats carrying food, ammunition, or relief
of any kind could reach the fated city. On land Grant's army dug
itself in, daily bringing the ring of trenches closer and closer
to the Confederate fortifications. They were so close at last that
the soldiers on either side could hear each other talking, and
often friendly chat passed between the "Yanks" and the "Johnnies"
or Southerners.
"When are you coming into town, Yank?" the Confederates would ask.
"Well, Johnnie, we are thinking of celebrating the 4th of July
there," the Northerners would reply.
And at this the Johnnies would laugh as at a huge joke. No 4th of
July would the Yanks celebrate in their city.
Regularly, too, the Confederates would pass over the little Vicksburg
paper, the Daily Citizen, to their enemies.
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