'Pears to me I can nearly feel 'em crumpling up before us."
Trumpets blew the next morning. All the firing ceased suddenly and the
three lads saw a Southern general with several officers of lower rank,
riding forward under a white flag. It was Bowen, who came out to meet
Grant.
Dick drew a deep, long breath. He knew that this was the end. So did
his comrades. A cheer started and swept part of the way along the lines,
but the officers quickly stopped it.
"Vicksburg is ours," said Dick.
"Looks like it," said Warner.
But Grant told Bowen that he would treat only with Pemberton, and after
delays General Pemberton came out. General Grant went forward to meet
him. The two stood alone under a tree within seventy yards of the
Confederate lines and talked.
Chance or fortune presented a startling coincidence. Almost at the very
moment that Grant and Pemberton met under the tree Pickett's men were
rising to their feet and preparing for the immortal but fatal charge at
Gettysburg. While the cannon had ceased suddenly at Vicksburg they were
thundering from many score mouths at Gettysburg.
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