human
Mr. L., you must both come to our cave to-night. I hear that to-night the shelling is to surpass anything yet. An assault will be made in front and rear. You know we have a double cave; there is room for you in mine, and mother and sister will make a place for Mrs. L. Come right up; the ball will open about seven.
gpt
Daily Citizen.
human
This is strangely quiet, Mr. L.
gpt
Ah, sir, shaking his head gloomily,
human
I'm afraid the last shell has been thrown into Vicksburg.
gpt
Why do you fear so?
human
It is surrender. At six last evening a man went down to the river and blew a truce signal; the shelling stopped at once.
gpt
Good-morning, madam, he said;
human
Is it true about the surrender?
gpt
Yes; we have had no official notice, but they are paroling out at the lines now, and the men in Vicksburg will never forgive Pemberton. An old granny! A child would have known better than to shut men up in this cursed trap to starve to death like useless vermin. His eyes flashed with an insane fire as he spoke.
human
Haven't I seen my friends carted out three or four in a box, that had died of starvation! Nothing else, madam! Starved to death because we had a fool for a general.
gpt
Don't you think you're rather hard on Pemberton? He thought it his duty to wait for Johnston.
human
Some people may excuse him, ma'am, but we'll curse him to our dying day. Anyhow, you'll see the blue-coats directly.