By Way of Vicksburg

American civil war story

By Way of Vicksburg     by Sami Khalil

The key to winning the American civil war according to Abraham Lincoln

Meadowlark’s tunes rang out with sweet, flute-like melodies, contrasting the booms of canons across the battlefields. Even as the trees of frost and fen were sopping through, the caravan of tired men and women forged ahead to Vicksburg, Mississippi, making few stops for rest as the dogs barked closely behind.

Signs of a fiendish war were all around, marking them as a perfect epitome of a nation turned against itself.

It was the fated journey that would take it along the pathway of an axiomatic history; a bloody one.

Tensions were simmering hot between the northern and southern states over issues of slavery. As Abraham Lincoln ascended the reign of presidency in 1860, many southern states seceded from the union, with eager contempt, causing a deadly civil war that unfolded on American soil from 1861 till 1865, when finally, the confederate army surrendered.

Beyond the listings of courage and bravery from each side, many instances were stamped with timid schisms. Portioned were the heroes as headstones outran the heaps of drifting pillories or stoic eyes.

As the caravan got closer to the “Balfour House” at the corner of Cherry and Crawford, Red Cadel and his new bride, Virginia, saw the stately mansion perching upon a high bluff. As invited guests to the grand Christmas gala of December 24, 1862, hosted by the mistress of the house, Emma Harrison Balfour, and her physician husband, William, they quickly disembarked and were ushered in to meet many notable figures, in attendance upon the crowd of dancers in their revelry.

A little past midnight, a courier interrupted the joyful event, announcing the siege of Vicksburg had started to Gen. M.L.Smith.

As the general ended the party, he declared: “This ball is at an end! The enemy is coming down river. All non-combatants must leave the city!”

What transpired next in the 47-day siege was horrific. People took refuge, fleeing the pandemonium, in over 500 caves scattered around the city to escape the relentless shelling from the Federal artillery. It was heartrending for water and food were very scarce where residents resorted to eating horses and mules even rats, feeling the devastation a war brings. Tragically Virginia was bit by a venomous snake, dying in few hours. Red survived and went on to become an inventor. Emma’s treasure trove diary was discovered in the 1990’s, documenting life under the events of that war, at a public library in Birmingham, Alabama.

Vicksburg fell to Union Troops on July 4, 1863, with the chance to control the Mississippi river. Vicksburg was termed, “The Key,” by Abraham Lincoln to unlock many things. The freed slaves were tasked to dig the graves of former masters. They did it with sadness in their hearts and hope for justice.

As I stood solemnly by Emma’s grave which she died on February 25, 1887, at the age of 69, epitaph words engraved on my heart many serene things!

“Blessed are the dead which die in The Lord; They rest from their labors and their work do follow them.”

I glanced a final glance at hills and bluffs of this southern gem, watching steam boats sequined in beauty as I headed back home feigning no bewilderment. I had a silent toast of feelings scattered.

Truth basks separately from all duplicities in the clear sun…By way of Vicksburg!   

 

 

  

Reviews

[Sami Khalil]

" It was heartrending for water and food were very scarce where residents resorted to eating horses and mules even rats, feeling the devastation a war brings."