What flag is this you carry
Along the sea and shore?
The same our grandsires lifted up--
The same our fathers bore.
In many a battle's tempest
It shed the crimson rain--
What God has woven in his loom
Let no man rend in twain.
To Canaan, to Canaan,
The Lord has led us forth,
To plant upon the rebel towers
The banners of the North.
--Holmes.


GENERAL GRANT AND THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN

On January 29, 1863, General Grant took command of the army
intended to operate against Vicksburg, the last place held by the
rebels on the Mississippi, and the only point at which they could
cross the river and keep up communication with their armies and
territory in the southwest. It was the first high ground below
Memphis, was very strongly fortified, and was held by a large
army under General Pemberton. The complete possession of the
Mississippi was absolutely essential to the National Government,
because the control of that great river would cut the Confederacy
in two, and do more, probably, than anything else, to make the
overthrow of the Rebellion both speedy and certain.