[159]
and emaciated; so apparent was this, that when I marched my brigade by a group of Federal officers, one of them exclaimed in my hearing, ‘Great God, can it be possible that these men held us in check for so long a time.’
The morale of the men was excellent.
They could not have been driven; they might have been overwhelmed, but had no thought, so far as I could observe, of retreat or surrender.
It would have been impossible for them to have continued the struggle much longer, as it was beyond the endurance of human nature.
5. Are there any authentic accounts of the siege of Vicksburg extant.
Ans. None that I know of. The late Jefferson Davis once asked me to write a history of the siege.
I contemplated doing so, but was told that Colonel McCardle, of General Pemberton's staff, was about to publish such a work, which induced me to abandon it. Regretting that I am unable to give you more accurate dates.
I am, with the highest esteem, most truly yours.
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Richmond, VA. 1892.
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