VICKSBURG.

The fifth of the course of lectures before the Historical Society was delivered last evening by Dr. Channing. Before the speaker began, Mr. Hart, the president of the society, announced that the remaining lectures of the series will be given in Sanders Theatre.

The campaign which ended in the surrender of Vicksburg and Port Hudson was one which called for generalship, as the forces on each side were about equal. The result proved that General Grant was more worthy of fame than his Confederate antagonist, General Pemberton. That the delay in taking these cities was so great is not due to any superiority of force or ability displayed by the Confederates, but because Nature stood in the way. The possession of Vicksburg was of the greatest importance to both sides. Situated on a series of high bluffs at a sharp bend in the Mississippi River, it perfectly commanded that great avenue of supply. No transport could pass, and only ironclads running by at night could escape destruction at the hands of the frowning batteries crowning the hills for several miles along the river. Grant, with a powerful army, lay two hundred and fifty miles to the north. Guarding the approaches in front of Grant was Pemberton in command of the Confederate army. This was early in November, 1862.

Grant's first move was, having forced Pemberton back a little to hold him there while Sherman went down the river and took the city by surprise. As only a small force held the city at that time it gave rise to great hopes. But an unforeseen event happened, two Confederate raids cut Grant's communications and destroyed many of his supplies. He was compelled to fall back and leave Pemberton free to reinforce the city. Meanwhile, Sherman, with whom no line of communication was kept up, had sailed down the river and made an attack which was repulsed. Then General McClernand arrived from Washington with orders to command in any attack against the city. He was shortly followed by Grant in person, with more troops, and this general assumed the lead. Several plans of approach were undertaken, but each in turn failed, chiefly on account of the natural obstacles which had to be overcome or which arose unexpectedly. Among these were attempts to utilize the Yazoo river, the Lake Providence pass, and a canal across the neck of land opposite Vicksburg.

Several months had been passed in these fruitless efforts. Grant was now no nearer the city which was as safe as ever. It was almost the end of April. Something must be done. A new and, as it proved, successful plan was devised. To harass and occupy the attention of the enemy a cavalry raid to the east and rear of the city was carried out successfully by Colonel Ryerson, while Sherman and his corps watched the works just above Vicksburg. Grant moved the rest of his army to the west side of the river and making a wide circuit came out on the river again several miles below. The fleet ran by the city in the night time and joined the army. Grand Gulf now stood directly in Grant's path across the river. By a flank movement he caused the Confederates to evacuate it and to retire towards Vicksburg and Jackson, the capitol of Mississippi, not many miles back from the river. Calling up Sherman, Grant marched forward and succeeded in separating the Confederate forces. He marched into Jackson and drove out General Joseph Johnston and then turned his attention to Pemberton between himself and the city. Pemberton acted contrary to orders and showed but little tactical skill. Grant defeated him at Champions Hill and at last drove him into Vicksburg itself.

Grant was now where he had long desired to be. Pemberton was cooped in the stronghold while Johnston was away on the outside. Desperate assaults on the city failed and the army settled down to a prolonged siege. This lasted over a month. Reinforcements came to Grant and he was thus enabled to hold off Johnston while he pressed the siege with vigor.

On July 1st, Pemberton found that his army, which was almost starving, was upon the point of mutiny. He determined to surrender. On the third, the day when Lee's last charge on the Gettysburg heights had failed, Pemberton made terms with Grant. On the next day an army of 30,000 men and the long coveted prize, Vicksburg, fell into the hands of Grant. Johnston was also driven away by Sherman. Four days later, Port Hudson, lower down the river, surrendered to General Banks. The Mississippi was then open from source to mouth, and the Confederacy was cut in two.