VICKSBURG SURRENDERS

On July 4, the 16th Ohio, along with Gen. Osterhaus' Ninth Division and other units, were performing rear guard duty in the vicinity of Big Black River, about 10 miles east of Vicksburg and the siege operations. The soldiers knew the surrender of Vicksburg was imminent. Private Peter Perrine, Company C, simply states:

July 4th. Gen. Pemberton surrendered the city of Vicksburg and all his force amounting to about 30,000 prisoners and a large quantity of arms and artillery. The prisoners were all paroled and sent outside our lines.

Cpl. Theodore Wolbach, Company E, describes the day:

July 3rd we got vague rumors from Vicksburg. There was a cessation of hostilities, and Grant and Pemberton met and talked between the lines. Terms of capitulation were partly agreed on, and the next morning, July 4th, they were completed. History has told the rest a thousand times--how the city, surrounded by vast fortifications, and garrisoned by thirty thousand men, fell into our hands. O, how we did long to be at the other end of the ten miles that separated us from the scene of a glorious ending of a desperate campaign and siege. We felt that we had a good claim for a share of the honor. We did have a sort of a jubilee and yelled a little, but before we could get reconciled to the new state of things, we got orders to be ready to move across the Big Black and go for Johnson...

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Period map showing the approximate campsite of the 16th Ohio near Bovina Station, Mississippi, June 24 through July 5, 1863:

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Modern day map of the 16th Ohio's march from their position on the siege line at Vicksburg, Mississippi, to their camp near Big Black River Bridge and then to Camp Alice, near Bovina Station. Route and positions are estimated based on current research:

Red pin - approximate position of 16th Ohio with Gen. Osterhaus' Ninth Division from May 19 to June 8, 1863, on siege line at Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Green pin - approximate campsite of 16th Ohio west of Big Black River Bridge, June 8 through June 23, 1863.
Yellow pin - approximate campsite (Camp Alice) of 16th Ohio near Bovina Station, Mississippi, June 24 through July 5, 1863.