missaries. Mule meat, though not eaten as a necessity, had become preferable to their pickled beef. They had no pork or flour, and but a limited supply of unground corn. Their ammunition was nearly exhausted, and only ten percussion caps to the man were found in their pouches. The result was inevitable.

Up to the morning of the 3d of July, there was unusual quiet, and all had become so impressed with the belief that a surrender must soon take place, that the men on both sides were chatting in a friendly way from their intrenchments. At eight o'clock on that morning, a flag of truce came out from the rebel lines with a communication for General Grant, borne by General Bowen and Colonel Montgomery. It proved to be a proposition for an armistice, with a view to arranging terms of capitulation. General Grant promptly replied that his only terms were an unconditional surrender of the city and garrison. General Bowen requested that General Grant would meet General Pemberton to consult concerning terms. To this General Grant readily agreed, and three o'clock in the afternoon was fixed upon for the meeting.

There was a brief renewal of hostilities, another cessation of firing, and, at the appointed hour, the two Generals met. in front of General Burbridge's line, where they sat in close conversation for an hour and a half. Both seemed cool and indifferent, Grant smoking, as usual, and Pemberton picking straws and biting them. The conference broke up without any definite decision. In the evening, General Grant sent in a proposal, which was not replied to until daybreak the next morning, when Pemberton requested modifications of the terms offered. General Grant then sent his final note, agreeing to certain of the modifications, and General Pemberton promptly forwarded his acceptance of the terms proposed. Thus, at ten o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July, 1863, Vicksburg had surrendered, and the Mississippi valley was redeemed.

The terms agreed upon were that each brigade should

march to the front of the lines occupied by it, stack arms, and then return to the inside to remain as prisoners of war until properly paroled. Officers were allowed to retain their private baggage and side arms, and mounted officers one horse each. The rank and file were to be allowed their clothing, but no other property. Necessary rations might be taken from the rebel stores (there proved to be no rebel stores), and thirty wagons were allowed them.

These terms were given as acts of magnanimity to a brave foe, and were further justifiable on grounds of expediency. They rid the Government of a large and expensive load of prisoners, whom it would have had to feed, clothe and transport a great distance, at an enormous expense. Besides, General Grant was thus left free to follow up his advantage.

According to the terms, on the morning of the 4th the rebel troops quietly stacked their arms in front of their lines, and General Logan was ordered to march in his division as a provost guard. The formal entry was made at one o'clock in the afternoon. Within four hours of the surrender, the levee was lined with steamers as far as the eye could reach.

The value of the capture of Vicksburg can hardly be overestimated. Besides the other aspects of the result, it caused a loss to the rebels of about thirty-four thousand men, includ ing one Lieutenant-General and nineteen Major and Brigadier Generals, two hundred and thirteen pieces of artillery, thirtyfive thousand small-arms, and an immense amount of ordnance, and other matter. The immediate effect of the capture was the surrender of Port Hudson, La. General Frank Gardner, commanding that post, hearing of the surrender of Vicksburg, inquired of General Banks concerning the truth of the report, on the 7th of July. General Banks replied by inclosing the official dispatch of General Grant, announcing the fall of Vicksburg. The next day the important position. of Port Hudson, with its garrison of over five thousand five hundred men, and all its stores, arms and munitions of war, was surrendered to the forces of the United States. The Mississippi was opened, and commerce was again resumed.

The President sent an autograph letter to General Grant, thanking him for "the almost inestimable service" he had done the country. His position, as the first General of the Union, was thenceforth established. The nation rejoiced at the splendid victory, and all loyal hearts united in honoring the heroes by whom it had been gained. The names of Sherman, McClernand, Logan, McPherson, Ord, became household words, and their noble assistants were placed upon the roll of the nation's most worthy sons.

XXXIX.

SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH GEORGIA.

IF Grant's Vicksburg campaign was one of the most remarkable of the war, Sherman's march through Georgia stands on record as one of the most extraordinary performances in military history. Viewed in all its aspects the campaign against Atlanta was one of great skill, daring, and excessive labor. Its marches and counter-marches-its feints, and its sudden combinations for attacks in force-its incessant and masterly movements by the flank-all illustrated, in an eminent degree, Sherman's capacity for command, his fertility of resources, his tenacity, and his almost reckless daring. Once in Atlanta his work scemed done, for where would he go from thence? Indeed, how could he tarry there, in view of its great distance from supplies?

Stung by Johnston's defeats and incessant circumvention by Sherman, Davis relieved him from command and placed Hood at the head of the rebel army in Northern Georgia, with orders to strike for Nashville, and thus, by a counter movement, compel Sherman to withdraw from Georgia to defend Tennessee. Hood thereupon made the required dem