fizzing and popping through the zigzag line of trenches, until for a moment it vanished. Its disappearance was quickly succeeded by the explosion, and the mine was sprung. So terrible a spectacle is seldom witnessed. Dust, dirt, smoke, gabions, stockades, timber, gun-carriages, logs-in fact, every thing connected with the fort-rose hundreds of feet into the air, as if vomited forth from a volcano. Some who were close spectators even say that they saw the bodies of the poor wretches who a moment before had lined the ramparts of the work.* As soon as the explosion had taken place, the greatest activity was manifested along the whole line, under the soul-inspiring orders of General Grant. The following is a specimen of the emphatic style with which that general calls for vigilance on the part of his troops: June 25, 1863. GENERAL ORD:-McPherson occupies the crater made by the explosion. He will have guns in battery there by morning. He has been hard at work running rifle-pits right, and thinks he will hold all gained. Keep Smith's Division sleeping under arms to-night ready for an emergency. Their services may be required particularly about daylight. There should be the greatest vigilance along the whole line. U. S. GRANT, Major-General. In the mean time, the gunboat fleet off Warrenton commenced a bombardment of the enemy's forts. This was kept up without intermission until midnight, when it was slackened to desultory shots. The fuses of the shells as they ascended in the air were easily distinguishable, and looked in their course like shooting meteors. When they would strike the shell would explode with a terrific report. Some of the shells exploded in the air, and the flashes which they emitted looked like an immense piece of pyrotechny. * Army Correspondence. 13 CHAPTER XL. THE SURRENDER OF VICKSBURG. AFTER the explosion of the mine, and the occupation of that part of the rebel works, General Grant resumed the operation of constructing parallels, for the purpose of approaching near enough to the rebel fortifications to take them by a sudden dash. As the U. S. troops advanced, the rebels retired, constructing inner lines of defences as the outer ones were taken. On the 28th of June the Union lines were thirteen hundred yards nearer the city than the original works. As these lines were advanced on all sides at the same time, the rebel area of operations became more and more circumscribed. During this bombardment every effort was made to reduce the rebel works without unnecessarily damaging the city: On this subject a correspondent writes as follows: Be it understood, that at no time has General Grant sought the destruction of the city. He wishes to spare it for the city itself, and because it contains women and children. As long as the rebel army confines its operations outside its limits the city will remain intact. If it had been necessary to destroy the city, our guns now in range could have accomplished the work. The capture of Vicksburg is a foregone conclusion. We get the evidence of the fact from the rebels themselves. A few days ago a rebel mail was captured coming out from Vicksburg, in which were letters from prominent men in the rebel army, who state that they cannot hold out much longer, and informing their friends that they expect to spend their summer in northern prisons. Better evidence of the conlition of things in the rebel army cannot be desired. So far as the siege of this place goes, I presume the people at home, in their easy chairs, think it ought to have been finished long since. To such let me say, could they be present here, and make a tour of the country in this vicinity, and see the configuration of the country, its broken topography, its high and abrupt hills, deep gullies, gorges and dilapidated roads, they would then realize the difficulties of the work. Then there is a large army to feed, great matériel to be brought into position, all of which demands large transportation, and the united efforts of thousands of men. General Grant acts independently of opinions of the public. He fully realizes the responsibility of his position, and in the duty before him, he is determined to accomplish his work with as great an economy of human life as possible. He feels now that the prize is within his grasp, and a little patience will achieve all, which, if rashly sought, might cost the lives of the brave army with whom he has gained so many vic tories.* General Sherman's expedition returned from the special duty assigned it without meeting anywhere near the doom. ed city the rebel army under General Joseph E. Johnston. The commander, however, obtained sufficient intelligence of the rebel movements to decide General Grant as to his plan of operations immediately after the reduction of Vicksburg. The bombardment and approaches steadily progressed, and it was whispered about among the troops that on the following anniversary of the day of Independence a grand assault was to be made, for the purpose of taking the place by storm. The rebels, doubtless, were apprised of this fact, or at least suspected it, for, on the morning of the previous day, July 3d, 1863, a flag of truce left the rebel lines, with a sealed communication for General Grant, borne by General Bowen and Colonel Montgomery. The bearers of the document having been taken to the nearest general head-quarters, a courier was at once dispatched with all possible haste to the chief commanding office. *Army Correspondence. On opening the document General Grant found the fol lowing communication addressed to himself: HEAD-QUARTERS, VICKSBURG, July 3, 1863. Major-General GRANT, commanding United States forces: GENERAL:-I have the honor to propose to you an armistice for hours, with a view to arranging terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg. To this end, if agreeable to you, I will appoint three commissioners, to meet a like number to be named by yourself, at such place and hour as you may find convenient. I make this proposition to save the further effusion of blood, which must otherwise be shed to a frightful extent, feeling myself fully able to maintain my position for a yet indefinite period. This communication will be handed you, under a flag of truce, by Major-General James Bowen. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. PEMBERTON. To this General Grant replied as follows: HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE, IN THE FIELD, NEAR VICKSBURG, July 3, 1863. Lieutenant-General J. C. PEMBERTON, commanding Confederate forces, &c.: GENERAL:-Your note of this date, just received, proposes an armistice of several hours, for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation through commissioners to be appointed, &c. The effusion of blood you propose stopping by this course, can be ended at any time you may choose, by an unconditional surrender of the city and garrison. Men who have shown so much endurance and courage as those now in Vicksburg, will always challenge the respect of an adversary, and I can assure you will be treated with all the respect due them as prisoners of war. I do not favor the proposition of appointing commissioners to arrange terms of capitulation, because I have no other terms than those indicated above. I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, General Bowen expressed a wish to converse with the chief General on this important matter; but the latter at once declined. General Bowen then requested that General Grant would meet General Pemberton on neutral ground, as more could be arranged at one personal interview than by an exchange of numerous dispatches. General Grant very readily replied he would willingly do so in person, offering to meet General Pemberton the same afternoon at three o'clock, and consult with him on the terms he would grant the garrison. This reply was placed in the hands of the rebel messengers, who, blindfolded, were conducted back to the place of entrance to the Union lines, and were there set at liberty, to return to General Pemberton with the answer. Nothing more was now done until afternoon. The artillery re-opened, and the siege went on as before. By noon, however, the general promulgated his orders, requiring a temporary cessation of hostilities. The following interesting account of the interview between Generals Grant and Pemberton, is given by one who had followed the army during the whole campaign: At three o'clock precisely, one gun, the prearranged signal, was fired, and immediately replied to by the enemy. General Pemberton then made his appearance on the works in McPherson's front, under a white flag, considerably on the left of what is known as Fort Hill. General Grant rode through our trenches until he came to an outlet, leading to a small green space, which had not been trod by either army. Here he dismounted, and advanced to meet General Pemberton, with whom he shook hands, and greeted familiarly. It was beneath the outspreading branches of a gigantic oak that the conference of the generals took place. Here presented the only space which had not been used for some purpose or other by the contending armies. The ground was covered with a fresh, luxuriant verdure; here and there a shrub or clump of bushes could be seen standing out from the green growth on the surface, while several oaks filled up the scene, and gave it character. Some of the trees in their tops exhibited the effects of flying projectiles, by the loss of limbs or torn foliage, and in their trunks the indentations of smaller missiles plainly marked the occurrences to which they had been silent witnesses. The party made up to take part in the conference was composed as follows: |