ing over, exploded in the midst of the opposing forces beyond. The scene at this time was one of the utmost sublimity. The roar of artillery, rattle of small arms, the cheers of the men, flashes of light, wreaths of pale blue smoke over different parts of the field, the bursting of shells, the fierce whistle of solid shot, the deep boom of the mortars, the broadsides of the ships of war, and, added to all this, the vigorous replies of the confederates, set up a din which beggared all powers of description. After the possession of the confederate fort was no longer in doubt, the pioneer federal corps mounted the work with their shovels and set to throwing up earth vigorously, in order to secure space for artillery. A most fortunate peculiarity-for the union army-in the explosion, was the manner in which the earth was thrown out. The appearance of the place was that of a funnel, with heavy sides running up to the very crest of the parapet, affording admirable protection not only for the union troops and pioneers, but turned out a ready made fortification in the rough, which, with a slight application of the shovel and pick, was ready to receive the guns to be used at this point. The capture of Vicksburg was now a foregone conclusion, admitted even by its devoted defenders themselves, as appeared from the contents of a confederate mailbag, captured just at this time. At about eight o'clock, therefore, on the morning of July 3d, flags of truce appeared before General Smith's front, when General Bowen and Colonel Montgomery were led blindfolded into the union lines. They bore a sealed communication from General Pemberton to General Grant, in which the former proposed an armistice, with a view to arranging terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg three commissioners to be appointed from each army, for this purpose. General Pemberton added that he made this proposition to save the further effusion of blood, and feeling himself fully able to maintain his position for a yet indefinite period. To this document, General Grant made immediate reply, assuring General Pemberton that the effusion of blood could at any time be avoided by an unconditional surrender of the city and garrison-that men who had shown so much endurance and courage as those in Vicksburg would be treated with all the respect due them as prisoners of war by their adversary,—and concluded by informing General Pemberton that he did not favor the appointment of commissioners to arrange for a capitulation, as he had no other terms than those just indicated. General Pemberton then solicited a personal interview, which was acceded to by General Grant, and appointed for three o'clock P. M., General Pemberton's messengers returning with the answer at eleven A. M. At three o'clock precisely, one gun, the prearranged signal, was fired, and immediately replied to by the confederates. General Pemberton then made his appearance on the works in McPherson's front, under a white flag, considerably on the left of Fort Hill. General Grant rode through the union trenches until he came to an outlet, leading to a small green space, which had not been trod by either army. Here the party halted, until General Pemberton appeared, accompanied by General Bowen and Colonel Montgomery. Thousands of soldiers looked upon this strange scene. Two men, who had been lieutenants in the same regiment in Mexico, now met as foes, with all the world, in a certain sense, looking upon them. looking upon them. When they had approached within a few feet, Colonel Montgomery said "General Grant, General Pemberton." They shook hands and greeted each other familiarly, Pemberton remarking, playfully, "I was at Monterey and Buena Vista. We had terms and conditions there." 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 CAMPAIGN AGAINST VICKSBURG. the contending hosts. 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: Major-Generals Grant and McPherson, and Brigadier-General Smith, of the union army; and Lieutenant-General Pemberton, Major-General Bowen, and Colonel Montgomery, of the confederate army. It was not long before the momentous business which brought the party together was begun by General Pemberton saying the least sign of embarrassment; and after natural self-possession, and evinced not generals, as by a kind of mutual tendency, a short conversation standing, the two wandered off from the rest of the party and seated themselves on the grass, in a cluster of bushes, where alone they talked over the important events then pending. Here they sat more than an hour. Pemleaves. berton played with the grass and pulled occasionally giving a few puffs at his favorGrant, as usual, talked coolly, ite companion-his black cigar. Generals McPherson, Smith, and Bowen, and Colonel Montgomery, imitating the example of the commanding generals, seated themselves at some distance off, while the respective staffs of the generals formed another and larger group in the rear. After a lengthy conversation the generals separated. General Pemberton did not come to any conclusion on the matter, but stated his intention to submit the matter to a council of general officers of his command; and, in the event of their assent, the surrender of the city should be made in the morning. Until morning was given him to consider and determine upon the matter, and send in his final reply. The generals then rode to their respective quarters. It was, however, agreed that General Grant should confer with his officers, and transmit, in writing, to General Pemberton, the terms he would accept. Promptly the note was sent by the hands "General Grant, I meet you in order to of General Logan and Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson. It demanded, as from the first, arrange terms for the capitulation of the city of Vicksburg and its garrison. What rison, and the stores. the entire surrender of the place, the garterms do you propose?" "On your accepting "Unconditional surrender," was the stated, "I will march in one division as a the terms proposed," General Grant's note reply. GENERAL J. B. MCPHERSON. "Unconditional surrender?" repeated General Pemberton; "Never, so long as I have a man left me! I will fight rather." "Then, sir," rejoined General Grant, "you can continue the defense. My army has never been in a better condition for the prosecution of the siege." During the passing of these few preliminaries, General Grant manifested all his to-morrow morning. As soon as paroles guard, and take possession at eight o'clock and men, you will be allowed to march out can be made out, and signed by the officers of our lines, the officers taking with them. their regimental clothing, and staff, field, and cavalry officers one horse each. The rank and file will be allowed all their clothing, but no other property." Early the next morning, the glorious Fourth of July, General Pemberton's reply was returned. He accepted the terms on condition that his troops should be permitted to march out with their colors and arms, stacking them outside of their works. To this, Grant made no objection. In his account of the grand closing scene in this momentous military transaction, Mr. Keim states that it was about one o'clock P. M., before matters had assumed such a state of completion as would admit of the entrance of the city by the union army. To General McPherson was accorded the honor of formally receiving the stipulated surrender. He met Pemberton half a mile within the lines, where they were soon joined by Grant, and all, after a few minutes' parley, rode together into town. Upon arriving at the courthouse, the troops were drawn up in line, facing the building, and the national ensign raised from its towering dome. This done, the ceremony of possession was completed by the display of the flags of the Forty-fifth Illinois infantry, and of the head-quarters of the Seventeenth corps. Upon the appearance of the flags, the troops joined in singing "Rally Round the Flag," with tumultuous enthusiasm, and cheered vociferously-making the city ring and echo to its very suburbs. In consideration of the active part taken by the Seventeenth corps in the campaign which culminated in the capture of Vicksburg, that command was designated by General Grant to take possession of the city. No sooner was the flag thrown to the breeze from the court-house, than the admiral's glass caught sight of its beauti ful folds, and in due time his vesse! steamed down to the city, followed by all the gun-boats in the neighborhood, and took possession of a few feet of river front. All this was duly done, after the authority of the army of the United States was secured beyond doubt. Rarely if ever before was such a Fourth of July celebrated as this of 1863. The tidings of the victories of Gettysburg and Vicksburg mingled together, and in every part of the loyal north enthusiastic demonstrations of joy were indulged in. On the fifteenth of July, President Lincoln issued a proclamation appointing August sixth as a day of national thanksgiving. The result of this memorable campaign and siege, as stated by General Grant, was, 'the defeat of the confederates in five battles outside of Vicksburg; the occupation of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi; a loss to the confederate army of thirtyseven thousand prisoners, among whom were fifteen general officers-and at least ten thousand killed and wounded, and among the killed Generals Tracy, Tilghman, and Green, and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of stragglers, who can never be collected and reorganized. Arms and munitions of war for an army of sixty thousand men have fallen into our hands; besides a large amount of other public property, consisting of railroads, locomotives, cars, steam-boats, cotton, etc.' The losses of the union army were about one thousand killed and a little more than seven thousand wounded-about one-half of them only slightly, and between five and six hundred missing. In all respects, the campaign resulting in the capture of Vicksburg was one of the most skillful in the annals of military strategy, and has justly been pronounced unequaled in brilliancy of conception and the masterly tact with which it was executed. One specially grand feature in the result was, that by silencing the confederate batteries that had so long controlled the Mississippi, that most majestic river on the globe was again thrown open for the unrestricted commerce of the United States from Cairo to the Gulf-or, as President Lincoln expressed it, 'The Father of Waters again goes unvexed to the sea.' One of the most interesting chapters in the history of this campaign is that contained in a narrative of General Grant's interview with his friend Mr. Dubois, of Illinois, the facts of which, as given some time after in the public journals, were as follows: Early in April, 1863, Generals Grant, Sherman, and Oglesby, Secretary of State Hatch, and Auditor Jesse R. Dubois, of Illinois, with some others, were on board the flagship of Commodore Porter's squadron, the party having been up the Yazoo river to Haines's Bluff, on a reconnoisance of the fortifications. While the other gentlemen were in the cabin, discussing public questions, General Grant and his friend Dubois withdrew, and being in company together on the deck, the following conversation, in substance, ensued. General Grant said— "Uncle Jesse, to tell you the truth, I have come to my wit's end as regards the capture of Vicksburg. I really do not know what next move to make. I have tried everything I could think of, and here we are yet. I have been advised that we go back to Memphis, and commence an overland march from that point." "General Grant, you cannot do that. If you take this army back to Memphis, with all this array of gun-boats and transports and all your material of war, the effect will be disastrous on the country. . If you can do no better, you must storm Vicksburg. If it costs the lives of forty thousand men, it must be taken. It is a terrible thing to think of, but it must be done." General Grant replied that he would reflect upon the matter during the night, and let Mr. Dubois know of his determination in the morning. When the morning came, General Grant said "Uncle Jesse, you are going home today; tell Governor Yates and the people of Illinois for me, that I will take Vicksburg in sixty days." "General Grant, I am glad to hear you say this; but all I ask you will allow me to tell them is, that you will take Vicksburg,-I don't care whether in sixty days or six months." "I am bound to take it. I have decided on my plans. I will not tell you what they are. Even with the best intentions, you might disclose them to the detriment of the movement." They then parted, and General Grant detailed his plan to General Sherman, who protested in writing, but placed himself under the general's orders. Auditor Dubois went home and told Governor Yates that Grant would take Vicksburg; that he had no doubt of it; that General Grant told him to tell him so, and that he must tell it to the people as coming from General Grant. This promise of General Grant was published in the papers at the time, and Governor Yates repeated it from the stump. Not the least interesting incidents in connection with this matter, in view of the final result, are, the written protest by General Sherman against General Grant's circuitous march around Vicksburg, and by which he cut himself off from his base of supplies; General Sherman's direction that the protest be forwarded to Washington, and General Grant's never so forwarding it; and afterward, when Vicksburg was about to surrender, the tearing up of said protest, by General Grant, in General Sherman's presence, much to the satisfaction of the latter. A more humorous incident, and which will bear to be repeated, was that which transpired in the presence of President Lincoln, to whom complaint had been made that General Grant was in the habit of using intoxicating drinks to excess. "So I understand Grant drinks whiskey to excess?" interrogatively remarked the president. "Yes," was the reply. "What whiskey does he drink?" inquired Mr. Lincoln. "What whiskey?" doubtfully queried his hearers. "Yes. Is it Bourbon or Monongahela?" "Why do you ask, Mr. President?" "Because, if it makes him win victories like this at Vicksburg, I will send a demijohn of the same kind to every general in the army." |