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with fine effect, compelling the enemy to shift their batteries several times. At the same time the enemy endeavored to throw forward a body of sharpshooters, but were prevented by the fire of our men from so doing. The artillery duel and sharpshooting continued for about three hours, when Gen. Pemberton rode up and ordered our men to cease firing, as he desired no artillery duels. In obedience to the order, our men ceased firing, and the result was that next morning, the enemy, emboldened by our silence, approached one hundred yards nearer than they were the day before, without any opposition. On Tuesday the enemy made their first assault on the line of works held by Brig.-Gen. Shoup's brigade of Louisianians. They marched up in one solid column, our men withholding their fire until the enemy had approached within thirty yards of the lines, when they opened a terrific volley of musketry. The enemy wavered a moment, and then marched forward. They were again met by another volley, when they broke and fled under cover of the hills. This was the only attempt made on that day to force our lines, and the attempt was evidently made more with the intention of 'feeling' our lines than with any serious idea of storming them."

By the 21st, the arrangements of Gen. Grant for drawing supplies of every description were completed, and he determined to make another effort to carry Vicksburg by assault. His rea

sons for this are thus stated: "I believed an assault from the position gained by this time could be made successfully. It was known that Johnston was at Canton with the force taken by him from Jackson, reënforced by other troops from the east, and that more were daily reaching him. With the force I had, a short time must have enabled him to attack me in the rear, and possibly to succeed in raising the siege. Possession of Vicksburg at that time would have enabled me to turn upon Johnston and drive him from the State, and possess myself of all the railroads and practical military highways, thus effectually securing to ourselves all territory west of the Tombigbee, and this before the season was too far advanced for campaigning in this latitude. It would have saved Government sending large reënforcements much needed elsewhere; and, finally, the troops themselves were impatient to possess Vicksburg, and would not have worked in the trenches with the same zeal, believing it unnecessary, that they did after their failure to carry the enemy's works."

Accordingly, orders were issued on the 21st for a general assault on the whole line, to commence at 10 A. M. on the next day. This assault is thus described by Gen. Grant: "All the corps commanders set their time by mine, that there should be no difference between them in the movement of assault. Promptly at the hour designated, the three army corps then

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in front of the enemy's works commenced the assault. I had taken a commanding position near McPherson's front, and from which I could see all the advancing columns from his corps, and a part of each of Sherman's and McClernand's. A portion of the commands of each succeeded in planting their flags on the outer slopes of the enemy's bastions, and maintained them there until night. Each corps had many more men than could possibly be used in the assault, over such ground as intervened between them and the enemy. More men could only avail in case of breaking through the enemy's line or in repelling a sortie. The assault was gallant in the extreme on the part of all the troops, but the enemy's position was too strong, both naturally and artificially, to be taken in that way. At every point assaulted, and at all of them at the same time, the enemy was able to show all the force his works could cover. The assault failed, I regret to say, with much loss on our side in killed and wounded; but without weakening the confidence of the troops in their ability to ultimately succeed.

"No troops succeeded in entering any of the enemy's works, with the exception of Sergeant Griffith, of the Twenty-first regiment Iowa volunteers, and some eleven privates of the same regiment. Of these none returned except the sergeant and possibly one man. The work entered by him, from its position, could give us no practical advantage, unless others to the right and left of it were carried and held at the same time. The assault proved the quality of the soldiers of this army. Without entire success, and with a heavy loss, there was no murmuring or complaining, no falling back, or other evidence of demoralization."

A Confederate report thus describes the manner in which the assault was met by them: "The days intervening from the 19th to the 22d were spent in one continued bombarding and sharpshooting during the day; in the night they generally ceased firing. On the morning of the 22d, the enemy opened a terrific fire with their Parrott guns, and continued it till about eleven o clock, when the bombardment ceased, and heavy columns of the enemy could be seen forming in line of battle. Our forces were all ready for them, and eager for their advance. At about a quarter to twelve, the column of the Federal army advanced all along the lines in splendid order, and with a loud cheer dashed up to the works. They were gallantly responded to by our brave boys, and the first charge repulsed. On the extreme right of our lines, the nature of the ground prevented the enemy from making any heavy attack, but on the right of the centre, the centre, and the left of the centre, the assault was desperately made and gallantly met. But once did our lines break, and that was in Lee's brigade. The enemy gained a temporary footing on the rifle pits, but Lee quickly rallied his men, and, after a desperate hand-to-hand fight, drove them out and reoccupied the lines. The engagement

at this point and at the right of the line, held by Brig.-Gen. L. Herbert, was of a terrible nature, the Federals having thrown their best troops on these works. Five times did they charge, and each time were repulsed. The last charge on the right of Brig.-Gen. Herbert's, lines was made by an Irish regiment (the Seventeenth Wisconsin), carrying the green flag of Erin. They came at a double quick up the hill, each man in the front rank furnished with ladders to reach the works. Three times they essayed to plant their ladders, but were prevented by the obstinate resistance offered by the consolidated Twenty-first and Twentythird Louisiana regiments. At the third charge they came within ten yards of the line, but two volleys of buckshot from the shotguns of our forces compelled them to make a precipitate retreat from the front of our works. At about 2 o'clock they made their last charge, and were again repulsed, when they retired, and did not attempt any further demonstration that day. The loss of the enemy on that day is estimated by competent parties at not less than from 8,000 to 10,000, while our loss was between 800 and 1,000 in killed and wounded."

The following despatch of Rear-Admiral Porter to the Secretary of the Navy, describes the part taken in this conflict by the naval force:

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAG SHIP BLACK, HE

28d, 1863.

SIR: On the evening of the 21st I received a communication from Gen. Grant, informing me that he intended to attack the whole of the rebel works at 10 A. M. the next day, and asking me to shell the batteries from 9.30 until 10.80, to annoy the garrisons. I kept six mortars playing rapidly on the works and town all night, and sent the Benton, Mound City, and Carondelet up to shell the water batteries and other places where troops might be resting during the night.

At seven o'clock in the morning, the Mound City proceeded across the river, and made an attack on the hill batteries opposite the canal. At eight o'clock I joined her in company with the Benton, Tuscumbia, and Carondelet. All these vessels opened on the bill batteries and finally silenced them, though the main work on the battery containing the heavy rifled gun was done by the Mound City, Lieut.-Commanding City, and Carondelet up to the water batteries, leaving Byron Wilson. I then pushed the Benton, Mound the Tuscumbia, which is still out of repair, to keep the hill batteries from firing on our vessels after they had passed by. The three gunboats passed up slowly, owing to the strong current, the Mound City leading, the Benton following, and the Carondelet astern. The water batteries opened furiously, supported by a hill battery on the starboard beam of the vessels. The vessels advanced to within 440 yards (by our marks), and returned the fire for two hours without cessation, the enemy's fire being very accurate and in

cessant.

Finding that the hill batteries behind us were silenced, I ordered up the Tuscumbia to within 200 yards of the batteries, but her turret, was soon made her drop down. I had been engaged with the forts an untenable. Not standing the enemy's shot, I made hour longer than Gen. Grant asked. The vessels had all received severe shots under water, which we could not stop up while in motion, and not knowing what might have delayed the movement of the army, I ordered the vessels to drop out of fire, which they did in a cool, handsome manner. This was the hottest fire the gunboats have ever been under, but owing to

the water batteries being more on a level with them than usual, the gunboats threw in their shells so fast that the aim of the enemy was not very good. The enemy hit our vessels a number of times, but, fight ing bow on, they did but little damage. Not a man was killed, and only a few wounded. I had only ammunition enough for a few minutes longer, and set all hands to work to fill up from our depot beAfter dropping back I found that the enemy had taken possession again of one of the lower hill batteries, and was endeavoring to remount his guns, and had mounted a 12-pounder field piece to fire at Gen. eral McArthur's troops, which had landed a short time before at Warrenton. I sent the Mound City and the Carondelet to drive him off, which they did in

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boats.

I have since learned through General Grant, that the army did assault at the right time vigorously. In the noise and smoke we could not hear or see it. The gunboats were, therefore, still fighting when the assault had proved unsuccessful. The army had terrible work before them, and are fighting as well as soldiers ever fought before, but the works are stronger than any of us dreamed of. Gen. Grant and his Soldiers are confident that the brave and energetic generals in the army will soon overcome all obstacles and carry the works.

(Signed) DAVID D. PORTER, Acting Rear-Admiral, Com. Miss. Squadron. Hon. G. WELLES, Secretary of the Navy. Gen. Grant now determined upon a regular siege of Vicksburg, and immediately began to mine the lines. The orders given to the enemy, by Gen. Pemberton, forbade the waste of ammunition, and thus Gen. Grant was able to commence throwing up works and erecting forts within a short distance of the opposing line of breast works. The firing upon the town was made only during the day, until the 26th of May, after which it was continued day and night. The mortars on the peninsula opposite Vicksburg opened fire on the 25th, and continued it until the surrender. It was estimated at Vicksburg that as many as 6,000 mortar shells were thrown into the town every twenty-four hours, and on the line in the rear of the city, as many as 4,000 in the same time. Of the women and children remaining in the city, three were killed and twelve wounded during the siege. During about five days after the siege commenced, the troops in the city were allowed full rations. At the expiration of that time, they were gradually reduced to the following amount: four ounces of flour, four ounces of bacon, one and a half ounce of rice, two ounces of peas, not eatable, and three ounces of sugar, making a total of fourteen and a half ounces of food daily. The extent of the works, and the limited number of the Confederate troops, required every man to defend their lines, and no time was allowed to rest. Whole companies laid back of their breast works for three weeks without leaving the line for a moment. The sharpshooters of Gen. Grant's army were regarded by the enemy as splendid shots, and after the first few days of the siege it was dangerous for any one

of the enemy to look over their breast works. In one instance, a hat placed on a stick, and heid above a port for two minutes, was pierced by fifteen balls. The sharpshooters of the enemy were no less expert. The garrison was buoyed up with the hope of relief by an attack upon the rear of Gen. Grant's army by Gen. Johnston, who was gathering troops in Mississippi. Meantime every effort was made to strengthen the force under the command of Gen. Grant He had already ordered a division under Gen. Lanman and four regiments at Memphis to join him. He now brought forward the divisions of Gens. Smith and Kimball, of the sixteenth army corps, and placed them under the command of Maj.-Gen. O. C. Washburn. On the 11th of June, Maj.-Gen. F. J. Herron's division, from the department of Missouri, arrived, and on the 14th, two divisions of the ninth army corps, Maj.-Gen. J. G. Parke commanding, reached Vicksburg. These two divisions were a part of the forces of Gen. Burnside, commanding in the Department of Ohio. This increase of the forces of Gen. Grant enabled him to make the investment of Vicksburg more complete, and at the same time left him a large reserve with which to watch the movements of Gen. Johnston.

These reënforcements were arranged by placing Gen. Herron's division on the extreme left, south of the city. Gen. Lanman's division was placed between Gens. Herron and McClernand. Gen. Smith's and Gen. Kimball's divisions and the force under Gen. Parke were sent to Haines's Bluff. This place was now fortified on the land side, and every preparation made to resist a heavy force. About the 25th of June, Gen. Johnston crossed the Big Black river with a portion of his force, and everything indicated that he would make an attack. The position of Gen. Grant before Vicksburg having been made as strong against a sortie of the enemy as their works were against an assault, he placed Gen. Sherman in command of all the troops designated to look after Gen. Johnston. The force so designated, in addition to that at Haines's Bluff, was one division from the thirteenth, fifteenth, and seventeenth army corps each, and Gen. Lanman's division. As Gen. Johnston did not make the attack at the time it was expected, Gen. Grant determined to attack him as soon as Vicksburg was taken. He secordingly notified Gen. Sherman that another assault on Vicksburg would be made at daylight on the 6th of July, and ordered him to have up supplies of all descriptions, and to be ready to move upon the receipt of further orders, if the assault should prove successful. Gen. Sherman made his preparations immediately, and was ready to move earlier than the time appointed.

On the 6th of June an attack was made on Milliken's Bend, in which the enemy were repulsed. The Union loss was 101 killed, 255 wounded, and 266 missing. Gen. Halleck, in his report, says: "It is represented that the

colored troops, in this desperate engagement,
fought with great bravery, and that the rebels
treated this class of prisoners of war, as well
as their officers, with great barbarity. It has
not been possible, however, to ascertain the
correctness of the representations in regard to
the treatment of these prisoners." A num-
ber of skirmishes also took place along the
Tensas from Lake Providence to Richmond.
The great object of the enemy in these move-
ments was ultimately to approach Vicksburg
from the west. All this time the works of
the siege were pushed forward. But from the
22d of May to the 25th of June, no attempt
upon the city of any serious nature was made,
with the exception of the attack of the gun-
bost Cincinnati, for the purpose of silencing one
of the land batteries. The report of this at-
tack was thus made by the officer in charge:
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAG SHIP BLACK HAWK,
ABOVE VIOKSBURG, May 27th, 1863.

To Rear-Admiral D. D. Porter:
SIR: In obedience to your order, the Cincinnati got
under way this morning at seven o'clock, and steamed
slowly down until a little abreast of where the mortars
lie. When we rounded to, the enemy fired several
shots from a gun called "Whistling Dick," but soon
gave it up. At half past eight, with a full head of steam,
We stood for the position assigned us. The enemy fired
rapidly and from all their batteries. When abreast of
our pontoon, and rounding to, a ball entered the maga-
zine, and she commenced sinking rapidly. Shortly
after the starboard tiller was carried away. Before and
after this the enemy fired with great accuracy, hitting
us nearly every time. We were especially annoyed by
plunging shots from the hills, and 8-inch rifled and 10-
inch smooth-bore shots did us much damage. The shots
went entirely through our protection-hay and wood.
And now, finding that the vessel would sink, I ran her
up stream as near the right-hand shore as our damaged
steering apparatus would permit. About ten minutes be-
fore she sank we ran close in, got out one plank, and put
the wounded ashore. We also got a hawser out to make
fast to a tree to hold her until she sank. Unfortunately,
the men ashore left the hawser without making it fast.
The enemy were still firing, and the boat commenced
drifting out. I sang out to the men to swim ashore,
thinking we were in deeper water (as was reported)
than we really were. I suppose about fifteen were
drowned and twenty-five killed and wounded, and one
probably taken prisoner. This will sum up our whole
loss. The boat sank in about three fathoms of water;
she lies level and can easily be raised, but lies within
range of the enemy's batteries. The vessel went down
with her colors nailed to her mast, or rather to the
stump of one, all three having been shot away.
fire, until the magazine was drowned, was good, and I
am satisfied did damage. We only fired at a two-gun
water battery.

Very respectfully, &c.,

Our

GEO. M. BACHE, Lieut. Commanding. The progress of the mining operations was such, that on the 25th of June a fort, on the immediate right of the Jackson road, was blown up. It was occupied by the Third Louisiana regiment. Its destruction had been anticipated by the enemy, and most of the force was previously withdrawn to an inner line of intrenchments, so that only a few men were wounded by the explosion. As soon as it had been destroyed, a strong column advanced to storm the line, which was met by a force of the enemy, consisting of the Sixth Missouri, and a bloody

contest ensued, in which the loss was severe on both sides. The Federal force then retired.

On the 29th of June, the same portion of the enemy's line was again blown up, but no attempt to charge was made. All attempts to countermine, on the part of the enemy, were signally unsuccessful, owing to the position of Gen. Grant's works. The state of affairs within the city at this time is thus described by a Confederate officer: "About the thirty-fifth day provisions began to get very scarce, and the advent of Gen. Johnston's relieving force was anxiously and momentarily looked for. Mule meat was the common fare of all alike, and even dogs became in request for the table. Bean meal was made into bread, and corn meal into coffee, and in these straits the garrison patiently dragged on the weary length of one day after another, under a scorching sun, the stench from the unburied corpses all around alone causing the strongest minded, firmest nerved to grow impatient for the day of deliverance. The enseveral emy pushed their works: they blew up forts, and with them the garrison, and attempted to charge; but the meagre and famished yet steadfast garrison still defiantly held the key of the Mississippi. But everything must have an end. Gen. Pemberton learned from Gen. Johnston that he could not afford him relief, and as the garrison was too famished and reduced to cut its way out, he determined to capitulate."

On the 3d of July, about half past seven in the morning, a flag of truce was seen on the crest of a hill above the camp of Gen. Burbridge. An officer was sent to escort the bearers of it, two Confederate officers, blindfold, to the tent of Gen. A. J. Smith, whose front they entered. These officers were Major-Gen. Bowen and Col. Montgomery, of Virginia. They were the bearers of the following despatch from Lieut.-Gen. Pemberton to Gen. Grant:

HEADQUARTERS, VICKSBURG, July 8d, 1868. Maj.-Gen. U. S. Grant, commanding U. S. Forces: GENERAL: I have the honor to propose to you an armistice for blank hours, with a view of 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 to-day 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 a yet indefinite period. This communication will be handed you, under a flag of truce, by Major-Gen. James Bowen.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN C. PEMBERTON.
To this despatch Gen. Grant replied as follows:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE, IN THE
FIELD NEAR VICKSBURG, July 3d, 1868.

Lieut.-Gen. J. C. Pemberton, commanding Confederate
Forces, &c.:

GENERAL: Your note of this date, just received, proposes an armistice for 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 en

durance 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, U. S. GRANT, Major-General.

Gen. Bowen, the bearer of Gen. Pemberton's letter, expressed to Gen. Smith a strong desire to converse with Gen. Grant, and according ly Gen. Grant, while declining this, requested Gen. Smith to say if Gen. Pemberton desired to see him, an interview would be granted between the lines, in McPherson's front, at any hour in the afternoon which Gen. Pemberton might appoint. A message was soon sent back to Gen. Smith, appointing three o'clock as the hour. At that time Gen. Grant, with his staff and Gens. McPherson, Ord, A. J. Smith, and Logan, was at the place, which was a fruit orchard midway between the front of the two contending forces. Gen. Pemberton soon came, attended by Gen. Bowen and Col. Montgomery. As the two commanders drew near each other, both, as though involuntarily, paused. The slight embarrassment was brought to a close by Col. Montgomery, who stepped forward and formally introduced them. They shook each other by the hand, and, after a few words, Gen. Grant proposed a private conversation, which was accepted, and the two generals stepped aside. The conference closed by Gen. Grant saying that he would send his proposition in writing. After an interview with his officers at his headquarters, Gen. Grant sent the following letter, by Gen. Logan and Col. Wilson, to Gen. Pem

berton:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE NEAR VICKSBURG, July 3d, 1863. Lieut.-Gen. J. C. Pemberton, commanding Confederate Forces, Vicksburg, Miss.:

GENERAL: In conformity with agreement of this afternoon, I will submit the following proposition for the surrender of the city of Vicksburg, public stores, &c. On your accepting the terms proposed, I will march in one division as a guard, and take possession at eight A. M. to-morrow. As soon as paroles can be made out, and signed by officers and men, you will be allowed to march out 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. If these conditions are accepted, any amount of rations you may deem necessary can be taken from the stores you now have, and also the necessary cooking utensils for preparing them. Thirty wagons also, counting two twohorse or mule teams as one, will be allowed you to transport such articles as cannot be carried along. The same conditions will be allowed to all sick and wounded officers and privates as fast as they become able to travel. The paroles for these latter must be signed, however, whilst officers are present authorized to sign the roll of prisoners.

I am, General, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

U. S. GRANT, Major-General.. About the dawn of day, on the morning of July 4th, the following reply was received from Gen. Pemberton :

HEADQUARTERS, VICKSBURG, July 3d, 1868. Major-Gen. U. S. Grant, commanding United State Forces, etc.

GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date, proposing terms for the surrender of this garrison and post. In the main, your terms are accepted; but in justice both to the honor and spirit of my troops, manifested in the defence of Vicksburg, I have the honor to submit you, will perfect the agreement between us: At ten the following amendments, which, if acceded to by o'clock to-morrow, I propose to evacuate the works in and around Vicksburg, and to surrender the city with my colors and arms, and stacking them in front and garrison under my command by marching out of my present lines, after which you will take possession. Officers to retain their side arms and personal property, and the rights and property of citizens to be respected. I am, General, yours, very respectfully,

J. C. PEMBERTON, Lieutenant-General. To this letter Gen. Grant immediately replied as follows:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, BEFORE VICKSBURG, July 4th, 1863. Lieut.-Gen. J. C. Pemberton, commanding Forces in Vicksburg: communication of 3d July. The amendments proGENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge your posed by you cannot be acceded to in full. It will be necessary to furnish every officer and man with a parole, signed by himself, which, with the completion of the rolls of prisoners, will necessarily take some time. treatment of citizens and their private property. Again, I can make no stipulation in regard to the While I do not propose to cause any of them any undue annoyance or loss, I cannot consent to leave my which officers can be allowed to take with them will self under restraint by stipulations. The property be as stated in proposition of last evening; that is, officers will be allowed their private baggage and side arms, and mounted officers one horse each. If you mean by your proposition for each brigade to march their arms at ten o'clock A. M., and then return to the to the front of the lines now occupied by it, and stack inside and remain as prisoners until properly paroled, I will make no objections to it. Should no modifica tion be made of your acceptance of my terms by nine jected, and act accordingly. Should these terms be o'clock A. M., I shall regard them as having been reaccepted, white flags will be displayed along your lines, to prevent such of my troops as may not have been notified from firing upon your men. I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient serU. S. GRANT, Major-General U. S. Army.

vant.

To this letter the following answer was received:

HEADQUARTERS VICKSBURG, July 4th, 1568. Major-Gen. U. S. Grant, commanding U. S. Forces,

&c. :

GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date, and in reply to say that the terms proposed by you are accepted. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. C. PEMBERTON, Lieutenant-General. Of the terms of the surrender, Gen. Grant thus speaks in his report: "These terms I regarded more favorable to the Government than an unconditional surrender. It saved us the transportation of them North, which at that time would have been very difficult, owing to the limited amount of river transportation on hand, and the expense of subsisting them. It left our army free to operate against Johnston, who was threatening us from the direction of Jack

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