The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-28 00:00:00

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the mortars. It was not unt,
that General Grant sent word over to Porter to re-
quest him to cease firing, as the Confederates had
sent out a flag of truce. On Friday morning,
the 3d instant, General Grant (Fedeital), and
General Pemberton (Confederate), held a con-
ference. The former is described as being rather
silent and smoking, while Pemberton, squelly cool
and careless in manner, was plucking straws ard
biting them as if carrying on the merest chit-cleat.
The Confederate General asked for terms less galling
than those of " uneonditional" surrender. Grant
refused any other permiseioe than that of t
taeir clothing, side arms, one horse to each inoutned
officer, and 30 waggons of provisions. Seine of the
New York correnporidents say that Pembertou en-
elavoured to blind his adversary to his true posi-
tion by wishing to insert a proviso that he shooed
be allowed to take oat eight days' provisions, but
when the Federal. army entered the deception was
found out, as there was no such store in hand. The
New York, World approves of the terms granted on
these grounds:—" General Grant was induced to
grant these terms upon natural and justifiable mo-
tives. They were given as acts o?
brave foe, nor extorted as nenimity to a
mash
to- hasten the
capitulation. It is asserted by rebel officers
that anything less than this would not have been
accepted by them, and the consequences would have
been a desperate conflict to escape through our
lines. The present adjustment has this advantage,
that it rids us of a large and encumbering load of
prisoners whom we should have to feed, clothe, and
tend, and to transport them 3,000 miles at enormous
expense. Besides, it is very' properly estimated
that these men, returning to their homes and to
their camps, will work more demoralisation to fhe
rebel cause than a confinement in Northern prisons.
It has been mooted among us that many of these
men will be found fighting against us in a few days
in violation of their paroles. This may be to BOMB
extent. Yet we firmly believe that half of the
number will never carry musket in behalf of the
Confederacy more if they can help it. A fourth
of the whole number would take the oath cf alle-
giance if permitted." To accept the Northern ac-
count of the causes which led to the fall of this
stronghold, it may be stated that according to Gen.
Grant Vicksburg was virtually won after the battle
of Champion Hills. But there is no doubt that had
the Confederates possessed a good stock of provi-
sions, Gen. Grant weuld have had his task mate-
rially lengthened, and in that case it is impossible
to conjecture the result. At the moment of their
surrender the garrison were in great straits.
Already they were reduced to the offal and dregs of
their commissaries. Mule meat, while not eaten as
a necessity, had become preferable to their pickled
beef, Pork was all gone, flour used up. Corn, un-
ground for the most part, was left in limited supply.
But the worst difficulty was that of ammunition.
Only ten percussion caps to the man were found
is
their pouches. Originally short, they had receiTpd
forty-two thousand through the lines since the in•
vestment. Of cartridges they had very few.
Their medicines were scanty. Nearly six thousand
men in hospital and continually exposed to the
dangers of plunging shells; delicate women and
tender children crying for bread and wailing for
the loss of friends around them. It must have
been a strong heart that could have held out longer.
One cause for determining the time was un-
doubtedly the apprehension that on the 4th
General Grant would attack. The re-
sult would be the sack and pillage of the city, and
great slaughter. The capitulation avoided all with-
out loss of honour. The Federals took possession
on the morning of their great anniversary, " The
Fourth." General APPherson was sent into the
lines to receive the surrender. He met General
Pemberton at an old stone house about half a
mile from the lines, and had conversed some minutes
when General Grant rode upon the ground. After
a brief consultation they rode into the town.
Major-General Logan had already received orders to
march into the town and establish a provost guard.
Lieut.-Colonel Strong and Colonel Coalbagh, aides
to General M'Pherson, rode on in advance with the
national flag, which was hoisted over the court-
house, and its folds flung to the breeze at half-
past eleven o'clock. General Eliot, with the marine
brigade, was the first to land, and Admiral Porter
next. The garrison of Vicksburg numbered about
30,000, besides whom there were only 4,000 citi-
zens and negroes. The visitors did not capture any
very valuable stores. Of public property there is little
of any value beyond the cannon and ammunition ;
30 siege guns, 102 field-pieces, and 50,000 stand of
arms and equipments are among the captures, and
80 stand of colours, most of which have been seized
and torn to shreds as trophies by the excited troops.
Of ammunition there is about 100 rounds for each
heavy gun and about 12 for light field-pieces. Of
cartridges there is a limited quantity. Some of the
guns are very superior ; one an English gun, 61
inch diameter, rifled; another 3,67, a Brooke' gun of
great range, besides the old-fashioned 10-inch
colambiad. Two of their heavy guns have burst
during this siege and many of their field-pieces are
disabled by Federal shot. A considerable quan-
tity of molasses, sugar, and tobacco was discovered
but of all other stores the quantity was quite
limited. When the tremendous nature of the bom-
bardment is considered, Vicksburg does not present
such a ruined appearance as might have been ex-
pected.
The fortifications, which are very extensive,
and constructed with great ingenuity, are much cut
up. The horrors attendant upon the constant storm
of shot and shell which was poured into the place
were such as
have hardly been known since the
days of the
Peninsular war. When we consider
that the inhabitants—men, women, and children—
have, for a month and a half, been in daily terror
of their lives, never being able to sleep a night at
their
homes, but crawling into caves, unable to
move except in the few peaceful intervals in the
heat of the day, we may appreciate what a life of
horror was theirs. These caves, indeed, are among
the most curious features of this life in a besieged
city. Into these subterranean pits the inhabitants
would crawl so often as the guns and mortars opened
out what promised to be a heavy fire.
From a diary kept by one of the unfortunate
citizens we learn the feeling of the inhabitants
towards the close of the siege. He says that
the 3d of July was exceedingly hot. Early in
the morning there was a little firing on
the land side. About eight o'clock it ceased,
and the report spread through the town of a flag of
truce being sent out. Some construed it to mean a
surrender of the city ; others that the Federals were
demanding the surrender. Some supposed that the
women and children, of which we had great num-
r hers, were to be sent out, as there was considerable
expectation of a bloody battle on the next day. The
navy mortars kept up an increased fire upon the
town, but in the rear all was quiet. Rumours kept
flying about the town to various ends. At four
o'clock the mortars ceased, and for what proved to
be a lasting spell. We were once permitted to
breathe without fear. Some degree of disquietude
was felt by the citizens and army in regard to the
flag of truce that had been passed on this day, and it
leaked out that a surrender was in contempla-
tion. On the following morning it became known that
the surrender had been made, and that the alleged
cause was starvation. The people were divided
on this matter, some insisting on an abundance of
supplies, while others maintained that they were
exhausted. The result will prove that our provi-
sions are exhausted, our men weak in body, but un-
daunted in spirit. Whosoever may be chargeable
1 for this calamity, it cannot be laid to the brave and
suffering garrison. Among the casualties during
the siege were three women, and three children,
and four men. A number were severely injured,
and numerous limbs were lost. Some most remark-
able and ludicrous escapes were made. One shell
fell and exploded between two officers as they were
riding together on the street, and lifted both horses
and riders into the air, without hurting either man
or beast. One woman had just risen from her
chair when a shell came through the roof, took her
seat, and shattered the house without injuring the
the lady; and a hundred others of similar cases.