The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-25 00:00:00

THE SURRENDER OF VICKSBURG,

(From the Correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial.)
Steamer John H. Dickey, Vicinity of
Vicksburg, July 4.
Vicksburg has surrendered. The name of Gen.
Grant is now inseparably connected with our
national birthday. We entered the city at 10 a.m.
of that day, and at high noon the flag gracefully
waved over 20,000 prisoners and small arms innu-
merable, and the finest rifle batteries in the Confe
derate service.
At about 7 a.m., July 3, a flag of true was seen
upon the rebel breastworks. Al officer was sent to
receive it.
All firing ceased, and thousands of men thronged
the parapets to see the foe with whom they had
contended 42 days, each concealed from the other.
The men of both sides gazed in wonderment. No
arms were visible--only men, and the earthworks
were alive. In some salients, where we thought
there might be 20, there seemed 100. All looked
like men who labour in mills or lime-quarries,
Slouched hats, shirts, and pants were the uniform.
But little was said, though in some places the men
were not more than 10 or 15 feet apart.
The bearers of despatches to our general were
fine-looking men, of martial bearing and brave mien,
clad in gray close-fitting uniforms and French caps,
mounted on fine but thin horses.
They were conducted blindfolded to the tent of
General A. K. Smith, whose front they had entered.
They were escorted to the tent of Gen. Steven Bur-
bridge, to remain until his return from the quarters
of General Grant, five miles away. They conversed
of old times more than of the present. Their names
were General. Bowen, of Port Gibson memory, and
Colonel Montgomery, of Virginia. After taking a
glass of wine, General Bowen remarked that his
bandage was uncomfortable, and it was very warm.
General Burbridge had them unloosed.
After more than an hour's conversation, their an-
swer came, and they were again blindfolded, and
returned to their own works. Still the men sat in
silence. Nat a gun was fired in that part of the
wall. All wondered what it meant. The purport
of it was this :
Gen. Grant—To prevent the further effusion of
bloon and loss of life, I propose that hostilities
ceasa for hours, and that you appoint three
commissioners, and I three, to confer upon condi-
tions of surrender, though I can hold out indefinitely.
(Signed) PEMBERTON.
To which Gen. Grant replied :
As to your first proposition, it is for you to avail
at any time ; as to the second, I see no necessity for
that, as there can be no conditions of surrender.
We can all bear witness to your endurance and
bravery, and will treat you with all the respect
due prisoners of war.
(signed) U. S. GRANT.
Gen. Pemberton then solicited a personal inter-
view, which was granted by Grant at three p.m.
The latter, with his Staff, appeared on the hills where
our advanced works were. Here the party halted,
until Gen. Pemberton appeared, accompanied
by
Gen. Bowen and Col. Montgomery. On the crest of
the opposite hills were rifle-pits and forts, crowded
with men. In the space of a grove of fruit trees of
figs and peaches, met the contending heroes. Thou-
sands of soldiers looked upon this strange scene.
Two men who had been lieutenants in the same
regiment in Mexico, now met as foes.
When they had approached within a few feet
there was a halt and silence.
Col. Montgomery spoke—" Gen. Grant,,, WGerais.
Pemberton." They shook hands politely.
evident Pemberton was mortified. He said, it
"I was
at Monterey and Buena Vista. We had terms and
conditions there."
Gen. Grant then took him aside. They sat down
on the grass and talked more than an hour. Grant
smoked all the time. Pemberton played wirteedh the
to
grass and pulled leaves. Grant finally g
parole them, allowing the officers each hisa horse.
It was a polite thing. The dread of going north,
and the fear of harsh treatment, n
have d deterred them
from capitulating sooner. He prod his
of mnimity and saved thousands upon thousands
.
dol-
lars in the way of transportations and rations.
men wou:d call
They feared the 4th of July.
out at night, that the 4th wouldOurfinish them, and
it, was so arranged. By this we have saved thou-
sands of lives. Both armies are gratified with the
result. Our men treat them with kindness,
hndontestsa,sgteidvifnogr
them coffee, which some of them have

a year.
The city is much dilapidated. Many houses are
injured. The Vicksburg paper of July 2, of which
I send you extracts by mail, admits the eating of
mule meat and the pilfering of soldiers in private
houses. Mrs. Cisco, wife of en officer in the artil-
lery service, was killed last Monday in the cilastty.
General Green, formerly of Missouri, was killed
week. Colonel Griffin, of the Thirty-first Louisiana
Regiment, was also killed.
There seems to be much suffering there from sick-

ness and our missiles.
Johnston. is still in our rear. The steamer from
the Yazoo River and Young's Point dropped down
to the levee, when our correspondent bade farewell
to the war
Our boat was fired into at the foot of Island 82,
and riddled with shell and ball. Fifteen shots
passed through, most of them in the cabin. The
cabin is almost a ruin. Strange to say, no one was