The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-05
OFFERS TO SUR.
RENDER CONDlTIONAS.
CHICAGO, May 2S

CHICAGO, May 20.
special to the Journal from Cairo says pa
rolled prisoners who left Sherman's Landing on
the 23d state that just before leaving they con-
versed with bearer of dispatches from Penn
bertOn to Johnston. who had been captured.
The dispatch bearer says the number of rebels
at Vicksburg is between $4,000 and 10000.
Friday morning Pemberton sent flag of truce
to Grant, offering to surrender Vicksburg if
Grant would allow the rebels to lay down their
arms and march out. The offer was refused.
On Thursday the rebel batteries north of the
hill were captured and turned on the enemy.
The same day the water batteries at the foot of
the hill were taken The same day the water
batteries below Vicksburg, were taken by POr-
ter's gunboats.
On Friday, after the refusal to accept Penn
bertOn's terms of surrender, Grant moved on
his works, and the rebels were driven to the
inner Notifications.
Logan guards Black River Bridge, and Grant
feels certain that he will be able to take care of
johnson. The latter has only about ten thou
sand men, exclusive of what he may have by
reinfOrcements. Grants army is larger than
generally supposed, quite numerous enough
for the work in hand. 1t stretches completely
around the doomed city, each wing resting on
the river. I'D
Vicksburg is full of women and children, not
only the original inhabitants there but many
who came in from the surrounding country for
safety.
special to the Times, dated three miles east
OF Vicksburg says our wounded in the battle of
Champion Hill number over LOO. The enc
my's loss is acknowledged as not over half that
number. We had 10000 troops engaged and
the enemy had about 10000 according TO ac-
counts from their wounded. u-
We took 5000 prisoners, and 5000 at the
battle at the bridge.
General Sherman crossed ON a pOntOOn
bridge. McPhersons and Netherlands corps
built three bridges on Sunday night. and
crossed their commands by Monday noon At
four o'clock the advance of she.1nans corps,
under Steele reached the enemy's works back
of the city, and took position on the right, on
the bluffs above it, and comm need the bonn
bardment. -5
Gen. Mcpherson planted his command in
the front and in our center. Gen. McClernand
took the extreme lett, which reached almost to
the river below. All possibility OF escape be.
lug cut of, every living man, woman or child
must fall into our hands,
All forenoon yesterday different brigades
were taking positions. forming in line of bat
tie. dc. AT two O'Clock the battle began IN
earnest after skirmiShing all the for, n BON.
General Steele drove the enemy from several
forts and took one complete line of fortified
ton fronted by rifle pits
His extreme right rested on the river bank
under the bluff, at shutdown. His division
fought calamity all day, though hungry dirty,
foot sore and sleepy Sherlnan's left and Nc
Pherson'S right are in supporting distance.
Both advanced their lines of skirmishers to
within fifty yards of the breastWOrks, and the
artillery to within 500 yards and arc in posi-
ton ut these distances this morning.
Gen McClernand is not progressing so fast,
but is doing well. 49,. .E
We lost about 500 in killed and wounded
yesterday. This morning Il simultaneous as
sault will be ordered on the enemy's works, it
is understood, from all points.
CAIRO, May %.
BY the arrival of the steamer Imper al from
Memphis last evening, in default of all letters
and dispatches from correspondents, | gather
from the officers of the boat, and other reliable
persons, the following latest news from Ficks-
burg:
The information came from Young's Point
to Memphis on Wednesday, by the steamer
City OF Memphis, United states hospital boat,
she having brought up about four hundred
wounded.
1t appears, that, as previously reported, Gen.
Grant had taken all the enemy's works, with
the exception Of one ledOubt, in which their en-
tire force was gathered, and which they de-
Tended with pixies, the elevation being too
steep for the use Of firearms
This was ordered to be taken on the 23d
Gen. Alvin P. Hovey's brigade pressed forward
and attempted an eScalade Dy the use OF lad
ders. At one time there was hope of success
Gen. Hovey having. with his own hands, plan.
ted our colOrs upon their wall; but after hard
fighting. our troops were repulsed with great
loss, and that attempt was for the time aban-
dOned.
As this was the forlorn hope of the evening,
it was supposed some means would be found
to take it before the rebels could bring forces to
his flank. The loss in Gen. Hovey's brigade
must be severe.
CAIRO, May 2S-1G,P. M.-"he Imperial lust
arrived from Memphis, brings the body of the
Colonel of the SD Illinois. Capt E. Stevens.
of the 18th Illinois, trings the body of his
brother G. Stevens.
From Capt. Stevens l learn the following
particulars: The fighting on Friday, was des-
perate In the morning, as before stated,
Pemberton offered TO surrender on certain
terms Grant refused, but immed ately pro-
ceeded to make an assault. We charged their
Notifications, and took some of them, The
rebels rallied and retOOk them
There was much hand to hand fighting.
Many of our men were killed in the ditch,
which is twelve feet wide and seven feet
deep. ~ AL tF t+3eI1t
Captain Stevens says our loss that day in
killed, wounded and prisoners, was about five