The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-07-12
TllE FALs OF vluksuvao
Interesting paruou.ars.

80 ~
N1oRsBuRG, July 4--Vicksburg has sur
rendered. The name Of General Grant
ia now inseparably connected with our
National Birthday. We entered the
city al 10 A. M. Of that day, and at high
noon the flag gracefully waved over 90
600 prisoners, and small arms innumera-
Bile, and the finest riled batteries in the
Confederate service.
Az about "A. M, July q, a flag Of truce
was seen upon the rebel breastworks.
An officer was sent to receive il.
All firing ceased, and thousands Of
men thronged the parapets TO see the foe
with whom they had contended foriy-two
days, each concealed from the other.
The men of both sides gazed in wonder
meat. No arms were visible-only men,
and the earthworks were alive. In some
s~alients where we thought there might
be twenty, there seemed one hundred.
All looked like men who labor in mills
or lime quarries. Slouched hats, shirts
and pants were the uniform. But little
was said, though in come places the men
were not more than ten or fifteen feet
apart.
Tue bearers of dispatches to our Cen
eral were tiue 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 Gen. A. X. Smith, whose front
they had entered. They were escorted
to the tent Of Gen. Stephen Burbridge, to
remain until his return from The quar-
tiers Of Gen. Grant, five miles away.
They conversed of old times more than
of the present. Their names were Gen.
Bowen, of Port Gibson memory, and Col.
Montgomery, of Virginia. After taking
3 glass of wine, Gen. Bowen remarked
that his baudage was uncomfortable, as
il was very warm, Gen. Burbridge had
them Embossed.
After more than an hours conversa-
ton, their answer came, and they were
again blindfolded and returned to their
own works. Still the men sat in silence.
Not a gun was fired in that part of the
wall. All wondered what it meant.
The purport oft was this:
"GENERAL GRANr-To prevent the
further effusion of blood and loss of life,
l propose that hostilities cease for blank
hours, and that you appoint three COM
mi~ssionere, and l three, to confer upon
conditions of surrender, though ] can
hold on indefinitely.
"PEMBERT0N."
To which General Grant replied:
GAS to your first proposition, it is for
you to avail at any tine; as TO the Sec
ond, l can see no necessity for that, as
there can be no conditions Of surrender
We can all bear testimony to your endu.
rance and bravery, aud will treat you
with all the respect due prisoners o
war.
"U. S. GRANT"
General Pemberton then solicited
personal interview, which was granted
by Grant at 8 p. NJ. The latter, will
his staff, appeared on the hills, wherl
our advance works were. Here tn.
party halted, until Gen. Pemberton ap
pesred, accompanied by Gen. Bowen ant
Col. Montgomery. On the crest Of tn
opposite hills were ritie-pits and forts
crowded with men. In the space in
grove of fruit tress of fgs and peaches
met the c%ontending heroes. Thousand
of soldiers looked upon this strang
scene. Two men who had been Lieu
tenants in the same regiment in Mexico
now met as foes, with all the world look
ing upon them. The one his country
glory, the other, his country's shame.
When they had approached within
few feet there was a halt and silence.
Col. Montgomery spoke-"G Gen Gran
Gen. Pemberion." They shook hand
politely. Il was evident Pemberton wa
mortified. lie said 81 was at Montere
and Buena Vista. We had terms an
conditions there"
Gen. Grant then took him aside. The
sat down on the grass and talked MOI
than an hour. Grant smoked all Ii
time. Pemberton played with the graz
= and pulled leaves. Grant finally agree
to parole them, allowing the officers eac
his horse. 1t was a polite thing. I'll
dread of going North, and the fear
harsh treatment, had deferred them fro,
= captivating sooner. He proved his MAJ
nanimity aud saved thousands upo
thousands of dollars in the way
transportations and ratiDns. They fearC
P the Fourth of July. Our men would ca
out ut night, that the Fourth would fiji
ish them, and il was so arranged. L
this we have saved thousands of live
Both armies are grAtiiied with the resu.
Our men treat them with kindness, givil
them coffee, which some of them ha
d not tasted for a year.
The city is much dilapidRted. Maj
houses are injured. The Yicksburg p
N per of July 2, of which / send you e.
tracts by mail, admits the eating of mt
e meat and the pilferiDg of soldiers in pr
vate houses Mrs. Cisco, wife Of an OF
Ger in tho artillery service, was kill
last Monday in the city. General Gree
formerly OF Missouri, was killed /,
week. Col. Griffin, of the 3lst LOJ
siana Regiment, was also killed.
There seems to DO much sullerii
there from sickness and our missiles.
Johnston is still in our rear. I
iE steamer from the Yazoo River a
ny Yonng's Point dropped down to I
d leyee, when yOnr correspondent ba
no farewell TO the war.
L. Our boat was fred into al the foot
Island 50, and riddled with shell a
ball. Fifteen shots passed throul
q most of themin the cabin. The cabin
Of almost a ruin. Strange to say no O
NJ was hurt.
iiS Gen. Price, with 5000 men, attack
he Helena on the 4th. He carried one f.
but was shelled out with great loss. I
gunboAts did ~splendidly. Our force '
about 1000. In the afternoon Price /
gan his retreat and was on the event
of the 9th 20 miles away. He is anxi,
to cross the Mississippi TO join Bragg
johnson. His loss will reach near 2,C