Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-07-20
THE SURRENDER OF PORT HUDSON
Details of the Capitulatiou


The gunboat Arizona arrived at Vicksburp
on the l0th from Port Hudson, with dispatches
10 Ienerai Grant. announcing the captulation
OF that place on the 7th.
After his unsuccessful assaults npon tho
enemy,s works, General Banks labored to re-
ouce the place by continuous bombardment
ana by closing all avenues by which fhe enc
my couid secure supply of provisions
On the evening of the 7th General Gardner
sent out flag of truce He had heard of the
capltulaiion OF Vicksburg, and he desired Gen
Banks TO give him such information as he
might nave concerning the truth or faIsity OF
the rumor. General Banks sent him a copy of
General Grants dispatch giving full particu-
lars OF the capitulation of Ticksburp Genera,
Gardner then expressed his wiIlin gness ta sur
render upon the same terms
Gen. Banks declined, and announced that he
would accept nothing short of an unconditional
surrender. Gen. Gardner had before EXPRESSED
his determination 10 hold out to the last ex
tremity, and seemed sanguine both of the ulti-
mate success of the Confederate arms i'm hold
ing the Mississippi and his own ability to de-
Tend his works until he should be relic we'd by
an attack upon Gen. Banks rear. The inteIli-
gence OF Gen. Grants splendid triumph at
llcksburg, however, and the advance of
stfong column INTO the interior of Mississippi
cutting OFF his expected relief speedily dis
PEELED Gen Gardner's hopes Disheartened
aid discouraged by the news he had received.
Gen. Gardner surrendered his force uncon
dltlonally on the morning of July Sth
The garrison consisted of 5000 effective men,
IN excellent condition. There were sixty pieces
river in the rear of the place, many of them of
very large calibre. The magazines contained
an abundant supply OF powder, but a small
quahtily OF shot and shell This deficiency
accounts for the rebel fire having been so slack
during the last two or three days OF the siege
Gen. Gardner was evidently outstanding his
resources TO repel an anticipated assault, and
had an abundant supply to have worked all
his guns for several days continuously with
out entirely exhausting it.
There was no beef in the possession of the
rebels at Port Hudson at the time of the sur
render. The flesh of mules had been dealt ont
for some days, in short rations, to supply the
want Of beef. There was quite number of
mules inside the rebel works, and an abun-
dance OF corn to have sustained the garrison
for weeks longer, if they had had the heart to
fight.
Gen. Gardner is reported to have said, after
the surrender, that he expected Gen. Grant,
with his army, would come down from Vicks-
burg and assume the conduct of the siege, and
that, IN that event, his works would be ASSAULT
ed and overpowered by superior numbers,
and many of his men would be bayonetted in
the trenches before surrender could be made.
Gen. Herron's fine command, which is the
army OF the Frontier, operating on the South
west Missouri line, and lately attached to Gen
Grants army, started on the morning of the
10th for Port Hudson. st- s@s.'
On meeting the Arizona the fleet of transports
returned, and are on their way up the Yazoo
river Ihey will proceed as high as Yazoo
City, and perhaps higher. Gen. HERON S force
is large enough to operate with advantage if
an enemy can be found in that quarter
Colonel j. Kirby Smith, on General Grants
stall, was sent to Port Hudson, on the capture
OF Vicksburg, to ask General Banks what
troops he reqEired. General Banks sent a
gunboat back with information of his position
and the number of Western soldiers desired
General Grant at once responded by placing
on board OF transports some of his best fighting
boys, when Colonel Smith arrived back, having
left PorlHudson on the 9th with dis patch to
General Grant, and with the glorious news
that the Mississippi river was opened to New
Orleans. The enemy's works at Port Hudson
are very strong and well protected, naturally
and artificially. We have taken sixty cannon
mostly field pieces, one major general, one
brigadier general and four colonels; with the
line and field officers of three or four more
regiments. The following are among the rebel
officers captured: Major General Gardner,
Brigadier General Belt, Col. Miles, Col. Stead.
IN IN, Col. Marshall Smith