The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-07-31
THE CAPlTULATION OF PORT
HUDSON,
The official Correspondence.
THE SURRENDER UNCONDITIONAL.

WASHINGTON, July 2l.-The following
correspondence has been received at the
headquarters of the army:
THE CAPTURE ANNOUNCED.
HEApouARTERs OF THE 18TH ARMY CoRps,l
DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
PORT HUDSON, July 8, 1868. }
GENERAL:-I have the honor to inform you
that Port Hudson surrendered yesterday morn
ing without conditions. We took possession
at seven o'clock this morning. The number of
prisoners and guns is unknown as yet, but is
estimated at five thousand prisoners and fifty
pieces of artillery.
Very respectfully.
Brig. General w. 81. EMORY.
Commanding defences of New Orleans.
RICHARD G. IRWIN. A. A. General.
GARDNER INQUIRIES IF vICKsBURG WAS TAKEN.
HEADQUARTERS, PORT HUDSON, La
July z, 1868.
GENERAL Having received information
from your troops that Vicksburg has been sur
rendered, make this communication to ask
you to give me the official assurance whether
this is true or not, and ftrue / ask for cessa-
ton of hOstiitles with view to the cOnsidera-
ton of terms for surrendering this position.
/ am, general, very respectfully,
Your obt servant.
FRANK GARDNER, Maj, Gen.
States forces near Port Hudson.
GENERAL BANKS REPLY.
HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF
BEFORE PORT HUDSON, July s, 1861
GENERAL:-ln reply to your communication
dated the 9TH instant. by flag Of truce, received
a few moments since, / have the honor to in
form you that / received yesterday morning,
July 18th, at 1915 o'clock, by the gunboat Gen
off io nj I;S,>,
eral Ulysses S. Grant, United States army,
whereof the following is a true extract:
HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,
NEAR VICKSBURG, July 4, 1857
I" MAJOR General ". p. Banks, C0mmd'idsng De-
Department of tie Gu!f':
GENERAL-The garrison of Vicksburg sur
rendered this morning. The number of prison.
ers as given by the officer is p, 900, field artil-
lery 1913 pieces, and a large number of siege
guns, probably not less than 80.
.'Your obedient servant,
~. s. GRANT.
Major General"
| regret to say that under present circum-
stances cannot consistently with my duty con-
sent to cessation of hostilities for the purpose
you indicate.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
N. P. BANKS.
Major-General Commanding
To Major-General Frank Gardner; Command
ing Confederate States forces, Port Hudson.
vICKsBURG HAVING FALLEN, GEN. GARDNER
THINKS OF sURRENDERING.
PORT HUDSON JulyS.
GENERAL: have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of this date
giving copy ofan official communication from
Major General U. s. Grant, United States ar
my, announcing the surrender of Vicksburg.
Having defended this position as long as I
deem my duty requires, am willing to surren-
der to you, and will appoint commission of
three officers to meet similar commission APP
pointed by yourself, at nine o'clock this morn
ing, for the purpose of agreeing upon and
drawing up the terms of the surrender, and
for that purpose ask for cessation of hostili-
ties.
viii you please designate point outside of
my breastworks where the meeting shall be
held for this purpose?
am, very respectfully,
Your Obedient servant,
FRANK GARDNER,
Commanding c. s. Forces.
GENERAL BANKS GRANTS GARDENERS RE-
QUEST.
HFADOrr prrpc TT q Uar,,,e