The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-09-10
The Surrender of Nicksburg-The Inter.
view between Grant and Pemberton.
Correspondence Of the Missouri Den

The Surrender of yicksburg-The Inter-
view between Grant and Pemberton.
Correspondence Of the Missouri Delnocrst.l
CAIRO. July 9th.-By arrival this morning of the
steamer -Niagara, from Memphis July 7th, with
Lieutenant William Dunn, of General J. {. Sullivan's
staff, from NIcksburg on the 4th, who is bearer of
dispatches from General Grant to the War Depart
ment, we have the confirmation of Admiral POrter's
dispatch. stating that Vicksburg had capitulated. 4
L. WOodall, correspondent OF the Cincinnati Gdzette,
was also a passenger upon the Niagara from Ficks-
burg. DR.. Dunn came az far as Memphis on the V.
F Wilson. From reliable sources | have been able
TO gather the following particulars in regard TO the
closing scenes Of the siege of Vicksburg:
The fret flag OF truce OF late from the rebels was
received on July 1st. II was for the purpose of ask
ing AN escort for two Englishmen who had been long
enough penned ap in the Contederacy and eaten mule
beef enough to satisfy their ideas OF comfort. Gen.
Grant reality granted PembertOu's request. The
English subjects were not detained longer than nece=-
sary. They came aud went unquestioned. On thes
previous day the rebels made an unsuccessful sortie
upon the works on our left, meaning TO take our
soldiers out OF their rife pits Ga this day Johnston
was reported only twenty miles Oft. The men were
in line OF battle to receive the attack. His main
force fronted on Haines' Bluff.
On Friday morning, the Sd, another flag of truce
came Into our lines. 1t was brought by two Confed-
crate officers dressed in most festive attire. They
prosei TO be Major General Bowen. late commandant
at Grant Gulf, and a Virginia Colonel named Mont
gomery. They rode splendid animals, which were
rather thin III flesh even for racers. The messengers
were blindiolied and sent 10 General Bur bridges
tent, where for two hours they renamed awaiting
the return Of General Smith, VINO took their dispatch
from Pemberton TO General Grant. Their eyes were
unbhndaged AFTER one hour. and they conversed freely
with the Union officers. One of the messengers said
iron ha' been thrown into the city III Quantities sntti-
cient to stock immense ioundries, aud have enough
left % build monuments for all citizens and soldiers
who had fallen. When General Smith returned 10
General Burbrid e. the two Confederate officers were
again hoodwinked, and by au officer conducted TO a
safe point, from which they could enter their Own
lines. These messengers were well dressed, in uni
forms Of gray, and wore d~ashing, devil may-care
Zvuave caps, and had but little gold lace upon their
uniforms. Tney each had the golden star on the
collar OF their co Is, designating their rank. Great
curiosity OF course was manifested among all officers
and soldiers TO learn the contents OF PembertOn's
dispatches. This was finally gratl6ed. The rebel
General had seen ft TO intimate that unnecessary
efusion of blood and loss of precious lives might be
prevented by "A brief cessation of hostilities, during
whirh time Commissioners might be appointed TO
agree upon the proper terms for a surrender OF the
city. He also intimated as a cIincher, that he could
hold the place tor an indefinite period.
General Grants reply was very brief. 1t set forth
that PembertOn had il IN his power at any moment
to stop bloodshed. The Commissioners were altogether
unnecessary, as the only stipuiations he could accept
were include in the terms :" unconditional surren-
der Ii concluded with a deserved tribute TO the
bravery and endurance Of the rebel garrison, and
said if they surrendered he could promise that all
should be treated with the courtesy due prisoners of
war.
The rebel messengers had not long been gone when
PembertOn sent again, asking for a pei sonai interview
with Grant. Ii WAS promptly granted. AT three
p. NJ ON the same day. the conference took place liz
"A fruit orchard, located about midway between the
fronts of the two coutending forces. The scene was
witnessed by thousands of Federal and rebel soldiers,
who Tor the first time in weeks showed themselves
with impunity above the rife pits, aud yet during all
those weeks they had been within five yards OF each
other. Ii was n remarkable scene. General Grant
came slowly TO the place of rendezvous, smoking his
cigar, and apparently the only unexcited person in
the vast ~assemblage. What the General felt within
could only be imagined. His stoical face did not
reveal n clue TO ii. As Pemberton and Grant drew
near each other. both, as though involuntarily,
paused, perhaps waiting each the first word from the
other. This slight embarrassment was brought to n
close by Colonel Montgomery, who stepped forward
and formally introduced the chieftains. They shook
hands-PeIRberton being apparently little discon-
certed by the complacency OF his opponent.
These men thus meeting aftec a long siege, in
which they had been pitted against each other. had
been Lieutenants together III the same company in
many IL hard fought battle In Mexico. hence were
previously known TO each other Seldom DO such
meetings occur outside OF the field of romance.
PeDberton ; first remark was that he had been pres
eut when different iOrtresses surrendered TO the
Federal arms in the war with Mexico. In all these
the enemy were granted terms and conditions. He
thought his army a. well entitled TO these favorS As n
foreign foe. General Grant listened. and then pro-
posed q private conversation of n few moments. 1t
struck PembertOu favorably, and the two Generals
stepped aside.
What Was said during that conference can only be
judged iTUm results. After little mure than an hour
terms were agreed upon and the Coufederates sur
rende. ed. 1t was arranged that the Federal forces
should enter at 10 A.. VI. next day-the AIN of July.
The rebels were all TO be paroIed on the spot. The
surrender Of arms, etc, was TO be made. Officers
were 10 be allowed to retain their horses and four
days ratiOns, TO be taken from Confederate stores.
This was certainly as much as General Grant could
consent TO. Prisoners To be liable TO exchange. IL
was the policy, perhaps, not TO subsist the rebels IN
such large numbers, or endeavOr TO transport them
at once to the North. Our work is TO pursue and
punsh, not TO feed and fetch and carry.
The Puemy- numbering from twenty 10 thirty thou
sand prisoners, by this arrangement fell into GRANTS
hands, along with the small arms, forts, deienses.
etc , Of the garrison at Vicksburg. Cannon are
plenty, aud in quality equal to the best ia the Con-
federacy.
At 10 y. VI. on the 4th-the glorious Fourth-as
agreed, General SJeele's division marched into and
garrisoned the city, the band playing National airs.
Every soldiers heart was TOO full for utterance, aud
the old Union emblem hOated above them. The
flag was soon seen in its own beloved colors above the
buildings where OF late only rebel ensigns bad met
the breeze. Vick-burg was in loyal possession once
more. Not long after the formal possession had been
taken of the city, Colonel MARYLAND made his en-
trance and took charge of the Post Office. and pro-
ceeded At once TO establish Federal mail routes with
the rest of the world