The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-09-04

sent An answer To McClernaud, direcfip
him to order MP Macarthur to his assistance
and started immsdis'ely 10 the position
had just left on McPherson's line 10 conve,,
to him the inform alton from McCiernand b.
this las, dispatch. that he might make tn
diversion requested. Before reaching Nc
Pberson l met messenger with thir'
dispatch from AeCiernand. Of " hich th'
following is copy:
HKADauARrERs 18Th Army CoRPs, ]
In the Field rear Vicksburg, Miss. :
May 22. 1868 J
General: We have gained the enemy
entrenchments at several points, but arr
brought to stand. l have sent word TO
Macarthur to reinforce me if be can -
Would it not be best to concentrate the
whole or par, Of bis command at this point
JoHs A. McCLEaSASD.
M-jor-Geneyal Commanding
Major General u. S. Grant.
4 Il. 81 have received your Dispatch
~ troops are all engaged. and I cannot
1 withdraw any to reinforce others. McC.
The position occupied by me during
most Of the time of the assault gave me a
better opportunity Of seeing what was go
ing on in front of the 18th Army Corps than
l believed it possible for the commander of
it to have. could not see his possession
of forts, nor the necessity for reinforce
ments. as represented 10 his dispatches, up
TO the time left it. which was between is
n. and P. NJ. and expressed doubts of
their correctness. which doubts the facts
subsequently, but too late. confirmed. At
the time could not disregard his reiterated
statements. for they might possibly be true
and that no possible opportunity Of carry.
Jog the ensmy's stronghold should be al
lowed to escape through fault of mine.
ordered Quimby's division. which was all
of McPherson's corps then present, but
brigades, to repor: to McClernand, and no
titled him Of the order. showed his dis
patches to Mcpherson, as had to Sher-
man. to satisfy him OF the necessity Of sn
active diversion on their part to hold as
much force in their fronts as possible. The
diversion was promptly and vigorously
made and resulted in the increase OF our
mortality list fully 80 per cent xithout ad-
vancing our position or giving US other ad-
vantages.
About $50 p. NJ. l received McCernand's
fourth dispatch. as follows:
HKADauARrERs 18TH ARMY CoRPs,l
May 22, 1868.
General have received your dispatch
in regard to General Qnimby's division and
General McArthur's division. AS soon as
they arrive l will press the eneray with all
possible speed, and doub, not | will
no ground My men are in two Of the
euemy's forts, but they are commanded by
rifle pits in the rear. Several prisoners
have been taken who intinate that the rear
- '--.-~~a--A..S;s. ..n-~~.. -.-. .~-5 F,~o.s-
ed. JOHN "A. McCLEasAsD.
Major-Genersi Commanding
Major.Geperal U. S. Grant, Department
Of the Tennessee.
The assault Of this day proved The quail
ty Of the soldiers Of this army. Without
entire success. and with a heavy loss, there
was no murmurming or complaining, no
falling back, nor other evidences of demoT-
alizatiou.
After the fsilure OF the 22d, deiermin.
ed upon regular siege. The troops now
being fully awake TO The necessity Of this,
worked diligently and checr:ully. The
work progressed rapidly and Satisfactorily
until the Sd Of july. when all was about
ready for a final assault
There was great scarcity of engineer
officers in the beginning. but under the skill
full supsrintendsnce of Captain F. E. Prime,
Of the engineer corps, Lieutenant Colonel
Wilson. OF my staff. and Captain c. B.
Comstocs. of the engineer corps, who joia.
ed this command during the siege. such prac-
tioal experience was gained as would ena-
BILE any division OF this army hereafter to
conduct siege with considerable skill, in
the absence Of reg engineer officers.
THE CAPiTULATIoN.
On the afternoon Of the Sd of July let
ter was received from Lieutenant General
Pember,on. commanding the Confederate
forces at Vicksburg. proposing an armisiice
aud the appointment Of commissioners to
arrange terms fer the capi.uiation of the
place. The correspondence, copies Of which
are herewith transmitted, resulted in the
surrender of the city and garrison Of Vicks-
burg at 10 O'Clock A. NJ, July 4, 1908, on
the following terms: TIE entire garrison,
officers and men, were to be paroled. not
10 take UP arms against the United ,ates
until exchanged by the proper authorities
officers and men each to bs furnished with
a parole. signed by himself; officers to be
allowed their side arms and private bag
gage, and the field, staff, and cavalry off
GERS one horss each; the rank aud file to be
allowed all their clothing, but no other
property; rations from their own stores suf-
fcient to last them beyond our lines; the
necessary cooking utensils for preparing
their food /; and thirty wagons to transport
such articles as could moi we'll be carried, = /
These terms regarded more favorable to
the Government than 40 unconditional sur !
render. II saved US the transportation of |
them north, which at tia, time would have
been very difficult. owing to the limited
amount OF river transportation on hand .
and tee expense OF subsisting than. 1t left |
our army free to operate against John s.on |
VINO was threatening us from the direction
of jackson; and our river transportation to
DC ussd for the movement of troops to any |,
point the exigenoy OF TIE service might re
quire. !
l deem it proper to state here. in order
that the correspondence may be fully under |
stood. that after my answer to General
pem'e,'on's letter Of the morniog of the |
80. We had personal interview on the sub |
ject OF the cspiiula;ion. The particulars !
and incidents of the siege will be contained |