Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-23
The Fail of Vicksburg-OfficIal Cores
pondence between Grant and Pember-

The Fail of Vicksburg-OfhcIal Cores
pondence between Grant aud Pember.
ton.
Below will be found the official CORES
pondence between General GRANT and
| General PEMBERToN, preliminary to the
capitulation of Vicksburg:
HEADQUARTERS, VIoKsBURG,
July 3, 1868.
Maj Gen. Grant, Commanding q. s. Forces:
GENERAL have the honor to propose to You
you an armistice for II hours, with a view to ar
ranging terms for the capituation of Vicksburg.-
TO this end, if agreeable to you, will appoint
three commissioners, to meet a like number to be
named by yourself at such place and hour to-day
you may find convenient. l make this PROPOSE
ton the further effusion of blood which
must otherwise be shed to frlghtful extent, feel
ing myself able to MAINTAIN my position for yet
inuetnite period. This communication will be
handed you under flag of truce by Ma or- General
James Bowen.
Very respectfully,
Your obedent servant,
j. G. PEMBERTON.
To this Gen. Grant replied as follows:
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE
In THE FIELD, NEAR VICKsBgRG, July 3, 1868.
| Lieut. General j. C. Pem6erton, Conn., ndipg
" Confederate" Forces, &c.:
GENERAL: Your note of this date, just received,
poses armiStlce OF several hours, TOR the
| pose of arranging terms of capitulation through
| commissioners to be appointed, &c. The etfusion
of blood you propose stopping by this course,
| be ended at any time you may choose, by
conditional surrender of the city and garrison
| Men who have shown much endurance and cour.
| age those in Vicksburg, will always chal-
enge the respect of an adversary, and you
will be treated with all the respect due them as
prisoners of war. do not favor the proposition of
appointing Commissioners to arrange of capt.
| ulation, because have no other terms than those
| indicated above.
| am, General, very respectfully,
Your obedie ut servant,
| U. 5. GRANT, Ma. -Gen.
| Gen. Bowen, the bearer OF Gen. Penn
| berJOn's letter, was received by Gen. A.
}. Smith. lie expressed a strong desire
to converse with Gen. Grant, and accord
| ingly, while Gen. Grant, declining this, re-
| quested Gen. Smith 10 say that il Gen.
| Pemberton desired to see him, an inter-
view would be granted between the lines
| Ia McPherson's front at any hour in the
afternoon which Gen. Pemberton might
| appoint. A message was soon sent back
to Gen. Smith appointing three O'Clock as
| the hour. Gen. Grant was there with his
staff, and with Gems. Ord, Mcpherson,
| Logan and A. j. Smith. Gen. Pemberton
came late, attended by Gen. Bowen and
Col. Montgomery. He was much excit-
| ed, and lmpertinent In his answers to Gen.
| Grant. The conversation was held apart
between Gen. Penberton and his officers,
and Gems. Grant, Mcpherson, and A. j.
| Smith. The rebels insisted on being pa
rolled and marched beyond our lines, Off
Gers aud men all with eight days rations
| drawn IRON their own stores, the officers
to retain their private property and body
| servants. Gen. Grant heard what they
Lad to say, and left them at the end OF an
hour and u half, saying that be would
send In his ulJlmatum In writing, to which
| Gen. PeinDertOn promised co reply before
| night, hOSCllltleS 10 cease Ia the mean
| time.
Gen. Grant then conferred at his head
quarters, with his corps and division COM
manders, and sent the following letter to
Gen. Pemberton, by the hands Of Gen.
| Logan and Lient.-Col. Wilson:
| HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE,
| NEAR VICKsBURG, July 3, 1868. !
Lieut.. Gen. j. G. Pemberton, Commanding
Confederate Jorces Vlcks6urg, Mss:
GENERAL: 10 conformity with the agree
ment Of this afternoon, will submit the
| following propositions tor the surrender
of Vicksburg, public stores, &c. On your
accepting the terms proposed, will
march In one division as guard, and take
| poss ession at A. Ill. morrow. AS
soon as paroles can be made ont and sign
| ed by the officers and men, you will be
allowed to march out OF our lines, the
officers taking with them their reginental
clothing, and staff, field and cavalry Off
| GERS one horse each. The rank and file
will be allowed all their clothing, but no
| other property. Ii these conditions are
acce pied, any amount OF retlons you may
| deem necessary can pc taken from the
| stores you now have, and also the neces-
sary cooking utensils for preparing them,
and thirty wagons also, counting two two
horse or mule teams as one. You will be
allowed to transport such articles as can
not be carried along. The same condi-
lions will be allowed to all sick and
wounded officers and privates, as fast as
they become able to travel The paroles
for these latter Iaust be signed, however,
whilst officers are present authorized to
sign the roll OF prisoners.
| | am, General, very respectfully,
! Your obedient servant,
... q. S. GRANT, Maj. Gen.
The officer who received this letter
stated that it would be impossible to an
swer it by night, aud it was not till lit
tle o6lolo Peep y Ufy tHal lie proposed
/ reply was furnished: " -. a@aT
.... HEADoARTERs, VIcksBURa, July 3, 1868.
Maj. Gen. Grant, Conad'g .. s. Forces:
GENERAL II have the honor to &C.
knowledge the receipt OF your cofnmuni-
cation OF this date, proposing terms for
the surrender of this garrison and post.
In the main your terms are accepted but
in justice both to the honor and spirit of
my troops, manifested in the defense of
Vicksburg, have the honor to submit
the following amendments, which, if &C.
ceded to by you, will perfect the agree
ment between US at 10 o'clock tomorrow
propose TO evacuate the works in and
around Vicksburg, and to surrender the
city and garrison under may command,
by marching out with my colors and arms
and stacking them in front of my present
lines, after which you will take possession;
officers to retain their side.arms and per-
sonal property, and the rights and property
OF citizens to be respected
am, General, yours,
Very respectfully,
10. PEMBERToN, Lieut.. Gen.