The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-05-28
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
Portland Daily Press.
Gen. Pemberton offers to Surrender to Gen.
Grant Conditionally.
Rebel Batteries taken and Turned.
vicksburg full of Women and Children.
BATTLE OF CHAMPION HILL.

CHICAGO, May 81.
A special dispatch from Cairo to the journal
says paroled prisoners who left Shernan's
Landing on the I'D, say that just before leav-
ing they conversed with the bearer of dis
patches from Pemberton TO Johniton, who had
been captured. The dispatch bearer-says, the
number of rebels at Vicksburg is between
25,0O0 and 10000. On Friday morning Gen.
Pemberton sent flag of truce to Gen. Grant.
offering to surrender Vicksburg if Grant would
allow the rebels to lay down their arms and
march out. The offer was refused
On Thursday the rebel batteries on the hill
north OF the town were taken and turned. On
the evening of the same day the water bate
res at the foot of the hill were captured The
same evening the water batteries below Vicks-
burg were taken by Porter's mortar boats
On Friday, after the refusal TO accept Pember-
tons terms, Gen. Grant moved on his works
aud the rebels were driven to the inner tortili-
cations. Gen. Logan guards Black River
Bridge. Gen. Grant feels certain he will be able
to take care of Johnston. The latter has only
about 10000 men exclusive of what he may
have by reintorcements. Gen. Grants army
is larger than has been generally supposed;
quite numerous enough for the work in hand.
1t stretches completely around the doomed
city, each wing resting on the river.
Vicksburg is full of women and children,
not only the original inhabitants there, but
many who have come in from the surrounding
country for safety.
A special dispatch to the Times, dated three
miles east of Vicksburg on the Goth, says our
wounded at the battle of Champion Hill num-
bered over 100; the enemys loss is acknowl-
edged to be not over one-half that We had
about 10000 troops engaged and the rebels
about 10000, according to the accounts of
their wounded. We took 5000 prisoners, and
about 5000 at the battle of the bridge.
Gen. Sherman crossed on a pontoon bridge,
and McPhcrson's and Netherlands forces built
three bridges Sunday night, and crossed by
Monday noon. BY 5 o'clock the advance of
Sherlnan's corps under Steele reached the en-
emy's works back of the city, and took DO
sition on the right, on the bluffs above, and
commenced the bombardment. Gen. McPher-
son planted his command in front and in our
centre. Gen. McClernand took the extreme
left, reaching almost to the river below. All
possibility of escape is cut off. Every living
man, woman and child must fall into our
hands.
All the forenoon yesterday different brig
AIDES were taking positions, forming lines of
battle, &c. At 2 o'clock the battle began in
earnest. There had been skirmishing all the
forenoon. Gen. Steele drove the enemy from
several forts, and took one complete line of
Notifications, fronted by rifle pits. His ex-
IRENE right rested on the river bank, under
the bluff, at shutdown. His division fought
CALAMITY all day, though hungry, dirty, loot
sore and sleepy.
Sherman's left and McPherson's right are in
supporting distance. Both advance their line
of skirmishers to within fifty yards of the
breastworks, and their artillery to within five
hundred yards, and are in position at these
distances this morning.
Gen. McClernand is not progressing so fast,
but is doing well. We lost about 1900 killed
and wounded yesterday.
This morning simultaneous assault will be
ordered on the enemy's works, understand,
from all points.