The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-07-24
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE, !
In THE FIELD NEAR VICksBURG, :
July 8, 1868.


lation through commissioners to be appointed.
The effuslOn OF blood you propose stopping by
this course can be ended at any time you may
choose, by an unconditional surrender of the
city and garrison. Men who have shown so
much endurance and courage as those now in
Vicksburg, will always challenge the respect of
On adversary, and l can assure you, will be
treated with all the respect due them as pris-
oners of war. 1 do not favor the proposition
of appointing committees to arrange terms of
equalization, because have no other terms
than those indicated above
I am, General, very respectfully, your ob't
serv't, U. S. GRANT.
Major General Bowen, the bearer of
Pemberton's letter, was received by Gen.
A. j. Smith. He expressed a strong de-
sire to converse with Gen. Grant, and ac-
cordingly Grant, while declining this, re-
quested Gen. S. to say that, if Gen. PEN
berton desired to see him, an interview
would be granted between the lines, in
McPherson's front, at any time in the af-
ternoon which Pemberton might appoint.
A message was soon sent back to Smith,
appoint o'clock as the time.
Gen. Grant was there with bis staff, and
with Gems. Ord, Mcpherson, Logan, and
A. j. Smith. Pemberton came late, at
tended by Gen. Bowen and COL Mont
gOmery. He was much excited, and was
impairment in his answers to Grant The
conversation was held apart, between
Pemberton and his officers, and Grant,
Mcpherson, and A. J. Smith. The rebels
insisted upon being paroled, and allowed
to march beyond our lines, officers and all,
with eight days rations, drawn from their
own stores; the officers to retain their
property and body servants.
Grant heard what they had to say, and
lett them at the end of an hour and
half, saying that he would send in his ulti-
matum in writing, to which PembertOn
promised to reply before night-hostilities
to cease in the meantime.
Grant then conferred at his headquar-
tiers with his corps and division command
ers, and sent the following letter to Penn
berton by the hands of Gen. Logan and
Lieut.. COL Wilson:
HEADo'R's DEPARTT OF THE TENNESSEE
NEAR VICKsBURG, July 3, 1868.
Lieut.. General j. G. Pemberton, commanding
Confederate forces at Vicksburg, Miss:
GENERAL-In conformity with the agree
ment of this afternoon, l submit the following
proposition for the surrender of the city of
Vicksburg, the public stores, &c. On your
accepting the terms proposed, will march in
one division as guard, and take possession at
s A. NJ. tomorrow. AS soon as paroles can
be made out and signed by the officers and
men, you will be allowed to march out of our
lnes,-the officers taking with them their
regimental clothing, and staff, field and cav
airy officers one horse each. The rank and
file will be allowed all their clothing, but not
other property.
If these conditions are accepted, any amount
of rations you may deem necessary can be
taken from the stores you now have, and also
the necessary cooking utensils for preparing
them. Thirty wagons also, counting two
horse or mule teams as one, which will be al
lowed to transport such articles as cannot be
carried along. The same conditions will be
allowed all sick and wounded officers and pri-
Yates as fast as they become able to travel.
The paroles for these latter must be signed,
however, whilst officers are present to sign the
roll of prisoners.
l am, General, very respectfully,
Your Obedicnt servant.
U. s. GRANT, Maj. Gen.
The officer who received this letter sta
ted that it would be impossible to answer
it by night, and it was not till a little be-
fore daylight that the following reply was
furnished:
HEADQUARTERS VICKsBURG, July 4, 1868.
To Maj. Geu. U. S. Grant, Commanding U. s.
forces, &c.
GENERAL-I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of this date.
proposing terms for the surrender of this gar
risOn and post. In the main your terms are
accepted; but in justice both to the honor and
spirit of my troops manifested in the defence
Of Vicksburg, | have the honor to submit the
following amendments, which, if acceded to
by you, will perfect the agreement. At ten
o'clock tomorrow, propose to evacuate the
works in and around Vicksburg, and to sur
render the city and garrison under my COM
mand, by marching out with my cOlors and
army and stacking them in front of my pres
ent lines after which you will take possession;
the 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,
j. Z. PEMBERTON, Lieut.. Gen.
To this Gen. Grant Immediately re-
piled as follows:
HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF TENNEssEE,(
BEFORE VICKsBURG, July 4, 1868.
Lieut. Gen. j. C. Pemberton, Commanding
forces in Vicksburg:
GENERAL-I have the honor to acknOwl-
edge your communication of the Sd of july
The amendments proposed by you cannot be
acceded to in full 1t will be necessary to fur
nish every officer and man with parole signed
by himself, which, with the completion of the
rolls of prisoners, will necessarily take some
time.
Again, 1 can make no stipulation with re-
gard to the treatment of citizens and their pri-
vate property. While I do not propose to
cause any Of them any undue annoyance or
loss, cannot consent to place myself under
restraint by stipulations. The property which
officers can be allowed to take with them will
be as stated in my proposition of last evening;
that is, officers will be allowed their private
baggage and side-arms, and wounded officers
one horse each.
If you mean, by your proposition, for each
brigade to march to the front Of the lines now
occupied by it, and stack their arms, at 10
o'clock A. NJ, and then return to the inside and
remain as prisoners until properly paroled,
will make no objection.
Should no indication be made of your accep-
lance of my terms by o'clock A. NJ, I shall
regard them as having been rejected and act
accordingly. Should these terms be accepted,
white flags will be displayed along your lines,
to prevent such of my troops as may not have
been notified from firing upon your men.
am, General, very respectfully, your obedi-
ent servant,
U. s. GRANT, Major-General.
To this the subjoined answer has this
moment been received:
HEADQUARTERS, VICKsBURG, July 4th
Maj. Gen. U. 8. Grant, commanding U. s.
forces:
GENERAL-.-I have the honor to acknowledge
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