Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-07-11

conditional Surrender er all that he will e /.
eeivs-The Rebel Commander comes out
in person-The Garrison, over 10000
Strong, Surrendered-The Officers and
m en- Paroled-Our Troops Enter the City
ON the 4th-Immense Stores of Cannon,
Small Arms, &c.
CAIRO, July e-ISpecial dispatch to the Gin
cinnati Gazette. by the arrival this morning
Of the steamer Niagara, from Memphis on the
9TH, came Lieut.. VIM. r. Dunn, of Gen. Jerry
O. Sulliv ans Staff, from Vicksburg on the 4th,
bearer OF dispatches from Gen. Grant to the
War Department., bringing confirmation OF
Admiral Po7ter's dispatch stating that vicks.
burg had capitulated. A. F. Woodai, corres-
pendent of the Cincinnati Gazette, was also q
passenger on the Niagara from vicksburg.
From reliable sources have been able to
gather the following particulars in regard to
the closing scenes Of the siege of vicksburg:
flag of truce was received from the rebels
upon July 1st. 1t was for the purpose of ask
ing an escort for two Englishmen no had been
long enough hemmed In the Confederacy, and
eating mule beef enough to sink their idea of
comfort. Gen. Grant readily granted Pember.
toms request The English subjects were not
detained longer than necessary. They came
and went unquestioned. On the previous day
the rebels had made an unsuccessful sortia
upon the works on our left, meaning to drive
our soldiers out Of their rifie-pits We had
ohe ihah Wounueo Inc Cont1derates lost two
lieutenants and twelve privatss captured eight
OF the latter deserted and came off with u.s. On
this day Johnston was reported only twenty
miles oil. Ourmen were in line of battle to re-
Haines' Bluff
On Friday morning, the Sd, another flag of
iruce came into our lines, reaching first the
tent OF General A. J. Smith. 1t was brought
oy Two Confederate officers, dressed in the
most festive attire. They proved to be Major.
General Bowen, late commander at Grand
Gulf and Virginia Colonel named Montgom.
cry. They rode splendid, animals but rather
thin in the flesh even for racers. The messen.
gers Were blindfolded and seated in General
Burnbr1dges tent, where for two hours they
remained awaiting the return of Gen Smith,
who took their dispatches from Pemherton to
General Grant Their eyes were unbandaged
after an hour and they conversed freely with
the Union officers. One OF the messengers said
IRON nao peen thrown into the city in quantities
sufficient to stock immense foundries there:
enough left to build monuments for all the cit
izeHs and soldiers fallen.
When Gen. Smith returned to Burbridge,s
quarters the two Confederate Off GERS received
Grants response, and were again hoodwinked
and conducted by an officer to a safe point
from which they could re. enter their own lines.
Ihese messengers We're well dressed in uni
forms of gray, wore dashing deyil.may.care
Zouave caps, and had but little gold lace upon
their uniforms. They each had the golden star
on the collar Of their coats, designating their
rank. There was great curiosity of course
among all the officers and soldiers, to learn the
contents of Pemberton's dispatches. This was
finally sratified. The rebel general had seen
mt tointimate that unnecessary effusion of blood
and loss of precious life might be prevented bv
a brief cessation of hostilities, during which
time commissioners might be appointed to
agree upon proper terms for the surrender OF
the city. He also intimated a clIncher that
he could hold the place tor an indefinite period
Gen. Grants reply was very brief 1t set
forth that Pemberton had it in his power Mt
any moment TO stop bloodshed; the Commis-
only stipulatiCns he could accent were in
cluded in the term unconditional surrender, ,,
1t concluded with 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 to prisoners Of war.
The rebel messengers had not long been gone,
When Ftmberton sent again for personal in
teryleW with Grant. 1t was promptly granted
At3 p. m. on the same day, conference took
place IN fruit orchard located about midway
between the fronts OF the two contendins forces
The scene was witnessed by thousands of Fed
eral and rebel soldiers, who, for the first time
IN weeks, showed themselves with immunity
in and above the rife. pits, and vet during ali
tnose weeks they had been within a few wards
OF each other. 1t was q remarkable scene
Gen. Grant came slowly to the place of rem
deZVous, smoking his cigar, and apparently
the only unexcited person in the assemblape
What that General felt within could only he
imagined His stoical face did not reveal u
clue to it.
other, both, as though involuntarily. paused.
perhaps waiting each the first word from the
other. This slight embarrassment was brought
10 close by Montgomery, who stepped for.
ward and formally introduced the two Chief
talns. They shcok hands, Pemberton being ap-
parently little disconnected by the complaceney
OF his opponent. These men, meeting thus
after long seige, in which they had been ptted
against each other, had been lieutenants to-
gether in the same commands in many hard
fought battles in Mexico. Hence they were
personally known TO each other. Seldom do
such meetings occur outside the pale of ro-
nance Pemberton's first remark was that he
mad been present w hen different fortresses snr
rendered TO the Federal arms in he war with
Mexico. In all these the enemy were granted
terms and conditions. He thought his armyas
well entitled to these favors as foreign foe
Grant listened, and then proposed q private
conversation of a few moments 1t struct
Pemberton favorably, and the two generals
stepped aside. What was said during that
conference can only be judged from the results
After q little more than an hour terms were
agreed upon, and the Confederates surren.
dered. 1t was arranged that the Federal forces
should enter at 10 a. m. next day, the Fourth of
July. The rebels were all to be parolled on the
spo., ana suITender thelr arms, &c.i the officers
We're to be allowed to retain their horses: four
days ratlons, to be taken from the Confederate
s.ores. Inns was certainly as much as General !
Grant could consent to. The prisoners are yet
liable to exchange. 1t was policy, pertains. |
not to subsist the rebels in SO large n umber or
endeavor to transport them at once to the !
North Our work is to pursue and punish, |
not to feed, and fetch and carry the enemy. |
From twenty thousand tC thirty Thousand |
prisoners by this arrangement, fell into GRANTS |
hands, along with their small arms, the forts |
defenses, guns &C., of the garrison at Vicks,
burg. Cannon are plenty, and in quality eouaI
to the best in the Confederacy
AT 10 a. M, on the Attn, the truly glorious 9TH,
as mad been agreed, Gen. Steeies division
marched into and garrisoned the CITY, the
band playing national airs. Every soldiers |
heart was too full Tor utterance, and the old |
= : mon emblem was floating above them. This
flag was soon seen, in its own beloved coIors
above the buildings where of late only the
rebel ensigns had met the breeze
FROM NEW ORLEANS