The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-07-25
From the Chicago Tnbuue
The sure naer OF Por, Hud.on

The SURE naer OF Port Hudson.
The fall of Port Hudson, the latest
event in the great battle panorama of the
Mississippi. has cheered the hearts Of the
friends Of the Union in the rebel States.
and inspired them With the hope that the
war Will soon be over, and the nation
again restored to peace and unity.
The surrender of Port Hudson was ten
dered to Gen. Banks on the 9th inst. The
particulars of this surrender are verv in-
teresting. Vicksburg had fallen on the
4th inst. The news soon reached the
fleets before Port Hudson, whereupon ia
lutes were fired both on Land and water !;
the bands of the different regiments per.
formed in their best style the difFeren.
patriotic airs so well known to the Amer
ican people. The soldiers and sailors
were almost ungoveruable with enthusi-
asm. Joy resounded everywhere through
out the camps. The rebels were startled.
and anxious as to the cause of so much
enthusiastic cheering on our side, but
were destined to wait in terrible suspense
rs to the Interpretation of what was going
on. At length the rebels and our troops
being in close proximity to each other,
conversations we're INDUCED in without
danger to either side. 1t was difficult
for the rebels to believe that Vicksburg
had surrendered. Perhaps this difficulty
was strengthened by the fact that the sur
render Of Port Hudson depended 10 some
measure on that Of Vicksburg But Gu
riosi.y increased, and at length toward
evening on the 7th inst, resolved upon
knowing the truth of the rumor which
had spread throughout their lines, an Off :
Ger raised himself above the works, and
called aloud to one of the EHion officers,
asking. "What are you making all that
noise abouty" The answer was, "Because
we have taken Vicksburg." The rebel
officer was as doubling as some of his sol.
diers before him. He insisted upon no,
believing the news, and on being asked
what testimony he would accept on the
subject so as to be convinced of its truth,
be responded, Nothing but a copy of the
dispatch, or some trustworthy authority v
The Union officer then procured . copy
of Gen. Grants official dispatch, and pass
ed It over the parapets to him, assuring
him at the same time, on the honor of q
soldier, that the dispatch was genuine ss
he had copied it with his own baud. -
Having read the little document, the reb.
ell officer said he was satisfied Of its truth
fulness, and believed it to be useless for
Port Hudson to attempt to hold out any
longer.
| The night passed away; the rebels had
eaten their last crust they had eaten up
their mules and were entertaining them
selves to the savory dish of dead rats
They we're, in short, out of provisions,
and would probably have surrendered the
position at any rate before many days
The dispatch from Gen. Grant, which
they had read, had been studied BY Gen.
Gardner; and at clock next morning,
tie 9th inst. parley was sounded from
the rebel works, which was soon answer
ed, and an officer came ou, with dispatch
from Gen. Gardner asking on what terms
a surrender would be accepted.
As soon as possible the message was ia :
ken to Gen. Banks headquarters. and in
due time an answer was returned to the
effect that none but an unconditional sur
render would be accepted The terms
were accepted. The terms were accept
ed by Gen. Gardner; short time was
asked for in which to make the necessary
arrangements. Twsnty-iour hours we're
given for that purpose, but Gen. Gardner
was ready in shorter time than that, for
at IL o'clock, noon, ON the 9th of July.
our forces entered into Port Hudson, the
No. Gibraltar of the Mississippi.
As the victors entered, they found the
rebels all drawn up in line Of battle with
arms stacked in front of them. and the
hungry soldiers of Gen. Gardner we're
soon well fed from the Commissariat of
the Union army, from which 5000 ra-
tions we're drawn. The number of rebel
soldiers drawn up in line, when the sur.
render took place. WAS about 1000 In
addition to this number there were about
800 sick and wounded; the wounded
numbered about 500. The wounds are
generally very severe. in the head, and BY
the bullets of the sharpshooters. Our bat
t,,ries had done great deal of damage,
ASostOJcu al imtuSuSC dmOuUt Ol
stor.,s. The United States flag was run
up at 9 o'clock on Thursday morning. the
9th inst. and was ssluted by the fleets
above ano below the position. There had
been terrible sickness in the garrison. and
almost total de- stitution of medicine. They
suffered terribly from this cause. There
was good suppl, Of ammunition. all Of
which fell into our hands.
Gen. Gardner, the recent rebel COM
mander Of Port Hao son, is deserter
from the United States .Nrmy. He held
. commission at the opening OF the rebel
lion of the Shareholders agslnst the Uni
ted States Government, and entered the
service Of the traitors without wal ting to
tender his resignation.