The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-07-22
Correspondence of the Chicago Times.
The Capture of Vicksbure.
VIcKspuRa- Miss. July 2.

4th inst, of this stronghold of the rebellion
in the Southwest. The campaign which
has resulted so successfully has been ,
brilliant one, and stamps Gen. Grant as tn,
greatest military leader Of the age II,
has, in effect, during the campaign, openee
the Mississippi River, cut off the whole r.,
to the rebellion, and utterly destroyed al
army Of $4,000 mrn opposed to him. II,
row finds himself in a position to clear tn,
VIII le Southwest Of armed enemies Of tn,
government, and spare large portion o
his command to operate farther east, in cas-,
Of necessity.
| Inside the defenees there was n sad spec
taclc presented. From the commencement
Of the siege the garrison and the citizen.
had subsisted on quarter rations, and thu
supply from which they had been drawr
was exhausted. The want of proper food
was creating sad havoc with the rebel army
the men were becoming weak and unable
to endure the labors and fatignes of the
| siege, and fevers, induced by famine, were
rapidly filling the hospitals with the flower
"f Pemberton's army. One or two Of the
brigades bad food sufficient for the neces
| stiles Of a day or two. while the major por
tion of the troops, ard many families oil
the city, had subsisted for several days
upon the flesh Of mules.
Gen. Grant was aware OF the distress
existing inside the rebels works, and direct.
ed the efforts Of our troops to be redoubled
For four days the cannpnadc had been
growing mere and more severe The NOR,
tar boat above the city were firing night
and day with the utmost rapidity, 7,O2o
of their huge thirtecn.inch shells having
been thrown into the city during the last
ninety-six hours Of the commandments
The bomhardment on the morning of the
Sd inst, was more furious than at any time
previous to the siege. The NOR :ar- boats
had been throwing their large shells during
the whole Of the previous night, and, with
the first streak of the morning. the gun.
boats joined in; then the iron clad battery
opposite the city and at last the numerous
batteries all along the line in the rear of the
city thundered forth the deep. toned re.
>ponse. The furious roar Of cannon and
the scream Of the shells filled the air, and
seemed to make the solid hills tremble. -
The missiles Of death fell in perfect show.
er in all parts Of the doomed city and the
defences by which it is surrounded. I,
was the most severe cannonade the world
ever witnessed, and Gen. Pcmherton called
a hasty council Of war to consider the pro
pricty Of surrendering his half starved
army, without suhjectng it to farther peri
and suffering, and save the numerous hos
pitfalls in the city from total destruction
with their thousands of sick and wounded
by our shells.
About l04 o'clock on the morning Of the
81, while the bombardment was at it.
highest. white flag was displayed upor
the rebel works opposite the advance G.
Gen. Heron, south Of the city. The firing
at this point was discontinued, when tn,
officer bearing the flag came forward mid
way between the lines, where some of oul
officers met him He was the bearer of .
letter from Sen. PembeIton to Gen. Grant
signfying his desire to surrender the force.
under his commander, and proposing tha
three commissioners be appointed by eaci
commanding General to arrange terms o
capitulatiOn. a courier was imunediatel,
dispatched to Gen. Grant with the PROPOSE
ton Of Gen. Pcmbcrton. Gen. Grant re
piled. in effect. that he was in command O
the Union army, and he supposed Gen
| 4 oSCuEIeu tuc same II
the Confederate forces in Vrcksbnrg, and
both being competent to receive and maxi
propositions, he would decline to appon
commissioners to agree upon terms.
PcmbertOn desired to surrender his forces
the only way in which he could do it woult
he to make an unconditional one.
Gen. PembertOn then sent out anothe
1ag OF truce, requesting an interview will
Gen Grant. and naming the head Of Gen
Logan's advance sap on McPhcrson's lines
and O'Clock P. NJ. as the time and place
The batteries were Immediately signaled t
cease firing, but, owing to the dense smoke
which obScured the signals, some hours
elapsed before the fire was entirely discon
tinued
At 8 o'clock Gen. Pemberton, accompa
nict by Col. Montgomery, his Chief o
Staff. and Gen. John S. Bowen, came from
behind the Confederate lines, ana approach
ed the point agreed upon for the meeting
Just before reaching the head of Gen
LoganS advance sap, Gen. Grant came ou
and advanced to meet Gen. Pcmberton-
Gen. Grant was accompanied by Gems. Nc
Phers"n. Logan, A. j. Smith. and Ord. AM
many officers attached 10 their RESPECTIVE
stats
Alter few moments conversation, tn
"hject Of the meeting was broached by Gen
Pember,on, when Gen. Grant requisite,
Gen. Mcpherson and A. j. Smith to consul
with Gen. Bowen aud Col. Montgomer,
with reference to the matter While thes
officers were consulting. Gems. Grant an,
Pembcrton Withdrew to one side and en-
gagcd in conversation. The terms agree,
upon by the officers were that the garrison
should surrender as prisoners Of war. Tn
officers were allowed to retain their side
arms. private property, and one horse each
fhc men were allowed to retain thei
blankets, haversacks, knapS .cks. AMI can
teens The officers and men were to b.
parol.d.
Gen. Pemberton was to signify his &C
ceptance or rejection Of the terms at II
o'clock the same evening. 1t seems, how
ever. that he was 10th to accept them, and
previous to 10 o'clock, he sent a messenge
to Gen. Grant, requesting until 10 o'clocl
"n the following morning to make his fina
answer, stating that the appearance Of
white flag upon the works would be sigma
# his acceptance Of the terms. The addi
,iional time desired was given.
On the following morning thousands 0
eyes were turned towards Vicksburs 60
the e, p-cted signal, and wondering VIII .ther
'iter all, the city was to bs surrendered L
the United States forces. Hour after hou
passed, until, weary with watching. eacl
minute seemed an hour, and still it did no
appear. Our soldiers began to think tha
the Confederate officers were meditatinS
violation Of faith and did not intend t
make the proposed surrender. Then
murmur Of indignation ran along the lines
1t was the morning Of the 4th Of July, an.
as the glorious memories clustering arount
the natal day came rushing upon them,
deep determination took possession Of ou
brave boys to tread the streets Of the strong
hold before sundnwn. Had Gen. Gran
given the command, they would have swep