Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-08-01
TggE SGssRENDEM OF PORT
BISON


spired 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
| rendered to General Banks on the 9th inst.
/ The particulars Of this surrender are very
! interesting. Nicksburg had fallen on the
Attn inst. The news soon reached the fleets
before Port Hudson, whereupon salutes were
! fired both on land and water; the bands of
the different regiments performed in their
best style the different patliotlc airs so well
known to the American people. The soldiers
and sailors were almost ungovenable with
enthusiasm. Joy rGsounded everywhere
| throughout the camps. The Rebels were
were startled, and anxious as to the cause
of so much and so enthusiastic cheering on
our side, but were destined to wait in terri
bic suspense as to the Interpretation of what
was going on. At length, the Rebels and
our troops being in close proximity to each
other, conversations were induged in with
out danger to either side. 1t was difficult
/ for the Rebels to believe that Vicksburg had
surrendered. Perhaps this difficulty was
strengthened 10y the fact that the surrender
OF Port Hudson depended in some measure
/ upon that of Nicksburg. But curiosity in
creased, and at length. toward evening on
the ith instant, resolved upon knowing the
truth Of the rumor which had spread
throughout their lines, an officer raised
himself above the works, ana called aloud
to one OF the Union officers, asking. "What
are you making all that noise about ~ The
answer was, "Because we have taken Nicks-
/ burg. The Re0el officer was as doubling
as bad been some Of his soldiers before him
He insisted upon not believing the news,
and on being asked what testimony he
would accept on the subject so as TO be
convinced OF its truth, he responded ''Noth-
ing but copy OF the dispatch, or some
trustworthy authority The Union officer
then procured a copy Of Gen. Grants official
dispatch, and passed it over the parapets to
him, assuring him ut the same time, on the
honor of Il soldier, that the dispatch was
genuine as he had copied it with his own
hand. Having read the little document. the
Rebel officer said he was satisfied of its
truthtuness, and believed it to be useless
lor Port hudson to attempt to hold out
| longer.
The night passed away; the Rebels had
eaten their last crust they had eaten up
, their mules and were entertaining themselves
to the saVory dish Of dead rats. They were,
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 studded by Gen. Gnrdiner and at
O'Clock next morning, the Sth inst, Il
par!ey was sounded from the Rebel works,
which was soon answered and an officer
came out with dispatch from Gen. Gardi-
ner asking on what terms surrender would
be accepted.
As soon as possible the message was
taken to General Banks IIcadquartcars, and
Ill due time an answer was returned to the
elect that none but an unconditional sur
render would be accepted. The terms were
accepted by General Gardiner: short time
was asked for in which to make the necessary
arrangements. Twcnty-lour hours were
given for that purpose, but General Gardi-
ner was ready in shorter time than that,
Tor at II o'clock noon, on the Sth 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. Gardiner were soon
wei fed from the COmmisS sSariat of the Union
Army, from which G,0O0 rations were drawn.
The number of Rebel soldiers drawn up in
line when the surrender took place was
about 1000. In addition to this number
their were about 1900 sick and wounded ::
the wounded numbered about 500. The
wounds are generally very severe, in the
head, and by the bullets of our sharpshooters.
Our batteries had done great deal of
damage, having destroyed an immense
amount Of stores. The United States flag
was run up at 9 O'Clock on Thursday morn
ing, the 9Th inst, ana was salutcd by the
fleets above and below the position. There
bad been terrible sickness in the garrison
and almost total destituton of medicine
They suffered terribly from this cause. There
was a good supply of ammunition, all of
which fell into our hands
General Gardiner, the recent Rebel COM
mander of Port Hudson, is desertor from
the United States Army. He held COM
mission at the opening Of the Rebellion of
the shareholders against the United States
Government, and entered the service of the
| traitors without waiting to tender his
resignation.
In New-Orleans, the effect of the news of
the surrender of Port Hudson was an almost
| unanimous rejoicing on the part of the
people. On the night Of TIE 1lth inst.
| the people turned out in thousands To
celebrate the event. There was grand
torchlght procession in honor ofthe victory.
Meetings were held. in response to the call
! of Union citizens, and burning cloquence
was poured from the lips of a hundred
| orators. The public buildings, the hotels,
and private dwellings were Illuminated.
The Stars and stripes were given to the
| breeze everywhere,
Many persons who had never before, since
the city became rebellious, raised the Amer
lean flag, ON this proud day waved the
National emblem with as much apparent
devotion as if they never had been disloya!.
The few determined secossionists, who did
| make their appearance, seemed as wretched
as Others We're happy. They claimed that
the news was doubtful, and that such re-
joicing was premature, and this in presence
of the fact that steamers direct from before
Port Hudson Were lying oil the city making
all sorts of demonstrations relative TO the
event On their way down the river, the
Albatross aud Estrella were fired upon by
some struggling gucrllas
During the attack and subsequent siege
of Port Hudson the conduct of the two
| Louisiana regiments OF colored troops was
of u high character, emitting them 10 the
praise due 10 gallant defenders of the flag
ofour Union-praise which all lovers of their
country will feet proud TO award.
The campaign against Port Hudson has
been laborious Que throughout, attended