The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-04

Their Memorable Interview neforc
vlcksburg.


vlcksburg.
The Confederate Commanders Account oil
Ills Reception OF the Demand Tor uncon'
| ditional Surrender"
fFrom the Little Rock ARK Gazette, july sum.
The following, never before puDiished'
has been placed at the disposal OF 'he 1o-
zette: 20 1919
Colonel John p. Nicholson:
Dear Sir,-I give you with pleasure my
version of the Interview between General
Grant and myself on Che afternoon OF July
q 1904. In front OF the Confederate lines at
Vicksburg. II you will refer TO the first
volume Of Badeau's "Life Of U. s. Grant"
Won will find marked discrepancy be-
tween that authors account OF 1t and mine.
/ do not fear. however, TO trust to the hon
est memory of any officer then present TO
confirm the statement / shall make. Pass
ing over all preceding events, L come at
once to the circumstance that brought
about the personal interview referred to.
Feeling assured that it was useless TO
hone longer for any assistance from General
Johnston, either TO raise the siege OF
Vjcksburg or TO rescue the garrison L
summoned division and brigade commando
ers. with one or two others, to meet In my
quarters on the night OF the "a OF Juiy'
an the correspondence that had mNen
Mace during the siege between Generai
Johnston and myself was laid before these
officers. After much consideration IL was
advised that / address a note to Genetai
Grant proposing the appointment OF COM
missioners to arrange terms OF capittlatloh'
The following. having been read to the
council and approved, was sent to General
Grant under a flag Of truce by the hands
OF Maior-General j. S. Bowen on the
morning Of the Sd:
VICKsBURG, July 8, 1868.
Major General Grant, Commanding United
States Forces Near Vicksburg. Mss:
General,-I have the honor to propose to
YOU an armistic Of - hours, with view
to arrange terms for the Capituation OF
Vicksburg. To this end, il agreeable to
you, will appoint three commissioners to
meet like number to be named by your
self at such place and hour to-day rs you
nav find convenient. make this PROPOSE
ton to save the further effusion OF blood.
which must otherwise be shed to a fright
full extent, feeling myself fully able to main
tain my position for yet indefinite period.
This communication will be handed you
under flag OF truce by Maior-General
John S. Bowen. ] am, General, very re-
spectfully, your obedient servant,
JQuN c. PEMBERToN,
Northumberland Commanding.
In due time the following reply was
handed to me:
UEADQU AHTERs DEPARTMENT OF THE)
TENNESSEE.
NEAR VICKsBURG, July 3, 1868.
Lieutenant General John G. PembertOn,
Commanding Con accelerate Forces, &C.:
General, Your note of this date is Just
received proposing an armiSticc for several
hours for the purpose OF arranging terms
OF capitulatiOn through commissioners to
be appointed, &c. The useless elruslon 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 shown
now in Vicksburg will always challenge
the respect OF an adversary, and | can as
| sure you will be treated with all the re-
spcct due to prisoners OF war. | do not
favor the proposition OF appointing COM
missioners TO arrange the terms OF capitu-
lation, because | have no terms other than
those indicated above. | am, General,
very respectfully, your obedcnt servant,
L. ). GRANT, MaiOr-General.
| at once expressed TO General Bowen my
determination not TO surrender uncOndi-
| tionally. He then stated that General Grant
would like to have an interview with me il
| was so disposed, and would meet me at II
designated point between the two lines at 3
L. VI. that day. / was not aware that the
suggestion had originated with General
Bowen, but acceded TO the proposed meet
| Ing at the Joint request OF my four division
commanders. On reaching the place APP
pointed, accompanied by Maior-General
Bowen and Colonel Montgomery. then tenn
porarily serving on my personal stan, |
| found General Grant and q number OF his
generals and other officers already arrived
and dismounted. To the General himself
with whom my acquaintance dated rs far
back as the Mexican war-as well rs 10 seye-
raj OF the group who surrounded him, |
was formally introduced by General Bowen.
After few remarks and inquiries on
either side pause ensued, which was pro-
| lOnged OH my part in expectation that Cen
eral Grant would introduce the subject the
discussion OF which | supposed to be the
object OF our meeting. Finding that he
did not do so, | said to him that under
stood he had expressed wish to have
Personal INTERVIEW
with me. He replied that he had not.
was much surprised. and, turning to Gene
raj Bowen. remarked: "Then there is a
misunderstanding. | certainly understood
differently" The matter, however. was
satisfactorily explained to me in a few
words, the mistake, no doubt, having been
entirely my own. Again addressing Gen
eral Grant, | said: "ln your letter this
morning you state that you have no other
terms than an unconditional surrender" He
answered promptly, 81 have no other"
To this / reiolned: "Then, sir, it is unne-
cessary that you and l should hold any
further conversation; we will 90 to fight
ing again at once" and, | added, ~ can
assure you, sir. you will bury many more Of
your men before you will enter Vicksburg."
General Grant did not, as Badeau repre-
scntS, reply, every WELL" nor did lie
"turn Off" He did not change his posi-
ton, nor did he utter word. The move
ment to withdraw, so far as any movement
was made, was OH my part, and was accom-
panied by the remark that If he General
Grant, supposed that | was suffering for
provisions he was mistaken; that | had
enough to last me for an indefinite period.
and that Port Hudson was better supplied
than Vicksburg. General Bowen made no
suggestion whatever in regard to 4 consul
tatlon between any parties during this in
teryiew, as he is represented to have done
by Badeau. But General Grant did at this
time propose that he and should
STEP ASIDE,
and con my asserting, he added that if |
had no objection he would take with him