Wichita eagle., 1888-06-24
The SIEGE.

On the morning of Nay 10, Sherman's
corps advanced TO ths right Of Vicrsburg and
| took possession Of tie works the Confedcrates
| had abandoned His line extended quite to
| the Mississippi river.
Grant hoped now, in the Generalization Of
the Confederates, to take Vicksburg by an
| easy victory. Accordingly he made an IN
| successful assault on the works May 10.
| Then he settled down TO regular siega
he shut off the city from the world a. COM
| pletely rs If il had net existed. Sherman
was on the right, Mcpherson in the center,
and McClernand on the left. Between No
Clernand and the river there was ct first
gap. Grant filled this with Gen. Humans
division from Hurlburts corps and Herron's
division Out TO the northeast, during the
progress of the siege, Grant placed two divis
ions of Burnsides Ninth corps, under Gen.
j. G. Parkes. These four divisions, with sew
eral Others, were sent to Grant in answer TO
urgent request for re-enforcements, SIS soon
as he saw what was before him They ar
rived from the first 10 the middle of June
May %, before bis re-enforcements arrived,
Grant made another assault on Vickbarg,
desperate one, extending two and a hall
miles around the ring. IL was unsuccessful,
and attended with the loss of 1000 men,
At this second assault Grant had &c, 900
men, s., 600 being engaged in the fight. The
Confederate works were successfully held by
about Is, 006 men
1t was necessary, meanwhile, for Grant to
keep the sharpest watch upon his rear, lest
Johnston should attack from that quarter,
and Grant thus be between two fires AS q
precautionary measure. all the boats on the
Yazoo river were destroyed, and a force IN
der Gen. t. Z. Blair was sent to the rear 10
watch the situation from that direction
AT Canton, Miss. Gen. Joe Johnston was
recognizing Confederate army, gathering
it here and there as he could BY June 3 he
had over "a, coo men.
Through the month OF June Johnston re-
manned at Canton, contemplating the ezpedi-
ency Of an attack somewhere on Grants
scar. juno % he managed to pass ale tier
through tho lines to Pemberton, proposin.
that whilo he should attack one part of tho
Union line, Pemberton should make a sortie
from the inside and thus escape. PcInberton
replied that Re awaited Johnston's orders
On the 2ad of June Johnston advanced
from the Big Black toward the rear of
Grants lines; the Latter detached an ample
force to meet him, and Johnston saw the
case was hopeless. Information to that effect
soon reached Pemberton, whose next coucep
ton was to have number of boats built and
escape to the louisiana side under cover OF
darkness. This design was known in a few
hours to Grant ana Porter, and the watch OF
the river was redcubled. On the 1st of July
the Federal approaches had reached the
eneny's ditch at a number of places. The
same night Johnston sent word that on the
Tth he would make a diversion to enable
Penberton TO cut his way out, and almost at
the same hour the latter addressed his -four
division commanders letter asking whether
their troops were equal to the task of fight
ing their way out. Their answer was ar
emphatic No! The I'd was consumed IN
discussion Of surrender. On the Sd, about IL
a m, white flags were raised Oh the Con
Tolerate lines, firing ceased, and two person.
soon crossed the narrow interval to the Fed
eral lines with flag of truce. They were
Gen. Bowen and Col Montgomery-the lat
ter aide-de-canp 10 Peinberton- They pre-
scented this letter from Gen. Penbertou {.
Gen Grant;
{ have the honor 30 propose an arrnistice FOR
- hours, with the view to arranging terms for
the capitalization Of Vicksburg TO this end II
agreeable to you. | viii appoint three commits
sioners, to meet like number TO be named By
yourself at such place and hour today you
may find convenient make this proposition to
save the further eff,Ision OF blood. which must
otherwise be she'd TO frightful extent. feeling
myself fully able TO maintain my position <or
yet indefinite period This communication viii
be handed you under q flag OF truce BY Mai Cen.
John S. Bowen