St. Landry democrat., 1888-08-11


Bowen and Grant had been neghbors and
friends in Missouri. Pemberton and Grant
had served in the same division in Mexico
and were well acquainted. Such are the
strange encounters Of civil war. The all.
swer of Grant ran thus:
Your note of this date is just received. propos.
ing an armistice for several hours for the purpose
of arranging terms Of capitulation through COM
missioners to be appointed. etc The useless effu-
sion of blood you propose stopping by this
course can be ended at any time you may choose
by the unconditional surrender Of the city and
garrison Men who have shown SO mitch endur-
ance and courage as those now in Vicksburg will
always challenge the respect of an adversary and
| can assure you will be treated with all the re-
spect due TO prisoners of war do not favor the
proposition Of appointing commissioners to ar
range the terms of capitulation. because have
no terms other than those indicated above
Bowen suggested a meeting Grant ac-
cepted and the time was set for 3 p. N. At
that hour the commanders met: with Penn
berton were Bowen and one or two others;
with Grant, Gems Ord, Logan, Mcpherson,
A. j. Smith and some staff officers. A
stunted oak tree stood on the hillside, per-
haps 500 feet from the Confederate trenches.
AT that tree the brave Federal soon tn be
exalted to the height Of earthly honor. and
the brave Confederate, soon to sink under
unmerted obloquy, met and conferred, the
one with dignified resignation, the other
with profound sympathy, both with mutual
respect. The discussion, however, reused
some irritation in Pemberton, and at his
suggestion, Gems. Smith and Bowen con-
ferred apart No agreement was reached,
and at late hour that night Grant sent the
following to Pemberton:
In conformity with agreement Of this afternoon.
will submit the following proposition for the
surrender of the city Of Vicksburg public stores,
etc On your accepting the terms proposed.
will march in one division as guard. and take
possession at 3 a. m. tomorrow AS soou as rolls
,an be made out and paroles signed By officers
and men, you will be allowed to march out of our
tines, the officers taking with them their side
arms and clothing, and the field. staff and cavalry
officers one horse each The rank and file will be
allowed all their clothing but no other property
II these conditions are accepted, any amour. Of
rations you may deem necessary can be taken
from the stores you now have and also the neces
sary cooking utensils for preparing them. Thirty
wagons also, counting two two-horse mule teams
as one, will be allowed to transport such articles as
cannot be carried along The same conditions
will be allowed TO all sick and wounded officers
and soldiers as fast as they become able 10 travel
The paroles for these latter must be signed. how
ever. while officers present are authorized to sign
the roll OF prisoners
Supplementary letters passed, but these
were the terms finally agreed on At 10 a.
m on the 4th of July each Confederate COM
mand stacked arms in front of the line it oc-
cupied The whole Federal army looked on,
without cheer or rude word. Gen. Logan
marched his division in and took possession.
Gen. Grant entered with them. There were
81 600 prisoners, l72 cannon and about $1,000
muskets and rifles. On the 9th of July Port
Hudson surrendered, with nearly 6,0O0 pris-
oners Since Grant started from Milliken's
Bend the Confederates had lost. at least,
45, 900 men and 800 cannon. The Confeder.
acy was doomed.
Immediately on the surrender Grant dis
patched Sherman to the interior to look
after Johnston's army. With Sherman were
the Ninth, Thirteenth and Fifteenth corps.
June is McClernand had been relieved from
command of the Thirteenth corps, and Gen.
E. q. G. Ord was now its leader.
After the surrender of Vicksburg Johnston
hastened with his Confederate army to jack
son and fortified himself. July 10 Sherman
appeared at Jackson and invested it for
SltSt. 1U4 Sao hIS1e "a euiy ~ couu~
ston skilIfully managed to escape across
Pearl river with his whole army, going into
camp at a point midway between jackson
and Meriden. Sherman thoroughly destroyed
the railroads leading into jackson, captured
165 prisoners and returned to Vicksburg. In
the expedition he lost LOO men, chiefly in a
4 reconnaissance against Jackson July Il
1t remains to notice the work Of the gum
boats during the siege. After the capture Of
irand Gulf, Admiral Porter returned up the,
liver to the mouth of the Yazoo May IL,
Lieut.. Com. Byron Wilson, OF the gunboat
Mound City, took possession Of the Confeder-
ate works at Warrenton. below Vicksburg,
md destroyed them.
May %, Admiral Porter shelled the Con-
ederate works from the river while Grant
.ssaulted from the rear. In this attack the