The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-18

q marked discrepancy bet weSn that authors &C.
count OF II and mine. I do not fear. however, to
trust To the honest memory of any on1cer there pres.
ent TO confirm the statement I shall make. Passing
over all preceding events. I come at once to ito cir.
cumItnnces that brought about the personal inter.
view referred to. Feeling assured that II was useless
to hope longer for any assistance from Gen. John.
hton, either to raise the siege OF vicksburg or to res.
cue the garrison. l summoned division and brigade
commanders, with one or two others. TO meet in my
quarters on the night OF the "a OF July. All the
correspondence that had taken place curing tho
siegc between Gen. Johnston and myself was laid
before these oficeru. After much consideration II
was advised that I address n note TO Gen. Grant pro.
posing the appointment OF commissioners to arrange
terms OF capituiation. the following. having boon
read to tn, council and approved. was sent to Gen.
Grant under q nag OF truce. by the hands OF Major.
7en. J. 8. Bowen, on the morning OF the Sd;
vicKsBuRa. July 4. 1893.
NV9r.9en, Grant. Commencing U s. Forces Near
GENERAL / have the honor TO propose to you an
atmistice OF = hours. with a view TO arrange terms
90 you. | viii appoint three commissioners 10 meet a
nkc number to DO named by yourself at such place
ths proposition to save furtner erusion OF blood.
which must otherwise he shed to n rrIghtrul extent.
for a yet Indefinite period. This communication will
DC hasded you under a nag of truce by Major Sen.
! am, General. very re,pcstfSily: your Ooodions
Northumberland commanding.
In que time the following reply was handed to me;
HEApeuARrKns DEPARTMENT oy the TENNESSEE,
Lfeuf"den. John Z. IenbcrtOn, Commanding Corued.
crate Forces. DC.
GENERAL. Your note OF tails date 10 just received.
proposing an armlstice FOR several hours for the
purpose of arranging terms OF capituiation. through
enusion Of blood you propose stopping by this
course can no ended az any time you may choose,
son. Men VINO nave so much endurance and cour.
aye as shown In vlcKsburR viii always cnsllsnge
N EfnnREl nf nm nvAFanF nnh I Nan aaatra NhtI
VIII be- treated with all ta respect due to prisoners
or war; 40 not favor tho proposition Of appoint.
because l nave no terms other than indicated above.
SGT vant. U. s. GRANT, Major. q neral.
! at once expressed to Gen. Bowen my determine.
tton not to surrender Internationally. He then
stated that Gen. Grant would like TO have All inter.
view with me. II I was so disposed. and would meet
me at q designated point bet woeu the TWO lines al 3
p. NJ. that day. l was not aware that tho sugges
ton had orisinated.wit Gen. ,bowon. but acoeded
to tho proposed meeting at the joint request of NV
four division commanders. on reaching the place
appointed, accompanied by Major Gen. Bowen and
Col. Montgomery. then temporarily nsrving on my
personal stan, I found Gen. Graut aud o number OF
his Generals and other Officers already arrived and
dismounted. To the General himself, with whom
my acquaintance dated as far back AZ the Mexican
war, as well rs TO several of the group who sur.
rounded him. I was formally introduced by Gen.
Bowen. After Q few remarks ami inquiries on
either side. a pause eusued. which was prolonged on
my part in expectation that Gen. Grant would In.
troduce the subject tho dlscusslop of which I sup.
posed TO be the object OF our meeting. Finding that
he did not do 30. I said TO him that II Understood he
had expressed a wish to have q personal Interview
with me-" He replied THAT he had not" I wa.
surprised, and turning to Gen. Bowen, remarked,
Then there Is q MISUNDERSTANDING" certainly
understood differently. The matter, however, was
satisfactorily explained TO me In a few word'. the
mistake. no doubt, having.beon entirely my own.
Again addressing Gen. Grant. l said: In your letter
this morning you state that you have no other
terms tnan an unconditional surrender He an
awered promptly. II nave no other" To this I re.
Joined: Then, sir. II Is unnecessary that you and I
should hold any further conversation. We Will 20 to
fighting at once, and aided. ~ can assure you.sir.
you will bury more or your men before you enter
Vicksburg.'' Gen. Grant did not. as Badeau repro.
seLts. reply 'verv weli,'' nor did he turn on. He
did not hsnge his position nor did he utter a word.
The movement TO Withdraw. so far us any move.
ment was made. was on my part. and was acco n
panied by the remark that n he (Gen. Grant) sup
posed I was suffering for provisions h. was mis-.
taken; that I had enough TO last me an indefinite
period. ana that Port Hudson was better supplied
than vicksbure. Den. Bowen made no suggestion
Whatever In regard To q consultation bet ~een any
parties during this interview ". AS he II represented
10 have done by Baieau. But Gen. Grant did AZ this
time propose that he and I should step aside. and on
asserting he added that III l had no OBJECTIONS he
would take with him Gems. McPnersou aud A.. J.
smith" I replied. Certainly and that Gen. Bowen
and Col. Montgomery would accompany me. Gen.
Grant then suggested that these gentlemen with
draw and see whether on consultation they could
arrive ut some satisfaatory arrangement. 1t Will DO
readily understood thas I oiersd NO oh Jeciinn TO
this course. as II was In fact q withdrawal by Gen.
Grant from the position he had SO unquaIinedIy as.
sumed. to Wit. unconditional surrender. aud it
raaIfv anhp.tffad an n atr q, a,,I So. a..
cuasion Of the question OF terms. to u conlmiasion.
although that commission was now necessarily an
impromrru one. Penling the interchange OF Views
by the officers named. Gen. Grant and l remained
apart from them. conversing only upon topics that
had no relation 10 the important subject tat
brought US together. The terms which this commis.
sion agreed to propose were In the main those that
were afterward pronered by Gen. Giant and even.
tually accepted BY me. Durina this discussion I
stated TO him THAT as no declined TO appoint com.
missionerB when Invited TO do 80 by me. II wAs now
hrs part to propose the terms" He agreed TO this
aud said II should hear from him by 10 p. NJ"
When about 10 part l notified Ien. Grant that II
held myBelf.in no manner pledged to any agrees.
ment. but should consult my division and brigade
conmanuers.'" He replied that / must understand
him In the ike manner. and that he. too. should con.
cult his corps commanders" With this our inter
view ended. Mr. Radsau's statement IA a misrepre.
rentatiun OF the facts ~ they occurred, and wherhsr
Intentional or otherwise conveys a false Impression
TO his readers. II he were present at the interview.
he knows. II he WAS absent. he could readily have as.
Gel talned that after Gen. Grants verbal declaration
that he had 40 terms other Than un conditional sur.
render, all suggestions and ali overturos looking to
terms arose directly from Den. Grant himself, and
neither directly nor Indirectly from me or my sui.
urdinates. There was 10 display OF Indifference as
TO tho result OF this interview By Gen. Grant. nor
did he feel indifferent. On the night OF the 80 OF
Juiv N dana tch WAS iuIerce Dted nv my AiRnnl onicer