The National tribune., 1902-02-06
Copyrighted. 1901 by the rul

AuC NOaA VI EaASAihe Int Bii1NA'N'S "'--
intrusted to Gen. Mcpherson by the fol
flowing order:
! "Mai-Gen. James B. Mcpherson. com
?TnandiRg Seventeenth Army Corps anG
IfroOps gaIriSoniDg NlckShurg and guard
4ing prisoners of war, will take immediate
,charge of the paroling of the capitulatcc
Confederate States forces, and hurry the
same forward with all possible dispatch
Every printing press that can be had hC
will put into requisitiOn for the printing
sf the necessary blanks. Lieut-CoI
sLOren) Kent Provost Marshal-Gene
iyill report to him for orders. Not one OF
Che Capitulated garrison must he allowed
so escape, but all must be parOled, and
duplicate lists, certified by the proper of
fccrs, retained"
A number of officers and soldiers were
detailed to perform the clerical work of
preparing the rolls of each command and
the paroles for each officer and soldier.
Gen. Pemberton and other Confederate
officers rendered every assistance neces-
sary to facilitate the work. Some Con
federate soldiers undertook to make their
escape by crossing the river. Gen. Penn
bert0n at once called attention to this viO-
Iation of the terms, and insisted that these
men should be prevented from carrying
out their plans.
1t turned out that quite n number of
Confederate soldiers were unwilling to ac-
cept paroles, and march out with their
comrades. These men were tired of the
war and preferred to be held as prisoners
of war. Gen. Grant preferred that all
should accept paroles according to the
terms Of the surrender, but he would not
force men to sign paroles, therefore such
soldiers as refused were sent North as
prisoners.
1t was found that many officers were
attended by cOlOred servants. These Of
fcers were anxious to retain these negroes
and take them along when the COnfed-.
crates marched out from Vicksburg.
Many of the negroes were unwilling to
go, while their masters We're determined
to, hold on to them if possible.
Gen. Pemberton brought the subject be-
fore Gen. Mcpherson in the following let
ter:
General: / have the honor to request
your attention to the accompanying note,
addressed me by Maj.-Gen. NJ. l.. Smith.
O.! S. Army, and to ask that you Twill in
form me, at your earliest convenience.
what course is intended to be pursued
with regard to our servants. Several have
slready been taken up. as | understand,
without being allowed the privilege of re-
III lIieII pTtSeHl SeTNlte. SUpHiO
they desire to do so. | believe this to
be contrary to the intention of Maj.-Gen.
Grant, and respectfully ask your interpO-
sition ts remedy the wrong in any exist
ing case, and to prevent recurrence"
Gen. Mcpherson Immediately laid the
matter before Gen. Grant, who in a letter
OF July 5, replied as follows:
''In regard TO rebel officers taking their
servants with them is one of the condi-
hqns | expressly refused them. After the
city was surrendered, however, one of the
officers on Gen. Pemberton's staff asked
NE, what / was going to do about serv-'
ants who were anxious to accompany
their masters, remarking that many of
them had been raised with their servants.
and II was like severing families to part
W5th them. / remarked that no compul-
sorry measure would be used to hold ne
graes. | want the negroes all to under
stand that they are free men. If they are
then anxious to 90 with their masters.
do not see the necessity of preventing it."
The action of Confederate officers in
trying to force their servants to accom-
pahy them then became known and caused
Comment, which will be seen from the fol-
lowing letter from Gen. Logan:
Sir: ] solemnly protest, as an officer
of--the United States Army, against ihe
manner ia which Confederate officers are
permitted to intimidate their servants in
presence of officers appointed to examine
said servants, and also against passes
worded permitting them to 90 out with
their masters. The manner in which this
thing is being done is conniving at fur
nlshing negroes TO every officer who is a
prisoner in Yicksburg."
The whole subject was definitely settled
by Gen. Grant in the following letter to
Gen. Mcpherson:
Give instruction that no passes are to
be given to negroes to acCOmpany their
masters in leaving the city. The negroes
may be informed that they are free by
anyone who may choose to give the in
formation, and if they still wish to 20 no
force need be used to prevent In the mar
tLcuIar case where | gave the reply that
force would not be used to prevent ne
groes accompanying their masters, the Of
hcer said he had a family and children.
and couh not get along without q nurse:
further. that the nurse had been raised
IN the family and was like one of them.
and would take it us hard to be separated
as wegld an actual member of the fam
lily.
IF there is any indication that a sus
plcious number of blacks are going to ac-
company the troops out, then ali should
be turned back except such as are y0lun-
tarily accompanying families, not more
than one 10 each family"
The Confederate hospitals contained
many sick and wounded soldiers. for
whose care il was necessary to make
proper provision. II was arranged that
a suitable corps Of surgeons and nurses
should remain to care for these DeopIe. all
OF whom were under the charge of Mai
ten Nj. l.. Smith, of the Confederate
Army, who was designated by Gen. PEN
bert9n for this purpose with the approval
OF Gen. Grant, who wrote to Gen. Penn
berton that While here, il is not neces.
sary f0I me to assure you he will receive
every courtesy, and in leaving he win he
insured safe conduct beyond our lines"
On July 10 the work of paroling the
prisoners was completed On that day
me arrangements for the departure of the
confederate army were made. as shown
by the following letter from PembeIton:
General: / propose 10 commence tbe
movement of my command tomorrow
morning at 1 O'Clock, or is soon thereafter
as Iefcticable-Gen. Bowers Division on
the ssiFancc on the Jackson road: ono hri-
gade s'Of Gen. Forney's Division ON the
Jackstsri and on the Baldwin's Ferry road.
ten. Smiths Division on the jackson
road; Col. Withers's Light Artillery Reg
iment and Col. Higginss Heavy Artillery
commands on the Baldwin's Ferry road.
Zen. StcyenSon's Division will bring M
me rear OF the army, and will not be able
10 leave before Sunday morning at /
Tci"cF. BY agreement between Gen.
Grant and myself. | have instructed reg
lmentai commanders and commanders of
unattached comp anies to verify the rolls
of parole Of their commanders and sion
them lay my order -