The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-12-07
WAR OF THE REBELLION.

CONTINUED from page L.
Gen. Bowen came out in front of
the lines OF Gen. A. ]. Smith, TO whom
he delivered the letter and asked to
see Gen. Grant. This request was re-
fused. as the Commander of the Union
army could treat with no less a
person than the Conn, nnder Of the OPP
posing forces. Bowen. being u icgu-
lar officer, recognized tie force OF this.
and suggested a meeting between Pcnl-
berton and Grant. To this Gen. Grant
acceded, sending q verbal message to
the effect that if Pemherton desired he
would meet him in front of McPher-
sons Corps at 8 o'clock in the after
noon. Gen. Grant also sent the fol-
lowing written reply:
Headquarters Department of the Ten
neSSee,
"In the Field, near Vicksburg, Miss
July 8, 1863.
Lieut. Gen. j. c. Pemberton, Com
handing Confederate Forces. etc.
General: Your note of this date is
Just received, proposing an armistice
for several hours, for the purpose of
arranging terms of capitulation
through commissioners to be appoint
ed, etc.
1.-The useless effusion 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 cour-
age as those now in Vicksburg will al
ways challenge the respect OF an adj
verSary, and I can assure you will be
treated with all the respect due to
prisoners of war.
II do not favor the proposition of
appointing commissioners to arrange
terms of capitulation, because l have
no terms other than those indicated
above.
II am, General, very respectfully,
your obedient servant.
~. S. Grant, Major-General."
The Soldiers Face to Face.
While this exchange of notes was
going on. the men of both armies lined
their opposing works, within easy
speaking distance of one another, and
their overfull hearts found relief in
gay banter. 1t was all good-natured.
The Union soldiers had been telling
their enemies for weeks that they had
them prisoners, and were merely al
lowing them to feed themselves. Now
they were going to give them some
thing better than fricasseed mule and
rats on toast. The Confederates sal
lied in kind, and asked the "Yanks''
how it seemed to stop burrowing in
the ground like moles, and get out into
daylight once more.
The change of feeling was indie
scribable from the six long weeks of
yenOmous seeking for one another's
lives. The Union soldiers could we'll
afford to be kindly and generous, for
they now saw the end approaching of
the grand work for which they had
gathered at Cairo two long years be-
fore. and to which Fort Donelson, Cor
NTH, Island No. 10, Memphis, Chicka-
saw Bayou, Arkansas Post, the months
of dismal struggles with the swamps
end floods of the Mississippi and the
swift. perilous march from Brunsburg
to Vicksburg were steps. The Confed-
crates were not depressed, for the
thing had been expected SO long that
they were ready for it. and glad that
the hopeless struggle was to cease
without any more useless bloodshed.
The Meeting Between the Two Com
mnnders.
At p. M Gen. Grant, accompanied
by his staff, and by Gems. Mcpherson,
Ord. Logan and A. ]. Smith, went to
q low-growing oak, few hundred feet
from the Confederate lines, and pres
emily Gen. Pemberton appeared, ac-
companied by Gen. Bowen and Col
Montgomery. Gen. Grant makes the
following statement as to what &C.
Cured:
"Pemberton and I had served in the
lean War l knew him very well.
therefore, and greeted him as an old
acquaintance. He soon asked what
terms 1 proposed to give his army If it
surrendered. My answer was the same
as proposed in my reply to his letter.
Femberton then said. rather snappish-
~. ''The conference might as we'll end"
and turned abruptly as If to leave
said, VERY we'll" Gen. Bowen, 1 saw,
was very anxious that the surrender
should be consummated. His manner
and remarks while Pemberton and
were talking, showed this He now
proposed that Ii and one of our Gen.
erals should hav5 a conference I had
no objection to this, as nothing could
be made binding upon me that they
might propose. Smith and Bowen ac-
cordingly had conference during
which Pemberton and /, moving a
short distance away towards the en-
emy's lines. were in conversation. After
q while Bowen suggested that the Con-
federate army be allowed to march out
with the honors of war, carrying their
small guns and field artillery. This
was promptly and unceremoniously re-
jected. The interview here ended,
agreeing, however, to send a letter
giving final terms by 10 o'clock that
night
WORD was sent to Admiral Porter
soon after the correspondence with
tilitfes might be stopped on the part Of
both army and navy. 1t was agreed
on my parting with Pemberton that
they should not be renewed until our
correspondence ceased.
when / returned to my headquar-
tiers sent for all the Corps and Divi-
sion Commanders with the army i'm
mediately confronting Vicksburg. Half
the army was from eight to IL miles
of. waiting for Johnston. / informed
them of the contents Of Pemberton's
letters. Of my reply and the substance
OF the interview, and that 1 was ready
TO hear any suggestion; but would hold
the power of deciding entirely in my
own hands. This was the nearest ap-
proach to a council of war" / ever
held. Against the general and almost
unanimous judgment of the council j
sent the following letter:
"In conformity with agreement of
this afternoon, I will submit the fol-
lowing proposition for the surrender OF
the city Of Vicksburg, public stores
etc. On your accepting the terms pro-
posed, i will march in one division as
guard. and take possession at eight
a. m. tomorrow. As soon as rolls can
be made out, and paroles be signed
by officers and men, you will be al
lowed to march out OF our lines. the