The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-02-15

July the crisis was at hand. The
mine on the left had been completed
some days, with about 1900 pounds of
powder skilfully packed under one of
the enemy's main forts. The mine un-
der the priest-cap was packed with
l.200 pounds of powder. That no
chance might be left unprovided for,
fresh fuses were obtained from the
magazines of the war vessels. Birge
rad made every possible preparation
that the mind could suggest to secure
the success of his forlorn hope. Along
the whole line the troops had cleared
the ground as far as possible, in prep
aration for their swift charge, and ev-
cry sick man who could walk had left
the hospital to rejoin his company for
the last effort. Orders were given for
the assault at daybreak on the morn
ing of July ..
Early I'm the forenoon of July Z the
gunboat Gen. Price, sent with all swift
ness by Gen. Grant as soon as the sur
render of Vicksburg was consummate6
to communicate the news to Gen.
Banks, arrived with her glad tidings.
Banks at once spread the news through
his army by couriers to the commands
Immediately around headquarters and
by telegraph dispatches to those more
distant. Manifold copies of the message
from Grant We're distributed along the
advanced positions with instructions to
lHc Ilel W wrap dIouIu DdilS VI
clay-there We're no stones in that part
of LOuisiana-and toss them over into
the enemy'S lines. There had been no
cheering along the lines since those
which started the melancholy assault of
June IA. No one had since any heart
ing as If he would burst his throat. The
long silent bands walked up and began
filling the sweltering air with the
triumphant "Star Spangled Banner"
With that instinct that comes to ev'
cry soldier after some battle expert
ence, both sides felt that the end had
come. Without orders, the firing died
down rapidly, and the men began to
swarm up on the parapets and good
Eaturedly handy one another across
the narrow space which separated
them. Some officers on both sides
sharply ordered a resumption Of the
firing, but their commands were un-
needed.
The afternoon wore away thus. and
in the evening Gen. Gardner called q
council of his officers. 1t was not
really q council but a confirmation OF
what he knew as we'll as what all of
them told him--the end had come. 1t
was nearing midnight, however, before
he acted.
About 1890, Col Irwin says, bugle
in front of Chas. ]. Paine's Brigade. on
the Plains Road, sounded Cease fir
iEg." The pickets saw approaching an
officer with a small escort. Before him
a pole was carried. on the end of which
was lantern and white handker-
chief The officer announced that he
bore an important dispatch from Gen.
Gardiner to Gen. Banks. The pickets
did not require any supernatural
knowledge to understand what was the
likely nature Of the dispatch, and Lieut..
Orton S. Clark, 116th n. Y, of Paine's
cfa off tn Con PanLS's head.
quarters with the long gray envelope
OF momentous content. 1t was a little
past l o'clock when the envelope was
opened by Banks and the inclosure
found to read:
headquarters, Port Hudson, La,
July Z, 1863.
Mai Gen. y. P. Banks, Commanding
u. S. Forces, near Port Hudson,
General: Having received 1nfOfma-
ton from your troops that Vicksburg
has been surrendered, l make this
communication to ask you to give me
the official assurance whether this is
true or not: ami, if true, i ask for a
cessation of hostilities. with a view to
consider terms for surrendering this
position
81 remain, General, very respectfully
your obedient servant.
Crank Gardner, Major General Com
IndIiuiHS u. >. fOfceS.
Banks's Reply.
Banks wasted no time i'm answering
and at lis sent the following reply:
Headquarters Department of the Gulf
Nineteenth Army Corps,
Before Port Hudson. La,
July s, 1868; 1:15 n. m.
Maj. Gen. Frank Gardner. Command
ing c. ). Forces. Port Hudson, La
General: In reply to your COM
munication. dated the 7th instant. by
flag Of truce, received a few minutes
since. ] have the honor to inform you
that ! received yesterday morning, July
Z, at 10:45 o'clock, by the gunboat Gen.
Price, an official dispatch from Maj.-
Gen. Ulysses :. Grant, u. S. Army,
whereof the following is true extract:
" Headquarters Department of the
Tennessee,
" Near Vicksburg, Miss, July 4, 1863.
Maj. Gen. y. +. Banks, Commanding
Department of the Gulf.
General: The garrison of Vicks-
burg surrendered this morning. Num-
Der of prisoners, as given by the OFF,