The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-04-25
THE FLAG OF TRUCE.
The 32d Ohio Claims the Honor Of Re-
ceiving 1t.

cefvinE 1t.
Editor National Tribune: The follow
ing question is asked in The National
Tribune of March IA: What officer met
the flag Of truce at Vicksburg on the
morning of July 3, 1868. at the time of
Pemberton's surrender" At that time
] was a Sergeant, and was the first Off
Ger to meet the flag of truce. Col. BENZ.
+. Colts, commanding the 32d Ohio,
was the first commissioned officer. Capt.
VIM. NJ. Morris, of Co. d, 32d Ohio, was
Officer of the Day, and took charge of
the officers bearing the flag of truce.
In "write-up" of my experiences as a
soldier l have this to say about the sur
render of Vicksburg:
July 4, 1S63.-At midnight, July 9.
the 32d Ohio took it's usual place in the
trenches on the firing line southeast of
Fort Hill. The morning of July 3
dawned bright and clear, and soon the
sharpshooters of both sides began their
deadly work. About $50 a. m. Col.
Potts sent for me to come to his bunk
at the right of the regiment, to do some
writing for him, making out reports,
etc. By $50 l had finished his work,
and, getting permission, I began prep
arations to do some sharpshooting at
that place, using the ColonePS field glass
to locate the Johnnies on the other
side. 1 scanned the rebel works from
denly, about 10 a. m, two horsemen
bearing a white flag came riding out of
Fort Hill toward us, following a low
ridge. Turning toward the Colonel 1
shouted, There comes white flag. He
ordered the men to cease firing. l at
once jumped over our works, running
and walking rapidly, met the two Off
GERS bearing the white flag near an oak
tree, which was about halfway between
our line and that of the rebels. One of
the officers said to me, Where is the
commanding officer of this line of
works?' 1 turned, pointing to where
! had just left the Colonel, when I saw
that he YVES coming, and about halfway
between where we then were and our
works, and replied, There he comes
now
by the time the Colonel came to US
a great number of our boys who had
sprung over our works, as 1 did, now
came up. The Colonel noticing this, or
dered all of us to our places in the
trenches. The rebel officers were taken
charge of by the Officer of the Day,
Capt VIM. M. Morris, Co. D, 32d Ohio,
blindfolded and conducted to Gen. A. j.
Smiths headquarters. White flags ap-
peared upon the rebel works in our
front and hostilities ceased. The rebel
officers who bore the white flag were
Gen. Bowen, a division commander, and
Col. Montgomery, of Pemberton's staff.
The names of these officers learned
soon after the surrender.
"Meeting Of Grant and Pemberton.
eat o'clock in the afternoon Gen.
Grant and Gems. Ord, Mcpherson, Lo-
gan, A. ]. Smith and their staff officers
came riding thru our lines to the oak
tree, and were there met by Gen. Penn
berton and the two officers who bore the
white flag in the morning. This meet
ing was nearly opposite the right CT The
regiment, in plain view and close
enough that we could almost hear the
conversation going on. After introduce
tons and handshaking, Grant and Penn
berton withdrew a little to one side, on
the slope next to the enemy, seated
themselves upon the ground, lighted
cigars and entered into a conference.
Presently Grant and Pemberton arose
and the conference was ended. There
was mounting of horses and Union and
rebel Generals rode back into their re-
epective lines. The white flags still re-
manned upon the rebel works, and hos
tilities ceased to await result of CORE
spondence with reference to acceptance
of the terms offered by Gen. Grant. Elk
pecting the place to be surrendered on
the 4th, the troops of Logan's Division.
then on the firing line, my regiment
being a part, were ordered to remain
In the trenches. On the morning Of the
4th of July the sun arose bright and
beautiful, and in anticipation Of the end
Of the siege and Of the surrender of
Vicksburg and its defenses we felt
buoyant and happy. Along toward
morning word had come to US in the
trenches that II the terms offered by
Gen. Grant were accepted the Johnnies
would march outside their lines at g
o'clock a. m, stack arms in front Of