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an unconditional surrender. It saved us the transportation of them North, which at that time would have been very difficult, owing to the limited amount of river transportation on hand, and the expense of subsisting them. It left our army free to operate against Johnston, who threatened us from the direction of Jackson; and our river transportation to be used for the movement of troops to any point the exigency of the service might require. "I deem it proper to state here, in order that the correspondence may be fully understood, that after my answer to General Pemberton's letter of the morning of the third, we had a personal interview on the subject of the capitulation.

"The particulars and incidents of the siege will be contained in the reports of division and corps commanders, which will be forwarded as soon as received.

"I brought forward during the siege, in addition to Lauman's division and four regiments previously ordered from Memphis, Smith's and Kimball's divisions of the Sixteenth army corps, and assigned Major-General C. C. Washburne to command of the same. On the eleventh of June, Major-General F. J. Herron's division from the department of the Missouri arrived; and on the fourteenth two divisons of the Ninth army corps, Major-General J. G. Parke commanding, arrived. This increase in my force enabled me to make the investment more complete, and at the same time left me a large reserve to watch the movements of Johnston. Herron's division was put in position on the extreme left south of the city, and Lauman's division was placed between Herron and McClernand. Smith's and Kimball's divisions and Parke's corps were sent to Haines' Bluff. This place I had fortified to the land side and every preparation made to resist a heavy force. Johnston crossed Big Black river with a portion of his force, and every thing indicated that he would make an attack about the twenty-fifth of June. Onr position in front of Vicksburg having been made as strong against a sortie from the enemy as his works were against an assault, I placed Major-General Sherman in command of all the troops designated to look after Johnston. The force intended to operate against Johnston, in addition to that at Haines' Bluff, was one division from each of the Thirteenth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth army corps, and Lauman's division. Johnston, however, not attacking, I determined to attack him the moment Vicksburg was in our possession, and accordingly notified Sherman that I should again make an assault on Vicksburg at daylight on the sixth, and for him to have up supplies of all descriptions ready to move upon receipt of orders, if the assault should prove a success. His preparations were immediately made, and when the place surrendered on the fourth, two days earlier than I had fixed for the attack, Sherman was found ready and moved at once with a force increased by the remainder of both the Thirteenth and Fifteenth army corps, and is at present investing Jackson, where Johnston has made a stand.

"In the march from Bruinsburg to Vicksburg, covering a period of twenty days, before supplies could be obtained from government stores, only five days' rations were issued, and three days of those were taken in haversacks at the start, and were soon exhausted. All other subsistence was obtained from the country through which we passed. The march was commenced without wagons, except such as could be picked up through the country. The country was abundantly supplied with corn, bacon, beef and mutton. The troops enjoyed excellent health, and no army ever appeared in better spirit or felt more confident of success.

"In accordance with previous instructions, Major-General S. A. Hurlbut started Colonel (now Brigadier-General) B. H. Grierson, with a cavalry force, from La Grange, Tennessee, to make a raid through the central portion of the State of Mississippi, to destroy railroads and other public property, for the purpose of creating a diversion in favor of the army moving to the attack on Vicksburg. On the seventeenth of April this expedition started, and arrived at Baton Rouge on the second of May, having successfully traversed the whole State of Mississippi. This expedition was skilfully conducted and reflects great credit on Colonel Grierson and all of his command. The notice given this raid by the Southern press confirms our estimate of its importance. It has been one of the most brilliant cavalry exploits of the war, and will be handed down in history as an example to be imitated. Colonel Grierson's report is herewith transmitted.

"I cannot close this report without an expression of thankfulness for my good fortune in being placed in co-operation with an officer of the navy who accords to every move that seems for the interest and success of our arms his hearty and energetic support. Admiral Porter and the very efficient officers under him have ever shown the greatest readiness in their co-operation, no matter what was to be done or what risk to be taken, either by their men or their vessels. Without this prompt and cordial support my movements would have been much embarrassed, if not wholly defeated.

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Captain J. U. Shirk, commanding the Tuscumbia, was especially active and deserving of the highest commendation for his personal attention to the repairing of the damage done our transports by the Vicksburg batteries.

"The result of this campaign has been the defeat of the enemy in five battles outside of Vicksburg; the occupation of Jackson, the capital of the State of Mississippi, and the capture of Vicksburg and its garrison and munitions of war; a loss to the enemy of thirty-seven thousand (37,000) prisoners; among whom were fifteen general officers; at least ten thou sand killed and wounded, and among the killed Generals Tracy, Tilghman, and Green, and hundreds perhaps thousands of strag

glers, who can never be collected and reorganized. Arms and munitions of war for an army of sixty thousand men have fallen into our hands, besides a large amount of other public property, consisting of railroads, locomotives, cars, steamboats, cotton, etc., and much was destroyed to prevent our capturing it. "Our loss in the series of battles may be summed up as follows:

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Of the wounded, many were but slightly wounded, and continued on duty; many more required but a few days or weeks for their recovery. Not more than one-half of the wounded were permanently disabled.

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My personal staffs and chiefs of departments have in all cases rendered prompt and efficient service.

"In all former reports I have failed to make mention of Company A, Fourth regiment Illinois cavalry volunteers, Capt. S. D. Osband commanding. This company has been on duty with me as an escort company since November, 1861, and in every engagement I have been in since that time, rendered valuable service, attracting general attention for their exemplary conduct, soldierly bearing, and promptness. It would not be overstating the merits of this company to say that many of them would fill with credit any position in a cavalry regiment.

"For the brilliant achievements recounted in this report, the army of the Tennessee, their comrades of the Ninth army corps, Herron's division of the army of the frontier, and the navy cooperating with them, deserve the highest honors their country can award.

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"I have the honor to be, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Ú. S. GRANT, "Major-General U. S. A. Commanding.

"Colonel J. C. KELTON,

"Assistant Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C."

OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

The following is the correspondence referred to in the report:

"HEAD-QUARTERS, VICKSBURG, July 3d, 1863. "Major-General GRANT, Commanding U. S. Forces:

for

"GENERAL: I have the honor to propose to you an armistice hours, with a view to arranging terms for the capitulation

of Vicksburg. To this end, if agreeable to you, I will appoint three commissioners, to meet a like number to be named by yourself, at such place and hour to-day as you may find convenient. I make this proposition to save the further effusion of blood, which must otherwise be shed to a frightful extent, feeling myself fully able to maintain my position for a yet indefinite period. This communication will be handed you under a flag of truce, by Major-General James Bowen.

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Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

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J. C. PEMBERTON."

To this General Grant replied as follows:

"HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENt of Tennessee,

"IN THE FIELD, NEAR VICKSBURG, July 3d, 1863. "Lieutenant-General J. C. Pemberton, Commanding 'Confed

erate' Forces, etc.:

"GENERAL: Your note of this date, just received, proposes an armistice of several hours, for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation through commissioners to be appointed, etc. The 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 courage as those now in Vicksburg, will always challenge the respect of an adversary, and I can assure you, will be treated with all the respect due them as prisoners of war. I do not favor the proposition of appointing commissioners to arrange terms of capitulation, because I have no other terms than those indicated above.

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I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

“U. S. Grant, Major-General.”

General Bowen, the bearer of General Pemberton's letter, expressed a strong desire to converse with General Grant, but General Grant declining this, requested General Smith to say, that if General Pemberton desired to see him, an interview would be granted between the lines in McPherson's front, at any hour which General Pemberton might appoint. A message was soon sent back appointing three o'clock as the hour. General Grant was there with his staff, and with Generals Ord, McPherson, Logan, and A. J. Smith. General Pemberton came late, attended by General Bowen and Colonel Montgomery. The conversation was held apart between General Pemberton and his officers, and Generals Grant, McPherson, and A. J. Smith.

The rebels insisted on being paroled and marched beyond our lines, with eight days rations drawn from their own stores, the officers to retain their private property and body-servants. General Grant heard what they had to say, and left them at the end of an hour and a half, saying that he would send in his ultimatum in writing, to which General Pemberton promised to reply before night, hostilities to cease in the mean time.

General Grant then conferred with his corps and division commanders, and sent the following letter to General Pemberton by the hands of General Logan and LieutenantColonel Wilson:

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'HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE, NEAR VICKSBURG, July 3d, 1863. "Lieut.-General J. C. Pemberton, Commanding Confederate Forces, Vicksburg, Miss.:

"GENERAL: In conformity with the agreement of this afternoon I will submit the following propositions for the surrender of the city of Vicksburg, public stores, etc. On your accepting the terms proposed, I will march in one division as a guard, and take possession at eight A.M. to-morrow. As soon as paroles can be made out and signed by the officers and men, you will be allowed to march out of our lines, the officers taking with them their regimental clothing, and staff, field and cavalry officers one horse each. The rank and file will be allowed all their clothing, but no other property. If these conditions are accepted, any amount of rations you may deem necessary can be taken from the stores you now have, and also the necessary cooking utensils for preparing them, and thirty wagons also, counting two two-horse or mule teams as one. You will be allowed to transport such articles as cannot be carried along. The same conditions will be allowed to all sick and wounded officers and privates, as fast as they become able to travel. The paroles of these latter must be signed, however, whilst officers are present authorized to sign the roll of prisoners.

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"I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, "U. S. GRANT, Major-General."

To this the following reply was sent :

"HEAD-QUARTEers, Vicksburg, July 3d, 1863.

Major-General Grant, Commanding U. S. Forces:

"GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date, proposing terms for the sur

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