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well be supposed, were beginning to be much needed, after marching and fighting for twenty days, on an average of about five days' rations drawn from the Commissary Department.

On the 21st, the General, having completed his arrangements for drawing supplies of every description, determined to make another effort to carry Vicksburg by assault. Orders were accordingly given for a general assault on the whole line, to commence at ten o'clock, A. M., on the 22d.

Promptly, at the appointed time, the three army corps, then in front of the enemy's works, commenced the assault. General Grant had taken a commanding position near McPherson's front, from which he could see all the advancing columns from that corps, and a part of each of Sherman's and McClernand's.

A portion of the commands of each, succeeded in planting their flags on the outer slopes of the enemy's bastions, and maintaining them there till night. Each corps had many more men than could possibly be used in the assault, over such unfavorable ground as intervened between them and the enemy.

The assault was gallant in the extreme, on the part of all the troops; but the enemy's position was too strong, both naturally and artificially, to be taken in that way. At every point assaulted, and at all of them at the same time, the enemy was able to show all the force his works could cover.

The assault failed, with much loss on our side, but without weakening the confidence of our troops in their ability to ultimately succeed.

No troops succeeded in entering any of the enemy's works, with the exception of Sergeant Griffith, of the

21st Iowa, and some eleven privates of the same regiment, none of whom returned except the Sergeant, and possibly one of the privates.

After this failure, General Grant determined on prosecuting a regular siege. The troops being now fully aware of the necessity of it, worked diligently and cheerfully, and the work progressed rapidly and satisfactorily, until the 3d of July, when all was about ready for a final assault.

Of this state of readiness on our part, the Rebels were not ignorant; and dreading the consequences, and anticipating the result of an assault, General Pemberton, on the afternoon of the 3d of July, sent a letter, under a flag of truce, to General Grant proposing an armistice, and the appointment of commissioners to arrange terms of capitulation. The result was the sur render of the city and garrison of Vicksburg, at ten o'clock, A. M., July 4th, 1863, on the following terms:

The entire garrison, officers and men, were to be paroled, not to take up arms against the United States, until exchanged by the proper authorities; officers and men, each to be furnished with a parole, signed by himself; officers to be allowed their side-arms, and private baggage; and the field, staff, and cavalry officers, one horse each; the rank and file to be allowed all their clothing, but no other property; rations from their own stores, sufficient to last them beyond our lines; the necessary cooking utensils for preparing their food; and thirty wagons to transport such articles as could not be carried.

These terms were considered by General Grant, as more favorable to the government than an unconditional surrender, as it saved us the transportation of the pri

soners to the North; which at that time would have been very difficult, owing to the limited amount of river transportation on hand, and the expenses of subsisting them.

Our army was thus left free to operate against Johnston, who was threatening it from the direction of Jackson; and our river transportation was ready to be used for the movement of troops to any point the exigency of the service might require.

However expedient the arrangement may have been, it failed to receive the hearty approval of the country, from the general lack of confidence that the Rebels would observe it on their part in good faith. That they did not, has been subsequently abundantly shown; the Rebel government itself sanctioning the wholesale violation of the parole.

STORY LXXIX.

CAPITULATION OF PORT HUDSON.

ON the morning of the 7th of July, 1863, a salute was fired from both the upper and lower fleets, immediately on the reception of the news from Vicksburg, and the bands of the different regiments struck up national and patriotic airs. The wildest enthusiasm prevailed among the soldiers all day; and the proximity of the contending forces, enabled the Rebels in Port Hudson to hear the cheering, without enlightening them as to the cause.

At several points on the lines, the Rebels and our troops were so near together that conversations could be held, and were carried on, without danger to either party.

Toward evening, on the 7th, the curiosity of the Rebels to learn what was going on, became so great, that one of their officers called out to a Union officer, asking, "What are you making all that noise about?" The answer was, "We have taken Vicksburg."

The Rebel officer said he did not believe it, and on being asked what would convince him of its truth, he replied, "Nothing but a copy of the dispatch, or some reliable authority."

The Union officer then told him he would procure a copy of General Grant's official dispatch, and pass it over the parapet to him. The Rebel said if he would do so, and vouch for its genuineness, on his honor as a gentleman, and a soldier, he would be convinced.

The Union officer at once procured a copy of the dispatch, and taking it to the enemy's breatsworks, gave it to the officer with whom he had been conversing, and at the same time assured him, on the honor of a soldier, that the dispatch was genuine, and that he had copied it with his own hand.

The Rebel having read it, said he was satisfied of its truthfulness, and that he thought it useless for Port Hudson longer to attempt to hold out. Things remained in the same position as previous to the interview, until two o'clock the next morning, when a parley was sounded from the Rebel works, and an officer came out, with a dispatch from the Rebel General Gardner, asking on what terms a surrender would be accepted.

As soon as the message could be conveyed to General Banks, an answer was returned, in effect, that only an unconditional surrender would be accepted.

General Gardner accepted the terms, and asked a few hours to make the necessary arrangements. He was

given twenty-four hours, but did not take that length of time. At twelve, M., on the 8th of July, our forces entered Port Hudson, and became the masters of that strong-hold.

The Rebels were all drawn up in line of battle, numbering about four thousand men fit for duty, with their arms stacked in front of them, and surrendered; and being in a suffering condition for want of food, were promptly fed from the commissariat of our army.

In addition to the number aforesaid, there were about fifteen hundred sick and wounded men-about five hundred of the latter. Their wounds were, generally, very severe in the head, by the bullets of our sharpshooters.

Our batteries had done a great deal of damage, having destroyed an immense amount of stores. The Rebel sick had suffered terribly, from their almost total destitution of medical stores.

The United States flag was run up at nine o'clock, on Thursday morning, the 9th of July, and was saluted by the Hartford as she passed. There was a good supply of ammunition in the fort, all of which fell into our hands. This was the fifth day after the surrender of Vicksburg.

There had been much toil, privation, and suffering on both sides; but the justice of our cause had inspired our troops with a determined, persevering energy, and indomitable bravery, that could not fail. under skillful and courageous leaders, of triumphant success and ultimate victory.

"And conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, in 'God is our trust;'

And the Star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the FREE, and the home of the BRAVE."

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