Yazoo river the day after I took possession of the forts on
Snyder’s Bluff, has returned, having met with perfect success. As
the steamers approached Yazoo city the rebel property was fired by
Lieutenant Brown, of the ram Arkansas; and what he began our
forces finished. Three powerful rams were burned, the Mobile, a
screw vessel, ready for plating; the Republic, being fitted for a
ram, with railroad iron plating, and a vessel on the stocks—a
monster, three hundred and ten feet long and seventy-five feet
beam. This vessel was to have been covered with four and a half
inch iron plating, and was to have had six engines, four side
wheels and propellers. She would have given us much trouble. The
rebels had under construction a fine navy yard, containing fine
sawing and planing machines, and an extensive machine shop,
carpenter and blacksmiths’ shops, and all the necessary appliances
for a large building and repairing yard. Lieutenant-Commander
Walker burned all these, with a large quantity of valuable
building timber. He also burned a large saw mill that had been
used in constructing the monster ram. The material destroyed, at a
moderate estimate, would cost more than two millions of dollars.
We had one man killed and seven wounded by field pieces from the
enemy’s batteries going up the river, but the wounded are doing
well. I enclose Lieutenant-Commander Walker’s report in relation
to this affair. He deserves much credit for the handsome manner in
which he performed the duty assigned him. If he could have
obtained pilots he would have succeeded in getting possession of
all the rebel rams, instead of having them burned. I am, very
respectfully, your obedient servant.
DAVID D. PORTER,
Acting Rear-Admiral, Commanding Mississippi Squadron.
HON. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.
From the 22d of May, until the 25th of June, no attempt was made to take
the city by direct assault. During all that time, however, the mining
operations had been carried on successfully, and on the latter day a
fort on the immediate right of the Jackson road was blown up. It was
occupied by the Third Louisiana regiment, but the troops had been
withdrawn, and only a few were wounded by the explosion. An advance by a
small portion of the Federal force, immediately after, was the occasion
of a bloody contest, in which the Unionists were defeated, and compelled
to retire.
Several portions of the enemy’s defences were destroyed by the mining
operations of the Federals at this time, but no decisive advantage had
thus far been obtained. The condition of affairs in the city is thus
described by a Confederate officer: “About the thirty-fifth day
provisions began to get very scarce, and the advent of General
Johnston’s relieving force was anxiously and momentarily looked for.
Mule meat was the common fare of all alike, and even dogs became in
request for the table. Bean meal was made into bread, and corn meal into
coffee, and in these straits the garrison patiently dragged on the weary
length of one day after another, under a scorching sun, the stench from
the unburied corpses all around alone causing the strongest minded,
firmest nerved to grow impatient for the day of deliverance. The enemy
pushed their works: they blew up several forts, and with them the
soldiers and attempted to charge; but the meagre and famished yet
steadfast garrison still defiantly held the key of the Mississippi. But
everything must have an end. General Pemberton learned from General
Johnston that he could not afford him relief, and as the garrison was
too famished and reduced to cut its way out, he determined to
capitulate.”
* * * * *
After resisting the Federal forces for fifteen months, and enduring a
direct siege and bombardment for forty-seven days, Vicksburg was finally
surrendered to General Grant, on the 4th of July.
The following correspondence between Generals Grant and Pemberton embody
the interesting details of that event:
HEADQUARTERS, VICKSBURG, July 3, 1863.
Major-General Grant, commanding United States forces:—
GENERAL—I have the honor to propose to you an armistice for —— 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 farther 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.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON.
To this General Grant replied as follows:
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE, }
IN THE FIELD, NEAR VICKSBURG, July 3, 1863. }
Lieutenant-General J. C. Pemberton, commanding Confederate forces,
&c.:—
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, &c. 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.
I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Major-General.
General Bowen, the bearer of General Pemberton’s letter, was received by
General A. J. Smith. He expressed a strong desire to converse with
General Grant, and accordingly, while declining this, General Grant
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 in the afternoon which General Pemberton might
appoint.
A message was soon sent back to General Smith, 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. He was much excited
and pert in his answers to General Grant. 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
allowed to march beyond our lines, officers and men, all 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 at his headquarters with his corps and
division commanders, and sent the following letter to General Pemberton,
by the hands of General Logan and Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson.
GENERAL GRANT’S OFFER FOR THE SURRENDER.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE, }
NEAR VICKSBURG, July 3, 1863. }
Lieutenant-General J. C. PEMBERTON, commanding Confederate forces,
Vicksburg, Miss.:
GENERAL—In conformity with the agreement of this afternoon, I will
submit the following proposition for the surrender of the city of
Vicksburg, public stores, &c. On your accepting the terms proposed, I
will march in one division, as a guard, and take possession at eight
o’clock to-morrow morning. 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; 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 for these
latter must be signed, however, whilst officers are present authorized
to sign the roll of prisoners.
I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Major-General.
The officer who received this letter, stated that it would be impossible
to answer it by night, and it was not till a little before peep of day,
that the proposed reply was furnished.
While these deliberations were pending, the men of both armies, who
simply knew that a surrender was in contemplation, under intense
excitement, were anxiously awaiting the result. Groups of soldiers, who
a few hours before were engaged in a deathly struggle, now freely
engaged in conversation from the edge of the opposing works.
REPLY OF GENERAL PEMBERTON, ACCEPTING ALL THE TERMS OFFERED BY GENERAL
GRANT.
HEADQUARTERS, VICKSBURG, July 3, 1863.
Major-General GRANT, commanding United States forces:—
GENERAL—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
communication of this date, proposing terms for the surrender of this
garrison and post. In the main your terms are accepted; but in justice
both to the honor and spirit of my troops, manifested in the defence of
Vicksburg, I have the honor to submit the following amendments, which if
acceded to by you, will perfect the agreement between us:—At ten o’clock
to-morrow I propose to evacuate the works in and around Vicksburg, and
to surrender the city and garrison under my command, by marching out
with my colors and arms, and stacking them in front of my present
limits, after which you will take possession; officers to retain their
side arms and personal property, and the rights and property of citizens
to be respected.
I am, General, yours very respectfully,
J. C. PEMBERTON, Lieutenant-General.
To this General Grant immediately replied as follows:—
GENERAL GRANT DECLINES TO ACCEDE TO THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY GENERAL
PEMBERTON.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE, }
BEFORE VICKSBURG, July 4, 1863. }
Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON, commanding forces at Vicksburg:—
[Illustration: UNION HEROES STONE. SHIPLEY. ANDREWS. WHITE. MEIGS.]
GENERAL—I have the honor to acknowledge your communication of the 3rd
of July. The amendments proposed by you cannot be acceded to in full.
It will be necessary to furnish every officer and man with a parole
signed by himself, which, with the completion of the rolls of
prisoners, will necessarily take some time. Again, I can make no
stipulation with regard to the treatment of citizens and their private
property. While I do not propose to cause any of them any undue
annoyance or loss. I cannot consent to leave myself under restraint by
stipulations. The property which officers can be allowed to take with
them will be as stated in the proposition of last evening—that is,
that officers will be allowed their private baggage and side arms, and
mounted officers one horse each. If you mean by your proposition for
each brigade to march to the front of the lines now occupied by it,
and stack their arms at ten o’clock A. M., and then return to the
inside and remain as prisoners until properly paroled, I will make no
objection to it. Should no modification be made of your acceptance of
my terms by nine o’clock, A. M., I shall regard them as having been
rejected, and act accordingly. Should these terms be accepted, white
flags will be displayed along your lines, to prevent such of my troops
as may not have been notified, from firing on your men.
I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT, Major-General, U. S. A.
To this the following was received:—
UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY GENERAL PEMBERTON OF THE TERMS PROPOSED BY
GENERAL GRANT.
HEADQUARTERS, VICKSBURG, July 4, 1863.
Major-General U. S. GRANT, Commanding United States forces, &c.:—
GENERAL—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
communication of this date, and, in reply, to say that the terms
proposed by you are accepted.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON, Lieutenant-General.
Of the terms of the surrender, General Grant thus speaks in his report:
“These terms I regarded more favorable to the Government than 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
was threatening 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.”
At ten o’clock on the 4th, the Confederate forces marched out and
stacked arms in front of their works, while General Pemberton appeared
for a moment with his staff upon the parapet of the central front. The
city was immediately after occupied by the divisions of Generals Logan,
J. E. Smith and Herron.
The result of his operations is thus summed up by General Grant: “The
result of this campaign has been the defeat of the enemy in five
different 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 prisoners, among whom were fifteen general officers; at least
ten thousand killed and wounded, and among the killed, Generals Tracy,
Tilghman, and Green; and hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of stragglers,
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:
╔═════════════════════════╤════════╤════════╤════════╗
║ │ Killed.│Wounded.│Missing.║
╟─────────────────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────╢
║Port Gibson │ 130│ 718│ ║
║Fourteen Mile Creek │ 4│ 24│ 5║
║Raymond │ 69│ 341│ 32║
║Jackson │ 40│ 240│ 6║
║Champion’s Hill │ 426│ 1,842│ 189║
║Big Black railroad bridge│ 29│ 242│ 2║
║Vicksburg │ 545│ 3,688│ 303║
╚═════════════════════════╧════════╧════════╧════════╝
“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.”
* * * * *
We will now turn our attention to a brilliant engagement which occurred
simultaneously with the fall of Vicksburg. The town of Helena, in
Arkansas, had been garrisoned by a small force under General Prentiss, a
gallant officer, who had been captured at Pittsburg Landing with a large
portion of his division, after bravely contending for more than half a
day with a foe quadruple his own force.
THE BATTLE AT HELENA, ARKANSAS.
JULY 4, 1863.
The town of Helena, in Arkansas, is situated upon the northern bank of
the Mississippi river, and lies upon flat ground. Not more than a
quarter of a mile from the river the city and its approaches are
commanded by high ridges, between which are ravines opening toward the
river. The city had been strongly fortified by batteries placed upon
these hills and connected in line by rifle-pits.
An attack upon Helena had been anticipated for some days, and at four
o’clock on the morning of the 4th of July, the attack was opened upon
General Prentiss by a rebel force numbering fifteen thousand, under
Generals Holmes and Price. The Union forces, who had been two nights
under arms and waiting the attack, were in readiness in a few minutes,
and infantry, cavalry, and artillery were immediately in the positions
assigned them. Between the ridges and the river the low, flat ground was
protected by cavalry and rifle-pits and flanking batteries of
ten-pounder Parrotts, and six and twelve-pounder brass pieces. Making
the city the base of operations, Battery A was placed upon the right,
and Batteries B, C, and D, upon the left. The enemy attacked upon the
left of the line, and were opposed by a strong force of cavalry, with a
brigade of infantry and four pieces of artillery. Presently it was
reported that a large force was assaulting Battery A; and close upon the
heels of this intelligence came the news that sharpshooters were
harassing batteries C and D; behind the sharpshooters came heavy columns
of the enemy who were rapidly moving artillery into position. In front
of Battery B could be seen a large force of cavalry, showing that the
enemy had been disposed by the planning of a master mind. The enemy
opened a spirited fire on both flanks of General Prentiss’ troops at
once, but without producing any effect; evidently no great result was
expected by the rebels in regard to this movement, and it was merely
intended as a diversion while they were throwing their whole strength
against the Union centre. This plan would, if successfully carried out,
have given them possession of Fort Curtis, a point which was centrally
located, and commanded all the ridges surrounding the city. But the
rebels were not aware of the presence at the city’s landing of the
gunboat Tyler, commanded by Lieutenant James M. Pritchett, and they were
equally astonished and disconcerted when, at a critical moment, the
Tyler made them aware of her presence. The enemy were unable to open
batteries upon the centre from being disappointed in finding ravines in
which to place them, and therefore relied upon their infantry for the
work. The attack upon Battery D was personally superintended by
Lieutenant General Holmes, and Major-General Price directed that made
upon Battery C. Half an hour after the battle first opened a regiment
moved out to attack Battery D; but as they advanced in line upon a
bridge within range of the guns of Battery C, the latter opened upon
them a furious fire of shell, which was imitated by the guns of Battery
D, with such effect as to create a perfect panic in their ranks which
rapidly increased to a rout, and the rebels retired in great disorder.
They were immediately reinforced, however, and their sharpshooters
pressed close upon the guns of Battery C, so that they were turned upon
them, vomiting forth canister, and so effectually checking their advance
that they retreated again, and took refuge under cover of the ravines
and fallen timber.
About this time operations on both sides ceased for a brief while owing
to a dense fog which had fallen, and continued to hang heavily in the
air for about three-quarters of an hour. When it was light again the
force in front of Battery D appeared to be much weakened, while a
brigade of three regiments was seen crossing the ridges between that
work and Battery C. Before any of the guns could be used against the
approaching force the first line of pits in front of the battery was
flanked, and the company forced back upon the battery, where they stood
bravely. The guns of Battery D opened furiously upon the rebels, but
notwithstanding the fierce fire they pressed forward upon the company of
Battery C, swarming like locusts, and causing a sudden panic to fall
upon the Union men. Two companies upon the left of the battery broke and
fled in the wildest confusion; but two more with the guns, and two in
the pits to the right of them held their ground bravely, pouring in a
heavy fire of canister and minnie balls into the ranks of the enemy. But
the guns could not be saved; seeing which the captain of the battery
spiked one just as the enemy reached the piece, while the gunners,
determined that the battery should be useless to its captors, secured
all the friction-primers. At the foot of the hill the retreating
Unionists made another stand, and being promptly supported by portions
of two regiments they proved to the rebels that they were not yet
beaten.
It was now that the services of the Tyler became of such value to the
National forces; and as the enemy, flushed with success, gathered
together his scattered companies and charged down the hill toward Fort
Curtis, a broadside from the gunboat poured death and destruction down
the slopes of the hillside and enfiladed the ravines, while the stern
guns silenced the rebel battery below, and the bow guns at the same
moment played upon the upper one. And yet the rebels bore the fire, nor
once turned to flee, although it seemed worse than madness to go on.
But in the language of a correspondent of the day, “With the howl of
demons, the last mad, defiant impotent howl of baffled but still
determined traitors, exposed to history, to nations, and to themselves,
whipped, naked, and hungry, on they came cursing, firing, riding like
the ‘Light Brigade’ ‘into the gates of death, into the mouth of hell.’
No hurrying, no excitement, and yet no hesitation in the fort and
batteries, but steadily the shell, case, grape, and canister flew, with
the swiftness of lightning and the precision of fate straight in the
faces of the infuriate mob. Heads, trunks, and limbs hurled asunder by
bursting iron, flew into the air, nauseating and sickening all who
witnessed the horrible sight. No body of men on earth could long endure
such a tornado of iron as was hurled on them, while their shots all fell
short or passed harmlessly over the gunners of the fort. Not a man was
even wounded. Slow to receive conviction, but at last satisfied of the
hopelessness of their assault, the mob turned about as if by common
consent and broke into squads of twenty, ten, two, and at last, every
man for himself.” The rebels, who fought like madmen, made still another
stand, and tried an approach through a ravine; but one particular point
which the line must pass was exposed to the fire of the Union troops;
and very soon the guns succeeded in getting such excellent range of this
point that not a man could pass it. One regiment which had passed into
the ravine could not return, nor could the brigade pass in to its
support. At the mouth of the ravine one of General Prentiss’ regiments
was so placed as to rake the entire length of the rebel line, while
another immediately took position on a ridge on the right flank of the
rebel brigade, and both regiments poured in their fire at once; and
cross fires from the Fort and batteries, aided by the gunboat,
completely scattered the regiments left upon the ridges. In haste and
confusion they abandoned the guns which they had captured, uninjured,
and left the brave regiment which had passed into the ravine, with all
their arms, officers, and colors, prisoners of war. About three hundred
of the rebel killed and wounded, besides four hundred prisoners, were
lost by the enemy in this charge.
A similar attack had been made on Battery D while this was going on
against Battery C, and with much the same result to the enemy, who was
driven back by a murderous fire from the battery’s guns and from the
sharpshooters. A few who succeeded in getting through the Union lines
took position in a ravine to the left of the battery, but they made only
a short fight, when they threw down their guns and formally surrendered.
The following anecdote is related of a Lieutenant-Colonel who commanded
the rebels. While they were still fighting he sprang upon a log and
waved his sword, lustily cheering on his men.
The captain of Battery D called out to him: “What in thunder do you keep
swinging that sword for? Why don’t you surrender?”
“By what authority do you demand my surrender?” returned the rebel
officer.
“By the authority of my 12-pound howitzer,” replied the captain.