rats. Corn meal ran low, and the supply was eked out by a mixture of dried peas ground up. The incessant work of countermining against the greater number of besiegers who pushed operations night and day, the labor of defence, the exposure in the trenches "to burning suns, drenching rains, damp fogs and heavy dews," 1 wore the men out, and, together with a growing want of confidence in their commander, caused a loss of morale. Of this, the conversations of pickets during their temporary truces and the reports of deserters gave Grant an inkling, as he steadily and grimly closed about the beleaguered city and made ready for a final assault. Pemberton, who seems to have been a brave and conscientious officer, saw his power of resistance declining day by day. June 28 he received an "appeal for help" from many soldiers in the trenches, which from its sincerity must have moved his feelings and may have been an influence in determining his action. "Our rations," it said, "have been cut down to one biscuit and a small bit of bacon per day, not enough scarcely to keep soul and body together, much less to stand the hardships we are called upon to stand. . . . If you can't feed us, you had better surrender us, horrible as the idea is, than suffer this noble army to disgrace themselves by desertion. . . . Men are not going to lie here and perish if they do love their country dearly. . . . Hunger will compel a man to do almost anything. This army is now ripe for mutiny unless it can be fed." 2

...

When July 1 came, Pemberton made up his mind that he could not repel another assault, which he knew was at hand, and that he must surrender or endeavor to cut his way out. He submitted the question by confidential notes to his division commanders, and afterwards held with them a council of war; all being unanimous for capitulation, he decided on opening negotiations with Grant. July 3 white flags denot

1 O. R., vol. xxiv. part i. p. 286.

2 Found among General Pemberton's papers, O. R., vol. xxiv. part iii. p. 982; see a pathetic account by Major Hogane of a stripling who from weakness "could not lift his spade." -Southern Hist. Soc. Papers, vol. xi. p. 484.

CH. XXI.]

SURRENDER OF VICKSBURG

317

ing his desire for a parley were raised on his works, causing hostilities thereabouts to cease. Two officers bearing a flag of truce with a letter from him asking for terms wended their way toward the Union lines. This resulted in a conference that afternoon between Grant and Pemberton, who were old acquaintances, having served in the same division during a part of the Mexican war. They met on a hillside, near a stunted oak-tree, a few hundred feet from the Confederate lines, and after their interchange of views Grant wrote that evening a letter offering terms of capitulation which, after a little delay, were accepted. At 10.30 on the morning of July 4, in the self-same hour that Lincoln announced to the country the result of Gettysburg, he sent this word to his government: "The enemy surrendered this morning. The only terms allowed is their parole as prisoners of war."1 "Glory, hallelujah!" wrote General Sherman to Grant, "the best Fourth of July since 1776."2 The number of prisoners taken was 29,491, while the Confederate loss up to that time had probably reached 10,000. Besides, 170 cannon and 50,000 small arms were captured. The muskets, being of an improved make recently received from Europe, were used to replace the inferior arms of many regiments of the Union army. The result had been gained at small cost: Grant's loss during his whole campaign was 9362.

"In boldness of plan, rapidity of execution, and brilliancy of results," wrote Halleck, a scholar in military affairs, your "operations will compare most favorably with those of Napoleon about Ulm."3 Others of his friends have drawn a parallel with the Italian campaign of 1796. On the day that the news was received in Washington the government conferred on him the honor of a major-generalship in the regular army; and later, on his recommendation, made Sherman and

1 O. R., vol. xxiv. part i. p. 44.

2 July 3, ibid., part iii. p. 461.

8 Ibid., part i. p. 63.

4 Gen. Sherman, Century Magazine, Feb. 1888, p. 588; Greene, The Mississippi, p. 170; Badeau, Military Hist. of U. S. Grant, vol. i. p. 285.

McPherson, his efficient and faithful lieutenants, brigadiers in the regular service.

Of what occurred when the Federal troops took possession of the city and the Confederates marched out, accounts differ in detail but agree in essence. Grant wrote, "Not a cheer went up, not a remark was made that would give pain." A Confederate officer of high rank recollects a hearty cheer from a division of the Union army, but it was given "for the gallant defenders of Vicksburg.'

When the news of the victory reached Port Hudson, the Confederate commander surrendered it to General Banks, who had invested it with his army.2 July 16 the steamboat Imperial, which had come directly from St. Louis, landed its commercial cargo on the levee at New Orleans.3 As Lincoln said, "The Father of Waters again goes unvexed to the sea." 4

Since the first of January the eyes of the North had been on Vicksburg. There were crushed hopes and hope deferred, elation at the success of Grant's May campaign and at a false report of the capture of the stronghold, then weary waiting with hearts buoyed up by anticipation. When the final triumph came, the joy was rendered all the greater by the

1 Personal Memoirs, vol. i. p. 570; Lockett, Century War Book, vol. iii. p. 492. See, also, Gregory, Annals of the War, pp. 129, 130; My Cave Life in Vicksburg, p. 139. "Grant entered the city at eleven o'clock, and was received by Pemberton with more marked impertinence than at their former interview. He bore it like a philosopher, and in reply treated Pemberton with even gentler courtesy and dignity than before."-C. A. Dana to Stanton, July 5, Dana's Reminiscences, McClure's Magazine, Jan. 1898, p. 265. 2 This was on July 8, O. R., vol. xxvi. part i. p. 52 et seq.

8 Nicolay and Hay, vol. vii. p. 327.

Nor yet

He then added: "Thanks to the great Northwest for it. wholly to them. Three hundred miles up they met New England, Empire, Keystone, and Jersey, hewing their way right and left. The sunny South, too, in more colors than one, also lent a hand. On the spot, their part of the history was jotted down in black and white. The job was a great national one, and let none be banned who bore an honorable part in it." Lincoln, Complete Works, vol. ii. p. 398. Grant's army was mainly from the Western States, although there were several Eastern and some Southern regiments in it; part of the latter were colored. Banks's army was principally from the East, with a few Western and some Southern regiments.

CH. XXI.] JOY OVER GETTYSBURG AND VICKSBURG

319

long suspense, and it was augmented by the coincidence with Gettysburg, the popular mind associating both victories with the Fourth of July, the day of the nation's birth.1 Gettysburg and Vicksburg ought to have ended the war. While the North took courage that a great military leader had arisen to give aim to its resources, the South was deeply depressed at her defeat in the two campaigns. On account of the failure of the invasion into Pennsylvania and the "expressions of discontent in the public journals at the result of the expedition," and the fear that such a feeling might extend to his soldiers, Lee earnestly requested Davis to supply his place as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia with "a younger and abler man ;" but this request was promptly refused.2

1 See Lincoln's speech, July 7, the day on which intelligence of the capture of Vicksburg was received. - Lincoln, Complete Works, vol. ii. p. 366. The news was sent up the river by steamer to Cairo, 626 miles, whence it was telegraphed.

2 Lee to Davis, Aug. 8, Life of Jefferson Davis by his wife, vol. ii. p. 393; Davis to Lee, Aug. 11, ibid., p. 396; O. R., vol. xxix. part. ii. p. 639.

The main authorities for the campaign of Vicksburg are the despatches of Grant, Dana, Johnston, and Pemberton, O. R., vol. xxiv. parts i. and iii. ; Grant's report of July 6 (of which Halleck wrote: "Your narrative of this campaign, like the operations themselves, is brief, soldierly, and in every respect creditable and satisfactory"); reports of Pemberton, Aug. 2, of Johnston, Nov. 1. I have also used the correspondence in general and the reports of McPherson and Stephen D. Lee; Grant's Personal Memoirs, vol. i.; Gen. Sherman's Memoirs, vol. i.; The Sherman Letters; Johnston's Narrative; articles of Johnston, Lockett, and Grant, Century War Book, vol. iii; Nicolay and Hay, vol. vii.; Capt. Mahan, Life of Farragut, The Gulf and Inland Waters; J. Davis, Confed. Government, vol. ii.; Life of Davis by his wife, vol. ii.; Greene, The Mississippi; Badeau, Milt. Hist. of Grant, vol. i.; Life of Grant by Dana and Wilson; Pollard's Third Year of the War; Wolseley in North Amer. Rev., Oct. 1889; Annals of the War; South. Hist. Soc. Papers, vol. xi.; My Cave Life in Vicksburg; The Vicksburg Daily Citizen (printed on wall paper), July 2; Swinton, Decisive Battles; N. Y. Tribune, May 23, July 7, Times, July 7, 9, Eve. Post, Herald, World, Chicago Tribune, Phila. Inquirer, Boston Advertiser, July 8, Boston Courier, July 9 ; Charles A. Dana's Reminiscences, McClure's Magazine, Nov. Dec. 1897, Jan. 1898; Grant's Letters, edited by Wilson.

I have not thought it necessary to go into the trouble between Grant and McClernand. See O. R., vol. xxiv. part i. pp. 37, 43, 84, 102, 158 et seq.; Nicolay and Hay, vol. vii. pp. 135, 141, 286.

The cavalry raid of Colonel Grierson "was of great importance," attract

With superior resources, larger armies as vell disciplined as those of the South and better equipped and supplied, with generals equal on the whole in ability, the North was certain to win in the end provided it would with persistency and patience make the sacrifice of men and money necessary to subjugate the brave and high-spirited people of the Southern Confederacy who were still determined on resistance. But volunteering had practically ceased, and only a pretty rigorous conscription could furnish the soldiers needed. Such a measure was contrary to the genius and the habits of the people, and it could not be enforced unless the government were backed by public sentiment. Whether the President would receive that necessary support might have been momentarily doubted from what took place in New York City shortly after the victories of Gettysburg and Vicksburg. During the enrolment under the Conscription Act of March 3, 1863,2 disturbances had occurred, but they were

ing "the attention of the enemy from the main movement against Vicksburg."― Grant, Personal Memoirs, vol. i. p. 489.

Johnston hoped to attack Grant about July 7. See O. R., vol. xxiv. part i. p. 245. See Grant's after opinion of this project, J. R. Young, vol. ii. p. 213. For Sherman's pursuit of Johnston, see O. R., vol. xxiv. part iii. p. 517 et seq. The President appointed a day "for national thanksgiving, praise, and prayer," and in his proclamation said: "These victories have been accorded not without sacrifices of life, limb, health, and liberty, incurred by brave, loyal, and patriotic citizens. Domestic affliction in every part of the country follows in the train of these fearful bereavements. It is meet and right to recognize and confess the presence of the Almighty Father, and the power of his hand equally in these triumphs and in these sorrows." Complete Works, vol. ii. p. 370.

The opinion of the government of the respective merits of the commanders at Vicksburg and Gettysburg may be gauged by the appointment on the same day of Grant as major-general and Meade as brigadier-general, in the regular service.

As support to my statement that Gettysburg and Vicksburg ought to have ended the war, see Grant, Personal Memoirs, vol. i. p. 567; Gen. Sherman, Memoirs, vol. i. p. 334; Longstreet, Century War Book, vol. iii. p. 350; Edward Channing, The United States of America, p. 283; William A. Dunning, Essays on the Civil War and Reconstruction, p. 62; Nicolay and Hay, vol. vii. p. 309; Greene, The Mississippi, p. 208.

1 Ante, p. 236.

2 Ante, p. 237.