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The Exploits of Waul's Texas Legion Table of Contents.
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The exploits of Waul's Texas Legion
These notes and correspondence concerning the parole of confederates after Vicksburg helps make clear the events of those times. Following the official confederate correspondence are memoirs from U.S. Grant on the same subject.
The siege of Vicksburg began with the repulse of the 22 May assault and lasted until 4 July 1 863. As the siege progressed, Pemberton's 20,000-man garrison was reduced by disease and starvation, and the city's residents were forced to seek the refuge of caves and bombproofs in the surrounding hillsides, Hunger and daily bombardments by Grant's forces and Porter's gunboats compelled Pemberton to ask for surrender terms 3 July. Grant offered none, but on the garrison's capitulation immediately paroled the bulk of the force. Many of these same men would later oppose him at Chattanooga.
Pemberton's surrender ended the Vicksburg Campaign. But during the siege, to the east Johnston had raised a 31,000 man force in the Jackson area. On 4 July, as Confederates were being paroled, Sherman moved his force to oppose this new threat. Sherman's march would result in the Siege of Jackson.
After being exchanged and reorganized in Texas, Wauls Texas Legion was stationed at Galveston attached to the Trans-Mississippi Department. The Infantry Battalions were consolidated in 1864 to form Timmons Reg't Texas Infantry.
Source: "Historical Times Encyclopedia of the Civil War" edited by Patricia L. Faust
Once paroled, Major Stevens headed his demoralized, unarmed, hungry men toward Jackson. As they got closer to home, many men deserted. In Company E alone, twenty-one men had deserted.
the 14th of July, General Pemberton's thinned ranks were camped near Brandon. Because this was so close to home for many of the men, the general saw no alternative but to allow the men to take furloughs. He hoped that by showing such kindness, they would return to the army after the furloughs expired. Those not on furlough soon followed General Pemberton to Enterprise.
[ From history of the sixth mississippi ]
HDQRS. PAROLED PRISONERS, Vicksburg, July 7, 1863.
Major General MARTIN L. SMITH, Commanding DIVISION:
GENERAL: In a conversation this morning with Major-General McPherson, U. S. Army, he informed me that no persons belonging to my troops would be permitted to refuse the parole: that no permission would be granted by the United States authorities to pass their lines, unless with my consent, and that the oath of allegiance to the United States would not be administered to any member of my army.
You are requested to inform the troops of your DIVISION accordingly.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON.
Vicksburg, MISS., July 10, 1863.
President JEFFERSON DAVIS, Richmond, Va.:
The great and apparently intentional delay in paroling the garrison made it necessary to leave General Smith behind to complete the rolls. These have been sent for, but cannot be sent you earlier than five days. An approximate statement can now surely be given: 1 lieutenant-general, 4 major-generals, 8 brigadier-generals, and 1 State brigadier, with their staffs; the regimental and other officers, and rank and file and men amount to some 29,000, of which not less than 10,000 are ineffective from sickness and wounds. Most of the Mississippi and Missouri troops have already deserted. Very few will remain. I have no arms, and cannot prevent it. Whatever your orders are, I will use every exertion to carry out.
J. C. PEMBERTON.
General JOSEPH E. Johnston, Commanding, &c, Jackson:
The most of my troops, paroled prisoners, will be in Raymond to-day. Stevenson's DIVISION to-morrow. Many of the men are leaving for their homes without authority. Unless you send me orders to the contrary, I shall move via Bovina to Brandon.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON.
BRANDON, MISS., July 14, 1863.
President JEFFERSON DAVIS:
I earnestly recommend that I be allowed to furlough this army for thirty days. If authorized, it can be brought together at the expiration of that period: otherwise it cannot. I shall await your answer here.
J. C. PEMBERTON.
RICHMOND, July 14, 1863. (Received July 15.)
Lieutenant General J. C. PEMBERTON:
A dispatch from General Johnston of yesterday informs me that you recommend that a furlough of thirty days be given to the troops in your command, to avoid the necessity of placing them in a paroled camp. We are waiting to receive by telegraph a list of troops, the number of each grade, and expect to effect their immediate exchange, so as to give all who are fit for duty an opportunity to severe their country in this hour of its sorest need, and asking from them only such devotion and gallantry as they have heretofore displayed. I hopefully pray for their better fortune on another field.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
JACKSON, July 15, 1863.
Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON, Brandon, MISS.:
The question of furloughing your troops having bee referred to the President, cannot be decided by General Johnston, so he directs me to state. The President's answer may reach here to-day. He further directs me to say that the safety of this army requires that your troops should take the route south of Brandon.
By command of General Johnston:
BENJ. S. EWELL,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
HDQRS. PAROLED PRISONERS, Brandon, July 15, 1863.
Major General John H. FORNEY:
I am informed that several hundred of the paroled prisoners are endeavoring to leave this place on the cars. You will at once make a detail as large as you can arm, who will stand guard at the depot, and prevent the paroled prisoners from leaving this place them. You will direct the officer of the guard, in case the men refuse to leave the cars when ordered, to fire on the foremost car which carries the men. The responsibility of the act, should disaster follow, is entirely assumed by the lieutenant-general commanding.
By order of Lieutenant-General Pemberton:
J. THOMPSON,
Assistant Inspector-General, DEPT. MISS, and East. Louisiana.
HEADQUARTERS, Brandon, MISS., July 15, 1863.
Major General U. S. GRANT, Commanding U. S. Forces:
GENERAL: In accordance with an arrangement for communication between General Smith and myself while at Vicksburg, I send you an open letter to his address, by the hands of General Taylor, a member of my staff. I hope you will facilitate him in his passage in going to and returning from Vicksburg.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON,
[Inclosure.]
HEADQUARTERS, Brandon, July 15, 1863
Major General MARTIN L. SMITH, Vicksburg:
GENERAL: The President has asked for the names of the several general officers and their staffs, and list of the officers and men surrendered in the terms of the capitulation of Vicksburg. I desire you to furnish me with the rolls, if completed, of the paroled prisoners; if not completed, you will send me the names of the general officers and their staffs, the number and grade of all other officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, and the number of the private soldiers paroled. Also the number of each grade who marched out of Vicksburg as effective. I trust you will furnish this information with the least possible delay.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON.
BRANDON, July 16, 1863
General JOSEPH E. Johnston:
It is impossible to keep the Trans-Mississippi troops and the Mississippi troops, or any large portion of them, together. Will you approve of my furloughing them for thirty days? Under no circumstances, if exchanged, will they be available to the Government within that period. Please order Major Mims and Major Whitfield, quartermasters, to report to me for duty, and direct Major Johnston, chief commissary, to furnish funds for the subsistence of my troops.
J. C. PEMBERTON,
BRANDON, MISS., July 16, 1863.
Colonel B. S. EWELL, Jackson, MISS.:
It is impossible to keep the railroad clear of my troops without an armed force. Major [J. D.] Bradford has cavalry between Jackson and this place. Will your order some here for that purpose?
I have no mounted men to drive cattle. Can you spare me a few?
J. C . PEMBERTON.
LAKE STATION, July 17, 1863.
President JEFFERSON DAVIS:
Your telegram of 16th received on the road; that [of] 14th had not been received when I telegraphed on 15th. The men, misled by many officers, insist on going home. I have no arms to prevent. It is not to avoid a camp for paroled prisoners, but a determination to see their families. I have done everything in my power to keep them together, but in vain. Nearly all troops from Trans-Mississippi and from State of Mississippi have already deserted. Georgians, Alabamians, and Tennesseans will also go when they draw their homes. About 1,600 Missourians will go at once anywhere you wish. I assure you I deplore the necessity of furloughing at this critical period; but it is a necessity. A furlough granted will bring back nine-tenths of the men, who will not otherwise return. General Johnston is falling back. I am marching to Enterprise; will await your orders there, rejoiced to enter at once on duty.
J. C. PEMBERTON.
RICHMOND, July 17, [1863.]
General PEMBERTON, Lake Station:
I have indicated my wish that the troops should be promptly in service. Unless Grant is checked, the means of supporting an army in your department will be destroyed. The men who are near their homes could visit them, and reach the rendezvous nearly as soon as the main force. Exceptional cases might have leave for time according to circumstances. You repeat opinion as to necessity for furloughs, and I cannot know as well as yourself how near it is unavoidable; can, therefore, only ask of you to keep the main purpose in view, and use your discretion.
Twelve thousand arms were sent to General Johnston for militia; they could not have been issued . Five thousand are at Selma, and more will be sent.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
JULY 17, 1863.
President JEFFERSON DAVIS, Richmond, Va.:
Telegram of 17th received en route to Enterprise. With all my desire to keep my army in the field for immediate service, it is impossible to do so. The Missouri troops, say 1,600, are all that can be brought into service now, if immediately exchanged. Stevenson's DIVISION, and Alabama and Tennessee troops of other DIVISIONS, are still pretty well in hand. Having left it to my discretion, I shall furlough the army for thirty days. I feel confident, in so doing, I will bring your troops again together at any point you may designate in a very few days at furthest beyond the limits of their furloughs; in very less time than it can be accomplished by any other course of procedure. Pleasure inform me as soon as possible if I have control of the whole matter. If so, I will make immediate arrangements for an established camp at once at Demopolis, and visit you in Richmond when my arrangements are completed. Unless you can give me active service, which I prefer, Major-General Stevenson, next in command, is fully competent to take my place. I have already informed you that General Johnston is falling back. You are aware that every mile Grant advances weakens him and strengthens Johnston. I name Brigadier General S. D. Lee for immediate promotion, and assignment to command to cavalry in this Department. In my opinion, nothing will so effectually check Grant as this appointment.
J. C. PEMBERTON.
HDQRS. PAROLED PRISONERS, Brandon, July 17, 1863.
Colonel T. N. WAUL:
COLONEL: The lieutenant-general commanding directs me to say that he will send so many of your officers as you may deem necessary to the State of Texas, collecting the men of your legion and properly organizing them, and when those men shall have been collected, they will return and report with them at Demopolis, Ala., or such other point as may be hereafter designated. You are authorized to grant them, for this purpose a leave of absence for forty days.
By order of Lieutenant-General Pemberton:
J. THOMPSON,
Assistant Inspector-General.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Richmond, July 18, 1863
General J. C. PEMBERTON, Brandon, MISS.:
In sending lists for the discharge of paroled prisoners, discriminate as far as you can in some distinct manner those soldiers deemed most reliable and certain to remain firm to their colors, making separately likewise those so sick and wounded as not to be available for early service. We shall not have enough captured men of the enemy to discharge all our men, and it is important to make selection of the most serviceable.
J. A. SEDDON.
HEADQUARTERS PAROLED PRISONERS, July 18, 1863.
Major General U. S. GRANT, Commanding U. S. Forces;
GENERAL: I find it necessary again to communicate through you with General Smith, and, in pursuance of engagement, I send by the hands of Major H. M. Mathews an open letter to his address. I hope you will afford him every facility in going to and returning from Vicksburg.
I am, &c.,
J. C. PEMBERTON,
[Inclosure.]
HDQRS. PAROLED PRISONERS, On the March, July 18, 1863.
Major General MARTIN L. SMITH:
You are authorized to grant leaves of absence for thirty days from the date of the receipt of this communication to all paroled officers and soldiers now in Vicksburg. To invalids such furloughs not exceeding sixty days, or, in extreme cases, ninety days, on the proper surgeon's certificate. In all cases the parties concerned to report in person at Demopolis, Ala., unless some other point shall hereafter be designated by the War Department. At the expiration of their respective leaves of absence, you will request of the commanding general of the United States forces at Vicksburg such facilities as may be necessary (employing paroled prisoners) in the Trans-Mississippi Department. I feel authorized to direct this, having received the assurance of Major General U. S. Grant that passports granted by me to the paroled prisoners at Vicksburg will be recognized by him, unless special military reasons intervene to prevent it. It is very important that I receive the roll of paroled prisoners. If not already sent by General [T. H.] Taylor, send it by special courier through flag of truce.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON.
CIRCULAR ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS PAROLED PRISONERS,
On the March, July 18, 1863
I. The President has intrusted to my discretion the granting of furloughs to this army. Never did the country require the services of her defenders more than at this time. It was the President's most anxious desire that this army, which has distinguished itself by gallantry and endurance of hardships almost without parallel, in defense of the most important point in the Confederacy, should be kept together, and by an immediate exchange meet and defeat the enemy upon equal field. Many of you have been long absent from your homes, and I fully sympathize with you in your natural desire to see those you best love. The President has yielded to my application, and you are permitted to visit your homes for the longest period the country can possibly dispense with your services. Some of you will remain at home a longer and some a less time. I give each and all of you who desire it a leave of absence of thirty days from the date of the promulgation of this order. I confidently hope that not one man of the Army of Vicksburg will be found absent from his post at the expiration of the period.
II. All regimental and company officers will take immediately measures to notify the rank and file of the commands to which they respectively belong of the full purport and intent of this order, and regimental commanders, are authorized to publish in the newspapers of the districts in which their commands have been respectively raised or organized this order, as also such notices as they may deem necessary and fitting to bring the men together, and to conduct them as far as possible too Demopolis, Ala., where they [will] again receive arms and equipments to meet our enemy.
III. Within the time limited, all companies or organizations, under a commissioned officer, who shall report themselves at recognized railroad depots, not in possession of the enemy, but in actual operation, shall be transported to Demopense to themselves, and when officers or men not belonging to the particular organizations with which they move, but to others of the Army of Vicksburg, shall, for local convenience, join these organizations they shall be entitled to transportation as if they belonged to the command with which they moved.
IV. Such enlisted men as should prefer to receive the allowance authorized by Congress when not accepting furloughs, and who shall not already have received furloughs, shall be paid the same, upon the certificate of the proper regimental commanders to that effect.
J. C. PEMBERTON.
RICHMOND, VA., July 20, 1863.
Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON:
Your dispatch to the President, of the 19th instant, received. Your statement leaves no choice; thirty days cannot be needed for those who are within two or three days of their homes; ten days is surely as much as, in the present condition of the country, any soldier should claim for attention to his private affairs. Confiding in your discretion and anxious desire to keep as many as possible in service, and to bring others back to duty at the earliest practicable period, you are left according to your judgment, under the limitation above suggested, to give furloughs as proposed by yourself. You will report as promptly as possible the result of your action and the companies or regiments which may agree to continue in service.
Report by telegraph.
S. COOPER.
RICHMOND, VA., July 20, 1863.
Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON:
Your dispatches of 15th and 19th received. The Adjutant-General will give you the proper orders in relation to furloughing, and you are entitled, under the cartel, to go on duty, but the enemy's commissioners deny this, and the correspondence will be sent you, as it affects you and other officers similarly situated. The gallant Missourians have my cordial thanks. Their patriotism will be remembered. I hope others will emulate their heroism and follow their example.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
CIRCULAR. *] HEADQUARTERS PAROLED PRISONERS,
Enterprise, MISS., July 21, 1863.,
GENERAL: The lieutenant-general directs me to inform you that he has been notified by the President that you are exchanged and ready to be returned to duty.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant.
H. C. TUPPER,
Aide-de-Camp.
ENTERPRISE, July 21, 1863.
Major [HENRY] C. DAVIS, Demopolis, Ala.:
Stop all paroled prisoners until further orders; camp and ration them.
J. C. PEMBERTON.
HDQRS. FIFTH MIL. DIST., DEPT. MISS. AND E. La.,
Grenada, July 22, 1863.
Colonel B. S. EWELL,
Asst. Adjt. General, DEPT. of the West, Brandon, MISS.:
COLONEL: I desire most respectfully to present for the consideration of the general commanding some views for the future action of a part of this command, which have been submitted to me by the two senior colonels of the command, and which, in part, at least, meet with my approval.
The recent movements of our armies in Virginia, Tennessee, and this State have greatly circumscribed the district of country from which we can hope to obtain supplies, and this difficulty is greatly increased by the emigration of large numbers of our citizens with their families and slaves from this and other States to localities where they will be protected by our arms. The enemy are still pressing us at every point into still narrower bounds, and it is thought that the best and speediest means of relieving this quarter, at least from that danger, will be to create an army on the WEST side of the Mississippi River of sufficient size to alarm the enemy for the safety of their communications by the river.
Again, the regiments in my command which were enlisted WEST of the Mississippi are greatly dimished in numbers, and there is but little hope that they will be able to recruit here. The people in this State, like those of Kentucky after the evacuation of Bowling Green, and those of Tennessee after the battle of Shiloh, are now much depressed, and it will be some time before much assistance can be received from them, particularly in filling up regiments from other States. On the other hand, the people of those districts of which the enemy have had possession for some time, are, I am informed now willing to enlist. WEST Tennessee is beginning to rally, and Colonels McCulloch and Slemons are informed that Missouri and Arkansas are full of men who would join their regiments if they were among them. The number of them will be increased by the extension of the age of those liable to conscription -five, and by the fact that a considerable number of men from General Pemberton's army have been allowed to cross the river. If an attempt is made to force them to return at once to this side of the river, they might seek to avoid it, but it is believed that they would readily reassemble for duty on the other side. These men, united with other experienced officers and soldiers of that department, and the new recruits who could be collected, would, it is thought, form a force so considerable as to make it prudent for the enemy to send a portion of his force from this side of the river to hold them in check, and consequently to relieve our army here to that extent.
In view of these circumstances, it is proposed that the SECOND Missouri, SECOND Arkansas, and First Tennessee Regiments of Cavalry and Willis' battalion Texas Cavalry, having an effective strength of about 800 men, shall be allowed to cross the Mississippi, with orders to arrest all deserters and stragglers from other commands, and authority to recruit own ranks by conscription or otherwise, and that, when a sufficient number of men has been obtained, they should be authorized to make a raid into Missouri and Illinois, and return through Kentucky and Tennessee, unless it should be thought best that they should return directly across the Mississippi. This would leave Colonel W. C. Falkner's regiment and Major [A. H.] Chalmers' battalion Partisan Rangers, with all the State troops, to operate in this military district. They, with the command of Colonel [R. V.] Richardson and others in WEST Tennessee, will be sufficient to repel all small parties of the enemy and to give notice of the advance of any considerable force, which is all that I am able to do with my present command.
These views, so far as they relate to the beneficial results to be derived form increasing our army in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and to the probability that the Missouri and Arkansas regiments would be able to enlist many recruits if allowed to go to the other side of the river, have my approval, and are recommended to the favorable consideration of the general commanding. If he should approve of them, I would respectfully ask that he will allow me to take command of the troops who cross the river, and also that the detached companies from the Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas regiments, viz, Captain [P. M.] Savery's, SECOND Missouri; Captain [T. M.] Cochran's, SECOND Arkansas, and Captains [Benjamin F.] Weeks' and [J. W.] Stell's, of [L.] Willis' battalion, now under Major [H. W.] Bridges, may be ordered to rejoin their commands.
I inclose a copy of a letter, of which I forwarded the original on yesterday, * showing the dispositions I intended making of my forces, and my arrangements for getting out supplies form this part of the country. The latter can be continued for some time, even if a portion of the troops should be removed.
JAMES R. CHALMERS.
GAINESVILLE, July 23, 1863.
General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector GENERAL:
Your dispatch and that of the President of the 20th instant received I have furloughed the troops for thirty days, believing the best good of the service was subserved thereby, but now change it, giving the men from Tennessee thirty days, those from Georgia twenty days, those from Alabama and Mississippi FIFTEEN days, which will allow them all about ten days at home. I shall take immediate measures to notify all concerned. Had it been possible to have kept the army together, I should have done so, fully appreciating its importance. I except the Missouri troops in Demopolis by the 26th; will be there myself to-morrow, and will communicate more fully from that point.
J. C. PEMBERTON.
DEMOPOLIS, July 25, 1863.
General S. COOPER, Richmond:
Please inform me to what extent I am to control paroled prisoners; whether prisoners paroled at other points than Vicksburg are to be controlled by me; whether the quartermaster's and commissary departments at this post are subject to my orders; if not, who are to regulate the supplies, &c. Can I not, without violating paroles, arm sufficient prisoners to enforce discipline and guard our own camps and stores? I ask these questions because the President informs me the enemy's commissioners deny my right to go on duty. My understanding is, we can perform among ourselves all duties necessary for our police discipline and protection of stores.
J. C. PEMBERTON.
CIRCULAR.] HDQRS. PAROLED PRIS., Demopolis, July 28, 1863.
Under instructions received from Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, of 27th instant, I assume command of all paroled prisoners at this point.
* * * * * * *
J. C. PEMBERTON
HEADQUARTERS, Demopolis, July 28, 1863.
President JEFFERSON DAVIS, Richmond:
Your dispatch of 27th received. The reports of my DIVISION commanders have not yet come in. My report shall be as full and as prompt as possible. Have never see the communication referred to by you in the Mercury of the 22nd; am endeavoring to obtain the paper. Would it not be well for me to ask for a court of inquiry as to my official acts since in command of this department?
J. C. PEMBERTON.
HEADQUARTERS, Demopolis, July 30, 1863
General S. COOPER, Adjt. and Insp. General, Richmond, Va.:
GENERAL: I have the honor herewith to forward lists showing the names of officers and the number of non-commissioned officers and privates captured and paroled, whom it is deemed most desirable to exchange as soon as possible.
The troops from WEST of the Mississippi River have very generally dispersed, so that it is impossible to collect them speedily. Officers have been sent to the Trans-Mississippi Department, with authority and under instructions to collect such troops and forward them to this side of the river.
J. C. PEMBERTON.
This from Grant's Memoirs.
.." In conformity with agreement of this afternoon, I will submit the following proposition 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 rolls can be made out, and paroles be signed by officers and men, you will be allowed to march out of our lines, the officers taking with them their side-arms and clothing, and the field, staff 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, 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 soldiers as fast as they become able to travel. The paroles for these latter must be signed, however, whilst officers present are authorized to sign the roll of prisoners.
By the terms of the cartel then in force, prisoners captured by either army were required to be forwarded as soon as possible to either Aiken's landing below Dutch Gap on the James River, or to Vicksburg, there to be exchanged, or paroled until they could be exchanged. There was a Confederate commissioner at Vicksburg, authorized to make the exchange. I did not propose to take him a prisoner, but to leave him free to perform the functions of his office. Had I insisted upon an unconditional surrender there would have been over thirty thousand men to transport to Cairo, very much to the inconvenience of the army on the Mississippi. Thence the prisoners would have had to be transported by rail to Washington or Baltimore; thence again by steamer to Aiken's - all at very great expense. At Aiken's they would have had to be paroled, because the Confederates did not have Union prisoners to give in exchange. Then again Pemberton's army was largely composed of men whose homes were in the South-west; I knew many of them were tired of the war and would get home just as soon as they could. A large number of them had voluntarily come into our lines during the siege, and requested to be sent north where they could get employment until the war was over and they could go to their homes."
Ulysses S. Grant states in his memoirs concerning the surrender of the confederates.at Vicksburg.
" The enemy surrendered this morning. The only terms allowed is their parole as prisoners of war.
This I regard as a great advantage to us at this moment. It saves, probably, several days in the capture, and leaves troops and transports ready for immediate service. ..."This also from Grant.
.."Pemberton and his army were kept in Vicksburg until the whole could be paroled. The paroles were in duplicate, by organization (one copy for each, Federals and Confederates), and signed by the commanding officers of the companies or regiments. Duplicates were also made for each soldier and signed by each individually, one to be retained by the soldier signing and one to be retained by us. Several hundred refused to sign their paroles, preferring to be sent to the North as prisoners to being sent back to fight again. Others again kept out of the way, hoping to escape either alternative.
Pemberton appealed to me in person to compel these men to sign their paroles, but I declined. It also leaked out that many of the men who had signed their paroles, intended to desert and go to their homes as soon as they got out of our lines. Pemberton, hearing this, again appealed to me to assist him. He wanted arms for a battalion, to act as guards in keeping his men together while being marched to a camp of instruction, where he expected to keep them until exchanged. This request was also declined. It was precisely what I expected and hoped that they would do. I told him, however, that I would see that they marched beyond our lines in good order. By the eleventh, just one week after the surrender, the paroles were completed and the Confederate garrison marched out. Many deserted, and fewer of them were ever returned to the ranks to fight again than would have been the case had the surrender been unconditional and the prisoners sent to the James River to be paroled."
This order from Grant
"Paroled prisoners will be sent out of here to-morrow. They will be authorized to cross at the railroad bridge, and move from there to Edward's Ferry, and on by way of Raymond. Instruct the commands to be orderly and quiet as these prisoners pass, to make no offensive remarks, and not to harbor any who fall out of ranks after they have passed."
This recounting from The history of the Sixth Mississippi. may shed some light on how the paroling of the confederates played out.
" Once paroled, Major Stevens headed his demoralized, unarmed, hungry men toward Jackson. As they got closer to home, many men deserted. In Company E alone, twenty-one men had deserted.
...The 14th of July, General Pemberton's thinned ranks were camped near Brandon. Because this was so close to home for many of the men, the general saw no alternative but to allow the men to take furloughs. He hoped that by showing such kindness, they would return to the army after the furloughs expired. Those not on furlough soon followed General Pemberton to Enterprise.
It is recorded that many of the men from Pemberton's army returned to fight again and met Grant again at Chatanooga.
Here is a portion of a diary from a Wm. H. Long, of Grainger (now Hamblen) County, Tennessee a confederate soldier in the 59th Reg. Cavalry, C.S.A, and a Confederate Vicksburg parolee, this is very interesting in shedding some light on what an individual soldier may have gone through after parole.
.." Our company did not get their paroles until the 12th of July. We had to walk 200 miles before we could get on a railroad, had a tough time- remained at home until 3rd Sept. 1863 the federal forces came to Morristown- then went on to Abingdon Virginia and stayed a few days learned that my old Brigade had gone into parole camps at Decatur, Georgia. So I took a long trip to that place by way of Petersburg, Va.- Raleigh, N.C.- Columbia, S.C. Augusta, Georgia. Remained in parole camp there several weeks until we were exchanged we were ordered to Red Clay, Ga., a place on the state line of Ga. Tenn. not far from Chattanooga- on arriving there I with two other men were detailed for Secret Service and ordered into the Federal line to come to Morristown, Tenn. and inform any of the Vicksburg paroled prisoners we could find hiding from the federals that they were exchanged and get them to slip through the federal lines. We were ferried across the river at Charleston Tennessee by Genl. John H. Morgans men into the Yankee territory. We mingled with Yankee soldiers for several days trying to come around Knoxville- got in Blount County among the Tenn. Men who had joined the Yankees for 100 days found out that they would not let us pass on our paroles as they had found out by some means that we were exchanged then we quit trying to pass in our paroles afraid to keep our papers from the Gen. Showing we were on Secret Services we destroyed the papers took to the mountains between Tenn. N. Carolina. We were without anything to eat for 48 hours or any blankets to sleep under Snow about 4 inches deep. After getting into North Carolina we intended to report to General Robert Vance at Asheville but we missed the path on Smoky Mt. Trail got into N.C. very close to Ga. Then to get to Asheville we had to go about 100 miles through a bush whackers country and through the Cherokee nation in N.C. Passed through the bush whackers and posed as deserters living in Eastern North Carolina. They were very kind to us- we stayed one night with their Captain, a man about 60 years old, he had arms and ammunition stored in his cellar- he showed them to us. There was no way to get in the cellar only to take up the hearth. He sent his daughter 8 miles before us when we started, to direct us around the Confederate guard. But as soon as she left us we went straight to the Confederates and had a good time after we reached our lines. We reported to Brigadier General Vance at Ashville, N.C. who had been informed about our business. He requested us to stay at Ashville a few days and he would send us to Morristown by Hot Springs. We stayed two weeks and his Brigade was defeated in an engagement at Hot Springs- we then gave up the idea of getting to Morristown and walked to Greenville, S.C.- Augusta, Georgia to Loudon, Tenn. where we got with our command-marched around Knoxville as General Longstreet raised the Seige- was then ordered into winter quarters at Bulls Gap, Tenn. and our Brigade to be mounted and after that our Regiment was known as 59th Regiment, Cavalry. I was then appointed orderly 1st Sergeant in the Spring of 1864 we were sent to the valley of Virginia on the Train- left our horses at abington, Virginia. We stopped at Staunton, Va. And fought a battle known as the Battle of Staunton or to the Confederates as the Battle of Piedmont- battlefields were about 9 miles northeast of Staunton. There my brother Thomas and Buck Taylor were captured and sent to prison at Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Ind. Where my brother died with flux. We were then ordered to Lynchburg to check a federal raid. We checked the raid and followed them from Lynchburg to White Sulphur Springs then down the Valley and on to Washington City crossing the Potomac River at Shepardtown, then through Frederic City, Maryland and were in sight of Washington City, we then fell back to Winchester, Virginia crossing the Potomac at Leesburg and there met our horses after having walked 648 miles and fought four battles- we fought two days at the Second Battle of Winchester, only seven of our men of our Company were able to stand that march. S. W. Shields and I were two of that seven. We stayed in the valley until the latter part of the summer. I was in all the battles and skirmishes in the Virginia Valley that summer except the Battle of Martinsburg and the skirmish at Luray."
Chapter 38
Johnston's Movements - Fortifications at Haines's Bluff -
Explosion of the Mine - Explosion of the Second Mine -
Preparing for the Assault - The Flag of Truce - Meeting With Pemberton -
Negotiations For Surrender - Accepting the Terms - Surrender of Vicksburg
On the 22d of June positive information was received that Johnston had crossed at the Big Black River for the purpose of attacking our rear, to raise the siege and release Pemberton. The correspondence between Johnson and Pemberton shows that all expectation of holding Vicksburg had by this time passed from Johnston's mind. I immediately ordered Sherman to the command of all the forces from Haines' Bluff to the Big Black River. This amounted now to quite half the troops about Vicksburg. Besides these, Herron and A. J. Smith's divisions were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to reinforce Sherman. Haines' Bluff had been strongly fortified on the land side, and on all commanding points from there to the Big Black at the railroad crossing batteries had been constructed. The work of connecting by rifle-pits where this was not already done, was an easy task for the troops that were to defend them.
We were now looking west, besieging Pemberton, while we were also looking east to defend ourselves against an expected siege by Johnston. But as against the garrison of Vicksburg we were as substantially protected as they were against us. Where we were looking east and north we were strongly fortified, and on the defensive. Johnston evidently took in the situation and wisely, I think, abstained from making an assault on us because it would simply have inflicted loss on both sides without accomplishing any result. We were strong enough to have taken the offensive against him; but I did not feel disposed to take any risk of losing our hold upon Pemberton's army, while I would have rejoiced at the opportunity of defending ourselves against an attack by Johnston.
From the 23d of May the work of fortifying and pushing forward our position nearer to the enemy had been steadily progressing. At three points on the Jackson road, in front of Ransom's brigade, a sap was run up to the enemy's parapet, and by the 25th of June we had it undermined and the mine charged. The enemy had countermined, but did not succeed in reaching our mine. At this particular point the hill, on which the rebel work stands, rises abruptly. Our sap ran close up to the outside of the enemy's parapet. In fact this parapet was also our protection. The soldiers of the two sides occasionally conversed pleasantly across this barrier; sometimes they exchanged the hard bread of the Union soldiers for the tobacco of the Confederates; at other times the enemy threw over hand-grenades, and often our men, catching them in their hands, returned them.
Our mine had been started some distance back down the hill; consequently when it had extended as far as the parapet it was many feet below it. This caused the failure of the enemy in his search to find and destroy it. On the 25th of June at three o'clock, all being ready, the mine was exploded. A heavy artillery fire all along the line had been ordered to open with the explosion. The effect was to blow the top of the hill off and make a crater where it stood. The breach was not sufficient to enable us to pass a column of attack through. In fact, the enemy having failed to reach our mine had thrown up a line farther back, where most of the men guarding that point were placed. There were a few men, however, left at the advance line, and others working in the countermine, which was still being pushed to find ours. All that were there were thrown into the air, some of them coming down on our side, still alive. I remember one colored man, who had been under ground at work when the explosion took place, who was thrown to our side. He was not much hurt, but terribly frightened. Some one asked him how high he had gone up. "Dun no, massa, but t'ink `bout t'ree mile," was his reply. General Logan commanded at this point and took this colored man to his quarters, where he did service to the end of the siege.
As soon as the explosion took place the crater was seized by two regiments of our troops who were nearby, under cover, where they had been placed for the express purpose. The enemy made a desperate effort to expel them, but failed, and soon retired behind the new line. From here, however, they threw hand-grenades, which did some execution. The compliment was returned by our men, but not with so much effect. The enemy could lay their grenades on the parapet, which alone divided the contestants, and roll them down upon us; while from our side they had to be thrown over the parapet which was at considerable elevation. During the night we made efforts to secure our position in the crater against the missiles of the enemy, so as to run trenches along the outer base of their parapet right and left; but the enemy continued throwing their grenades, and brought boxes of field ammunition (shells), the fuses of which they would light with port-fires, and throw them by hand into our ranks. We found it impossible to continue this work. Another mine was consequently started which was exploded on the 1st of July, destroying an entire rebel redan, killing and wounding a considerable number of its occupants and leaving an immense chasm where it stood. No attempt to charge was made this time, the experience of the 5?5th admonishing us. Our loss in the first affair was about thirty killed and wounded. The enemy must have lost more in the two explosions than we did in the first. We lost none in the second.
From this time forward the work of mining and pushing our position nearer to the enemy was prosecuted with vigor, and I determined to explode no more mines until we were ready to explode a number at different points and assault immediately after. We were up now at three different points, one in front of each corps, to where only the parapet of the enemy divided us.
At this time an intercepted dispatch from Johnston to Pemberton informed me that Johnston intended to make a determined attack upon us in order to relieve the garrison at Vicksburg. I knew the garrison would make no formidable effort to relieve itself. The picket lines were so close to each other - where there was space enough between the lines to post pickets - that the men could converse. On the 21st of June I was informed, through this means, that Pemberton was preparing to escape, by crossing to the Louisiana side under cover of night; that he had employed workmen in making boats for that purpose; that the men had been canvassed to ascertain if they would make an assault on the "Yankees" to cut their way out; that they had refused, and almost mutinied because their commander would not surrender and relieve their sufferings, and had only been pacified by the assurance that boats enough would be finished in a week to carry them all over. The rebel pickets also said that houses in the city had been pulled down to get material to build these boats with. Afterwards this story was verified: on entering the city we found a large number of very rudely constructed boats.
All necessary steps were at once taken to render such an attempt abortive. Our pickets were doubled; Admiral Porter was notified, so that the river might be more closely watched; material was collected on the west bank of the river to be set on fire and light up the river if the attempt was made; and batteries were established along the levee crossing the peninsula on the Louisiana side. Had the attempt been made the garrison of Vicksburg would have been drowned, or made prisoners on the Louisiana side. General Richard Taylor was expected on the west bank to co-operate in this movement, I believe, but he did not come, nor could he have done so with a force sufficient to be of service. The Mississippi was now in our possession from its source to its mouth, except in the immediate front of Vicksburg and of Port Hudson. We had nearly exhausted the country, along a line drawn from Lake Providence to opposite Bruinsburg. The roads west were not of a character to draw supplies over for any considerable force.
By the 1st of July our approaches had reached the enemy's ditch at a number of places. At ten points we could move under cover to within from five to one hundred yards of the enemy. Orders were given to make all preparations for assault on the 6th of July. The debouches were ordered widened to afford easy egress, while the approaches were also to be widened to admit the troops to pass through four abreast. Plank, and bags filled with cotton packed in tightly, were ordered prepared, to enable the troops to cross the ditches.
On the night of the 1st of July Johnston was between Brownsville and the Big Black, and wrote Pemberton [July 3] from there that about the 7th of the month an attempt would be made to create a diversion to enable him to cut his way out. Pemberton was a prisoner before this message reached him.
On July 1st Pemberton, seeing no hope of outside relief, addressed the following letter to each of his four division commanders:
Unless the siege of Vicksburg is raised, or supplies are thrown in, it will become necessary very shortly to evacuate the place. I see no prospect of the former, and there are many great, if not insuperable obstacles in the way of the latter. You are, therefore, requested to inform me with as little delay as possible, as to the condition of your troops and their ability to make the marches and undergo the fatigues necessary to accomplish a successful evacuation.
Two of his generals suggested surrender [M. R. Smith and John S. Bowen], and the other two [C. L. Stevenson and John H. Forney] practically did the same. They expressed the opinion that an attempt to evacuate would fail. Pemberton had previously got a message to Johnston suggesting that he should try to negotiate with me for a release of the garrison with their arms. Johnston replied that it would be a confession of weakness for him to do so; but he authorized Pemberton to use his name in making such an arrangement.
On the 3d about ten o'clock A.M. white flags appeared on a portion of the rebel works. Hostilities along that part of the line ceased at once. Soon two persons were seen coming towards our lines bearing a white flag. They proved to be General Bowen, a division commander, and Colonel [L. M.] Montgomery, aide-de-camp to Pemberton, bearing the following letter to me:
I have the honor to propose an armistice for - hours, with the 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 John S. Bowen.
It was a glorious sight to officers and soldiers on the line where these white flags were visible, and the news soon spread to all parts of the command. The troops felt that their long and weary marches, hard fighting, ceaseless watching by night and day, in a hot climate, exposure to all sorts of weather, to diseases and, worst of all, to the gibes of many Northern papers that came to them saying all their suffering was in vain, that Vicksburg would never be taken, were at last at an end and the Union sure to be saved.
Bowen was received by General A. J. Smith, and asked to see me. I had been a neighbor of Bowen's in Missouri, and knew him well and favorably before the war; but his request was refused. He then suggested that I should meet Pemberton. To this I sent a verbal message saying that, if Pemberton desired it, I would meet him in front of McPherson's corps at three o'clock that afternoon. I also sent the following written reply to Pemberton's letter:
Your note of this date is just received, proposing an armistice for several hours, for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation through commissioners, to be appointed, etc. The useless effusion of blood you propose stopping by this course can be ended at any time you may choose, by the 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 to prisoners of war. I do not favor the proposition of appointing commissioners to arrange the terms of capitulation, because I have no terms other than those indicated above.
At three o'clock Pemberton appeared at the point suggested in my verbal message, accompanied by the same officers who had borne his letter of the morning. Generals Ord, McPherson, Logan and A. J. Smith, and several officers of my staff, accompanied me. Our place of meeting was on a hillside within a few hundred feet of the rebel lines. Near by stood a stunted oak-tree, which was made historical by the event. It was but a short time before the last vestige of its body, root and limb had disappeared the fragments taken as trophies. Since then the same tree has furnished as many cords of wood, in the shape of trophies, as "The True Cross."
Pemberton and I had served in the same division during part of the Mexican War. I knew him very well therefore, and greeted him as an old acquaintance. He soon asked what terms I proposed to give his army if it surrendered. My answer was the same as proposed in my reply to his letter. Pemberton then said, rather snappishly, "The conference might as well. end," and turned abruptly as if to leave. I said, "Very well." General Bowen, I saw, was very anxious that the surrender should be consummated. His manner and remarks while Pemberton and I were talking, showed this. He now proposed that he and one of our generals should have a conference. I had no objection to this, as nothing could be made binding upon me that they might propose. Smith and Bowen accordingly had a conference, during which Pemberton and I, moving a short distance away towards the enemy's lines were in conversation. After a while Bowen suggested that the Confederate army should be allowed to march out with the honors of war, carrying their small arms and field artillery. This was promptly and unceremoniously rejected. The interview here ended, I, agreeing, however, to send a letter giving final terms by ten o'clock that night.
Word was sent to Admiral Porter soon after the correspondence with Pemberton commenced, so that hostilities might be stopped on the part of both army and navy. It was agreed on my parting with Pemberton that they should not be renewed until our correspondence ceased.
When I returned to my headquarters I sent for all the corps and division commanders with the army immediately confronting Vicksburg. Half the army was from eight to twelve miles off, waiting for Johnston. I informed them of the contents of Pemberton's letters, of my reply and the substance of the interview, and that I was ready to hear any suggestion; but would hold the power of deciding entirely in my own hands. This was the nearest approach to a "council of war" I ever held. Against the general, and almost unanimous judgment of the council I sent the following letter:
In conformity with agreement of this afternoon, I will submit the following proposition 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 rolls can be made out, and paroles be signed by officers and men, you will be allowed to march out of our lines, the officers taking with them their side-arms and clothing, and the field, staff 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, 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 soldiers as fast as they become able to travel. The paroles for these latter must be signed, however, whilst officers present are authorized to sign the roll of prisoners.
By the terms of the cartel then in force, prisoners captured by either army were required to be forwarded as soon as possible to either Aiken's landing below Dutch Gap on the James River, or to Vicksburg, there to be exchanged, or paroled until they could be exchanged. There was a Confederate commissioner at Vicksburg, authorized to make the exchange. I did not propose to take him a prisoner, but to leave him free to perform the functions of his office. Had I insisted upon an unconditional surrender there would have been over thirty thousand men to transport to Cairo, very much to the inconvenience of the army on the Mississippi. Thence the prisoners would have had to be transported by rail to Washington or Baltimore; thence again by steamer to Aiken's - all at very great expense. At Aiken's they would have had to be paroled, because the Confederates did not have Union prisoners to give in exchange. Then again Pemberton's army was largely composed of men whose homes were in the South-west; I knew many of them were tired of the war and would get home just as soon as they could. A large number of them had voluntarily come into our lines during the siege, and requested to be sent north where they could get employment until the war was over and they could go to their homes.
Late at night I received the following reply to my last letter:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date, proposing terms of capitulation for 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 to submit the following amendments, which, if acceded to by you, will perfect the agreement between us. At ten o'clock A.M. 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, stacking them in front of my present lines. 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.
This was received after midnight. My reply was as follows:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of 3d July. The amendment 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 roll of prisoners, will necessarily take some time. Again, I can make no stipulations with regard to the treatment of citizens and their private property. While I do not propose to cause them any undue annoyance or loss, I cannot consent to leave myself under any restraint by stipulations. The property which officers will be allowed to take with them will be as stated in my proposition of last evening; that is, 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 arms at ten o'clock A. M., and then return to the inside and there remain as prisoners until properly paroled, I will make no objection to it. Should no notification be received of your acceptance of my terms by nine o'clock AM. I shall regard them as having been rejected, and shall act accordingly. Should these terms be accepted, white flags should be displayed along your lines to prevent such of my troops as may not have been notified, from firing upon your men.
Pemberton promptly accepted these terms.
During the siege there had been a good deal of friendly sparring between the soldiers of the two armies, on picket and where the lines were close together. All rebels were known as "Johnnies," all Union troops as "Yanks." Often "Johnny" would call: "Well, Yank, when are you coming into town?" The reply was sometimes: "We propose to celebrate the 4th of July there." Sometimes it would be: "We always treat our prisoners with kindness and do not want to hurt them"; or, "We are holding you as prisoners of war while you are feeding yourselves." The garrison, from the commanding general down, undoubtedly expected an assault on the fourth. They knew from the temper of their men it would be successful when made; and that would be a greater humiliation than to surrender. Besides it would be attended with severe loss to them.
The Vicksburg paper, which we received regularly through the courtesy of the rebel pickets, said prior to the fourth, in speaking of the "Yankee" boast that they would take dinner in Vicksburg that day, that the best receipt for cooking a rabbit was "First ketch your rabbit." The paper at this time and for some time previous was printed on the plain side of wall paper. The last number was issued on the fourth and announced that we had "caught our rabbit."
I have no doubt that Pemberton commenced his correspondence on the third with a two-fold purpose: first, to avoid an assault, which he knew would be successful, and second, to prevent the capture taking place on the great national holiday, the anniversary of the Declaration of American Independence. Holding out for better terms as he did he defeated his aim in the latter particular.
At the appointed hour the garrison of Vicksburg marched out of their works and formed line in front, stacked arms and marched back in good order. Our whole army present witnessed this scene without cheering. Logan's division, which had approached nearest the rebel works, was the first to march in; and the flag of one of the regiments of his division was soon floating over the court-house. Our soldiers were no sooner inside the lines than the two armies began to fraternize. Our men had had full rations from the time the siege commenced, to the close. The enemy had been suffering, particularly towards the last. I myself saw our men taking bread from their haversacks and giving it to the enemy they had so recently been engaged in starving out. It was accepted with avidity and with thanks.
Pemberton says in his report:
If I should be asked why the 4th of July was selected as the day for surrender, the answer is obvious. I believed that upon that day I should obtain better terms. Well aware of the vanity of our foe, I knew they would attach vast importance to the entrance on the 4th of July into the stronghold of the great river, and that, to gratify their national vanity, they would yield then what could not be extorted from them at any other time.
This does not support my view of his reasons for selecting the day he did for surrendering. But it must be recollected that his first letter asking terms was received about 10 o'clock A. M., July 3d. It then could hardly be expected that it would take twenty-four hours to effect a surrender. He knew that Johnston was in our rear for the purpose of raising the siege, and he naturally would want to hold out as long as he could. He knew his men would not resist an assault, and one was expected on the fourth. In our interview he told me he had rations enough to hold out for some time - my recollection is two weeks. It was this statement that induced me to insert in the terms that he was to draw rations for his men from his own supplies.
On the 4th of July General Holmes, with an army of eight or nine thousand men belonging to the trans-Mississippi department, made an attack upon Helena, Arkansas. He was totally defeated by General Prentiss, who was holding Helena with less than forty-two hundred soldiers. Holmes reported his loss at 1,636, of which 173 were killed; but as Prentiss buried 400, Holmes evidently understated his losses. The Union loss was 57 killed, 127 wounded, and between 30 and 40 missing. This was the last effort on the part of the Confederacy to raise the siege of Vicksburg.
On the third as soon as negotiations were commenced, I notified Sherman and directed him to be ready to take the offensive against Johnston, drive him out of the State and destroy his army if he could. Steele and Ord were directed at the same time to be in readiness to join Sherman as soon as the surrender took place. Of this Sherman was notified.
I rode into Vicksburg with the troops, and went to the river to exchange congratulations with the navy upon our joint victory. At that time I found that many of the citizens had been living under ground. The ridges upon which Vicksburg is built and those back to the Big Black, are composed of a deep yellow clay of great tenacity. Where roads and streets are cut through, perpendicular banks are left and stand as well as if composed of stone. The magazines of the enemy were made by running passage-ways into this clay at places where there were deep cuts. Many citizens secured places of safety for their families by carving out rooms in these embankments. A door-way in these cases would be cut in a high bank, starting from the level of the road or street, and after running in a few feet a room of the size required was carved out of the clay, the dirt being removed by the door-way. In some instances I saw where two rooms were cut out, for a single family, with a door-way in the clay wall separating them. Some of these were carpeted and furnished with considerable elaboration. In these the occupants were fully secure from the shells of the navy, which were dropped into the city night and day without intermission.
I returned to my old headquarters outside in the afternoon, and did not move into the town until the sixth. On the afternoon of the fourth I sent Captain Wm. M. Dunn of my staff to Cairo, the nearest point where the telegraph could be reached, with a dispatch to the general-in-chief. It was as follows:
The enemy surrendered this morning. The only terms allowed is their parole as prisoners of war. This I regard as a great advantage to us at this moment. It saves, probably, several days in the capture, and leaves troops and transports ready for immediate service. Sherman, with a large force, moves immediately on Johnston, to drive him from the State. I will send troops to the relief of Banks, and return the 9th army corps to Burnside.
This news, with the victory at Gettysburg won the same day, lifted a great load of anxiety from the minds of the President, his Cabinet and the loyal people all over the North. The fate of the Confederacy was sealed when Vicksburg fell. Much hard fighting was to be done afterwards and many precious lives were to be sacrificed; but the morale was with the supporters of the Union ever after.
I at the same time wrote to General Banks informing him of the fall and sending him a copy of the terms; also saying I would send him all the troops he wanted to insure the capture of the only foothold the enemy now had on the Mississippi River. General Banks had a number of copies of this letter printed, or at least a synopsis of it, and very soon a copy fell into the hands of General [Frank] Gardner, who was then in command of Port Hudson. Gardner at once sent a letter to the commander of the National forces saying that he had been informed of the surrender of Vicksburg and telling how the information reached him. He added that if this was true, it was useless for him to hold out longer. General Banks gave him assurances that Vicksburg had been surrendered, and General Gardner surrendered unconditionally on the 9th of July. Port Hudson with nearly 6,000 prisoners, 51 guns, 5,000 small-arms and other stores fell into the hands of the Union forces: from that day to the close of the rebellion the Mississippi River, from its source to its mouth, remained in the control of the National troops.
Pemberton and his army were kept in Vicksburg until the whole could be paroled. The paroles were in duplicate, by organization (one copy for each, Federals and Confederates), and signed by the commanding officers of the companies or regiments. Duplicates were also made for each soldier and signed by each individually, one to be retained by the soldier signing and one to be retained by us. Several hundred refused to sign their paroles, preferring to be sent to the North as prisoners to being sent back to fight again. Others again kept out of the way, hoping to escape either alternative.
Pemberton appealed to me in person to compel these men to sign their paroles, but I declined. It also leaked out that many of the men who had signed their paroles, intended to desert and go to their homes as soon as they got out of our lines. Pemberton, hearing this, again appealed to me to assist him. He wanted arms for a battalion, to act as guards in keeping his men together while being marched to a camp of instruction, where he expected to keep them until exchanged. This request was also declined. It was precisely what I expected and hoped that they would do. I told him, however, that I would see that they marched beyond our lines in good order. By the eleventh, just one week after the surrender, the paroles were completed and the Confederate garrison marched out. Many deserted, and fewer of them were ever returned to the ranks to fight again than would have been the case had the surrender been unconditional and the prisoners sent to the James River to be paroled.
As soon as our troops took possession of the city guards were established along the whole line of parapet, from the river above to the river below. The prisoners were allowed to occupy their old camps behind the intrenchments. No restraint was put upon them, except by their own commanders. They were rationed about as our own men, and from our supplies. The men of the two armies fraternized as if they had been fighting for the same cause. When they passed out of the works they had so long and so gallantly defended, between lines of their late antagonists, not a cheer went up, not a remark was made that would give pain. Really, I believe there was a feeling of sadness just then in the breasts of most of the Union soldiers at seeing the dejection of their late antagonists.
The day before the departure the following order was issued:
Paroled prisoners will be sent out of here to-morrow. They will be authorized to cross at the railroad bridge, and move from there to Edward's Ferry, and on by way of Raymond. Instruct the commands to be orderly and quiet as these prisoners pass, to make no offensive remarks, and not to harbor any who fall out of ranks after they have passed.
from grants memois of vicksburg chapter 38
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