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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 | 5 |
Fourteen-Mile Creek, (skirmish,) | 4 | 24 | |
Raymond | 69 | 341 | 82 |
Jackson | 40 | 240 | 6 |
Champion's Hill | 426 | 1,842 | 189 |
Big Black Railroad Bridge | 29 | 242 | 2 |
Vicksburgh | 245 | 8,688 | 808 |
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.
My personal staffs and chiefs of departments have in all cases rendered prompt and efficient service.
In all former reports I have failed to make mention of company A, Fourth regiment Illinois cavalry volunteers,
Captain S. D. Osband commanding.
This company has been on duty with me as an escort company since November, 1861, and in every engagement I have been in since that time rendered valuable service, attracting general attention for their exemplary conduct, soldierly bearing and promptness.
It would not be overstating the merits of this company to say that many of them would fill with credit any position in a cavalry regiment.
For the brilliant achievements recounted in this report, the army of the Tennessee, their comrades of the Ninth army corps,
Herron's division of the army of the frontier, and the navy cooperating with them, deserve the highest honors their country can award.
I have the honor to be,
Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Official correspondence.
General: I have the honor to propose to you an armistice for — hours, with a view to arranging terms for the capitulation of
Vicksburgh.
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 today as you may find convenient.I make this proposition to save the further effusion of blood, which must otherwise be shed to a frightful extent, feeling myself fully able to maintain my position for a yet indefinite period.
This communication will be handed you under a flag of truce by
Major-General James Bowen.
To this
General Grant replied as follows:
General: Your note of this date, just received, proposes an armistice of several hours, for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation through commissioners to be appointed, etc. The effusion of blood you propose stopping by this course, can be ended at any time you may choose, by an unconditional surrender of the city and garrison.
Men who have shown so much endurance and courage as those now in
Vicksburgh, 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,
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
General Grant, declining this, requested
General Smith to say that if
General Pemberton desired to see him, an interview would be granted between the lines in
McPherson's front at any hour 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 impertinent 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 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: In conformity with the agreement of this afternoon, I will submit the following propositions for the surrender of the city of