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[151] 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,

U. S. Grant, Major-General U. S. A. Commanding. Col. J. C. Kelton, Assistant Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C.


Official correspondence.

headquarters, Vicksburgh, July 3, 1863.
Major-Gen. Grant, Commanding U. S. Forces:
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.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. Pemberton.

To this General Grant replied as follows:

headquarters, Department of Tennessee, in the field, near Vicksburgh, July 3, 1863.
Lieut.-General J. C. Pemberton, Commanding Confederate Forces, etc.:
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,

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 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:

headquarters, Department of Tennessee, near Vicksburgh, July 3, 1863.
Lieut.-General J. C. Pemberton, Commanding Confederate Forces, Viclksburgh, Miss.:
General: In conformity with the agreement of this afternoon, I will submit the following propositions for the surrender of the city of


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