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headquarters United States forces, before Port Hudson July 8.
To Major-General Frank Gardner, Commanding G. S. Forces, Port Hudson:
General: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date, stating that you are willing to surrender the garrison under your command to the forces under my command, and that you will appoint a commission of three officers to meet a similar commission appointed by me, at nine o'clock this morning, for the purpose of agreeing upon and drawing up the terms of surrender.
In reply I have the honor to state that I have designated Brigadier-General Charles P. Stone, Colonel Henry W. Birge, and Lieutenant-Colonel Richard B. Irwin as the officers to meet the commission appointed by you. They will meet your officers at the hour designated at a point where the flag of truce was received this morning.
I will direct that active hostilities shall entirely cease on my part until further notice, for the purpose stated.
Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, To Major-General Frank Gardner, Commanding G. S. Forces, Port Hudson:
N. P. Banks, Major-General Commanding.
The following were the articles of capitulation proposed between the commissioners on the part of the garrison of Port Hudson, La., and the forces of the United States before said place, July eighth, 1863:
article 1. Major-General Frank Gardner surrendered to the United States forces under Major-General Banks, the place of Port Hudson and its dependencies, with its garrison, armament, munitions, public funds, material of war, in the condition as nearly as may be in which they were at the hour of cessation of hostilities, namely, six o'clock A. M., July eighth, 1863.
article 2.
The surrender stipulated in Article 1 is qualified by no condition, save that the officers and enlisted men composing the garrison shall receive the treatment due to prisoners of war, according to the usages of civilized warfare.
article 3.
All private property of officers and enlisted men shall be inspected and left to their respective owners.
article 4.
The position of Port Hudson shall be occupied to-morrow at seven o'clock A. M. by the forces of the United States, and its garrison received as prisoners of war by such general officers of the United States service as may be designated by Major-General Banks, with the ordinary formalities of rendition.
The confederate troops will be drawn up in line, officers in their positions, the right of the line resting on the edge of the prairie south of the railroad depot, the left extending in the direction of the village of Port Hudson.
The arms and colors will be piled conveniently, and will be received by the officers of the United States.
article 5.
The sick and wounded of the garrison will be cared for by the authorities of the United States, assisted, if desired, by either party of the medical officers of the garrison.
Charles P. Stone, Brigadier-General W. N. Miles, Colonel Commanding Right Wing of the Army. Wm. Dwight, Brigadier-General. G. W. Steedman, Colonel Commanding Left Wing of the Army. Marshal J. Smith, Lieutenant-Colonel, Chief of Artillery. Henry W. Birge, Colonel Commanding Fifth Brigade, Glover's Division. N. P. Banks, Major-General. Frank Gardner, Major-General.
A National account.
headquarters Port Hudson, Thursday, July 9, 1863.
Heaven be praised!
Port Hudson is ours!
In my late letters I have informed you how, step by step, we were encroaching upon the enemy, until all resistance would be useless.
Some — where about midnight of the seventh, a Lieutenant of Holcomb's battery came to the tent of Major-General Augur's Assistant Adjutant-General, and said that the enemy were sounding a bugle, which foreboded he knew not what.
Shortly afterward another came to say that they had sent out a flag of truce.
Very soon after that an officer came galloping up, in the bright light of a waning moon, from General Banks's headquarters; and I heard the voice of Colonel Irwin eagerly inquiring for the tent of General Augur--the whole camp being in calm repose.
The few who were awake wondered, of course, what all this could mean; and what it did the official correspondence will best explain.
At the earliest dawn of the — now ever memorable--ninth July, the whole camp was necessarily in the highest state of glee and commotion, and the “Star-spangled banner,” “Yankee Doodle,” and “Dixie” came borne upon the morning air — never sounding sweeter.
At seven o'clock, General Andrews, Chief of the Staff of General Banks, made his grand entrance into the rebel fortifications, with Colonel Birge leading his brave storming column, whose noble services have thus been, happily for their friends, dispensed with; but to whom the country is no less indebted — taking the will for the deed.
These were followed by two picked regiments from each division, with Holcomb's and Rawle's battery of light artillery, and the gunners of the naval battery.
The rebels were drawn up in line, and an immense line they made, their officers in font of them on one side of the road, their backs to the river.
General Gardner then advanced toward General Andrews, and, in a few accompanying words, offered to surrender his sword with Port Hudson; but General Andrews told him that, in appreciation of his bravery — however misdirected — he was at liberty to retain his sword.
Our men were then drawn up in two lines on the other side of the road, opposite to the rebels, 