Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 1

[378] further progress could be made by digging alone, and Grant accordingly determined to make the final assault on the morning of the 6th of July. Orders were issued to prepare the heads of approaches for the easy debouche of troops, to widen the main approaches so that the men could move easily by fours, and to prepare planks and sand-bags filled with pressed cotton, for crossing ditches.

Johnston was moving up at the same time. On the night of the 1st, he encamped between Brownsville and the Big Black river, and, on the 3d, sent word to Pemberton, that about the 7th of the month, an attempt to create a diversion would be made, to enable the garrison to cut its way out.¹ This attack, however, was never made. The movement to Browns ville was the last operation undertaken for the relief or the defence of Vicksburg. On the 22d of June, Pemberton had suggested to Johnston that the latter should make propositions to Grant to pass the garrison out, ‘with all its arms and equipages;’ but Johnston replied: ‘Negotiations with Grant for the relief of the garrison, should they become necessary, must be made by you. It would be a confession of weakness on my part, which I ought not to make, to propose them. When it becomes necessary to make terms, they may be considered as made under my authority.’

On the 1st of July, therefore, Pemberton having become satisfied that the time had arrived when he must either capitulate or evacuate the city, addressed the following communication to each of his four division commanders, Stevenson, Forney, Smith,