Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/347

 Fortification and Siege of Port Hudson. 341

THE FALL OF VICKSBURG.

During the forenoon, on the 7th of July, the Federals called'out to our men in many places that Vicksburg had been surrendered to General Grant on the 4th of July, with its garrison.

To give us greater assurance of the truth of their assertions, there was sent in to General Gardner, throught some of the pickets, an official copy of General Grant's dispatch to General Banks, an- nouncing the capitulation of Vicksburg.

A COUNCIL OF WAR.

That night a council of war was held at General Gardner's head- quarters, which was protracted until 2 o'clock on the morning of the 8th. The situation of Port Hudson was well worthy of serious con- sideration by the chief officers of its garrison. It was sixty-one days since the commencement of the bombardment by the fleet; forty- eight days since the virtual beginning of the siege, and there had been forty-five days of actual investment, comprising two grand at- tacks, and twenty-four charges or attempts to storm our lines.

A fortified position, constructed for a garrison of twenty thousand men, after its abandonment had been ordered, had been held by less than one-third that force for a much longer period than could have been expected by our forces outside.

At 2 o'clock, on the morning of the 8th of July, General Gardner sent to General Banks, by flag of truce, for confirmation of the fall of Vicksburg, which was accorded him. (And yet General Banks in his report, page 149, says that Gardner stated that the surrender was not on account of the fall of Vicksburg.)

About 9 o'clock, the same morning, he dispatched Colonels J. G. W. Steedman and W. R. Miles, and Lieutenant-Colonel Marshall J. Smith as commissioners, to treat for the surrender of the post.

They did not return until afternoon, and then announced that the following unconditional surrender of the place and garrison had been agreed upon:

Articles of capitulation proposed between the commissioners on the part of the garrison of Port Hudson, Louisiana, and the forces of the United States before said place, July 8th, 1863.

Article L Major-General F. Gardner to surrender to the United States forces, under Major-General Banks, the place of Port Hudson ani its dependencies with its garrison, armament, munitions, public