We have got the smallpox in prison, and from six to twelve are taken out dead daily. We can buy from prisoners rats, 25 cents each, killed and dressed. Quite a number of our boys have gone into the rat business. On the 11th of this month there were 800 sick prisoners sent South on parole.
SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 68
I heard to-day that
my brother Morris was a prisoner at Fort Delaware, Pa. I asked for a parole
to-day to go and see my parents in New York, but they could not see it.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 64
General James Watson Webb called on me. He has been laid up by the gout at his son-in-law's, Major Benton's, house. He came home from Brazil via Paris, saw Louis Napoleon, dined with him, gave him good advice, wants to get out of Mexico, etc., etc. Has communicated to the President the Emperor's feelings and wishes. No doubt he saw Louis Napoleon, with whom he had a close acquaintance when that dignitary wanted friends and perhaps a dinner. It is creditable to him that he is not ungrateful to Webb.
Colonel Bolles, Solicitor and Judge Advocate, desires to prefer a number of charges against Semmes, and has, I fear, more thought of making a figure than of the point I wish presented; that is, a breach of parole, bad faith, violation of the usages of war in the surrender and escape from the Alabama. That he and a million of others have been guilty of treason there is no doubt; that he ran the blockade, burnt ships after a semi-piratical fashion there is no doubt; so have others been guilty of these things, and I do not care to select and try Semmes on these points, though perhaps the most guilty.
SIR: I have the
honor to report that on Sunday, December 4, at about 11 a.m., the enemy opened
three pieces 12-pounder artillery on block-house No. 7, at distances of 500 and
800 yards, throwing seventy-two shot and shell, thirty-one of which struck the
building, five in the lookout and twenty-six in the main building and its
entrance way. Of the twenty-six, six were thrown into the inner casing at loop
line. It will be remembered that the outer casing of this house is supported
above the loop line by pillars twelve to fifteen inches long. The shot were
thrown in between the upper and lower logs of the outer case and the pillars.
Some of the pillars were struck and shattered but none knocked entirely out. No
shot penetrated the main building; no shot struck, however, directly on the
loop, the bearing of the guns being such as not to admit of it except at the
corner. No shot penetrated the timbers of inner case sufficiently deep to
distend the timber on the inside. About 2 p.m. Major-General Milroy engaged the
enemy and relieved the garrison. On Monday, the 5th, about 2 p.m., the enemy
again opened three pieces on house, at distance of 800 and 900 yards to the
northwest, and fired five or six shot and shell, one of which only struck the
building, doing but little damage. The garrison were ready for the attack, and had
seven or eight loops bearing on the battery. I required them to fire by rank,
which was done, and done with such precision as to compel the enemy to limber
up and get away at double-quick, with the loss of one horse, and, I learn from
rebel authority, three or four wounded men; their sharpshooters left with them.
We took advantage of the dark to get more wood and water, and some timbers,
with which the floor of tower was made bomb-proof. About midnight a Federal
soldier came to garrison, saying that General Bate had sent him to say to
garrison that if they would surrender that he (Bate) would parole the whole
garrison, respect private property, &c., and that he would send in flag by
6 a.m. or sunrise. At 12 the promised flag came, by order of General Hill,
asking surrender upon terms offered by General Bate; was answered that "We
would hold the block-house." This morning a picket-line was put out around
us, the sharpshooters looking after also. On the 7th flag came in, by order
General Forrest, giving ten minutes to surrender or be burned with Greek fire,
etc. Four flags came in during the thirteen days. On Friday, the 16th, the
pickets were called in. On 17th all disappeared except a few stragglers, who
evinced no disposition to molest.
The garrison did not
have one man hurt, nor did the house sustain any serious injury.
The deficiency in
the block-house, as developed in this case (and as far as I can learn in that
of No. 2), is in the staunching supporting the ceiling and in the horizontal
bracing at the cap plates. In No. 7 the girder spanning the south wing
commenced to give way while the house was bombarded in the opposite side or
wings. I had temporary posts put in and other like improvement made as
circumstances suggested. I am of the opinion that the rectangular building,
properly constructed and located, is the better plan for the blockhouses. I
have increased confidence in block-houses as means of defense, from my
experience, and believe that they can be so constructed as to resist any artillery
that is ordinarily brought to bear against them.
Allow me to
recommend to favorable consideration Lieutenant Glosser and his command; they
behaved nobly during the siege of fourteen days.
I have given the
rebels a few hours to consider the proposition of surrendering; all to be paroled
here, the officers to take only side-arms. My own feelings are against this,
but all my officers think the advantage gained by having our forces and
transports for immediate purposes more than counterbalance the effect of
sending them north.
U.S. GRANT.
GENERAL: The
garrison of Vicksburg surrendered this morning. Number of prisoners, as given
by the officers, is 27,000; field artillery, one hundred and twenty-eight
pieces, and a large number of siege guns, probably not less than eighty. The
other stores will probably not amount to any great deal. I held all my surplus
troops out on Big Black River and between there and Haynes' Bluff, intending to
assault in a few days. I directed that they be kept in readiness to move on the
shortest notice to attack Johnston. The moment the surrender of Vicksburg was
agreed upon, the order was given, and troops are now in motion. General Sherman
goes in command of this expedition. His force is so large I think it cannot
fail. This move will have the effect of keeping Johnston from detaching a
portion of his force for the relief of Port Hudson. Although I had the garrison
of Vicksburg completely in my power, I gave them the privilege of being paroled
at this place, the officers to retain their side-arms and private baggage, and
field, staff, and cavalry officers to take with them one horse each. I regard
the terms really more favorably than an unconditional surrender. It leaves the
transports and troops for immediate use. At the present junction of affairs in
the East and on the river above here, this may prove of vast importance. I
hope, general, and from what, Admiral Porter tells me, this probably will find
you in possession of Port Hudson.
VICKSBURG, July 6,
1863.
DEAR FATHER, —
Vicksburg has at last surrendered after a siege of over forty days. The
surrender took place on the morning of the 4th of July. I found I had
continuously underestimated the force of the enemy both in men and Artillery.
The number of prisoners surrendered was thirty thousand and too hundred. The
process of parolling is so tedious, however, that many who are desirous of
getting to their homes will escape before the paroling officers get around to
them. The Arms taken is about 180 pieces of Artillery and over 30,000 stand of
small Arms. The enemy still had about four days rations of flour and meat and a
large quantity of sugar.
The weather now is
excessively warm and the roads intolerably dusty. It cannot be expected
under these circumstances that the health of this command can keep up
as it has done. My troops were not allowed one hour's idle time after the
surrender but were at once started after other game.
My health has
continued very good during the campaign which has just closed. Remember me to
all at home.
ULYSSES.
HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE
TENN., Vicksburg, Miss., July 8, 1863.
Maj. Gen. J. B.
MCPHERSON, Comdg. Seventeenth Army Corps:
GENERAL: There
apparently being some misunderstanding between Lieutenant-General Pemberton and
the paroling officers engaged in issuing paroles to the prisoners, and Major
[N. G.] Watts, commissioner for the exchange of prisoners, apparently having
the idea that his presence here makes it necessary that he should receipt all
rolls to make the parole binding, I will give you a line of policy to pursue.
The terms which I
proposed to General Pemberton were free from ambiguity, and were accepted in
unmistakable language. That acceptance alone made the whole garrison prisoners
of war, who could not properly be placed on military duty until properly
exchanged, even if they should escape before being paroled or enrolled. No
further receipt than General Pemberton's letter of acceptance of terms is
necessary to bind the Confederate authorities to acknowledge the entire
garrison of Vicksburg on the morning of the 4th instant prisoners of war. The
only object in issuing rolls made out is that the Government may have something
in a compact form, which will be recognized, to enable them to negotiate for
the exchange of prisoners hereafter. I do not regard it as essential that Major
Watts should sign the rolls, so long as they are signed by brigade or
regimental commanders. Major Watts, with the balance, is at present a prisoner
of war.
U.S. GRANT.
GENERAL: There
apparently being some misunderstanding between Lieutenant-General Pemberton and
the paroling officers as to the method of conducting the paroling of prisoners,
I will give you the following rules for your guidance, that there may be no
misunderstanding:
No prisoner will be
allowed to leave our lines until all are paroled who will accept. Those who
decline will be confined on steamers anchored in the stream until they accept
and consent to march out with officers appointed over them. Declining this,
they will be sent north as prisoners of war, to be held for exchange. When all
those able to leave the lines are paroled, and the rolls are approved by
General Pemberton, or any officer designated by him, the whole will be required
to leave our lines. Those declining to leave will be sent out under guard.
General Pemberton's acceptance of the terms proposed to him bind the
Confederate Government not to accept the services of any man who formed a part
of the garrison on the morning of the 4th instant until properly exchanged. The
object of the parole is to make each individual feel the same obligation.
I fear your paroling
the garrison at Vicksburg without actual delivery to a proper agent, as
required by the fourteenth article of the cartel, may be construed into an
absolute release, and that the men will be immediately placed in the ranks of
the enemy. Such has been the case elsewhere. If these prisoners have not been
allowed to depart, you will retain them till further orders.
On a full
examination of the question, it is decided that you, as the commander of an
army, were authorized to agree upon the parole and release of the garrison of
Vicksburg with the general commanding the place.
DEAR GENERAL:
Dispatches just received from General Banks announces the good news of the
surrender of Port Hudson, with 5,000 prisoners and all the armament of the
place. News came from the East of the defeat of Lee and his precipitate
retreat, with Meade in full pursuit. I have nothing definite from you since the
morning of the 9th, but, not hearing, suppose all is right. Is there any
probability that Johnston may be receiving re-enforcements and intends
standing? I have just learned from Yazoo City that all the steamers from above
have just come down there, and that Johnston sent orders to press all the
negroes that can be got, to prosecute the work of fortifying with all vigor.
More than 1,000 negroes are said to be at work now. I immediately ordered a division
from here to break them up. The well prisoners have been paroled and about out
of town. The number reached near 25,000. There are still those in hospital,
near 6,000, yet to parole, besides many escaped without paroling.
Hoping to hear of
your giving Johnston a good thrashing and driving him beyond Pearl River, with
the loss of artillery, transportation, and munitions of war, I remain, yours
truly,
U.S. GRANT.
[July 1, 1863.]
One of the men who
gave himself up is confined here here is about three miles from here his wife is
sick expected to die he is poor & without Servants the man has behaved well & is anxious to
give his parole & be with his wife can I parole him as I should do if it
was left with me all quiet on Black
river this Eve
SOURCE: John Y.
Simon, Editor, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 8, p. 449
