Major-General Edward O. C. Ord to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, July 3, 1863

ORD'S HEADQUARTERS, July 3, 1863.

General GRANT:

In reply to your intimation that if General Pemberton wished an interview he would show a white flag at some specified point, General Bowen stated to General [A. J.] Smith that he knew General Pemberton would be glad to meet General Grant; and General Bowen, on the return of General Smith from you, appointed the point where the Jackson and Vicksburg road crosses the rebel trenches as the place where the white flag would be raised at 3 p.m. This point is in front of General McPherson's. The rebel time is forty eight minutes faster than mine. I will send you my time.

E. O. C. ORD.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 460

Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton to Major General Ulysses S. Grant, July 3, 1863

HEADQUARTERS,

Vicksburg, Miss., July 3, 1863.

Maj. Gen. U.S. GRANT,

Commanding United States Forces:

GENERAL: I have the honor to propose to you an armistice for several hours, with a view to arranging terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg. 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 to-day 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 Maj. Gen. John S. Bowen.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. C. PEMBERTON,

Lieutenant-General, Commanding.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 1 (Serial No. 36),  p. 283

Matters at Bowling Green & Conflict near at hand – Floyd and McCulloch at Bowling Green

(From the Nashville Banner, Dec. 30)

The Nashville Banner has an interesting letter from Bowling Green, dated the 30th ult., from which we gather the following extraction:

Ten days since an engagement of no small magnitude was imminent in the quarter – Divisions and columns and batteries were driving forward, and our leaders urging on the advance.  The enemy at Green river was in heavy force, and expecting continually to be joined by their entire and immense army, which was moving down, while their advance were thrown, menacingly, across the stream.  The two armies were thus in close proximity and advancing.  This state of things certainly justified the general expectation of an immediate fight, and quickened the public pulse as regarded the result.  Since that time considerable change has taken place in the military status.  Hindman’s forces, which formed our advance, have fallen back this side of Cave City, while the Federals, frightened by the warm reception given them by the lamented Col. Terry, have for the most part retreated beyond Green river.  The brigade of General Breckinridge is encamped about twelve miles above here while the Kentucky cavalry still remains in possession of Glasgow.  The Federal force this side of Green river is variously reported, but it is fair to presume, from the best information at hand, that it numbers from three to five thousand.  They, for the present seem disinclined to retake a hasty advance.

Mentioning the return of the Texan Rangers the letter says:

They represent the Federals are being afraid of fight, and not anxious to attempt an advance.  They confirm the reported estimate of the army this side of Green river, via that it is from three to five thousand.  On the 29th, the Federals, in heavy force, estimated by some at seven thousand, appeared on the North bank of Green river opposite Brownsville, which is in Edmonson county, and distant from this place 24 miles.  Their actions and manners indicated a design to attempt the crossing of the river, if any such design, however, were entertained, it was abandoned, as none of them have been seen south of the river in that region.

THE CONFLICT NEAR AT HAND

Notwithstanding the falling back of troops on both sides, and the non occurrence of any exciting event during the past ten days, multiplied in numbers and more mighty on the rebound, the two armies are about rushing together for mastery in the conflict.  Our future, and perhaps yours, is to be decided, and soon, too, by the stern arbitrament of the sword.  Like Camilius of old, we throw our steel in the scales before the advancing and extorting Gauls, and tell them it is with that alone we purchase liberty.  The vast accessions referred to as being daily made to the Federal army, and the eagerness they exhibit to find out everything relating to our forces and movements, coupled with the fact that thirty thousand more of their mercenary hordes have been authorized for immediate service in Kentucky, show that they intend to move forward with every available means they can command.  On our side, every indication goes to show an early conflict impending.  Our generals, ever alert, exhibit increased vigilance and activity.  One day they are on the advance lines, the next, inspecting positions, the third reviewing their troops.  They are here, there and everywhere.  Vast reinforcements are pouring in at a rate more rapid than anything that has yet been witnessed.  On arrival, quarters are immediately assigned them, the localities being selected before they reach here.

The instructions are to be ready for any emergency.  A few days since, the Forty-first Tennessee, a full, brave and splendid looking regiment, reached here.  Just after them came three Mississippi regiments.  Yesterday, the entire force from Camp Beauregard arrived. – General Bowen’s entire division, 7,000 strong, are coming – two of the regiments reached here to-day.  They were the Twenty-second Mississippi, Col. Bonham, and the Twenty-second Tennessee.  The others will follow to-morrow.  General McCulloch, the world renowned Ben, is on his way here, with his redoubtable troopers, and General Floyd and his forces, it is stated this evening that he had arrived at Gallatin, whence he would take up his line of march for Scottsville, Kentucky. – If this be true, he is designed to co-operate with Zollicoffer.  Scottville, is twenty five miles east of this place, immediately on the main turnpike leading to the Central part of Kentucky.  Cavalry, artillery, and heavy batteries are also daily coming, in large quantities.  The great conflict, then, though it may not take place as soon as recent events may have led us to suppose, is near at hand, and cannot be deferred.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 1

Statement Of Major McDonald, Of The 8th Missouri, Who Was In The Battle

Statement of Major McDonald, Of the 8th Missouri, Who Was In the Battle

Major John McDonald, of the Eighth Missouri, arrived here on yesterday afternoon, direct from Pittsburgh Landing, having left the battle field on Wednesday evening.

He says the Eighth was in the fight on Monday, only lost six or eight killed, and about twenty-five wounded, none of the officers being hurt. He confirms the Killing of Gen. A. S. Johnson [sic], as was told by one of the prisoners, a confederate Lieutenant, that Gen. Bushrod Johnson, who escaped from Donelson, was also killed. All reports about the wounding of Gen. Beauregard, he thinks are unreliable. An officer of the New Orleans Creole Battalion who was taken prisoner, says that Beauregard, who was then commander, made them a speech on Saturday, before the battle, in which he told them that the result was a sure thing, they could not fail, they would capture Grant and his army, then whip Buell, and by this means hold all their railroads. If they lost the day he told them they might as well lay down their arms and go home.

Lieut. Co. J. F. St. James, of the 13th Missouri, was killed; also Lieut. Col. Gerber of the Twenty-fourth Missouri; also Lieut. Col. or Major Kilpatrick, of one of the Illinois regiments. The Ninth Illinois suffered very severely.

The story of the escape of Gen. Prentiss is not true. He and the greater part of his brigade, probable, 3,500 men, were taken prisoners early in the fight on Sunday.

Gen. Grant was at Savannah on Sunday morning and hearing the firing made his way to Pittsburg in all haste, and got on the field about 11 o’clock A. M. In the action on Monday he was considerably hurt in one of his legs by being crushed against a tree.

The gunboats did fine work and probably saved our army from total disaster on Sunday. – They were placed up the stream where they could have full sweep of the rebel lines, and did a great deal of disconcert and keep back the enemy. All Sunday night they kept up a slow fire which harassed the rebels very much.

The beginning of the fight on Sunday morning was a complete surprise, many of our officers and soldiers being over taken in their tents and either slaughtered or taken prisoners. Some of the companies scattered into the ravines and hallows, and could not be got out, either by expostulations or threats. When the line was at length formed to resist the attack, it was done without much regard to company or regiment. By night the rebels had driven our army entirely out of its camps, and was in full possession of tents, equipage and everything.

So well satisfied were they of their days work, and so confident of the morrow, that they destroyed nothing. They got six of our batteries, all of which were recaptured the following day, and about forty of their cannon taken. Our lines on Sunday night were drawn around the landing in a semi circular shape, protected on all sides by our cannon; [but], if they had been hard pressed after dark by the rebels they would have been penetrated, and our entire army overcome.

The arrival of the reinforcements was very cheering; the rear landing and drawing up in good order and proceeding at once to the front, where they were fresh “cocked and primed” for the fight on Monday. The reinforcing divisions were Generals Nelson’s, Crittenden’s and McCook’s. On Tuesday Generals Wood’s and Thomas’s divisions also of Buell’s army came up.

The Fist Missouri artillery, Major Cavender, did splendidly losing no officers or guns.

Major Gen. C. F. Smith was not in the fight at all, but lying sick at Savannah, and not able to get out of his bed.

Our forces at Pittsburg on Sunday morning, were not over thirty-five thousand men. The enemy’s could not have been less than 90,000 men. One of the rebel prisoners, a quarter master, told Major McDonald that not less than ninety thousand rations were issued before they left Corinth.

Bowen’s brigade was heard from. Two or three of the prisoners belonged to it, but the Major, though he tried to see them was unsuccessful.

The second day’s fighting was not half so desperate as the first. The rebels soon gave way before our fresh troops, and were pursued with great slaughter. The pursuit was not continued far. A few miles beyond our lines, towards Corinth, there was a large creek very much swollen by the rains; the bridges of which the fugitives destroyed after them.

It rained very hard during Sunday Monday and Tuesday nights.

Major McDonald thinks Beauregard is not prepared to make a stand at Corinth and if pushed will retreat south as far as Jackson, Mississippi.

About four hundred of the wounded came down with Major McDonald on the steamer Commodore Perry to Paducah, and the others went up to Evansville. The Minnehaha would soon be down with the wounded.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862