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ARRIVAL OF GENERAL GRANT AT GENERAL PEMBERTON’S VICKSBURG HOUSE, JULY 4, 1863. FROM A 8KETCH MADE AT THE TIME.

THE TERMS OF SURRENDER.

I. BY JOHN 0. PEMBERTON. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL. C. S. A.

j Philadelphia , June 12, 1875.

Dear Sir — I give you with pleasure my ver-sion of the interview between General Grant andmyself on the afternoon of July 3, 1863, in frontof the Confederate lines at Vicksburg .

If you will refer to the first volume of Badeau’slife of U. S. Grant, you will find a marked discrep-ancy between that author’s account of it and mine.I do not fear, however, to trust to the honestmemory of any officer then present to confirm thestatement I shall make.

Passing over all preceding events, I come atonce to the circumstance that brought about thepersonal interview referred to.

Feeling assured that it was useless to hopelonger for assistance from General Johnston,either to raise the siege of Vicksburg or to rescuethe garrison, & I summoned division and brigadecommanders, with one or two others, to meet inmy quarters on the night of the 2d of July. AllHie correspondence that had taken place duringtlio siege between General Johnston and myself

I For this letter, addressed to Lieutenant-Colonel•Tolm P. Nicholson, the American editor of the Comtede Paris’s “ History of the Civil War,” we are indebtedto General Marcus .1. Wright, Agent of the War Depart-ment for the Collection of Confederate Uncords. SeeGeneral Grant’s reply, addressed to General Pember-ton, p. r, 45 ; a i 8 o his paper, “ The Vicksburg Campaign,”P. 493.—editors.

<& Among General Pemberton’s papers was found aco l>y of the following letter, accompanied by a noteMating that tile original had “miscarried and washover received, but General Johnston was kind enoughto furnish me a copy ” :

was laid before these officers. After much con-sideration it was advised that I address a note toGeneral Grant, proposing the appointment ofcommissioners to arrange terms of capitulation.

The following, having been read to the counciland approved, was sent to General Grant under aflag of truce by the hands of Major-General J. S.Bowen , on the morning of the 3d :

“ Vicksburg , July 3d, 1863. Major-General Grant,Commanding United States Forces near Vicksburg ,Mississippi . General: I have the honor to propose

to you an armistice of-hours, with a view to

arrange terms of capitulation of Vicksburg . To thisend, if agreeable to you, I will appoint three com-missioners to meet a like number, to be named by your-self, at such place and hour to-day as you may findconvenient. I make this proposition to save furthereffusion of blood, which must otherwise be shed to afrightful extent, feeling myself fully able to maintainray position for a yet indefinite period. This communi-cation will be handed you under flag of truce by Major-General John S. Bowen . I am, General, very respect-fully, your obedient servant, John C. Pemberton,Lieutenant-General Commanding.”

“.Tuno 27. 1863. General Pejiukuton : Your dispatch ofthe 22(1 received. General E. K. Smith ’s troops have beenmismanaged, and havo fallen hack t.o Delhi . I have sent aspecial messenger, urging him to assume direct command.Tho determined spirit you manifest and his expected co-operation encourage me to hope Mint something may yet hedone to save Vicksburg and to postpone both of tho modessuggested of merely extricating the garrison. Negotiationswith Grant for the relief of tho garrison, should they becomenecessary, must he made by you. It wutnld ho a confessionof weakness on my part, which I ought not to make, to pro-pose them. When it becomes necessary to make terms, theymay 1m considered as mado under my authority.— J. E.JOHNSTON, General.”

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