74 



ARMY OPERATIONS. 



Banks was nearly 700 in killed and wound- 

 ed. Meantime the first parallel encircling the 

 outer line of the enemy was pushed forward, 

 and the skirmishers were posted in rifle pits 

 so near that skirmishes were of constant occur- 

 rence at night. A small force of the enemy's 

 cavalry hovered in the rear of Gen. Banks's 

 army, without making any serious demonstra- 

 tions. 



The withdrawal of Gen. Banks's force from 

 the west side of the Mississippi was followed 

 by great activity on the part of the enemy, for 

 the purpose of recovering the places held by a 

 small body of Federal troops, and to cause a 

 diversion from Port Hudson. Opelousas was 

 reoccupied by a considerable Confederate 

 force ; the west bank of the Mississippi was lined 

 with squads of the rebels, who fired upon eve- 

 ry boat which passed. A raid was made upon 

 Plaquemine by a body of Texans, who burned 

 two steamers lying there. They were driven 

 out by Lieut. Weaver, commanding the gunboat 

 Winona. On the 17th of June, an attack was 

 made on the Federal pickets at La Fourche, 

 which was repulsed. On the next day it was 

 repeated with the same result. On the 23d, 

 Brashear City was captured by a confederate 

 force under Gens. Green and Morton. A camp 

 of slaves, or contrabands, as they were called, 

 was attacked by the enemy, and large numbers 

 killed. Immense quantities of ammrfnition, sev- 

 eral pieces of artillery, three hundred thousand 

 dollars' worth of sutler's goods, s'ugar, flour, 

 pork, beef, and medical stores, of vast amount, 

 were also captured. On the 28th, an attack was 

 made on Donaldsonville, and the storming par- 

 ty succeeded in getting into the fort. But the 

 gunboats opened a flanking fire above and 

 below the fort, and drove back the supporting 

 party, so that the enemy broke and fled. Of 

 those who had entered the fort, one hundred 

 and twenty were captured and nearly one hun- 

 dred killed. 



Other movements on the part of the enemy 

 were made at this time, which indicated great 

 activity, and enabled them to destroy much 

 Federal property. No embarrassment however 

 was caused to the position of Gen. Banks. The 

 enemy, in short, recovered the La Fourche, 

 Teche, Attakapas, and Opelousas country, and, 

 captured Brashear, with fifteen hundred prison- 

 ers, a large number of slaves, and nearly all tho 

 confiscated cotton. 



After these two attempts to reduce Port Hud- 

 son by a land assault, on the 27th of May and 

 14th of June, the purpose to make another was 

 given up by Gen. Banks, until he had fully in- 

 vested the place by a series of irresistible ap- 

 proaches. Ho was thus engaged in pushing 

 forward his works when Vicksburg was sur- 

 rendered. Information of this surrender was 

 sent to Gen. Banks, and it was made the occa- 

 sion for firing salutes and a general excitement 

 in his camp, which attracted the attention of the 

 enemy, to whom the surrender was communi- 

 cated. Gen. Gardner, upon receiving the infor- 



mation, sent by flag of truce, about midnight of 

 the 7th, the following note to Gen. Banks : 



HEADQUARTERS, POBT HUDSON, LA., July 1th, 1863. 

 To Mqj.-Gen. Bankt, commanding United States Forces 



near Port Hudson : 



GENERAL : Having received information from your 

 troops that Vicksburg has been surrendered, I make 

 this communication to request you to give me the offi- 

 cial assurance whether this is true or not, and if true, 

 I ask for a cessation of hostilities, with a view to the 

 consideration of terms for surrendering this position.. 

 I am, General, very respectfully, 



Your obedient servant, 

 FRANK GARDNER, Major-General. 



To which Gen. Banks thus replied : 



HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OP THE GULF, I 

 BEFORE POET HUDSON, July Sth, 1863. ) 



To Maj.-Gen. Frank Gardner, commanding C. 8. 



Forces, Port Hudson : 



GENERAL : In reply to your communication, dated the 

 7th instant, by flag of truce, received a few moments 

 since, I have the honor to inform you that I received, 

 yesterday morning, July 7th, at 10.45, by the gun- 

 boat General Price, an official despatch from Major- 

 Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, United States Army, whereof 

 the following is a true extract : 



" HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT or THE TENNESSEE, ) 

 NEAR VICKSBUBG, July 4th, 1S68. f 



" Maj.- Gen. N. P. Hanks, commanding Department of 



the Gulf: 



"GENERAL: The garrison of Vicksburg surrendered 

 this morning. The number of prisoners, as given by 

 the officer, is 27,000, field artillery 128 pieces, and a 

 large number of siege guns, probably not less than 

 eighty. Your obedient servant, 



"U. S. GRANT, Major-General." 

 I regret to say, that under present circumstances, I 

 cannot, consistently with my duty, consent to a cessa- 

 tion of hostilities for the purpose you indicate. 

 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



N. P. BANKS. 



The following further correspondence then 

 took place : 



POET HUDSON, July Sth, 1863. 



GENERAL : I have the honor to acknowledge the re- 

 ceipt of your communication of this date, giving a 

 copy of an official communication from Major-Gen. U. 

 S. Grant, United States Army, announcing the surren- 

 der of Vicksburg. 



Having defended this position as long as I deem my 

 duty requires, I am willing to surrender to you, and 

 will appoint a commission of three officers to meet a 

 similar commission appointed by yourself, at nine 

 o'clock this morning, for the purpose of agreeing upon 

 and drawing up the terms of the surrender, and for that 

 purpose I ask for a cessation of hostilities. 



Will you please designate a point outside of my 

 breastworks, where the meeting shall be held for this 

 purpose ? 



I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

 FRANK GARDNER, Commanding C. S. Forces. 



HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, BEFORE \ 

 PORT HUDSON, July Stfi, 1S63. ) 



To Maj.-Gen. FranJ: Gardner, commanding Confed- 

 erate States Forces, Port Hudson : 



GENERAL : I have the honor to acknowledge the re- 

 ceipt of your communication of this date, stating that 

 you are willing to surrender the garrison under your 

 command to the forces under my command, and that 

 you will appoint a commission of three officers to meet 

 a similar commission appointed by me, at nine o'clock 

 this morning, for the purpose of agreeing upon and 

 drawing up the terms of the surrender. 



In reply, I have the honor to state that I have de- 

 signated Brig.-Gen. Charles P. Stone, Col. Henry W. 

 Birge, and Lieut-Col. Richard B. Irwin, as the officers 

 to meet the commission appointed by you. 



